Deadbeat Dads (13 page)

“Mrs. Morris?” the taller of the two said.

Trembling started deep inside. My knees knocked together, and my heart beat so loud I was sure they could hear it. “Yes.” The word came out barely above a whisper.

The shorter man pulled a wallet from his pocket and flipped it open. “I’m Detective Winfrey and this is Detective Blair.  Can we come
in?”

I gripped the door frame.
Nausea filled my throat. “I…yes, of course.”

They followed me inside. “Is something wrong, Detectives?” I tried to compose myself, tried to still the trembling. Was someone in trouble? The kids? Surely Josh hadn’t done anything to break the law. He was too young.

“Please, sit down.” Detective Blair motioned to the couch. “We just have a few questions.”

My legs trembled so badly, I wasn’t sure how I
made it to the couch and fell onto it.

“Do you know of anyone who had a vendetta against your ex husband?”

“Johnny? No, why?”

“We have reason to believe his death wasn’t an accident.”

My stomach felt like someone punched it. Why after two months were they investigating Johnny’s death? “Not an accident?” The words barely squeaked out.

Detective Winfrey stood. “
We have new information about the case.”

Something was drastically wrong.
New information. What kind of information. I tensed waiting, praying they didn’t suspect me. Had Randy turned me in after all? Was he upset because I was seeing his father? Surely, he wouldn’t lie.

“Where were you the day your husband died?”

A shiver ran up my spine. Oh God, had Randy turned me in after all? “I…uh…I think I was here. That was two months ago. I don’t remember.” It killed me to lie, but what else could I do? I surely couldn’t admit I was there.

Detective Blair stood. Until now I didn’t realize how much he towered over me. Guy must have been six two or more. He looked at his watch. “
We’d like you to come to the station to make a formal statement.”

I nodded. No way would words come out. Surely, they didn’t mean now.

“Be there tomorrow morning at ten,” Detective Winfrey said.

Again I nodded. My legs could barely move to follow them to the door. I leaned against it. How had this happened? What was going to happen to me? If Randy was lying, would his father get him to change his story? Would they believe the second story?

I called Carr. I knew it was late, but what choice did I have? I had to know if Randy did this or if someone else saw me. Surely, he’d talk to Randy. Make him admit he was lying. He was a former cop. He had friends on the force. Maybe he had some pull. Something told me I was in big trouble.

Carr answered on the second ring. “Erica, I was going to call you, but was afraid it was too late. I have some news about Joe Anderson. Turns out, he joined the army. Stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia. I have a feeling he’ll make contact as soon as he’s finished with Boot Camp if what you say is true and he’s devoted to his family. Probably the only way to escape his mother. Too bad he didn’t tell his wife what he was doing, or at least make contact.”

“That’s great. Carr I think I’m in trouble. Two detectives were just here. They’re investigating Johnny’s death. Said new evidence came about. Randy wouldn’t have contact
ed them, would he?”

“Randy? I don’t think so.”

“I have to go in to make a formal statement tomorrow at ten. Do I need a lawyer? I’m scared.”

“Shit. Let me see what I can find out. It probably won’t be until morning. My friend doesn’t work until then.
Do you want me to go with you?”

It didn’t surprise me I couldn’t sleep all night. I paced, tried to read but couldn’t concentrate, watched TV, but
had no idea what program, and tossed and turned most of the night. It was hopeless. My mind wouldn’t be still. I kept seeing Johnny’s body lying at the bottom of those steps. An awful feeling of dread overwhelmed me. I was going to jail. I saw no other conclusion. Asking me to come in for a formal statement was a ruse. I didn’t know much about the law, but I knew enough they considered me a suspect. I’d have to be a fool not to. Something told me I’d be under arrest before I left the station.

Six o’clock finally came and I got up, took my shower, and got the kids ready for school. I tried to act as normal as possible. After they left, I called Jack and told him I couldn’t come in today. Today or maybe every day for all I knew. Then I called Becky. I had to make arrangements for the kids, just in case.

Becky answered on the first ring. I could tell by her hello things weren’t going well, and I was about to make them worse by asking her to keep the kids. For how long I had no idea. If they arrested me, would they let me out on bail? I might have to call my parents back in Wisconsin for more permanent arrangements. I shivered. I didn’t even want to think about that.

Beck’s voice brought me back to the present. “I swear, Erica, I just don’t know what to do.
After spending the weekend together, I told you yesterday, it didn’t go well. Good lord, all he wanted to do was have sex. I’m past that point. I wanted to go out, do things. He was all over me. And he constantly asks what I’m thinking. It’s driving me nuts.”

I put my own problems on hold for a minute. My friend needed advice. “Now you’ve spent some time with him 24/7 the real man is coming out – and the real you. He was always there, but you had stars in your eyes and couldn’t see him. I’m sure he’s seeing things about you, too. And maybe he’s not crazy about all of them. So now that you see the real man, it sounds like you’re not too crazy about him.”

“That’s an understatement.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Poor Beck was so lonely she tried to grab the brass ring and it turned into a worthless piece of metal. Problem was what was she going to do about it? She still had to work with him. She answered before I had a chance to ask.

“I need this job, Erica. I can’t just quit. And I do enjoy his company otherwise. Maybe we can just be companions.”

“You know that’s never going to work. There’s
another job out there for you and someone else. Someone you’ll make friends with first. This is the first man you’ve gone with since Fred. You were lonely and afraid of being alone. You know it’s not that bad being alone. In fact in some ways it’s kind of nice. No one to answer to, no one to impress on a daily basis. No one to annoy you when you’re involved in something. You get to do what you want when you want.”

“You know how I feel about being alone.”

“Yeah, I do. But you’ll be fine. Trust me. Listen, Beck, I don’t mean to change the subject, but I might need a big favor.”

“Sure, anything. Do you have to go out of town again?”

“I wish. No, I have to go to the police station to…”

“The police station? My God, what happened?”

Typical Beck, never let you finish a sentence without interrupting. “They’re investigating Johnny’s death.” I filled her in on the little I knew. I held my breath. I knew it was coming.

“I told you, you should have called the police. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. Carr is going with me. He has friends on the force, so he’s trying to find out what they know. Listen, I have to go get ready. If they arrest me, can you keep Katie and Josh for a while? Just until I find out if I can get bail.” The thought of getting arrested terrified me. But I had to face facts and there was a good possibility of that happening.

“Oh my God, they’re not going to arrest you?”

“I hope not, but there is that possibility.”

“God, Erica, what are you going to do?”

“I wish I knew. Listen, I’ve got to run. I’ll talk to you later, I hope, or I’ll have Carr get in touch.”

“I’ll say a prayer for you.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that. Bye.” I set the phone on the charger. Why had I gone to see Johnny that day? What made me think seeing him in person would change his mind? It wasn’t like me to act so impulsively. Putting the thought from my mind, I hurried to get dressed. Carr would be here any minute. I hoped he had some news.

Unfortunately, Carr didn’t have news. He hadn’t been able to get a hold of his friend. “I’ll see if I can find someone with some information while they talk to you. You know I can’t go in with you, don’t you?”

“I had a bad feeling. You don’t think I need a lawyer, do you? I mean I really can’t afford one.”

“I’ll see what I can find out. If I think you need one, I’ll contact a friend who sometimes takes cases pro bono. Don’t answer any questions you think will incriminate you. In fact, you don’t have to answer any questions without a lawyer present. So if you feel you need one, stop them and tell them you want your lawyer.”

We pulled into the parking lot and just looking at the building and the court house sent a new round of terror through me. I didn’t want to go to jail. What would my kids think? Would they believe I killed their father? A whole new sense of loss spread through me. Carr took my hand as we walked into the building. I’ve never felt so insecure in my life. If Carr hadn’t been with me, I’m not sure I could have done this.

He kissed my cheek when Detective Blair led me into a small room. Why did I feel like I was never going to leave this building? Carr took off down the hall.

Detective Blair pulled out a chair. “Would you like some coffee or water or something?”

I shook my head then changed my mind. “Yes, coffee please.”

He gave me a half smile and left the room to get it. I wondered where Detective Winfrey was. I looked around the small room. Really nothing to see. Was that a two way mirror? Probably. Were they watching me? Waiting? For what? Me to get more nervous? I didn’t think that was possible. I watched the clock on the wall tick off the minutes, second by second. What was taking so long? Had they forgotten about me?

Finally the door opened. Detective Blair set a cup of coffee on the table. “Freshly
brewed,” he said.

Detective
Winfrey pulled out a chair, slapped a notebook down on the table and looked at me. “So, Mrs. Morris. You claim you were home the night your husband was murdered?”

Murdered. Oh my God, they thought I
killed Johnny. I tried to speak, no words came out. “I…I thought it was an accident.”

“We have evidence that says otherwise. An eye witness
, matter of fact.”

Randy! Why? He knew I didn’t kill Johnny. Why would he turn me in?

“An eyewitness who puts you at the scene. Saw you bending over the body.”

I shivered. The image of Johnny lying at the bottom of the steps flashed in front of me. Would I ever rid myself of that horrible day?  Just as I was about to answer, tell my side of the story, the door opened. A woman came in
, followed by Carr. I’ve never been happier to see anyone in my life.

“Sorry, gentlemen, we’ll have to continue this later. There’s been a new development we need to check out.”

Detective Blair threw her a questioning look, stood, and shoved back his chair. He didn’t look very happy, but he didn’t say anything. Carr came to my side, took my hand and helped me out of the chair. I wanted to fall in his arms like I did that day at the coffee shop. I wanted him to hold me, to tell me everything would be alright.

“Come on, let’s go home,” he said.

Home. Words never sounded so good. He led me out to the car. “They said they had an eye witness.” I couldn’t say the rest, about Randy.

“Yeah, some homeless guy

“A homeless guy saw me? Why did he wait until now to come forward?”

“They brought him up on charges of robbery. He made a deal if he testified against you.”

Cold blasted through me as if I’d walked into a freezer. Someone else saw what happened. “How did you get them to let me go? Who was that woman?”

“That was Claudia Hartwell, the D.A. and a friend from way back. I told her what Randy said
, and she agreed to let you go until she talked to him. I have to take him in after school.”

“Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” I leaned over, took his hand and kissed it. I would have liked to do more, but he was driving.

“It’s not over yet. Randy has to tell his story, and then Claudia will decide whether to charge you or not. I’m thinking she won’t but stranger things have happened. You’re not out of the woods yet.”

Carr pulled in
to my drive. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Do you want to come in, have some lunch?”

“Can’t. I have a case at one. I’ll call you.” He leaned over and kissed me. A gentle, sweet kiss that set me on fire.

I pulled away. I could easily fall in love with this man. I opened the door, looked at him and smiled. “Thanks again.”

Chapter Thirteen

I hurried into the house, picked up the phone and called Becky. I could at least let her know what was going on. Not that I knew anything definite. Besides, I needed to talk to someone. This whole ordeal set me on edge.

“Becky, hi, it’s me Erica, give me a call when you get a chance. I’m home. At least for now.”  I left the message and set the phone on the counter. Now what? How was I going to pass the day? The phone rang a few minutes later.