Cowboy Love (25 page)

After he had sat there for over an hour, the detective finally called him to come in the back. Once they sat down in a very stale, bland room with no color and only a small table and two chairs, Tanner addressed the man.

"Can you tell me why y'all arrested Ms. Russell?"

"I can't tell you, but I might be able to find the detective in charge of the drug bust. Let me see what I can do."

The detective left him sitting in the small room for several minutes before he returned with another man.

"This is Detective Harmon. He's in charge of the investigation into the drug ring. He might be able to help you."

"Thank you, Detective Gilroy. I appreciate your help." When the other man had taken a seat across of him, Tanner asked why they arrested Amy.

"I can't reveal the evidence we have, but let's just say we have reason to believe she is involved in pilfering drugs from the hospital and selling them to a dealer on the street." The detective's droll answer grated on Tanner's nerves.

"What makes you think she stole drugs? Have you tested her?" he growled.

"No, not yet but we will before the day is over."

"Then you will know she doesn't contain any in her system."

"Just because she hasn't taken any herself, doesn't mean she isn't capable of selling them on the street. We want the big man, not the small dealers. If she proves helpful, things will go easier on her."

"She's not involved!"

"We have reason to believe she is."

Tanner sighed in frustration.
I'm not getting anywhere with this.

"I have two questions for you, Detective. Does she already have a lawyer, and can I see her?"

"Yes, an attorney has been appointed, and yes, you can see her, but only for a moment or two. I will even allow you to see her in here."

"That would be kind. Thank you," Tanner mumbled, completely aware they probably thought he and Amy would say something, suggesting a cover up.

After several tense moments, the door opened and a guard escorted her into the room. She looked like hell. Black smudges of mascara clung to her lashes like she'd been crying, an orange jail jumpsuit replaced her scrubs, and her hair stuck out of her ponytail in several directions, but she never looked more beautiful to him.

She launched herself into his arms as he wrapped her in his embrace and whispered in her ear, "Everythin' will be all right."

"How did you know I was here? I didn't even get a chance to call you," she mumbled against his shirt.

"The news at home, or should I say my mom caught it and called me into the house." She stepped back a little and he brushed the tears from her cheeks.

"Wonderful, now your mom thinks I'm a drug dealer. That will solidify her opinion of me."

"Don't worry about my mom," he replied. "Sit down and tell me what happened."

"I'm not sure," she began, as she sat in the one of the chairs and he took the other opposite of hers. "They came to the hospital and said I was under arrest for dealing drugs. You know that I couldn't do this, right?"

"I know, darlin'. It will be okay, I promise." He tucked a strain piece of hair behind her ear. "The detective said you already have an attorney."

"Yes, but he's just a public defender. He isn't going to give a shit about whether I go to jail for something I didn't do or not."

"I'm gonna call around when I leave here and find you a good one. Have they told you anythin'?"

"Nothing other than they hold evidence, but I can't imagine what."

"Well, I'm sure your attorney will get to the bottom of this. They have to disclose all the evidence to him from what I understand. I guess watchin' those episodes of
CSI
helped." He grinned, but she didn't respond.

"I'm sorry, Tanner. I wish I could joke about this, but I can't lose my license. My whole life will be over if I do," she cried.

"Oh, Amy," he said, stroking her hand with his thumb. "Your life won't be over. We will still be together when this is finished."

"Time's up," the detective said, returning to the room.

"I love you. Hang tough, okay?" he told her as the guard approached.

"I love you, too." She hung her head as she followed the detective out, with the guard right behind her.

He headed back to Chris' apartment and began furiously calling criminal attorneys until he finally found the one who said he could get her out. He and Chris met with the man in his plush office, giving him all the details of the case.

"I see," Daniel Arrington replied as Tanner told him the information he had. Tanner noticed how Daniel appeared overly alert and attentive to Chris from the moment they entered the office and he thought the whole thing slightly funny. The attorney's gaze rarely left the blonde beauty during their entire conversation. Daniel seemed right up Chris' alley even if she didn't know it yet. "So you have no idea what evidence they hold?"

"No, sir. They didn't tell me, but it must be somethin' pretty damagin' to arrest her, don't you think?"

"Not necessarily, Mr. Lewis. It could be circumstantial. The district attorney is up for re-election in a few months, and he's currently not favored to win. If he pins this case on your lady friend, it could shoe him in for another term."

"That's bogus!"

"I know, but to be able to wrap this case up nice and tidy would make thing much easier for him. Rest assured I'll get to the bottom of this evidence before it goes any further, and hopefully, I can get your lady out of jail before nightfall."

"That would be fantastic," Chris piped in, her eyes focused on the attorney across the desk.

"Of course, she'll have to stay in town until we either go to court or the charges are dropped. We'll be working on the latter as the best case scenario."

"No problem. She can stay with me."

Tanner watched the exchange between the two. His focus needed to be on Amy, but the attraction between Chris and the attorney zinged through the air around them, even if they didn't notice.

"We'll head back to Chris' apartment, then. You'll let us know if they are going to release her so we can pick her up?"

"Um…yes. I'll call you as soon as I hear anything. I'm going to be headed to the jail when you two leave to talk to Amy and get her side of the story. That way I can present a strong case to the judge when we go in for the bail hearing in a few hours." Daniel stood to escort them out. "I'll be in touch."

"I look forward to it," Chris said, a small smile on her lips and Tanner just shook his head.

* * * *

The rest of the afternoon, Tanner and Chris spent pacing the floor in her apartment, waiting for the phone call. When it finally came, they both jumped, rushing for the phone.

"Hello?" Chris answered.

Tanner shuffled from foot to foot, anxious to hear what Daniel said while he listened to the one-sided conversation.

"Fantastic!" Chris exclaimed into the phone before she looked at Tanner. "They are releasing her. We need to pick her up in about an hour."

Tanner grabbed the phone from Chris and said, "Thanks, Mr. Arrington. You've been great."

"It's Daniel, and you're welcome. If I hate anything, its injustice and I'm afraid your lady friend has been the scapegoat for this one. We'll get everything straightened out."

"Okay, Daniel. Thanks again and we'll see you in a little bit." Tanner hung up the phone and grabbed Chris in a big hug.

"Let's go get her." Chris pulled out of his embrace and grabbed her purse before they headed for the door.

When Amy stepped out of the glass doors, wearing her work uniform again and without handcuffs, Tanner pulled her into his arms and she wrapped hers around him.

"God, you feel good," Tanner whispered, holding Amy so tight he felt like he would break her in two.

"Don't ever let go."

"Let's get out of here. This calls for a celebration," Chris said, wrapping her arms around them both. "Would you care to join us, Daniel?" she asked over her shoulder

Chris kept an arm around Amy's shoulder, Tanner on her other side as Daniel brought up the rear. "Daniel?" Amy questioned with a raise of her eyebrow.

"Don't start," Chris said. "It's nothing."

"He's your attorney."

"So? Doesn't mean you can't be attracted to him. He is awful handsome."

They reached the waiting car as Tanner looked at Amy and teased, "What are you doin' lookin'?"

"I'm just saying for Chris' sake." Amy planted a lingering kiss to his lips. "I have eyes only for a certain cowboy."

"Good answer." Tanner smiled before he kissed her again.

The foursome went back to Chris' apartment and ordered pizza so they could go over the case. Tanner and Amy watched as Chris and Daniel exchanged desire filled looks during the entire conversation.

"I've found out what the evidence is. Unfortunately, it does place you with access to the drugs."

"As they interrogated me, the detective kept asking me who I sold the drugs to. He wouldn't believe me when I said I didn't take them. I would never remove narcotics belonging to a patient or take extra's when I had access, for the purpose of selling them." Amy stood and started to pace. "I've worked in an emergency room and seen people die because of drugs, taking too many of something or swallowing a pill a friend gave them, not knowing what it contained. This is totally crazy!"

Tanner moved to her side and pulled her into his arms. "Everythin' will be okay. We'll get to the bottom of this."

"Do you know the pharmacist involved?" Daniel sorted through a couple of papers before he continued. "A Cory Harold?"

"Sure I do. He is one of the head pharmacists. If you mean on a personal level, no I don't."

"Do you think he would set you up to take the fall for this?"

Amy paused, chewing her lip nervously. "I don't believe so."

Daniel jotted notes as he asked, "Could he possibly be taking them himself?"

"He has access, of course. You hear everyday how another pharmacist had a drug problem. Cory never came across as someone who would be addicted, but if I understand the detective's correctly, they are looking for someone who is pushing these drugs out to the kids on the street. Do I think Cory could or would do that? Possibly."

"All we can do for now is try and figure out who else might be involved. Are there any other nurses with a drug problem that you are aware of?"

"No, I don't think so. How can they pin this on me, Daniel? Every nurse on the floor can get to those medications."

"From what I have been able to gather, this is all circumstantial evidence. Cory told the police he took the drugs from the pharmacy, gave them to you and you in turn, sold them to a dealer on the street."

"No way! He never gave me anything. Why is he doing this? Why me?"

"It sounds like he's trying to plea bargain with the DA. If he gives up his contact to the street, they'll go easier on him. For some reason, he decided it will be you."

"Can't you question him? Try to talk to him and find out why he's doing this?"

"I don't have access to him until he's on the witness stand if we go to trial. If he is indeed plea bargaining with the DA, we may never get an answer to those questions. Is there anyone you know connected to Cory who might hate you enough to try to pin this on you?"

Amy dropped her eyes, her gaze fixed on the coffee table in front of them, searching her mind as Tanner could almost see the wheels spinning in her brain. "No. I can't think of anyone."

"Do me favor tonight. Sit down and write a list of everyone who might hold a grudge against you. We may have to do a little investigating ourselves. I hope the police aren't ready to close this case without further investigation into the drug ring. We're missing something, someone else that is involved."

"Whatever you need to do, Daniel. We'll make sure it gets done." Tanner pulled her close as she snuggled against his side.

"Good. This may be a pretty long, drawn out process unless something busts wide open to turn the case away from Amy. I'll be in touch and thanks for the pizza as well as the company." Daniel stood, stuffing the papers he'd been working on into his briefcase before snapping it shut with a click.

Chris escorted Daniel to the door as Tanner watched from the couch. They said a few words to each other he couldn't hear, but a soft smile drifted across his mouth when Daniel lifted a hand and lightly brushed his fingers across Chris' cheek. He turned away from the other couple as he whispered what he hoped were soothing words in Amy's ear. He stroked her back while she buried her nose near his neck.

* * * *

Several days later, the group met to discuss the implications, attempting to brainstorm solutions for the situation. Daniel paced back and forth in front of the sliding glass door of Chris' apartment, agitation clear in his stride.

"I wish I knew how this connected together," Amy said as she leaned against Tanner's side.

"I'm not exactly sure. The convenience of Jack giving the hospital information and then for you to be arrested for selling them, is just too coincidental." He ran his fingers through his hair, making several pieces stick up in different directions. A small grin rippled across her lips. Seeing Daniel frustrated almost seemed funny. "Tell me again about your relationship with him."

"I don't understand how that helps. He's a rodeo rider. He would have no connection to this."

"Just tell me the details Amy. We're missing something here and I can't put my finger on it."

Amy sighed. "I met him at a rodeo several months ago. I don't usually date rodeo men. Relationships don't seem to work out. Anyway, we started dating and we even talked about moving in together and buying a piece of property outside of town. He started to get possessive and even though he loved riding bulls, he stopped going to rodeos as much and kept hanging out at my place. Come to think of it, he did seem to be able to acquire money all the time, not a lot, but enough to buy things even though he wasn't working and hadn't won any competitions for a while. He questioned everywhere I went, everyone I had dealings with, and accusing me of cheating. I couldn't even go to the store without him saying I had a thing for the checker."