by Laura DeLuca
“Drink this, okay?” Officer Cusella thrust the paper cup into her hand. “I know it’s been a long night. I’m sure you must be thirsty.”
Rebecca almost argued she needed something stronger than water if he expected it to calm her down, but she figured that probably wasn’t the right thing to say to a cop when she wasn’t quite twenty-one. Instead, she studied the young cadet as she sipped the water and wondered why he was being so nice. Was this the typical good cop, bad cop routine? Did he think a little kindness would send her into some sort of blubbering confession after his gruff co-workers had gotten nowhere? She watched his every move as she took a small swallow from the paper cup.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He noticed her scrutiny and smiled good-naturedly. “You don’t remember me, do you?”
Rebecca felt her eyes narrow. “Should I?”
“I suppose not. I guess I wasn’t all that memorable back then.” He shrugged before explaining, “We went to high school together. I’m Nino. Nino Cusella. I was a year behind you at Mainland Regional. I played Bouquet in Phantom after Jay … ummm.” He paused and scratched his head. “After his accident.”
Rebecca was momentarily surprised, but then the whole thing rushed back to her. Nino had taken over Jay’s role after he was killed in a car crash. Of course, everyone knew it wasn’t really an accident. Debbie had cut the brake lines on Tom’s truck, and Jay had borrowed it. Before that, Nino had worked behind the scenes as a stagehand. She hadn’t known him well, but she remembered him being skinny as a rail with bottle-cap glasses and a mop of blond curls. As she took in the shaved head and the toned muscles practically bursting through his uniform, she realized a lot had changed for him in the last four years.
“Wow,” she observed. “You got … bigger.”
He laughed out loud. “Yeah, I guess I had a growth spurt after graduation. Of course, working out has helped a little, and I got contacts a few years back. I can understand why you wouldn’t recognize me.”
Rebecca smiled, but it was half-hearted at best. It was hard to have a cheerful high school reunion when her fiancé was locked in a cell and she had no idea if he was all right. Nino read the concern in her expression. He moved in a little closer and lowered his voice to barely a whisper.
“Listen,” Nino told her, “I’m not one hundred percent sure what’s going on here, but I remember you guys. Justyn was the only one who never touched a beer or took a drag from a cigarette at parties. Even though it’s been awhile and people can change, I find it hard to believe he would have changed that much.”
Rebecca swallowed hard as she listened. Ever since she watched Justyn taken away, she refused to let herself think about what the night’s events meant for their future. She didn’t know much about drug laws, but she knew enough to understand selling heroin carried some serious jail time. Now, as she looked into the kind eyes of her old schoolmate, she finally allowed herself to hope maybe things would be all right.
“What … what are you saying?” she asked.
Nino peeked over his shoulder to make sure no one was listening. Even then, he kept his voice at a minimum volume. “Even though Weston is a good cop, I can’t say I like him exactly or that I agree with his methods. My instincts are telling me things aren’t as cut-and-dry as he thinks. The whole arrest was just too … easy. I’ve busted a few other perps for drugs, and it never went down the way it did tonight. I have no idea what’s going on here, but I promise if I can, I’ll help you prove Justyn is innocent.”
Rebecca felt that tiny seed of hope she’d been nurturing suddenly burst into full bloom. She would have wrapped her arms around Nino if such an action weren’t completely inappropriate given the circumstances. Instead, she stuttered an incoherent thank you.
“Officer … N-nino, you-you have no idea. I mean, you…”
He chuckled again at her inability to articulate. “It’s okay. I’ll do what I can, but remember, I’m only the rookie. Weston, as big of an ass as he might seem to you right now, has seniority and he’s tight with the captain. Not to mention, he’s a decorated officer.”
Rebecca glanced over when Nino pointed to a wall covered in plaques honoring Sergeant Andrew P. Weston. “I understand completely. I certainly don’t want you to jeopardize your job, but anything you can do to help us would be wonderful. I don’t even know how to thank you.”
“Just keep this talk between us,” he told her. “I’ll be checking into things on my end, but if you can think of anything that’ll help me straighten this mess out, give me a shout, okay?”
Nino patted her shoulder and slipped his business card into her hand. Before she could reply, there was a ruckus coming from the other side of the room. They both glanced over and saw one of Weston’s lackeys dragging Carmen out from the interrogation room. She was only minimally cooperating. Rebecca wasn’t sure who looked more frazzled—Carmen or the officer with the misfortune of having to question her. Tom appeared a few minutes later looking just as irritated but much more docile. When Nino saw them making their way over to Rebecca, he slipped away and disappeared among the other uniforms, leaving Rebecca still clutching the business card as though it were a life preserver.
While she was sorry to see Nino go, Rebecca realized there wasn’t much more they could say to each other without rousing suspicion. It was best they not spend too much time together or Officer Weston might start to wonder what was going on. Instead of worrying about what Nino’s plans were, she concentrated on getting an update from Tom and Carmen. She was relieved to hear her friends had defended Justyn as adamantly as she had. Unfortunately, since he had confessed in order to protect them, he was still being held, and as of yet, none of them had been allowed to speak with him.
Rebecca knew all that was going to change when Darlene blew in, still dressed in one of her elaborate belly dance costumes and looking for all the world like some mystical creature who had leapt from the pages of a storybook, undulating hips and all. The fitted bra top left her flat belly bare, and her face was painted and decorated with jewels that matched her flashy attire. Several of the cops sitting at their desks gaped as the silver coins on her pink sequined skirt jingled with every step she took. Darlene was followed by her equally infuriated mother, whose face was as flame-red as her tresses, and a serious man with coifed brown hair and glasses carrying a brief case.
“Where is my son?” Darlene demanded to the stuttering receptionist. “I want to see him right now. I brought his attorney. You can’t deny him his right to legal counsel!”
The young girl at the desk was nodding and she tried to get Officer Weston on the phone. When he didn’t pick up, Rebecca was sure Darlene was going to jump over the desk and rip the receiver from her hands. Luckily, the attorney took over before Justyn’s mother wound up in the cell beside him. He started barking about confessions under duress and illegal searches. Rebecca had no idea how much of it was legit and how much was only legal jargon, but he kicked up such a big stink that within minutes the captain emerged and ushered the attorney into his office. As soon as they disappeared, Darlene came over to greet Rebecca. She nodded to Tom and Carmen and gave Rebecca a hug that was meant to be supportive but instead seemed almost desperate. Rebecca couldn’t remember ever seeing Darlene look so ruffled, not even after Justyn had been shot. Of them all, Sherry was the only one who was even remotely calm, though her lips were pressed into a tight frown and her face was still flushed in agitation.
“Rebecca, darling, what is going on here?” Darlene asked. “My Justyn arrested for selling heroin? It’s simply ludicrous! How in the world did you kids get yourselves into this mess?”
Rebecca shook her head. “I have no idea. It … it doesn’t make any sense.”
“Sure it does,” Carmen huffed. “Obviously someone was trying to set us up. I would bet anything that jerk Steve planted those drugs in the car.”
Tom was nodding enthusiastically. “Or Albert. Everyone at the restaurant swears he did time fo
r dealing. I’m sure he would be able to sneak into the car without a problem, even if Justyn did keep the doors locked.”
Darlene put her hands on her hips and started muttering to herself. “Damn retrograde. Everything always goes wrong when Mercury is in retrograde.”
“Darlene,” Rebecca pleaded, “what are we going to do? You can fix this, right?”
Darlene caught the rising hysteria in her voice, and she immediately pulled herself together to present the parental figure she knew was needed. “That’s what the lawyer is for, darling. I’m sure he’ll straighten this out.”
Despite her brave words, Rebecca still noticed the nervous glances she exchanged with Sherry before she plastered on her biggest smile and put her arm around her future daughter-in-law.
“You don’t need to worry about a thing, sweetie,” Justyn’s grandmother promised. “If the lawyer doesn’t fix it, a little voodoo might speed things along, and I—”
“Sherry, please.” Darlene interrupted, giving her mother an exasperated look when she saw Tom’s eyes widen. “Don’t scare the children.”
“Well, Darlene, you don’t expect me to stand around doing nothing while my grandson is falsely accused. I am going to—oh look, here comes Mr. James.”
Rebecca jumped to attention right along with the rest of their small party when the lawyer, whom she assumed was Mr. James, emerged. He shook the captain’s hand, but he didn’t look very happy. That, in turn, made Rebecca unhappy. She started biting her fingernails before she blurted out a thousand questions. Darlene’s skirt jingled as she went to join him, and the two spoke in hushed voices for several long minutes. Rebecca couldn’t hear them, but it was obvious by the way Darlene’s eyes narrowed that she didn’t like what she was hearing. Even after the attorney stopped talking and headed toward the door, she stood there for moment with her teeth grinding and her hands rolled into tight fists. It was suddenly clear where Justyn had inherited his bad temper.
“Darlene, you had better tell me what’s going on before my blood pressure goes through the roof,” Sherry insisted.
Darlene took a deep breath before she finally turned around. For the first time, despite her elaborate costume and makeup, she looked every one of her forty years. “The attorney said there’s nothing he can do tonight. Between Justyn’s confession and the large quantity of drugs they found in the car—” she paused and sighed, resigned, “they have enough to hold him until a preliminary hearing. Mr. James is hoping the incident will get thrown out of court, but they can’t get a judge to listen to the case until tomorrow morning. Which means Justyn will be spending the evening in a cell.”
Rebecca gasped. She knew it wasn’t the end the world. It was only one night, but it was still horrific to think of her sweet Justyn sleeping in a prison cell. She had visions of drunks and lice-infested ruffians sharing the small space, maybe even ganging up on him in a jail cell brawl. Wasn’t that the way it always was in the movies?
“Man,” Tom mumbled, “this sucks.”
“It certainly does suck,” Sherry agreed. “But one way or another, it will get taken care of. Never underestimate the power of positive thought.”
Rebecca sighed. She was having a hard time feeling anything positive about the situation. She turned back to Darlene. “Can we at least see him tonight?”
Darlene was still distracted. “One of the officers is coming now to bring us down.”
“Listen, we’re gonna get out of here,” Carmen told her. “Our ride’s here.”
Carmen gestured to the corner. Mr. Weber, who was absolutely enraged, had already arrived to shuttle her and Tom back home to Egg Harbor. Carmen and Tom gathered their belongings, which had been voluntarily searched and cleared, while Rebecca waited for her escort. Carmen flung her handbag over her shoulder and gave Rebecca’s hand a firm squeeze before they parted ways for the evening.
“You stay calm, you hear me?” Carmen coddled. “Everything’s gonna be just fine.”
“Really, Bec,” Tom agreed, “if anyone can talk their way out of this situation, it’s Lord Justyn.”
Rebecca gave them each a quick hug, but she didn’t have the strength to agree. She waited impatiently for the officer to appear and lead her to Justyn. She was beyond relieved it wasn’t the overbearing Officer Weston. Instead, she was greeted by a skinny guy with freckles who was even more uncomfortable than Rebecca. He obviously didn’t know what to make of the two flamboyant and demanding women ordering him forward with nasty glares and flaring nostrils. Justyn’s family had a presence that couldn’t be ignored any more than Sherry’s bright red kimono dress or Darlene’s bejeweled top.
The officer led them down a staircase, and the air grew colder and damper with each step. Rebecca felt like she was descending into some old-world dungeon. When a group of cells finally came into view, she expected to see a slew of hardened criminals cracking their knuckles and flexing their muscles, but apparently Cape May was slow on crime. Justyn was alone in a small cell with only a sink, a cot, and a commode to keep him company. Rebecca wanted to sob when she saw him lying on the mangy mattress with his arm over his eyes, but she pulled herself together. She had to be strong for him.
“Patko, you have visitors.”
The skinny officer’s voice cracked when he spoke. He cleared his throat, embarrassed, and moved to the corner while Justyn pulled himself into an upright position. Rebecca saw he had dark bags under his eyes that had nothing to do with the smeared stage makeup. He noticeably flinched when he adjusted his left shoulder, even though he tried to cover it up with a sarcastic half-smile. Rebecca wished she could pummel Officer Weston for being so rough when he’d cuffed him.
“Well, look at this,” Justyn said as he moved toward the bars. “Maiden, Mother, and Crone have come to my rescue. Officer Weston has no idea the battle in store for him with the three of you on my side.”
Sherry gave a cynical chuckle. “You aren’t seriously trying to convince us she’s a maiden, are you?”
That actually coaxed a small smile out of him, but it only lasted for a second before he grimaced and rubbed his neck. He looked so exhausted and sore; he probably wouldn’t have been able to handle standing at all if he weren’t holding on to the bars. Rebecca wasn’t the only one concerned. Her future mother-in-law’s eyes were crinkled with worry as well.
“Are you all right, Justyn?” Darlene demanded. “Did they hurt you? Because if they did—”
“Stop fussing, Darlene. I’m fine.” Justyn rolled his eyes. “But I’m ready to get the hell out of this place.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be happening tonight.” Darlene explained what the lawyer had told her. “I’m sorry, kiddo, I did everything I could, but our hands are tied until tomorrow.”
Rebecca expected Justyn to get angry. Maybe try to punch a few walls or rattle the bars. Something, anything to show he still had that fighting spirit she had always admired about him. Instead, he stared at the floor, as though he had never really expected any better news. He looked wretched and defeated. It reminded her disturbingly of Dr. Jekyll when he submitted to Hyde. When Justyn finally spoke again, the musical voice she loved sounded like a broken instrument. She had never heard him so filled with despair.
“You know I didn’t do this, right?” he begged. “You do believe I’m innocent?”
“I never thought twice about it,” Sherry said with a careless wave of her hand. “You wouldn’t dare risk my wrath.”
“Sherry would definitely be a greater force to reckon with than any of these cops,” Darlene teased. “I can vouch for that. Besides, I know you know better. No son of mine would ever lower himself to this level.”
Justyn didn’t seem appeased by their proclamations of his innocence. When he finally lifted his head, it was Rebecca’s eyes he met so beseechingly. “Becca, you know those drugs weren’t mine. I would never… I only confessed because … because—”
Rebecca couldn’t control her emotions any longer. When she heard his voice
break, and saw the real fear of rejection in his eyes, she had to console him in any way she could. Rebecca reached through the bars to grab his hand. She pulled him up against the cold metal, leaned in, and kissed his lips. It was an embrace filled with all her love and desperation. Even with the iron barrier between them, it was a comfort to feel that closeness, to smell the familiar earthy scent of his patchouli and sandalwood cologne. She wished she could have stayed beside him forever. She would have even remained with him in the cell if it meant they were together, but of course, that wasn’t possible.
“No touching!” came a high-pitched squeak from the corner. “Step away from the bars.”
Sherry gave the young officer her most wicked glare, and her lips curled in a snarl. The cop slunk back against the wall like a caged animal. Nevertheless, Rebecca didn’t want to get anyone, especially not Justyn, into any more trouble. So she released the death-grip she had on his fingers and after one last kiss, set him free.
“I know why you confessed,” Rebecca whispered. “You were trying to protect me … to protect all of us, just like you always do. It was stupid though, Justyn! You didn’t have to sacrifice yourself like this.”
“I couldn’t bear the thought of them putting their hands on you, Becca!” Justyn exclaimed. “When I saw that cop heading toward you—”
“Enough,” Sherry interrupted. “There’s no point in dwelling on the past. What’s done is done. Now we need to concentrate on fixing this. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do tonight except perhaps meditate on the problem. Spirit will provide the answers if we open ourselves up and listen.”
“Sherry is right, as usual,” Justyn agreed. “You should all go home and get some rest. Hopefully, after tomorrow this will all be nothing but a bad memory.”
