The Piano Maker by Kurt Palka

Author:Kurt Palka [Palka, Kurt]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-7710-7141-6
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Published: 2015-12-29T05:00:00+00:00

For a while she managed to ignore the men’s hissing and vulgar talk. The gate clanged open and the matron brought an enamel jug with water and a cup. She stood by Hélène’s bunkside and held out something in one hand. With the other she pointed at her ear.

It was a slice of white bread. Hélène took some and kneaded it and put it in her ears.

The matron was out of her coat now, in a long grey wool skirt and sweater with a braided belt that had a leather truncheon hooked to it.

In the course of the afternoon, Claire came to visit, and so did Mildred and Mr. Chandler and Father William. Every time someone came, the matron let her out of the cell and allowed her and her visitor fifteen minutes in the watch office. That room was heated by a small iron stove, and it had a table and chairs in it. The door had a window on top.

The attorney, Mr. Quormby, was the last person to come that day. He arrived when it was getting dark. He said he’d had to wait for the file to arrive from Edmonton, and then the drive had taken longer than expected because the road was icy in places. He would be spending the night at the hotel.

Mr. Quormby wore a black coat and hat, a white shirt and bow tie and a grey silk scarf. His face was kind in a way, but it was also set and it gave away nothing.

He took off his coat and hat and smoothed his hair, and then for a moment he stood at the door looking out into the other cell, where one of the men was baring his teeth at him.

“Will you be all right here?” he said. “I’ll see what I can do about getting you back into house arrest. Perhaps with more restrictions.”

He studied her, taking his time. “Let’s sit,” he said then. “The bad news is that the charge is first-degree murder with the included lesser offences of second-degree and manslaughter. The Crown will need to prove planning and intent, but first-degree is a hanging offence, Mrs. Giroux. Second-degree is also culpable homicide and it could mean life imprisonment, but there is some leeway for the judge and jury. For manslaughter there is no stated minimum sentence. I’m required by law to point these things out, but I’ll say them just this once. Do you have any questions?”

“Yes. What is the new evidence?”

“I don’t know yet. But eventually the Crown will have to disclose. Mrs. Giroux, I remember the case in general terms. It interested me then and it interests me now. This evening after dinner I’ll look at the file in more detail. For now let me just ask you a few questions.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.