Brian Freeman by Immoral

Author:Immoral
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery, Crime & mystery, Adventure, Thriller, Fiction
ISBN: 9780755325351
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Published: 2009-12-01T22:00:00+00:00

24

Dan called Emily Stoner as the first witness on the second day of the trial.

Her dark hair was neatly styled in a short bob. Her skin, under heavy makeup, looked smooth and pink. She wore a pale shade of lipstick, a pearl necklace, and matching earrings. Her navy blue dress, with white trim on the collar, was obviously new and hugged her body. Watching her, Stride saw a glimmer of what Emily had been like a few years earlier. The only telltale sign of Emily's age today, like yesterday, was in her eyes, which couldn't hide her exhaustion and despair.

Emily squeezed into the aisle. Her heels tapped on the marble floor as she approached the witness stand and was sworn in. She didn't look at Graeme, and Stride noticed that Graeme ignored her. Gale noticed, too, and Stride saw him discreetly jab his client with an elbow. Graeme had lost his wife over these false charges, and he had to display grief.

Emily settled into the chair. She took a quick glance at the jury, then looked away nervously. Her hands were folded in her lap. She was an attractive, sympathetic figure, but to Stride's eyes, she looked unstable. The events of the past few months had deepened the cracks in her soul. Stride began to wonder if the only reason she hadn't made another suicide attempt was to have this chance to testify against Graeme and see him put away. He hoped she got the chance.

"Mrs. Stoner, I know this is difficult for you," Dan began.

Emily swelled her chest with a deep breath and briefly closed her eyes. She straightened her back, steeling herself to tell her story. Her face was intense and determined. "I'm all right," she said.

"How did you meet Graeme Stoner?" Dan asked.

"I was a teller at the Range Bank. He joined the bank as an executive from New York. He was single, attractive, and wealthy, and all the women in the office were crazy about him. Me included."

"Did he show any interest in you?"

"No. Not at first. He would pass me without looking at me, like I didn't exist. It was the same with all the women. He ignored them."

"And then?" Dan asked.

"Well, one day, Rachel came to the bank. She was dressed in a tight halter and short shorts. I scolded her about it, and we got into an argument in the lobby. Graeme saw us together, but he didn't say anything. Later that day, though, he asked me out on a date."

Dan zeroed in on Emily's story, his voice rising. "The day that Graeme approached you was the day he saw Rachel with you in the bank?"

"Yes."

"After several months of ignoring you?"

"Yes."

"Had he seen Rachel with you before?" Dan asked.

"I don't see how. Rachel hardly ever came to the bank."

"Okay. So the two of you began dating. How did Rachel react to your having a man in your life again?"

"She was friendly to Graeme. She flirted with him."

"Eventually, you and Graeme were married. What did you observe about Rachel and Graeme's relationship after that?"

Emily took another deep breath.

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