Page 149 of Rear View
Goddammit!My ribs locked over my lungs. I dragged my free hand through my hair. I just needed to hear about her. Needed to know she was alright. That she was breathing. “What about Alec?”
“He’s been taken down to EPD headquarters for questioning.”
My gut twisted, bile burning the back of my throat. Not ideal, but not shocking either. Alec was smart enough to know not to talk. And they’d need a warrant to look at his phone, so that’d slow stuff down. “When can I get outta here?”
“You’re under arrest, Mr. Bosch. Once the doctor’s released you, you’ll be taken down to booking.”
“Under arrest forwhat? Doing your goddamn job for you?”
That fake smile widened. “Second-degree murder and criminal negligence causing death.”
My head snapped back, and my spine went rigid, the world tipping on its axis. “Second degree?The fuck?”
“You’re a professional driver, Mr. Bosch. You knew what you were doing, and your actions resulted in a man being killed.” He gestured to the TV in the corner. “The helicopter footage is everywhere. It’s obvious to anyone who’s seen it.”
I dropped back onto the bed, giving it my weight ’cause I sure as hell couldn’t hold it. I cleared my throat and looked away. Second degree meant time. Real time. A lot of it. Years away from my girl.
Christ. It was like my life was playing on repeat.
A nurse in dog-face-printed scrubs crossed into the room, some supplies in hand. The same nurse from the first day I’d met Ryah and brought her in. Her scowl landed on Maynard. “I’ll thank you to leave my patient alone until he’s been cleared by a doctor, Officer.”
Maynard’s lip tugged in a snarl, but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.
“How’re you feeling, Xavier?” she asked, heading around to the far side of my bed.
Last thing I wanted was to be booked, but if it meant a call to find out about Ryah, I’d move that train along. “Good.”
She shifted, swapping out my IV bag. “The doctor removed several pieces of debris from your back, but your wounds were all pretty superficial. A few lacerations.Otherwise, you’re fine. There’s no indication of a concussion. We’ll be keeping you overnight for observation, so I suspect you’ll be released by shift change tomorrow.”
The next day? I wouldn’t be talking to anyone until the next goddamn day? My throat cinched tight, and I rubbed my chest.
Maynard’s phone rang. Taking it out, he stepped away and answered, “Juan.” He paused. “Already? That’s good.” Another pause. “When?” Twisting his wrist, he checked his watch, and his chest puffed out like he was eager. “I’ll see you then.”
“What’s going on?” the cop at the door asked.
“Highway Patrol’s finished with the scene. Castillo wants me to forward the evidence over tonight. He’s holding a press conference in the morning and requested me there.” Maynard grabbed the brown wool coat off his chair, then slipped the thing on and popped the collar before he eyed me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Bosch.”
My ribs locked over my lungs. So much for the system working.
The nurse leaned down and fluffed my pillow. “Your young lady is down the hall,” she said, her voice pitched low.
My head snapped her way. Down the hall. She was down the hall. If she was in the hospital, then she was still breathing. Shoulders dropping, I exhaled, long and slow, then offered nurse lady a nod of thanks.
She winked and stepped away, heading across the room. “Would you like the TV on?”
My girl was alive. Knowin’ that meant I could handle anything that came my way. Just as well to see what I was up against. I cleared my throat. “The news, please.”
* * *
Someone yelled outside my room, farther away. The voice was familiar… I thought. But it’d been muffled when it echoed down the hospital hall, so I didn’t know for sure.
I blinked hard, the morning sun bright where it blazed through my window, making the place warm. A new cop’d replaced the one at my door somewhere around five AM. He’d brought some sweats I’d changed into, seeing as I couldn’t be discharged in a hospital gown.
I hadn’t slept. Just watched the news on repeat all night, trying to get a sense of stuff. They’d practically played the helicopter footage on loop. Commentators added their opinions, and listening to ’em talk about my chances had sweat slicking my skin while the walls closed in.
The fact that Castillo hadn’t come by couldn’t have been good. With a 98 percent conviction rate, he was hot shit at his job, so chances were, my fate was good and sealed. And knowing it meant I’d barely held back from upchucking my guts.
I couldn’t get the thought of prison outta my head. I loved my girl more than anything in this goddamn world. Loved her enough to do what was right. She’d already lost too much time. If this shook out bad for me, I wouldn’t have her waiting for me while I rotted behind bars. Wasn’t taking another second of her life.
