Detection Regan cleared his throat and leaned forward. "Miss Morgan, last week T.J. Costas came in and told us he was the one who injected the morphine and dirty water into your IV."
Dani stared at him, mouth agape. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Impossible," she said in a rush of breath.
Regan laced his fingers before him. "He gave a detailed description of how he did it and when. What he said at the time, what you did at the time-"
"No." Dani shook her head. "It was a woman, not a man."
"With all due respect, you were groggy and trying to recover from surgery. You can't rely on that."
She disagreed. The face was clearly etched in her mind. All she needed was a chance to put that face to a person. But there was no sense arguing with Regan about that now.
"This is ridiculous. What reason would T.J. have to harm me?" She fanned her fingers to the base of her throat.
"That's what we were hoping you could tell us. We'd like you to come to the station and answer a few questions," McDonald replied.
Dani tilted her head. Something didn't sound right. Why go to the station when she could tell them anything they wanted to know right here? "Are you asking me to make an official statement? Has T.J. been charged with this?"
"Actually, no," Regan said. "People come into the police station all the time, confessing anything you could possibly think of. Without corroborating evidence, it's difficult to charge them."
"And that's what you're looking for from me?"
"In some manner of speaking." McDonald levered himself to his feet and walked behind his chair. He splayed huge hands over the back. "Miss Morgan, T.J. Costas indicates the attempt on your life was made because he feared you."
Puzzled, Dani screwed up her face and stared at the man. "He's not the best student, but I've always tried to encourage him. I've never threatened to fail him. That's one of the reasons I offer the tutor-"
"Miss Morgan, did you have sexual intercourse with T.J. Costas?" McDonald asked.
"What!" She was on her feet so fast the chair toppled over.
McDonald didn't blink. "It was a simple question. All we want is a simple answer."
"No! Was that simple enough for you?" Her arms shook with rage. She balled her hands into fists in an attempt to control it. Outwardly it worked. Inwardly Dani quaked.
"Fine. If you'll just come down to the station, we'll get this all straightened out."
McDonald's response was calm, reasoning, a ploy to lull her into trusting him. Dani didn't buy it for a second.
"Not without my lawyer present."
"If you did nothing wrong, why bother?"
"Because I'm innocent and want to keep it that way."
"Then confront your accuser." McDonald gave her a lazy smile. "I'm sure he'll back down."
Dani didn't know much about the law or police work, but she was fairly certain the accused never got the chance to confront the accuser unless it was in the courtroom.
"I'm sure he will too, once I have my lawyer present."
"We could always arrest you."
The threat made her hair stand on end. Dani pursed her lips. Calm. Just stay calm.
Mr. Ferguson's chair creaked as he stood. "Gentlemen, I think this has gone on long enough. Miss Morgan has made her innocence and her position clear. I'm sure you don't want to risk the possibility of violating any of her civil rights by pursuing this further."
McDonald's nostrils flared with the breath he sucked in. "And what about that kid's civil rights? I doubted Miss Morgan took the time to consider those."
He shoved himself upright, motioned Regan to the door with a flick of his wrist, and left. Regan paused before he followed, almost as if he wanted to say something. Whatever it was went unsaid. The door clicked shut.
"I think it would be a good idea if you took the rest of the afternoon to consult with an attorney," Mr. Ferguson told her.
She didn't even know a lawyer, much less have one. "I didn't do anything."
"That won't stop them from coming back with a warrant for your arrest. You need an attorney now. Go on. We can cover your last two classes."
At least he believed her. There weren't enough words in the world to express how grateful she was for that. "I need to call for a ride. My car-"
"Of course." He turned the phone around. "Help yourself."
Dani stared at the numbers for a long time after Mr. Ferguson left. Her first instinct was to call Alec. She fought it. Their relationship was new. What in the world would he think when he heard this? And he absolutely hated T.J. Costas. She desperately needed Alec's support. The question was, would she get it?
Cradling the phone against her ear, Dani punched in the numbers. It was better to know now before her heart got more involved. She laughed at herself. Her heart was already his.
She slammed down the receiver after the first ring. How could she be so selfish? There were people who depended on Alec, needed him desperately. How could she put herself above them for something trivial in comparison?
If she and Alec were to have a relationship beyond this point, she could not go running to him for every little thing that happened. True, this was hardly little, but it was also far from being an emergency. Her parents had raised her to be strong and independent. Dani could stand on her own when necessary no matter how tempting it was to lean on Alec. She had managed all these years by herself; having him in her life shouldn't change that. If anything, her independence should strengthen their bond. If not, again it was best to know now.
She'd deal with this later-after school. Tonight was soon enough to tell Alec. He would either believe her or not. If not, she would have a double whammy of hurt to deal with. If so...Dani closed her eyes and prayed he wouldn't go after T.J. He already had an intense hatred for the boy. This would cinch it. Then they'd both wind up in jail.
Jail. Dani shuddered. Oh, please, don't let it get to that point.
What was the name of that guy her parents used? Maybe Renee knew. She'd ask her when Renee picked her up after work. Another sigh. Renee would be outraged at the accusation. There was no choice but to tell her. She would find out eventually.
Lifting her chin, Dani opened the door to the outer office. Mr. Ferguson started her way. Dani forced a smile.
"Don't bother to find a sub for me. I'll finish out the day. I'll fix this later on."
"If you're sure."
Dani didn't know if that was relief or concern on his face. "I'm sure. Two hours isn't going to make much of a difference."
At least she didn't think it would. The threat of arrest didn't sit well with Dani, but surely it would take time to get a warrant issued. The very idea that these false accusations could go that far made her stomach turn.
* * *
As she returned to her classroom, Dani nodded at the students who passed her in the hallway. Their smiles and greetings went unreturned. As much as she wanted to reach out to them as she had in the past, the sense of betrayal made that impossible.
What good did it do to be their friend, their mentor, if it led to something like this? Dani resented the extra hours spent tutoring, guiding, encouraging. They were a waste of effort. In a blink of an eye, they turned on her. Actually only T.J. had stabbed her in the back, but it was only a matter of time before someone else did.
She was a fool to think she could make a difference in their lives. Only an idiot would think she could guide them on the path to future success, to meet their goals with confidence and pride. It meant nothing. Never again. Her time was her own and they could keep their distance- something the other teachers had tried to tell her before. If the students didn't understand or couldn't pay attention in class, to hell with them. Dani refused to suffer for their inadequacies.
Her conscience nagged that it wasn't fair to punish everyone for what one person had done. Dani didn't care. It wasn't fair that her good-heartedness had allowed someone to take advantage. But who cared? Life wasn't fair.
She ha
d certainly learned that this last week. Her European trip was ruined by a random accident. Her car was totaled. A crazy nurse tried to kill her. And now this. One thing after the other. The only good to come out of any of it was Alec, and even he came with baggage called Andrea Rushmore.
The students were already assembled in the classroom by the time Dani got there. No surprise there-her classes had the best attendance records in the school. It was something she prided herself on; now she wished they would all go away.
"Break up into your discussion groups and let's get started. Penny, your group first, and remember...I want to know from each group what you feel created the downfall of the Roman Empire, compare it to today's society, and make suggestions on how the United States can keep from a similar fate."
Each group's presentation was insightful and enthusiastic. Dani found it difficult to keep up a barrier of indifference. Yet each time she felt herself wavering toward them, all she needed to do was remind herself of T.J.'s betrayal. It made these last two classes tediously long.
* * *
When the final bell rang, Dani ushered the kids through the door and hurried for the exit. Renee waited in the parking lot. Six spaces away, Detectives McDonald and Regan lounged against their unmarked vehicle. Dani wanted to cry.
McDonald took a final drag on his cigarette, flicked it to the ground, and then snuffed it out with the ball of his foot. They were coming for her. Obviously a warrant didn't take as long as she'd hoped.
Dani kept them in the periphery of her vision and tried to concentrate on Renee. She had to get to her first, to explain, tell her to find that blasted attorney.
McDonald intercepted her. "Good afternoon, Miss Morgan. As promised, I'm back." He slipped a folded piece of paper from his coat pocket and fanned the air with it. "I have a warrant for your arrest."
Renee shoved her car door open. "What's the meaning of this?"
"If I were you, Miss Morgan, I'd tell your friend to stay away."
Dani's jaw tightened. "I don't respond to threats, Detective McDonald."
"And I don't respond to child molesters, Miss Morgan." Grinning, he slipped his handcuffs from his pocket.
"That's enough," Regan snapped. "Quit trying to manhandle her. Put the cuffs away. I'm sure Miss Morgan will be cooperative."
As if she had a choice.
Stepping to one side, he motioned to their car with a sweep of his arm. "Miss Morgan."
Renee slammed the door and ran toward them. "I don't know what's going on here, but she goes nowhere until you've read her her rights."
McDonald shrugged. "Fair enough."
He recited a litany of you-have-the-right-tos, and then snagged her arm. Regan clamped his hand over McDonald's and pried his fingers away. Dani didn't know whether to thank him or be suspicious of a trick.
"Dani, what's this about?" Renee demanded to know.
McDonald snorted. "Your friend here's been playing patty-cake with her students."
It took a second or two for the snide term to sink in. When it did, Renee sucked in an outraged breath. "Impossible. Dani would never, ever do something like that. Someone's lying."
Regan stared at the ground. "Unfortunately, it looks like that's going to be up to a judge to decide." He gently cupped Dani's elbow. "Miss Morgan, we have to be going."
Tears clouded her vision. Dani blinked them back only to have new ones rush in.
Renee choked back a sob. "Dani, what can I do?"
"Call my mom and dad's attorney and see if he can come down to the station." She swallowed hard. A tear slipped down her cheek, then another. Angrily she brushed them away.
"Anything else?"
"Yes." She nodded, stronger now. "Don't call my mom and dad. Or yours either."
McDonald snickered. "What the matter? Ashamed to let Mommy and Daddy know their angel has tarnish on her halo?"
"That's enough, Mac," Regan said.
"Oh?" His eyebrows wiggled. "She doin' you too?"
Regan balled the man's jacket in his fist and jerked him to a stop. "Just shut up." He shoved him away.
McDonald staggered, snapped his jacket in place, and marched to the car. Seconds later, the engine roared to life.
Regan motioned her forward. "Miss Morgan?"
Dani didn't know if they were playing the old good-cop, bad-cop routine with her and frankly didn't care. But one thing she was certain of.
"Renee...call Alec."
* * *
Chapter Nineteen
"Just let me regress you one more time. You have to know who your enemy is."
The argument drained Alec. He could have spent all day in surgery and had more energy. What was it going to take to make Ira realize that he didn't need regression? All the memories and emotions of five lifetimes were alive in his head. No matter how much logic he used, Alec couldn't deny it.
Acknowledging it made Ira more adamant, if that were possible. His argument grew and prevailed. The man was certain Alec and Dani were doomed, and the only way to protect them was to uncover the enemies from the past in order to learn who they were now.
While he went on...and on, Alec scanned the volumes of memories dancing in his head. A pattern had emerged, but that was as far as it went. Any enemies of the past remained in the past. There was no one in this life that fit the mold.
"Ira, please." Alec was strangely calm. As if the centuries-old information gave him sage-like wisdom. "I know who they are. There was one in every life except Kourion and this one."
"Wrong. There was one in Kourion. Leta, friend and neighbor to Cassia, convinced Demetrius's family that Adia was a liar. There was one then. There is one now." He jabbed his index finger into the leather, punctuating each word.
All right. He could have a point. In Rome it was his assistant. In Germany it was the sister of the woman whose child had died. In London, that hateful landlady. But here? Alec frowned. No one he could readily pinpoint.
"What about Andrea?" Ira asked.
"No." Andrea had her problems, but she was far from being this ancient enemy Ira insisted on finding.
"Maybe you just can't recognize her."
Alec laughed. This was getting them nowhere. As interesting as this was, he had wasted enough time. "Maybe this person doesn't exist in this life."
Ira's shoulders sagged. If he had been Alec's mother in one life and, surprisingly, Dani's in another, Alec could appreciate his concern and desire to finally set things right.
Leaning forward, Alec put a hand on Ira's shoulder. "There is no enemy. Everything is fine. Dani and I have met. We are together. And if I have anything to say about it, we're going to be together for a very long time. Maybe the whole purpose of all of this, if there is a purpose, is not for us but for you."
"At least take your copy of the tapes with you. Maybe listening to them will help trigger something."
Alec scooped up the tapes. If that's all it took to end this discussion, he'd take ten copies.
There was a staccato rap at the door. The visitor didn't wait for a reply, but shoved it open.
"Why the hell is your beeper off?" Kevin snapped. "I've been looking all over the hospital for you."
Alec stood, tucking the cassettes in the pocket of his lab coat. "You didn't look very hard. I let everyone know where I would be. What's wrong?"
"Renee called. Dani's been arrested."
Alec's eyebrows slammed together. "For what?"
Kevin's gaze shifted to Ira.
"Tell me." Now. Before I lose what little control I have.
"She's been accused of sleeping with one of her students."
Alec's fingers tightened around the tapes, gouging indentations into his palm. "That's a goddamn lie."
"You don't have to convince me." Kevin jerked his head. "Convince them. She needs a lawyer. Apparently the family attorney passed away several months ago. I thought you could call- "
"I'll take care of it." Alec ducked behind the partition. His hands shook as he punched in Chuck La
uria's phone number. Ira was right. There was an enemy. One which had struck while Alec and Ira were playing a stupid little mind scavenger hunt trying to find him.
Destiny rearing its ugly head. Dani in trouble, needing him, and he wasn't there to help. But destiny was going to have a fight on its hands this time because Alec refused to let Dani down again.
* * *
Dani clutched the chipped mug between her hands, more for warmth than anything else. The coffee was the worst she had ever had. All the powdered cream and sugar couldn't disguise the taste.
This whole thing was like a scene from some horrible nightmare. Unfortunately, it was all too real. Dani wondered how long it would take for the shock to wear off. At some point she would have to summon the wherewithal to dig in and fight, not stare off into space. There had to be some place deep inside where betrayal didn't hurt so bad that she couldn't function.
She shivered and took a sip of the dreadful concoction. Why did they have to keep the room so cold? The jail cell was just as bad. At least her attorney was finally here, or so the police guard said. It had certainly taken Renee long enough to find him. Maybe he could get to the bottom of this more quickly and she could go home and crawl under the covers with Alec...if Alec were still part of her life.
Dani slumped in her chair. She didn't want to think about that now. It hurt too much, and she already had more than her share of woes to deal with at the moment.
The door swung open. She glanced up. Another detective, this one Hispanic, lean. There was a black leather portfolio tucked under his arm. Before the door could close behind him, he stepped forward, hand extended, smiling.
"I'm Chuck Lauria, your attorney. Alec Edwards hired me to represent you."
She should have realized his gray suit was too crisp and un-rumpled to be a police detective. Dani shook his hand slowly. "What happened to my parents' lawyer?"
"It's my understanding that he passed away several months ago."
And Alec to the rescue. That was a good sign that he hadn't deserted her...yet.
"Where is Alec? When can I see him?" Her voice quivered. Nothing like being on the edge of your emotions.
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