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

hospital for the AA treatment. Six weeks of good food and a warm bed. I wouldn’t have been wandering around in the snow.”
    â€œWhat happened to Louis?”
    â€œHe just took off one day. Said he had an offer for a crash someplace in the South. Last I heard of him.”
    Will glanced out the window at the falling snow. “I think your buddy had the right idea. Suppose I have someone drive you over to the hospital for the treatment program?”
    â€œWon’t be no fun without Louis, but maybe it’s better than fighting the weather.”
    Will signaled for an officer to take the wino over to the hospital and returned to his office. “Ready now?”
    â€œRaleigh is ready to make a truthful statement.”
    â€œFine.” Will gestured to the stenographer and then quickly mumbled the necessary introductions. “We’re ready. If you will identify yourself for the record, Raleigh.”
    â€œMy name is Raleigh Farnsworth Bridger. I am thirty-seven years old and live at 233 Point Drive, Lantern City. I am employed as Vice President and Chief Loan Officer of the Lantern City Savings Bank. On the night in question, I left the bank at five o’clock and met my secretary, Miss Sandra Devonshire, at the End of the Pier restaurant. We had one cocktail at the bar and left the restaurant. Wait. I think I should say that Miss Devonshire had been doing a great deal of personal work for me, correspondence and record keeping for a shopping center I own. The drink was only a small measure of my esteem for the …”
    Will held up his hand and cocked his little finger. The stenographer instantly stopped. “Will you please tell your client that all statements are checked and rechecked against other statements.”
    â€œIt is noted,” Noah replied.
    â€œFor God’s sake,” Raleigh said as he jumped up from the couch. “So I’d been banging her for six months. What difference does it make?”
    â€œPut that in the statement,” Will said.
    â€œWait. Let me rephrase it. Miss Devonshire and I had been intimately involved for some time.”
    â€œSix months.”
    â€œAll right, six months. We went to the Seaside Motel and got there about six.”
    â€œWhere you went every Friday?”
    â€œYes, every Friday. I register under the names of Mr. and Mrs. G. Kahn, if that satisfies you.”
    â€œEvery bit helps.”
    â€œI left the motel about quarter to eight and drove …”
    â€œAfter tucking her in.”
    â€œAfter having had sexual relations with Sandy. O.K.? She was gone when I left.”
    â€œYou’re sure?”
    â€œYes. I must have fallen asleep. I don’t know when she left. I said she was gone when I left.”
    â€œYou’re positive about who left first?”
    â€œAbsolutely. We both had our own cars, and hers was gone. I was also observant enough to notice that she wasn’t in bed with me when I woke up.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œNear eight o’clock on Forum Street, in front of the liquor store, I almost hit a damn bum who stepped out in the road in front of me. I have since learned that his name is Wally McNulty.”
    â€œYou gave him money?”
    â€œFive dollars, and then drove home. I noticed nothing unusual about the house. The lights were on, the front door was locked. When I entered the house I called for Mauve, and then found her in the living room. I thought she was dead.”
    â€œWhat time would you estimate that to be?”
    â€œAbout 8:15.”
    â€œAnd you called your lawyer and the police at 9 and 9:05 respectively?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat did you do during the hour in between?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œNothing at all?”
    â€œI wandered around, did some thinking, had a drink. I tried to call Sandy, but her line was busy. I was worried.”
    â€œAbout your affair, your marriage or financial problems?”
    â€œWait a