Stolen Daughters (Detective Amanda Steele)

Samuel looked at Alesha. “This will work out. I didn’t do anything. You know I didn’t do anything. Just trust me.”

“It’s not you I have a problem trusting! It’s them!” She thrust a finger to within a few inches of Amanda’s face.

“I’m going to have to ask that you step back, ma’am,” Amanda warned her.

“I’m not letting you take him.” Alesha’s eyes became wild, and she lunged toward Amanda.

Trent caught her and had her spun and in cuffs before she could blink.

“Looks like your lady friend got a ticket to the cells,” Amanda said. “Are you going to join her?”

Samuel stepped outside. He proceeded to pull a key from his pocket and lock the front door. “I’m only going with you because I know I’m innocent.”

We’ll see about that…

* * *

They booked Alesha Booth for attempted assault on an officer, and they got Samuel into an interrogation room.

Amanda entered with Trent, and they both sat across from him.

She started. “It sure took you a while to answer the door, considering you and the missus were both up and dressed.”

Samuel cracked his knuckles and clasped his hands on the table. “We were watching a movie and didn’t hear you at first.”

“I thought maybe you were considering running out the back door.” She put it out there nonchalantly.

“No reason to. I have nothing to hide.”

She opened a folder she’d brought in with her and consulted his background, though it was more for show than her needing a refresher. “You have a history of violence, Mr. Booth.” She paused there, giving him a chance to defend himself, but he remained mute. She went on. “You have a sealed juvie record, but I’m going to guess it would support what I just said.”

Samuel remained silent.

“Your wife’s nose—”

He met her eyes. “What about it?”

“It’s been broken and reset. Did you break it?”

“No, I’d never touch her.”

They’d check hospital records and see if there was a history of domestic abuse in the Booth household. “But you did kill Joyce Summer.”

“A matter of public record, and I served my time for that.”

“Why did you kill her?”

Samuel clenched his jaw so hard a pulse tapped in his cheeks.

“Why don’t you tell us what happened? Help us understand.”

“Can’t you look it up?”

“Hmph.” Amanda glanced at Trent, back to Samuel. “You’re not exactly being cooperative with us, Mr. Booth.”

“I’m not? I could get a lawyer down here. I know my rights.”

“Did you know Ms. Summer had a right to live? She’d be forty if she were still alive today.”