Prime Catch (24 page)

Her mother embraced her. “I’m so happy for you, my daughter.” She embraced Amos. “I’m honored to have you for a son.”

He kissed her cheek. “Goodnight and thank you, Grace―Mother.”

She teared up. “Go on, you two. Enjoy your life.”

Amos helped Sarah into their Ford and set off for her―their―house. He had moved his things in the day before, with the help of Will and Ivan. Home had never looked so beautiful. Amos had never looked so handsome.

He helped her out of the auto and stood there holding her hand and drinking her in. “Damn, woman, you remind me of an Indian angel.”

Sarah’s cheeks heated. She disengaged her hand and hurried to the porch. Amos was still on the sidewalk. “Well, are you coming in, or aren’t you?”

His eyes lit as he took the steps two at a time. He closed the door behind him and Sarah turned to him from the parlor. He had her in his arms in a moment. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you in the meetinghouse. You were a vision being carried in.”

She never had been this flattered, and she fingered the laces on the front of his tunic. “In my wildest dreams, I never pictured you like this.” She worked the laces down and exposed his bare chest. Her fingers traced the taut muscles, and she noticed a twitch from his nether regions. “I remember you saying something about a Roman orgy―” As she slid the tunic over his shoulders and to the floor, he groaned and thoroughly kissed her, running his tongue to the top of her mouth.

But then he pulled back and turned her around. His fingers worked undoing the hooks and eyes on her dress. She smiled secretly. He’d soon find out that was all she was wearing. Just like the groom, the obvious wedding clothes were the only thing worn by the bride. The dress puddled to the floor and Sarah stood there in the headband and beads, her breasts jutting through the strands. He cupped them and a flaming heat hit her from head to toe. “My God, you are so wild and beautiful.”

She grinned and pulled the drawstring on his pants. Amos flushed when they got caught on his male appendage. She worked them to the floor as Amos embraced her in a wonderfully erotic caress. The smoothness of his skin over the hardness of his muscles was like silk over steel.

She shed the beads and shoes, as did he, and she led him to their bedroom. As she sat on the edge of the bed, she noticed a bead of liquid had formed on the tip of his shaft. Taking her thumb, she rubbed the liquid around the head, and Amos hissed. “Keep that up, woman, and this is going to be a short session.”

Lying back, she smiled. “Do what you like.”

He crawled beside her and started with a passionate kiss before moving his tongue from her collarbone to her ear. Sarah’s breath rasped and every nerve came alive. The place between her legs screamed for relief, but Amos was taking his time.

Her nipples hardened like rocks, and when he suckled, she arched. He moved lower and tongued her belly button. By now, she writhed with the tension. “Please, please!” she begged.

“Soon. Let me enjoy this,” Amos hoarsely croaked. His fingers invaded her slit and found the sensitive nub.

Sarah moved her legs apart, and Amos dipped his tongue into her opening. Sarah exploded as he moved on top of her.

“I can’t wait any longer,” he choked. In the midst of the ripples, he entered her, and she continued to convulse. Moving back and forth, he seemed like a man in agony. Then he gave a cry and she felt the hot splashes inside. With a groan, he collapsed on her, and they stayed that way for countless minutes. He brushed her soaked hair from her face and kissed her. “God, you’re good to come home to.”

“Likewise.” Sarah laughed out of pure joy.

Chapter 26

The next morning, Amos made her close her eyes as they were going downtown in the Ford. “This is silly.”

“We’re almost there.” The auto stopped. “Now, take a look outside.”

She gasped. By the courthouse was a suite of office buildings. The one they faced had a shingle with the words “The Darcy Detective Agency, Amos and Sarah Darcy, Proprietors.”

Amos came around and helped her out. “Let me show you the inside.” He unlocked the door. “You have to understand, it’s not furnished yet, but we can do it this week.”

She went into a well-lighted pleasant reception area with a low wooden gate to the back two office doors. “Two offices?”

He swept his hand. “Of course. We’re equal partners. We can work on cases together or separately. We need to start with a secretary.”

“I love it! Our own business! It’s too bad we can’t toast it with champagne.”

Amos glanced around and locked the outside door. He motioned her to one of the offices. When they were inside, Sarah noticed a bucket of ice in the corner. Amos pulled a bottle out of it and took two glasses that had been set nearby. “I bought this two months before Prohibition started.” He popped the cork, and the liquid gurgled into the glasses. “Here’s to us and our business.”

Sarah clinked her glass to his and, when the bubbles hit, laughed with love. In the midst of the celebration, they heard a rap at the front door. Amos put everything under a towel, and they both ventured out to see who it was.

An official-looking man stood on the other side of the glass. He raised his hat as Amos opened the door. “Good morning to you both. I saw you go into this building and figured you were the Darcys. I’m Arnie Doogan.” He turned to Sarah. “I assume you’re Sarah.”

She nodded. “Yes. What do you want?”

He thrust a folded paper into her hand. “This is a summons as a witness for the defense in the trial of George Annok on Wednesday next at eight o’clock in the morning.”

Sarah’s stomach knotted. “But…I―defense?”

He raised his hat again. “Good day, madam.” He skittered out the door before she could finish. She gave Amos a helpless glance. “What could the defense want me for?”

Amos pursed his lips. “I have a feeling George told someone about your history together. I don’t like it when they bring up personal things on a case.”

A fluttering started in her chest. “Oh, no. I was so afraid people would find out why I didn’t marry. The banns were posted, but when George ran off, I let things go. No one asked, and I didn’t tell why there was no wedding.”

He gripped her shoulders tightly. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of now. You’re married to me now, and this was in the past. Don’t you see? George is the problem, not you.”

A new Sarah was being born with this truth. She had forever railed on herself that something was wrong with her. That she wasn’t worth being loved and that was the reason George didn’t want her. That was driven home when she found George had married Leigh. But all this time she had been paying for his sins.

****

Sarah gazed at the courthouse looming at the top of the steps and gave a shaky cough. Amos squeezed her hand. “I’m right with you, woman. We’ll get through this together.”

This was not going to be like the Bobby Cusnoo trial, where Amos gave most of the informational testimony on their investigation and she gave what she had found. This one might have her airing dirty laundry.

They went through the great front door, and their footsteps echoed down the hall to the courtroom. Once inside, they slid into seats behind the prosecution. Roberts, the district attorney, came in carrying his briefcase and gave them a slight smile and nod.

On the other side of the gallery Sarah spotted Leigh Annok. She hurt for the poor girl, who looked so lost and alone. There was no hatred for George’s wife. She had been used as ruthlessly as Sarah at George’s hands.

The early summer mist lifted and sunlight streamed into the courtroom between the blinds that painted rayed stripes on the walls. The defense counselor came in next, with his staff and George. Sarah felt a squeeze of her hand and glanced at Amos’ eyes full of love and support. She smiled and squeezed back.

The bailiff stepped to the front and called, “All rise for His Honor, Judge Henry Ott.”

The judge ascended to his chair behind the dark mahogany desk and banged the gavel. “The court will come to order for the trial in the city of Juneau, Alaska Territory, versus George Annok, indigenous person, for the murder of Mr. Edward G. Thornton at the North Star Cannery. May I have the opening statements from the prosecution and defense?”

Roberts stood. “Yes, Your Honor. We are prepared to prove that the defendant did willingly plan and abet the murder of Mr. Thornton at the cannery last May tenth. He also planned and executed a jailbreak for Mr. Bobby Cusnoo, who was convicted last week of the physical murder of Mr. Thornton.”

The judge nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Roberts. Mr. Connor of the defense?”

Connor rose after talking to George. “Your Honor, we will refute the evidence and prove that Mr. Annok just happened to be in Juneau when the murder and jailbreak took place.”

Amos snorted and whispered to Sarah, “All Roberts has to do is put Perkins from the Personals on the stand to identify him.”

Amos was called to the bench by Roberts to testify about the investigation and capture of George Annok. Back-up people like Mr. Perkins and members of the ANB who had known about George and his plan identified him. During the lunch break, Sarah gave Sally her support in the testimony that was to come.

Sally picked at her food. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

Sarah put her hand on Sally’s arm. “Just answer the questions honestly. You’ll do fine.”

When they returned to the courtroom, Sally made her way to the stand when she was called. Sarah was sorry her friend had to endure all these trials, but she admired her, too. It took fortitude to face all these questions. Probably the trial of her brother had been the hardest, and that was over with.

Roberts stood in front of her. “Miss Cusnoo, who is the one that planned the escape of your brother from the jail on May twentieth?”

“George Annok.”

“Do you see him in the courtroom?”

Sally pointed. “He’s at that table.”

“Let the record state she indicated the defendant.”

“How long did you know that the defendant was involved with the plot to kill Mr. Thornton?”

Connor rose. “I object, Your Honor.”

Ott agreed. “Reword your question.”

“When did you first see the defendant?”

“He went with us to the social at the ANB on the Saturday after the murder.”

“Why did he go to the social?”

“He said he wanted to stop the investigation.”

“How was he going to do that?”

“By roughing up and threatening Deputy Sarah Lakat, who was on the case.”

Sarah almost collapsed and gave an audible gasp, while Amos swore under his breath.
George was the one who tried to stop me that night!

Roberts turned. “Thank you, Miss Cusnoo.” He waved his hand at Connor. “Your witness.”

Connor made notes on his legal pad. “How long did you cooperate with the then Miss Lakat on the investigation?”

Sally thought for a moment. “I guess it was until I identified Sheriff Creag as the leader of the Revenge Ravens.”

Conner gave a half-smile. “Thank you, Miss Cusnoo. No more questions.”

Judge Ott sounded his gavel. “It’s getting to be four in the afternoon. We’ll adjourn for the day and resume at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.”

Sarah found Sally and gave her a hug. “You did fine, dear.”

Sally nodded. “Thank you. I was wondering why the defense asked about you?”

Amos gripped Sarah’s arm. “I was wondering the same thing.”

Sarah gritted her teeth. “I guess we’ll find out. Sally, what are you going to do after the trials are over?”

She looked at the ground. “I think I’ll go back to Angoon. It’s easier dealing with our own people. Thank you both for your help.” They watched Sally hurry down the court steps.

Amos put his arm around Sarah’s shoulders. “We can do some work on the office and then go to Millie’s for dinner.”

Sarah sighed. “I need something to do after sitting all day in the courtroom.”

As they set out down the steps, Sarah heard a voice behind her. “Mrs. Darcy, can I say something?”

She turned to see Leigh Annok hurrying after them. “I didn’t realize how terrible George treated you. I want to say I’m sorry he hurt you so badly.” The poor girl was wringing her hands.

Sarah instinctively hugged the distraught woman. “Mrs. Annok―Leigh, thank you, but you don’t have to apologize for him. This happened before he met you.”

Leigh shook her head. “When you came to the house in Yakutat, I noticed you seemed distressed about something. I learned later what happened in Juneau, and I knew what he had done.”

Sarah glanced at Amos. “As you can see, I’ve gone on with my life, but thank you for thinking of me. Can you manage with the children?”

Leigh sniffed and dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. “We’ve moved in with my parents. We’ll be all right.” She stepped back. “Thank you for being so kind.”

Amos tipped his hat. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

A faint trace of a smile shadowed across her face. “Good day to both of you.”

As the young woman went on her way, Sarah turned to Amos. “You don’t realize how much I wanted to hate her, but she was as much a victim of George’s ways as I was.”

Amos offered her his arm. “He sure left a trail. He thought he was just fighting the white man, but he did as much damage to his own people and his own family.”

Sarah pondered this on the five-minute walk to their office. How many revolutionaries and fighters for justice destroyed their families and friends in the process? Was it worth it?

****

For some reason, Amos was worried about going to the courthouse the next morning. Why did the defense attorney subpoena Sarah? What could she possibly say in George’s defense? They took seats in the gallery, and he held her hand because she kept fidgeting. Her face was pale.

The prosecution closed their case, and the defense attorney rose at the judge’s bidding. “Your Honor, we call our first witness, Mrs. Sarah Darcy.”

Amos squeezed her hand, and then she took the long walk to the witness stand to get sworn in. As she seated herself, Connor looked at his notes and rose.

He took his time going to the witness stand. “Now, Mrs. Darcy, when was the first time you remember encountering the defendant after the murder at the cannery?”