Page 68 of Healed Heart

The man walks past me, stands at the foot of Ralph’s bed.“Mr.Normandy, I need to speak with you privately.”

Saved by the bell.

“Fine by me.”I grab my coat and head out the door.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Jason

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on my door.

I look through the peephole.

Two uniformed police officers stand there.

Fuck.

Now what?

I open the door.“Can I help you, officers?”

“Dr.Jason Lansing?”one of them asks.

“That’s me.What can I do for you?”

“I’m Officer Graystone, and this is Officer Maravilla.Could you turn around, please?”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re under arrest, sir, for the assault and battery of Ralph Normandy.”

I gape at the two officers.This must be some sick joke.“What?That’s ridiculous!I’ve never touched the man.”

Officer Maravilla produces a pair of handcuffs.“Save it for your lawyer, Dr.Lansing.Turn around, please.”

Before I can protest further, he takes my arm and twists it behind my back.The cold steel of the handcuffs clinks as the officer fastens them around my wrists.

“You have the right to remain silent,” Officer Graystone begins to recite in a monotonous tone.“Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…”

His words blend into a dull noise in the background as my mind reels from the shock of what’s happening.Arrested?For assaulting Ralph Normandy?

They have no evidence besides his word.They can’t?—

Suddenly an image of Angie flashes into my mind, her face filled with confusion and hurt at Ralph’s unfounded accusations.

“He’s lying,” I blurt out, interrupting Officer Graystone midway through his Miranda recitation.

“That’s not for us to decide,” Officer Maravilla says, his voice devoid of emotion.“You’ll have your chance to speak at trial.”

“But I didn’t do anything!”I insist, my voice breaking slightly with the strain of trying to keep calm.

Officer Graystone finishes with my rights and looks at me.“Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?”

“Yes, but?—”

“Nobuts, Doctor,” Officer Maravilla cuts in.“We’re just doing our job.You’ll have your day in court.”

With that, they guide me out of my townhome and toward their patrol car parked nearby.The back seat feels cold and bleak as they push me inside and close the door behind me.