Read Online After It's Over by Michelle Alstead - Free Book Online

her. She was a cultured woman in her late forties and in her world, an issue such as domestic violence was something she would endure, but never speak of. To speak of the violence would be acknowledging that she was a victim, and Marie Dubois Caulfield would not be a victim.
    “Marie, do you need a doctor?”
    On the other end of the line, she took a drag from a cigarette. She exhaled and tapped her manicured nails against the phone. Kade wiped the sweat from his brow and chewed on the inside of his lower lip. He itched for a bit of Copenhagen.
    Why’d I quit chewing tobacco?  
    “Yes, I believe I do require medical attention. Could you send an officer, please? Preferably a young one who doesn’t want to lose his job. I can’t afford even a word of gossip.”
    “I’ll come get you. Where are you?”
    “We spent the night in the Grande Inn downtown.”
    “Meet me in the parking garage on the south side.” Kade looked around. He was at least a mile from his truck.
    “Splendid. How long do you think it will take you?”
    Marie spoke as if they were making casual arrangements to see a movie, but Kade could hear that her breath was uneven and slightly ragged.
    Did he crack a rib this time? If she would just leave!
    “I can be there in twenty.” Or fifteen if I run every red light.
    “Very well. See you soon.”
    Even battered, Marie was determined to maintain an appearance of normality. Kade shook his head. It had only been four weeks since she’d been found sprawled face down in Wright’s Park on a patch of wet grass. She had been nude except for the expensive tailored coat draped over her body. Covered in bruises from head to toe, her nose was still bleeding when she was discovered by a jogger. Marie couldn’t say who had attacked her; she said she couldn’t remember.
    The city’s public relations department went into overdrive when they realized the wife of their millionaire mayor had been assaulted. They launched a social media campaign announcing that she had been mugged and the Tacoma police force wouldn’t rest until the culprit had been caught. While technically the crime fell under the jurisdiction of the police, the chief felt that calling in the Sheriff’s office was the only way to show the investigation was above board. Kade wasn’t stupid. The chief wanted to cover his own derriere by handing off responsibility for solving the crime. He was reluctant to get involved because of the political implications, but he couldn’t very well say no. That wouldn’t have helped his career at all.
    Marie’s hospital room had been a circus of cops, media consultants, and mayoral staff. Kade had stood in the corner, observing who came and went. He noted the way she flinched when her husband arrived at the hospital and took his place at her bedside. He had to give her credit—Marie put on a good show, playing the dutiful politician’s wife. She served faithfully in multiple philanthropic organizations and appeared at all of her husband’s public events. Her devotion to him was strong, but not as strong Marie’s favorite drink—Long Island iced tea. Kade arranged to meet her at a bar outside the city one night. After two drinks, her facade crumbled.
    Marie confirmed what Kade had suspected from the first moment in the hospital—the mayor was beating and raping his wife on a regular basis. Her voice had been soft as she detailed five year’s worth of horror, torment, and brutality. She shed exactly one tear when she got to the beating that had led to her being found in the park. Marie said it didn’t seem to matter what she did or how hard she tried to please him, her husband beat her anyway. Kade had listened as objectively as he could, though he wanted to find the mayor and do things to the man that would earn him a life sentence in prison.
    Kade had been careful not to show his anger to Marie. He sensed that civility was something she needed to survive. She’d requested that he not document their