Read Shadow of Doubt for Free Online

started to go back into the room.
    â€œWhat you’re gon’ do next, Sid? Drive them bamboo shoots up her fingernails? No matter how many times you ask her, the story ain’t gon’ change!”
    â€œSee you later, Aggie,” he said.
    The fact that he had dropped the “Aunt” from her name gave her some satisfaction, for she didn’t want anybody who was an enemy of her niece calling her that.
    She looked through the glass doors on the front of the building and saw that the sun was coming up. She couldn’t believe they were still here.
    Leaning her head back on the concrete wall behind her, she closed her eyes, but sleep did not come.
    Â 
    I t was after eight A.M. when Sid and Jim Shoemaker, the police chief, finished questioning Celia. News was that Stan was still comatose, so part of the puzzle—the part only he could fill in—was still missing. When they began to leave the interrogation room one by one, Celia asked Sid, “Can I go back to the hospital now?”
    â€œYou’re free to go anytime you want, but I’d appreciate it if you’d wait til we’ve examined the evidence they got from your house.”
    â€œWhat evidence?”
    â€œThe food. The dishes that were in the dishwasher. That kind of thing.”
    Jill, who looked as tired as the rest of them, checked her watch. “Sid, I want a copy of the lab report as soon as it’s ready. Have you called to see if arsenic was found?”
    â€œWe didn’t tape off their house till just a few hours ago. The evidence we collected ain’t even at the lab yet. It just opened.”
    â€œThen what are you waiting for?” Jill asked. “If you really care about Stan, and if you ever cared about Celia, you’ll get the evidence over there. If there’s no trace of the arsenic in their food or dishes, then you’ll know that he got it somewhere other than home. If you do find a trace of it there, maybe we can figure out where the food was bought. You remember how to do police work, don’t you? Stan isn’t the only one around here who knows how to investigate a crime, is he?”
    Sid bristled. “Insultin’ me ain’t gon’ get you nowhere, Jill. I know you’re tired, but I am, too.”
    She blew out a frustrated breath and leaned back hard in her chair.
    â€œHas anyone called to check on Stan?” Celia’s question cut through the petty exchange and reminded them what this was about.
    â€œAunt Aggie has. No change.”
    â€œMaybe he needs to be in New Orleans. Maybe their facilities would be more up-to-date.”
    â€œI’m sure the doctor will have him transferred if it becomes necessary, Celia.” Jill took in a deep breath. “While we’re waiting for the lab results, I think my client needs to make a few phone calls.”
    Celia looked up at her. “What phone calls?”
    â€œIsn’t there anyone you want to call?” Jill asked. “Your parents? Your brother, maybe?”
    She closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips on her eyelids. “Oh, no. It’s my birthday. They were supposed to come to see me today. The first time they’ve ever seen my home. I was so hopeful…” She looked up, suddenly alarmed. “I need to call them before they leave Jackson. I don’t want them to get here and find out that it’s all happening again. They went years without speaking to me. It wasn’t until a few months ago that we even spoke by phone. And then, yesterday, I thought we were about to reconcile completely.”
    Jim and R.J. exchanged looks, as if her estrangement from her family was the evidence they needed that she was a cold-blooded murderer.
    â€œWhat happened yesterday?”
    She groaned. “I told you, Jim, that Stan went to see them to try to convince them to come visit on my birthday. He thought it would make me happy.”
    â€œYou told me he’d visited