Deadly Chase - Chapter 8
“Iwent into the medical locker to get what I needed for the shots,” Tashya repeated, voice shaky.
She sat in a chair opposite them, arms wrapped around herself defensively, the rich color of her brown skin slightly sallow from her worry.
Miriam gestured to the journal. “This is your handwriting?”
Tashya glanced at the page and nodded. “Yes, that’s me. That’s the last time I was in the locker.”
“And that was when?” Alex asked, trying to trap her in a lie since she was the most likely suspect in his book.
“Macon brought in the puppies about two weeks ago. That’s when I did the shots. The journal says that,” Tashya said, and jabbed a finger on the entry.
“Macon? Who’s Macon?” Alex pressed, wondering if he had broken into the locker after Tashya.
“Lieutenant Macon Ridley,” Miriam explained. “He’s a new hire with Jasper PD. He and his partner found the puppies and took them over to the DCA for care.”
Great, a fellow cop, Alex thought. Not that cops couldn’t be dirty.
“You gave the puppies the shots. It was on a weekend, right?” Alex asked.
“I’m only home on weekends,” Tashya said and peered at Miriam. “You know my schedule. I come home so I can spend time with Jason.”
Alex likewise looked at Miriam who once again explained. “Jason Wright. He joined the force a few weeks ago. Jason and Tashya have been dating for years.”
“I come home every weekend unless I have a big test. I had one last weekend. My roommate in Boise can confirm that,” Tashya advised.
“We will check.” That didn’t clear the vet tech trainee because the drugs had likely been dropped off before last weekend.
Tashya’s color faded even more. “Please don’t ask my professors. This could affect my schooling and licenses.”
“We have to investigate—” Alex began but Miriam cut him off.
“We will be careful. We understand how this could impact your career.”
“Can I go now?” Tashya asked, her gaze shifting nervously between them.
“You can, but please check with us before returning to Boise,” Alex said.
With that, Tashya bolted from the room and out to the hallway where Emma and Piper sat, patiently waiting. The three women embraced and walked out of the station together as Alex, Miriam and Lily exited the interrogation area.
As they did so, another officer approached. He was about six foot two with a muscular build, short black hair and hazel-green eyes.
“This is Officer Dillon Diaz. He responded to our 10-78. Dillon, this is DEA Agent Alex Peterson,” Miriam said.
“Officer Diaz. Thanks for the backup this afternoon,” Alex said and shook the other man’s hand.
“Anytime. I only wish we could have found the Jeep, but it was long gone. I’m prepping a list of red Jeeps in the area. Hopefully that will give us a lead,” Dillon said and jerked his head in the direction of where a young officer sat at his desk. “Jason is worried about Tashya.”
“We have to investigate every possibility,” Alex reminded.
Dillon nodded. “I understand. But Tashya and Jason are our own.”
“I know, Officer Diaz. We will be careful,” Alex said.
With a dip of his head, Diaz sauntered away just as the desk officer called out, “Officer Reyes. Mr. Lopez is here to see you.”