Page 53 of Breathless
“I didn’t know he was,” Leland replied. “How did you discover it?”
“I hacked his phone,” Oscar said. “You leave him to me. I’ll send him on to a fake appointment the day he should be escorting Chaney to the pre-trial session. That will leave only one protector for the two of them. It will make it far easier for us to ambush the guy with the bum knee.”
“I feel I walked in on something,” Seth said as he stirred sugar and creamer into his coffee.
“Nothing Samson and I can’t handle, boss,” Oscar assured him.
CHAPTER 13
A week later,
The sky was blue, not a cloud in sight as Rawlins and Chaney met up with Rafferty and Justus the first morning of the pre-trial prep. They had decided to have breakfast together at a diner not far from the law office. But it turned out neither of the girls had much of an appetite.
“You need to eat more than dry toast,” Rafferty scolded them. “Who knows when you’ll get a lunch break.”
“We’ve survived on less,” Chaney assured. “We didn’t eat much while held captive.”
“Besides, it’s better not to overeat and go in feeling sick because of nerves,” Justus said.
“What is there to be nervous about?” Rawlins asked. “You already had the deposition. And that meant meeting with the opposition’s lawyer. This is just a meeting with the US Assistant District Attorney to go over your testimony and prepare you for what getting up on the stand might be like. It’s not like you’re going to have to face Felty again today.”
“And even if you did, you’re going to have to face him at trial every day anyway. You might as well get accustomed to it now rather than later,” Rafferty said.
Justus let out a long sigh. She reached for her toast and buttered it. Then slathered it with jelly, she said, “I hope you’re right,” before taking a bite. Even though she tried to eat, her stomach didn’t want to accept the food and she put the toast down and drank her milk instead. “I’m sorry. I just can’t.”
“You tried,” Rafferty said. “I’ll pick you both up some peanut butter and crackers from the little market down the street, so you’ll have something if you get hungry later.”
Rawlins’s phone rang and he looked surprised. “I gotta take this call,” he said, getting out of the booth. “This is Rawlins Grainger.” He walked outside of the diner to take the call.
“This is Cagney Foster with Foley Pulmonology. We’ve had a cancellation this morning and can fit you in today if you can be there by eleven.”
“Today?”
“Otherwise, you’d have to stay on the waitlist for the next available and keep the appointment that is scheduled for weeks out,” she said.
His mind raced trying to decide. This windfall couldn’t have come at the worst time. He was needed with Rafferty to protect the girls today and yet if he turned down this appointment, he’d be forced to wait another month or more to see the doctor. He might not get another chance like this again.
“Okay. I’ll be there. Give me the address.”
“I’ve texted it to you,” she said. “It’s at our satellite office. Be sure to bring a list of all medications and any past x-ray films if you have it.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
As soon as he hung up, he looked at the text message and did a google search of the address and saw where the satellite office was located. Damn. It was clear on the other side of town, which was a good forty-five-minute drive in light traffic. He’d have to leave immediately if he was going to reach there by hisappointment time. Apprehension set in and he hoped he had made the right decision for them all and not just for himself.
When he returned, Rafferty had a questioning look on his face.
“That was the pulmonologist office I’ve been trying to get an appointment with since we arrived in Colorado Springs. They had a cancellation for later this morning at one of their satellite offices. I had to take it, or I’d be looking at waiting another month to see the doctor.”
“Absolutely,” Rafferty agreed.
Hearing his twin say that eased the tension in his gut a little. He took a deep breath and said, “That means you have to escort the girls alone.”
“I think I can manage,” Rafferty assured him.
“I’ve got to leave now if I’m going to make the appointment,” Rawlins said. He turned, looking for their waitress and flagged her down. When she came over, he asked for the bill. “I’ve got this. I’ll see you all later. Chaney, you do what Rafferty says and be safe.”
“You know I will,” she promised.
