Sullivan's Law by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg Read Free Book Online Page B

“The school needs to put in more lights. It’s far too dark. This should have been taken care of last year. I’ll call the board of regents tomorrow and have a word with them.”
    â€œCan I try to get it started?” Carolyn asked, slipping her backpack off her shoulders as she reached for the door to the Acura.
    â€œCertainly,” Judge Shoeffel said, handing her the keys. “I intended to wait in the car with the doors locked. I was afraid the tow truck driver wouldn’t see me. I guess I don’t set a very good example for a woman in my position.”
    Carolyn turned the key in the ignition. All she heard was a clicking sound. She tried again. This time the engine sputtered, then died. Depressing the gas pedal several times, she waited a while, then gave it another shot. The engine finally engaged.
    The judge was peering in through the window. “Let’s make sure it doesn’t die before you take off,” Carolyn told her. “I think your starter needs to be replaced. Either that or the fuel pump. Wait about five minutes before you cancel your road service, then I’ll follow you home.”
    â€œI really hate to inconvenience you this way.”
    Carolyn gave her a warm smile. “I left a disk with my paper on it on your desk. I stayed late to complete it. I’m a single parent. Between my children and the job, getting my law degree is probably more fantasy than reality.”
    â€œSay no more,” Arline said, holding up a palm. “If you hadn’t stopped to help me, I might have been assaulted. Did you hear about the young girl who was raped this past weekend?”
    â€œYes,” Carolyn said, reaching inside the car to retrieve her backpack. “They believe the man who did it was one of my probationers.”
    â€œGood Lord,” Arline said, a look of shock on her face. “No wonder you didn’t have time to finish your work. At least you can relax now that the police have apprehended him.”
    â€œWhen?” Carolyn asked, excited. “Are you certain?”
    â€œI heard a report on the radio a few minutes before class this evening. His name was Edward Downly. Is that the name of your probationer?”
    â€œYes.” Carolyn was grateful that she could go to bed with the knowledge that Fast Eddie wasn’t roaming the streets looking for another victim. She wondered why Brad or someone at the PD hadn’t notified her. Maybe the judge was mistaken and they’d only released Downly’s identity. Pulling out her cell phone, she checked her messages and heard Brad’s voice. “Told you they’d get him,” he said. “The PD busted Downly at that barbecue joint on the corner of Clairmont and Owens that you listed as one of his favorite hangouts.”
    â€œThank God,” Carolyn told the judge, slipping the phone back into her purse. “It’s hard when one of the people you’re responsible for does something this despicable.”
    Arline placed her hand on Carolyn’s shoulder. “How’s the girl?”
    â€œThe doctors think she’ll make a full recovery,” she answered, the two women connecting on a more intimate level. “Physically, anyway. Because he strangled her, they were worried about brain damage. She’ll never feel safe again, that’s for sure. I had the guy. I didn’t see it.” She touched her finger to her left eye, wiping away a tear. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to unload on you. You carry fifty times more responsibility than I do.”
    â€œIf only we could find a way to prevent these dreadful crimes from happening,” Arline told her, behind the wheel of her car now. “One day, instead of streetlights on every corner, there’ll be surveillance cameras.”
    Carolyn was still thinking about Eddie Downly. She finally responded to the judge’s statement. “Is that where you think we’re