Page 70 of Operation K-9 Brothers
What about the part you don’t remember and the blood on your knuckles?There was no way, though, that he would put a man in a coma.He just wouldn’t have.Wouldn’t have needed to take it that far.
“He was found behind the building a few hours after your fight with him.No one else was seen near him.Took us a while to identify you, then we found your truck in the bar’s parking lot.Why did you leave it behind?”
Because he was an idiot and had gotten too drunk to drive.“I want a lawyer.”And that was all he was going to say from this point on.
The detective walked around him.“When you get him to the station, get pictures of his hands,” he said to the officer.
So this was what an interrogation room looked like.Handcuffed to a bar bolted down to the tabletop, Jack glanced around, his gaze sweeping past the wall painted barracks gray and landing on the large mirror.He wondered who was watching him from the other side.
They’d brought him into this room over an hour ago.The chair was hard, his butt was numb, his throat as dry as the godforsaken Afghanistan desert, and his brain on the verge of exploding.
How had he gone from waking up yesterday morning with his future set and the girl of his dreams in his life to sitting in a police interrogation room charged with putting a man in a coma, his future gone, and probably the girl.
The door opened and Deke walked in.He took a seat across from Jack.“I have to say you’re the last person I expected to see handcuffed to this table.”
“I didn’t do it, Deke.Yeah, we got in a fight, but when I left, the man had nothing more to complain about than a sore wrist and knee.”That was his story, and he was sticking to it despite the black hole in his memory.There was just no way he would have hurt a man that badly, even an asshole like Gregory.He had to believe that, because if he had, he was a disgusting human being and deserved whatever they threw at him.
“I believe you.”He glanced at the camera mounted on the wall.“But the detective on the case doesn’t.”
“What happens now?”Jack eyed the camera.He doubted his friend was winning any points by talking to him.
“You stop talking and wait for a lawyer.You got one you want to call?”
“Not off the top of my head.”It wasn’t like it had occurred to him to have a criminal defense attorney standing by.
“I doubt you qualify for a public defender.I have someone I can recommend if you want.She’s one of the best.”
“Yeah.Thanks.”
Deke slid a business card across the table.“Her cell number is on there.You probably won’t go up before a judge until tomorrow, so that means a night in jail.”
“Damn, that means Dakota will be locked up in the house.That’s my dog.”
“Want me to take care of her?”
“Yeah, man.I’ll owe you.”
“You don’t owe me shit, Jack.How do I get to her?”
“There’s a key box next to my back door.”He glanced at the camera, then the two-way mirror before sliding his free hand across the table and tracing four numbers with his index finger.
“Got it,” Deke said.
“They broke my front door, so you might not need a key.They let me put Dakota in my bedroom.She’ll be wary of you, but she won’t bite or attack unless commanded to by me.Tell her you’re a friend, and she’ll let you put her leash on her.It’s on a hook in my mudroom.”
“I’ll head over as soon as I leave here.Does Nichole know what’s going on?”
“No.”
“Want me to call her?”
Jack thought about it, then shook his head.“She doesn’t need my shit dumped on her.”
“You don’t think that should be her decision?”
“No.”After the way he’d treated her, and then hadn’t been able to apologize, the last thing he wanted was for her to have to deal with his mess.
“Okay, have it your way.”He stood.“Don’t let anyone make you their bitch tonight.”
“Funny.And thanks for putting that image in my head.”
“You’re welcome.”He smirked, then walked out, leaving Jack alone again.
Jack stared at the card in his hand, then lifted his gaze to the window.“I want my phone call.”
