"Simon R. Green - Haven 06 - Bones of Haven" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

"This is family business," said the man quickly, before the woman could say anything. He lowered his
fist, but stood his ground defiantly.

Fisher moved forward to speak to the woman, and the man fell back a step in spite of himself. She
ignored him, and spoke softly to the woman. "Does this kind of thing happen often?"

"Often enough," said the woman indistinctly, behind her handkerchief.

Fisher frowned. "Just say the word, and we'll drag him off to gaol. You don't have to put up with this.
Are you married to him?"

The woman shrugged. "More or less. He's not so bad, most of the time, but he can't keep a job because
of his temper. He just lost another one today."

"So he comes home and takes it out on you." Fisher nodded understandingly.

"That's enough!" snapped the man suddenly, stung at being talked about as though he wasn't there.
"She's got nothing more to say to you, Guard, if she knows what's good for her. And you two can get
out now, or I'll throw you out."

Hawk stirred, and looked at him with interest. "You and what army?"

"I really think you should swear out a complaint against him," said Fisher. "Next time he might not just
break your nose. A few mights in gaol might calm him down a bit, and if nothing else, it should make
him think twice about hitting you again."

The woman nodded slowly. "You're right. I'll swear out a complaint."

"You lousy bitch!" The man lurched forward, raising his huge hands menacingly. Fisher turned and
smacked him solidly between the eyes with her fist. The man fell back a step and then sat down
abruptly, blinking dazedly. Fisher looked at Hawk.

"We'd better get him downstairs. You take one arm and I'll take the other."

"Right," said Hawk. "There's some railings outside we can chain him to until we can find a Constable
to take him back to Headquarters for charging."

They got him to his feet easily enough and were heading for the door when Hawk, hearing a muffled
cry behind them, looked back just in time to see the woman heading straight for him with a knife in her
hand. Hawk dropped the man and stepped quickly to one side, but the woman kept coming at him, her
eyes wild and desperate. Fisher stuck out a leg and tripped her. The woman fell heavily and lost her
grip on the knife. Hawk stepped forward and kicked it out of reach. The woman burst into tears. Hawk
looked at Fisher.

"What the hell was that all about?"

"She loves him," said Fisher, shaking her head sadly. "She might not like the treatment, but she loves
him just the same. And when she saw us hauling him off to gaol, she forgot how angry she was and
decided we were the villains of the piece, for threatening her manтАж Now we have to take them both