by Mary Abshire
The gal in shorts rushed toward Emily with both her hands up as if she intended to choke her. Emily dropped to a squatting position and then threw to punches to the gal’s gut, hitting her diaphragm. The gal bent over in pain. Emily rose and brought her knee up. She smashed it into the woman’s face. The woman screamed in pain. Blood dripped onto the floor and on Emily’s leg. The woman backed up to the bench and fell on the drug addict’s lap. The drug-head wiggled free and scooted to the side, forcing the other ladies to move over too.
“Fuckin’ bitch,” corn roll said before she swung at Emily.
Emily blocked the shot with her arm again and then used her other hand to hit corn roll in the eye.
Corn roll took a step back and shook her head. “Bitch.”
She threw her other fist straight toward Emily’s face. Emily veered to the side this time. Corn roll missed her again. Emily quickly thrust her balled hand into corn roll’s ribs. The woman groaned and wrapped her arms over her injured area. More ladies from the benches yelled their support for Emily.
“Bitch, don’t be messin’ with my friends,” the black woman with red tights sitting on the floor said as she stood.
Before she could make a move, Emily shot her fist at the gal’s face. And to make sure the woman didn’t try to come at Emily again, Emily quickly hit her in the same place. Stunned, the black female covered her face.
A loud clatter outside the cell silenced everyone. Terri grabbed Emily’s forearm and tugged her down. Emily fell lopsided on the floor. Four guards appeared near the bars as Terri put her arm around Emily. She pulled Emily close to her.
“Nobody move,” one of the male cops said.
Two of them came rushing in.
“They were fighting,” Terri said, pointing at the black woman in shorts who was bent over, struggling to breathe.
“She started it,” the black prostitute with long legs said from the right side of the bench. She pointed at corn roll.
“You’re lyin’, you fuckin’ bitch,” corn roll said, standing in the middle of the cell. She still held her arms over her ribs.
“That’s enough,” the cop said, standing outside the barred door.
Knuckles throbbing, Emily moved her hand underneath her thigh to hide the evidence of her involvement.
The cops looked around the room as if they were looking for clues.
“Is that blood on your leg?” the tall male officer closest to her asked.
“Yes, she dripped on me,” Emily said.
“Let’s get them out of here. We can come back to get her cleaned up,” the cop near corn roll said.
“You two,” the tall officer said as he pointed. “Let’s go. Now.”
“We didn’t do nothin’,” the gal in red pants said.
“Of course not,” the cop said as he grabbed her arm. He urged her toward the exit. “You too,” he said to corn roll.
The shorter cop reached for the gal in shorts sitting on the bench. She jerked her arm free as she stood. “Don’t fucking touch me, you pig.”
She got up on her own accord. Her steps were slow as she walked toward the exit.
The female guard shut the door once the three newbies had left. “Keep it down unless you want more charges brought up against you.” She secured the lock.
The silence in the room lingered after they’d all walked away. The gals on the left bench shifted to allow the new gal to sit at the end near the bars. Several of ladies in the room glanced at Emily, but nobody said anything to her. The black prostitute gave Emily a single nod.
Emily stretched out her legs as she straightened. Terri removed her arm from around her. Emily looked at her sore hand. Her red knuckles would swell. She’d have to keep her hand hidden from the guards.
“You kicked ass,” Terri said. “That was incredible.”
“I think I ripped my dress in the back.”
“Let me see,” Terri said.
Emily twisted to the opposite side.
“Oh yeah, it’s torn,” Terri said. “It’s the lower part.”
“Damn. I liked this outfit.”
“They were nothing but trouble.”
“Yeah, that was obvious,” Emily said. “I think the blonde had a thing for you.”
“I get that a lot. Thanks for defending me.”
“You look out for me. I look out for you. That’s how trust works.”
Troy had taught her the same when they were little. She kept watch for him, and he did the same for her. It didn’t take long for their friendship to grow into one built on respect and trust.
“You’re an okay gal,” Terri said.
“Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll be awake for a while.”
Terri brought up her legs. “I’m going to miss you once they split us up.” She leaned forward, placing her arms on her knees and her head on her forearm.
Emily rubbed Terri’s back. “Get some sleep.”
The rush from the excitement hadn’t calmed within Emily. She wished she knew the time. Since most of the women were leaning against each other, she suspected it was either late at night or early in the morning. Either way, she still had another day to spend in lockup. She sighed heavily and hoped her last day in jail would be better than her first.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Andrew bobbled his knee as he sat on the train, waiting to reach his stop. Nervous energy consumed him. He hadn’t slept much since Emily’s arrest, maybe four hours in total. He’d tried to burn off his nervousness by running more miles and doing more exercises in the apartment. It had also helped him kill time yesterday. But his efforts to relieve his anxiety were falling short big time. The early morning ten-mile jog had resulted in an increase in his appetite, which then encouraged him to run more miles. Nothing helped reduce his unease. Frustrated and anxious, he walked a few miles before getting on the subway. He had to meet the demon in less than a half hour and he couldn’t stop fidgeting.
He rubbed the side of his face and felt a slight twinge. His eye and cheek were still sore from Troy’s hit on Saturday. Andrew had bought some frozen peas to help reduce the swelling. Although discolored, his eye looked better than it had thirty-six hours ago.
Andrew didn’t know what to think of Troy anymore. He hadn’t stopped for a visit nor had he called yesterday. After their meeting Saturday, Andrew hadn’t been surprised by Troy’s avoidance of him. Andrew had stood his ground and he wouldn’t budge. He cared for Emily and wanted to work with her. No amount of money would convince him to leave. Andrew wondered if Troy had realized this and had decided not to bother trying to persuade him. If that weren’t the case, maybe Troy was conjuring other plans to get rid of Andrew. From now on, he’d have to be careful and very alert around Troy.
The train pulled into the station. Men and women dressed in business attire headed for the doors. Andrew rose and followed them to exit.
The mass of bodies disbursed as Andrew reached the top of the stairs to the world above the subway. The sun shined and not a single cloud appeared in the sky, not that he could see much of it from the tall buildings. The sixty-degree temperature kept him cool. He felt comfortable in his long-sleeved gray shirt and jeans, but come the late afternoon with the warmer climate, he’d likely sweat.
He slid his hands into his front pockets as he walked along the sidewalk. He’d placed Emily’s cell phone and cashier’s check in one, the poison in the other. Andrew had no idea how he would distract the demon long enough to pour the liquid into his drink, if he even had a drink. The unknowns of his task complicated it and fueled his anxiety. One way or another he had to kill Michael Lazzari.
After a short walk from the subway, Andrew reached the building. He swung the glass door open and strolled inside past the security guards. Customers formed a long line leading out of the café. Andrew paused, considering if he should join those waiting to buy a cup of java. He withdrew his cell and checked the time. The screen lit up and revealed he had fifteen minutes to spare. He guessed the wait for
coffee would take at least that long. He couldn’t risk missing his meeting. Slipping the phone back into his pocket, he headed for the elevators.
Andrew and several others waited a few minutes before an elevator arrived. Businessmen and women exited, but more stepped into the elevator. The ride up took several minutes as it stopped multiple times to let people off. By the time he reached the floor for the lawyer, Andrew had ten minutes left. He would’ve never arrived on time for his meeting if he’d chosen to wait for coffee downstairs.
He entered the office and stopped at the receptionist desk. The gal met his gaze with a smile. “I have a meeting with Mr. Lazzari at ten.”
“Your name?” she asked.
“Spencer Reynolds.”
“Have a seat and I’ll let him know you’re here.” She lifted the receiver of the phone on her desk.
Three men and four women sat in the waiting area. Not a single one of them had a soft white aura. Most were watching the television in the corner. One held a magazine in front of him. Andrew took a seat in one of the chairs facing the door to the offices. He bobbled his knee within seconds.
Laughter from the TV stole Andrew’s attention. An early morning talk show with a man and two women played. They each sat in cushioned chairs. The woman with long blonde hair chuckled as she responded to the other two asking her questions. Andrew guessed she was a celebrity. She wore a flowery dress and had a cute face and figure. Before a commercial appeared, a video clip featured the blonde singing a country song. She had a nice voice, but the country music made Andrew turn away. Tunes from the 1980s would always be his favorite.
Andrew looked at the people in the room again. Each one had a slightly different colored aura, except the receptionist. When he’d been watching the television, he hadn’t seen any auras. He recalled other times he’d watched TV and again, he hadn’t seen auras. Andrew suspected the only way he could see them was in person. Funny how he’d never noticed before.
The door to the offices clicked before it opened. The demon emerged wearing a blue-stripped suit with a white button-down shirt underneath his blazer. Andrew shot up from his seat. His pulse jumped too.
“Spencer, how are you?” the demon asked as Andrew drew closer to him.
“I’ve been better.”
“Let’s go to my office and talk.”
Andrew followed Mr. Lazzari down the hall. The office buzzed with activity. Phones rang. People traveled between cubicles. Voices mixed into others. Andrew presumed the business was typical for a Monday morning.
“Have a seat,” the demon said as Andrew stepped into his office. The demon shut the door behind Andrew.
Andrew sat in one of the chairs facing the demon’s desk. Several files had been stacked in top right corner. An open folder lay in the middle. Emily, or rather Carrie’s photo had been clipped on one side. A phone, computer, and printer sat on the left side of his desk. A container full of pens was within reach. But the demon didn’t have any cups on his desk.
“I was able to access Carrie’s record this morning. Her arraignment has been scheduled for three this afternoon,” the demon said as he walked around his desk to get to his chair.
“I have the cashier’s check.” Andrew dug into his pocket. “Do you want to get some coffee before we start discussing her case?”
The demon sat in his leather chair. “Oh, no thank you. I had some on my way into work.”
Defeat weighed a ton on Andrew’s mind. There was no way he could poison the demon now. He set the check on the demon’s desk.
“Are you prepared to pay for her bail bond this afternoon?” the demon asked.
“I have access to her funds, so I can get more money.”
“I’m not sure how much her bond will be. A lot will depend on the judge’s mood. Since she has the pending charges in Florida and now these new ones, the judge may ask for a higher bond.”
Andrew’s brows crinkled at the mention of the Florida charges. Troy had dismissed them. Andrew doubted Troy would’ve lied about them regardless of his anger. Why would the lawyer mention the charges if they no longer existed? He wanted to ask about them, but thought it might lead to questions he wouldn’t be able to answer.
“If she doesn’t have the money for it, what will happen to her?” Andrew began bobbing his leg again.
“She’ll be sent to Riker’s to await her trial date.” The demon leaned back in his seat.
Andrew stiffened in his seat. He couldn’t let her sit in jail another day. If he had to sell his body for sex to get more money, he’d do it.
“I’d like to pay a visit to Carrie before her hearing this afternoon,” the demon said.
A spark of happiness fluttered within Andrew. Maybe he’d get to see Emily before her hearing.
“What for?” Andrew asked.
“You said you witnessed her trying to give the money back. I want to hear her side of the story. If both of you are saying the same thing, I’m going to ask for a dismissal of the charges. Now, I can’t suggest anything to either of you, but this is what I think could’ve happened. You two were out on a date and returning to your home. Some men at the subway station came up, possibly intoxicated, and gave her money in exchange for sex. She tried to give it back, but cops saw her with money in her hands and made assumptions. If that’s what happened, her chances of getting out without any charges might be good.”
Andrew stared at the demon. The story was a fabrication and he wanted Andrew to play along.
“If we said that story, the judge would still see her prior charges. Wouldn’t he think we’re lying?” Andrew asked.
“That is a gamble.”
And not a good one, Andrew thought.
The demon sat upright. “These petty crimes clog up the system. The judges don’t like to waste a lot of time on them, nor do they want to fill jails with small-time criminals.”
“Why not tell the truth?” Andrew asked with a shrug. “We moved here to start over. Someone assumed she was a prostitute. They were mistaken.”
“The truth doesn’t set people free. That is a misconception preached to us from the day we’re born. I’ve seen too many people try to do the right thing and end up behind bars. As I said, I can’t suggest anything. Our conversation is strictly confidential. But, I would suggest we talk to Carrie and see what she thinks. I know you are her business partner, but I represent her. I need to hear her story.”
Andrew shook his head in disgust. The truth was always the best option for any defense. A life without truth was a life full of lies and deceit. Maybe innocent people did go to jail, but at least they had a clear conscious.
“When do you plan to visit her?” Andrew asked.
“Since her hearing is at three I would like to see her at one. I have another client who is incarcerated there. I need to check on her too.”
“I want to go with you,” Andrew said.
“I thought you might. We can meet outside the jail right before one.” The demon shut the folder and then set it next to the cashier’s check.
“Where will the hearing be located?”
The demon stood. “In the same building on the third floor.” He walked around his desk. “Do you have any questions or concerns?”
Andrew had plenty, such as how to kill him. At least he’d get another shot in the afternoon. The timing couldn’t be worse since it was so close to Emily’s hearing, but Andrew would find a way to kill him.
He rose from his seat. “Regardless of what she says at her hearing, can you get her released today?”
“If the charges aren’t dismissed, the judge will ask for a trial date and will order her released upon payment of a bond. It will be up to you to pay that bond. If you pay it, she gets out. If not…” The demon headed to the door. “I’ll have a receipt ready for this afternoon when I see you.”
“Thanks.” Andrew proceeded to the exit. He stopped in front of the demon. “Please don’t go in to see her without me.”
“I understand, but don�
��t be late. I have other clients to attend to.”
Andrew gave him a nod before he walked out. Frustration coursed through him as he returned the way he’d come in. He’d lost his chance to kill the man. Andrew couldn’t wait for his next opportunity. The lawyer encouraged his clients to lie, used women, represented drug dealers, murderers, and people who did nothing good. He’d probably freed criminals because they’d fabricated stories. Andrew needed to put an end to the demon as soon as he could.
He walked out of the building with a smidgen of happiness. Although he’d failed to destroy the demon, he would get to see Emily later. And if the judge decided to set a high bond for her release, he’d pay it. He’d have to use her funds, but he’d find a way to reimburse her. One way or another, he would get her out of jail before nightfall.
Andrew headed to the subway. Since he had a few hours before he had to meet the demon again, he could go for another short jog. On the way to the crosswalk, the cell in his pocket began to buzz. He stopped and hurried to dig the phone out. The number on the screen indicated the caller. Andrew debated to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Did you kill him?” Troy asked.
“I’m doing well. Thanks for asking. The swelling in my eye has gone down.”
“I don’t give a fuck about your eye. Now answer my question.”
Andrew almost laughed, but he knew it would irritate Troy more. “No, he didn’t have any cups on his desk and when I offered to buy a drink he declined.”
“Fuck!”
Andrew had expected the one word response from him.
“But I’m meeting him at one and we’re going to see Emily. Before I meet him, I’m going to buy some coffee.”
“Okay. That should work. What time is her hearing?” He sounded calmer.
“It’s at three on the third floor of the building where she’s being held.”
