Read Online Dead Even by Emma Brookes - Free Book Online

know—regardless of their ‘book learnin’!” She chuckled softly. “You might be able to fool others, Gerald included, with your ‘dumb old woman’ routine, but don’t try it on me. I know better. And I trust your judgement. You know I do.”
    Audra stood and faced Mike, suddenly decisive. “Okay. Let’s go to the station and fill out those reports. Quickly, before I lose my nerve.”
    *   *   *
    That evening, Audra found herself defending her actions.
    â€œI can’t believe you actually went through with this crazy notion, Audra,” Gerald said stiffly. “What if the board gets wind of what you’re doing? Hell, for all you know, that voice on the radio could be one of the board members—or one of their family—or a priest—or a minister! Why didn’t you wait until we had discussed it before actually making out a report?”
    â€œWhat you mean is, why didn’t I wait until you had talked me out of doing anything. Isn’t that it, Gerald?”
    He was amazed at her accurate assessment, but denied it vehemently. “No! That isn’t what I meant. There were several other avenues we could have explored before going to the police. We could have found out who the man was, and let you see him, before going any further. If you recognized him, fine. We could have then gone ahead. But now your name is on record as accusing this person of a heinous crime. If he isn’t the man, that’s bad enough, but what if he is the man? How long do you think it will take him to discover your name? What if he comes after you again? Have you given any thought to that?”
    Audra sat down quickly on the sofa in her living room, her shaking legs giving way. It had all seemed so easy at the police station. Everyone had been courteous and polite, taking her seriously as nearly as she could tell. Mike had stayed right by her side the entire time. “He—they told me my name would not be given out—not until much later. They are just going to check up on the man—his alibi, if he has a record, that sort of thing.”
    Gerald shook his head in disbelief. “But don’t you see, Audra? Once they start questioning him, he will know it has to be you! Is there any way he could have found out your name ten years ago?”
    â€œNo. I don’t think so. My name was kept from the papers, and the hospital was ordered not to give out any information about the crime. My name was never even officially entered on the hospital computers. My father saw to that, personally. When the police told him it would be unsafe for me if the man determined my name, since I could identify him, my father made sure he couldn’t reach me through the hospital computers. He—he worked with computers, knew they could be accessed.” Audra’s eyes filled with tears as she remembered. “Dad caused quite a ruckus over it, actually. Threatened to sue if my name was entered! One of the girls told me about it after—after his heart attack. She said I was lucky to have a father who cared that much.”
    Gerald stopped pacing and sat down beside Audra. “Then all we have to worry about is whether or not this guy can get your name from the police here—if he is the man, which, of course, is questionable. If he isn’t, we have a whole other set of problems.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œLike accusing an innocent person, dragging him through a police investigation, the paper getting hold of it, that sort of thing. How long do you think you’ll keep your job at William’s if this gets out? And have you forgotten we have a wedding in three weeks?”
    â€œNo, I haven’t forgotten, Gerald! This doesn’t have to change any of our plans.” Audra hesitated briefly, then decided to get it over with. “And speaking of the wedding, I suppose you know that I want Bess to sit in as my mother. We