Copper placed his hand on the owner’s shoulder. “Thanks, but I think we should wait for the police before anyone goes inside. Smells like a crime scene in there.”
And for some reason unbeknownst to me, we sat there and waited for the police to enter the trailer and tell us what was inside.
Chapter Twenty-Five
River
For the first time since I'd arrived in Devil Springs, I walked into work in a bad mood. Why? Because of Jonah “Fucking Judge” Jackson.
After not coming to bed, he wasn't home when I woke up and he didn't come home before I left for work. But what really pissed me off was that he didn't answer his cell phone when I called or reply to any of the texts I sent. I thought about calling Leigh, but decided that would be weird. Instead, I opted to seethe in silence.
My anger was momentarily forgotten when I saw Kennedy. I hadn't worked with her, or even talked to her, since the night she called in sick.
I rushed over to her and pulled her into a hug. “Girl, where have you been?”
She laughed lightly. “In the seventh circle of hell. My niece picked up that horrid stomach virus that's been going around and passed it to me. One time I thought I was going to have to come in because I was absolutely certain I shit out part of my rectum. I even made my sister check and make sure nothing was hanging out of my asshole,” she said seriously.
I tried, I really did, to hold in the laughter, but it burst forth until I was doubled over and clutching my stomach while tears ran down my face.
“What’s going on?” Dr. Alvarez asked.
“River thinks a prolapsed rectum is a laughing matter,” Kennedyanswered and managed to maintain a straight face for all of five seconds.
“Never mind. I don't think I want to know,” she chuckled and continued on her way.
And that was how we spent the first part of the shift—laughing and talking in between patients.
But the night took a different turn when Jonah and Copper walked into the ER with two police officers. “River, we need to speak with you,” Jonah said flatly.
My previous anger returned with a vengeance. I nodded and glanced at my watch. “Okay, I'll be happy to speak with you in about, oh, let's say twelve hours,” I said sharply and turned to walk away.
“River,” Copper called in a tone that had me stopping, but I refused to turn around. “This isn't something that can wait.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. Follow me to the conference room.”
Once inside, Jonah closed the doors behind him. The taller of the two police officers smiled kindly and suggested, “Maybe you should sit.”
“Maybe you should tell me whatever it is you came to tell me so I can get back to work,” I snapped.
The two officers exchanged a look and both turned their gazes to Jonah and Copper. Copper nodded and Officer Number Two began to speak. “Miss Lawson, I regret to inform you that your mother, Spring Lawson, was found dead yesterday evening from an apparent drug overdose.”
I stood silently waiting for more. When no one else said anything, I asked, “Is that it?”
Officer Number One nodded. “Yes, ma'am.”
“Thank you for telling me. Can I go back to work now?” I asked.
“Well, yes, I suppose you can. We won't be able to release your mother's body until the investigation is complete, which could be several days or even longer. Someone from the coroner's office will be in touch with that information.”
I placed my hand on my hip and faced him directly. “I will not be claiming, accepting, or whatevering my mother's body. Please make note of that right now.”
“But you have to,” Officer Number Two whined.
“I sure as shit do not, but if you want to make an issue of it, she has another child. Call and tell him he needs to deal with his mother.”
“Do you have his contact information?”
I shook my head and pointed to Jonah and Copper. “No, I don't, but they do. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have patients to attend to,”I said and pulled the door open.