"Francis, Clare - A Death Divided" - читать интересную книгу автора (Francis Clare)

For a second no one stirred, then Ed murmured, 'Well,
thank you for sharing this with us.'
Anna growled, 'I think I'm going to be sick.'
Joe made a small quieting gesture and leant into the microphone.
'Al? Perhaps this might be a good time for us to take a
break?'
But Ritch was too busy agreeing on the excellence of the
fried onions to hear.

4

Joe lowered his forehead slowly onto his fingertips.
Anna touched his arm. 'Joe - for God's sake, we've been at
this for ever. Let's call it a day.'
Joe pushed the microphone slowly out of range. 'Not an
option.'
Watching her face fall, he asked, 'Did you have something
special lined up for tonight?'
She gave an ironic laugh. 'Only my life, Joe. Only my life.'
Anna had been in the firm for less than a year, but already
she had the slightly haunted look that Joe recognised from his
own reflection in the mirror each morning. He saw in her, as
he saw in Ed, the kind of lawyer he had been not so long ago,
exultant at landing a job with Merrow, confident in his abilities,
but worn down by the long hours which ate so regularly
into his free time.
'And you, Ed?'
Ed's expression suggested he had plenty of things to do
that night but would stay and man the barricades as necessary.
Coming to an abrupt decision, Joe said, 'Off you go, both
of you. Go on - scoot.'
The two of them went through the motions of arguing, but
he waved them rapidly away.
Anna hovered loyally. 'But what about you, Joe? What are
you meant to be doing tonight?'
Joe put on a fierce look. 'None of your damned business.
Salsa dancing, lying down with a large drink - I don't know.
Quick, before I change my mind.'
'Not the new girlfriend?'
'Huh?'
'Someone called Sarah?'
His answering frown didn't entirely hide his surprise; he
hadn't thought anyone knew. 'Your wild imagination again,'
he protested too weakly and too late. 'Completely out of
control.'
Anna made a face of mock contrition. 'Okay, but give
yourself a break, Joe. You can't go on like this.'

5