The Pain Scale Read Online Free PDF

seated at the large table when Ruiz and DC Baxter escorted Congressman and Mrs. Benton and Julian Campos into the room, followed by a bald man with a shiny head and a much younger woman who seemed to be burdened more by the proceedings than anyone else in the entourage. The lieutenant led the congressman to the seat at the head of the table, and the politician sat there without an apparent thought about it. The deputy chief made the introductions. The two we hadn’t seen before were Roger Kroll and Molly Fields, the congressman’s chief of staff and his assistant.
    Jen began. “We can’t begin to express how sorry we are for your loss.”
    The congressman said, “Thank you.”
    It was a foregone conclusion that Jen would take the lead in the interview. She has a way of conveying empathy that I am never able to manage. And we’d been ordered by Baxter to use the utmost sensitivity with the Bentons. He’d sighed with relief when Ruiz had told him who’d be asking most of the questions.
    “We know this is very difficult,” Jen said. “Can either of you think of anyone who might have wanted to harm Sara or the children?”
    The congressman said, “I thought this was a home-invasion robbery. That it was random. Are you saying it’s something else?”
    “No, sir,” Jen said. “We just need to consider everything at this point. There is some evidence to suggest robbery as the motive, but it’s not conclusive. So we need to look at every possibility.”
    “Why would anyone want to hurt Sara or the children?” Mrs. Benton asked.
    “No one would,” her husband said. “At least no one I can imagine.”
    Jen went on. “I know your son is an attorney. What type of law does he practice?”
    “He used to do contracts. Now he’s consulting with a lobbying firm in Washington. That’s why he was away when it happened.”
    “How much time was he spending away from home?”
    “One or two weeks a month. He still has an office here in Long Beach that he works out of the rest of the time.”
    “Do you think it’s possible that someone might have wanted to hurt him through his wife and children?”
    “Well,” the congressman said, shaking his head, “politics can be pretty vicious, but I can’t imagine anything like this.” He seemed to get lost in his own thoughts for a moment. “No,” he said finally, “not like this.”
    Jen shifted her body slightly to be more inclusive of the congressman’s wife. “Do either of you know Catherine Catanio?”
    “Yes,” Mrs. Benton said. “She was Sara’s maid of honor. They’ve been friends since college. Why?”
    Just to feel useful, I answered her question. “They were going to have lunch yesterday.” For some reason, that statement triggered her tears, and she tugged a tissue from the box on the table in front of her.
    Jen let her have a few seconds to compose herself, then asked, “How were Brad and Sara doing?”
    “What do you mean?” Mrs. Benton asked.
    “Well,” Jen said, “he’d been away a lot.” She offered a slight smile and made sure there was nothing harsh or accusatory in her tone. “Was that, or anything else, causing any strain or stress in their relationship?”
    “Neither one of them was too happy about him being out of town so much,” Mrs. Benton said, “but neither of them thought it was a long-term situation. And I can’t think of anything else. Sara seemed so happy the last time I talked to her. She was excited about being back in school, and the kids were doing so well.” Her voice trailed off as she reached for another tissue.
    Congressman Benton continued for her. “Brad told me—in confidence, of course—that they were even thinking about another baby.” He rubbed at his eyes and cleared his throat. “Excuse me,” he said.
    “You said Sara was back in school?” I asked. “Yes,” Mrs. Benton said. “She’s working on a master’s degree in art history. It’s something she’s been wanting to do for quite a while.