by Ann Mullen
I stepped in between Mom and Dakota. “What’s the reason for terminating my mother’s membership? Don’t like her taste in clothing?”
Dakota looked Mom up and down, and then said, “She could use a stylist, but no, that’s not the reason.” She loomed over me, getting in my face with a menacing glare. “Do you think I’m stupid? You think I don’t know why you’re here? I know all about you, Ms. Blackhawk and Blackhawk Investigations.”
“What has my job got to do with spending a day at your spa?”
“Give me a break! I watch the news. I heard Mae’s name and saw her being carted off in an ambulance. And guess what? In the background was your detective agency. I know she hired you to prove I murdered her husband. What a joke! Why would I kill her husband?”
“How do you know what we talked about? You weren’t there.”
“Mae rambled on about me killing her husband, and said that you were going to prove it. The nurse who heard her delirious rant is a friend of mine.”
“So you racked that pea brain of yours and figured you’d better do some spin control before you wind up in jail for murder.”
“Get out of my shop!”
“Did I hit a nerve, Dakota? Oh, that’s right. Your name isn’t really Dakota, is it? By the way, who were you before you stole someone’s identity? Hey, you could go to jail for that. Then, there’s the matter of the tainted bottle of shampoo. Do you give these out to all your clients, or just the special ones?” I looked at Mom and held out my hand. “Give me the bottle.”
Mom handed me the bottle of shampoo. I popped up the cap, stood, and then aimed it at Dakota. Before I realized what I was doing, I squeezed the bottle and squirted her with the stinky stuff. The shampoo splattered across the front of her blouse, ran down one arm, and then dripped on the marble floor.
I don’t know what I was thinking, but I had to do something. I didn’t want this to be my first and last visit without making an impression. Also, I didn’t like the way she talked to my mama.
Caught by surprise, Dakota squealed and jumped back as she tried to wipe the gooey liquid from her shirt and arm. From her reaction, you’d think I had just doused her with acid, but I didn’t see any smoke coming off her. If I’d had time to think about it logically, I guess I would’ve jump back too if I was wearing an expensive blouse like hers.
Dakota spun around, fast tracked it to her desk, and picked up the telephone.
“Don’t bother, Dakota No-Name No-Person. We’re leaving.” I grabbed Mom by the arm, but hesitated. “I thought Mae Bridges was just a sad, grieving widow looking for someone to blame for her husband’s death, but I don’t anymore. I think you killed her husband, and if I find out you did, you won’t be able to run far enough or fast enough to get away from me. Have a great day. Enjoy it, because you won’t be having too many of those anymore. Trust me.” I looked at Mom. “Come on,” I said. “Let’s get out of this rat infested dump.”
“You’re going to be sorry!” Dakota yelled at us as we fled.
Both of us were laughing and shaking when we got to my car. “That didn’t go as I expected,” Mom said as soon as she got in the car and fastened her seatbelt. “Burn rubber, Jesse. You know she called the cops. You did ruin her designer blouse.” Mom chuckled and then broke out laughing. “You think she’ll bill you for it?”
I laughed right along with Mom. “I bet I blew her mind when I told her we knew about the stolen social security number.”
“No,” Mom assured me. “It was when you tossed the shampoo on her.”
We both enjoyed a good laughing marathon.
When we finally got ourselves under control, Mom said, “We’re on her hit list now. Remember what you said about running scared? I can promise you that she’s really running scared right about now. She’s probably planning our demise as we speak.”
“She’s probably packing her clothes. She can’t kill us all.”
“What are we going to tell Billy? He’s not going to like what we did.”
Before I realized it we were almost to Ruckersville when we should’ve been heading in the other direction. “I think we missed our turnaround,” I said, looking out the window. “I was in such a hurry to make a getaway, I wasn’t thinking about where I was going.”
“We might as well stop at McDonald’s and get one of their frozen coffees.”
“That sounds good. Nothing like having a drink after a failed spying expedition.”
“Yeah, I guess we didn’t do so well on this one.”
“We did just fine, Mom. It threw her off-guard when I told her about all the dirt we had on her. I bet the wheels are turning like a spinning top. Oh, she’s packing up and heading out of town as fast as her designer shoes will take her.”
“She had the upper hand. She’s the one who caught us off-guard by confronting us as soon as we walked through the front door. We thought we were going to have the run of the place to do our snooping, but she put an end to that real quick.”
“But we did rebound quite well, don’t you think?”
“You did all the talking. I was too dumbfounded. I had no idea she was on to us. I froze when she stopped us in our tracks.”
“You handled yourself perfectly. Besides, it doesn’t matter. You’re never going back to that place again… at least not through the front door.” I quickly looked over and smiled at her. “Let’s go get our Frappe Mochas. Inside or drive-thru?”
“Let’s go inside. I’m hungry, and I want to sit down and relax. My nerves are shot. Dakota Stone terrifies me. We know too much about her, and now she knows we know. She’s coming after us. I can feel it.”
“We’re not the only ones who know, and she knows that, too. No… she’s running.”
“Running where?”
“Away. Change her identity again. She’s obviously done it before. Why else would she be using a stolen social security number?”
“The more I think about it, the more scared I am. She might really be a killer, just like Mae said, and if she’s killed before, she’ll do it again. They say it gets easier after the first time. I think she’s capable of it, don’t you? Did you see the way she glared at you when you accused her of killing Mae’s husband? That was downright spooky. Those eyes of hers bore right through you. She’s wicked, Jesse.”
We pulled into the Ruckersville’s McDonald’s, and barely had time to get out of the car when a Greene County deputy car blocked me in from the rear. Deputy Cole James got out of the cruiser and walked over to us.
“Hello, Cole,” Mom said, greeting him in her usual adoring manner. She liked Cole a lot. She just didn’t like him when he dated my sister, Claire. Ah, but that was moons ago and water under the boat.
“If you wanted my attention, you got it,” I said to Cole. “You blocked me in. I think it’s illegal to park there.”
Deputy James walked up to me, pulled out a set of handcuffs, and told me to put my hands behind my back. “You’re under arrest for assault,” he said, emotionless as he slapped on the cuffs. “You have the right to remain silent, and I suggest you do.” He looked over at Mom. “I’m sorry, Minnie. I’m just doing my job.”
“Don’t apologize to her,” I said, furious. “Apologize to me! Have you lost your mind? You’re embarrassing my mother. What’s this all about, Cole? I didn’t do anything wrong. We were just getting something to eat.”
Cole leaned over close to my ear and said, “What’s the matter with you, Jesse? You know the sheriff has his eye on you and Billy.” He reached down and removed my snub-nosed thirty eight from its ankle holster. “He’s hot. You should’ve seen him when the call came in. I thought he was going to have a stroke. I’ve never heard him cuss before.” He looked over at Mom and said, “Minnie, you need to call Russ Shank.” He looked back at me.
“Who was Jesse supposed to have assaulted, Cole?” Mom asked as if she didn’t know. “We’ve been together all day. I’m her alibi.”
“No offense, Minnie, but you’re lucky I do
n’t arrest you, too. You were with her at the time of the assault… and you know exactly what I’m talking about. Have you taken to lying, Minnie? That’s not like you.”
“Alleged assault,” Mom corrected him. “Where’s your proof?”
“And who did I assault?” I demanded. “I haven’t beaten up anyone lately.”
“Dakota Stone. She called in an assault, and then sent a video of the assault to the Sheriff’s Office. She demanded that we arrest you, and after the sheriff saw the video, he sent his men out to pick you up. He said we could arrest you with extreme prejudice. You’re lucky I’m the one who found you instead of one of the other deputies. You don’t have many friends in the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.”
“That’s not funny, Cole,” Mom said, bitterly. “What video?”
“The video where Jesse throws some kind of liquid on the woman.” Cole pulled out his Smart phone, slid his finger across the screen, and up popped my face. “Ah… the wireless highway. Don’t you just love it?”
Mom and I watched the short video that showed me squirting Dakota. Those two seconds was all that was on the video. Nothing else.
“It’s been edited!” I claimed. “Where’s the rest?”
“This is all that matters, Jesse,” Cole replied.
“But it was only shampoo!” Mom exclaimed.
“Don’t say anything else,” I said to Mom. “Call Russ. Ah, crap, call Billy, too. It’s not as if he doesn’t have enough on his plate already.” I looked over at Cole and snarled.
“Yeah,” Cole said. “I’m so glad Sarah’s okay. Mom and I were worried about her.”
“That’s funny,” I snapped. “I didn’t see either one of you at the homecoming celebration.”
Cole leaned in close and whispered, “Did you ever stop to think that maybe we weren’t invited?”
“You didn’t mention Savannah. You two break up already?” I asked hatefully as Cole led me to the squad car. I don’t know why I was taking my frustration out on him, but I couldn’t stop. “Gee wiz, who in my circle are you going to hook up with next? My mother? Oh, no, that’s right, she’s married. What about my brother? He’s not married, yet.”
“Now you’re being ridiculous, Jesse.”
“You just hate me for choosing Billy over you, don’t you? That’s why you’re doing this. You like getting back at me.”
“Are you drunk? Stop saying stuff you don’t mean. What we had is over. We’ve both moved on. I’m happy with my life and so are you. Let it go.”
I was saying things that were only half-true, but I wanted to lash out at him.
“Where’re the keys to your car? I can’t leave your mother stranded out here. The sheriff would have my badge. He really likes her.”
I handed the keys to him.
He looked at me as he put his hand on my head to keep me from hitting the car doorframe. “You… not so much.” He slammed the car door and then walked over and gave Mom the keys.
“I’ll be just fine. You just take care of my daughter.” She waved to me and then got back into the 4Runner.
“No Frappe Mochas for us today,” I said to Cole when he climbed into the cruiser. “Too bad. I was looking forward to something sweet.”
As we left the parking lot, Cole looked straight ahead and said, “This is no joke, Jesse. You could do jail time. It might not be much, but I guess that depends on how much Sheriff Hudson wants to press the issue. You did break your promise, and he’s not real happy. He’s out for blood… your blood. Your best bet is to hope Dakota Stone decides not to press charges. So far, that doesn’t appear to be on your list of options. But then again, even if she drops the charges, you’ll have to win over the sheriff with your charming personality and hope he’s in a forgiving mood. I don’t see that happening either.” Cole laughed. “No, that’s just not going to happen.”
“She’s a killer, Cole.”
“I don’t want to hear it, Jesse. I told you to exercise your right to shut up, now do it. Anything you say to me will have to go in my report. You don’t want that. You could be digging a hole you won’t be able to get out of. Please, for your own sake, shut up!”
After I was processed, I spent the next two hours in silence, which was very hard for me to do. I sat in my jail cell, letting my imagination run wild, and waited for Sheriff Hudson to come in and read me the riot act, and for Billy to come save me. And… where was my lawyer?
A female deputy walked up to my cell carrying a tray of food. “I’m Deputy Rager. Deputy James said he arrested you getting out of your car at McDonald’s, so I figured you might need something to eat.”
“Thanks,” I said eagerly. “I’m starving.” I stepped back against the wall to let her know I wasn’t a threat. “I don’t want you to pull out your nightstick and beat me to a pulp. I’m sure the sheriff would like that.”
She opened the cell door, set the tray down on the cot, and then backed out of the cell. “We carry tasers now. It’s more effective.” Once the cell door was closed, she added, “The sheriff is a good man. I think you know him well enough to know he wouldn’t let that happen… and we wouldn’t do it. We only resort to physical violence when nothing else works. Look around you.” She motioned with a wave of her arm. “He was kind enough to put you in our special cell.”
“This is a special cell?”
“Yes, it is. It’s normally used for violent, high profile criminals or high profile white collar suspects. Ones that can’t be kept in general population. You have your own toilet in that little cubby over there.” She pointed to a room no bigger than a dollhouse. “It ain’t much, but you’ll have some privacy if you need to use the john. And you have a private hallway here.” She pointed to the short hallway. “The door locks automatically. You need one of these to open it.” She grabbed the magnetic card attached to a recoiling string on her belt and held it out for me to see. She let the card go and it snapped back into place. “Nobody’s going to bother you in here.”
I sat down on the cot, removed the napkin covering the food, and took a whiff. “Hmm. This smells good. I love chicken.”
“One of the deputies was having lunch at Blue Ridge Café, so I asked him to pick up something for you. We don’t usually feed detainees because they’re not here long. They’re sent to Orange.”
“That’s mighty nice of you to think of me.” I took a big bite out of the chicken leg and then said, “Give my compliments to the chef. This is so good.”
“I’ll be sure to pass your message along.”
“It’s been over two hours, Deputy Rager. When can I get out? Is my lawyer here yet? How about my husband?”
“So far, no one has come for you. It’s just you, me, and two other deputies. Everyone else is out in the field. It’s been a real hectic day, what with that double homicide over in Ruckersville. You didn’t kill anyone, did you?”
“Not today.” I joked.
“You’re funny.”
“I’m sure you know why I’m in jail, deputy.”
I think the deputy tired of me. “I’d better get back to work, Mrs. Blackhawk.”
“You can call me Jesse.” I was trying to get her to warm up to me by being nice. I didn’t need anymore enemies. “It’s creeping me out being in jail all alone. Solitary confinement is a real drag. And another thing, I regret my earlier attitude towards you. I’m sorry. It’s just that…”
“What?” Deputy Rager asked. “You can tell me.”
“I’ve been bad. I made a promise to the sheriff, and I didn’t keep it. I know I did wrong by going back on my word, but I had to go talk to that woman in person. She gave my mama some bad shampoo, and all I wanted to do was make things right. I get so tired of people cheating people. You sell someone an inferior product, you should be held accountable. You need to replace it or give the customer a refund. Don’t you think so?”
“Yes, I do,” Deputy Rager said. “But I think you went about it the wrong way.”
“Perhaps I did. Maybe I
should’ve…”
She cut me off. “I’m sure you can work it out with Sheriff Hudson when he gets back. You didn’t mean to hurt that woman, did you?”
Smart deputy—she thought she was questioning me without my ever suspecting a thing. But I’m smarter than she thinks. She wasn’t getting anything out of me that I didn’t want to give. “I didn’t hurt her. All I did was try to return a rancid bottle of shampoo. That video doesn’t tell the whole story. I just wanted to get a refund for my mother. You know how moms are. They don’t want to make waves. The woman made me mad when she said insulting things to my mom, so I squirted her with her own rotten shampoo.”
Realizing she was wasting her time, Deputy Rager excused herself and walked away. As she reached the door, she called out, “Eat your food. It’s going to be a while before you get to see the sheriff.”
“That’s right. He’s handling a homicide. Who got killed?”
“Sorry. Can’t give out that information.” Then, she was gone.
Time seemed to stand still. No one had come to help me out, and I was feeling sorry for myself. “Where is everyone?” I yelled down the hallway, but no one answered.
Two more hours had passed, according to the digital wall clock over the exit door. That’s when I realized why people have killed themselves in jail. It’s a horrible, lonely place; add that to someone’s who’s already severely depressed and you got yourself a recipe for disaster.
Another hour passed, and then another. By then, I was ready to slam my head up against the wall. “Let me out of here,” I screamed as loud as I could. That’s when I noticed a small camera in the upper left hand corner of the ceiling. Why hadn’t I seen it earlier? So, they’ve been watching me the whole time, I thought to myself. Well, I’ll give them something to see. I started banging my head against the bars and screaming nonsense about killing myself. I figured that would get their attention.
It must have, because the door opened and Deputy Rager walked back in. She took the ring of keys and opened the cell door.
“Sheriff Hudson wants to see you before we transport you to Orange County Regional Jail.”
