Page 58 of Caught in the Crossfire

“You didn’t answer my question. Why are you here at this time of night?”

“I’m part of the team protecting you. Josh is on the door.”

“Where are Linc and Dawn?” Mason asked.

“Staying with the St. Claires. Grace brought a change of clothes for Nicole. I found your Go bag in the truck and stashed it in the bathroom.”

Excellent. At least he’d walk out of here in his own clothes instead of hospital scrubs. “Thanks.”

Surprise flashed across Nicole’s face. “A Go bag like the Fortress operatives carry?”

“I picked up the habit from Bravo and Durango. Mine has a change of clothes and survival gear we need in case of an emergency.” Mason kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry. No weapons in mine.”

He turned back to Ethan. “Tell Nicole what you told me.”

She stiffened. “You have news, Ethan?”

“Mason’s blood test came back. No alcohol in his system.”

“I knew it. I told you he wouldn’t drink and drive. What caused him to pass out?”

“Someone dumped ketamine into the soft drink Mason left in his truck.”

“Ketamine? Isn’t that a drug used by veterinarians?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“How would someone other than a vet obtain a supply?”

“Ketamine is a party drug. You can buy it on the street if you know the right person.”

“Do you know who is selling it?”

“Not at the moment.”

“You owe Mason an apology.”

Ethan’s eyebrow rose. “I don’t recall accusing him of drinking and driving. I told you it appeared he’d been drinking based on the whiskey bottle in his hand and the overwhelming scent of alcohol on his person. The blood test confirmed what we both already knew.”

The ball of ice in Mason’s stomach melted. “You didn’t believe I was guilty.”

“I watched you reclaim your life. When you were shot protecting Darcy, you didn’t turn to alcohol to dull the pain. You followed every rule I laid out for you from our first meeting, built a reputation as an excellent, dependable employee who cares about his work, and made a place for yourself in the Otter Creek community. A man of character like that wouldn’t be easily persuaded to bury his woes in a bottle. No, I didn’t believe what I saw on Danbury Road. I did, however, have to follow the letter of the law. This time, the law worked in your favor.”

Ethan folded his arms. “Whoever drugged you must have followed you, hoping for a different outcome. When the worst didn’t happen, he took advantage of your unconscious state and set the stage to make you appear drunk.”

A memory sparked in Mason’s mind. “Lights. I saw headlights in my rearview mirror before I pulled to the side of the road.”

“Let’s keep that to ourselves. We’ll use that information when we arrest the perp.”

“It could have been another driver who thought I pulled to the side of the road to make a phone call.”

“I don’t think so.” She glanced at Ethan. “If I’m right, the driver following had a bottle of whiskey that he poured on Mason. He reeked of the stuff when I climbed into the truck.”

“We’re lucky he didn’t pour the alcohol down Mason’s throat. With ketamine in his system, the whiskey could have killed him.” Ethan shifted his gaze to Mason. “Lock your truck from now on. Don’t take any more chances with your life.”

He held up a hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve learned my lesson. I also started locking my truck bed’s toolbox.”

“We ran the prints on the pipe wrench and the hammer. Both tools have your prints plus several smudged prints, indicating someone with gloves used the tools recently.”

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