Read Online The Killing Edge by Richard; Forrest - Free Book Online Page A

never even raised her voice like the last one that called me.”
    â€œLast who?”
    â€œMr. Detwilder’s wife out at the branch. When I was his secretary she got the same idea and made me leave. But they transferred me to the main office. They always do that. They all think I’m screwing their husbands. If they were any good at all in the sack their husbands wouldn’t be interested.”
    â€œYou have a point there, Sandra. Now, I’d like you to come to the station on your lunch hour and make a formal statement of exactly what you’ve told me. Ask for Sergeant Wilcox. Will you do that for me?”
    â€œIf I have to.”
    â€œYou do.”
    â€œMr. Barnes, what about Raleigh? He’s not in any kind of trouble, is he?”
    â€œI don’t know, Sandra. I really don’t know.”
    At 10:15 Raleigh and Noah Washington were sitting uneasily on the ancient leather couch along the wall in Will’s office. The stenographer sat primly before the desk with her transcription machine on a small portable table.
    â€œBefore any statement is taken, Will, I want it read into the record that my client is under a doctor’s care and is suffering extreme anxiety and other nervous disorders due to his recent experience.”
    â€œWe’ll note that, Noah. I also think we ought to clear the air of a few other items. Now, Raleigh, you state that you returned home about 8:45 and called your attorney almost immediately and then the police at 9:05.”
    â€œThat sounds about right.”
    â€œAnd you didn’t pass by the Silo Liquor Store a few minutes before its closing at eight?”
    â€œI couldn’t have and arrived home at 8:45. The store’s only a five or eight minute drive from my house.”
    â€œEven in the snow?”
    â€œEven in the snow.”
    Will flipped the intercom. “Send in Mr. McNulty.”
    As if he had been poised by the office door, Wally McNulty immediately entered. He wore soiled work pants, an old army overcoat of indeterminate age, and a week’s stubble of beard. He stopped in the center of the room and looked slowly around until his gaze focused on the couch where Raleigh sat.
    â€œThat’s him,” he said as his bony finger pointed toward Raleigh. “That’s the guy who almost knocked me off outside the liquor store last night. I took a swing at him, a real good haymaker that connected.”
    â€œAnd he gave you five dollars?”
    â€œYou bet your sweet ass he did,” Wally said and then put a grimy hand to his mouth as he looked at the stenographer.
    â€œWhat in hell is this?” Noah jumped to his feet and raised himself to his full five-foot height. “If this is some sort of lineup for identification, you know it’s illegal.”
    â€œI thought your client might appreciate a chance to change his story before it was put in the record.”
    Noah turned to Raleigh. “If you got home earlier, I advise you to tell the truth.”
    â€œMiss Devonshire says that you left the motel around 7:30 or 7:45.”
    The short attorney hunched forward with a hand clasped to his forehead. “Chief, if you don’t mind? I’d like a conference with my client.”
    â€œWe’re not trying to do any railroading, Noah. I only want a straightforward statement. Ten minutes long enough?”
    â€œThank you.”
    Will gestured to Wally and the stenographer to follow him from the room. He decided to give them fifteen minutes and used the time to take a formal statement from Wally.
    â€œYou couldn’t let me have five, could you, Chief? I been pretty helpful, right.”
    â€œNo, I couldn’t, Wally. How would that look in court if they said I gave you money.”
    â€œYeah, I guess you’re right. You know, I wouldn’t have taken a swing at the guy if I hadn’t been upset thinkin’ over Louis. In the winter, Louis and I always used to go to the