Cruel Justice Read Online Free Page A

sort. Here, I’ll sign now.” Ben scrawled his name on the bottom of one of the forms. “We’ll talk about the details when I get back from court.”
    “Land sakes. This was even easier than I thought it would be.”
    Ben winked at Jones. “Happy now?”
    “Ecstatic.”
    “I’m sorry, Mr. Kincaid. I’m attempting to be patient, but this is truly the limit.”
    It was Scofield again. “You know,” Ben said, “if your air conditioner was half as resilient as you are, I wouldn’t be standing here worrying about the baby sniffing my sweaty pits.”
    Scofield appeared shocked. “Really! If this is your idea of humor—”
    “Can’t you leave me alone for a minute? I’m bonding with my nephew.”
    “I hate to interrupt any familial bonding,” Jones said, “but you seem to keep forgetting about your trial.”
    “Yikes! What time does it start?”
    “Nine A.M.” Jones glanced at his Mickey Mouse watch. “That would be exactly five minutes ago.”
    “Jiminy Christmas!” Ben shouldered Scofield aside, using the baby to run interference. “Julia, I hate to make goo-goo faces and run, but—”
    He froze in his tracks. “ Julia? ”
    Ben whirled around, but Julia was gone. Without a trace.
    And he was left holding the baby.

2
    “W HERE’D SHE GO?” Ben screeched.
    One of the briefcase brigadiers guarding the front door offered an explanation. “She left. Got in a green convertible and drove away.”
    “Drove away? You’re kidding!”
    “Why would I kid? Looked like she was going somewhere in a hurry.”
    Ben cast his eyes upward. “This is so like Julia. Only she could leave and forget to take her baby. I don’t believe this!”
    Jones rose from his desk. “Stay calm, Boss.”
    “Stay calm? How can I stay calm? I’m due in court. And my sister disappears and leaves me with this—this—” He looked down at the bundle in his arms.
    Joey’s tiny blue eyes suddenly widened. After gazing up at his uncle’s face for a second or two, he began to wail.
    “Omigosh.” Ben pulled the baby up to his face. “I didn’t mean anything—I mean—don’t take it personal, but I have this court date, see. …”
    “He’s seven months old, Boss. I don’t think he understands about court dates.”
    “Oh, jeez.” Ben swung the baby back and forth in a herky-jerky manner. The wailing attained an all-time-high decibel level. Ben awkwardly cradled Joey in his arms and tried to prop him against his chest. The bawling continued, but went into decrescendo.
    “Jones, he’s crying!”
    “I noticed, Boss. We all did.”
    “Did I hurt his feelings somehow?”
    “More likely he has a wet diaper.”
    Ben held the baby out at arm’s length. “Really?”
    “Or maybe he’s hungry. Beats me.”
    “Well, you’re the would-be detective. Detect already.”
    Jones rummaged through the red diaper bag Julia had left on the floor. “Here’s some toys. Lots, actually. Say, this is nifty stuff.”
    “Jones, stop playing with the baby toys!”
    “Oh, right.” He continued searching. “Several outfits of clothes.” He frowned. “And diapers. Dozens of diapers. Hmmm.”
    “What do you mean, hmmm ?”
    “What I mean is,” Jones said slowly, “I don’t think Julia left him behind by mistake.”
    “What are you saying?”
    “Remember? Julia said she wanted to start that graduate program in Connecticut, but there was a problem? The problem was, she had a seven-month-old baby.” Jones clasped Ben on the shoulder. “So she left the baby with Uncle Ben.”
    “With me ?” Ben’s face flushed. “But—I can’t have a baby. I’m a lawyer!” He looked down at Joey. His cheeks were puffy and red and streaked with tears. “I’m sorry, little guy. If I knew why you were crying, I’d do something about it. But I don’t.” Ben looked up abruptly. “Here, Jones. Take him.”
    “ Me ? I don’t know nothin’ ’bout holdin’ babies.”
    “Well, learn. I have to get to court!”
    “What am I going to do