The Code of the Hills Read Online Free PDF Page B

drive 120 miles in a northerly direction, halfway to St. Louis.
    As women practicing criminal law in the Ozarks, both Elsie and Bree had to battle for respect; but without question, Bree’s struggles outnumbered her own. Just several months before, a visiting attorney from Purdy, Missouri, had tossed a file at Bree and told her to make his copies and scare up a cup of coffee. While Elsie stammered in indignation, Bree wasted no time telling the man he could shove that file up his fat white ass.
    â€œWhat about your weekend?” Bree inquired. “What did you do to celebrate? Did you have some fun?”
    â€œYeah, I guess. I went to the old Baldknobbers.”
    â€œOh, don’t tell me that.” Breeon shook her head in disgust. “Why did you go to that old dive?”
    â€œThe cops wanted to go there, to get a drink after the trial.”
    â€œUgh. That place is nasty.”
    A memory of her tumble flashed through Elsie’s head. “I’ll never go back. I swear.”
    â€œLiar,” Breeon said, and they both laughed.
    â€œI’m going to get you out there one of these days,” Elsie said.
    Bree pushed her chair away from her desk with a skeptical look at her. “I’d do a lot for you, baby girl. But I draw the line at risking my neck in that cracker box.”
    Elsie took a step inside the small office and said in a hushed voice, “Hey, something else happened over the weekend. Madeleine brought me in on the Taney case.”
    â€œThat’s cool. Good for you.” Bree’s enthusiasm was sincere; she and Elsie were the only female assistant prosecutors on the staff of seven lawyers, and they worked hard to support each other. “What’s up with that guy, anyway? Standard pervert? Addict? Crazy?”
    â€œSounds pretty standard from the brother’s statement. Just another hillbilly who thinks he’s entitled to nail his daughters.”
    â€œYou sure the brother isn’t doing it? Wasn’t he the one who snitched him out?”
    â€œYeah, the brother went to the police and made the report. Hey, how do you know so much about it?”
    â€œI was in Judge Carter’s court when they brought Taney in, appointed the public defender, and set a preliminary hearing. Judge Carter was chatty, and I got the inside scoop.”
    â€œHe’s not too chatty with me,” she said, shifting her weight from one foot to the other to keep the circulation moving in her aching toes. “I gotta tell you, Bree, I’m worried about the case. There hasn’t been enough investigative work.”
    â€œWhat’s missing?”
    â€œThe daughters’ statements. There isn’t anything in the file that’s in their own words. I don’t like that.”
    â€œIs Madeleine worried?”
    Elsie glanced over her shoulder. “Hell, no. She’s just afraid the case will interfere with her many pressing social engagements.”
    Bree shrugged and picked up her coffee cup. “Well, she’s first chair, right? This is her case, not yours, and if she’s not worried, you’re not worried. It’s not in your hands, Ms. Second Chair. You’re the errand girl. You get the coffee.”
    â€œOkay.” Everything Bree told her was true, but it troubled Elsie anyway. “I still can’t believe she brought me in.”
    â€œWhy not? You’re damned good.”
    â€œBut she can’t stand me.”
    Bree waved a hand in dismissal. “That’s an exaggeration, don’t you think?”
    â€œI don’t. I’m serious. She acts like I’m a leper. A leper who wants a bite of her sandwich.”
    Bree laughed. “You nailed it. She thinks you want her whole sandwich.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œYou’re a threat, honey. She’s got to run for office next year, and a bright young thing like you—­a local girl—­you could beat her. You’re a better trial