“What about that, Officer Hotness?”
He closed his eyes for a moment trying to maintain his relative calm but opened it the moment he heard someone clearing their throat.
Crois saw Doctor Roan Ashley standing in the doorway, a folder in his arms. “We should be good to release her to the jail soon. Do you want me to examine her again?”
“Don’t ask him!” The woman literally rattled her handcuffs again. “Ask me! I definitely want you to examine me! How about a full cavity search?”
Roan’s expression was nearly a flatline of enthusiasm. “I won’t be doing anything of the kind, ma’am.”
“Oh…” she sank back against the mattress. “Are you gay?”
Crois rolled his eyes at the woman’s question.
Roan stepped closer and looked at the IV on the pole. The ‘banana’ bag was nearly done.
He looked at Crois and Crois saw the frustration in the doctor’s eyes. “After the bag is done, we’ll be able to release her.”
“Oh, good.”
Roan’s expression lifted at the sound of Pilar’s voice.
She stepped up beside her fiancé and Crois saw the effort it took for her not to reach out and touch Roan. They were both on the clock and everyone was in view of a handcuffed suspect. Still, Crois, who knew them both, could see how the couple was drawn to each other.
Pilar looked at Crois. “The second tow truck showed up and took her car.”
“What?”
The woman’s shriek ricocheted off of the walls of the narrow room.
“You towed my car?”
Crois turned and stood with his back against the wall. “We told you that at the scene. I told you that when we arrived here at the Emergency Room. And at least one more time since.”
Roan frowned at the suspect and then opened the chart he was holding. “She had a CT scan,” he shook his head, “she might not remember because of the alcohol she’d consumed earlier.”
Pilar lifted a hand and touched his arm. “We’ve seen worse.”
Roan leaned in closer to his fiancé. “When do you have a meal break?”
Pilar turned her back to the room and Crois knew it was because she didn’t want the suspect to see her expression. “I don’t know yet. It might not be when you have a break.”
Crois could see how disappointed the doctor was.
He couldn’t blame him, he wanted to check in with Harmony and see if they could find time to meet while they were both on shift, but he didn’t think that was going to be possible.
He’d likely have to shuffle off while Pilar ate with her fiancé.
He’d be happy to let her because he knew better than getting in the way of love.
That, and later, he’d get the same break after he started to date Harmony in earnest.
He felt a smile pull at his lips.
“Uh… hello! I’m the victim here!”
“Victim?” Crois turned his head to stare at her. “Hardly.”
“My car,” she insisted, “is ruined!”
