“We can be us right now.” I lean up on my hand to look at her and see her reaction.
Her eyes open and her head turns. “Huh?”
“The detective called me. Seems dear old Dad called him and told him I was having an affair. All the detective wanted to know was if I knew you before Jana’s accident. Which I did not.”
“Wait. Are you saying he told you that you could have a relationship with someone, now?”
I nod. “As long as I didn’t have a previous relationship with them, yes. So we are cleared for take-off.”
I frown as her head shakes. “People will think terrible things about me, Channing. Your wife has been missing only a few months. People will think we’re awful people. We can’t let this out in the open yet. We can’t. You’re kind of celebrity being the owner of that hockey team and so stinking rich. People will say I got to you when you were down and took advantage of you.”
With a laugh, I say, “I don’t give a flying fuck what people say or think. As long as our being together doesn’t mean I have to be investigated in Jana’s death, that’s all I care about.”
She sits up and looks at me as if I’m crazy. “Channing, they will annihilate us. Can’t you see that? You’ll be stalked by reporters wanting to know what you’re thinking at a time you’re supposed to be grieving or worried about your wife. Not starting fresh with a new girl mere months after this tragedy.”
“So, what are you saying? You don’t want this out in the open then?” I look at her because I cannot believe this.
“It will be devastating if we do. You aren’t thinking clearly. We can’t do that yet. Maybe not for years. Certainly not before she’s declared dead.” She leans back and sighs.
“That will be five years from now unless her body is found.” I watch her eyes go wide.
“Five years?”
I nod. “Sure you want to wait that long to be with me as a couple? Have kids? Have a place we can call ours?”
Her face is blank. “No, I don’t want to wait that long. But I don’t want to face the reporters and people we both know who will think we’re awful people, either.”
So what do we do now…
Chapter 9
BETH
“Something is not right, Michelle. I can smell it.” I tell her over the phone.
Channing’s in a meeting with his hockey coach and I went to pick up the dry cleaning while he’s doing that. And I just saw the black Cadillac again and this time, there were two people wearing hoodies inside it.
“You need to dump him and that job and come back here where things are normal, Beth. Don’t worry about what’s happening in Channing Michaels’ over the top life.” I can hear her let out a deep sigh. “You’re in over your head with this man.”
Am I?
“I can’t do what you’re telling me to. I love the man, Michelle.” I pull onto the freeway and see if I can lose the people in the Cadillac in the traffic. Zigging and zagging through the cars in the Lamborghini, I lose sight of them in the rear-view mirror. “I need your help, Michelle.”
“Shit, Bethy, I can hear the engine revving. You are using some type of hands-free device to talk to me aren’t you?”
My eyes roll. “Yes, Mother. Geez! Anyway, I think if we could gain access to Morgan Riley’s home then I could get some much-needed information on the man. So, how about you show up at his house and tell him you’re there for the maid job you saw posted on some job board at school?”
“No! I’m not showing up at that man’s house! Are you nuts?”
“You can act like you got the address mixed up, but then you can ask him if he needs a maid or anything done around his house. Tell him he’d be helping out a struggling student or something. And while you have his attention held at the front door, I’ll sneak in the back.”
“That’ll never work, Beth! Never! I’m sure he has security.”
I laugh. “No, he doesn’t. I know that for a fact as Channing told me he walked right in the man’s front door once. Also, if you’ll recall, Morgan Riley may have a big house, but he’s living off credit cards. There’s no money for a security system. Come on, Michelle, help me out.”
“I can’t believe you’re asking me to do this. Did Channing ask you to do this?”
“He hasn’t and I’m not telling him. He’d tell me not to.” I pull off the freeway and head back down a side road toward Morgan Riley’s estate. I got the address off the internet very easily.
“You shouldn’t. You could get us caught and we could be charged with trespassing,” she says.
I can picture her hands moving all through the air. “What are you an accounting student or a law student? We won’t get caught. I can be very stealthy when I want to.”
“Okay, Nancy Drew, tell me when we’ll be doing this thing that will get your ass put in jail but not mine. You see, you might be stealthy but I can run like the devil is after me when I need to. And as long as I can outrun you that’s all that matters.”
“So I can depend on your help then?” I ask with my fingers crossed.
“Yeah. I’ll go ahead and commit to it. You sound like you’ll do this alone if I don’t and then you will get caught. So I’ll help but I’d like to make a bet right now that you won’t find anything to help your man out.”
I see the entrance and pull in. My heart is thumping hard and I’ve broken into a nervous sweat. “No one seems to be home.”
“What?” she shrieks. “Where are you?”
“I’m checking out the address for Morgan and no one seems to be home. There’s no car and the garage door is wide open. I bet I could sneak inside right now.” I look all around and see no one. “The place looks almost like it’s deserted. The grass hasn’t been mowed in what seems like a month or so. And the place looks like it’s running down some.”
“Well, you did say he needed money. Why doesn’t money bags, Channing, give him some money, anyway?”
I park the car and step out of it, grabbing the phone as I do. “He shouldn’t give the man any money. If you only knew. I can’t tell you, though.”
“I hate the way you bring shit up then shut it down.” I hear her take a drink of something. “Hey, did you get out of the car? I hear the sound of crickets and birds chirping.”
“I did and I’m almost to the front door.”
“Get back into your car and leave, Beth! Now! Are you going crazy?”
I stop as I hear something coming down the road and run like crazy to get back in the car. “Fuck! Gotta go, Michelle. I’ll call you back.”
“Wait!” I don’t wait.
I swipe the screen to end the call then jump into the car and pull out of there very fast and get out of the driveway just in time to see the car I heard slow near the driveway I just left.
I made it about a block down the street and I can see through the rear-view mirror it’s the black Cadillac.
I knew it!
I knew it had to be him. Making the block, I come back around and drive very slowly past the driveway with my window down to see if I can hear them talking.
But all I can hear is the sound of the garage door closing. I call Michelle back. “It was Morgan and this time he was not alone.”
“Did they catch you?” she asks with a panicked tone in her voice.
“Of course not. I told you I’m stealthy and I’m fast.”
I make my way out of the neighborhood and head back toward the stadium I left Channing at. My mind is moving in fast circles as I think about who Morgan has with him.
Michelle’s voice brings me back, “Beth, that was so stupid! Don’t go there alone ever again! Promise me.”
“Look, Michelle. I wasn’t going to tell you this, but just so you know why I’m doing this. It’s because Channing wants to take our relationship out in the open. He talked to some detective and found out it would be okay. Though not recommended by the cop.”
Her laugh fills the car’s interior with a sharp sound. “Beth! The media will r
ip you both apart!”
“I know. That’s what I told him. He says he doesn’t give a fuck. But I do. I don’t want that for him or me. But I do want to be able to move forward. Michelle, he told me he wants us to have kids and get a place together and he’s so fucking sweet.” I take the exit to the stadium and have to stifle a tear.
“OMG, Bethy! Don’t get caught up in this thing he’s doing. This is way too soon. His wife has been gone only a few months. It’ll seem like he did want her to disappear. I don’t care what the cop says, don’t come out with this.”
“I’m with you. But I can tell you this much. I have a limited time before Channing just goes for it and grabs me up in front of some mass of people and kisses me or something like that. Any day now I expect him to give me a ring.” The parking lot of the stadium is nearly full for some reason.
News vans are pulled up in front and a couple of police cars. “Fuck! I have to go. Something’s wrong.”
“What…” I hang up on her.
What the hell is going on?
Chapter 10
CHANNING
“Thank, God!” I say as I walk down the long hallway behind Detective Radisson. “I knew you would eventually find her body.”
“The body has not been confirmed as Jana Michaels as of yet. The body has decomposed very badly. The coroner needs dental records, and that’s why we need you. Who was her dentist, Mr. Michaels?”
I stop in my tracks. “I have no clue.”
A door at the end of the hallway opens and in steps Beth. Even from here, I can see her eyes are wide and she looks nervous as hell.
I bet she thinks they’re here to take me in!
She tries hard not to run to me but walks as fast as she can. “Channing, what’s going on?” she calls out as she comes toward us. “There are cameras everywhere out there, waiting for you.”
I gesture to her as she approaches us. “Detective Radisson, this is my personal assistant, Beth Stattler.”
He reaches out to shake her hand. “How do you do, Miss Stattler. It’s a pleasure to meet you. A man who runs a fishing service off the Miami coast found a woman’s body, badly decomposed, this afternoon.”
Her face goes pale and her hand covers her mouth. Her eyes dart to mine. “Channing, I’m so sorry.”
I shake my head and put my hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be. I’m ready to put this thing to rest and place what is left of her body into a grave for the rest of her family to be able to have some closure about her. They’ve suffered for far too long.”
Beth nods and moves along with us as the detective says, “The news reporters will have a ton of questions to ask you, Mr. Michaels. My advice to you is not to answer anything. Just in case the coroner finds evidence of foul play. I’m sure you understand.”
Beth looks up at me as we walk side by side down the hallway behind the detective. “Are you okay?” she asks me quietly.
I nod and take her hand for a moment, giving it a squeeze.
I am okay. I’m more than okay. I know most people would be sick with this news, but it’s an ending for me. A way out of this mess I made for myself by marrying a woman I didn’t love.
It’s finally all over and I can start fresh with Beth!
The detective opens the door and lights flash, making me blind for a moment. All three of us shield our eyes from the bright lights. Some flash as they take pictures and three others stay on us.
The news cameras video every move I make and every word I say. If I say any.
A young woman steps out from behind one of the constant lights and holds a huge microphone in her hand and thrusts it into my face. “Channing! Rebecca Parker, co-anchor for Miami, Today. Tell us how you’re feeling about this discovery? You have to be exuberant about the fact you can finally give your wife the burial she deserves, right?”
I look at her and see the detective turn back and shake his head at me. Another reporter, this one a man, shoves his microphone at me. “Hi, Mr. Michaels. Dan Stevens with the Miami Now Show.” He holds up a picture of some type of thing and as my eyes adjust I can see it’s an arm which is nearly severed from what looks like a mass of grayish flesh. “Have you been shown the pictures the fisherman took and are currently flooding the internet? This could be your wife. How does that make you feel?”
My stomach lurches and my hand goes to my mouth.
What an asshole!
An arm moves in front of me and Beth steps in front of me. “Mr. Michaels will not be taking any questions at this time. Thank you for understanding. We will submit a press release after the coroner makes the declaration. Thank you,” Beth so expertly says then grabs my hand. “Come, Mr. Michaels.”
The woman reporter shouts as we walk away. “Who are you, Miss?”
Beth looks back and shouts, “His personal assistant. No more questions. We will release a statement soon.”
“Thank you,” I whisper to her.
She looks at me with shiny eyes which let me know she’s holding back tears. “You’re welcome, Boss.”
The reporters don’t stop asking their questions. Yelling over one another to try to get some type of answer from me. The detective looks back at me. “I’ll lead you to the coroner’s office. Just follow along behind me.”
Beth and I walk toward my car and I take my keys out of my pocket. She looks at them and says, “Channing, I’ll drive you. I’m sure you’re very upset.”
I shake my head. “Why would I be? This is exactly what I wanted.”
She looks at me with surprise. “Channing, you can stop the tough guy act. This has to be hard. No matter what you felt or didn’t feel for her, you’re about to see a very disturbing sight. This will haunt you for the rest of your life.”
I open the passenger door for her. “Stop being so dramatic.”
“Channing, stop being so blasé.” She slides into the seat as she looks at me with furrowed brows.
I close her door and walk around. Why don’t I feel more about this? Am I being unconcerned? Am I being strange about the fact I’m about to have closure and feeling optimistic about the whole thing?
I get in behind the steering wheel and say, “I’m dealing with this in my own way. Okay?”
“K. Just try to act somewhat upset. Even if you have to act. Your demeanor is almost celebratory.” She crosses her legs and I look over at them.
She has on a blue dress I picked out for her. Her black heels shine. Her legs are long and tan and the dress rides up as she’s sitting and shows off her shapely calves.
I pull out behind the detective’s tan Crown Victoria from the nineties. “Beth, I know I’m acting a little odd.”
“No, a lot odd, Channing.” Her arms cross over her chest. Her breasts rise and fall with the deep sigh she makes.
“I’ll talk to my shrink afterwards if it will make you happy.” I hit the gas to catch up with the surprisingly fast driving old cop. Weaving in and out of traffic. Trying to stay ahead of the reporters who, despite what Beth told them about giving them a press release later, seem to be intent on getting something out of me as many are following us.
“It’s not about what will make me happy. It’s about you dealing with your emotions instead of pretending you have none.” She turns to me. “How is it you can be so expressive with me, but not about her? Soon you are about to be looking at what’s left of a body of the woman you married only a little over a year ago, Channing.”
“Stop telling me how to feel, Beth! Shit! Right now I have to be strong. Right now I have to think. That reminds me, get on the phone with my bank and ask them if there are any dentists on any of the credit cards in the last year.”
She gets out her cell and calls the bank as I try to keep up with the detective.
My mind is so still. So unbelievably absent of any emotion except happiness. I know that has to be wrong.
So why do I keep thinking about how this is almost over and my life can move ahead?
For God’s sakes, my wife is about t
o be legally declared dead and all I can feel is joy.
Something has to be wrong with me…
Chapter 11
BETH
Holding him in my arms after he’s thrown up for the third time in fifteen minutes, I finally feel as if he’s having some normal feelings about finding the body of his missing wife.
“That was horrible,” he mumbles as his stomach clenches again but there is nothing left for him to throw up.
“I’m sure it was, Channing.” I run my hands over his back in an attempt to comfort him.
The door to the little waiting room opens, and the coroner comes in. A tall woman in a long white lab coat looks at us as she takes off a pair of blue latex gloves. “Well, that was pretty grotesque, was it not, Mr. Michaels?” She laughs a bit afterward.
I frown at her. “Not everyone is used to seeing such things.”
She nods. “I know. I just never get tired of seeing big strong men crumble under the things I have to deal with on a daily basis.”
Channing stands up on his own and stops leaning on me. “I’ll be okay. So, is it her?” His now bloodshot eyes search the coroner’s.
“I don’t know yet. Did you get the name of her dentist?”
I answer that question as he has no idea of the answer. The lady from the bank was still looking at the records when he was called in to try to verify the remains. Which he was unable to do.
“The bank has no information regarding any financial transactions to any dentist since Jana was put on his accounts. Nor, after she was taken off. The insurance company has no record of her using the insurance to go to one either. What else can we do?” I ask.
The coroner shakes her head. “Maybe her parents or other family members know of one she used before the marriage?”
I nod and look at Channing. “Do you want me to call them or do you want to?”
“I should do it,” he says. “If you two will excuse me.” He pulls out his cell phone and walks out of the small room.
The coroner stays in the room with me and blatantly asks, “So you two hooking up or what?”
“Huh?” I ask as my heart starts pounding. “Why would you ask that?”
Doctor's Demands: A Submissives’ Secrets Novel Page 112