Cold Comfort Read Online Free Page B

Cold Comfort
Book: Cold Comfort Read Online Free
Author: Charles Todd
Pages:
Go to
her back? Where was he all this time, watching and doing nothing, letting her die alone?”
    Jones stared at him through bloodshot eyes. “He said he tried. He said he even followed them to Manchester, but Sarah wouldn’t listen.”
    “Apparently Aaron was a great one for saying . Where was he ?”
    “He was ill, bad lungs. He was sent away to recover. Away from the coal dust.” After a moment he added unwillingly, “To the same village. That’s how he knew.”
    “And he didn’t warn you? He didn’t summon you to come and put a stop to whatever Williams was up to?”
    The man’s gaze went to the open doors at the rear of the ambulance. He couldn’t see his brother’s body from where he lay. He made to get up, and Rutledge shoved him back down. “He said—” Taffy Jones began again.
    “Why weren’t you holding the revolver on Williams? Why was it Aaron? She was your wife. You should have shot him.”
    “He said I had no stomach for what had to be done. It’s one thing to be killing Germans. The blood’s up. I’d failed twice, when it came down to it. He said he’d see to it. Are you certain he’s dead? I don’t believe you.”
    “Don’t you understand, you fool? I’d wager it was Aaron who ran off with your wife. Abandoned her when he had finished with her. And she was too shamed to come home again. Why else would he have been in the back of the ambulance, with the weapon? He didn’t want you to confront Williams. To listen to him. Why was he so insistent that Williams had to die? She was your wife, not his.”
    Jones roused himself, putting a hand up to his nose and eyes. As if to fend off what Rutledge was saying.
    “He wouldn’t do such a thing. You’re lying.”
    “He tried to persuade you to kill an innocent man. For all I know, it was Aaron who shot Williams in the back—for you . Your revenge.”
    In spite of the bloody mask that was Jones’ face, Rutledge could read his eyes. “It’s true, then. Bloody cowards, both of you,” he said in disgust.
    “He told me he was a better shot. Doing it in cold blood.”
    The other ambulance had caught up with them. An orderly jumped out and ran to Jones, then peered into the back of the stolen vehicle. Another came to kneel beside Williams, still lying against the wall but just regaining consciousness.
    A third was demanding to know what had happened.
    As Rutledge got to his feet, Jones tried to shake his head but was in too much pain. “I won’t believe you. Not until I’ve spoken to Aaron.”
    “Believe what?” the orderly demanded. “Sir, we need to get these men to hospital. And what am I to do about that ambulance?”
    Rutledge moved back. “I’ll explain later. Just now I want this man to be held under guard for attempted murder. There will be other charges, but that will do for now.”
    The orderly lifted Jones to his feet. Jones looked up at Rutledge. Something stirred in his eyes. And then he lashed out at the man holding his arm.
    Rutledge swore as the wounded man broke free of the orderly’s grip and stumbled toward the back of the ambulance. He held on to the doors and leaned in, peering at his brother’s body. “He wouldn’t have lied to me,” he insisted, his voice heavy with grief and pain. “Not Aaron. Not about Sarah.”
    Rutledge pointed to the revolver. “Where did he get this?”
    “He took it from a dead officer. He couldn’t find Williams in Manchester—he thought the bastard might be in France. And he was. Family honor, Aaron said.” Jones put up a hand and wiped at the blood on his face. “I loved her. I never thought she’d betray me. But when I looked at Williams, it all made sense. She always did have an eye for tall men.”
    “Lloyd must have been afraid that you’d find out the truth and go after him instead. And so he tried to persuade you to kill an innocent man. That’s the only thing that makes sense. Family honor indeed.”
    “He’d never lied to me before.”
    “Have you asked
Go to

Readers choose

Lorie O'Clare

Claudia Bishop

Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Dawn Brown

John Lescroart

Ruby Lionsdrake

Russell Andresen

Lissa Matthews