Free An Independent Woman by Howard Fast

police.” There was something in her gray eyes that Carter felt was searching him for what was inside of him.
    â€œNo. That’s the crux of it. He took everything I had in the way of real jewelry, and that included a heavy gold signet ring. It had a sort of leopard carved on it, which was Pop’s corporate seal, and his name was engraved inside the ring. It was left to me in my father’s will. I told him—”
    â€œJones?”
    â€œYes, I told him that if he left me the ring, he could have the rest.”
    â€œYou actually told him that?” Carter asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDid he threaten you? Hurt you in any way?”
    â€œNo. He had a gun. At least, I thought it was a gun, but it was a plastic toy. You don’t think very clearly under such circumstances.”
    â€œAnd the jewelry was actually worth more than a hundred thousand dollars, as the paper said?”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    â€œAnd he left you the ring?”
    â€œYes. He flung it on my bed.”
    Carter was silent for a while, and Barbara started to rise. “No,” Carter said. “Stay a bit. I think we have more to talk about.”
    â€œI’m taking up too much of your time.”
    â€œThat’s what my time is for. You’re a rich woman, Barbara, and you can afford the gift—if that was your intent.”
    â€œI’m not that rich. My grandfather left me a great deal of money, but I put it into a foundation, and while I’m on the board, I can’t use any of it for myself. I earn my own living, books, screenplays occasionally, and my newspaper and magazine work. My house on Green Street was a gift from a dear friend of my father. I live modestly, and I am not an idiot who has delusions that would lead me to give a hundred thousand dollars to a thief. I didn’t call the police or make any charges because I could not live with sending a black man like this Jones to prison. I have been in prison, as I’m sure you know. I couldn’t sleep or have a day of contentment knowing that I had taken fifteen years of a man’s life. The jewels are not worth fifteen years of a human life. But I lied. He stole the jewels, that’s the long and short of it. He whimpered that the only work he could find was washing dishes and cleaning toilets. For six months in prison I cleaned toilets!” Barbara’s voice choked up. “And I damn well didn’t whimper!” she managed, and then stood up to leave.
    â€œOh, sit down!” Carter said with some annoyance. “You wanted to talk, let’s talk. You lied—everyone lies. Without lies, human existence would be intolerable. What troubles you: being a liberal, being decent, losing your jewels? What troubles you: letting down your defenses, talking to a stranger? Would I have surrendered a hundred thousand dollars for fifteen years of a man’s life? I don’t know; but what you did was an act of decency and morality, and that should end it. On the other hand, there is a hole in your thinking. You would not have taken fifteen years of his life if you had called the police. It was his act to steal the jewels, and his moral responsibility. But that doesn’t lessen the decency of your action. So you lied. Have you never lied before? Tell me.”
    Her eyes brimming with tears, Barbara nodded. “I’m sorry, I cry very easily. I cry at animal pictures. Thank you. I have to go now.” Carter handed her a tissue, and she dabbed at her eyes. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Carter.” And with that, she fled from his office.
    I T WAS STILL EARLY IN THE DAY , and she hadn’t been to Highgate since the robbery. When Barbara got home she called Eloise, who was delighted. “Can you come for dinner? We’re having someone you’ll be pleased to meet.”
    â€œWho?” Barbara asked.
    â€œNo. Let that be a surprise.”
    Barbara changed into jeans, a pullover, and