The Adored Read Free Page B

kissing the cheek he asked “Is CJ up yet?”
    “No, but he should be; he got in real early last night. What were you two doing to get home so early?”
    “Well,” Billy Stevens started.
    “Hey, Billy,” CJ emerged from his bedroom and interrupted before any more could be said.
    “CJ, what’s happening,” Billy smiled.
    “C’mon, I’m going to look for a job today,” CJ replied, taking the newspaper and leading Billy into his room, where he closed the door.
    “What’s going on?” Billy said.
    “Look, I saw you last night,” CJ said stretching his tall, broad frame up to his shorter, slighter friend and cousin.
    “You saw what last night?” Billy asked, with a smirk.
    “I saw you pull that guy in the alley by the corner, and when I got there, he’d been knifed.”
    “Are you nuts? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Come on, CJ; me, stab someone, get real.”
    “Billy, I don’t know what you’re into, but we’re through. I’m never going to say anything, but you and I are finished.”
    “Hey, whatever you think you saw, you got it wrong. It wasn’t me you saw.”
    At that moment there was a knock at the front door of the four-room apartment. Louise Strong emerged from the kitchen, down the brief hallway past CJ’s room to the door. She swung the door open. Two men dressed in jeans, one with a flannel shirt and down vest and the other wearing a heavy, waist-length jacket, stood in the doorway. “Mrs. Strong?” the one with the vest who was unshaven with a Fu Manchu mustache asked.
    “Yes,” she answered, immediately worried. They felt like police.
    “I’m Detective Foley; this is Detective Lodovico. We’re with the Stamford Police. Is your son Curtis here?”
    She froze; her heart pounded. She felt the same sense of loss as when she was told her husband was dead. She could barely get the words out, “Yes, he is. Is there anything wrong?” she replied in terror. CJ’s returning home early Friday night raced to the front of her mind.
    “We have a few questions to ask him. Would you please ask him to come and talk with us?” Detective Lodovico asked.
    “Yes, just a minute,” she said, and she walked the few steps along the narrow hallway to her son’s room. She knocked on the door before turning the knob.
    “Yes, Mom?” CJ answered, opening the door.
    Louise Strong entered. “CJ, there are two police officers here who want to see you.”
    Instant panic came over CJ. His eyes shot to Billy. Another look of panic. Noticing the look of fear in both boys’ faces, Louise Strong said, “CJ, what is this about?”
    “I don’t know, Mom,” he trembled, continuing, “What did they say they wanted?”
    “To see you and ask you some questions.”
    “I don’t know what they want,” CJ offered, seeming bewildered.
    “Well, come and talk with them, and let’s get to the bottom of this.”
    They started up the hallway as Billy headed toward the rear door saying, “CJ, I’ve got to go; I’ll see you later,” and he left through the kitchen door, not waiting or looking for a reply.
    Louise Strong looked at her son’s face. It went empty, and she watched Billy open the door and leave. She started to cry and hugged her son, “CJ, what’s happened?”
    At that point the two officers appeared, having heard the rear door open and close. Detective Foley spoke, “Curtis Strong?”
    “Yes sir,” CJ answered.
    “I have a warrant for your arrest for the murder of Augusto Santos,” Detective Foley said bluntly.
    Louise Strong screamed, “Oh, CJ,” sobbing.
    “Mom, I did not do anything wrong, I promise you.”
    “Curtis, you’ll have to come with us. We will need to search you, and Detective Lodovico will read you your rights.”

 
    Chapter 5
     
    Diversity teemed yet separation continued. Fairfield County had the richness of New York, the poverty of Caracas; the wind of the end of summer, the chill of a winter over the horizon; the bright light of a hopeful morning, the