Page 31 of Day Shift

A wave of nausea passed through me at the mere idea of having any association with such people. I shook my head. “I can’t imagine I’m tied to people like that, to a mafia crime family. It just doesn’t fit. Mafia, crime…it’s not me. I don’t remember much, but I know I’m not like that.”

The distress must have shown clearly on my face because Samantha quickly interjected, “If you were friendly with the likes of them, you wouldn’t have been running away like your life depended on it. We don’t think you’re one of them, but maybe you were caught up in some sort of entanglement with their dealings, like what happened to me because of my dad.”

Conan nodded. “Let’s put that aside for now. Soon you’ll be out of here and hanging out with me. You’ve got to know that’ll be a—”

His words were cut short as two Tacoma police officers stepped around him and entered the room.

“Good afternoon, Miss. I’m Detective Brady from Tacoma PD, and this is Officer Miller,” he said, indicating a female officer behind him. “We need to ask you a few questions. This is regarding what happened on the morning of May twenty-eighth—when you broke into the old Volkov estate, stole a car, and fled from police before crashing into a tree.” He walked further into the room, with Miller trailing behind him.

Conan stepped in between me and the officers, his size instantly filling the space like a protective barrier. “Is this necessary, guys? She’s still recovering and just getting her bearings,” he asked, his tone respectful yet firm.

My stomach churned, and I braced myself for the interrogation to come.

Without responding, Detective Brady glanced at Conan, then back at me. “Miss, before we proceed with any questions, I need to inform you that I have a warrant for your arrest and inform you of your rights.” He paused, ensuring I was paying attention. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?”

I nodded, feeling a lump forming in my throat. “Yes, I understand.”

Detective Brady sat down in one of the chairs beside my bed, his partner moving to stand just behind him, effectively forcing Samantha and Conan to stand at the foot of the bed.

“Ma’am, we need to go over what happened,” he said, making no effort to ease into the questioning. His tone was more accusing than inquiring. “You’re facing serious charges: evading police, reckless driving, trespassing, car theft, and breaking and entering.”

I stared at him, my mouth dry. The words barely made sense, and his harsh tone made it worse. “I…I don’t remember any of that. I remember nothing before waking up here. I can’t explain something I don’t remember,” I stammered.

“That’s convenient,” the officer said sarcastically. “But amnesia or not, you were found at the scene in a stolen car after having broken into a home. Once you’re medically cleared, you will be taken into custody, transported to the station, booked, and brought to the courthouse for arraignment.”

His partner, who had remained quiet thus far but was equally imposing, leaned forward slightly and said, “With all of these charges. You’d better hope you can find a way to post bail, or you won’t be going anywhere.”

The room spun a little. My heartbeat roared in my ears, fast and loud, drowning out their voices. The walls seemed to close in on me, and I struggled to catch my breath.

Samantha, who had been quietly observing, stepped in swiftly. “That’s enough,” she said sharply, moving to stand on the other side of the bed. “She’s clearly not in any state to discuss this right now. And as a nurse in this hospital, I’m telling you, you’re causing her unnecessary distress.”

The stern officer looked like he wanted to argue but glanced at his partner and then back at me. I was still shaking and struggling to breathe. Samantha was in her element, standing there confidently and not backing down.

“You need to leave. Now,” she insisted, pointing to the door. “This woman is under our medical care, and I will not allow you to jeopardize her recovery.”

Reluctantly, the officer stood up and gave me a long look. “We’ll be back once the doctors clear you to be discharged,” he said gruffly. And with that, they both left the room.

Once they were gone, Samantha reached for the controller attached to the bed, raising it so I could sit up straighter. “Breathe with me, Angel. In and out, slowly,” she instructed, counting for each breath.

I followed her lead, though each inhale was sharp, and each exhale was a bit shaky. Gradually, my breathing evened out. The room stopped spinning, and the trembling subsided.

“Thank you. I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” I whispered once I could speak again.

“Don’t mention it,” she said, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve suffered from panic attacks since I was a little girl. You’re going to be okay.” Samantha gave me a comforting smile. “Why don’t you plan on coming to stay with Atticus and me once you’re out on bail? Our new house is ridiculously large for just two people, and you can even babysit Murphy.”

I paused, a little taken aback. “You guys have a kid?” I asked, imagining a toddler running around a sprawling living room.

Samantha burst into laughter. “Oh, no, not a kid. Murphy is our almost eight-month-old shih tzu puppy. He’s a handful and loves attention.”

I smiled at the thought of babysitting a playful puppy. But then I was snapped back to reality. “I don’t have any money. Even if the bail is small, I won’t be able to pay for it. I don’t even know who I am, so there’s no way I could find anyone willing to pay to get me out.”

Conan waved off my concerns with a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry, Braxton knows the chief of police. They’re old friends. And Atticus is getting you the best attorney. I’ll cover the bail. It’s no issue.”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, my anxiety flaring up again.

“Money’s not a problem, Angel,” Conan said. “I’ve got it covered. You can pay me back whenever, or not at all. I just want you out and safe.”

I tried to protest, the idea of owing such an enormous debt weighing heavily on me. “I can’t just take your money, Conan—”

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