“I wonder how you’ll do that discreetly,” she said with an arched eyebrow. She certainly didn’t want us stirring up trouble.
“I won’t throw you under the bus, but he might already know.”
9
Dr. Stockton was a handsome man in his mid-40s with a square jaw, ice-blue eyes, and slicked-back brown hair that was just starting to gray at the temples, giving him a distinguished look. We caught up with the endodontist at his office.
JD and I sat across the desk from him in his business office.
With a smile, he asked Jack, “How’s the tooth?”
“Still really sensitive,” JD said of his bad crown.
"Give it time," Stockton said. "If you give it the right environment, don't stress it, and let it heal, the odds are good that the inflammation will go down, and the gums will adapt.”
"I hope so," JD replied.
This wasn't our first visit to Stockton's office.
"What's the matter with the arm?"
"Shot in the line of duty.”
Stockton frowned and shook his head. "You boys have my admiration.” After a pause, he asked, "What can I do for you?”
"I'm sure you've heard the news by now," I said, then proceeded to tell him about the demise of Liam Prescott.
Stockton looked surprised. "Actually, that's news to me. I don't keep up with current events. I've been busy all morning with patients. I shut my phone off during the day and try to ignore distractions. The name sounds familiar. Who is he?”
Dr. Stockton's reaction seemed genuine.
"Tennis pro at the club," I said.
Recognition flashed in his eyes. "That's right. I thought the name sounded familiar. I believe my wife takes lessons from him.”
"Is it improving her game?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't gotten on the court in a long time. But I bet she can beat me. Golf is my game. What's more civilized than chasing that damn white ball down the field?”
Stockton laughed, and we gave the obligatory chuckle.
"Just as a matter of procedure, can you tell me where you were last night between 8 and 10:00 PM?"
Stockton's brow wrinkled with confusion. "Why?"
"Just routine," I said. “We are talking to all members of the club. People who may have known Liam."
"I didn't know Liam. I just paid the club bill when it came in."
I shared a look with Jack.
Stockton wasn't stupid. "Why would you think I had any involvement in his demise?"
"Like I said, we're just talking to everyone who had some kind of relation to the deceased. Your wife was a client."
"And you think I got mad at him because the lessons were subpar?"
I smiled. "That could be one possibility.”
