Because of my mother’s addiction and my need to understand why she was the way she was, I’d done several research papers and projects based on addiction or the effects of illegal drug use, so I had a lot of information to share.
When I was finished, Tina looked up from her notes and asked, “Would you be interested in being a consultant for me for any cases involving healthcare related topics?”
Her question completely caught me off guard. “I’m sorry, what?”
She laughed. “Would you be interested in being a consultant? I generally don’t have a lot of cases where healthcare comes into play, but I would love to have someone with your knowledge base to call on if the need arose. You’d, of course, be compensated for your time.”
“Um, once all of this is over, if I still have a nursing license, I’d love to,” I said carefully. I didn’t want to give my word and not be able to fulfill my end of the agreement.
“You’ll have a license. As soon as the charges are dropped, I’ll notify the nursing board and send the necessary documentation. This isn’t the same process as being tried and found not guilty. You were arrested and charged for a crime without sufficient evidence. Truthfully, they should’ve brought you in for questioning first. If they’d done that, you never would have been arrested. Speaking of, how would you like to handle that?”
“Are you asking me if I want to sue, uh, whomever for my arrest?”
“That’s exactly what I’m asking.”
“Oh, no. I just want things to be exactly like they were. I want my nursing license to be in good standing, I want to be able to work at the hospital, and I want to be able to finish working out my contract with the agency without a penalty. Oh, and I want every penny of my bail to be returned.”
“Are you sure?” she asked seemingly surprised by my answer.
“Yes, I’m sure. Filing a lawsuit will only take time and resources away from more pressing matters. If my life can be restored in the next few days, I’m willing to look at this as a bad vacation,” I said and then a thought suddenly occurred to me. “I want the officers, particularly the detectives, to have some additional training on fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and other associated designer drugs.”
Tina beamed at me. “That’s a great idea. I know it hasn’t been for you, but it’s truly been a pleasure meeting you, River. I’m going to head back to my office and get started on some paperwork, but I’ll be in touch with you first thing in the morning,” she said and extended her hand.
“Thank you for everything. I didn’t see how this could possibly turn out good for me, but you showed up and took the weight of the world off my shoulders,” I said and shook her hand.
She smiled shyly. “I was more than happy to help. I think everyone around here calls him Pop, but Tommy Black was a legend in the courtroom. He’d already retired by the time I was in law school, but he came to the campus for a seminar during my first year. I arrived at the auditorium hours before the first lecture to be sure I got a front row seat. During a break, I tracked him down like the crazy fangirl I was and introduced myself. I made a complete idiot of myself, but he was unbelievably kind to me. We exchanged emails and he ended up becoming somewhat of a mentor for me. When he called and asked me for a personal favor, it was a dream come true.”
I didn’t know exactly who she was talking about, but I nodded and smiled like I did. “Well, I’m glad there was a silver lining for both of us.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Judge
It killed me to do it, but I left River’s side so she could speak with her lawyer in private. I didn’t think she had anything to hide from me, but I thought it would be easier for her to speak freely without me present, and I must have been correct in my assumptions because she didn’t ask me to stay.
I couldn’t bring myself to go far at first, so I claimed the empty seat at the table with Batta, Bronze, Spazz, and Splint which was only two tables away from River and Tina.
“Any updates on our little friend?” I asked.
Bronze and Batta laughed while Spazz and Splint groaned in disgust. “Turns out he’d actually swallowed the condom, so he had to spend the night in the hospital until things worked out on their own,” Bronze said and cleared his throat. “He was arrested for possession.” He held up his hand as he tried to stifle his laughter. “But they couldn’t charge him with intent to distribute!”
I arched a brow. “How long have you been waiting to say that?”
“He hasn’t,” Splint answered. “That’s the fourth fucking time I’ve heard it.”
We shot the shit for an hour or so, but eventually, Batta left when he received a call from Kennedy, Splint had to go to work, Spazz said he needed to get back to whatever he was doing on his computer, and Bronze disappeared after receiving a text message. So, I picked up my empty beer bottle, tossed it in the trash, and joined Copper, Phoenix, Dash, and Coal.
“Tell me again why we picked a lawyer who looks younger than me,” I said without preamble.
Copper glared at me while Phoenix snorted. “Because she’s who Pop recommended. And she is older than you, but she’s often underestimated because of her looks,” Phoenix answered.
Copper’s glare didn’t relent so I held my hands up in a placating manner. “No disrespect intended, Prez. I’m grateful as fuck for everything you’ve done for River. But I’m not gonna lie, she looks like she just graduated from high school and my woman’s future, hell my future, is on the line here.”
Phoenix stood from his seat and rounded the table, which, admittedly, had me worried for a moment. “And another one bites the dust,” he laughed as he clapped me on the shoulder before walking over to talk to Savior.
“Your woman?” Dash asked with an arched brow.
Fucking club politics. “I’m not asking for your permission because you weren’t even on speaking terms with her until two weeks ago and that was because of me.” I pushed back from the table and rose to my feet, fully prepared to physically defend myself and my woman if need be.