Fatal Judgment Read Free Page A

tomorrow.”
    She felt the blood drain from her face. “I’m not sure I can . . .” Her voice choked, and she swallowed. “Going back there will be very difficult.”
    “I understand that. But if your sister’s husband has an alibi, we need to consider other motives.” Cole rose. “If you have any other thoughts about what happened tonight, let Jake know and he’ll pass them on.”
    “Okay.”
    Standing, he directed his parting comment to his brother. “I’ll be in touch.”
    She watched as he exited and pulled the door half closed behind him.
    Several beats of silence passed. Her husband’s best friend remained standing, eyes veiled.
    “I’m sorry about your sister.”
    “Thanks.” She felt like a bug under a microscope, and gestured to the chair Cole had vacated. “You might want to sit. It’s going to be a long night.”
    After a brief hesitation, he pushed off from the wall, eased the chair away from her, and dropped into it.
    The silence lengthened again. Liz wasn’t up to small talk, but the quiet in the room felt uncomfortable. “I thought you were based in Washington.”
    “I was. But they needed more help here, and I volunteered to transfer. Family ties and all that. I only arrived two weeks ago.”
    Just her luck.
    “Was Jennifer able to get a . . . teaching job here?” It took her a moment to summon up the profession of the woman she’d never met. She’d always regretted not being able to go with Doug to the wedding in Virginia six years ago, after new evidence in a case she was handling came to light days before the trial was scheduled to begin. That hellish week of twenty-hour days could still make her shudder.
    A muscle twitched in his cheek. “Jen died four years ago.”
    Another wave of shock rippled through her. “I didn’t . . . I had no idea. I’m sorry.”
    “So am I.” The words came out gravelly, and he cleared his throat.
    “Was it an illness?”
    “No. Head injuries from a skiing accident.” He shifted in his seat. “Have you had any updates on your sister?”
    She got the hint. Subject closed.
    “No. They took her to surgery hours ago. I was about to ask one of the officers if he would . . .”
    The words died in her throat when a fortyish man dressed in scrubs pushed open the door and stepped inside. Jake rose at once and moved in front of her.
    “It’s okay,” she spoke up. “This is Dr. Lawrence. The surgeon.”
    His posture relaxed a fraction.
    “I’ll wait outside.” He started to exit.
    “You don’t have to leave.” She swallowed, trying to control the tremor in her voice. Whatever the doctor had to say, she didn’t want to face it alone. Despite Jake’s reserve, his solid presence felt somehow reassuring.
    He hesitated, one hand on the door, then stepped back into the room and gestured to the empty chair. “Take my seat, Doctor. I suspect you’ve had a long night.”
    “Thanks. I have.” The man pulled the chair closer to her and sat, his eyes weary.
    At his grim expression, Liz’s heart stuttered and she tried to brace herself. Though he hadn’t uttered a word, she already knew the bottom line.
    The news was bad.

2
     
    ______
     
    As the surgeon settled into his seat, Jake noticed two things.
    The shakes had spread from Liz’s hands to her whole body.
    And her grip on the disposable coffee cup was about to send a geyser of hot liquid spurting into the air—and onto her lap.
    Closing the distance between them, he reached for the cup. “I’ll hold this for a few minutes.”
    Instead of relinquishing her grip, she lifted her chin, giving him an up-close view of green eyes flecked with gold—and dulled by shock.
    She’d had about all she could take, he realized. And while he might not like her personally, he was responsible for her well-being. That included protecting her from self-inflicted burns.
    He peeled the fingers of one of her hands away from the cup and gave it a slight tug, gentling his voice. “Let it go, Liz.