Page 73 of Operation K-9 Brothers
“He says he didn’t do it.”
“Of course he didn’t.Jack is one of the kindest souls I’ve ever known.Who’s accusing him of such a ridiculous thing?”
He leaned back against the railing.“No one.He actually did get in a fight with Gregory yesterday afternoon, but Jack claims all he did was twist Gregory’s arm and take him down to the ground.There was a witness who backs up Jack’s story that your ex started the fight, and he did see Jack take Gregory down, but the witness walked back inside before the fight was over.A few hours later, Gregory was found unconscious behind the bar.”
“I just can’t believe Jack would hurt him that bad.I don’t believe it.”
“I don’t either.The reason I’m here telling you is that there’s history between you, Jack, and your ex, and I’m going to have to tell the detective on the case that.I wanted to warn you that he’ll want to talk to you.”
“I’ll tell him the same thing.Jack didn’t do it.”
“Unfortunately, the detective’s made up his mind that Jack did, especially since this isn’t the first time there was an altercation between Jack and Gregory, which he’s aware of.When he finds out there’s history between the three of you, it will only confirm what he believes.”
“Then we have to find out who did do it.”
“Hopefully Gregory will wake up and tell us that.”
“Can I see Jack?”She didn’t doubt him, but she wanted to look into his eyes when he told her he hadn’t put Lane in a coma.
He sighed.“I talked to him this morning.I’m sorry, Nichole, but he doesn’t want to see you right now.”
Because she didn’t matter to him.
The bunk’s sheet felt like sandpaper, and Jack was pretty sure it hadn’t been washed since the last inmate used it.The first thing he was going to do when he got home was take a long, hot shower.
On the bed above him, his cellmate was flying high, talking about God knew what.Nothing he said made sense.In between his gibberish monologues he sang sad country songs.The dude actually had a good voice, so Jack preferred the singing.
“Imma a federal cadaver dog, ya know.”
Jack couldn’t help chuckling.The man came out with the most outlandish things, and this one was something he’d claimed to be numerous times.Jack guessed him to be in his fifties, but because of his drug-ravaged face, he could as easily be years younger than he looked.
“Shut the fuck up,” someone from another cell yelled when the man started singing again.
His cellmate started crying.Jack groaned and pulled the pillow over his head.He’d tried pot when he was in high school, hadn’t liked how spaced out it had made him feel, and had decided drugs weren’t for him.If he was ever tempted, though, he’d remind himself of his cellmate, and that would cure him of any desire to mess with that shit.
Since there was no hope of sleeping with a roommate who jumped from babbling about who knew what to singing to crying at the speed of an incoming missile, Jack let his thoughts drift to Nichole.
He missed her.
“Daniels!”
Jack jerked up, thinking he was back with his team and his commanding officer was bellowing his name.Had he slept through roll call?Then the words to George Jones’s “He Stopped Loving Her Today” sounded from above him, reminding him that he was in a jail cell and not with his team.He rubbed his eyes, surprised he’d apparently drifted off after all.
“Sir?”Jack said, his automatic response to anyone in authority.
“Follow me.”
He was led to the same room he’d been in yesterday before they’d booked him.An attractive woman sharply dressed in a gray business suit sat at the table.He was handcuffed again to the metal bar bolted to the table.
“I’m Vickey Boyd, your attorney.Have a seat.”She eyed the police officer.“You may leave us now.”
“Thank you for coming,” Jack said when they were alone.
“Deke called in a favor, otherwise I’d have referred you to one of the other attorneys in our firm since I’m not taking new clients at the moment.”
“Well, thank you both then.”
“You go up before the judge in an hour, so let’s get to it.I’ve read the police report.Now I want to hear it from you.Start with why you were at the bar getting drunk in the middle of the afternoon.I gather from Deke that’s not your usual behavior.”
