Stuart Woods - Choke

“A very rich one. From the fruits of our search of the Carras place, we know he was worth at least fifteen million, and I suspect he had a lot more hidden.”

“You going to pull in Merk Connor, then?”

“I don’t think we’re ready for that, Chief.”

“Why not?”

“The usual: no material evidence.”

“Bring him in and sweat him, then, see what he has to say for himself.”

Tommy shook his head. “If we do that he’ll just deny everything, and we’re in no position to prove he’s done anything. Right now, our strongest card is that Clare Carras and Merk Connor don’t know that we know about their connection. I think we’re better off keeping an eye on both of them and waiting for something to happen.”

“Wait for what to happen?” the chief demanded.

“For them to make a mistake of some kind.”

“A mistake of some kind? Tommy, you’re driving me nuts.”

“I’m sorry, Chief, but we have to play this game with the cards we’re dealt, and right now our hand just isn’t strong enough.”

“Okay,” the chief said, “then it’s my deal. Here’s what you’re going to do, and I don’t want to hear a word of objection from either of you, understand?”

“Yes, sir,” the two detectives said simultaneously.

The sun was low in the sky as Tommy and Daryl pulled up to the Olde Island Racquet Club. They could see Chuck Chandler as he ended a lesson and walked from the court toward the clubhouse.

“Come on,” Tommy said.

“I wish I knew this was the right thing to do,” Daryl replied.

“We’ve got our orders; let’s make it look good.”

“Is Merk in the office, do you think?”

“He usually is.”

Tommy led the way past the courts and into the clubhouse. Chuck was talking to his student about a racket and how it should be strung. Merk was in his office working at the computer.

“Let’s wait ‘til he’s done,” Tommy said in a low voice. He pretended to be interested in some sweat socks on a display.

Merk turned at his desk and saw Tommy; he got up and came out from behind the counter. “Hi, can I help you guys?”

“We just want a word with Chuck,” Tommy said. “When he’s finished.” He watched Merk go back to his desk.

The student thanked Chuck for his advice and left the clubhouse.

Chuck turned and saw the two detectives. “Hi, Tommy,” he said. “What’s happening?”

Tommy stepped up to the counter. “Chuck, you’re under arrest for the murder of Harry Carras.”

“What?” Chuck said weakly.

“You have the right to remain silent; you have the right to an attorney; if you can’t afford an attorney, one will be appointed by the court to defend you; if you choose to talk to us, anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand these rights?”

“Tommy, you can’t believe…”

“Do you understand these rights?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Chuck, let’s do this quietly. Now, I’ll forgo the handcuffs if you’ll give me your word not to make a disturbance.”

“Well, sure I will, but…”

“You want to get some street clothes on?”

“Yes, thanks.”

“Daryl, go to the locker room with Chuck.” Tommy watched the two men leave the room. He leaned against the counter and waited. After a moment, Merk, who had heard everything, got up from his desk and walked over to the counter.

“Tommy, did I just hear right?” Merk asked.

“You did, Merk.”

“You really think he did it?”

“That’s where new evidence leads us. I can’t comment further than that.”

“Jesus,” Merk said under his breath.

“What?”

“I was just wondering where I’m going to get somebody on short notice to take his classes.”

Merk, Tommy thought, you’re a sweet guy.

Tommy looked at Chuck in the rearview mirror. He was wiping sweat from his face with a towel. “Chuck, listen to me,” he said.

Chuck looked up, and his face was haggard.

Tommy pulled over. “You drive,” he said to Daryl. He got out of the car, then into the back seat with Chuck. “This is not as bad as it seems,” he said. Daryl drove off.

“What do you mean?” Chuck asked. “It’s hard to see how it could get any worse.”

“We’re not going to the station; we’re going directly to the courthouse. Your lawyer is meeting us there.”

“I don’t understand,” Chuck said.

“The chief has spoken to the D.A. and the judge. You’re going to be arraigned in chambers and released on bail. You’ll spend the night at my house, then you’ll go back to work tomorrow morning.”

“Now I really don’t understand,” Chuck said.

The judge did not seem at all happy about the proceedings. “This is the damnedest thing anybody has ever asked me to do,” he said. “Do you people think a murder charge is some kind of game?”

“No, sir,” the D.A. said. “I’m acting at the request of the chief.”

“Chief, do you want to tell me what is going on here?” the judge demanded. “You come in here wanting an arraignment in chambers for a first-degree murder charge, and you want the suspect released immediately on bail of a hundred thousand dollars? For a capital charge?”

“Judge, we don’t believe that Mr. Chandler committed this murder.”

“Then why the hell did you arrest him? What the hell is he doing in my court?”

“I’ll let Detective Sculley explain,” the chief said.

Tommy stepped forward. “Your Honor, we’re at an impasse in this case. There is circumstantial evidence weighing against Mr. Chandler, but we believe the murder to have been done by other parties. We believe that these parties have caused it to seem that Mr. Chandler is guilty and that they are waiting for his arrest before making their next move.”

“And what is their next move?” the judge asked, clearly very interested now.

“We don’t know, Your Honor, but we believe they may do something that might incriminate them.”

“So this isn’t really an arrest?”

“Officially, it is; unofficially, Mr. Chandler will only appear to be booked for the crime. Nothing will go on his record, which is exemplary, as far as we are concerned.”

“Is there any material evidence against Mr. Chandler?”

“There is, but we believe it to have been planted by the other parties.”

The judge turned to the D.A. “Is it your intention to try Mr. Chandler?”

“Oh, no, sir,” the D.A. responded. “It won’t go that far; we’ll just drop the charges and issue a statement vindicating Mr. Chandler-once we have the real culprits.”

“The real culprits,” the judge repeated tonelessly.

“Yes, sir,” the D.A. replied.

“Well, I’ve certainly never been involved in anything like this,” the judge said, “but I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s all resolved.”

“So am I, Judge,” the D.A. said.

“All right, Mr. Chandler, you’ve been duly arrested and charged with murder in the first degree. How do you plead?”

Chuck looked at his lawyer.

“Not guilty, Your Honor,” the lawyer said. “Request bail.”

“Mr. Chandler, you are hereby released on one hundred thousand dollars bond.” He looked around at the others. “Is that what you all want, gentlemen?”

There was a murmur of assent from the group.

“That’s correct, Your Honor,” Chuck’s lawyer said. “We’ve completed the paperwork for a property bond.” He laid the documents on the judge’s desk.

“Wonderful,” the judge said, signing the documents, “just wonderful.”

Chuck sat at the dinner table in Tommy and Rosie’s new house and ate pasta.