669小说网

第39部分（第2页）

Did　she　have　friends？　Did　she　have　male　friends？

Anne　responded　in　a　low　voice；　willing　it　to　be　steady；　but　she　couldnt

hide　the　shake　of　the　hand　she　used　to　wipe　away　tears。

Mitch　whispered　something　to　his　lawyer；　who　shook　his　head　and　went　on

with　a　vengeance。

Had　Jeff　been　generous　with　her？　Did　he　buy　her　gifts？　Did　he　call　her

when　he　traveled？　How　often？　Did　he　ever　invite　her　along　on　business

trips？　；Anne　had　broken　out　in　a　cold　sweat；　but　the　questions　went　on。

〃Mrs。　Boulton；　you　were　married　for　seven　years。　Did　you　have　any

children？〃

〃No；〃　she　whispered。　〃Why　not？〃

She　was　mortified。　〃We　just…didnt　have　any。〃

〃Did　you　want　a　child？〃

〃Yes！　〃

〃Did　your　husband　want　a　child？〃

〃Yes。〃　She　brushed　at　more　tears。　〃Then　why…〃　Mitch　cut　in。　〃Thats

enough；　Peter。　Shes　upset。　Is　this　necessary？〃

The　lawyer　called　for　a　short　recess　and　led　Mitch　from　the　room。

Anne　bowed　her　head　and　put　a　hand　to　her　forehead。　Inhaling　deeply；　she

tried　to　steady　herself　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　her　father…in…law　asked。

Her　plea　was　a　barely　audible　whisper。　〃I　have　to　get　out　of　here。　How

much　longer　can　this　go　on？〃　She　reached　into　her　purse　for　a　tissue　to

wipe　her　eyes。

〃Not　much　longer。　Try　to　hold　up；　Anne。　Once　this　is　over；　youll　never

have　to　face　it　again。〃

In　her　heart　Anne　knew　that　the　agony　was　just　beginning；　but　she　had　no

time　to　dwell　on　it。　Mitch　and　his　lawyer　returned　to　their　seats。

The　lawyer　said；　〃My　client　feels　strongly　that　we　have　all　the

information　we　need。　I　have　no　further　questions。〃

〃Excuse　me；〃　broke　in　the　man　who　had　been　introduced　as　counsel　for　the

manufacturing　pany。　〃If　you　have　nothing　more　to　ask；　I　do。〃

His　tone　was　ominous。　Clearly；　he　wasnt　having　his　client　go　down

without　a　fight。

Simmons　spared　Mitch　a　glance　before　saying；　〃Certainly；　Mr。　Parks；　but

try　to　be　brief　Mrs。　Boulton　is　under　a　strain。〃　To　Anne；　he　said；　〃Are

you　up　for　a　few　more　questions？〃

Anne　dared　a　look　at　Mitch；　but　his　expression　was　masked。　Angry　at　him；

angry　at　the　world；　she　turned　back　to　the　lawyer　and　nodded。

Parks　picked　up　where　Simmons　had　left　off。　〃On　the　matter　of　children；

we　want　to　know　why；　after　so　many　years　of　supposedly　wanting　them；　you