The Wages of Sin by Nancy Allen Read Free Book Online Page A

ago. They did in fact look grimy.
    â€œIs that a problem? Those windows are a hundred years old.” She didn’t follow Madeleine’s train of thought. Perhaps, she thought, her head was still too muddy.
    â€œIt’s going to be the death of me,” Madeleine whispered.
    â€œWhat?” Elsie sat up on the bench. “You’re not talking about the windows?”
    â€œHeavens no,” Madeleine snapped, glancing at Elsie. “The case. I’m too old for this. I simply must have someone help me.”
    â€œMadeleine, you’ve got me.” Elsie’s voice held an apologetic note.
    Madeleine responded with a pointed look. After a pregnant pause, she gave a decisive nod. “I’m calling in the general.”
    Elsie was working on a fitting reply when the courtroom door opened and a hum of voices distracted her. Eldon and Deputy Franks, joined by two other deputies, walked through the door with Larry Paul, flanking him on both sides. Josh Nixon followed a pace behind.
    â€œMr. Nixon,” Madeleine said, her voice sharp.
    Nixon turned and gave her an inquiring glance. When she waved him over, he walked toward the women. Once he was within earshot, Madeleine said with a hiss, “We are calling in the Missouri Attorney General. I just wanted you to know.”
    â€œWhy? Can’t you handle your own case? With your ace assistant?”
    Nixon gave Elsie a wink. She ignored it.
    â€œI can certainly handle my case. But you apparently can’t control your client.” Madeleine’s voice grew shrill. “Maybe the Attorney General can bring you both under control.”
    The exchange was drawing a crowd. Three reporters stood nearby, looking on with growing interest. One of them adjusted a microphone on his navy jacket.
    The reporter with the microphone edged closer to Madeleine. “Can we ask some questions, when you have a minute?”
    â€œThe prosecution can’t comment,” Madeleine said. Nixon backed away from her, laughing with scorn. The Public Defender often accused the McCown County Prosecutor’s Office of pandering to the press, to the detriment of the defendants. They had once filed an ethics complaint against Elsie for speaking out in front of reporters. Though the charge was later withdrawn, the recollection still irked her. She wanted to wipe the snotty grin off Josh Nixon’s face.
    Madeleine turned her back on the group and headed toward the worn marble stairway. Rising from the bench, Elsie followed Madeleine down the stairs, trying to keep pace, though she was still wobbly.
    â€œMadeleine,” she said, pleading, “don’t bring in a stranger. It’s not necessary. We can do this.”
    At the bottom of the steps, Madeleine spun to confront her. “Have you taken the child’s statement yet? The eyewitness?”
    Elsie grasped the brass handrail, adding her fingerprints to scores of others tarnishing the metal. “No. Not yet.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œYou didn’t tell me—­” When Elsie saw Madeleine’s complexion take on a scarlet hue, she backpedaled. “I didn’t think there was a rush. We haven’t even been set for preliminary hearing yet.”
    â€œWe have now. While you wallowed on the bench in the hallway, Judge Carter set it for preliminary hearing. Next week.”
    Elsie whistled. “That’s pretty soon.”
    â€œGet that social worker, Tina what’s-­her-­name, and go take that child’s statement. I need her ready.” With a warning glance, she said: “You better be able to get her on the stand a week from Friday.”
    Madeleine stormed off in the direction of the women’s restroom. Elsie really needed to relieve herself, too. She watched Madeleine open the bathroom door with a bang.
    I can hold it, she thought, and headed to her own office.

 
    Chapter Ten
    At four o’clock in the afternoon, Elsie sat in the