Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Gary prided himself on being prepared for most eventualities, but he hadn’t seen that coming.
“You killed Cheryl?”
Senator Cain nodded. “But—”
Gary held his hand up. “Stop right there, Senator.” This was one conversation that needed to take place at the precinct.
He thought fast. The nearest police department was in Lenox, but…
. “We’re taking you back to Boston. We’ll continue this when we get there.
” And before the senator could utter another word, Gary Mirandized him, arresting him for receiving stolen property and the suspected murder of Cheryl Somers.
One glance at Dan’s expression told him Dan was as shocked as he was.
He didn’t see this coming either.
Maybe it was more the case that neither of them had wanted to believe the senator capable of such a crime.
All three of them jumped when the door opened, the painting disappearing from view as it slid into the recess.
Mrs. Cain walked into the art room, frowning. “What is going on? Have they offered an explanation for barging into our home?” She glared at Gary. “The police commissioner’s wife is a friend. You can be sure I’ll be speaking about—”
“Della.” The senator gave her a sad smile.
“I’m going to the Boston police department with these gentlemen, ‘to help with their inquiries,’ I believe the phrase is.
I suspect there will be officers here shortly.
Let them take whatever they want.” He fixed her with a hard stare.
“Whatever they want.” Then he turned to Gary. “Make sure they don’t damage it?”
Gary gave a nod. “I’ll make a call. I know someone who’ll assist in its removal.” Lori would take great care with it.
Senator Cain glanced at the door. “There are no permanent fixings through the stretcher. It’s held in place with turn buttons.” He squared his shoulders. “Let’s go.” Another glance at Gary. “Will I have to wear…?”
Gary saw where he was headed. He shook his head. “Cuffs won’t be necessary in the circumstances.”
The senator flashed him a look of gratitude. “Thank you.” And with that, they escorted him through the house and out to the car. Mrs. Cain followed them, aghast, calling out that she’d contact the family lawyer and have him go to the precinct.
Senator Cain said nothing.
Gary got behind the wheel.
We’re about to learn the truth behind Cheryl’s death, and I’m not sure I want to hear it.
A truth he felt sure would break Pete Raskin.
2:00 p.m.
Gary was about to go to the interview room where Senator Cain awaited them when his phone rang. It was Travers.
“Sergeant Michaels informs me we have Senator William Cain in custody. Custody? What on earth have you dug up?”
“I’ll tell you when we’ve spoken to the senator. Am I okay to let Dan sit in on the interview?”
“Seeing as he’s probably been instrumental in getting you to this point, I would say yes. And Gary? Come to my office as soon as you’re done with the senator.”
Gary told him he would, then hung up.
Dan’s grim expression mirrored Gary’s own internal turmoil.
“Let’s get down there.” No sooner had the words left Gary’s lips than his phone buzzed.
He fished it out of his pocket and peered at the screen.
“It’s from Sean Nichols. The class reunion is in September.
It’s being run as a charity dinner, and there will be a raffle to raise more funds. Tuxedos to be worn.”
“Tell him we’ll be there.” Dan cocked his head. “Do you own a tux?”
“I’ll rent one.” Gary composed a quick reply, then stared at the door.
“I know how you feel.” Dan’s voice was low. “I can’t believe it either.”
“Then let’s go hear his story.”
They headed down to the interview rooms to find an officer standing outside.
“Senator Cain’s lawyer just arrived. He’s in there now.”
Gary glanced at his badge. “Thanks, Lomax.” He opened the door and they went inside.
Senator Cain sat at the table, in quiet conversation with a smartly dressed man.
A jug of water and two glasses were in front of them.
Both men fell silent as Gary and Dan took their seats facing them.
Gary checked the recording apparatus was functioning properly and went through the routine of assuring the senator was aware of his rights.
Gary opened his folder. “Let’s start with what happened the day Cheryl died. Do you remember everything?”
“Senator, I—”
Senator Cain patted his lawyer’s arm. “You’re here because Della sent for you, but I’m afraid all you’re going to do is sit there and listen. I’ve kept quiet for long enough.” He regarded Gary, his face drawn. “Believe me, that day has haunted me for the past twenty-six years.”
“You weren’t in Nantucket as you previously claimed.”
The senator shook his head, and his lawyer pointed to the mic. “No. We’d closed up the house in Lenox for the summer as usual. The staff were due to come back from vacation just before Labor Day, to clean, make beds, etcetera. I came back to the house alone that day.”
“But it wasn’t just that day, was it?” Dan interjected. “You and Cheryl were there at other times over the summer.”
Senator Cain stared at him. “How did you know that? There was never anyone around.”
“Aiden Reynolds was building your pool house, remember? He saw you in the gardens.”
The senator sighed. “Of course. I’d forgotten they were there.
” He clasped his hands on the table. “Those last three summers, Cheryl and I got into a routine. One day a week, I’d drive back to the house under the pretext of having some work to do.
There was no one around—all the staff were on vacation too. We’d spend most of those days in bed.”
“And the day she died?” Gary inquired.
Senator Cain took a drink from the glass of water.
“We’d agreed to meet on Friday evening. I was going to stay until Sunday morning, then drive back to Nantucket.
It would be the last time before Della and I came back to the house.
But when I got there….” He regarded Gary with a pained expression.
“She wasn’t where I expected to find her. ”
Friday August 28, 1992
Senator Cain closed the front door behind him.
It never ceased to amuse him that despite him knowing for certain there were no staff in the house, he always closed the door quietly so as not to be detected.
Cheryl’s car wasn’t out front, but then again it never was.
She usually left it at the cottage where Pete and his wife lived and walked over to the house.
The chances of anyone seeing it were slim, but the senator wasn’t about to risk it.
He climbed the stairs, his heartbeat racing at the thought of seeing her again.
It had only been a week since their last meeting, but Lord, he’d missed her.
Granted, his days had been full of time spent on the beach with the children, his evenings full of dinners outdoors, the smell of the sea carried on the breeze, the heat of the day gradually receding.
He longed to hear her voice, to lie in bed with her, talking about her painting, her job. Everything about her fascinated him. One day a week was all they got, and he knew once September arrived, their meetings would have to be severely curtailed.
That only made him more determined to wring every ounce of joy possible out of those precious minutes they got to share.
When he reached the second floor, he headed for the guest room they always used.
I’m such a hypocrite. I talk about the importance of family, the sanctity of marriage, but I’m happy to commit adultery. However, his moral compass wouldn’t allow him to make love to Cheryl in the bedroom he shared with Della. That felt like a step too far.
He heard her voice, but it didn’t come from the guest room—Cheryl was in his office, and from the sound of it she was making a phone call. Intrigued, he walked into the room, and his heart stuttered when he saw the left-hand door.
It was pulled all the way across.
Oh dear Lord.
He crossed the floor, reaching out to draw it back, and then he caught her words.
“I’ve found it. It’s been in plain sight all the time. I’m looking at it right now.”
His heart hammering, Senator Cain pushed the door back, and there she was, staring at him, mouth open, her phone in her hand.
He didn’t hesitate. He snatched the phone from her, ended the call, then dropped it to the floor with a clatter.
Cheryl looked at him as if he’d grown another head. “What… what are you doing with this?”
Her horrified expression cut him to the bone.
He said the first thing that came into his head.
“Copy it for me? Then… then I’ll give it back. I-I only have it on loan.”
For a moment there, he could have sworn she wavered.
Not for long.
“I won’t do it. But you’re right about one thing—you are going to give it back.” She swallowed. “Will, I thought I knew you.”
“You do. No one knows me the way you do.”
She shook her head, and his throat seized to see the disgust written all over her face. “The fact that you have this in your possession? I would never have believed this of you. It… it calls into question your whole character.”
That was when Senator Cain’s world came crashing down, and he knew they were through.
“Please…. You can’t tell anyone,” he pleaded. “Just give me a chance to send it back to where it came from.”
“And where’s that? The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum? Because I’m pretty sure that was not where you got it from.” She glanced around the room.
“What are you looking for?”
She gaped at him. “A phone. I’m calling the police.” Her eyes glistened. “I have to call them. Don’t you see that?”
“I can’t let you do it.”
Cheryl blinked. “Who’s going to stop me? You?” She made as if to brush past him, and he grabbed her. “Let go of me.” She struggled to free herself, and then….
Oh hell no.
Friday, August 3, 2018
“What happened?” Gary asked in a low voice.
Senator Cain stared at him, tears trickling down his cheeks. “She fell. But she hit her head on the metal grate around the hearth.” He swallowed. “I knelt beside her, but she was out cold, blood pouring from her head.”
“What did you do?”
The senator regarded him with wide eyes. “I panicked. I knew I’d probably killed her.”
“Did you check for a pulse?” Dan asked.
“Yes. It was there but very weak. She lay so still, and there was so much blood. I knew I needed help—she needed help—but what could I do? I couldn’t let it get out, but I had to do something. So….” He sagged in his chair. “I made a phone call.”
Gary leaned forward. “Who did you call, Senator?”
“The same person who’d loaned me the Rembrandt—Bruno DiFanetti.”