The Naked Face by Sidney Sheldon Read Free Book Online Page A

State Department, and when he had remarried and moved to California, she had gone to work at the UN as an interpreter. She spoke fluent French, Italian, and Spanish. She had met her future husband in the Bahamas when she was on vacation. He owned a construction firm. Anne had not been attracted to him at first, but he had been a persistent and persuasive suitor. Two months after they met, Anne had married him. She had now been married for six months. They lived on an estate in New Jersey. And that was all Judd had been able to find out about her in half a dozen visits. He still had not the slightest clue as to what her problem was. She had an emotional block about discussing it He remembered some of the questions be had asked her during their first session. 'Does your problem involve your husband, Mrs. Blake?' No answer. 'Are you and your husband compatible, physically?' 'Yes.' Embarrassed. 'Do you suspect him of having an affair with another woman?' 'No.' Amused. 'Are you having an affair with another man?* 'No.' Angry. He hesitated, trying to figure out the best approach to take to break down the barrier. He decided on a buckshot technique: he would touch on every major category until he struck a nerve. 'Do you quarrel about money?' 'No. He's very generous.' 'Any in-law problems?' 'He's an orphan. My father lives in California.' ”Were you or your husband ever addicted to drugs?' 'No.' 'Do you suspect your husband of being homosexual?' A low, warm laugh. 'No.' He pressed on, because he had to. 'Have you ever had a sexual relationship with a woman?' 'No.' Reproachful. He had touched on alcoholism, frigidity, a pregnancy she was afraid to face - everything he could think of. And each time she had looked at him with her thoughtful, intelligent eyes and had merely shaken her head. Whenever he tried to pin her down, she would head him off with, 'Please be patient with me. Let me do it my own way.' With anyone else, he might have given up. But he knew that he had to help her. And he had to keep seeing her. He had let her talk about any subject she chose. She had travelled to a dozen countries with her father and had met fascinating people. She had a quick mind and an unexpected humour. He found that diey liked the same books, the same music, the same playwrights. She was warm and friendly, but Judd could never detect the slightest sign that she reacted to him as anything other than a doctor. It was bitter irony. He had been subconsciously searching for someone like Anne for years, and now that she had walked into his life, his job was to help her solve whatever her problem was and send her back to her husband. Now, as Anne walked into the office, Judd moved to the chair next to the couch and waited for her to lie down. 'Not today,' she said quietly. 'I just came to see if I could help.' He stared at her, speechless for a moment. His emotions had been stretched so tight in the past two days that her unexpected sympathy unnerved him. As he looked at her, he had a wild impulse to pour out everything that was happening to him. To tell her about the nightmare that was engulfing him, about McGreavy and his idiotic suspicions. But he knew he could not. He was the doctor and she was his patient Worse than that. He was in love with her, and she was the untouchable wife of a man he did not even know. She was standing there, watching him. He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. 'I liked Carol so much,' said Anne. 'Why would anyone kill her?' 'I don't know,' said Judd. 'Don't the police have any idea who did it?' Do they? Judd thought bitterly. If she only knew. Anne was looking at him curiously. 'The police have some theories,' Judd said. 'I know how terrible you must feel. I just wanted to come and tell you how very sorry I am. I wasn't even sure you'd be in the office today.' 'I wasn't going to come in,' Judd said. 'But - well, here I am. As long as we're both here, why don't we talk a little about you?' Anne hesitated. 'I'm not sure