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  When the verdict was delivered, he’d been stunned. He heard the words and stood, still as a statue, thinking his life had just ended. It wouldn’t have helped him any, but he’d often wished he would’ve lashed out, called out the jurors, asked them how they could be so heartless. It wasn’t even in response to him and his actions. He knew he deserved punishment. What he couldn’t get over, even after the passage of time, was how those jurors could’ve denied Zandra. After all she’d lost, she ended up losing Rory as well, for seven long years. In the end, it had come down to a battle between his sister and Parsons’ sister, and Zandra had lost. The worst part for Rory, was that Zandra had continued to lose, and he’d been powerless to stop it.

  Myles entered the room and sat on the other side of the table, placing a file folder on the surface before him. Dipping his head to Chase, he addressed him politely. “Counselor, thanks for coming in today. I know you’re busy, but I do have some concerns I’d like your client to clear up for me.”

  “My client is prepared to answer your questions, provided they don’t stray into an area deemed harassment by my standards, as that is a concern brought to my attention by my client and his sister.”

  “It’s not my intent to harass your client,” Myles retorted, “only to determine his involvement, if any, in recent events.”

  “Fine. Then let’s proceed.”

  Rory’s stomach lurched when Myles’s harsh gaze descended on him, wanting to be anywhere but where he was. He was certain Myles would ask him where he was last night and, like two weeks ago, he couldn’t answer the question without incriminating himself. Whoosh, click. Was the fan louder now?

  “Where were you last night, between approximately eight and nine?”

  “At home with his sister, Zandra,” Chase responded, surprising Rory as he hadn’t been home last night. “She told me they spent the evening playing video games after having dinner together. She’s verified Mr. Bukowski’s presence in the home they share from six p.m. until they both retired for the night, around eleven. Ms. Bukowski is prepared to come in and sign a sworn statement to attest to this.”

  Myles’s brow arched as his gaze returned to Rory. “Video games? With your sister?”

  “Is Mr. Bukowski being questioned on his choice of leisure activities?”

  Rory’s bet was Myles didn’t appreciate Chase’s tone but he was certain Myles would continue to be professional. “Of course not,” Myles retorted. “Although, I do question his presence in the family home all night. It seems to me his sister would say anything to protect him, considering his past actions where she’s concerned.”

  Chase’s expression was severe as he responded. “Mr. Bukowski’s past isn’t relevant to today’s questioning, unless you’re about to question him over a similar event. However, if that were the case, I’d imagine he’d already be in custody, and not asked to come in for questioning. So, once again, Ms. Bukowski is prepared to come in to sign a sworn statement verifying her assertions.”

  “That won’t be necessary. At this point, anyway.” Fixing Rory with a hate-filled stare, Myles’s lips drew into a thin line before posing his next question. “Tell me about your job interview with Saffron Bairstow.”

  Receiving a nod from Chase, Rory cleared his throat before answering, trying not to look as guilty as he felt. Whoosh, click. “Ethan put in a good word for me with her, and she called me for an interview. It went fine, but, due to my criminal record, she decided not to hire me. I thanked her for the interview, and left.”

  “Did her refusal to hire you based on your record upset you?”

  “I fail to see the relevance of an interview from two weeks ago on an event that took place last night,” Chase broke in, “especially when Mr. Bukowski’s presence in his home all evening has been verified.”

  “By his sister,” Myles shot back, and then raised a silencing hand when Chase looked about to respond. “Counselor, I’m not going to debate her statement. Ms. Bukowski will verify Mr. Bukowski’s whereabouts, yeah, I got it. I’m sure she’d verify them as being in their house if I knew he was out of the country last night. My issue is that someone is threatening Ms. Bairstow, and your client is the only person who has cause to do so.”

  Rory’s heart raced. Myles knew. Probably not exactly what Rory had done—for he’d already be in cuffs if that was the case—but Myles knew he’d done something. For all the raging Zandra did about Myles, the cop was right. Whoosh, click. The click of the fan, not the stenographer, but would he hear another stenographer soon?

  Chase shook his head. “You can’t know that. Despite her only being in town for a short period of time, you can’t know every encounter she’s had with the townsfolk, nor what she may have experienced before moving here. You obviously don’t know who’s threatening her and therefore can’t know if the harassment possibly stems from any interaction she may have had since she’d been here, or even before she arrived here.”

  “True, but unlike the first event at her place, this time she saw the perpetrator.” Extracting a piece of paper from the folder, he handed it to Chase who read it as he continued speaking. “She saw a man, about six feet tall, muscularly built, and dark-haired, fleeing the scene.” Whoosh, click. Time had slowed, Rory was certain of it. Myles’s condemning eyes bore into him. Whoosh, click. “Sounds an awful lot like you.”

  Rory sucked in a deep breath, discretely, not wanting Myles to see the effect his condemnation had. The walls were closing in, he had to get out of the room. Whoosh, click. Why did the walls have to be grey? Prison grey.

  “And like a lot of other men in town,” Chase countered as he pushed the paper back at Myles across the tabletop. “Ms. Bairstow’s description was delivered after a frightening experience. She saw a man, from a sizeable distance, at dusk. This description is vague at best, and utterly unreliable at worst. You know any lawyer could tear it apart in court which is why you haven’t arrested Mr. Bukowski.” He folded his hands on the table before him. “Now, do you have actual evidence tying him to the event that transpired at Ms. Bairstow’s ranch last night?”

  “No.”

  “Any further questions for my client?”

  “Not at the time,” Myles responded in a tight tone.

  “Then we’re done here. If you have any further concerns, please contact me at my office. I’ll be referring Mr. Bukowski to a defence lawyer in Lethbridge but will continue to represent him for the time being.”

  He then stood and Rory followed suit. Whoosh, click. The sound seemed quieter now, the air in the room cooler. His knees wobbled with relief.

  “Good day, Corporal,” Chase added curtly, and then, turning to Rory, swept his arm in the direction of the door, informing him they were done.

  Arriving in the foyer, Chase snatched the sleeve of Rory’s shirt to still him. “Call me if he contacts you again, but I don’t think he will.”

  “Okay.” Chase looked like he had more to say. Rory just wanted to get out of the building. Chase cocked his head. “Do we need to discuss anything? Is there anything that, as your lawyer, I should know about?”

  “Like what?”

  With a quick glance around to ensure they were out of anyone’s earshot, Chase’s expression darkened. “Like where you really were last night? Sure, Zandra told me that you were home with her, but, frankly, I don’t believe her. The other problem I’m having is that she called me, not you. I know Myles has a hard-on about nailing you for a crime, and I want to believe he’s way off base when it comes to you. I haven’t seen anything to convince me that you’re not intent on rebuilding your life, but I have to tell you that your behaviour right now is worrisome. Innocent people proclaim their innocence.”

  Rory held Chase’s intense stare. The familiar gnawing of anger crept up his spine. “What do you want me to say? I spend every minute of every day being viewed as a criminal. Everywhere I go people look at me like I’m trash. You think Myles is the only one? Everyone looks at me like they’re just waiting for me to d
o something awful. They’ve all condemned me, and nobody believes in me. Except Boone and Zandra. And you’re not to take another penny from her, either.” Rage was rapidly talking hold, knocking his relief aside. Yes, Chase had got him out of the interview speedily, but for a price. As usual, Zandra was paying it, and he couldn’t take it any longer.

  “How she chooses to spend her money is her decision, she’s trying to help you, and protect you.”

  “And you’re taking advantage of her.”

  “I’m representing you legally.” Chase hissed out the correction as he glared at him. Rory thought Chase was struggling as much as he was to keep his voice low. “Let me make something clear to you. As much as Myles is bordering on harassment, there are a few things he’s justified in questioning. Your whereabouts, definitely. Your resemblance to Ms. Bairstow’s description is another one, and, like it or not, being refused employment because of your record is a motive. Look, I can’t pretend to know what you endure on a daily basis, and, again, I’ve only seen honourable behaviour from you. But, as your lawyer, and, more importantly, as your friend, keep your temper in check, and please, as restricting as it sounds, don’t be any place where you can’t establish an alibi, at least for a while.”

  “We’re friends now?”

  Chase smiled thinly. “It sounds like you need more. Rory, you don’t have an easy path, I know that, but there are some people here who want to see you succeed. You have more people in your corner than Zandra and Boone. Try to remember that.”

  “Okay.” Take a deep breath. Relax. Chase is helping you.

  “Ms. Bairstow is being threatened, and Myles is rightfully upset. I’m not saying you’re involved, because I really don’t believe you are, but I am telling you to watch your movements from this point on, and steer clear of the situation, okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “Good.” He then clamped a hand on Rory’s shoulder. “I’ll make that referral. David Tompkins is a friend, and I’m sure he’ll agree to take you on as a client without a retainer for the time being, and not charge unless he actually has to act on your behalf. It’s up to you, but if I was in your shoes, I’d take the representation.”

  “Okay, fine.”

  “Great, I’ll make the arrangements. Take care, Rory.”

  With another clasp of Rory’s shoulder, Chase moved toward Myles who’s just entered the foyer, and Rory left the building. Sliding behind the wheel of Boone’s pickup, he released a long, exasperated sigh. He’d put Zandra in a position of possibly perjuring herself, and he didn’t know how to fix the situation. After pursuing the endeavour as long as he had, he couldn’t stop now, no matter the consequences to himself. He just had to find a way to keep Zandra out of it. Feeling more stress on his shoulders than when he’d arrived at the division, he started up the truck and silently cursed himself. He was such a fuck-up.

  Chapter 9

  Myles raised his chin as Chase approached him. “How’s Tanner?” he asked, eager to assure his friend he harboured no ill feelings over their exchange in the interview room.

  Although Chase wasn’t a defence attorney, as the only lawyer in town, this wasn’t the first time he’d advised someone legally, and butted heads with Myles over it. Both men were professional though, and seeing Chase’s warm smile at Myles inquiring about his son, Myles knew he hadn’t ruffled his friend’s feathers.

  “Actually, he’s still a little bent out of shape about Easter.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, remember how it fell on April Fool’s Day?”

  “Uh oh, what did you do?”

  “Had him searching all morning for eggs I didn’t hide.”

  Myles burst out laughing. “You didn’t!”

  “I did, and it was funny. Not to him though. At noon, I yelled ‘April Fool’s!’ and then handed him a basket with chocolates and eggs. He didn’t see the humour in my little joke.”

  Myles found it funny, but Tanner was only six, and maybe a bit young for such a joke. Still, who better than his father to know his limits? “And Anya? Did she think it was funny?”

  “Not at the time. She agrees now that it was though.”

  “Well, my sister does have a great sense of humour. After all, she’s dating you.”

  “Hardy har har.”

  Myles grinned. “Hey, no hard feelings over that interview, right?”

  “Of course not, but you were in quite the mood in there. It’s not just Rory is it?”

  Not surprised his friend could read him so well, he shook his head. “No, it’s not. There was another overdose last night. The doctor at the hospital suspects fentanyl. This time the victim didn’t survive.”

  “Shit. Anyone I know?”

  “Janey Grahl.”

  Last night, after a hard day dealing with all that occurred at Saffron’s place on top of his regular duties, he’d managed an entire hour of sleep before his phone rang and the night dispatcher at the division informed him of Janey’s overdose. He’d spent the rest of the night at the hospital attempting to console her parents and conferring with the doctor who’d tried to save her life. He’d told Myles she was dead when she arrived in the hospital though, the paramedics had continued CPR, but Janey was essentially dead when they arrived on scene. Then Myles had dealt with the influx of relatives and friends who’d received the sad news of her passing. Seventeen years old and a popular girl, her drug use shocked everyone, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she tried drugs on a dare, as a lark, or maybe felt she needed something to calm her school and family stresses—albeit normal ones from his understanding—and chose wrongly.

  “Oh no,” Chase responded. “Tim and Bev must be devastated. I didn’t know Janey had a problem.”

  “They didn’t either, and I’m not sure she did. We’ll have to wait for the toxicology report, but there’s nothing to suggest she tried to kill herself, so I seriously doubt it was an intentional overdose. More likely, she didn’t even know she was taking fentanyl. This has to stop, but I’ve got nothing to go on.”

  “Bart’s still not talking, I take it?”

  “Nope, not a word. Can’t ‘remember’ who he bought the drugs from.”

  Chase snorted. “You’d think he’d want to stop this shit after overdosing himself.”

  “You’d think.”

  Myles had saved Bart Yovenko’s life, administering naloxone upon arriving on scene. It was obvious to Myles that Bart was overdosing, and Myles hadn’t thought he’d survive until the paramedics arrived. He’d held his breath, and administered the naloxone. Bart was alive as a result. He was glad he always carried a naloxone syringe with him while on duty. He’d thought that event would haunt him, despite its happy outcome, merely because he knew how close Bart was to death when he’d arrived on scene. Now Janey’s death greatly overshadowed the event with Bart. Her death could have been prevented, had someone present had a naloxone injector, instead of her succumbing to the drugs before the ambulance arrived. Moreover, it shouldn’t have happened at all, and he’d vowed to find the people responsible for the fentanyl in Bison Bluffs.

  Chase cocked his head slightly. “You look like you need some sleep.”

  “I’ll sleep when this dealer is behind bars. The fentanyl crisis in this country is out of control, and now that it’s in our town, I can’t rest until it’s gone. Bart was bad enough. Now Janey’s dead. It has to stop.”

  “Yeah, but it might be a losing battle. One dealer is put away, another takes his place. Drugs have always been a problem, Myles, and not one that’s going to get better any time soon. It just gets worse, more unscrupulous people involved, stronger drugs, and more fatalities.”

  “I gotta try,” he responded with a shrug, “I can’t just stand by while people in town are dying.”

  “I know, but you also can’t run yourself ragged. You’re the law here and have to lead your constables. You won’t be effective if you’re too damn tired to function properly.” Chase was right, but Myles didn’t see ho
w he could possibly rest with deadly drugs on the streets of Bison Bluffs. “Why don’t you come over on the weekend?” Chase asked. “I’ll barbecue some steaks, and we can have a couple of beers.”

  “Sound great. As long as I’m not intruding on Anya’s time with you.”

  “Nope. She’s going out with the girls this Saturday. Apparently Zoë’s rounded up a bunch of women to hit The Scruffy Goose.”