The Pain Scale Read Online Free PDF Page A

how much. I didn’t want to admit how much I had really been hurting, and I would have to do that for her to understand.
    And even more importantly, I was afraid talking about the case’s effects would diminish them.
    So I filled her in on the developments in the investigation and left everything else I was thinking about unsaid.
    When I finished, I asked how she thought we should prioritize the morning.
    “Talking to Benton’s number one,” she said.
    “I figured I’d wait until eight to call Campos. Then badger him into the soonest meet we can get. A little luck and it’ll be the same time as the press conference.”
    “How about the ‘Lunch with Cat’ note?”
    “I cross-referenced the address book, e-mail, cell, and landline records. Smart bet is that ‘Cat’ is Catherine Catanio. In the last month, Sara’s talked to her more days than not. After the family, I think we should make her number two on the list.”

    At 8:05, I called Campos’s office number, identified myself to the receptionist, and was told he was unavailable. I called back every two minutes. On the fifth try, she decided it would be all right to transfer me to his cell.
    “Campos.”
    “Hey, Julian. Danny Beckett, here. LBPD Homicide. Remember me?”
    “Yes.” I thought I could hear traces of annoyance in his voice, but that might have been wishful thinking. “What can I do for you?”
    “A couple of things. First, we’re going to need to talk to Bradley Benton today.”
    “I’m not sure that will be possible.”
    “Why not?”
    “He’s having a very difficult time. His doctor has medicated him very heavily. It doesn’t seem he’ll be up to seeing anyone today.”
    “How about the rest of the family?” Now it was my turn to try not to sound annoyed.
    “That’s certainly more of a possibility.”
    “The chief and Media Relations have scheduled a press conference for ten a.m. The congressman and any other members of his family are certainly welcome to attend.”
    “Yes, we’ve been informed. Mr. Benton’s father and mother will both be in attendance.”
    I wasn’t surprised. The chief’s office had probably cleared it with the family before they bothered to tell us. You get even more perks for being a congressman than you do for being just plain rich.
    “Perhaps we could speak to them briefly afterward.”
    “I’m certain we can arrange something.”

    To nearly everyone’s surprise, the congressman was, in fact, able to pass up an opportunity to make a speech. He didn’t even make an appearance on the platform with the chief and the rest of us. He sat in the back of the room with his wife, Campos, and a small entourage. I kept my eyes on him for most of the duration of the press conference. He was wearing a dark suit, his hair was coifed in perfect anchorman fashion, and he seemed to be holding up well. I wondered how strong a wind would be required to dislodge it. His wife, Margaret, was taking it much harder. Even with the obvious face work and Botox, the grief still found its way into her expression. As the talking heads spoke, she closed her eyes, and her lips tightened into a subtle grimace that seemed her only defense against an overwhelming emotional onslaught. Even from thirty feet away, I could see her pain.
    First the chief and then Captain Hemmings from Media Relations made vague and general statements about the crime; then they took questions from the press, which they answered with more vague and general statements. It all amounted to them saying we don’t really know anything and maybe we’ll tell you something when we do. Maybe.
    Ruiz thought it best to give as much of the appearance of preferential treatment to the senior Mr. Benton as possible, so he arranged for the interview to be held in the administrative conference room on the sixth floor. That’s the one in which the chiefand his deputies gather to hatch their plans for world domination. There’s a lot of teak.
    Jen and I were already