Trial by Fury (9780061754715) Read Online Free PDF Page A

he’s dead?” She choked over the last word.
    â€œAs I said, Mrs. Ridley. We’re not sure. From looking at the picture, I’d say it was the same man, but that doesn’t constitute a positive identification. There’s certainly a strong resemblance.”
    She leaned back against the couch, resting her head on the wall behind her, closing her eyes. Her breathing quickened. I was afraid she was going to faint. Alarmed, I got up and went to her.
    â€œAre you all right, Mrs. Ridley? Can I getyou something? A glass of water? Something stronger?”
    She looked up at me through eyes bright with tears. “Where is he?”
    â€œThe medical examiner’s office. Harborview Medical Center.”
    â€œAnd you came to take me there?”
    I nodded. “If you’re up to going. You could send someone else—a relative, a close friend. A person in your condition…”
    She stood up abruptly. “I’ll go.”
    â€œYou’re sure it won’t be too hard on you?”
    â€œI said I’ll go,” she repeated.
    She paused by the door long enough to pull on a pair of leg warmers and some short boots. She draped a long yellow wool shawl over her shoulders. “I’m ready,” she said.
    Outside, I helped her into my car. Sports cars are not built with pregnant ladies in mind, whether or not they do aerobics. There was absolute silence between us during the drive to Harborview. She asked no questions; I offered no information. What could I say?
    A brand new, peach-fuzzed night tech in Doc Baker’s office came out of the back as we entered. “What can I do for you?”
    â€œI’m Detective Beaumont. Seattle P.D. I believe we have a tentative identification on the Queen Anne victim.”
    â€œGreat!” He glanced at Joanna Ridley’s somber face. She stood there silently, bitingher lower lip. He curbed some of his youthful enthusiasm. “Sure thing,” he said. “If you’ll wait here for a couple of minutes…”
    He disappeared down a short hallway. I offered Joanna a chair, which she refused. Instead, she walked over to the doorway and stood peering out. Harborview Medical Center sits on the flank of First Hill. Even from the ground floor she could look down at the city spread out below and beyond the early evening hazy glow of parking lot lights. Eventually, the tech came back for us.
    â€œRight this way, miss,” he said. I winced. He wasn’t going to win any prizes for diplomacy, or for observation either, for that matter.
    He led us down the same hallway and stopped in front of a swinging laboratory door. He pushed it open and held it for her to enter. Joanna seemed to falter. I didn’t blame her. Eventually, she got a grip on herself and went inside. I followed her, with the tech bringing up the rear.
    A sheet-draped figure lay on a gurney in the far corner of the room. “This way, please,” the tech said.
    Joanna Ridley didn’t move. She seemed frozen to the spot. I stepped to her side and took hold of an arm, just above the elbow. Gently, I led her forward.
    The tech moved to the head of the gurney and held up a corner of the sheet far enoughto expose the still face beneath it. In the quiet room, Joanna gave a sudden, sharp intake of breath and turned away.
    â€œI need to lie down,” she said.

CHAPTER
4
    I led Joanna Ridley into a small, private waiting room and helped her lie down on a dilapidated couch. The tech brought a glass of water. “Is she going to be all right?” he asked nervously. “I can call somebody down from Emergency.”
    Glancing back at her, I saw tears streaming down her face. She didn’t need a doctor or a whole roomful of people. “No,” I told him. “She’ll be okay. I’ll let you know if she needs help.”
    The tech backed out of the room. I set the water down on a table without offering any to her. She didn’t need