20.
A JAX
“I’d like to lie and tell you there’s no reason to be nervous, but I can’t do it. What I can say is that if this doesn’t turn out the way it should, we’ve got a plan in place to make sure that you and the kids will be safe.”
Abigail wiped the tears off her face and then shook her head. “I can’t keep my children in hiding forever, Ajax.”
“Not gonna need to hide if the bad guy is dead.”
Abigail sat up straighter and asked, “Can you just do that anyway? You know, just in case?”
“Bloodthirsty little thing, aren’t you?” I asked as I walked over to the mirror and adjusted my tie. Instead of answering her question, I handed her my phone and said, “Will you take a picture of me wearing this outfit so I can send it to Sandi? This may be her only opportunity to see me like this.”
That succeeded in taking Abigail’s mind off of today’s events. She hopped up from the edge of the bed and grabbed my phone before she directed me on where to stand and then teased me until I gave her a genuine smile. Finally, the impromptu photo shoot was finished, and rather than handing me back my phone, she walked over to the table by the window and started texting.
“Are you gonna give that back to me?”
“After I send all of the pictures to Sandi so she can look through them and decide which ones are her favorite. Knowing you, you’ll send her one with a scowl rather than the one with a smile before you delete the rest.”
“That was the plan,” I muttered.
“You’re not going to dress up when you marry her?” Abigail asked.
“No, I’m not.”
“I didn’t realize that the two of you were to that point yet!”
“I haven’t asked her to marry me, and I probably won’t for a bit yet because she’s still skittish and that could make her run. But when I do, I’ll sweep her off her feet and we’ll get married with just the two of us.”
“What about her kids?”
“I’ve got that in the bag. We’ll record the ceremony in case they want to see it, and as a wedding gift, I’ll bring them here to hang out for a while. Probably over the holiday. We haven’t really discussed it yet.”
“Of course you haven’t since you haven’t actually proposed,” Abigail said with a chuckle. “That might give away the surprise.”
“Oh, I meant we haven’t talked about her kids coming in for a visit. We made a plan, just not a firm one because we knew that she’d get all butthurt about being left out of it.”
“You’ve met her kids? She said . . .”
“She doesn’t know that I’ve talked to her kids, but I have.”
“You searched them out to talk to them?” Abigail asked, and I noticed that she had completely forgotten her nervousness about today’s court appearance and was focused on my shit instead. I wasn’t usually one to air out my business, but I was willing to do it today if it helped her feel better.
“I didn’t search them out. Actually, the youngest found me somehow, which I’ve gotta give him props for considering it’s part of my nature to be elusive.”
“Sandi made a deal with them when she took the traveling nurse job. She agreed to let them track her phone to give them some measure of security since neither of them would be close enough to her to help if she needed it.”
“That explains it,” I muttered, remembering the odd call I got from my tenant downstairs. She had called me late one afternoon and mentioned that a young man had called her shop a few times asking for me. She told him she didn’t know who he was talking about, and even though he got frustrated, he was nice and polite yet insistent. When she gave me his number, I did a search and found out it was Sandi’s son calling to check on her by checking into me.
I waited until Sandi went to work the next day and called him back, and then a few days later, I took a call from her son that was overseas and had a long chat with him too. Neither of them were shocked to hear that the woman drove me abso-fucking-lutely nuts half the time, and we swapped stories about the shit she’d pulled that made us crazy. Of course, then we talked about all the great things about her that made us love her enough to get past the rest.
“Are they okay with the fact that you are who you are?”
“Whatever do you mean, sweetheart?” I asked sarcastically. When she raised an eyebrow, I asked, “Oh, the part about me being an ex-con who can’t go visit her son because the government of Japan would laugh in my face if I ever tried?”
“Yeah, that’s one thing.”
“Or that I’m a cranky old biker who is surrounded by other cranky bikers who also happen to be ex-convicts?”
“That’s another one.”
“They handled that information pretty well,” I said cheerfully. “Just about as well as you did, which I found odd at the time.”
“You were helping me and my daughters, Ajax. I wasn’t exactly in the position to critique your record and references.”
“With your background, I bet you hadn’t met many men like me or the men I run with.”
“I may not have ever met any men that had been incarcerated, Ajax, but I met plenty of them who make you look like a sweet little do-gooder. The criminals I know are the scariest because they hide what they are. You sewed your history to a vest and bore it proudly. That’s refreshing.”
“Does it make you feel good to know that you’re about to end the reign of one of those motherfuckers you say are so scary?”
“Yes. It’s liberating and terrifying at the same time.”
“Have you figured out what you’re gonna do when the trial is over and your divorce is finally final?”
“I’m going to pick up my girls and then find a place where my name doesn’t matter and I can be me, and then I’m going to follow my dream and become a business owner who is part of the community instead of looking down on it from the tower where she’s kept.”
“I like how you said that.”
“What do you mean?”
“You put some spine into it, which tells me that you’re gonna be unstoppable.”
“How could I be anything else with you guys on my side?”
“I’ve grown kind of fond of you, Abigail.”
“Well, I still think you’re a total asshole, but I’m pretty fond of you too.”
◆◆◆
SANDI
“While you lay down and get comfortable, I’ll go update your chart and get you in line to see the doctor. I’ll see what I can find you to eat and bring you something to drink,” I told the woman who had come in complaining of pain in her foot. I could tell by the festering wound I’d just examined that it was probably more painful than anything I’d ever experienced. However, I could see that getting some food and a safe place to lay her head for a while was probably even more of a draw.
“You’re not kicking me out? My friend Leroy came in last week with pain, and you’re the nurse that told him to leave.”
“Is Leroy the one that caused a scene because I wouldn’t give him some painkillers to take the edge off while he waited for his turn to come back?”
“Probably.”
“Well, Miss Lola, his pain wasn’t quite as bad as yours, I guess, because when he figured out I wasn’t going to bend, he left with a quickness.”
“I’m not leaving. I know it’s bad.”
“I’m not gonna lie to you and say it’s good,” I hedged. “However, I am going to make sure you get taken care of.”
“You’re sweet.”
I burst out laughing and said, “Can I record you saying that because the people that really know me wouldn’t agree.”
“You’ve been nicer to me than any other professional I’ve come across in the last fifteen years. I’ll shout it from the rooftops if you want me to.”
“I’d rather you get comfortable so I can feed you and get you some help.”
“Am I gonna lose my foot?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart. I’m not a doctor. But I am a woman who gives a shit, so whether you lose your foot or not, I’m not gonna let you walk out of this place unless I have a clean, safe, place for you to go when you do.”
“Shelters are full.”
“You need long-term wound care . . .” I looked up at the monitor as the automatic blood pressure cuff on her arm beeped and then started to deflate. When I saw that her blood pressure was still alarming, I added, “Among other things. I’ll make sure you get that somehow, even if I have to be the one to do it myself.”
“You’re an angel.”
“Shhh. Don’t say that too loudly. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
As I walked out of the exam room, I heard my patient laughing and thought that she probably didn’t get to do that enough in the life she was living. Once I had her chart updated and the information sent to the other staff, I grabbed a snack and a bottle of water for her. I was aware that protocol said I shouldn’t be doing this, but I would never be a person that could ignore the rumbling of someone’s stomach.
Once I had that delivered, I hurried back to the front to assess the next patient but stopped in my tracks when I heard a man’s voice I didn’t recognize say my name. My friend Cheryl, one of the nurses that I’d taken an instant liking to and become good friends with, seemed wary of the man, which really set off my alarm bells. I was happy to hear her say that I had just left for lunch and he could find me upstairs in the cafeteria.
It didn’t take long for Cheryl to come around the corner, and I was glad that she seemed calm and put together, walking like nothing was wrong. She was carrying a tablet as if she were going to speak to a patient, but the second she saw me, her eyes got sharp and she tilted her head toward the restroom before she veered that way.
Luckily, this wasn’t a public bathroom but more of a breakroom for the nursing staff that could also be used as a safe room if needed. I had a feeling I’d need more than a safe room if the look on her face was any indication.
The second the door closed behind us, she whirled around and said, “I’m not sure why there’s a man pretending to be an FBI agent trying to find you, but there is.”
“How do you know he’s pretending?”
“I’ve been married to a cop for umpteen years, Sandi. I’ve learned to pick up on things in that time. He’s got a tattoo peeking out above the neck of the cheap suit he’s wearing, he’s carrying his fucking gun in his waistband rather than in a holster beneath his arm, and the badge he showed me could have come out of the clearance bin at the bargain store. If he’s an FBI agent, then I’m Joan Jett and there’s no reason for me to be working here since I’m supposed to be touring.”
“Fuck.”
“In the month I’ve known you, I’ve figured out just by what you haven’t said that your man may not be on the up and up, and I’m perfectly okay with that because I’m not a judgemental bitch. However, I am not okay with some asshole coming in here and playing dress-up so he can try and cart you away for God only knows what reason . . . but I’m fairly sure it has something to do with that man of yours.”
“Yes, I’m sure it does. He’s working a huge case out of DC. That’s all I can tell you right now, but when you see the shit on the news later, you’ll understand.”
“We need to get you out of here.”
“Roux is out in the waiting room, but we don’t know if any of the other guys might be too.”
“Should we call the actual FBI? Fuck that. Let me call my husband.”
“I have an idea, but I’m going to need you to cover for me.”
“I’ll do it. What do you need?”
“I’m going to walk out the front door in a few minutes, and after I do, I want you to call Roux back as if he’s a patient and tell him what’s going on.”
“You can’t just walk out of here!”
“I’m not gonna walk. I’m gonna limp.”
“What?”
“I’ve got a patient that really needs care, but more than that, she needs a place to stay until she gets better. I don’t know about all the resources around here yet, so I was going to ask you to help me anyway, but in this case, I need you to make sure she gets taken care of because she’s about to help me.”
“I’ll do it. I know lots of people and will cause a fuss if I need to.”
“Good because she’s the first person in years to call me sweet, and I can’t lose her until I’ve got that on record.”
Cheryl was still smiling at that comment when she opened the door and looked out into the hall to make sure it was clear. The second she gave me the signal, I walked out into the hall behind her and we walked quickly to Miss Lola’s room. Once I was inside with the door shut, I explained what was going on and smiled when Lola jumped to help me even through her pain.
I could tell that Cheryl was just as impressed with the sweet lady as I was, and within just a few minutes, I was ready to go. Before I did, I pulled a piece of paper off the notepad on a counter in the room and wrote down my name and phone number as well as Ajax’s contact information.
When I handed it to Lola, I said, “Cheryl’s going to fulfill my promise and get you taken care of, but I want you to call me if you need anything.”
“I don’t know about . . .”
“You said I was sweet, Miss Lola. Don’t make me show you my ugly side. I’m new in town and don’t have many friends. Hopefully, you’ll keep in touch and I can add you to that short list.”
“I’m gonna shout it from the rooftops if you don’t watch out.”
“Do that once you’re all better, okay?” I didn’t wait for her to answer, I just looked at Cheryl and asked, “You ready to roll me out of this bitch?”
“Yes, and if anyone asks about you, I’ll make sure to tell them that I sent you home after I saw you puke for the third time.”
“Thank you.”
I sat down in the wheelchair and took a deep breath to calm myself as Cheryl started rolling me toward the front. Once we were through the doors, I slowly pushed myself up to stand and then turned around and glared at Cheryl as if I was angry before I limped away.
Just before the automatic doors slid closed behind her, I heard Cheryl call out Roux’s real name, something I’d learned just a few days ago. I hoped that he’d take the bait because I had absolutely no fucking idea what to do or where to go from here. I had no illusions that I could pull this off without his help.
I took off down a side street and then turned at the next block with my only thought being to get as far away from the hospital as quickly as possible. I wasn’t sure if that was the best idea since I had no idea how Roux would be able to find me, but it seemed that putting as much distance as I could between me and the man looking for me was more important than anything.
It didn’t take me long to get lost on the winding streets, but I hesitated to pull my phone out of my bra to check the navigation app because I wanted to stay in character as much as possible.
It was sad that people seemed to look right through me just because of the way I was dressed, but that made this disguise perfect. It made me worry how Roux would track me down if I blended in and was basically invisible.
I had been shuffling along at a decent pace, my head down as I navigated around the people milling on the streets, when someone suddenly got into step beside me and stayed there. I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t stop myself. I was shocked to find it was Ajax’s friend Lurk.
Barely moving his lips, he said, “Go down three blocks, cross to the other side of the street, and duck down the next alley. Get in the back seat and lay down. Roux is waiting there to take you home.”
“Is it safe at home?”
“Safer than out here.”
“What about . . .”
“Three blocks, cross the street, next alley, back seat,” Lurk said before he slowed down to let me walk ahead of him.
It took everything I had not to look over my shoulder and find him, but I managed to resist and followed his directions to the letter while still keeping my shuffling pace. When I got to the mouth of the alley, I turned and saw a vehicle I didn’t recognize idling at the other end. I kept up the slow pace, and as if I didn’t have a care in the world, I opened the rear passenger door, got into the car, and then slid down into the floorboard.
“Stay down, okay?”
“Tell me what’s going on,” I ordered as I started to pull off Lola’s clothes. As grateful as I was for her loaning them to me, I couldn’t stand another second with them on my body. Right now I wasn’t sure what I wanted more - a shower or to be safe. I’d know I won the big time if I got both.
“Lurk’s been clocking the men watching you since Ajax left. They . . .”
“You’ve known I was being followed for a fucking week and didn’t tell me?” I yelled.
“What would you have done about it other than behave unnaturally and let them know their cover was blown?”
“I don’t know, but it’s . . . What the fuck, Roux? Is there some caveman out there hosting seminars to teach all of you how to grunt and scratch while you pretend that the delicate little flower can’t handle some concerning information that just so happens to affect her ?” I felt a tiny bit bad because I knew that Roux probably wasn’t the one that made the decision to keep me in the dark, but until Ajax was standing in front of me so that I could yell at him , Roux was going to have to suffer through. “Does Ajax know what just happened?”
“Ajax is in the courtroom with Abigail as we speak. Last I heard, she was about to take the stand.”
“Well, shit.”
“Does it make you feel any better knowing that he’s out of the loop? He is going to lose his shit when he finds out someone was at your job to snatch you.”
“I’d like to say no, but that would be a lie.”
“The consensus among the prosecutors this morning was that the second Abigail put her shoulders back and got up on the witness stand to testify, the defendant’s ass would pucker up so hard that he’d have no choice but to take a deal.”
“Fuck him. Let the jury sentence him to fucking rot.”
“I agree, and we’ll make sure that his stay in prison won’t be pleasant, but the sooner they’re done there, the sooner Ajax can be here. Even better, that means you’ll stop fucking yelling at me and start yelling at him.”
“Sorry,” I muttered half-heartedly.
Roux said something in French that I didn’t understand, but I could only assume it wasn’t nice. I let it slide, though, because he was under a lot of stress. I had to worry about some cretin kidnapping me and doing God knows what, but Roux had to worry about the Devil himself losing his shit if something happened to me.
I was pretty sure I had the easier of the two situations.
“Are we going to be safe at home?”
“Honey, that’s the safest place in New Orleans right about now.”