I awoke the next morning a bit disoriented. I'd just started to reach for my weapon when I realized where I was. Then everything came flooding back.
Waking up. Finding Casey crying. Her asking me to come to bed with her.
I turned to find Casey with her back to me still sound asleep. Thankfully, after getting her settled into her bed, the rest of our sleep was uneventful.
I needed to get up and head down to the gym before starting my day. I glanced at her, then back to the room, then back to her. Well shit. I wasn't yet comfortable leaving the apartment without her knowing where I was going and how to reach me if she needed me. But I also didn't want to wake her either. Especially since she seemed to be sleeping well.
Maybe I'd start with going to the bathroom and getting dressed. With any luck, an idea would come to me on how I could handle this situation. The moment I shifted to climb from the bed she stirred. "Lester?"
Damn! I should have known, after everything she'd been through that she'd be a light sleeper.
I turned and leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek. "Go back to sleep, Precious. I'm just going downstairs to the gym for an hour or so."
She turned over onto her back. Her sleep filled gaze landed on me and I swear my heart slammed against my chest. Her hair was spread out over the pillow, a display of honey gold against the light blue sheets. "I can make you breakfast," she said as she lifted a hand to rub sleep from her eyes.
"You don't have to do that," I said while I stared down at those plump pink lips of hers. It was everything I could do to keep from just leaning over and kissing her. "Just go back to sleep."
"I want to," she said, then tossed off the covers.
"I'm going to be down in the gym for at least an hour," I said and pushed to climb out of the bed. If I didn't put a little distance between us, I was going to end up doing something very stupid. "I'd rather you just get some more rest and if you still want to make me breakfast when I get back, then we'll talk about it."
As she shook her head, she swung her legs into a sitting position, so they dangled off the side of the bed. "I won't be able to sleep if you're not here," she said. "I'll just read for a bit. Then when you return, I'll make some breakfast while you get ready for work."
While I really wanted her to sleep some more, I understood why she thought she couldn't. So, I decided to let the subject drop. No need in starting a fight with her over something so trivial as breakfast. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you."
For the next hour, I worked my way through my morning exercise routine, all the while fielding questions from the guys about how Casey was doing. Everyone wanted to know if she or I needed anything. I know the guys here always have my back, but it's nice to know they now have Casey's back too. Even though they don't know her that well…yet.
As Ram put it, since Casey was important to me then she's important to all of them. I really couldn't ask for a better group of guys to call my brothers.
I returned an hour later to find Casey dressed and hard at work in the kitchen. I offered to help, but she waved me off, telling me that she had it under control. "Go, get your shower, Lester. I know you have to go to work in a little bit."
By the time I was out of the shower and dressed, she was placing the last of the pancakes on a plate.
An hour later I took her down to the control room and showed her where my office was located and how to reach me if she needed anything. Knowing she probably wouldn't be comfortable yet around so many men she didn't know and hadn't yet met, I made sure to take her down early. That way most of the day shift guys had yet to clock in. The floor was mostly empty and the men who were on duty already, to their credit, didn't gawk or stare as we entered.
Once I was sure Casey knew how to reach me if she needed me, I escorted her back up to the apartment then returned to the office to start my day. Having her tucked away upstairs was both a blessing and curse. A blessing because I knew where she was and didn't have to worry. A curse because all I wanted was to blow off work to spend time with her.
Since Ranger and Steph were still away, that really couldn't happen.
I was twenty minutes into reviewing the first new contract of the day when a knock on my door had me looking up. Ram stood in my open doorway with a paper in his hand. I waved him in and motioned to one of the guest chairs. "What's up?"
"I've been doing some digging on the Wishing Well Recovery and Rehabilitation Center," he said while handing me the paper.
"The center was founded three years ago by a Doctor Elliott Pfeiffer," he began. "Before that, Pfeiffer worked at St. Francis in the psychiatric ward."
I began reading the document when one word caught my attention. "They're closed?"
"They were shut down by the State last month and charges of insurance fraud and embezzlement have been filed against Pfeiffer, and his accountant Jeremy Kowalski."
"Fraud," I repeated as I leaned back in my chair.
"Yep," he said popping the P. "And from what I was able to ascertain other chargers are pending as the investigation continues."
I narrowed my eyes as a cold shiver made its way through my body. "What kind of other charges?"
Before he could answer, my office phone rang. I held up a finger, indicating for him not to go anywhere, then picked up the phone. "Santos."
"It's Ramon," the voice on the other end said. "I have Detective Morelli and a Detective Jason Shaw from the State Police, here. They're asking to see Casey."
My spine snapped to attention and my eyes widened at I looked across my desk at Ram. "I'll send Ram down to meet them."
"Who?" Ram asked as I hung up the phone.
"Morelli and some detective from the State. They're here to see Casey."
His look turned as guarded as I was feeling. "You want them in here?"
I shook my head. "Conference room here on Five," I said. "I'll be there with Tank and Bobby."
"You're not going to get Casey?" he asked.
"Not until I know for sure what they want with her."
It only took a few minutes to gather Tank and Bobby in the conference room. I was on my feet pacing when Ram entered with Morelli and Detective Shaw in tow.
"Santos," Joe Morelli extended a hand for me to shake.
"Morelli," I said, I as took his hand. "What do you want with Casey?"
Joe arched a brow at me, as amusement lit in his eyes. "Um…Lester Santos, this is Detective Jason Shaw from the New Jersey State Police."
"Good to meet you," Detective Shaw said as he also extended a hand. "I've heard a lot of good things about you guys here at Rangeman."
Any other time I might have been happy to hear his praise. Right now, all I wanted was for them to tell me why the fuck they were here and what they wanted with Casey. "Detective."
Once Morelli introduced Shaw to Tank and Bobby, and we finally got the damn greetings out of the way, I motioned for them to take a seat. Ram crossed into the room and sat down beside me.
"So, I understand Casey Miller is staying here," Detective Shaw began.
"She might be," I replied. "What do you want with her?"
He exchanged a look with Morelli, who then took over the conversation.
"Look, Les. She's not in any kind of legal trouble if that's what you're worried about."
"Why do you want to see her?" I repeated while trying hard not to grind my teeth in frustration.
Morelli let out a sigh and leaned back in his seat. "Can you just get her for us?"
"She is under the protection of Rangeman," Tank said from where he sat across from Morelli. "So, if you want to see her, you're going to need to play ball with us first."
Thank you, Tank!
Morelli and Shaw looked at Tank, then glanced around the table at the rest of us before a silent conversation took place between the two of them. "Alright," Shaw finally said. "We'll play this your way. I'm working an ongoing investigation involving the Wishing Well Recovery and Rehabilitation Center. We have reason to believe that Casey Miller, along with Isabella Sanchez and Madalyn Mason may all be in danger."
If he didn't already have my attention, that one word would have captured it. "What do you mean danger?" I pressed.
Shaw glanced at Morelli, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod. As if maybe, he was vouching for us in some way.
"The center's founder and accountant have both been charged with insurance fraud and embezzlement," Shaw said.
"We know that already," Ram replied. "That information is public knowledge. What we don't know and what you're still not telling us is why you think Casey is in danger."
Morelli shifted in his seat and leaned forward to rest an arm on the conference room table. "From what we know so far, at least three people who were supposedly patients of the center were found dead. One was found in an abandoned building on Stark Street. Another was found buried in a shallow grave behind some industrial park out near the river and a third was found dismembered in the pine barrens. Pemberton Township Police seem to believe the dismemberment was meant to mimic animals attacking the body."
"So, the two murders here in Trenton are how you got involved," Bobby asked.
Morelli nodded. "The murders happened inside Trenton city limits, and it wasn't until we found a fourth body two days ago did we make the connection to the rehab center. That's when I contacted the state police. We knew about their investigation into the center."
"So, how are the murders connected to the center?" Tank asked. I should be the one asking these questions. But the knowledge that Casey's life might be in danger…again…has me scared shitless, causing me to be slow in my response.
"We believe," Detective Shaw said as he looked around the table at us. "That someone is trying to eliminate any witnesses who might be able to provide testimony against the owner or accountant."
"Where is Pfeiffer and Kowalski now?" Bobby asked.
Shaw's look turned regretful. "Both posted bail and then immediately disappeared."
I glanced over at Tank. "I'm guessing it wasn't Vinny or Sebring who posted the bail, 'cause if they had, we'd know about it already."
"They posted their own bail," Shaw said before Tank could reply. "Both put up their houses as collateral."
Fuck!
"How would Casey have seen anything?" I finally managed to ask. "It's not like they kept her in the loop on their dealings."
"No," Morelli said. "But they did collect state benefits on her for months after they released her from the center. It was only a week before the sting operation took place that they finally reported her missing from the center. They claim she walked away, but our investigation leads us to believe otherwise."
While I'm thankful as fuck that Casey got out alive, I could feel my anger growing that she'd been placed back into harms away after suffering so much while in Blackmore's clutches. "So, you're telling us that these random murders are tied back to the fraud charges?" I asked through gritted teeth.
Shaw nodded. "It looks that way. From what I understand, they didn't follow correct procedures for admissions, which allowed them to bill for more money per patient. They were also releasing patients early and then not filing the release paperwork with the State or private insurance companies for months after."
"So, they were taking both state and insurance money on patients who were no longer in their care," I said, making sure I understood him correctly.
He nodded. "They were releasing patients before they were ready and were doing to others what they did to Casey. They'd give the patient a few bucks and a bus ticket out of town."
"If the patient was shipped out of state it would be harder for authorities to track them," Bobby said, voicing an understanding we all shared.
Ram nodded then took the thought process further. "And if the patient went sideways again, he or she was then some other state and some other facilities' problem. Making it less likely for any blowback to land on them."
"Exactly," Shaw said. "That's why we think she's now in danger. She can verify not only what kind of treatment she received, but when she was discharged from the rehab center. If she's dead, then she can't give a statement or be asked to testify against them in court."
"She's not testifying," I said, the statement coming out with more of a growl than I intended.
"But-" Shaw started to protest only for me to steamroll right over him.
"No," I said as a surge of adrenaline coursed through me. This wasn't up for negotiation. "She's already been through hell. You're not going to put her through more misery."
"Les," Morelli said.
I pushed up from my chair. "NO. You don't know what she's been through or how she's suffered. You're not going to force her to testify against these guys when, with a little more investigating, you can build a case without her."
"Relax, Les." Morelli held up a hand as if he was trying to soothe a dog about to attack. Honestly, I was feeling a bit feral right now. "Nobody is going to force her to testify," he said. "However, if she's willing to give us a statement, it will help. Then we'll take her to a safe house until the trial is over."
Like hell! I leaned forward and planted both hands on the conference room table as I looked from Morelli to Shaw and back. "You are NOT taking her anywhere."
"She needs protection until this is over," Shaw said.
"And she already has it," Ram replied. He was still seated, but I could feel his frustration building too. "There isn't a building in this state that has better security or is safer than right here at Rangeman."
Shaw shook his head. "We can't ask Rangeman to take on a protection detail. It's not in our budget to contract it out."
"We don't want or need your damn money," Tank said.
"She's not going anywhere," I repeated.
"Okay. Okay," Shaw repeated as he held up his hands. "Just tell us where she is right now. That way I can report it to my superiors."
I gave a nod toward the door. "She's upstairs in my apartment."
Morelli's eyes widened as he looked at me and smarmy smile tipped his lips. "Damn, Santos. You just found her four days ago and you're boning her already?"
A sheet of red filled my field of vision before he'd finished his sentence. I practically climbed over the table, yanked Morelli from his seat and slammed him against the wall. "Don't fucking disrespect her like that ever again," I growled low and deep.
The rustle of clothes and the sounds of chairs screeching across the tile floor filled the air, but I never took my eyes off Morelli. He had his hands wrapped around my forearms. His eyes were wide as he stared at me, and fear radiated off him. Good. He should be fucking afraid of me.
"Les," Bobby said from behind me, his voice steady and soothing. "Let him go."
"He doesn't get to waltz in here and say shit like that about her," I said as I stared at him. "I won't allow it."
"I know," Bobby said.
Morelli's gaze darted from me to Bobby and back and he began to shake his head. "I didn't realize she was so important to you," he said. "I'm sorry."
"You hear that?" Shaw said as he took a position next to Morelli. "He's sorry."
Bobby reached over my shoulder and covered my hand with his. "Let him go," he repeated.
Slowly, I unclenched my fingers from Morelli's shirt, then let Bobby and Ram put themselves between me and Morelli.
"Okay," Shaw said on a sigh. "Okay," he repeated. "Let's just all take a breath and calm down."
"Ram," Tank barked. "Take Santos. Go get a cup of coffee or take a walk or something. Just make sure he cools off. Then go with him upstairs to get Casey."
Ram gave Tank a nod then wrapped an arm around my shoulders and tugged me toward the door. Once we were out of ear shot of the conference room, he let out a curse. "Fuck. Les. What in the hell is wrong with you? You trying to land your ass in jail?"
I scrubbed my hands over my face and took a deep breath as I worked to battle back my anger. I glanced back at the conference room. "I don't care what Ranger and Steph say. He hasn't changed one bit. He's still a fucking asshole."
"A fucking asshole who could toss you in jail for assaulting a police officer," Ram replied. "Jesus." He raked a hand through is dirty blond hair as he looked at me. "What's gotten into you? I've never seen you act like this over a woman before."
"Just who's side are you on?" I was still seething and shot him a look that had him pointing a finger at me in response.
"Casey's," he replied without missing a beat. "It's crystal clear how important she is to you. How exactly would she feel if she found out you were in jail because of something that was said about her? After everything she's been through, don't think she'd feel guilty?"
It took a moment for his question to register, but when it did, I had to admit he was right. "She probably would."
"Damn right, she would," he said. "She needs you here, Les. Not in jail."
His statement had the same result as a sucker punch to my gut, knocking the air and the anger right out of me. I nodded as I blew out a breath. "Shit. You're right."
Twenty minutes later, I was back in the conference room with Casey safely tucked between me and Ram as she gave her statement to Detective Shaw. The moment we'd sat down she'd slid her left hand under the table then reached for my right hand. I'd happily laced my fingers with hers while she spoke to Shaw. Each time she'd pause, and I could feel her fear building, I'd given her hand a reassuring squeeze.
When she finally finished, she looked from Detective Shaw to Morelli then over to me. "So, does this mean I'm in danger?" The fear in her eyes made me angry all over again. Morelli and Shaw better hope I don't find Pfeiffer or Kowalski first. Because right now the only thing on my mind was retribution.
"Unfortunately," Detective Shaw said as he nodded. "I believe so."
We all watched as she stiffened at his admission. He quickly rushed on to speak. "However, the State Police is prepared to place you in a safehouse and provide you with 24-hour protection until these men are back behind bars. We will keep you safe."
Her leaving Rangeman would only cause my anxiety and fear to ratchet up again. However, like Ram reminded me on the way up to Six to get her, it really wasn't my call to make. Though, that didn't mean I was just going to let her go without a fight. "Or you can remain here with us at Rangeman," I added. "You're safe with us. We can protect you."
"Do I have a choice?" she asked looking from me to Detective Shaw and back.
"Of course," he replied. "We can't force you to go with us."
She squeezed my hand as she turned her gaze back on me. "Then I choose to stay here."
