Page 72 of Protecting What's Mine
“Please tell me that’s not from an actual call,” Linc begged.
“You’d be surprised.”
“If you’re here to tell us that asshole is going to jail for a long, long time, then you’re just in time for pie and ice cream.”
“It might be a topic of discussion,” Ty mused, rubbing the bruise on his jaw.
“Come on back. Mack, we’ve got company of the law enforcement officer type.” At the closing of the screen door, Sunshine gave up her vigil and trotted into the living room for a proper greeting.
He led dog and man into Mack’s kitchen and pulled another bowl out of the cabinet.
“Dr. O’Neil,” Ty said formally.
“It’s Mack,” she said. “Have a seat.”
He took the chair across from her and glanced down at the pie. “Looks like another crime’s been committed. Who the hell murdered this poor, beautiful thing? And if it was you, doc, remind me not to let you do any surgery on me.”
“Still eats the same,” Linc said, scooping a third clump of pie into a bowl. “Warmed up?” he asked.
“Is there any other way?” Ty wondered.
Linc microwaved while Ty ran through Mack’s statement she’d given in the emergency department while the grumpy Dr. Ling had examined her X-rays.
“So we’ve got Mick Kersh for a couple of charges relating to the crash, but he wasn’t driving, and without witnesses inside the car, a decent public defender can poke holes in his high-as-a-kite crime scene confession.”
“That’s not enough. That girl isn’t waking up anytime soon. And if she does, she’ll never be back to what she was before she got in that car with him,” Mack said.
“That’s why I’m here. I know that girl and her family. And this isn’t enough for them either. If you’re comfortable pressing charges, we’ve got a Class X felony for assault with injury against a law enforcement officer.”
“Absolutely,” Mack said without hesitation. Linc put a bowl of pie and ice cream garnished with a cookie in front of her.
“Before you commit, the boy’s got family. Family who don’t necessarily care about what really happened or what crimes were committed. His dad, Jethro, has been popped a time or two for drunk and disorderly. A few domestic calls that never went anywhere. His uncle Abner did a nickel for possession and distribution. Both insisted to anyone who’d listen that they were set up.”
“I’m not afraid of retaliation,” she said.
Though Linc noted she put her spoon down when she said it.
“You should be on the lookout too, chief,” Ty said, shifting his attention to Linc. “They’re making noises about you assaulting their boy.”
“I was defending a fellow LEO. No one on-scene will say one shot to the face was excessive use of force in that particular instance. I’d welcome a conversation with the Kershes right about now.”
“I need you both to be aware, be vigilant.”
“But you need me to press charges and testify?” Mack clarified.
“I do.”
She pulled out her phone from the pocket of her shorts. “I had the ED take pictures of my injuries when I went in.” She flipped through her photos, and Linc felt the return of his blood-boiling anger. He wished he would have had the opportunity to do more than knock out a tooth the fucker probably wouldn’t even miss.
Sunshine, sensing his mood, trotted over and leaned into him.
“Where’s my pie, chief?” Ty demanded, business concluded.
23
The clink of the bat brought half the crowd to its feet. Little Anton’s legs were a blur as he careened toward first base. He was the runt of the team, but the kid could hit like a player twice his size.
“Nice single, Anton!” Linc clapped along with the rest of the crowd from the dugout where he and head coach Luke Garrison wrangled the rest of the Benevolence Spider Pigs.
