The Scorpion's Tale Read Online Free PDF Page B

to ask you a few standard questions.”
    Steven remained silent and continued staring
at the ground.
    “How long did you know Mr. Olivaro?”
    “Since we were kids.”
    “My understanding was that Olivaro was
connected with the mob.”
    “I wouldn’t know about that,” Steven
replied.
    Detective Johnston cleared his throat. “Where
were you last night?”
    Steven thought about the question. He thought
about spending time with that little tease at the expense of his
family. He had been flirting with her while his family was being
slaughtered. If he had left for Westhampton as he originally
intended, he might have saved them, or at least died trying. He
felt disgusted with himself. The thought nauseated him.
    “I was working at my office.”
    “Did you go directly home, or did you go
somewhere after work?” the detective prodded.
    “I went home.”
    “Were you alone?”
    “Yes.”
    Detective Johnston shook his head
disapprovingly. “We’re not off to a good start, son. Didn’t you
have company last night?”
    Steven didn’t know if the detective was
bluffing or whether they had instant access to the credit card he
used to pay for his dinner with Teresa. He swallowed hard and found
the courage to look the detective in the eye.
    Detective Johnston smiled reassuringly at
him. “Shall we start over again?”
    Steven nodded. “Yes. I left the office with a
young lady named Teresa. She works for me. We went for a quick
dinner and had a few drinks. She tried her best to get me into her
bed. I declined and took the train home. I got in very late.”
    “By very late, what time, exactly?”
    “About 2:30” Steven answered.
    Detective Johnston grunted. “What time would
you say you and Teresa parted company?”
    Steven scratched his head. “Probably about
1:00,” he said tentatively.
    Detective Johnston detected the trepidation
in his voice. “Are you sure about the time?”
    Steven reconsidered his answer. “Give or take
fifteen minutes, yeah, I’m pretty sure.”
    Detective Johnston changed the subject. “Were
you and your wife having marital problems?”
    Steven glared at the detective. “Fuck you!
That’s none of your damned business!”
    “No Steven, fuck you!” he responded, taking
Steven by surprise. “I’ve got a dead child here, so everything is
my business!”
    Steven was taken aback by the detective’s
abrupt personality change. “I loved my wife.”
    Detective Johnston again changed his tone,
keeping Steven off balance. “Steven, you don’t have to come into
the house. As a matter of fact, it’s not standard procedure because
we do everything we can to preserve the crime scene. We usually
have victim identifications done at the morgue. I thought that
would be cold.”
    Steven looked shocked. “My wife and children
are inside?” he bellowed. “I want to go in!” Steven demanded,
summoning all of his strength to stand. “I want to see Amanda,
now!”
    Detective Johnston grabbed Steven’s arm to
steady him as he stood. “Steven, I have to warn you. It’s not
pretty.” The detective led Steven up the stairs and paused outside
the door. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
    “Yes,” Steven whispered, his response barely
audible.
    Detective Johnston handed Steven a pair of
latex gloves. “Put these on before we go inside. I don’t want you
leaving any fresh fingerprints.”
    Steven put on the gloves, opened the screen
door, and stepped inside. His eyes darted wildly around the room.
There were a few officers and technicians standing around,
pretending to be engrossed in their duties, which they had
finished, allowing for Detective Johnston’s gambit. They watched
Steven’s every move, waiting for the horrific reunion with his
murdered family. Even in Steven’s clouded state of mind, the
tension was palpable. He took a few steps and saw a body lying on
the floor, next to the refrigerator. A white sheet was draped over
most of her, but he could see her slippers, an anniversary