The Unbidden Truth by Kate Wilhelm Read Free Book Online

now.” He was hardly out the door before she was at the phone dialing the number for Stuart Colbert. She reached Adrienne Colbert and made an appointment to talk with them both on Friday afternoon. Adrienne had a shrill voice and asked many questions before agreeing to see her. Barbara walked to the outer office and asked Maria to get her a seat on a flight to Phoenix. Carrie arrived then.
    She was still in the outer office after introducing Carrie toShelley and Maria, when to her surprise Frank turned up. “Good morning,” he said. “I was on the way to my office and thought I’d drop in to meet our new client.”
    He looked very much the successful attorney in his pale gray summer suit and white shirt and tie. Barbara made the introduction, then added, “Dad often works on my cases with us.”
    â€œHow do you do, Ms. Frederick,” Frank said, taking her hand. “I won’t stay this morning, but I hope to see more of you as we work on your behalf. Are you comfortable enough in your motel room?”
    Although Carrie had appeared measurably more relaxed when she arrived, she looked puzzled and a touch apprehensive as they shook hands. “My room is a lot more comfortable than the one I just left,” she said. “It’s fine.”
    â€œGood. Well, I’ll be on my way.”
    And what was that all about? Barbara wondered, shook her head and took Carrie on back to her office.
    â€œWhat we’ll do is sit over here,” Barbara said, motioning to the sofa and chairs by the coffee table. “Coffee, tea, soda, anything like that for you?” Carrie said no. “Okay, maybe a little later. Just get comfortable and we’ll talk. I want to go over the statements the police collected, tell you what they have and ask questions. If you get tired, or want to use the rest room, or decide you want something to drink, just holler. Okay?”
    â€œSure.” Carrie looked around at the office, then said, “This looks good. Impressive.”
    â€œShelley’s father and mine outfitted it,” Barbara said. “Proud daddies, I guess. On my budget it would have been secondhand stuff, crates, cushions on the floor.”
    Carrie flashed her big toothy smile, not believing a word of it apparently.
    â€œWhat I want to start with is the night Wenzel was killed. Tell me what you did when you finished playing.”
    â€œI told you. I got up and left. Out to my car—”
    â€œHold it. I mean a step-by-step playback. You finished playing, then what?”
    â€œI got up and walked around the bar, through the door to the office behind the bar.” She paused. “Like that?”
    â€œExactly. Did you take your glass with you?”
    â€œNo. I never did. Or the bowl with tips either. Mickey always waited a few minutes for customers to toss tips into the bowl and then brought the bowl back to the office for me. Anyway, next to the office there’s a dressing room with lockers, and I went there for my purse. I washed my face. I get sweaty playing that long. And tied my hair up off my neck. Mark told me to let it down when I play, more glamorous that way, he said. So I tied it up, went back to the office and put the tips in my purse, and gave Mickey a five. He’s the bartender. And I left. Wenzel was by his door when I passed and grabbed my arm. I pulled away and walked faster. The employees had to park in the back. He followed me and I just kept walking. At the car he tried to hold the door open. I already told you all this.”
    â€œRight. Let’s backtrack a little. Did you always tip the bartender?”
    â€œYes. The first night I played he brought me a mixed drink and I told him I don’t drink. I do, a little, but only wine and only with food. Hard liquor makes me sick. He said a customer ordered it, and if I didn’t have something there, someone else probably would order another one. I asked him to bring me water,