Page 28 of Tough Justice

“Up north. I met a guy in a supermarket parking lot.”

“And what did you go there to buy?”

“Heroin. But the guy said this was better. He said it was supercharged heroin and that it was such good stuff I’d be back for more.”

“You said ‘up north,’” he repeated. “Where up north exactly?”

“Loveland. At that new shopping center off Garfield Avenue. Behind the big bakery.”

“I know it.” He nodded. “How did you know where to go?”

“Everyone knows this guy’s there on Friday nights after nine o’clock, as soon as it’s dark out.”

“What’s his name?”

“I think his name is Jack. I don’t know for sure, and I didn’t really care at the time.”

“What did he look like?”

Leslie gave a sketchy description that didn’t match the ones Alonzo Jones had given Deck. Maybe it was an independent dealer. Either way, Tori wondered if this would be enough to get another warrant.

“What kind of vehicle does Jack drive?”

“A pickup.”

“What color?”

Leslie shrugged. “I don’t know. Like I said, it was dark out.”

“Was there anyone else with Jack?”

“Yeah. A couple other guys collecting the money.”

“Can you describe them?”

Again, Deck took notes as Leslie gave descriptions of two men who sounded like they could be anyone walking on the streets of Denver.

“All right, then,” he said after a few more minutes of Q&A. “One last question. Are you planning on going to rehab?”

Leslie’s eyes filled quickly. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I want to, but I tried it before, and it didn’t work.”

Deck took the young woman’s hand. “You do have what it takes to get through rehab. You have to want it badly enough.”

“I know. That’s what they told me.” Her shoulders began shaking. “But I don’t think I can do it, and I have no one to help me.”

Deck sat on the side of the bed and took Leslie in his arms, rocking her gently while she cried.

Wow. First Amy, then Dylan, and now…big tough federal agent going all soft and mushy. This guy is amazing.

Leslie curled her fingers into Deck’s shirt, clutching him tightly before he pulled away. He grabbed a tissue from the table next to the bed, dabbing it at the tears still rolling down her cheeks.

The way he held Leslie had Tori wondering what it would be like to be held by this man. Really held, with his big arms wrapped tightly around her.

Oh, for heaven’s sake. She blinked and gave herself a mental smack. What am I doing? Her cranium was going bonkers today.

On the rare occasions that she actually did date, the men she went out with were accountants or doctors or investment bankers. They all had safe, unexciting jobs, and that was the way she wanted it. Going out with a wild, thrill-seeking DEA agent…not gonna happen. The only thing going on between them—now or ever—was that he needed her help, and something inside her wanted to help him. Well, not him, precisely.

He stood and tugged two business cards from his thigh pocket, handing them to Leslie. “Here’s my business card and a card for the best rehab center I know. They specialize in people your age, and they’re good at it. Trust me.”