Checkmate (Caitlin Calloway Mystery Book 2) (59 page)
Read Checkmate (Caitlin Calloway Mystery Book 2) Online
Authors: Mavis Applewater
“Unless she was complicit in your crimes.”
“Well, I’m not an expert, Agent Samaria, but it sounds like Ms. Cockburn might have been unstable. What do you think, Dr. Richards?”
Before Dr. Richards could formulate an answer, a haggard little man burst into the room and demanded that everyone stop talking. Based on his pale complexion and cheap suit, Val deduced he was from Legal Aid.
“Mister…” He hesitated while he fumbled with a stack of folders. “Fisher. Mr. Fisher, I recommend that you stop talking.”
“It’s Dr. Fisher, and who the hell are you?”
“I’m Andrew McFarlane, your new attorney.”
“You?”
“Yes, I think that this interview is over.”
“You?” Simon looked the disheveled man up and down.
“Yes.” McFarlane seemed surprised by Fisher’s reaction. “I’ve been appointed by the court. It seems that your attorney of record is unavailable.” He flipped through his files.
“That’s because I shot her,” Val said.
“Huh?”
“She shot her,” Simon explained. “Do you know anything about my case?”
“Not yet. I’m just getting up to speed. As I said, this interview is over. My client and I need a chance to confer.”
“Good luck, Doc.” Val couldn’t refrain from taunting Fisher before she and the others made their departure. She was filled with a sense of relief. Her work was done, and she could finally put the entire experience behind her after she did one last thing.
Epilogue
CC’s time in the hospital was slow torture, and coming home proved equally torturous. Being told to sit around and do nothing while Fisher may or may not be preparing his next surprise drove her crazy. Once she felt certain that her family was finally safe and Jamie returned to work, she found herself lost in endless hours of boredom. The tedium was only broken by Emma’s antics, Stevie’s moping, and her mother’s renewed interest in her life. Maria seemed determined to make up for lost time. If not for her revisionist history of CC and Stevie’s childhood, the reunion might have been bearable.
At her wit’s end, CC sheepishly looked around to assure herself that she was alone. She had no intention of getting busted not only for climbing up the ladder to change a lightbulb but also for using bad language. After weeks of being held captive due to her injury, she had dropped a week’s pay in the cuss jar.
She tried to hurry and finish before Jamie returned. Her loving wife made it clear every day what CC was, and was not, allowed to do while she was out. Balancing on a ladder while trying to change a lightbulb with one hand was not the snap CC had thought it would be. Her heart lurched when the front door slammed and alerted her that she was busted.
“My God, what are you doing, you idiot?” Jamie scolded her.
“I’m changing the lightbulb,” she said innocently.
“Get down before you hurt yourself,” Jamie said with a growl.
CC didn’t hesitate. She scurried down the ladder as quickly as possible. The horrified look Jamie sported led her to choose her next words carefully.
“Look, James. I know what you’re going to say, but I was careful. I wrapped my arm so I wouldn’t move it and hurt my shoulder.”
“What did you use?” Much to CC’s disappointment, Jamie seemed annoyed instead of being impressed by her ingenuity.
“Duct tape.”
“Let me get my scissors.”
“James,” CC called after her, “the bulb was out, you were at work, Stevie’s out, and Emma’s at school. There’s only so much television one woman can watch,” she explained while Jamie jerked her bag open and extracted her scissors.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”
“I have a few suggestions,” CC said eagerly. The smile she brandished disappeared when Jamie ripped the duct tape from her body. “Ouch! That was not on the list. Seriously, after I dug myself out of the hole Emma trapped me in with the chess game, I didn’t know what to do with myself.”
“She trapped you?”
“I know,” CC said reluctantly. “I can’t believe a seven-year-old has me chasing my tail. At least she still thinks thunderstorms happen when the angels go bowling. And she still believes in Santa Claus.”
“So do you. I just started back at work and this is what you get yourself into.” Jamie wagged her finger while she scolded her.
“Normally, I like it when you get bossy. Speaking of bosses, how is your new boss working out?”
“Stella was always the boss. The difference now is she’s getting paid for it.” Jamie smiled. “Some of the doctors aren’t thrilled with her promotion.”
“I don’t get it,” CC said. “Given all of her qualifications, why hadn’t anyone considered her until you suggested it to Bradford?”
“Because she’s a nurse, and most doctors still won’t admit how much we rely on the talent of our nursing staff.”
A knock on the door cut off CC’s next comment. “I wonder who that can be.”
“It’s getting close to dinner. My guess would be your mother,” Jamie said. “It’s amazing how she gets herself invited to dinner at least three nights a week.”
“She’s trying. I just wish she’d stop by less or refrain from trying to teach Emma her revisionist version of our family history.”
“Not your mother,” Jamie said as she checked the monitor. “It’s Val.”
“Val?”
“Sit. I’ll get it.”
“Deputy Brown, what brings you by?” CC asked the weary looking woman while she struggled with the remaining duct tape.
“Just wrapping things up.” Val shook her head and looked slightly amused. “What the hell did you do?”
“She was trying to be helpful,” Jamie said. “Coffee?”
“No, thank you. I just stopped by to let you know what’s been happening while you were tied up,” Val said and snickered. “That was too easy. Nice shirt. Isn’t it a sacrilege for you to be wearing a Ravens jersey?
“It belongs to Jamie.” CC tugged on the Michael Oher jersey “I hope you dropped by to do more than give me crap.”
“I found the leak. It was Finn.”
“Seriously? I knew the guy hated me, but setting me up with that whack job was over the top.”
“He tracked you by the GPS on your phone. Max will fill you in on the details.” Val sounded frustrated. “I hate it when it’s one of our own.”
“I hear you,” CC said while Jamie began to snip at the tape. “I appreciate everything you’ve done and put up with. Not my idea of a vacation, but I’m glad you don’t know how to relax.”
“Maybe next time I’ll just go to Vegas and get loaded,” Val tried to joke. “There’s more. I wanted you to hear this from me,”
Val slowly began to say. “Sometime, depending on how quickly or slowly the wheels of justice spin, Simon Fisher will be released.”
“What?” Jamie screeched.
“And will there be a Texas Ranger waiting for him?” CC asked before Jamie went ballistic.
“And a Florida State Trooper, along with Ricky, who is eager to get his hands on him. Between the two old cases and the federal case, I predict that Fisher will spend the rest of his miserable life sitting in a jail cell while he’s on trial or waiting for his appeals to be heard. In the end, someone will put a needle in the little bastard’s arm. Until then, his idealistic public defender is going to be very busy.”
“Idealistic or ambitious?” CC winced as Jamie tore off the last of the tape. “I heard he fancies himself as the next F. Lee Bailey.”
“He does, sorry bastard,” Val answered, thoroughly amused. “Seriously, why were you wrapped up?”
“I needed to change a lightbulb,” CC said innocently as Emma darted in.
“Hey, Deputy Val!” Emma let out a squeal. CC didn’t miss the way Val’s posture tightened before she squeaked out a polite greeting.
“Emma, take off your snow boots,” CC calmly told the little imp. “Auntie Jamie has some cookies on the counter and the chessboard is waiting for you.”
“W-well,” Val stammered. “I guess that’s my cue.”
“Right. Heaven forbid you stick around and say hello to my sister.”
“Calloway, with all the holiday shoppers out there, the traffic up here is worse than usual. I’ll keep you updated. Happy holidays.”
In a blink of an eye, Val was gone.
“No chocolate chip?” Emma asked.
“Aunty Jamie ate all the chocolate chip. What? You did,” CC answered the nasty glare she received from her wife. “Emma, take your time with the chess game.”
“I already made my move.”
“Oh?”
“Checkmate,” Emma said as CC sauntered over to the chessboard and reluctantly placed her queen down.
“Can we bake more chocolate chip cookies?”
“Yeah.” CC couldn’t help but smile. “It’s official. Life is back to normal.”
“When have our lives ever been normal?” Jamie asked with a wry grin.
“Never.” CC offered a shy smile. “This is as close as we get. At least we know where the bad guys are, for now.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Boston native Mavis Applewater started writing at the request of a very wise woman; she claims that is why she married her. She is the author of four full length novels,
The Brass Ring, My Sisters Keeper, Tempus Fugit
and Goldie Winner
Whispering Pines.
She has also penned four collections of shorts stories including Goldie Finalist for best Erotica. She is looking forward to the release of two more romances,
Finding My Way
and
Remember When
and the first
Harper Winston
thriller.
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