Stuart Woods - Choke

“So, Chuck,” Rosie said, “how you been?”

“Okay, until tonight,” Chuck replied, twirling spaghettini on his fork. “Let me tell you something, you haven’t experienced life until you’ve been arrested on a capital murder charge.”

“I’m sorry I had to put you through that, Chuck,” Tommy said, pouring him some more wine, “but we had to make it look good for Merk. Nothing I could have said would have been as effective, as the look on your face when I read you your rights. If you had known what we were up to, it wouldn’t have worked.”

“And now you want me to go back to work tomorrow morning?”

“Right. There’ll be a story in tomorrow morning’s Key West Citizen announcing an arrest, but withholding your name.”

“You think Merk will take me back?”

“Why not? No one knows but him. And anyway, the last thing he said to me had to do with finding your replacement.” Tommy looked at Chuck’s plate. “You finished?”

“I couldn’t eat another bite,” Chuck said.

“Then why don’t you call Merk now and tell him you’ll be at work tomorrow? After all, we wouldn’t want him to replace you.”

“Okay. How will I explain being out of jail?”

“Tell him you’re calling from the jail, that your lawyer has arranged bail and that you’re being released early tomorrow morning,” Tommy said. “I’ll get on the extension.”

Chuck dialed the number and waited for three rings.

“Hello?”

“Merk? It’s Chuck.”

“Chuck? Where are you?”

“I’m at the jail on Stock Island, but I’m being released tomorrow morning, so I wanted to let you know I’ll be at work at nine, as usual.”

“As usual?” Merk said. “Chuck, when the papers get hold of this, nobody is going to want to take lessons from you.”

“Tommy is doing me a favor; he’s not releasing my name to the papers, so nobody will know. Except you, of course. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep all this under your hat.”

“Well, sure, Chuck; I guess you can keep on teaching, as long as it’s kept quiet. When will the trial be?”

“Not for months.”

“You can get through the season, then?”

“Through the summer, if you want me.”

“Well, sure. I was already looking for somebody; I’ll stop, though.”

“Thanks, Merk; I’ll see you in the morning.” Chuck hung up.

Tommy came back into the room. “You know him better than I; how’d he sound to you?”

“Perplexed,” Chuck said.

“That’s what I thought,” Tommy replied. “One more call to make; this one’s mine.” He looked up the number, held a finger to his lips, and dialed the number.

“Hello?”

“Mrs. Carras? This is Tommy Sculley; how are you?”

“I’m all right, Detective.”

“I hope you’ll feel better after what I have to tell you.”

“I hope so, too,” she said. “What is it?”

“We’ve arrested your husband’s murderer.”

“Well, that is good news,” she said. “It’s Chuck Chandler, of course.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m so relieved,” she said. “I don’t know what took you so long; I thought you would never arrest him.”

“It’s only recently that some physical evidence came into our hands; we had to have that before we could move,” Tommy said.

“I suppose you’ll want me to testify,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am. The trial is probably going to be some months away, though. His lawyer will do all the maneuvering he can.”

“But there’s no reason for me to stay in Key West, is there?”

“Oh, no, ma’am; not as long as we know where to reach you. Were you planning to leave?”

“As soon as I sell the house, maybe sooner; I’ve been thinking of doing some traveling.”

“You go right ahead, ma’am; just leave us your itinerary.”

“I’ll do that, Detective. Thank you for letting me know.” She hung up.

Tommy put the phone down and held up a thumb. “Now let’s see what she does.”

Clare dialed the number on her portable phone.

“Yeah?”

“They’ve arrested him,” she said.

“I heard,” he replied.

“The length of hose apparently did it.”

“There was a mention of new evidence.”

“We’ll make our move soon.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

She hung up, took a deep breath, and sighed. “At last,” she said aloud to herself.

Chuck stood in front of the jail building on Stock Island and waited. He had been smuggled there earlier that morning in the back of Tommy’s car, walked in one door and out another of the facility, and allowed to telephone for a ride. After a few minutes Meg drove up in the Porsche, and he got in.

“What’s happened?” she said, kissing him.

“They arrested me for murder,” Chuck said, “but there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Nothing to worry about!” she cried.

“Please, Meg, just drive back to Key West Bight; I’ll try and explain on the way.”

“I rode my bicycle to the tennis club and got the car. I’ll have to ride back with you to get the bike.”

“Fine, I appreciate your doing this.”

“I don’t understand how you can be so calm,” she said, thrusting the morning paper at him. The headline read:

ARREST IN CARRAS MURDER

Chuck quickly scanned the story to make sure his name wasn’t mentioned. “Whew!” he said when he had finished. “I’m not calm, believe me. I’m more than a little scared.”

“Start explaining,” she said.

Chuck explained. While doing so he made a great effort to follow Tommy’s instructions and not look over his shoulder to see if anyone had taken note of his leaving the jail.

He was at the tennis club on time, showered and ready to teach. Merk was at his desk as usual.

“Everything okay?” Merk asked.

“I think so,” Chuck replied.

“I don’t know how you can be so calm about this. I’d be a nervous wreck.”

“I’m not calm, but I’m glad you thought so. If I can just get through the day with my students, I’ll be all right.”

Victor walked into the clubhouse. “Hey, Merk told me what happened. I’m sorry; anything I can do?”

“I don’t think so. I made bail, and I’m out until the trial rolls around.”

“What’s your lawyer saying about your chances?”

“He’s not telling me a lot, just not to worry. Fat chance of that.”

“He’s right, though; you’ve got to get through this somehow, and worrying isn’t going to help,” Victor said. “Well, my clinic is gathering on the court. You let me know if I can do anything-and I mean anything -to help.”

“Thanks, Victor,” Chuck said. He got his racquet and went out to his lesson. He noticed that in spite of hearing what Victor had said, Merk had made no offer of help.

At the end of the day, Victor approached Chuck. “Can I buy you a beer, buddy?”

“Tell you what, Meg is back; why don’t you come aboard Choke for dinner? You can bring the wine, and a girl, if you can find one.”

“Love to, and I’ll bring the wine, but it’s a little short notice for a girl.”

“We’ll have you all to ourselves, then,” Chuck said. “Seven o’clock?”

“Seven it is,” Victor replied. “Red or white?”

“Both; why take chances?”

At seven, Victor rapped on Choke ’s hull with a wine bottle. “Prepare to repel boarders!” he shouted.

“Did you bring the wine?” Chuck called from below.

“Yep.”

“Come aboard, then.”

The three of them dined on pasta and pork chops, and both bottles of wine vanished in due course.

“What did Merk have to say to you?” Victor asked, draining the last of his red.