“Hurry,” she said. “You mustn’t keep Abe waiting.”
“No.” He hesitated, clinging to her hand. “Karin?” he said.
“Yes?”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be all right.”
“I’m not worried,” she said.
“Good. Listen, wait for me, will you? I’ll be right back.” He paused again. “I love you both. Very much.”
And then he turned and walked toward the paneled door to the left of the judge’s bench. The sunlight covered his back for a moment, touched the erectly held head. He hesitated at the door. And then he pushed the door open purposefully and strode out of the courtroom.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ed McBain is one of the many pen names of legendary author Evan Hunter (1926–2005). Named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, Hunter is best known for creating the long-running 87th Precinct series, which followed an ensemble cast of police officers in the fictional city of Isola. A pioneer of the police procedural, he remains one of the best-loved mystery novelists of the twentieth century. Hunter also wrote under the pseudonyms Richard Marsten, Hunt Collins, John Abbott, Ezra Hannon, Curt Cannon, and others.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The lines on page ix are reprinted from The Prohpet by Kahlil Gibran with permission of the publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Copyright 1923 by Kahlil Gibran; renewal copyright 1951 by Administrators C. T. A. of Kahlil Gibran Estate, and Mary G. Gibran.
Copyright © 1959 by Ed McBain
Cover design by Jason Gabbert
ISBN: 978-1-5040-3921-5
This 2016 edition published by MysteriousPress.com/Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
New York, NY 10038
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