“Okay,” Aja said, taking the sheet of paper with the lists on them. “Thanks.”
“All your teachers are reporting positive things about you. I’m glad to hear that. You’re down to the last two weeks.” Mrs. Burnett’s tone had a warning flag attached. She glanced at Mr. Carlisle’s office. “Best to stay clear of certain people and keep your head above water, if you know what I mean.”
Aja followed her gaze to Mr. Carlisle, who was happily tapping away at his computer. “Understood, thanks.”
Mrs. Burnett nodded. She and Aja walked out together.
“Mrs. Burnett, I’m going to swing by the detention center and give some of the girls my old workbooks.”
Mrs. Burnett hesitated but kept walking. “Aja, you should probably stay away from there, too. Most of those girls would love to get you into trouble. Something you don’t need.”
“I don’t think those girls were given enough opportunity to learn. You know, someone who believed in them.”
“Trust me, they’ve all had their chances.” Mrs. Burnett stopped and turned to Aja. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I appreciate that you see something in them. But, Aja, proceed with caution. Don’t get taken down. There’s a fine line between being good and bad.”
“I know that, but if I can help I’d feel better.”
Mrs. Burnett smiled. “I see why Mr. Jensen speaks so highly of you. You have a good heart…” She paused, looked away, and didn’t finish her sentence. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Aja.”
Aja knew the implication, the words Mrs. Burnett didn’t say were that she was hanging by that fine line between good and bad. She hoped the wire didn’t break.
As soon as Aja got in her car, she called Janie.
“I’m so glad you called. Guess what?” Janie paused, excitement came through the phone. “Guess who took Mrs. Poston’s jewelry?”
“Who?”
“Kendall!”
Kendall?” Aja asked. “Why would she take anybody’s jewelry? I thought she had a bunch of money. How do you know it was her?”
“This is where it gets good. You totally missed the fireworks at dinner last night.”
“What happened?”
“Kendall didn’t join Walker and his grandparents for dinner last night.”
Yeah, Aja thought, she was skanking up my car.
“Walker’s grandmother had one of Mrs. Poston’s brooches on. Big old gold thing that was hard to miss. Mrs. Poston went ballistic on her! She thought you gave it to her. But when she told Mrs. Poston that it was Kendall’s and that she’d only borrowed it, Mrs. Poston called her a liar. It was a total girl fight with senior citizens. Priceless!” Janie was so excited she could hardly talk. “Then Walker’s grandmother took it off and threw it at Mrs. Poston. Edna and Gabe practically had to pull them apart.”
“That’s crazy. What about the rest of the jewelry?”
“I heard Walker found it at his grandmother’s in a bag. I saw him and Kendall in the lobby later. I heard him tell Kendall to apologize to you.”
“I won’t hold my breath for that. What did Mrs. Poston say about Kendall taking it?”
“I’m not sure she realized Kendall took it. I think the catfight wore her out. She left yelling at pretty much anybody that got in her path.”
“Did her helmet hair get messed up?” Aja laughed.
“Didn’t budge,” Janie said. “I’m on my way to work now, so I’ll let you know any new developments. I felt bad for Walker’s grandfather, though. It was rough seeing him so helpless not knowing what was going on. Didn’t Walker call you? He said he was going to.”
“Yeah, but I was in class. I’ll call him later.”
“He said he felt bad that you’re getting drug through the muck.”
“Not as bad as I felt because he didn’t believe me. Call me later tonight,” Aja said and hung up. She decided not to call Walker. Let him come to her.
She called her mom on the way to the detention center to tell her she’d be a few minutes late and what had happened with Kendall.
“See, Aja, sometimes having it all amounts to nothing. You thought she had a perfect, normal life, and look what she’s done.”
“I know,” Aja said.
“I have a client at four thirty, so come in the back. Don’t be too late. Maggie’s coming by at six. I told Clara we’d come by after. I still don’t want to sleep here.”
“All right, see you then.” Aja flipped the old phone closed.
As she pulled into the detention center parking lot, she saw Clay Richards’s police cruiser. She wondered if he was hassling Tish and the others. The usual fear crept along her spine, but she fought it back down. This time she’d look him in his beady, scary eyes and stand up against him. He was not going to bring her down, break her fight.
Chapter 39
Aja grabbed the old workbooks and got out of her car. She saw Clay sitting in his cruiser watching her. At least he wasn’t inside the detention center. Aja held her head up, took a deep breath, and walked in front of his car. The engine running, exhaust clogged the heavy air. She braced herself in case he honked the horn at her. She could feel his eyes following her, taking in her every move. She felt vulnerable, her knees weak, but she kept going, hugging the books close to her chest.
He rolled his window down and called her over. Aja ignored him and went inside. She had to take a few minutes to calm her nerves; her hands were shaking.
There was an attendant at a desk in the lobby. “Can I help you?”
“I’m here to see Tish,” Aja said, fighting an urge to turn around to see if Richards was still there.
“You’re A-ja,” the woman asked. “Why are you back? I thought you got released.”
“I did, but I wanted to bring Tish some books.”
“Books? Really?” The woman eyed Aja suspiciously. “You’re not going to do any more science experiments are you?”
“No.” Aja smiled and bit back a joke about hiding a nail file for the prisoner. “Just vocabulary and I wanted to ask Tish something.” Aja could look through a window into the front room in the center. She saw Tish pacing back and forth watching her. Aja couldn’t tell if she looked mad or scared.
“Most kids get out and don’t want to come back,” the attendant said as she stood to let Aja through the locked door.
“I won’t be long, thanks,” Aja said, walking into the room. The sound of the door locking behind her made her almost turn and run back out.
“What’re you doing here, bitch?” Tish asked, looking over Aja’s shoulder outside.
“I need to ask you something.” Aja turned and followed her gaze to Clay’s car.
“I don’t know what that asshole’s doing here,” Tish said nervously. “What you want from me?”
“Can we sit down?” Aja asked, looking around the room. There were only a few girls there, all clustered around the TV. “I have to get home soon.”
They sat at one of the small chipped dining tables. Aja set the books down.
“I’m getting out in a few days, and he’s been coming by and parking,” Tish said nodding her head toward the front. She was scratching her arms under her sweatshirt. Aja wondered if she was reopening old wounds.
“That’s who I want to talk about. He’s hurt you, too. I’m hoping you’ll help us get him tossed in jail.”
“Him? He’s police. He ain’t getting busted. They protect each other.”
“Just like we need to do,” Aja said.
“Is this about that lady lawyer who talked to me yesterday?”
Aja nodded. “Yeah, we’re planning on pressing charges against him, but we need evidence. He jumped me last week and keeps hassling me. If you’ll testify and we can find that girl Julia, we might have enough to really have him punished.”
“Nah, he keeps telling me he’ll hurt me if I say anything.” Tish scratched at her other arm so hard it made Aja wince.
“But what he’s doing is wrong!” Aja cried. “You have the pow
er over him. If you report him, we can get him to stop.”
“If I talk, he’ll shoot, bitch.”
Aja chilled with fear. In a way Tish was right. He’d already made good on his promise to fight back, having Aja arrested and making it look like it was her fault. He knew who to pick on. Young girls who had problem pasts—easy targets. “He needs to be stopped,” Aja whispered.
“Good luck with that. It’s your life, and not a long one if you take him on.”
“I’m afraid of him, too, but somebody has to stop him.” Aja leaned back and stared at Tish. “He picks on girls that he thinks won’t fight back. It’s our responsibility and our right to report him.” Aja thought she sounded very much like her mother.
“Who said I’m afraid, bitch?” Tish had both hands up her sleeves, scratching her arms.
“Who wouldn’t be? The guy scares the crap out of me.” Aja moved forward and put a hand on Tish’s arms. “We don’t deserve to be treated like this. We’re better than him.”
“But he’s police.” Tish shrugged Aja’s hand away.
“He’s a jerk.”
“Got that right.”
“I’ve got to go.” Aja stood. “Think about it, okay?” Aja glanced out the window. It was too small to see all of the parking lot, so she couldn’t see if Clay was still there. “Here, I brought you some books.” The vocabulary workbooks were from eighth or ninth grade; Aja couldn’t remember.
“Why?” Tish looked at them like they were stinky vermin. “I almost got more time added on thanks to that Mentos ’speriment.” Tish smiled a little.
“Look, just learn about three words a day. You might find it fun.”
“I’m smart enough. School ain’t fun.”
“Remember, knowledge is power.”
“No, punching a bitch out is power.”
Aja laughed. “I gotta run. Talk to the attorney when she comes back.”
Tish shrugged. “I’ll think about it.”
Aja left Tish, who didn’t even pick up the books. She was buzzed out the door and she blessed sweet freedom. In the parking lot, Clay had moved his car right next to Aja’s. She hesitated, turned to the attendant and asked, “Do you have a security guard that can escort me out?”
The attendant looked at Aja for a second, then laughed. “You’re kidding, right? We have security to protect us from girls like you.”
“Funny, real funny.” Aja sighed as she steeled herself to go to her car. She saw movement behind the glass inside the center. Tish was standing, watching her go. She was holding the books.
Aja got her keys ready and, for good measure, took her mother’s needle-nosed pliers from her purse and slipped them into her pocket. She knew she couldn’t fight him; he’d win. She hoped that he wasn’t stupid enough to try anything, especially with witnesses around.
Aja stood outside the detention center watching Clay watch her. She took her phone out to call her mom, but remembered her mother saying she had a client. She dialed Maggie’s number, but her phone’s battery died before the call went through. She wished she could call Walker to pick her up, but that was a stupid idea. She was still miffed that he thought she’d stolen the jewelry.
She heard the door to the detention center lock. She turned and saw the attendant through the wire-mesh glass closing up for the day. Damn, one less witness. Aja had no choice. She turned and walked toward her car.
Clay got out of his car and leaned against it, waiting for Aja. He’d backed into his spot so his door was next to her driver’s side. She couldn’t get into the passenger side because the lock was broken. She’d have to be inside the car to unlock it. Aja walked around her car, checking the passenger door anyway.
“Who’d you pay to inspect this heap?” Clay asked, leering at her. “I’m sure I could find a million violations against you for driving such a trap.”
Her car was so old it didn’t have an automatic lock, she had to put the key in the door to unlock it, and her hand shook so badly she wasn’t sure she could do it. “Excuse me,” she whispered, trying to get by him, not sure where her voice had gone.
Now he put his hand on her door. “You’re not excused.” He leaned in close to her. “So you think you’re better than them because they let you out of this place?” He grinned. “You’ll be back. I’ll see to it.”
“Leave me alone and get away from my car.” Aja steeled, but was afraid to reach for her pliers. “Why are you even here?’
“To keep up with my arrests.” He cocked an eyebrow. “I’m proud to say I know most of the girls in there.”
“Afraid to pick on somebody your own size?” Aja huffed, then regretted saying anything smart to him.
“You girls are like rats.” He sneered. “People know you exist but don’t want anything to do with you. I’m just making sure there’s no more trouble.”
“If you’d stay away, there wouldn’t be any trouble.”
“Why don’t we take a ride down to the station? I think you still have some charges against you.”
“No, I don’t,” Aja gasped.
He opened the back door to the cruiser and grabbed Aja’s arm.
“Stop!” she yelled.
“Are you resisting arrest?” He fumbled for his handcuffs.
Aja screamed, a bloodcurdling, gut-wrenching scream.
He’d almost pushed her into the backseat of the police car when Aja heard a woman’s voice.
“What’s going on?” It was the night security guard from the center.
“Help me!” Aja cried. “Call the real police.”
Clay pushed her onto the seat, and he turned to the guard. “I’m working. Do not obstruct my arrest, or I’ll slap some cuffs on you, too.”
Aja squirmed out of the car and ran to the entrance of the center, which was now unlocked. Through the window, Aja saw Tish’s head bobbing as she jumped up and down.
The security guard walked to the door and let Aja in, then locked the door behind her as she talked on a walkie-talkie. “Yeah, I got her inside. She was scared out of her mind.”
“What was she doing there?” the voice from the other end asked.
“I don’t know. I just came on.” The guard turned to Aja and asked, “Why are you here, anyway?”
Aja was trying to gulp in air. “I wanted to bring some books to Tish; then I’m going home. That guy keeps following me.”
“She came to see Tish.” The guard said into the speaker as she walked to the window and looked out. “I think he’s gone now.”
“Visiting hours are over. Send her home. I don’t want any trouble from the police,” the disembodied voice said.
“All right.” The guard clicked off and turned to Aja. “You’ve got to go.” But she hesitated. “How long has he been bothering you?”
“A few weeks now. Scary stuff. He attacked me.”
The guard looked at Tish, who was now pounding on the interior door. “I know he’s trouble.” She went to the door and opened it for Tish.
“I saw what he did.” Tish talked excitedly. “You okay? I can’t believe you ran, now you really gonna make him mad.”
“He needs to be stopped,” Aja said.
“That’s why I’m almost too scared to leave this place,” Tish said, then her voice dropped. “I make him mad a lot.”
“He’s probably waiting to pull me over when I leave here.”
“And they’ ain’t nuthin you can do about it.” Tish wrapped her arms around her own tiny body. “He’s like a mad dog.”
“You got folks you can call to come get you?” the guard asked, seeming to sympathize with Aja.
“Can I use your phone?” Aja hoped that Maggie was on her way to her house and wouldn’t mind stopping here first.
Chapter 40
Aja made it home just after six o’clock. She sat on the couch with her mom and Maggie.
“Okay, now calm down and tell me what happened,” Aja’s mom said, placing a cup of chamomile tea in front of Aja.
“He tri
ed to attack me again, and I managed to run inside, and Tish was there and saw it.” Aja’s words spilled out faster than she could organize them. “And then Maggie got him good.”
“Whoa, Nellie,” Maggie said, smiling. “Slow down. We’ll get you to the station for a formal statement, but first take a breath and sip of tea.”
Aja picked up her cup and blew on her tea.
“You said you got charges against him?” Aja’s mom asked.
Maggie nodded. “Here’s the deal. The judge approved the restraining order this afternoon.” She turned to Aja. “Clay Richards may or may not have known that when he saw you at the detention center.”
“What was he even doing there?” Aja took a hot sip of tea.
“We’ll get to that,” Maggie said. “The judge agreed to look at the abuse case against Richards, but he has hesitations because of the report stating you were resisting arrest and running from him that day at the residence home. He would’ve been within the scope of police work by taking you down.”
“What about tasing me?” Aja’s mom said, rubbing her chest where the prongs had gone in.
“But I wasn’t doing anything to be arrested for,” Aja said.
“We’ll have to prove that,” Maggie said. “You were trespassing.”
“Tell mom how you saved me today,” Aja said excitedly. “Maggie made him back off. It was great.”
“Aja called me while I was on the way here.” She touched Aja’s knee. “I’m glad you did. I met her at the detention center and drove out behind her.”
“He was waiting to pull me over as soon as I got on the road,” Aja said. “He didn’t know who Maggie was.”
“I pulled into a parking lot and got out of the car with the restraining order in hand and told him he’d have to call another officer to take over.”
“He was so pissed!” Aja smiled.
“It took some convincing, but he finally backed down.”
“I thought he was going to shoot us both,” Aja said, sipping her tea.
Maggie opened her briefcase. “I had my investigator do some checking on Richards.” She hesitated before taking a file out. “It’s pretty rough stuff. The station should have never hired him, considering his record, but he is a decorated veteran and he grew up here. I think they made some allowances.”
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