The Manhattan Hunt Club Read Online Free PDF Page B

other. Mary was sitting opposite their son, while a correction officer stood by the door, her expression utterly impassive. “Do you mind if I ask just what
is
going to help at this point?”
    As if no one in the room was familiar with the case except himself, Keith Converse began reciting the events of the past few months. “First they arrest Jeff while he was trying to help that woman. Then, instead of letting him go and giving him a medal like they should have, they charge him with everything they can think of. Then they find him guilty, just because the same woman looks like she’s half dead, and everyone feels sorry for her.” He held up a hand against the protest he could see rising in Mary. “I’m not saying I’m not sorry for what happened to her. I am. But you know her being in that wheelchair influenced the jury, and now Jeff has to serve a year in jail for something he didn’t do. And is the victim even happy that someone got convicted? Oh, no—her husband threatens to kill Jeff!” He shook his head in disgust, and his gaze settled on Sam Weisman. “You’re supposed to be a lawyer—can’t we charge him with something? He can’t just threaten Jeff like that, can he?”
    “He was upset, Dad,” Jeff said before Weisman could answer. “He didn’t mean it literally.”
    “Good God, will you listen to yourself?” Keith sighed, shaking his head. “I swear, sometimes I don’t understand what makes you tick. You’ve been convicted of a felony, and it doesn’t bother you that someone just threatened to kill you, too? Don’t you have any idea what kind of spot you’re in?”
    Jeff’s lips compressed. “I probably know what it means better than you do, Dad,” he said. He unconsciously placed his hand over Heather’s, his fingers tightening as his emotions threatened to erupt. “It’s over, Dad—they found me guilty, and there’s nothing that can be done about it. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. All I want to do now is get through the next seven months, and then get on with my life.”
    “What life?” Keith asked, his shoulders slumping tiredly. “You really think they’re going to take you back at Columbia after this?”
    “Keith, don’t,” Mary pleaded. “We should be giving Jeff our support, not—” Her voice broke in the sob she’d managed to hold in check until then. “Oh, God,” she whispered, turning from her husband to her son. “I’m sorry, Jeff. I promised myself that no matter what happened, I wasn’t going to fall apart.”
    “It’s okay, Mom,” Jeff told her. “If I’m lucky, I might be out in five months.” He forced a wry smile. “Hey, think of it as if I’m just taking a semester in Europe or something.”
    Heather snatched her hand away. “How can you joke about it? Do you have any idea what it’s like out there? Daddy says—”
    The mention of Perry Randall made Keith turn on her, his eyes smoldering. “Your ‘daddy’? You really think any of us care what your ‘daddy’ has to say?” Heather recoiled from the angry words, but Keith plunged on, finally finding a target upon which he could vent the frustration and anger that had been building in him over the months since Jeff’s arrest. “Did it ever occur to you that one word from your father would have ended all this months ago?”
    “He couldn’t—” Heather began, but Keith silenced her.
    “They don’t have to prosecute anything they don’t want to! The worst crooks in this city are walking the streets because they’re good buddies with guys like your father! You think I don’t know why he didn’t do something about this mess? It’s because people like him don’t think that what happens to people like us matters. So what if Jeff’s life is ruined? He doesn’t care!”
    Heather’s eyes blazed and she stood up. “If that’s what you think—” she began, but cut her own words short. There’d been tension between her father and Jeff’s for a long time—a