Guilt by G. H. Ephron Read Free Book Online Page A

“You’re interrupting our class. I’m asking you to leave.”
    â€œCunt,” Klevinski said, and faced off opposite her.
    Go ahead, Annie thought, make a move. I’d just love to wipe your smug expression off on the floor.
    â€œYou slimy-assed bitch.” Klevinski raised his hand to grab Annie’s wrist.
    Before she was even aware of her own movement, Annie had grabbed his arm at the elbow and pulled him off balance. In an instant, she’d pivoted behind him. She had his elbow anchored, and was pressing down hard on the back of his hand. It was a very effective hold and excruciatingly painful.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Annie said. “Not as much fun, is it, when you’re on the receiving end?”
    He struggled to get loose, but Annie had his arm locked in place. She increased the pressure on the back of his hand, harder and harder until he screamed in pain. Such a satisfying sound. Just a little harder and the bone would crack. It didn’t take much, if you knew where to press.
    â€œAnnie!” Freddie shouted. She’d managed to get free of the padding. “Ease up.” Her voice was calm, authoritative, but her eyes were tense with alarm. The women stood in stunned silence.
    Annie eased the pressure and felt Klevinski go slack.
    â€œSomeone call the police,” Annie said.
    No one moved.
    Annie strained over her shoulder to see. Jackie was leaning on Molly and weeping. “Annie, let him go, please,” Jackie begged.
    â€œYou know what’s going to happen. He’ll be back another time, another place, looking for you. It’s just a matter of time before—”
    â€œLet him go,” Jackie said, louder this time. “Please. I can’t do this.”
    Annie couldn’t hold onto Klevinski and argue with Jackie at the same time. He let her propel him out into the hall.
    Still holding on, she said under her breath, “If it were up to me, I’d have broken your arm and had you thrown in jail.”
    â€œAnd I’d have sued the crap out of you,” he said. “For Christ’s sake, she’s my wife. I just wanted to talk to her.”
    â€œThe restraining order says you can’t. But you think you’re special, don’t you? That none of this is your fault. I know all about men like you.”
    He gave Annie a hard look, like he was trying to memorize her face. “I’ll bet you do.” He ran his tongue over his lips. “Like it rough, don’t you?”
    It took everything Annie had to keep from losing it. “You sonofabitch. Stay away from her.”
    â€œYou know, this is none of your fucking business.”
    Annie wanted to grab one of Freddie’s trophies and whack the bastard across the head with it. Instead, she renewed the pressure on his wrist until he was up on his toes, swearing and howling with pain.
    â€œAll right, all right. I’m going,” he managed to say.
    Annie knew she was going to regret this, but she had no choice. She loosened her hold and he broke away.
    She followed him out to his truck. He stood out there massaging his wrist, his eyes a pair of burnt-out coals. Finally he turned and left. The winch on the back of the disappearing truck reminded her—wasn’t he a mechanic? Wouldn’t that give him easy access to whatever it took to make a bomb? Annie made a mental note to call and make sure Joe Klevinski was on Mac’s list of suspects.
    â€œWhat the hell’s the matter with you, girl?” Freddie asked her when Annie came back inside. “You better be careful or you’ll find yourself with a great big bull’s-eye across your back.”
    *   *   *
    After class, Jackie and Annie sat on folding chairs in the empty studio. Jackie had dark smudges under her eyes. She explained that she’d been afraid to go home. She and Sophie had spent another night with Peter’s mother. She’d walked Sophie