Cold Case
With no strong evidence, attorney Barbara Holloway's legal instincts are all she has.If they can't lead her to the truth, her client will die. But if she succeeds, her own life will be on the line. Controversial author and scholar David Etheridge is not the kind of company an aspiring politician wants to keep. But ambitious state senator Robert McCrutchen has a history with Etheridge–a history he's desperately trying to keep under wraps.Twenty-two years ago, while attending the University of Oregon, both men were investigated in the death of a young coed, but the case was never solved. A circle of secrecy guaranteed it. But the old stories resurface when Etheridge returns to Eugene, Oregon. Tied to their past, McCrutchen is his grudging host–until the senator is found shot dead. Now Etheridge is back where he was more than two decades ago–suspected of murder.Only this time, with the cold case reopened, he's facing a double charge. And Etheridge might not be so lucky again. Barbara must battle the prosecution and the court of public opinion, which has already tried and convicted Etheridge for both murders. As the pressure mounts, Barbara ties the past and present together, risking her own life to protect a client and preserve justice.
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KATE WILHELM
Cold Case
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
1
Amy McCrutchen thought it was the first time she had ever really fallen in love. At fourteen, she had been in love before, but not for real. Billy Cook in fourth grade, then Johnny Stillman in sixth, but they didnât count, not like this. She and her best friend Greta had hovered on the outskirts of the big party that night, watching, commenting, giggling at the silliness of the celebrants, most of them in Robertâs graduating class. Earlier, they had been banished from the family room, where the furniture had been pushed back against the walls for dancing. But they could still see everything, and they could help themselves to the plentiful food spread out on the dining-room table.
Earlier Amy had pointed out those she knew. âThatâs Chloe,â she had said, indicating a girl in a red tank top and skintight white pants. âShe and Robert are engaged. Theyâre going to announce it tonight.â
âSheâs pretty,â Greta said.
Amy examined Chloe appraisingly. She had dark hair, almost black, straight, and halfway down her back. Her pants were so tight she couldnât sit down, and she bulged a little in them. âToo fat.â She spotted Jill Storey and pointed. âSheâs prettier.â
Jill was blond and slender nearly to the point of emaciation. She wore a black sheath that clung to her torso like a sealskin and flared at the hips. Her hair was cut short and curled about her face. She was the best dancer, Amy had decided.
âToo skinny,â Greta said judiciously after studying Jill, âbut she is pretty. Boy, can she dance! Whoâs that old guy dancing? Heâs good, too.â
âDr. Elders. Heâs not a real doctor, not like my dad, just a professor. They live next door.â Her father was a surgeon, and he had gone to bed an hour earlier. Amy lowered her voice to a near whisper. âMrs. Elders has something wrong with her. Leprosy or something. Her skin peels off, and she smells bad. She doesnât come out much.â
Greta grimaced. âShe peels? Like a sunburn?â
âNot like that. Great big flakes of skin, with red patches. All over. Face, arms, everywhere. Itâs yucky.â
âGross,â Greta said. âThatâs too gross.â
âYeah, she canât go in the sun, or where itâs hot or anything. He comes over a lot, but not her. She has to be in air-conditioning all the time.â Amy shuddered. âAnd sheâs real fat.â
âDouble gross!â Greta said. And for a time they were both silent, savoring the grossness.
They danced on the deck, helped themselves to party food and watched. And later, hot and sweaty, Amy said, âLetâs sneak some beer.â
Greta grinned and nodded, and they picked up glasses and made their way to the keg. Amy had half a glass and Greta was filling her own glass when Dr. Elders came out, closely followed by Amyâs brother, Robert, both carrying empty glasses.
âAre you girls drinking beer?â Dr. Elders asked in a low, pained voice. âAmy, does your mother know youâre drinking beer?â
Robert glared at Amy. âI told you kids to beat it, and put that beer down!â His words were a bit slurred and his voice was loud. âGet lost, brats!â Other guests had turned to look, to Amyâs mortification.
Behind Robert, David Etheridge looked at her, rolled his eyes, shook his head and then winked. At that moment Amy fell in love.
Her mother walked out and said calmly, âAmy, why donât you and Greta make yourselves a sandwich and take it to your room.â
Amy and Greta fled.
They had talked a long time, cursing Dr. Elders with the worst curse they could think of, that he would catch whatever it was his wife had, and that his nose would fall off. Secretly Amy wished the same fate on her brother, but she didnât say it aloud.
After Greta fell asleep, Amy was thinking dreamily of David, who had winked at her. She didnât know what color his eyes were, she realized. She had not paid attention before when she had seen him as just another one of boring Robertâs stupid pals. She twisted and turned a short while, then put on a sweatshirt and jeans and cautiously made her way downstairs.
The party was a lot quieter, with piano and guitar music and a low murmur of voices the only sounds. She met no one and made her way out to the deck and beyond to a dogwood tree where she could see into the family room and hear the music but still be concealed in shadows.
There were only a few people left, gathered at the far end of the family room by the piano. The music was soft and dreamy, the spinning disco light turned off, and no one was dancing anymore. Several people were sitting on the floor; someone was sprawled on the sofa. Dr. Elders must have left, she was relieved to see. She spotted David, took a deep breath and sat down in the grass.
