Rooked

by Caitlin Sara

  Of course she is, Maro thought.

  The detectives, accompanied by Martina and Barry, escorted Ara to an interview on the opposite side of the precinct from where Dan was being held. Lane had arrived just minutes after receiving the call from Barry. Shaken and bruised, Ara sat at the table next to Lane and across from the detectives. Each lawyer stood back, not wanting to overwhelm the interview.

  As in the interviews prior, Maro leafed through his notebook finding a clean page before tapping the end of his pen. He dated the top right corner of the page and looked back up at Ara.

  “I want to start by apologizing to you for what happened earlier. Despite your attorney’s belief, it was not an intentional set up by our department. Your safety and mental well-being have been, and continue to be, a top priority for our team here and it is extremely important that you believe that and trust our department. We are the good guys.”

  Ara nodded looping her fingers through Lane’s.

  “It’s also worth noting that we had no prior knowledge of a personal relationship between you and Dr. DaVadere or an attempted sexual assault. Obviously, our department would have investigated such accusations thoroughly if informed of these details.” Maro did not attempt to hide his judging stare toward Lane. An old-school lawman, he could not understand why any decent detective would not report a crime of such scale to law enforcement.

  Taking the bait, Lane interrupted, “Wasn’t my idea, Maro. She didn’t want to press charges, and I respected her wishes. If she wouldn’t talk, there was no crime to report.”

  Interrupting, Ara said, “I do not want this to reflect poorly on Lane. He advised me to report it, and based on today I’m sure he’s kicking himself for listening to me. Dan is far more dangerous than I thought and he has made it clear he has an unhealthy obsession with me.”

  Maro simply gave a mmm hmmm before continuing the interview, knowing that sometimes it was best not to over speak. He jotted a few gibberish notes before offering water to all in the room. After they declined, he continued.

  “Goldberg told us you want to give another official statement on the gun used in your husband’s murder. If you don’t have any other questions for me, we can get on with it.”

  “None at this time.”

  “Do we have your permission to record this interview?” They weren’t going to have any additional missteps today.

  “Of course.”

  Barry and Martina each pressed start on their personal devices, obviously not wanting to miss a beat moving forward. The detectives adjusted the old-school recorder on the table before saying the necessary disclosure statements to get started. After a few basic questions, Maro asked Ara to explain again the specifics on the gun and why both her and Lane’s fingerprints were found.

  “Brad was becoming somewhat paranoid over the last few months. There were a few clients specifically who seemed to shake him up, as well as someone that was related to business he had with his father. I don’t know names, or what type of business, his father was good at keeping me out of the loop with certain matters. Obviously, I now realize, he did not confide his secrets to me. Given his multiple affairs, I suppose he had others to exchange pillow talk with. But I knew he was worried.”

  “Mystery threats, seems convenient,” Ameno said before being hushed by Hernandez.

  “He was very secretive, Detective.” Ara continued. “He wanted the gun for protection. Said he’d feel better having it. Lane and I were character witnesses for the application, along with, I believe, one other person from his office.”

  “All of this can be corroborated with the paperwork,” Barry said, placing an envelope containing copies of the original documents filed on the table.

  “Brad trusted Lane more than anyone, his opinion was very important to him. He was with us every step through purchasing the gun as well as at the range after to show us how to use it. Although the gun spent most of its time in a locked drawer, there were plenty of occasions for our prints to get on it.”

  Maro circled a note several times, digging the pen into the paper. He knew all of this already, he needed something new to spark movement in this case. His frustration with the unsolved case was growing, and he was quite frankly getting sick of the main characters.

  “That’s a very logical story, Ara, and thank you for sharing. There’s just a few problems that seem to have no answer here. You see, I believe you, but then who did it? It’s not a robbery, you said so yourself: the gun was locked away in a drawer. Someone had to know where the gun was, someone had to be able to get to it. And you want me to believe that all of this happened in a matter of minutes while you were conveniently off camera, hiking your pregnant self up multiple flights of stairs in heels?”

  “We were out for an entire evening, Detective, and quite frankly I haven’t seen that gun since Brad locked it away. I don’t think Brad checked on it often either, though I can’t be one hundred percent sure. Not that I’m trying to do your job here, but the gun could have been removed from the drawer at any time and we wouldn’t have known.”

  “Fine, I agree someone could have been lying in wait in the apartment for you two to come back home, but why and who?” Maro loosened the tie around his neck suddenly feeling warm. “You seem like a nice woman, and I want to believe you that you had nothing to do with this, but you have to make me believe it, because right now there’s not many other places to look.”

  Barry jumped from the sidelines and was at the table earning his high price retainer. “We’ve been nothing but cooperative. That ends if this badgering continues.”

  “Not badgering, Goldberg, take your panties out of their bunch. There’s a goddamn piece missing here, and your client needs to start talking!”

  “We’ve been talking. We just don’t have the story you want to hear. Wouldn’t be the first time you ruined an innocent victim’s life by overreaching.” Barry motioned to Ara that the interview was done and began to gather his things.

  Hernandez interrupted, “Calm down, boys. We all have the same goal and it is to solve this case. We want closure for her, Barry, just like you.”

  “Closure, my ass. You want to persecute her and parade your victory for the politicians.”

  Ameno jumped into the conversation, saying, “It would be nothing short of predictable if she is covering for her boyfriend.”

  These two just can’t get along, Maro thought, preparing for what was sure to be another blowout between the two younger detectives.

  “Bullshit!” Lane said. “You know damn well I was working. My captain gave you his statement. What else do you want from me?”

  “I still think you got there a little fast, Bene!” Ameno chimed.

  “Brad was sleeping with half the town, with my goddamn stepsister. Plenty of people had a reason to kill him!” Ara shouted.

  The room fell silent as the attention snapped back to her. Ara’s leg shook slightly from nerves but her face showed no sign of it.

  “Lane and Brad were like brothers. I’d just received the happiest of news, finding out I was pregnant. Neither of us wanted Brad dead, you will see tonight in my interview, I had accepted him and wanted to move forward with my family.” Ara looked to Lane and took a deep breath. “There is more that you need to know.”

  Hopefully something that leads somewhere, Maro thought before motioning for her to continue.

  “Dr. DaVedere and I were involved in a sexual relationship for about a decade,” she paused, leaving Maro on the edge of his seats and doing the math in his head. “Since I was seventeen years old, up until my marriage to Brad.”

  Maro noticed Lane looked as if he might be sick, he had opened his mouth but no words came out.

  “Dr. Dan can be very manipulative; he knows how to act to get what he wants. His ego. It’s everything to him.”

  "Damn his ego!" Lane banged the table.

  Maro, not entirely shocked by the new allegations was willing to say what everyone else was thinking. “These are very s
erious accusations, Ara."

  Ara nodded. “I’d imagine banging your seventeen-year-old patient would be quite serious.”

  “Jesus, Ara, don’t speak like that.” Lane was visibly shaken.

  “What do you want me to say, that it didn't happen? ’Cause it did and I am so sorry, but I was a kid. My dad had just passed away and all I had was Arabelle. I was looking for love and thought I had found it by having sex with him.”

  “It's not sex. It's statutory rape,” Lane said.

  But Ara looked directly back toward Maro and his partner. “It wasn’t forced. Wrong, yes. But not forced. Plus, it was over ten years ago, isn’t there some sort of statute of limitations or something like that?”

  Maro cleared his throat. “Age of consent is seventeen in New York, doesn’t mean he’s not a no-good creep, though.” Hernandez simply nodded in confirmation.

  Ara continued, “It is in the past and I would never have brought it up, but I want you to know the extent of our relationship so you could see why the doctor would want to harm me, possibly even Brad.”

  “You and Mr. Bugia started dating when you were twenty-five years old, correct?” Maro asked, taking bulleted notes to build out a timeline.

  “Yes.”

  “And your relationship with Dr. DaVadere began when you were seventeen.”

  “Correct.”

  “Were you having intimate relationships with both men for a time?”

  “For some time, yes. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure where things were going, and I was comfortable with Dan. Brad also was out a lot of nights, so maybe it was just out of boredom. But I called it off right after we got engaged and was ready to commit fully to Brad.”

  Maro nodded, tossing his notes to the table. “You suppose you were the only patient?”

  “During that time, I believe I was. I couldn’t speak for him now. Up until recently, we hadn’t spoken for a few years. He didn’t exactly take it well when I broke things off. I’m afraid he really grew to hate me after that. And to hate Brad.”

  Maro was thoroughly satisfied that his initial feelings on the doctor were spot on. Not only was he potentially a child molester, based on what Ara was saying, he seemed to have an unhealthy obsession with her and their victim. They’d have to look in to the doc more, but where he stood now, it was looking like he had a motive.

  “There’s one other thing, I’m not sure I could prove it, which is why I haven’t mentioned it until now, but I think the doctor had been following me. Brad and I would be out somewhere, dinner or something, and I’d think I’d catch a glimpse of him, but when I would turn to look, he wouldn’t be there.”

  “But you have no proof of this, just what you think you saw?”

  Ara’s eyes squinted, her face tightening defensively. “No. I said I couldn’t prove it. But I could never really shake the feeling that we were being watched.”

  After a few more questions, Ara signed a written statement, reiterating that anything Dr. Dan said about her or Lane could not be trusted, and that she truly believed if she wasn’t happy with him, he didn’t want her happy with anyone.

  “Thank you again for your cooperation,” Ameno said as Lane and Ara exited with Barry. Hernandez exchanged a stern look with both detectives.

  “This is big, Maro, may even be your guy. I suggest you start exploring these other leads.” She turned and exited as well, leaving no time for him to argue.

  Ameno quickly followed, shouting, “Hey, Bene! A word?”

  Great, can’t he give this up? Maro motioned for Ameno to bring the conversation back into the room. Martina would hand it to him if he allowed another outburst today.

  Lane looked to Ara, who nodded. He returned to the interview room and closed the door behind him.

  “I’d like to get on better ground, us and you. We are brothers in blue, after all,” Ameno said. “I can’t help but feel some tension between us.”

  Maro couldn’t hold in his laugh, as Ameno waited for a response from Lane but got nothing. “But it’s unnecessary. And if I have to be the bigger man, I will.”

  “See that’s my problem, brother. The bigger man shit. You seem to think you have a strong handle on the case,” Lane finally said.

  “Don’t we?” Ameno asked.

  “I don’t really know what you think you know. What I do know is that even after everything you just heard about the doc, you are still humping my leg hoping to get something out of me.”

  Ameno chuckled. “Fair enough,” he said. “That’s all a great story with good old Dr. Dan, but at the end of the day you’re the one sleeping with her and we’ve got your prints on the murder weapon.”

  Lane offered no response. Ameno leaned in and said, “And I’m sitting back thinking, this whole thing could have been planned.”

  Lane took a step forward. “If I were you, I’d be looking into that lunatic doctor. Dig deeper, I’m not your man,” he said before pulling the door open.

  Before he could leave the room, Maro spoke up, “Let’s say you did do it, would she be worth all this?”

  Lane stopped but didn’t turn around and said, “Is anyone worth killing another person?”

  I guess that depends, Maro thought.

  He and Ameno sat silently after Lane left, considering the new circumstances.

  “The doctor did always give me the freaking creeps,” he finally said, slicing through the silence.

  “Do you really believe her? Seems a little convenient at this point.”

  “It’d be a hell of a thing to lie about. Especially in front of her new boyfriend like that.”

  This was the part of the job that Maro loved best. Ara Hopkins had just breathed some life into what was looking to be his first unsolved case since cleaning up his act.

  “Call his office, let’s see what else we can dig up on the doc.”

  CHAPTER 39

  The bright beams cascading on to her from all directions reminded her of searchlights. The production crew assured her the stage lighting would make her appear warm, appealing even, but Ara was positive it was more along the lines of sweaty and discombobulated. She could feel her expensive department store makeup beginning to melt into the creases of her skin. The onset team brushed her face with toners and highlighters, enhancing her cheekbones and brow while producers briefed her with sample questions before ultimately admitting the interview could turn in a different direction on the fly if the host saw an opportunity.

  “That’s what Shirley does best,” they said matter-of-factly even as they swore her best interest, not the show’s, was what was most important to their host. “America will cry for you and your heartache when you’re through today.” Or convict me of murder and crucify me on social media, Ara thought.

  Shirley Stapleton, a former prosecutor turned television host, had a personality as big as her Texas hair. She was known to be hard-hitting and had a knack for sensational commentary on some of the country’s top criminal cases. If there was a crime show to be on, it was Shirley’s.

  Raina appeared much more comfortable getting dolled up, even dallying with a few of the crew members as they fussed with her hair. Ara wasn’t entirely sure she would agree to going on air with her, but with Arabelle backing the choice, she knew eventually Raina would cave to the opportunity to be in the limelight.

  She never stops. Ara watched Raina tilt her head and giggle as she meandered easily through the prep, jealous of the fact that she always seemed to be on.

  “Thanks for doing this with me,” Ara said. “Means a lot.”

  “Of course, Ara, I would do anything for you.” To which the producers clasped their hands into a fraudulent series of “Aws!”

  The executive producer had been more than happy to agree to Ara’s request to have Raina accompany her on the show. They couldn’t pass on an opportunity to capture the side of the story many were waiting to hear. After some rescheduling by the network, the sisters were slotted to appear during a prime-time segment.

&nbs
p; The producers showed the two women to their seats on a platform a foot or so off of the ground. Ara would sit next to Shirley, with a comfortable space between them, while Raina sat off to Ara’s right.

  Lane and Barry kindly offered their support from behind the stage crew who buzzed about setting up the wired microphone clipped at Ara’s collar. Through the chaos, Lane offered Ara a halfhearted smile, which she was glad to return with more enthusiasm. He hadn’t spoken a single word to her about her relationship with Dr. Dan, but she could tell he was still working through how he felt about it. She lifted her hand and waved, smiling again, before returning her attention to the set crew.

  Shirley came out moments later and approached the two women. She was everything Ara thought she would be, right down to her firm handshake. Ara fumbled to stand in the form-fitting black dress Barry had provided for her to wear during the segment.

  “Ara,” Shirley said, confidently extending her hand to touch hers, “I want to start first by offering not only my extreme condolences for your husband’s murder, but promising this interview will only aid in bringing more awareness to the case, and personalizing your story. I would also like to assure you that I will extend every effort on my team to bring you and your family justice.”

  Ara noted the alarming similarity between bring you justice and bring you to justice. Thank God this wasn't a live segment. Although allowing professionals to snip and trim behind the scenes until they cultured up the right amount of drama seemed potentially worse.

  “Thank you. I know you work tirelessly at helping solve these sorts of cases, and I am honored that you’re interested in telling my story.”

  Ara’s anxiety was interrupted by the same producer who had prepped her during hair and makeup. “Remember, this is a forum for you to show the world what you want them to understand about you and your relationship with your husband. You are free to decline questions and to pause the interview at any time if it becomes overwhelming. But remember your audience. You need to open up and show them why you are here. Show them you are innocent.”