DAM B URKE SMILED TO HIMSELF AS HE CLIMBED the stairs to his apartment. Bradley Smith’s words echoed through his mind: “Soon that sign on the door out there will say Benson, Smith, Walters, and Burke, Attorneys at Law!”
He inserted his key in the door and moved inside the apartment. Though a partnership in the firm was attractive, he had one burning desire. Upon his graduation from Harvard Law School—which his mother had not lived to see—Uncle Sidney had taken him on a trip to California. Adam had fallen in love with the West and had promised himself that once he was established as a successful attorney, he would go there and set up his own law firm.
He went to the small washroom at the rear of the apartment and splashed water on his face and ran a comb through his hair. Maybe tonight—with today’s victory as a springboard—he would reveal his big dream to the woman he loved.
Seth Coleman stood before Mandrake Bennett in the chief’s office, his heart light for the first time since he had been arrested and jailed for the murder of Lawrence Sheldon.
Two police captains and three lieutenants looked on as Chief Bennett opened a desk drawer and took out a shiny badge. He pinned it on Seth’s shirt, saying, “Officer Coleman, it is with great pleasure that I return this badge to you.”
The other policemen applauded, and Bennett gripped Seth’s hand. “I’m plenty glad to have you back, son. You will report forduty tomorrow morning at the regular time.”
“Yes, sir,” Seth replied, a wide smile on his face.
Bennett reached into the drawer again and took out a holstered revolver with a belt wrapped around it. “You might need this, too.”
There was just one dark cloud over Seth’s joy as he drove his buggy through the streets of Philadelphia toward the boardinghouse where he lived.
Bettieann.
He had been very close to asking Bettieann Ralston to marry him before he was arrested. His mind went back to the day he was jailed …
Seth Coleman sat on the cot in his cell, his face buried in his hands. He heard footsteps echoing down the corridor, and a guard appeared with Chief Mandrake Bennett at his side.
Seth moved up to the cell door and looked at Bennett through the bars. The guard told the chief to tap on the steel door when he was ready to go, then he walked away, leaving the two of them alone.
“I want you to tell me the truth, Seth. Did you do it?”
Seth looked the chief straight in the eye. “No, sir, I did not. Lawrence and I didn’t get along, as you know, but whoever those witnesses are who said I stabbed Lawrence, they’re mistaken. I was home alone when Lawrence was killed. I didn’t do it.”
“I believe you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Now, what about a lawyer?”
“I have one, sir, a young lawyer named Adam Burke. He was here a few minutes ago and assured me he’d do everything in his power to see me acquitted. I’m just … I’m still in shock, sir. I just can’t believe I’m locked up in this jail and have to face a judge and jury for something I didn’t do.”
“Well, you keep your chin up, son. I believe you’re innocent and that justice will be done.”
“I sure hope so, sir.”
“You just believe it, son. Now … I hate to bring this up, but I’m sure you know that it’s department policy that until the trial is over I have to put you on suspension without pay.”
“Yes, sir.”
“When you’re acquitted and back on the force, you’ll receive all of your back pay.” With those words, Bennett reached through the bars, shook Seth’s hand, and walked away.
It was early afternoon the next day when two fellow officers, Ray Downs and Cliff Palmer, came to see him.
When they were about to leave, Seth said, “Fellas, I need a favor.”
“Name it,” Palmer said.
“You know Bettieann …”
“Sure. How’s she taking this?”
“That’s where I need the favor. She hasn’t been here yet. Could you guys drop by her house and tell her
He inserted his key in the door and moved inside the apartment. Though a partnership in the firm was attractive, he had one burning desire. Upon his graduation from Harvard Law School—which his mother had not lived to see—Uncle Sidney had taken him on a trip to California. Adam had fallen in love with the West and had promised himself that once he was established as a successful attorney, he would go there and set up his own law firm.
He went to the small washroom at the rear of the apartment and splashed water on his face and ran a comb through his hair. Maybe tonight—with today’s victory as a springboard—he would reveal his big dream to the woman he loved.
Seth Coleman stood before Mandrake Bennett in the chief’s office, his heart light for the first time since he had been arrested and jailed for the murder of Lawrence Sheldon.
Two police captains and three lieutenants looked on as Chief Bennett opened a desk drawer and took out a shiny badge. He pinned it on Seth’s shirt, saying, “Officer Coleman, it is with great pleasure that I return this badge to you.”
The other policemen applauded, and Bennett gripped Seth’s hand. “I’m plenty glad to have you back, son. You will report forduty tomorrow morning at the regular time.”
“Yes, sir,” Seth replied, a wide smile on his face.
Bennett reached into the drawer again and took out a holstered revolver with a belt wrapped around it. “You might need this, too.”
There was just one dark cloud over Seth’s joy as he drove his buggy through the streets of Philadelphia toward the boardinghouse where he lived.
Bettieann.
He had been very close to asking Bettieann Ralston to marry him before he was arrested. His mind went back to the day he was jailed …
Seth Coleman sat on the cot in his cell, his face buried in his hands. He heard footsteps echoing down the corridor, and a guard appeared with Chief Mandrake Bennett at his side.
Seth moved up to the cell door and looked at Bennett through the bars. The guard told the chief to tap on the steel door when he was ready to go, then he walked away, leaving the two of them alone.
“I want you to tell me the truth, Seth. Did you do it?”
Seth looked the chief straight in the eye. “No, sir, I did not. Lawrence and I didn’t get along, as you know, but whoever those witnesses are who said I stabbed Lawrence, they’re mistaken. I was home alone when Lawrence was killed. I didn’t do it.”
“I believe you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Now, what about a lawyer?”
“I have one, sir, a young lawyer named Adam Burke. He was here a few minutes ago and assured me he’d do everything in his power to see me acquitted. I’m just … I’m still in shock, sir. I just can’t believe I’m locked up in this jail and have to face a judge and jury for something I didn’t do.”
“Well, you keep your chin up, son. I believe you’re innocent and that justice will be done.”
“I sure hope so, sir.”
“You just believe it, son. Now … I hate to bring this up, but I’m sure you know that it’s department policy that until the trial is over I have to put you on suspension without pay.”
“Yes, sir.”
“When you’re acquitted and back on the force, you’ll receive all of your back pay.” With those words, Bennett reached through the bars, shook Seth’s hand, and walked away.
It was early afternoon the next day when two fellow officers, Ray Downs and Cliff Palmer, came to see him.
When they were about to leave, Seth said, “Fellas, I need a favor.”
“Name it,” Palmer said.
“You know Bettieann …”
“Sure. How’s she taking this?”
“That’s where I need the favor. She hasn’t been here yet. Could you guys drop by her house and tell her
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