Sleeping Beauty (34 page)

“Any witnesses, Mr. Penny?”

“Mr. Lukens, Your Honor,” Matthew replied, even though he knew that Clyde Lukens could not be saved. His client must have sensed the inevitability of punishment. When he took the oath, his words were barely audible, and Justice Tyler ordered him to speak up.

“Did you steal from Miss Hill?” Matthew asked.

“As God is my judge, that money is mine. She's doing this to get even.”

“Get even for what?”

“She's a temptress, a harlot.”

There were angry rumblings in the crowd, and Matthew worried that there might be a second attempt to lynch his client.

“Explain to the jury what happened between you and Miss Hill,” Matthew said.

“I will, I will,” Lukens said, looking for understanding from the twelve stone-faced jurors and finding none. “We met on the stage to Portland. We were the only passengers. I'm a bachelor, sir. A salesman. I'm alone on the road most of the year. I . . . I couldn't help but notice that . . . Well, Miss Hill is a beautiful woman. Quite innocently, I assure you, I struck up a conversation. At first, that's all it was, a way to pass the time. Then she told me it was a shame that I had to travel the road alone when I could spend some time with her at the inn, if I had the price.

“I asked her what she meant. She was quite explicit. She wanted to know if I had any money. I told her about my two hundred and seventy-five dollars, which was partly profits from sales and partly expense money from my company. She quoted a price.”

Lukens bowed his head. “I knew it was sinful, but she was so beautiful. I . . . I couldn't help myself.”

“What happened at the inn?” Matthew asked.

“We agreed to check in separately. She ate in the back room, and I ate in the bar. I waited an appropriate amount of time after she went upstairs before following her. When I entered her room . . .”

Lukens paused to cast a quick glance at the crowd. He saw angry faces glaring at him. The jurors' aspects were no kinder.

“Go on, Mr. Lukens. What happened in Miss Hill's room?”

Matthew knew the story Lukens was going to tell, and, while he thoroughly disapproved of the man, he believed it was the truth. Unfortunately for Lukens, Matthew knew he was probably the only one in the field who would feel that way.

“She was in bed, naked. I joined her.” He hung his head. “I couldn't help myself. It was as if the devil had taken hold of me.”

“What happened next?” Matthew asked.

“The trouble. She demanded twenty-five dollars. I didn't have it.”

“But you've told the jury that you had two hundred and seventy-five dollars?”

“I did, but it wasn't mine. Most of the money belonged to the company. I did have expense money, but how would I live? I told her I would get the money in Portland and pay her then. She was furious. I tried to explain, but she wouldn't listen. I begged her to understand. She said she did. She said she believed that I thought I could use her and get away without paying, but that I was wrong. Then she grew calm and smiled at me in a way that chilled my bones. It was the most malevolent smile I've ever seen. She told me to get out. I dressed and left.”

“Whose money did Harry Chambers find in your socks?”

“My money, the company money.”

“And you stole nothing from Miss Hill?”

“Nothing. I swear to God, it was mine.” “Your witness, Mr. Barbour.”

Barbour looked at Lukens with contempt. “I will not waste the time of the court or this jury by questioning this . . . man.”

Several jurors shook their heads to show their agreement with the prosecutor, and Lukens slunk back to his seat.

“Any more witnesses, Mr. Penny?” the judge asked.

“No, sir.”

“Then you may make your closing argument, Mr. Barbour.”

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