Swimming in Sparkles

by Debra Anastasia

  I love you, Ruff.

  I felt a sob coming to me but powered through it. Ruffian. I had to choose what to believe now. That he was setting us all up this whole time to rob Meg, or that he really loved me.

  And then I realized my decision only hinged on whether or not I loved him.

  And I did.

  I put his mother’s note back into the tin and closed it. All the evidence of his plans I took with me. In the living room I grabbed the firestick and jammed the papers into the fireplace. I lit the wad up from every crinkle I could find. I wanted to burn it all. They may have him, but I had this and I could make it go away.

  When the papers were mere ashes, I used the little fireplace broom to clean up the remnants. I took the pile of ashes into the bathroom and flushed it down the toilet.

  As soon as I walked out of the bathroom, there was a knock on the door. It was two police officers with a warrant to search our house. Dad held Rocket and I watched as Tiger hid in Gaze and Pixie’s room.

  I prayed I had gotten it all. It was so important.

  I slumped against Austin who had come to find me as the police walked through our house.

  “Teddi, let’s go. Let’s go to my place and let Mom and Dad deal with this. There’s nothing we can do right now.”

  “Gaze?” I realized I hadn’t seen him yet.

  “He and Pixie went straight to the police station.” Austin grabbed Rocket’s leash and took her from Dad. “I’m going to take Teddi and the dog. Call us when you need us to come back.”

  Dad grabbed Austin’s shoulders. “Great idea. Thank you.”

  I looked toward my room. “Do I need to go get—”

  Austin shook his head. “You have your phone?”

  I nodded.

  “I have a charger and plenty of things for you to wear. Just come. Let’s get the hell out of here.” Austin handed me the dog leash and carried a squirming Rocket. “Grab your jacket.”

  I snagged my down jacket from the closet and walked past the cop car in the driveway. After I got in, Austin put Rocket on my lap. She was settled down as soon as Austin was in the driver’s seat. I moved the window down a few inches so Rocket could sniff the air. She stilled in my arms and did the super sniffing she loved.

  Austin set his own phone in the center console and petted Rocket and then rubbed my shoulder. “It’ll be okay, Bear.”

  I wanted to offer him a smile, but I wasn’t sure if he was right. Meg’s crap had been stolen, and I knew Ruffian had an elaborate plan to steal it. The real question was why?

  I immediately pictured Lucas and Grandma/Mom and Rufus. Shit. If I were Ruffian, I would sell that crap and give the money to his community.

  I rested my head against the headrest. It was quite possible that Ruffian was going to jail for a long, long time.

  Chapter 45

  RUFFIAN

  WHEN I WAS allowed to see my brother, it was on a technicality. No one actually knew how old I was because I didn’t have a driver’s license or a birth certificate. So they could assume I was a minor, and that allowed me the opportunity to speak with my legal guardian.

  Gaze stood when I came into the room. I didn’t have to wear the handcuffs at the table with him, so the officer took them off of me.

  I stood awkwardly in front of Gaze before he grabbed me in a hug. Our first hug. Ironic timing.

  “Hug a thug, huh?” I tried to go with a joke, even though nothing about this situation felt like one.

  “Are you okay?” Gaze pushed me toward the chair and he sat on the other side.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. They’ve been super professional about it.” It gave me pause, how I was dealt with coming from the Burathons’ home to how I was dealt with in the forest. So, so different.

  “Okay. Did you answer any questions?” He held the back of his neck and looked stressed.

  “Nothing that I couldn’t tell them. Like address and stuff. But I didn’t answer anything else about anything.” I knew the temperature. Hell, this wasn’t my first arrest.

  “I’m sorry.” Gaze looked me dead in the eyes. “I should’ve stayed back with you instead of going to college. I’m sorry.”

  I felt my eyebrows furrow. “Listen, man, nothing you did or didn’t do had anything to do with this. I was careful not to admit to anything. My goal was met. Now, I had to give all my people time to spend the money I gave them, so they would be clean. Man. This has been awesome. This family. It was so much more than I thought it would be. No guilt, just thanks.” I wasn’t going to let him hammer himself to a cross for my crimes.

  He shook his head. “Ronna and Mike are getting you a good lawyer. Don’t say shit to anyone until you’ve spoken to them.”

  I hadn’t thought about that cost. I assumed I would be written off. “Tell them thank you, but no. I’ll go with the public defender. I’m not trying to be a burden.”

  I watched my big brother take a few deep breaths. “I’m your guardian, and Ronna, Mike, and I have to decide what’s best for your future. You’re getting a lawyer, and that’s it. I have some resources; it won’t be all on them. But know this—they’d mortgage their house to take care of you. It’s who they are.”

  And then I heard the anger. That I’d put this family in this position. And I couldn’t blame him. I hadn’t taken that into account. That the Burathons would throw their support behind me. I’d left enough evidence in my room that it shouldn’t take much to convict me. My mom’s letter at the bottom of the tin was my way of dedicating it to her.

  “They are keeping you here until the arraignment. We’re going to try to get bail going, too. Just don’t say anything to anyone, you hear me?” He stood, and soon enough I realized why the cop was back in the room to take me to my cell.

  “Did Teddi say anything?” I wanted to kick myself. I was planning on letting her go. Not asking. Being stoic. This was not a great look for those plans.

  “Uh, no. She went to Austin’s.” He jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

  “What about Betty?” I felt the handcuffs go on but kept my attention on Gaze.

  “She’s good. Though the thing was a part of her special night.” He waved half-heartedly as I was escorted away.

  It was good that Teddi was with Austin. And it was good that Betty’s special night was not ruined. That’s what I had to focus on now. Not Teddi’s lips. Not the nothingness of my future. I said a prayer to my mom, asking her to let me know that she had seen her memorial. To take care of those people affected.

  My bed in the cell was even less comfortable than the floor at the Burathons’ house. It took me a long time to close my eyes.

  TEDDI

  I WAS CURLED up on Austin’s couch in one of his t-shirts and an old pair of sweats. He handed me my coffee as my phone charged in my other hand.

  He reached for my phone. “How about you take a break?”

  He set my phone screenside down on the arm of the couch. “She’s not going to change what she’s saying.”

  He was probably right. Meg had been making stories on social media like it was her only purpose in life. The fact their jewelry and a few pieces of art had been taken and she acted like they had nothing else in the world.

  I was able to snag screenshots of pictures of the things that she claimed were missing. A diamond necklace that her mom wore at her wedding, that was supposed to be Meg’s when she got married and seemed to be the thing she was most fixated on. I’d blocked her from my phone, but her media was public, so I could peep on her.

  Austin picked up his phone as it rang. I watched him while drinking my sweet coffee.

  “Okay. I hear that. Yes. She’ll be here and I’ll have her go to school from here on Monday. She’s relaxing. Yes. Okay. Love you guys, too. Rocket’s doing fine. Love you.” He ended the call and came to sit next to Rocket and me on the couch.

  “Well, Mom and Dad are meeting with the lawyer and going over what they can do tomorrow. They asked that you stay with me. I think we c
an pull an outfit for you out of my closet.” Normally, I would be excited to get to pick through Austin’s eclectic wardrobe, but I felt like I was pushing my brain through quicksand.

  “You don’t have to drive me. I’ll have Taylor and Peaches take me.” I set my coffee down, suddenly thinking. Meg hated that her things were missing, and I had memorized the name of the pawn shop that was on Ruffian’s paperwork.

  “What are you thinking about?” Austin sounded suspicious. “When you were little and had that look in your eye, you would be trying to jump into the pool from the roof.”

  I allowed a small smile. All I needed was direction, and I could be headstrong. Like a dog with a bone. Or in Rocket’s case, a cocker spaniel with a loaf of bread. Determined and slightly irrational. But if there was a way to help Ruffian, I would take it. I loved him, and I didn’t know how to not do everything I could cook up to help him. No matter how unlikely.

  I grabbed my phone and worked out the pick up with Taylor and Peaches on Monday. I would look amazing via Austin’s dream closet and I would have my girls to help.

  How scary could a pawn shop be, anyway?

  Austin and I watched some of my favorite YouTube channels. I was sitting with him, but my mind was dreaming up some new plans.

  Chapter 46

  TEDDI

  TAYLOR WAS DRIVING slowly as the GPS gave us her directions. Peaches looked spooked and that was rare. There was something about this part of town that just seemed more dangerous.

  We’d skipped school and I sent my parents a text message that it was Senior Skip Day. It was too early in the year for all of that, but they seemed preoccupied. I was betting they were not paying too much attention.

  We finally saw it—Four Brothers Pawn Shop. Taylor pulled into a parking spot that required us to read two signs screwed together to understand that we were good to park on a Monday morning.

  Peaches had wide eyes. Taylor put the car into park and gave me a look like she was really thinking this was a bad idea. I hadn’t explained to them exactly what I planned to do, mostly because I didn’t want to hear this dumb plan come out of my mouth. But I’d thought of it, so now I had to try it. I didn’t want any regrets, and if I was right, time was of the essence.

  I nodded at my two girlfriends. “I want you guys to stay here, okay? I’ll text you if anything goes wrong.”

  I got out of the car. Taylor and Peaches got out on Taylor’s side. “Sorry. We’re coming with. Never leave a woman behind.”

  I gave them a glare. This wasn’t what I wanted to do, but I appreciated that if the situation were reversed, I’d insist on coming with them as well.

  The bell on the dingy door rang loudly as we entered. A woman came around the counter with a cigarette dangling from her lips. “Cheerleaders here first thing in the morning? This’ll be a great week.” She took a long pull on her drug.

  I cleared my throat and walked through the smoke cloud. I pulled out my phone and brought the pictures of Meg’s jewelry cropped in the photo. “You have anything here that looks like this?”

  I flipped through the pictures twice before she asked, “Who’s asking?”

  “Me?” I slipped the phone into my pocket and waited to see what was next. The pawn shop was packed with stuff, so hunting down these particular pieces would take more time than I had. And I also didn’t have the cash to buy them anyway.

  “Yeah. Well, that’s not good enough. Goodbye, ladies.” She turned around as if she was going to leave.

  I launched a threat at her. “You can either show me the stuff or show the cops. Either way, you’re going to spend some time talking about this stuff today.”

  I felt Taylor touch my elbow. She was with me. Right behind me. Peaches was close to the door with her arms crossed. I could see her in the mirror behind the counter.

  The lady took two long puffs before she flicked the ashes onto the floor. She made a motion as if she was stubbing out a fire in the old carpet.

  “I’ll get the boss man, but he won’t like getting up this early. And he won’t like you.” She pointed at me with her pinkie, her cigarette lying on her knuckles like a laser pointer.

  “I think I won’t like him either. But at this point, it’s happening.” I titled my head and gave her my most stubborn stare. I prefered to get my way with professionalism and determination, but I wasn’t opposed to pressing my luck, too.

  “Fine. Make yourselves comfortable.” She disappeared behind the counter and down a small hallway.

  Peaches came closer. “How are we going to make ourselves comfortable? This place smells like a truck stop and there are no chairs.”

  We killed time. So much time I was getting concerned that maybe Smoky Lady had called the cops on us instead, but eventually we heard a car door slam.

  A tall, hot guy in a tight shirt and pair of jeans popped his head into the showroom.

  “You. You’re the one making threats?” He wasn’t as tall as Ruffian, but he had a sharp jaw and movie star good looks. It was his eyes that told me he was up to no good.

  “Possibly. Who are you?” I folded my arms in front of me and tried to front like I was much braver than I felt.

  He shook his head. “I’m Sherlock. And you are in the wrong damn part of town, Tinker Bell.”

  He held up a part of the counter. “Come on back.”

  Taylor and Peaches stepped up with me and Sherlock held up his hand. “Ladies, you have to stay here. It’s a small room. You have my word that she will be fine.”

  He seemed older when he made that promise, and my gut trusted him a little. I smiled at them.

  “This won’t take long.”

  I had no idea how long this was going to take. Or how this giant guy was going to take to being told that I wanted to make demands with no leverage at all.

  He sat on one side of the messy desk and I sat on the other. I pulled out my phone to show him the pictures I had shown Smoky Lady.

  “You’re good. I know what you’re here for. I’m assuming you know Ruffian?”

  I met his eyes. “I love him and he’s in a lot of trouble.”

  “He was caught?” He lifted an eyebrow,

  I had to be honest with this man. Maybe more honest than I’d been with anyone else since Ruff was arrested.

  I pulled the tin out of my backpack. I popped it open and handed him Ruffian’s mother’s letter.

  “This is what he was trying to do. To give to the community they had worked together to help.” I watched as his eyes tracked over the words. He set the letter down on his desk reverently. Like it was so much more important than the advertisement on the opposite side.

  He tapped his fingers next to it before blowing his air out. “Okay. Listen. This is not something I can handle on my own. I have to call my bosses. This is dealing with a lot of money. A lot.”

  “I’m aware.” I wasn’t actually aware of how much it was all worth. Meg was whining about millions on her stories, but she liked to exaggerate. But if it was in the millions? Ruffian was likely doomed.

  Sherlock had his cell phone by his ear. “Yeah. It’s me. You guys around? I got a problem. No, not that kind of problem. A teenage girl is here. And she’s got issues. Okay. Yes, I know, you’ll kick my ass if it’s a waste of time.”

  “Why don’t you go talk to your friends until they get here? Those girls are going to have to get out of the store before my bosses are here. They don’t want a ton of people knowing who they are.”

  My gut instinct was churning. This was likely how a horror movie started. “Okay. But good luck with that. We don’t leave each other.”

  I met the girls and told them in a harsh whisper that I had to meet with a few more people. Taylor grabbed my wrist. “Teddi? What are you trying to do? Go to jail with Ruffian?”

  Sherlock was back. “Okay, girl. Here comes your shot.”

  I turned and went back. As I walked into the office, a huge man filled the doorway with a blinding white smile. “Shit, Lock. This little da
mn thing has you dragging us down here?”

  He was beautiful as well, and jovial in a way that elevated the whole space he was in. He held out his massive hand. “Havoc.” I shook his hand and despite his size, he was very gentle with my hand. “And this is Mercy.”

  He released my hand and the man behind him was buried deep in a dark gray hoodie. He didn’t extend his hand, so I took mine back.

  We were all standing, so I took Ruffian’s note from the desk and passed it to Havoc first.

  “This is the last note from Ruffian’s mom. They were best friends. And they took care of a homeless community down in Midiville. He was broken when she died. And I think he stole a huge amount of stuff to try to help this community. I think he knew he was going to get caught because he refused to run. I think he wants the punishment because he thinks he should pay for it. I don’t think he should. And I know it’s wrong to steal, but when you meet his friends... the families he helps, you can’t do anything but get mad at society for letting people down so thoroughly.”

  Havoc passed the note to Mercy. His hands were covered in skeleton tattoos and I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. He was an extreme person, Mercy. He folded the note after reading it and passed it to me. After I put it back into my backpack, Mercy removed his hood.

  It took a second for me to realize that his face was completely tattooed as a skull. I didn’t react. Working with the families I dealt with, sometimes my clients had things happen to their appearance that they were sensitive to. I had practice ignoring things that might put other people off.

  His smile went up slightly on one side. “He was caught.”