The calamity Janes by Sherryl Woods

gun had actually been in Donny’s hand when police arrived, Sue Ellen hadn’t denied that it had gone off while they had struggled over it. The prosecutor had been wise enough not to try for a first-degree murder charge for the same reasons. He’d accepted Sue Ellen’s statement that there had been a struggle and agreed to the lesser charge of manslaughter. But a charge with any jail time at all was unacceptable to Emma.
    “Ms. Rogers?” Ford prodded.
    She chose her words with deliberate care. “The gun went off during a violent struggle during which my client was in fear for her life.”
    “You’re claiming self-defense?”
    “Absolutely,” she said without any hesitation. “And based on the pattern of abuse, I think it will become clear that she had every reason to be afraid.”
    “Had your client’s husband ever been charged with domestic violence?”
    “No.”
    “Had he ever been arrested?”
    “No.” She saw what Ford was trying to do and scowled at him. “But the police had been called on numerous occasions, not only by my client but by the neighbors as well. Those calls are on record.”
    “If she was so terrified, why didn’t she leave?”
    Emma lost patience. “Mr. Hamilton, do you know anything at all about domestic violence?”
    “It’s Ford, and I’ve read a few articles.”
    “Okay, Ford. The articles you’ve read must not have been very thorough, or else they were outdated. There is a whole litany of reasons why women don’t leave their abusers. Once you grasp that, then perhaps we’ll have something more to talk about.” She reached over and switched off the tape recorder. “Until then, we’re through.”
    He frowned at her. “Why should I read, when you’re the expert? Explain it to me.”
    “It isn’t my job to educate you. You’re a reporter. It’s your job to explore all of the facts, to seek out the experts.”
    “I thought I was talking to one.”
    “I’m an attorney, not a psychologist. I don’t testify when we go to court. I bring in professionals who can explain all of this to a jury.”
    “But you’re obviously well versed in this. Why not tell me?”
    “Because I don’t have time to spoon-feed the information to you. I have a client to defend and a caseload back in Denver that needs my attention.”
    “Have you got a list of expert witnesses you intend to call?”
    “Not yet.”
    “Okay, I’ll ask you again. Let me talk to Sue Ellen.”
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I don’t want her to trust you and say something perfectly innocent that you’ll twist in print.”
    “Dammit, Emma, I do not twist things,” he snapped, clearly losing patience with her continued distrust. “What the hell happened to you? Did some reporter take something you said out of context?”
    “If only it were that simple,” she retorted, swallowing back the bile that rose at the memory of how badly she’d been deceived and betrayed. Never again. The last time she’d trusted a reporter, it had almost cost her her career. It had been the end of her marriage.
    “Tell me,” Ford pleaded.
    “No,” she said flatly. “I have to get over to the jail.”
    For a moment, he hesitated, and she thought he might not let her out of the booth. Then he sighed and stood up to let her by.
    “We’ll talk again,” he said mildly.
    “Only when you’re more fully prepared,” she said, then turned away.
    “Emma.”
    Slowly she faced him.
    “I’m not the enemy here. In fact, I could turn out to be your best ally.”
    If he were honorable, if she could persuade him that Sue Ellen had only done what she’d had to do, yes, he could be an ally. But those were big ifs. Emma hadlearned a long time ago to hold out for sure things. Anything less was too risky.
     
    Ford considered going straight to the jail, but he knew in his gut that Emma would be furious if he turned up there not five minutes after she’d told him that was where she was headed. He wasn’t going to get that