Page 51 of Rules

Once Erin and her team arrive and I fill them in on the situation, I leave heading to the hospital. Halfway there my phone rings through my vehicle.

"Sheriff Trenton here."

"TOBIAS! I heard there was a shooting at the sporting goods store. Please tell me you're alright." Ruth's frantic voice fills my speakers.

Without knowing it, I smile. "It's okay Ruth, I'm alright." The relief in her tone warms my heart.

"Oh," I hear her breathe out, "thank goodness. Was there a shooting? Is anyone hurt?"

"Deputy Rogers shot one of the men during a break-in."

"Wait, one of the four men? But it's the evening."

"I guess they changed. How did you know about the shooting? It just happened."

"The hardware store has a scanner. They came over and told me." She giggles. "They weren't too happy you all went to a private channel."

"Which is exactly why we did." Shit, I realize I haven't talked to her since I drunk dialed her. "Ah, thanks for checking on me, Ruth."

She takes a second to respond. "I'm just glad you're alright." Awkward silence follows.

"I'm sorry. I drunk called you," I say, thankful I'm not face to face with her.

"It's alright, Tobias, I get it." Her tone sounds sincere. "Right now, you have a lot of pressure."

More silence. I feel that if I admitted the amount of stress I'm under, it would make me appear weak, and she's the one person I don't ever want to appear weak to.

"I'm at the hospital to see the suspect. Maybe we could talk later?"

"Sure," she speaks in a quieter voice, "anytime." She hangs up.

Parking in the police reserved spot, I push Ruth from my thoughts. It's time for me to get some answers.

"You're looking at armed robbery, assault, attempted murder of a law enforcement officer," I say to Mickey. My voice is calm but leaves no room for misinterpretation. "That's serious prison time. But if you cooperate now, tell us who you're working with, who orchestrated this—maybe we can work something out."

I glance at Sang. He raises his eyebrows and tilts his head to the side.

I continue, "Mickey, you do know what the penalty is for the hurt you caused?"

The man swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously.

"Look," I soften my approach, leaning in. "Whatever they're paying you, it's not worth spending the rest of your life behind bars. We can protect you."

In the blink of an eye, something flickers across his face. Perhaps it was a moment of consideration. But just as fast as it appeared, the look is gone, and Mickey's back to being straight-faced.

He shakes his head minutely, eyes darting to the door as if expecting someone to appear. "I'm already dead."

"We can put you in protective custody," I push. "Witness protection, even. But you have to give me something."

The man's eyes lock with mine, and what I see there stops me cold—pure, unadulterated terror. Not of me, not of jail, but of someone else. Mickey purses his lips together and looks away from me.

I motion to Sang to follow me into the hall.

"Keep on him," I say in a hushed tone.

"Think he'll cave?" Sang glances around me.

"Something or someone's got him scared." I peer down the hall. "We might stand a chance if we can make him feel he's safe. I'm going to talk to the doctor and see when we can have him. Holly's putting together a rotation schedule for the reserve officers to babysit him. Hopefully, we can get to him before they start."

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