"TUROW, SCOTT - THE BURDEN OF PROOF" - читать интересную книгу автора (Turrow Scott)

we could do without it, I guess. I could probably fix it up with
Russell's office." He was referring to the coroner. "They can always
measure the C.O. in the blood." The old policeman looked at Stern
directly then, aware probably that he was being too graphic. "I owe,
you know," he said.

Stern nodded. He had no idea what Radczyk was talking about.

The policeman sat down.

"The fellas go over all the usual with you?" He nodded again. Whatever
that was. "They were very thorough," said Stern. The lieutenant
understood at once.

"Nogalski's okay. He pushes, he's okay. Rough around the edges." The
lieutenant looked out the door. He was the type someone must have
called a big oaf when he was younger, Before he had a badge and a gun.
"It's a tough thing. I feel terrible for you. Just come home and found
her, right?"

The lieutenant was doing it all again. He was just much better at it
than Nogalski.

"She sick?" the lieutenant asked.

"Her health was excellent. The usual middle-age complaints.

One of her knees was quite arthritic. She could not garden as much as
she liked. Nothing else." From the study window, Stern could see the
neighbors parting to let the ambulance pass. It rolled slowly through
the crowd. The beacon, Stern noticed, was not turning. No point to
that. He watched until the vehicle carrying Clara had disappeared in
the fullness of the apple tree, just coming to leaf, at the far corner
of the lot, then he brought himself back to the

conversation. The left knee, Stern thought.

"You don't know of any reason?"

"Lieutenant, it should be evident that I failed to observe something I
should have." He expected to get through this, but he did not. His
voice quaked and he closed his eyes.

The thought of actually breaking down before this policeman revolted
him, but something in him was bleeding away. He was going to say that
he had much to regret right now. But he was sure he could not muster
that with any dignity. He said, "I am sorry, I cannot help you."

Radczyk was studying him, trying to decide, in all likelihood, if Stern
was telling the truth.