Checkmate (Caitlin Calloway Mystery Book 2) by Mavis Applewater Page B

I need to see a man about his nuts.”
    “Ah, Mr. Stern.” Jamie nodded. “He’s in bay three, crying like a baby. There’s a uniform sitting outside. How crazy is his wife?”
    “Just enough to be dangerous,” CC said. “If you’re sleeping when I get in, should I wake you?”
    “You better.” Jamie gave CC’s backside a quick pat.
    Bolstered with a sudden sense of urgency, CC quickly maneuvered her way around the treatment areas until she found Charles Stern. She paused for a moment to have a word with the officer who was standing guard.
    “Door open, ears open,” she told the bored looking patrolman.
    “Anything you say, Detective.”
    “Thank you, Rodney.” She blew into the treatment room. J.M. Charles Stern was curled up and still whimpering. CC couldn’t fault the man.
    “Which was more painful, the way your wife behaved or having your nuts toasted?”
    “Get out of here,” he said and groaned.
    “I know it’s been a long day.” CC couldn’t help feeling smug. “I just need to take care of a couple of things first. J.M. Charles Stern, you have the right to remain silent; you have the right to an attorney,”
    “What!” he screeched, sounding like a little girl. “I’m the one who was assaulted.”
    “And you refuse to press charges. Good thing here in the Commonwealth we can do it for you. Domestic violence is a very serious issue.”
    “Then why are you reading me my rights? I thought you only did that to people that you’re planning on arresting?”
    “We do.” CC kept up her cheerful demeanor. “This has nothing to do with your assault. Personally, I couldn’t give a damn if you were banging the nanny. She was over eighteen.”
    “I wasn’t.”
    “Don’t care.” CC shrugged. “Unless that’s why you killed her.”
    “I . . . what? She’s dead?”
    “Not to worry. Juries can be sympathetic. You got caught in a trap. Your wife obviously suspected something. The girl wouldn’t take no for an answer. These things happen. A moment of rage. Now where was I? Oh yeah, you have the right to remain silent.”
    “What in the hell are you talking about? Annie’s dead?”
    “Come on, you knew that didn’t you?”
    “No! I had no idea. I had nothing to do with this. I swear I never touched the girl.”
    “You keep practicing that.” CC felt the pieces slipping into place. It was no small wonder Natalie Stern ruled her household with an iron fist; Mr. Stern’s spine seemed to be made of Jell-O. “Remember you have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand your rights?”
    “Yes, I understand. But I didn’t do anything.”
    “Of course you didn’t. Sorry, you’ve had a long day. Now, your wife is in jail, your boys are with your parents and your vital parts are on ice. All because a long time ago you dated someone else.”
    “What?”
    “College wasn’t it? I’m assuming it was before you were married.”
    “How did you know? Look that was nothing.” He tried to defend himself. “Natalie and I hadn’t been seeing each other for that long. I went to a concert with another girl. Aerosmith. I knew Natalie wouldn’t have enjoyed it. That’s it. That doesn’t mean I had an affair with Annie. She’s a child.”
    “Was,” CC harshly corrected him. “So, an innocent trip to see Aerosmith, over a decade ago. That’s why your wife doesn’t trust you? Seriously, you couldn’t have been that surprised she snapped. Women can be so mistrusting. When I first started dating my wife, an old flame of mine kissed me. I was surprised. It wasn’t planned or welcome. But who should walk by at that very moment, but my girlfriend.”
    “What happened? After she caught you?”
    “I explained what happened, and she forgave and forgot,” CC calmly explained. “That’s what normal people do. They don’t hold a grudge. They don’t hold it over your head for the rest of your life. They don’t shoot you with a taser