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The interview room had the distinct odor of a football locker room and Jenna made a mental note to purchase plug-in air fresheners for every room in the building. Wrinkling her nose, she stepped inside with Deputy Walters close behind. As she placed her file on the table and slid out a notepad, Walters turned on the video recording device using a remote and Jenna could see the screen frozen on pause. She took her seat across the desk from her prisoner and his lawyer and looked at James Stone. “Are you ready to proceed?”
“We are.” Stone’s mouth twitched up at the corners in a satisfied smirk.
Jenna indicated to Walters to start the recordings. She gave the time and date and asked all present to identify themselves. “Mr. Dean was Mirandized at the scene.” She gave details of the charges. “Mr. Dean, from Carol Dean’s statement, she divorced you after constant spousal abuse and claims you continue to strike her.”
“Do you have proof that Mrs. Dean is telling the truth?” James Stone’s dark gaze rested on her. “Any witness statements, hospital records?”
Jenna stared right back at him. “You should be aware that we are in the discovery stage of the investigation at the moment. This interview is to determine if we keep Mr. Dean here for further questioning or make formal charges.” She lifted her chin. “However, he struck an officer in the performance of their duty and resisted arrest.”
“Hmm.” Stone shook his head slowly. “I’m not seeing any statements to back up that accusation.” He turned to Deputy Walters. “Did you actually see my client, strike Deputy… ah… Acting Sheriff Alton?”
“No, by the time I turned around, everyone was on the ground.” Walters scratched his head. “So, in fact, I only witnessed Mr. Dean resisting arrest.”
By this time, Errol Dean was grinning like a cat who’d got the cream. Jenna’s stomach dropped, but she moved on. “Then there’s the attack on Father Derry and I can bear witness that you were chasing after Carol, who I could plainly see had taken a beating.”
“I didn’t touch Father Derry or Carol.” Dean leaned forward on the table so close she could smell his cigarette-tainted breath. “Yeah, I was chasing after her—to see if she was okay. You went way off base hitting me with your nightstick, and that guy who tackled me bruised my ribs.”
Jenna shrugged. “We had a call about a disturbance at the church. You posed a threat and I was well within my rights to detain you for questioning.”
“Seems to me”—James Stone opened his hands wide—“all you have is resisting arrest and maybe a very slight chance of the court believing my client hit Carol. The rest is hearsay and, I might add, as the striking charge came from you, Acting Sheriff, you just being in this room is a conflict of interest. Are you carrying out some sort of illegal vendetta against my client?”
She kicked herself as she realized that Stone was correct. In hindsight she should have asked Walters to interview the prisoner, but being so short-staffed, what option did she have? She nodded slowly. “Very well, I’ll withdraw the striking charge, but the resisting arrest remains, as does the assault on Carol Dean.”
“Minor offenses will be dealt with by the magistrate, but I figure he’ll think you’re just wasting his time.” Stone pushed his legal pad into a briefcase and dropped it beside him. “Write it up, see the DA, or whatever you feel you need to do, but I want my client before the magistrate for a bail hearing this afternoon.”
It was as if he’d dismissed her. She looked at Dean. “I’ll be recommending Carol take out a protective order against you. You may walk this time, but it won’t happen again.”
“Are you threatening me, Sheriff?” Dean smiled at her. “On tape and in front of my lawyer too. Nice try.”
Jenna pushed to her feet. “That wasn’t a threat, Mr. Dean. It was a statement of truth. I’m planning on standing up
for the victims of spousal abuse by making darn sure they’re protected by law.” She picked up the remote and turned off the recorder. “Deputy Walters, will you escort the prisoner back to the cells?” As Walters left leading Dean away, she turned to James Stone. “There’s coffee in the main office, if you’d like to wait while I write up the paperwork.”
“Thanks, I don’t have too much to do right now.” Stone rested one hip on the corner of the table and his expression softened. “Tough first day, huh?”
Surprised by his sudden turnaround from hardnosed lawyer to normal guy, Jenna laughed. “I’ve had worse.” She leaned against the wall. “You came on pretty strong. I figured we were enemies. It’s nice to see a different side to you.”
“When it comes down to convicting an innocent man, I’m one uncompromising SOB, but I handle deceased estates, wills… well, just about everything, so I do have a heart.” Stone opened his hands wide. “Although, there’s no police prosecutor in town for me to spar with. The DA handles all the prosecutions.” He frowned and looked at his hands. “He is one of the smartest attorneys I’ve met. He doesn’t mince words and gives it to you straight. In court, he makes my life hell.”
Jenna walked out into the passageway with Stone close behind. “Well, I guess I’m going to find out myself in a few minutes.” She looked at him over one shoulder. “If you can point me in the direction of his office?”
“Two down from Aunt Betty’s Café. The tall redbrick. His office is on the second floor.” Stone headed for the coffee pot. “Good luck!”
Being used to the slow drag of red tape and bureaucracy in the city, Jenna hadn’t expected things to move so fast. Black Rock Falls had little crime and, with only neighborhood disputes and traffic offences to deal with, the court lists remained virtually empty. The DA took the same stance as James Stone and waved away the unsubstantiated attack on her, but he would proceed with the assault on Carol Dean and the charge of resisting arrest. He agreed to filing the protection order and arranged for both matters to be dealt with that afternoon.
In most cases, lawyers needed months, sometimes years, to prepare for a case, but it seemed in this town the legal process moved at warp speed. When James Stone addressed the court and instructed the judge that his client had decided to plead guilty to expedite matters, the magistrate laid down the sentencing phase for three days hence. The speedy court date astounded her. More so when the magistrate gave Errol Dean bail with his ex-wife still in the hospital and vulnerable.
As she walked back to the office, her neck prickled and she turned to see Errol Dean leaning against the wall of the general store staring at her. She’d walked right by him and been so involved with her thoughts on the speedy judicial system that she hadn’t noticed him. When he gave her a smile and tipped his hat, she caught the sadistic expression in his eyes. He reminded her of Michael and the smug way he’d look at her after he’d hit her. A too familiar trapped feeling enclosed her in a rush of memories and she fought back the terrible need to run and keep going. Seeing the welcoming sign outside Aunt Betty’s Café, she pushed through the door. The bell tinkled and a warm delicious smell engulfed her. People looked up from their meals and smiled. A wall of safety enclosed her and she could suddenly breathe again. Her stomach growled and she remembered in all the excitement she hadn’t eaten since leaving home. She ordered from the counter and made her way to the table reserved for the sheriff’s department and sat down. Gathering her thoughts, she called Maggie to inform her when she’d be back at the office. She scanned the menu to pass the time and started when she glanced up to see James Stone walking to her table. What the hell do you want?
Eighteen
The last thing Jenna needed was the attention of James Stone. Although, Stone was quite handsome and he’d be a good catch if she wanted a husband, but she wasn’t interested. Losing Steve in such a brutal fashion still hurt. She’d loved him, his funny smile, and sense of humor. He’d had her back and had died protecting her. If things had worked out differently, they’d have made a good couple. The wash of Stone’s cologne tainted the delicious aromas of the café but she composed her face and looked at him. “Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Stone?”
“Maybe ask me to join you for a start, people are looking at us.” He raised one dark eyebrow and his hand went to the back of the chair.
Smothering a much-needed eyeroll, Jenna nodded. “Sure, take a seat. What’s on your mind?”
“I noticed Errol Dean giving you the stink eye before, and I figured if I came by and sat at your table, he’d get the message and go home.” He waved to Susie and ordered a pulled-pork roll with fries. “I didn’t dispute the fact he hit his wife and, off the record, did he really strike you or were you just trying to get him off the streets?”
