Traffic Stop (8 page)

“You know, I really wish this weekend didn’t have to end, Ryan.”

“I know. I’ll call you tomorrow, though, if that’s okay,” Ryan said.

“That’s more than okay. I look forward to it. Please drive carefully, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

They gravitated toward one another, slowly narrowing the distance between them. Ryan hesitated briefly, giving Tobi a chance to make the first move. The moment of time that passed felt like forever. Ryan wasn’t sure that Tobi was going to do anything until she felt Tobi’s lips connect with hers. Tobi’s hand slid up into her hair, pulling her closer. As Tobi brushed her lips, Ryan opened her mouth fully to deepen the kiss. Ryan’s hands caressed Tobi’s back and sides and pulled her even closer. Tobi’s hand moved between them and gently cupped Ryan’s breast making her nipples harden in response. Ryan fought hard to keep herself under control. All she wanted to do was give in to her need for Tobi, but now was not the time. She ended the kiss and rested her forehead against Tobi’s. Ryan leaned back, opened her eyes, and caressed Tobi’s cheek.

“Sweet dreams, Tobi.”

Tobi climbed out of the Jeep and glanced back. “Good night, Ryan.”

Ryan watched until Tobi’s front door closed completely and a light switched on before pulling away.
Good night, my sweet Tobi.

She could still taste Tobi on her lips and knew that sleep would be eluding her tonight. Ryan’s body was more than ready to proceed, but her head wouldn’t follow. She knew that Tobi was nothing like Stacey, but she couldn’t seem to keep that out of the back of her mind. Tobi seemingly understood because each time Ryan backed off, she never pushed for more. That wouldn’t stop the burning ache that kissing Tobi caused, though, and Ryan knew it was time for a shower—and a cold one at that.

yan usually looked forward to Mondays, but today she didn’t. She hadn’t wanted the weekend to end. The R time she spent with Tobi only made her want to spend more time with her.
How is it that after such a short time, she can
be so deeply ingrained in my system that I can’t imagine her not
being there?
It took everything she had not to call Tobi last night after they parted. She knew Tobi needed her sleep, as did Ryan.

Only one more hour until break, then she would give her a call.

Startled from her meandering thoughts by the abrupt halt of the police cruiser, Ryan looked over at Jake to see what the problem was before glancing out the front windshield. She barely caught the taillights of the car that had pulled out in front of them as it zipped over into the next lane and in front of another car.

Jake flipped the switch to initiate the lights and sirens. Ryan watched as he maneuvered them in behind the car. After a brief distance, the car pulled over to the side of the road. When Jake got out to approach the driver, Ryan picked up the radio to call in the license plate.

“Charlie Nine to Dispatch.”

“Dispatch, go ahead, Charlie Nine.”

Ryan gave the information and waited for a response. As Jake climbed back into the cruiser, he was grinning and shaking his head.

“What’s so funny?”

“Her,” he said, pointing to the car in front of them. “Do you believe she had the nerve to hold up her hand for me to wait because she was on her cell phone?”

Ryan shook her head in disgust, but before she could respond the radio crackled in response.

“Dispatch to Charlie Nine.”

“Charlie Nine, go ahead.”

“I’m showing a bench warrant on your party, Carsten, Tiffany A., date of birth five, ten of seventy-three, showing physical as white female, five-foot-two, red hair, brown eyes—break—”

“Go ahead.”

“Outstanding tickets with multiple fines.”

“Charlie Nine, copy.”

Ryan followed Jake out of the cruiser to take the driver into custody.

“Ma’am, I need you to step out of the car,” Jake said.

“Why?” the woman asked, defiantly.

“Just step out of the car and I’ll explain everything.”

The woman tossed her purse into the passenger seat and mumbled under her breath as she opened the car door.

“Now what is it that you want?” the woman asked, placing her hands on her hips. “I haven’t got all day to play your games.”

“Ma’am, I need you to turn around and place your hands on the hood of your car,” Jake responded.

“Excuse me? I don’t know who the fuck you think you’re dealing with, but I don’t have time for this.”

Jake reached out and grasped the woman’s arm as she attempted to get back into her car.

“Ma’am…” Jake started.

“Get your God damned hands off me, you filthy pig,” the woman screamed as she turned and slapped at Jake’s hands.

At this point, Ryan stepped in behind the woman in case Jake needed assistance.

“I’m going to ask you one more time, ma’am; shut up, turn around, and put your hands on the car.”

The woman became irate and started swinging her arms.

“Why you lousy mother—”

Ryan didn’t hear the rest of what was said for when the woman started her assault a flailing arm caught Ryan in the mouth, splitting her lip wide open.

“Son of a bitch,” Ryan gasped, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the ground.

Ryan and Jake reacted immediately by grabbing the woman’s arms to restrain her and take her to the ground. Ryan kept a knee in the woman’s back while Jake applied the cuffs. They lifted her to her feet and Jake led her to the cruiser while reading her rights.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say…,”

Jake’s voice trailed off as he put the woman inside the cruiser.

“Damn,” Ryan said, palpating her tender lip with the tips of her fingers.

Maybe I won’t get to call Tobi in an hour after all.
Ryan sighed and then fingered the mic to call a tow truck to transport the woman’s car to the impound lot.

Ryan sat on the desk and let Jake clean her split lip. She knew he was just biding his time to make some smart-ass comment.

“You know, Ryan, I don’t ever recall a little five-foot-nothing getting the better of you.”

“You know, Jake, I don’t ever recall you needing help with a five-foot-nothing.”

Laughing, Jake reached up and grasped her chin. “Now, hold still; this is probably going to sting a little.”

Ryan gritted her teeth against the sharp pain and waited for Jake to finish. By the time he stepped back, the pain had dulled to a steady burn.

“Damn, what did you do? Put salt in the wound?” Ryan whined.

“Stop being such a baby. It should quit hurting in just a bit,”

he teased. “So, wanna tell me what had you so preoccupied today?”

Ryan waited until he put the first aid supplies away and sat in front of her before responding. She knew she could trust Jake.

“I’m really enjoying this…this whole thing that Tobi and I have. I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s kind and compassionate; she’s funny and silly…most of all, she likes me for who I am.” Ryan stopped to take a breath and noticed that Jake was smiling affectionately.

“What?” she asked suspiciously.

“Nothing. It’s just really nice to see you this happy again. I can tell that Tobi means a lot to you. She met your mom this past weekend, didn’t she?”

“Yeah,” Ryan said with a crooked grin. “Mom absolutely loved her. Even Patrick and Morgan were taken with her. I think I’m falling in love with her, Jake, and it scares the hell out of me.”

Jake scooted forward in his chair and took Ryan’s hand in his.

“Don’t be afraid. Just go with it and be happy. You deserve it,” he said with a pat to her knee. “Now, let’s get that report done so we can get out of here.”

Ryan smiled at Jake. He always worried about her. When things were at their worst after Stacey left, he was the one who kicked her ass back into shape. He would not let her mope around.

He and Tim both made complete nuisances of themselves and let her know that they wouldn’t go away. They made Ryan top priority, and for that she would be eternally grateful.

It had been a grueling day so far, and to top things off, Tobi hadn’t heard from Ryan at all. She knew Ryan had a demanding job; she just missed hearing her voice. Tobi had enjoyed the weekend they spent together. She didn’t know what she had expected from Ryan’s family, but they were great. Ryan’s mother was so personable and friendly. From what she saw of Ryan and her brothers, Grace had to have been a saint to put up with them.

Laying her pen down, Tobi stood up and walked to the window.

She watched several leaves float past; the overcast skies made her realize that it wouldn’t be long before it turned really cold outside.

And now she had Ryan to keep her warm at night.
Where did that thought come from
?

Tobi was startled when the phone rang. She glanced at the clock and, realizing Marcy was already gone for the evening, stepped over to answer it. She hoped it was Ryan calling to make plans for the evening.

“Dr. Drexler.”

Silence.

“Hello, this is Dr. Drexler. May I help you?”

Tobi could hear breathing on the other end.

“Hello?” she said again.

Placing the phone back in the cradle, Tobi stood there with her hand still on the receiver.
That was odd
. Tobi hoped that it wasn’t an emergency. She gave a startled yelp when the phone rang again. She picked it up and raised it to her ear.

“Dr. Drexler,” Tobi said cautiously.

More silence.

“This is Dr. Drexler speaking. Who is this?”

Again…nothing.

“I’m going to hang up if you are not going to talk.” Waiting a full ten seconds, she made good on her threat. Before she had time to think about anything else, the phone rang again.

“Dr. Drexler!” she said, exasperated.

“Tobi?”

“Ryan,” Tobi said, relieved.

“What’s wrong?” Ryan asked, immediately alert.

“It’s nothing really. I just had a couple of phone calls that threw me off.”

“What do you mean? Threw you off how?”

“When I answered the phone, nobody said anything. I could hear someone breathing, but even when I threatened to hang up, they didn’t say anything.”

“Do you ever get accidental phone calls, being in the hospital and all, where people hang up without saying anything?”

“That does happen, but this person didn’t hang up. It was almost like he or she was playing some kind of game with me.”

Ryan was silent for a minute before saying anything.

“I’m off duty in about ten minutes. Why don’t you wait there and I’ll come get you? We can go get something to eat for dinner if you’d like.”

“You don’t have to do that, but I would like to see you, if you’re sure you don’t mind. Dinner sounds like a great idea.”

“I’m positive. I’ll see you in about twenty-five minutes, okay?”

“Okay.”

After Ryan hung up, she sat quietly for a few minutes. The cop in Ryan wondered if these calls to Tobi were just random or if there was something behind them. Placing the report she had just finished in its folder, Ryan stood up and grabbed her jacket. She placed the folder in the “finished” wire rack, and with a wave to Jake, headed out the door. Truman University Medical Center was not that far, but all the stoplights made it seem farther. The only thought in her head was to get to Tobi and make sure she was okay.

Being a little protective, aren’t we?

You again!

You say that like it’s a bad thing.

What do you want?

Just thought I would point out that you are being protective.

And?

And—just that it’s been awhile since you’ve felt this way about anyone.

Your point is?

My point is that you’ve already made a commitment to the relationship and Tobi.

I didn’t make a commitment!

Didn’t you? You’re taking chances and giving things of yourself that you never thought you’d do again.

I don’t have time for this; I need to get to Tobi.

Ryan scrambled out of the Jeep and made her way into the hospital and up to Tobi’s office. She knocked on the door and jumped in surprise when it was yanked open and her arms were filled with a trembling woman.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Ryan wrapped her arms around Tobi and walked them over to the couch in her office. Once seated, Tobi leaned back and took a deep breath before looking at Ryan.

“Right after we hung up, the phone rang again.”

“The silent caller?”

“Yes, but this time, he talked.”

Seeing her visibly shiver, Ryan pulled Tobi back into her arms before nudging her to continue. “Go on.”

“He said, ‘I know who you are, and very soon, you will know who I am,’” she said with a catch in her voice.

“Did you recognize his voice?”

“No.”

“By your reaction, I take it that he didn’t sound like a secret admirer.”

“His voice was threatening. He sounded very angry.”

“We should report this.”

“Report it to whom? Report what? Don’t you see, Ryan, he’s done nothing yet that would require any kind of response.”

“I know,” Ryan replied, blowing out a breath of frustration. “I know. It’s just…I just wasn’t thinking there for a second. Sorry.”

“Don’t be, I understand.”

Ryan could hear the fear in her voice. She knew Tobi was right, but she couldn’t just stand by and not do anything. Before Ryan had a chance to think about what she was saying, she blurted out what was on her mind.

“I’ll stay with you. Until we figure out what’s going on, I’ll stay at your house, and I can drive you to work.”

“Ryan, I can’t ask you to do that. We have no idea if this is really a threat or if anything will even happen. He just shook me up.”

“You’re not asking me to do it, and I’m not willing to chance that it’s not a real threat.” Ryan softened her tone before continuing. “Hey, I’ve just found you; I can’t pretend that I don’t have feelings for you, and I’d be lost if something happened to you,” she pleaded, hoping Tobi would understand.

Leaning back in Ryan’s arms, Tobi looked into her eyes and knew that the words she had just spoken came straight from her heart. Knowing how much Ryan cared for her brought tears to her eyes. Tobi stood up and placed her hands on Ryan’s shoulders.