Page 79 of Operation K-9 Brothers
Chapter Twenty-Two
Nichole smiled at seeing Deke walking toward her.“This is a nice surprise.”
“Thought you’d want to know that Gregory’s awake and talking,” he said.
“That’s great news.He said Jack didn’t do it, right?”
“Unfortunately, no.”He glanced around, his alert gaze landing on the people strolling past her booth.“I shouldn’t even be here talking to you, but I can’t stand by and watch my friend get railroaded,” he quietly said.“I tagged along with Detective Margolis when we got the call from the hospital that Lane Gregory was awake.”
“He’s saying Jack did that to him?”She’d thought Jack couldn’t break her heart any more than he already had.She was wrong.Never again would she trust her judgment in men.
“Yes, but only after Margolis told him that Jack has been arrested for the assault.”
“That doesn’t seem right.Shouldn’t he have been asked first who did it before Jack’s name was brought up?”Her belief in Jack returned.
“Yes, and Margolis and I had words about it after we left the hospital.He told me to butt out of his investigation.Unfortunately, he’s made up his mind that Jack’s guilty, and now with Gregory accusing him, he considers the case closed.”
“Honestly, I’m not surprised Lane would jump on Jack being punished, whether he’s guilty or not.Isn’t there something you can do?”
“I can go to my captain, and I will if it comes down to it, but he won’t appreciate me putting my nose in another detective’s case any more than Margolis does.Not to mention, I have to work with Margolis after this is over, and he’s the kind of man who’ll cause me as much trouble as he can.”
“What can we do?”Whether Jack wanted her involved or not, she couldn’t stand by and let Lane ruin his life.She might not matter to him, but he mattered to her.Besides, it was because of her that Jack was in this mess.Lane wouldn’t have fixated on Jack if not for her, if he hadn’t gotten it in his head that the only reason she wouldn’t come back to him was because of Jack.
“My hands are tied.At least for now.Your brother is friends with Gregory, so I thought maybe he could get your ex to tell him who really beat him up.”
The last thing she wanted was for Mark to get anywhere near her ex, but she might not have a choice if it meant getting the truth out of Lane.“Let me think about it.”
“I understand.”He stuffed his hands in his pockets and stared down at the floor for a moment before lifting his gaze to hers.“I hate asking this, but I’d appreciate it if you kept our talk between us.Even from Jack.He won’t like you having anything to do with your ex.”
“I have no desire to cause trouble for you at work or to have Jack upset with you.But I hope you meant it when you said if it becomes necessary, you’ll talk to your captain.”
“I will.”
After Deke left, she glanced at her watch, and since it was almost five, decided to close up early.As she drove home with Rambo, she tried to decide what to do.As much as she didn’t want Mark involved, he was a grown man who’d changed for the better because of Jack’s influence.Maybe it was his decision to make.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure who you’d believe, Lane or Jack,” she said after arriving home and telling Mark what Deke had said.“I mean, you’ve been friends with Lane longer than with Jack, so—”
“Lane wouldn’t hesitate to lie if it served his purpose.What are we going to do to help Jack?”
“There’s only one thing I can think of, and that’s get Lane to tell us who really did beat him up.”What she really meant was Mark would have to do it, but he’d have to come to that conclusion himself.Although his loyalty seemed to be transferring to Jack, he’d hero-worshipped Lane until recently.She wouldn’t ask him to choose between them.
“I don’t want you anywhere near him, Nic, so I’ll do it.”
Nichole stood outside Lane’s hospital room door that evening.Even though Mark had his phone recorder activated, and she could listen to the conversation later, she strained to hear.
“You need to keep your sister away from that asshole,” Lane said.“He’s dangerous.Look what he did to me.”
“Yeah, I know.I told her not to trust him, but she’s hardheaded and bossy,” her brother replied, causing her to scowl.“What I don’t get is how one dude got the better of you.Come on, man.You’re badder’n that.I’ve seen you take on big-assed dudes and them lookin’ a hell of a lot worse than you in the end.”
Nichole held her breath as the silence stretched out.That was clever of Mark to challenge Lane like that, but he wasn’t going to take the bait.
“The day one dude gets the best of me is the day ya might as well bury me in the ground.Ain’t gonna happen.”
And there it was!Nichole slapped a hand over her chest, pressing against her racing heart.Please, Lane, tell him it wasn’t Jack,she prayed.
“Whatcha mean?The cops are saying it was just Jack Daniels that made your face look like it was bashed in by a baseball bat.It sure ain’t pretty, bro.”
Her brother’s language skills were deteriorating by the minute.Even though she hated hearing him sound like an ignorant dolt, she understood that he was matching Lane, who really was a dumb bonehead.
