RAPE-Serialized version

Hi Everyone:

I am pleased to publish chapter 9 of my novel, RAPE. After reading the chapter, I hope you will comment on it. As you know, your comments and suggestions influence my revision. If you missed any of the previous chapters, check the archives.

 I also encourage you to visit my website:  joshswritingroom.com/ where you will find a short story by the author of “FLIRTING WITH DISASTER,” Janet Kleinman. 

You can also check out my e-published novels. If you find one to your liking, you can purchase it from Amazon.com, or from Barnes and Noble. You’ll find links on the website taking you right to it.

PATH TO A PARDON,

THE EINDHOVEN STRATEGY,

& PALM BEACH STYLE.

As I publish each new chapter, the previous chapter(s) should be archived, so you can easily catch up. Your suggestions will be appreciated and will receive careful consideration.

                                           CHAPTER 9

Joe Flaherty parked his Lincoln on the driveway, behind a large Rolls Royce with Massachusetts plates and strode to the front porch. At his knock, Hannah opened the door, and he stepped across the threshold onto the marble flooring of the vestibule. Before he had time to introduce himself Carol appeared. From his conversation with Gary, he had expected an imposing female, but here she stood looking up at him, all five foot, two of her. Just a slip of a girl, he thought. 

She accepted the business card he thrust her way. “Won’t you step into the living-room and meet my mother and father. They just arrived from Boston today.”

He followed her into the large room with its comfortable, modern Scandinavian furniture where he met Randolph and Jenny Howe. Randolph, a tall, handsome man stood, and grasped his hand before pinching the creases in his slacks, and taking a seat in a low backed swivel chair. The lawyer decided that while Carol and her mother were nearly the same height and had pointy chins, she had luckily inherited her father’s blond hair, blue grey eyes, and high cheekbones.

“Just arrived today, did you say?”

Carol nodded, “Yes, just a few hours ago.”

The lawyer looked at Randolph. “And did you have a pleasant trip?”

“Actually, I prefer flying but Jenny insisted on driving. We want Carol and the children to come home with us so having the car does permit us to carry more.”

Flaherty shifted his black eyes to zero in on Carol’s pale face. “Aye, and with yer man in a bit of trouble, and needing all the support he can get, you’re considering going north?”

 Carol looked down in her lap at the palms of her hands; “I—I am thinking about it, but I haven’t decided yet.”

“Now, Carol,” her mother said in a firm tone. “You know perfectly well that it’s what you need to do to protect your children. Gary got himself into this mess, he’s a grown man, and he has a lawyer to help him. What can you possibly do for him?”

Randolph rose, “Jenny, I think it’s time to go upstairs and put our things away. I believe Mr. Flaherty needs to talk to Carol without any interference from us. Carol knows we’re here if she needs us.” He held out his hand and waited for his wife to take it; together they walked to the circular staircase. Jenny stopped at the foot of the stairs about to turn, but Randolph patted her hand and said, “Not now, dear!”

Once they were out of sight, Carol moved closer to the attorney. “How is Gary?”

“He’s all right, concerned, but all right. You know his arraignment is tomorrow. Speaking frankly, I cannot begin to tell you how important it is for the judge to see that the defendant’s wife believes in and supports her husband, and that goes double if there is a subsequent trial. You do believe in Gary’s innocence, don’t you?”

“You were frank with me, Mr. Flaherty, so I’ll be just as frank with you. At this moment, I’m not so sure that I can show Gary that kind of support. He told me that the West woman made a pass at him and that he didn’t—didn’t do anything. To be honest, I’m not so sure. Look what it’s done to me! All my friends have deserted me, and my neighbors snub me. Besides, staying here isn’t fair to my children. They’ve already been subjected to ridicule.”

The lawyer scratched at the wiry hair above his right ear. “Lass, tell me the truth, before this actress accused Gary, did you ever have reason to doubt his loyalty?”

Carol closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she again looked down at her hands and their interlocking fingers. “I—I don’t know what to say. Mind you, I don’t have any proof, he’s cunning, but when we first came here, he hired this secretary. Her name is Alana, and he always paid a lot of attention to her. He claimed that he had only been friendly, too damned friendly if you ask me.”

Flaherty took a deep breath, “But you admit you no have proof.”

“No, I never found lipstick smears or anything like that. He just paid her too much attention and I sometimes get that same feeling about Erica, his present secretary.”

Flaherty shook his head, “I don’t know anything about that. Whatever happened to this Alana?”

“She quit. I think she married a man from Georgia and moved there. Anyway, Gary doesn’t deny seeing this actress. She’s very glamorous, and all the stories in the newspapers sound so convincing.”

“Mrs. Sanders, for that very reason, you need to put aside all of your doubts and give your husband whatever support you can. Keep in mind, he’s nay on trial for being unfaithful; he’s charged with committing a violent crime. If you fail to show up, what kind of message will you be sending your children? What will the jury think? How will the news media cover it? Tell me, if you were the one on trial, don’t you think that Gary would be there to stand by you?”

“Yes, I suppose.” She said with a sigh, and then added, “I know he’d be there. He’s that kind of man. I wish I were more like that. Oh, I just can’t give you my answer now. I’ll talk it over with my father; he’s a fair man. That’s the best I can do.”