Trial by Fury (9780061754715) Read Online Free PDF

plain water, either.
    For several long minutes, I waited for her sobs to become quiet. Eventually, they did, a little. “Mrs. Ridley,” I asked gently, “is thereanything I can do to help? Someone I can call?”
    Her sobs intensified into an anguished wail. “How could this happen when the baby…”
    She broke off suddenly, and my adrenaline started pumping. “The baby! Is it coming now? Should I call a doctor?”
    Joanna shook her head. “My baby’s not even born yet, and his father’s…” She stopped again, unable to continue.
    My own relief was so great, I walked to the table and helped myself to her glass of water, all of it, before I spoke, offering what comfort I could. “It’ll be all right. You’ll see. Really, isn’t there someone I can call?”
    Her sobbing ceased abruptly. Raising herself up on one elbow, she glared at me angrily. In her eyes I was something less than an unfeeling clod. “You don’t understand. My baby’s father is dead.”
    Unfortunately, I did understand, all too well. I knew far better than she did what was ahead for both her and her baby. From personal experience. Except my mother hadn’t had so much as a marriage certificate to back her up when I was born. Society was a hell of a lot less permissive back in the forties.
    â€œMy mother did it,” I said quietly. “You can, too.”
    She looked at me silently for a long moment, assimilating what I had said. Then, before she could respond, the technician burst into theroom. “Dr. Baker’s on the phone. He wants to talk to you, Detective Beaumont.” The tech bounded back out of the room with me right behind him. “He wants to know who it was,” he said over his shoulder.
    â€œHow the hell did he find out?”
    â€œHe told me to call if we came up with something.”
    â€œWhat do you mean we ?” I fumed.
    He led me into another office, picked up a telephone receiver, and held it toward me. I snatched it from his hand.
    â€œBeaumont,” I growled into the phone.
    â€œUnderstand you’ve got a positive ID. Good work, Beau. That was quick. What have you got?”
    â€œWho the fuck do you think you are, calling me to the phone like this? I just barely found out myself. All I know so far is a name and address.”
    â€œWell, get on with it for chrissakes.”
    â€œLook, Baker. That poor woman just learned her husband’s dead. I’ll start asking questions when I’m damn good and ready.”
    â€œDon’t be a prima donna, Beau. Give me what you have.”
    â€œLike hell!”
    I flung the receiver at the startled tech, who stared at me dumbfounded. I hurried back down the hall to the room where Joanna Ridley waited. The phone rang again, but I didn’tpause long enough to hear what the tech said to his irate boss. Besides, I was sure Baker’s next phone call would be to either Captain Powell or Sergeant Watkins.
    Hustling back into the waiting room, I startled Joanna Ridley, who was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. There was no time to waste in idle explanations. “Come on,” I said, helping her up. “Let’s get out of here.”
    â€œWhere are we going?”
    â€œI’ll take you home. We’ve got to go now, before we’re overrun with cops and reporters.”
    The tech had followed me. We ran into him head-on in the doorway. He was carrying a metal clipboard and had a pen poised to take down information. “Detective Beaumont, you can’t leave.”
    â€œOh, yeah? Watch me!”
    â€œBut I need some information…”
    â€œYou’ll have it when I’m damn good and ready.”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Joanna managed as I hurried her, half-resisting, out the door and down the hallway.
    â€œThis place is going to be crawling with officers and reporters in about two minutes flat.”
    The technician