Weep No More My Lady Read Free Page B

Ted push Leila off the terrace at nine thirty-one.
    â€œWithout your testimony, that witness, Sally Ross, could be destroyed by the defense,” she heard William Murphy saying. “As you know, she has a history of severe psychiatric problems. It’s not good that she waited that length of time before coming forward with her story. The fact that her psychiatrist was out of town and she wanted to tell him first at least explains it somewhat.”
    â€œWithout my testimony it’s her word against Ted’s, and he denies going back up to Leila’s apartment.” When she had heard about the eyewitness, she had been outraged. She had totally trusted Ted until this man, William Murphy, told her that Ted denied going back to Leila’s apartment.
    â€œYou can swear that he was there, that they were quarreling, that the phone was slammed down at nine thirty. Sally Ross saw Leila pushed off the terrace at nine thirty-one. Ted’s story that he left Leila’s apartment at about ten after nine, went to his own apartment, made a phone call, then took a cab to Connecticut doesn’t hold up. In addition to what you and that other woman testify, we also have a strong circumstantial case. The scratches on his face. His skin tissue under Leila’s fingernails. The testimony of the cabbie that he was white as a sheet and trembling—he could hardly give directions to his place. And why the hell didn’t he send for his own chauffeur to take him to Connecticut? Because he was in a panic, that’s why! He can’t come forward with proof of anyone he reached on the phone. He has a motive—Leila rejected him. But one thing you have to realize: the defense will harp on the fact that you and Ted Winters were so close after her death.”
    â€œWe were the two people who loved her best,” Elizabeth said quietly. “Or at least, I thought we were. Please, can I go now?”
    â€œWe’ll leave it at that. You do look pretty beat. This is going to be a long trial, and it won’t be pleasant. Try to relax next week. Have you decided where you’ll be staying these next few days?”
    â€œYes. Baroness von Schreiber has invited me to be her guest at Cypress Point Spa.”
    â€œI hope you’re joking.”
    Elizabeth stared at him. “Why would I joke about that?”
    Murphy’s eyes narrowed. His face flushed and his cheekbones suddenly became prominent. He seemed to be struggling not to raise his voice. “Miss Lange, I don’t think you appreciate the seriousness of your position. Without you, the other witness would be annihilated by the defense. That means that your testimony is about to put one of the richest and most influential men in this country in prison for at least twenty years, and thirty if I can make Murder Two stick. If this were a Mafia case I’d have you hidden away in a hotel under an assumed name and with a police guarduntil this trial is over. Baron and Baroness von Schreiber may be friends of yours, but they’re also friends of Ted Winters’ and are coming to New York to testify for him. And you seriously propose to stay with them at this time?”
    â€œI know that Min and the Baron are testifying as character witnesses for Ted,” Elizabeth said. “They don’t think he’s capable of murder. If I hadn’t heard him with my own ears I wouldn’t have believed it either. They’re following their conscience. I’m following mine. We all do what we have to do.”
    She was not prepared for the tirade Murphy let loose at her. His urgent, sometimes sarcastic words pounded in her ears. “There’s something fishy about that invitation. You should see that for yourself. You claim the Von Schreibers loved your sister? Then ask yourself why the hell they’re going to bat for her murderer. I insist you keep away from them, if not for my sake or your own neck then because you want justice