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

that there's anything to talk about any more.' Judd felt his heart jump. Please, God, don't let her say that I'm not going to see her any more. 'I'm going to Europe with my husband next week.' 'That's wonderful,' he made himself say. 'I'm afraid I've wasted your time, Dr. Stevens, and I apologize.' 'Please don't,' Judd said. He found that his voice was husky. She was walking out on him. But of course she couldn't know that He was being infantile. His mind told him this clinically while his stomach ached with the physical hurt of her going away. For ever. She opened her purse and took out some money. She was in the habit of paying in cash after each visit, unlike his other patients, who sent him cheques. 'No,' said Judd quickly. “You came here as a friend. I'm - grateful.' Judd did something he had never done before with a patient. 'I would like you to come back once more,' he said. She looked up at him quietly. 'Why?' Because I can't bear to let you go so soon, he thought. Because I'll never meet anyone like you again. Because 1 wish I had met you first. Because I love you. Aloud he said, 'I thought we might - round things out. Talk a little to make sure that you really are over your problem.' She smiled mischievously. 'You mean you want me to come back for my graduation?' 'Something like that,' he said. ”Will you do it?' 'If you want me to - of course.' She rose. 'I haven't given you a chance with me. But I know you're a wonderful doctor. If I should ever need help, I'd come to you.' She held out her hand and he took it She had a warm, firm handclasp. He felt again that compelling current that ran between diem and marvelled that she felt nothing. 'I'll see you Friday,' she said. 'Friday.' He watched her walk out the private door leading to the corridor, then sank into a chair. He had never felt so completely alone in his life. But he couldn't sit here and do nothing. There had to be an answer, and if McGreavy wasn't going to find it, he had to discover it before McGreavy destroyed hint. On the dark side, Lieutenant McGreavy suspected him of two murders that he couldn't prove he did not commit. He might be arrested at any moment, which would mean that his professional life would be destroyed. He was in love with a married woman he would only see once more. He forced himself to turn to the bright side. He couldn't think of a single bloody thing,

Chapter Five
    The rest of the day went by as though he were under water. A few of the patients made reference to Carol's murder, but the more disturbed ones were so self-absorbed that they could only think of themselves and their problems. Judd tried to concentrate, but bis thoughts kept drifting away, trying to find answers to what had happened. He would go over the tapes later to pick up what he had missed. At seven o'clock, when Judd had ushered out the last patient, he went over to the recessed liquor cabinet and poured himself a stiff scotch. It hit him with a jolt, and he suddenly remembered that he had not had any breakfast or lunch. The thought of food made him ill. He sank into a chair and thought about the two murders. There was nothing in the case histories of any of his patients that would cause someone to commit murder. A blackmailer might have tried to steal them. But blackmailers were cowards, preying on the weaknesses of others, and if Carol had caught one breaking hi and he had killed her, it would have been done quickly, with a single blow. He would not have tortured her. There had to be some other explanation. Judd sat there a long time, his mind slowly sifting the events of the past two days. Finally he sighed and gave it up. He looked at the clock and was startled to see how late it was. By the time he left Ms office, it was after nine o'clock. As he stepped out of the lobby into the street, a blast of icy wind hit him. It had started to snow again. The snow swirled through the sky, gently blurring everything so that it looked as though the city had been