"Parole passion" - читать интересную книгу автора (White Regina)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Judy felt ashamed. Some clothes had been found for her and she was now sitting in a precinct house, not knowing what to say, certain the police would believe everything Bert Karnstein had said to her. No one had said much to her other than to give her a cup of hot coffee. One officer did tell her a stenographer would be in to take her statement.

"Feeling better?"

She looked up and saw Al Bombannente there.

"Al? How…?"

"Did you think I was going to let you go off by yourself that way?" he asked. "I followed you in my car. I even drove by you when you followed Karnstein to the warehouse. Then I hurried to the nearest police station and told them you had gone to see a parolee on your own to keep him from getting into trouble, and it was my belief that he was going to harm you. I explained ahead of time that you were interested solely in trying to rehabilitate the parolee, but he was one of those mean ones. Had he been one of mine, he would have been back inside weeks ago. I explained that you were trying to turn him into a useful citizen, but I was afraid he would attempt to abuse you. We would have gotten there about fifteen minutes sooner had these clods listened to me right from the start. They had to go checking through the files first, looking up Karnstein and then looking you up to make sure you were who I said you were. Don't worry. As far as they're concerned, you're just an overly conscientious parole officer who tried a little too hard, although you'll be commended for sending me to the police to tell them about all those men meeting in the warehouse."

"What about the other men?" Judy asked.

"Once the police were able to ascertain you weren't in the fleeing speedboat, they blew it out of the water. No survivors!"

"Dear Lord! I feel as if I'm to blame…"

"For what? For stopping a bank robbery? The police found all the diagrams and what was left of the weapons cache at the warehouse. You did your civic duty, and if anything, you'll be commended for having the foresight to take me along."

"The foresight to… Al, did you tell them it was my idea that you come along?"

"Certainly," Al nodded. "After all, the man was part of your caseload. Theoretically, I knew nothing about him, and so you're the one to be commended."

A police officer came along after awhile and took Judy to another room where she gave her statement, leaving out the fact that she was aware Bert was living with Ann Mason, whom she also left out. All she said was, she had received an anonymous tip that Albert Karnstein was going to attempt another bank holdup or robbery, she wasn't quite sure which. In any case, she tried to go to see Bert Karnstein at his place of residence, but saw him outside, heading toward the docks. She followed him with Al Bombannente, a fellow worker with whom she was having dinner, then told him to go call the police when she saw Bert entering the warehouse. She tried to peer in and see what was going on inside, was caught, and was raped.

When asked if she wanted to go to the hospital for treatment, she refused. She said she just wanted to go home.