Rough Ride (25 page)

She heard herself scream “No!” as she launched off the floor and flung herself across Bobby’s back.  Feeling her he stopped punching Leo but held his fist ready for another swing.  Chuck held up his hands and backed away.

“Please don’t shoot him.” She sobbed as she attempted to cover as much of Bobby as she could which considering his size wasn’t much.

“I need you to back away from him buddy, I got him from here.  Thank you for the assistance but let me do my job.  He needs medical attention and then I promise he will be locked away where he can never come after her again.” Greg said

She watched as Detective Sanders pointed his gun more towards the floor and away from Bobby.  Knowing he wouldn’t shoot Lilly looked down at Leo who was bleeding from his nose and mouth and then wrapped her arms around one of Bobby’s shoulders and part of his neck.

“Oh God Bobby!” She sobbed as she pressed her face into his neck.

The thought that this night could have ended so differently, took her out at the knees and she collapsed against him.  His strong arms wrapped around her and she felt his face against the top of her head as he basically held her up.

“I need you to take my badge, hold it in your right hand where anyone facing you can see it, and go slowly out the side door with your hands in the air.” Greg said to Chuck “Tell the Deputies outside that I will be opening this garage door.  We need an ambulance started if one isn’t on scene.”

“Ok” Chuck replied appearing to be in shock over what had happened.  Detective Sanders handed his badge to Chuck.  Chuck bent down and attempted to pick something up off the floor.

“Leave it!  It’s evidence, now do as I say.  Now!” Greg said.

“Ok… sorry!” Chuck said and walked to the door of the garage.

“Slowly!” Greg said.

A commotion outside the garage door was heard along with several voices.

“He’s down and unarmed.” A man’s voice rang out through the closed garage door.

After several moments the talking quieted and Detective Sanders reached next to the office door and hit the garage door opener.  As the garage door slowly opened the brightness of the strobe lights from several police cars spilled in along with the cooler night air.  Several uniformed officers came into the garage with their guns drawn.  An officer dragged Chuck inside with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Seeing Chuck in handcuffs, she forced her way out of Bobby’s arms and walked towards the officer.

“Stop!  Do not move!” One of the officers said to her.

“Please don’t take Chuck, he didn’t do anything wrong.  He saved me… please.” She cried and broke into sobs again.

Bobby once again pulled her to him and she pressed her face into his chest. 
Would this ever be over?

“Hey, it’s ok.  I got you now… and I’m not letting go.  Chuck’s a big boy and can take care of himself for a few minutes until
Greg
here explains that we are not the fucking bad guys.” Bobby said into her hair.

“Are you Detective Sanders?” One of the officers holding a large rifle asked.

“Yes.” Greg answered.

“I got a call from Special Agent Brock of the FBI…explained that you were on the trail of one of their own.  I take it that’s him there.” The officer asked pointing towards where Leo lay.

Greg nodded and headed over to shake the officer’s hand.  Suddenly the garage broke into chaos as Paramedics were shown in to check on Leo and prepare to take him to the Hospital.  Two other officers and a man in dress pants and a button up shirt loaded into the ambulance along with Leo.

Another officer led Chuck over to a patrol car and sat him in the back seat but left the door open and began talking to him.  Detective Sanders began talking to a group of several officers and two other men.

Another ambulance pulled in and two other Paramedics got out and headed into the garage.

“Bobby?” Detective Sanders asked.  “I’m going to need you to let the Paramedics take a look at your hand.”

She pulled away from him and looked down at his bloodied hand.

“Oh God Bobby your hand!” She said looking up at him for signs that he was hurting.

His face was unreadable but his eyes showed…heat as they seemed to pierce her very soul.

“It’s not broke, just a little busted up” He said glancing at one of the Paramedics.

She tried to move away from him so the Paramedics could look at his hand but he merely pulled her into his side with his other hand while holding the injured one out towards them.

“Why don’t you come on back to the ambulance so we can get a better look at that” one of them said as they headed out of the garage.

Bobby walked with her tucked into his arm out of the garage when an officer and another man stopped them.

“Sir, we need to ask her some questions while you go have your hand looked at” the man said as the officer stood with his arms folded in front of him in an intimidating stance.

“I don’t think so… you guys failed to protect her as the witness for your case.  She’s mine and I protect what’s mine, understand?  She doesn’t leave my sight.” Bobby said staring the man down.

After several seconds of silence the man looked over at Detective Sanders and seeing his nod, he said “Ok how about we all head over to the ambulance, you can get your hand bandaged and we can ask questions of you both.”

The man gestured for Bobby and her to walk towards the waiting ambulance.  As they walked past them Bobby mean mugged the man the whole way past.  She didn’t know what to make of him.  She’d never seen this side of him before but she kind of liked it.  Somehow it just added to her growing feelings for him, she didn’t mind how possessive he sounded because she felt the same about him.  He was actually right in some respects, they hadn’t protected her… he had.

As they neared the back of the ambulance Tommy and Dickie pulled into the lot on their bikes.  Two officers stopped them and began talking to them.  Tommy killed the engine and put the kickstand down and got off his bike.  The two officers grabbed a hold of him as he put his hands in the air.

“Bobby?  You guys ok?” Tommy yelled.

“Yea” Bobby yelled back.  The officer and the man who had accompanied them to the ambulance walked a few feet away towards where Tommy and Dickie were parked.  Once they were out of ear shot Detective Sanders popped up from the side of the ambulance and handed Bobby a business card.

“Tell them you want to speak to your attorney first and don’t answer any questions.” He said to Bobby and then walked away.

She read the name on the card he’d handed Bobby… Rebecca Waters, ESQ.  The number on the card had a New York area code.  Bobby pulled out his wallet and slid it inside and placed the wallet back in his pocket.

The Paramedics tried in vain to get Bobby to go to the hospital for x-rays to ensure that none of the bones were cracked.  After cleaning off the blood it became obvious that the majority of the blood didn’t belong to Bobby so they bandaged his hand with an Ace wrap and advised him to take some aspirin for the pain.

As she and Bobby got out of the ambulance and headed across to where Dickie and Tommy, now sitting back on his bike were, two other men and an officer approached them.

“Mr. Jackson, we’re going to need you to come with us.  We need to take you downtown to get your statement.  Mrs. Warner you will need to come as well.” The officer said.

“Why can’t we give our statements here?” Bobby asked.

“I’m sorry but due to the seriousness of the injuries the suspect obtained from your…you assisting Detective Sanders, the county prosecutor will want to ask you some questions as well.” The officer said

“Am I under arrest?” Bobby asked.

“At this time no, but it would be in your best interest to answer our questions while it’s fresh in your minds.” He replied.

“Can I have my attorney present?” Bobby asked.

The three men glanced at each other and then glanced back at him.  “Absolutely Mr. Jackson, if you’ll come with us we will contact your attorney right away.”  The man said.

“I have her card right here.” Bobby said pulling out his wallet and extracting the card Detective Sanders had given him only minutes before.

She glanced around for Detective Sanders and noticed him off to the side of a patrol car talking on his cell phone.  Catching Lilly’s gaze he smiled and then winked as though to assure her that everything would be alright.

Bobby handed the card to the officer who handed it to one of the men.  The man looked at the card and then asked “How is it that you live in Florida but have a New York attorney?”

“Actually she’s been
my
attorney for years.  When I started working here I introduced her to Bobby and she’s done some work for him.” She said

“A high powered criminal attorney has done work for you Mrs. Warner?” He asked skeptically.

“Criminal Law is her focus but she does have a law degree and will take on other cases for friends” She lied “Such as employment and contract law.”

“Wait right here with the officer.” The man said pulling out his cell phone with his other hand and walking a good distance away.

She glanced again at Detective Sanders who had ended his phone call and headed over to them.

“How are you holding up Lilly?” He asked

“Not so good Detective… seems the victim has somehow become the criminal.” She said looking pointedly at the officer and the other man.

“Is there a problem officer?” He asked

The other man soon joined them and handing his cell phone to Bobby said “Your attorney would like to speak with you.”

Bobby took the phone and after saying hello he listened silently for several minutes.  Then looking at the officers he said “Lilly’s right here beside me and she’s fine, would you like to talk to her?”

Then he handed the phone to her.

“Hello” She said

“Lilly Warner I presume.  This is Rebecca Waters.  Greg Sanders is my brother.  I will be representing both you and Mr. Jackson.  I have instructed the officers there with you now that they are not to question you without me being present.  I have also advised them that unless those questions are related to the FBI agent who kidnapped you this evening and his criminal acts against you… the victim…that they had better charge you with something and arrest you.  Otherwise it simply looks like they are harassing the victim and witness to a large criminal investigation.  Now I want you to tell me that you are holding up and ask me how soon I can get there.  Refer to me as Becca” A warm sassy voice said.

“Um, I’m holding up ok, how soon until you can get here Becca?” She asked.

The man whose cell phone she held ran his hand through his hair and walked away.

“I’m guessing eager beaver who called me is pacing away looking either annoyed or worried.  Now I want you to hand the phone back to him and then tell Bobby that I will be there first thing Monday morning.  Don’t worry Mrs. Warner, you and Mr. Jackson both are the victims here.  They think to charge him with assault at the very least, if the suspect’s injuries are even half as bad as Greg said they were.  I promise neither of you will spend a single night in jail for this.” She said

Handing the phone back to the man who had once again joined them she said “Becca wants to talk to you.”  Then looking at Bobby she said “She’ll be here first thing Monday morning.”

Taking the phone the man held it to his ear not saying anything for several minutes, before saying “Can I at least get confirmation that he did in fact break into the business?” He asked