Rag Soup by John Locke

Author:John Locke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adventure, western, john locke, western romance, donovan creed, ny times best seller, dani ripper, gideon box, emmett love
Publisher: John Locke

22.

“I DON’T NEED to see him,” Amy says. “I’ll know him from his voice.”

Boone says, “His voice? Are you saying you can’t identify the men who raped you by any means other than your sense of hearing?”

“It was dark,” Amy says, looking at me for help.

I say, “It’s a well-known fact Masikotas teach their women and children how to distinguish voices in the dark. They’re well-skilled at it.”

“That’s awfully convenient,” Boone says, “or it would be, if Amy were an Indian. But in any case, I can assure you no court of law will accept verbal identification.”

“That ain’t true,” I say. “I heard a blind man testify he recognized his neighbor’s voice as the man who stabbed him, and the judge accepted it.”

“There’s a far cry between recognizing a neighbor’s voice and being able to identify the voices of three strangers who allegedly raped her.”

“I don’t see why.”

“If Mrs. Love picks out my client based on the sound of his voice I’ll simply explain that the men who raped her—if anyone actually did—were disguising their voices.”

“But if she recognizes the voices…”

“Perhaps the rapists are gifted vocal impersonators. How would you feel if I could mimic your voice perfectly, and went around raping women, and talking to them in order to shift the blame to you?”

“You think the judge is gonna believe three men in one town can imitate three other men?”

“He doesn’t have to believe it, but he’ll have to accept it as a possibility.”

“I reckon if Oliver dressed up like a horse you’d claim a horse committed the crime.”

“Now you’re on the right track, Sheriff. Criminals disguise their looks all the time. But here’s a better example: you know how young men’s voices change when they come of age? If the courts were allowed to identify criminals based on the sound of their voices, every eleven-year-old boy in the country could commit a crime and get away with it the day his voice turns deeper.”

The women and I look at each other.

Boone says, “My offer to represent you at your murder trial is still on the table, but it won’t be for long.”

I sigh. “Well, I didn’t murder Eli, but since you’ve got more answers than a fortune teller, I reckon I’d better take you up on it, if I’m charged.”

“You know what you should do?”

“What’s that?”

“Put me on retainer.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means I’ll always be your attorney, and represent you in any court case.”

“Forever?”

“As long as I’m on retainer.”

“What if someone else has you on retainer, and they sue me?”

“My loyalties are to my clients in the order they sign up. If you say yes, you’ll be my first. I’ll represent you against everyone, except myself. And I’ll represent my second client against everyone except you and me.”

“What would that cost?”

“I’m not a greedy man. In addition to the commercial lot, which is my fee for representing you at your murder trial, I’ll only ask for the materials needed to build my office.”

Oliver shouts, “Wait! I want to

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