Read Injustice for All for Free Online Page B

wasn’t fair for his wife and child to be dead while we were still alive.”
    “But you didn’t think of him this afternoon when you discovered Mr. Larson’s body.
    Why not?”
    “I didn’t think Wilson was here. If he’s around, he’s usually out front picketing with all his signs and paraphernalia. I forgot about him completely until that reporter said Wilson didn’t show for a meeting.” “Which reporter?”
    I answered him. “Max, Maxwell Cole. Wilson called him this morning and set up an interview here at Rosario at four o’clock. Max waited. Wilson never came.”
    Huggins focused once more on Ginger. “You said you mentioned the threats to your husband. He advised you to disregard them?” Ginger nodded. “He said the world is full of harmless crazies. ” “This one is far from harmless.” Huggins sighed, glancing in my direction. “Any ideas, Beaumont?”
    There was a quiet tap on the door. When I answered it, Fred stood outside with a roll-away bed. “This is the first I could get away,” he said. “It’s all right if Detective Huggins knows, isn’t it?” Since the bed was already there, it was too late to debate secrecy. I stepped aside and helped pull the bed over the threshold. He pushed the bed just inside the door, then ducked back into the night. Fearless Fred.
    “This is my brainstorm,” I said, turning to Huggins. “She stays with me tonight. Without knowing whether Wilson is still on the island, I’m not willing to risk leaving her alone.”
    He nodded in agreement. “Good thinking. I was going to suggest flying her to Seattle, but I’d prefer having her here in case there are more questions in the morning. The county budget doesn’t handle a whole lot of commuting back and forth to the big city.”
    Huggins stood up. “I’m going, then.” He held Wilson’s picture up to the light, examining it minutely. “I’ll copy this sucker tonight and plaster the island with it tomorrow-the island and every single ferry that stops here. I’ll send someone by Wilson’s house. It’s late. I’d better hit the trail.”
    I followed him to the door. He turned to me and said in an undertone, “You got a piece on you?”
    “It’s locked up in a suitcase, but-“
    “I’m deputizing you as of right now, Beaumont. I don’t want there to be any jurisdictional fuss. Besides, I need you. Get it out, and keep it handy.” He poked his head back inside the door. “You’re in good hands, Mrs. Watkins. J. P. Beaumont is the best there is.”
    “You’ll give me a swelled head, Hal,” I said. I came back into the room, once more carefully locking the door behind me. I went around the room, double-checking the locks on the windows. Ginger watched me, her eyes gravely following my every move.
    I took my suitcase from its place in the closet and removed my .38.1 put the gun on the bed beside me. Women usually retreat from firearms. Ginger held her ground.
    “Are you?” she asked.
    “Am I what?”
    “The best there is?”
    “I don’t know about that.” I sat looking at my revolver. A gun is a tool, an instrument, until it kills something you love. Then it takes on a life of its own, alien, evil.
    “What are you thinking?”
    “Nothing,” I answered quickly. “Just wool-gathering.”
    “What happened to your wife?”
    “Karen?” I shrugged. “She ran off with a chicken magnate from Cucamonga, California.”
    “Chicken?”
    “Yeah. He was an accountant scouting for a new plant site for an egg conglomerate. Karen was supposed to be selling him real estate.” “He married her?”
    “Eventually. “
    <     “Two. A boy and a girl, Scotty and Kelly. They’re mostly grown, thriving in California.
    I see them during the summers.” I didn’t mention Anne Corley. It was a deliberate oversight.
    “Girl friend?”
    “None at the moment. Why all the questions?” “Everyone’s been asking me questions all evening. Turnabout is fair play. You said earlier you were having a