Page 53 of One Tough Love

“I guess I’m going to hear a lot of those jokes aren’t I?” Wes said wearily.

“Get use to them my man.”

“So Don I need a little something.”

“Always do. What’s up?”

“Any report regarding last Tuesday

involving B.J. Ross?”

“Let me see.” Wes waited while Don scanned the reports.

“Yeah, there is.”

“Can you send it to me?”

“Yeah just keep a lid on it okay?”

“Always do.” Wes repeated Don’s words back to him.

“Okay it’s sent. Gotta go.”

“Thanks man.”

Wes retrieved the email and attachment and read through the file.

The police report had no first hand account of what had happened from Jo, just what the Ranger and the man who had found her was recorded. According to the report the man found Jo lying on rocks, thankfully on her back or she would have drowned, in the small stream below a footbridge on a trail in the nearby National Park.

The report said Jo was taken by the Ranger to meet with an ambulance to the hospital. That was all it stated. Wes realized Jo was never questioned by the police or reported that anything had even happened.

Wes left the office and got in his Porsche. He headed out to the trail to see where the ‘accident’ happened. He parked and walked in wishing he had changed first. He still had on his suit and dress shoes and they weren’t made for dirt path walking.

Wes arrived at the footbridge. It matched the description in the report. He saw that it was made of wood and the only siding was a six-inch high railroad tie. It was a simple bridge made for hikers and bicyclers to get over the rocky waters that were six feet below.

Wes walked over the bridge and looked left and right. Both ends were close to the thick tree line. Wes looked at the bridge itself and did not see any unlevel boards. There was no way she just tripped. She was too athletic. Wes figured Jo had her ear buds in and probably didn’t even hear someone approaching her. He noticed the rocks protruding from the foamy water and knew Jo had gotten very lucky. His stomach tightened realizing that Jo was probably not supposed to have survived this accident. He also had a feeling she was hiding a few more bruises other than the one on her face.

He made his way back to his car putting together different scenarios. The one that worried him the most was that Jo had to be under surveillance for them to know where she was. This wasn’t her normal running path.

He got in his Porsche and called her. She answered right away.

“Hi Wes. I’ve been downloading some music. This phone is awesome.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“So what’s up?”

“Well, and I don’t want you to get mad at me.”

“Wes…. What now?” Wes cringed when she added the ‘now.’

“I just walked to the footbridge where you had your accident.”

“Oh.” Jo said quietly.

“Will you please talk to me Jo? You didn’t talk to the police.”

“Wes talking to the police wouldn’t have done any good. Officer Cook told me to call him, but they aren’t going to do anything about it. I’m B.J. Ross, cop career killer, remember?”

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