Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Delilah
As I drive to the county jail, I debate with myself if this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, and before I even walk across the parking lot, I conclude that it is.
I’ve only ever been to the Sugarland Creek jail, which is really a two-person cell in the sheriff’s office.
The county jail is bigger.
And scarier.
Saying that as someone who’s not even the one behind bars is how I know this is a bad idea. But when he called—begging for my help, swearing he’s innocent, and claiming he has no one else to call—I felt bad and caved.
Hearing Jonah’s voice on the other line was unexpected and surprising after our last encounter.
Apparently, he got pulled over for speeding, though he claims he was only going five over the limit. They found an ounce of marijuana in the glove compartment and arrested him for drug possession.
He swears up and down it’s not his and that Wesley planted it and then had one of his buddies follow him until they pulled him over. There’s bad blood between them and he claims Wesley’s trying to get him in trouble.
After finding out they’re brothers-in-law and that Wesley was watching a suspect at the Twisted Bull, I assumed he was keeping an eye on Jonah.
Otherwise, it’s just a strange coincidence that he was there two hours after his shift to watch a suspect the same night his brother-in-law was there getting wasted.
But also, knowing Wesley and how shady he is, I don’t believe a word he says either.
If Jonah’s telling the truth, Wesley could be the one mixed up in drugs and that’s how he had them planted in Jonah’s truck in the first place.
However, my gut could be wrong, and I’m helping a drug dealer.
After his bail hearing, he called again to tell me it was set at two grand. He’s lucky it wasn’t more because otherwise, he would’ve had to get a bail bond to cover it. But since it’s his first offense, he’s not a flight risk and doesn’t have a criminal record, they gave him leniency.
In a few days, he’ll go to his arraignment and be formally charged. Then he’ll have to figure it out on his own. Best-case scenario, he won’t get jail time, but I only came to pay his bail and take him to his truck at the impound. I’m not getting involved more than that.
“Delilah…” He grabs my attention while I dazed out in the waiting room.
After I paid his bail, they directed me here, and I’ve been waiting for over two hours.
Standing, I greet him with a smile. “Hey. Glad they finally let you out.”
“I can’t thank you enough for comin’. Seriously, I owe you.”
I snort, hauling my bag over my shoulder and across my chest. “Yeah, two thousand dollars and one heck of a favor.”
He winces, and I know he feels bad. “I’ll pay you back, I promise. And whatever else you need, consider it done. A liver? Kidneys? You can have both.”
A laugh bubbles out of my mouth as I shake my head. He looks remorseful enough, so I don’t add any more guilt to his plate. “Okay, let’s go. It smells in here.”
He chuckles, following me toward the exit. “You don’t even wanna know what a cell smells like.”
“Save me the trouble, please.”
Once we get in my truck, he gives me directions to the impound lot. Apparently, they towed it after his arrest and now he has to pay to get it out.
“So how did they find the weed anyway?” I ask the burning question I’ve been wondering all day. “Did you give him permission to search your car?”
He scoffs. “Yeah, right. Officer Dickhead claimed I was actin’ suspicious. But my lawyer’s confident he can get the charges thrown out due to an unlawful search. After my arraignment, he’ll file a motion to suppress due to lack of probable cause.”
“How were you actin’?”
“Fuck if I know. I’d just worked a twelve-hour shift and was exhausted as hell.
He said my eyes were bloodshot and that I’d been slurrin’ my words, which I wasn’t.
When I tried to explain I was drivin’ home after a long night, he demanded I get out and then proceeded to search my truck.
I didn’t argue because I knew I didn’t have anythin’ illegal, but when he waved a bag in my face, claimin’ he found it in my glove compartment, I knew Wesley set me up. I don’t smoke weed.”
“Do you sell it?”
“Of course not! Wesley’s the one who has access to drugs. He’s either usin’, dealin’ or both. Hell, he could’ve stolen evidence from another case or some shit.”
“Does that actually happen in real life? Or have you been watchin’ too many crime drama shows?”
He shrugs. “Well, it’s the only thing that makes sense because it’s not mine. And I’m not stupid enough to store it in a spot that’s so easy to find.”
“Where would you put it?” I ask because now I’m curious.
“Everyone knows you stuff it in your pants or between the cheeks.”
Jesus Christ.
“Oh, of course…” I drawl sarcastically. “Right up the cooch too, right?”
He smirks. “So I’ve heard.”
“Why does Wesley want you in jail so badly?”
“When Raven announced they were gettin’ married, I spoke out against it. He’s never treated her right and is a piece of shit who cheats on her. I’m the only one in my family who doesn’t kiss his ass—the ‘all-mighty’ deputy…” He rolls his eyes. “So he finds any reason to fuck with me.”
“Accordin’ to Wilder, Raven cheated on him.”
“They were separated at the time, but he denies it, so he accuses her of being unfaithful.”
“Why’d they get back together?”
“Because he’s a manipulative prick who gaslights her and makes empty promises to do better so she won’t leave him.”
“That makes me feel bad for Raven, who probably feels too trapped to get out. Wesley wouldn’t make it easy on her if she tried,” I admit. “There are programs who can help her get out safely.”
“He’s a cop, so she doesn’t trust anyone not to take his side. It’s a miracle I talked her into leavin’ this last time.”
“Do you have any other family she could stay with?”
“No, our parents live in a one-bedroom house two hours away and our mom isn’t…
” He chews his lip before continuing, “She’s not well, mentally.
It’s why we don’t always see eye to eye.
My dad refuses to get her help because he claims she’s just fine.
Except just fine ain’t bargin’ into my room when I’m sixteen and pointin’ a gun at my face because she thought I was an intruder. ”
My eyes widen in shock. “Oh my God.”
“Yeah…that’s not even the worst of it. So it wouldn’t be a healthy environment for a pregnant woman hidin’ out from her cop husband. They’d probably bring him right to her.”
“Oh shit, I forgot she’s pregnant too.”
“Yep…it’s why I was helpin’ her pack when Wesley came home early and caught us. They had a fight the night before and he gave her a black eye. I told her she had to report it, and I’d put her up in my house until she could get a protective order in place.”
“And him being a cop, he didn’t like that…” I assume, shaking my head because I can tell where this is going.
“Nope. He punched me and then threw me into the wall, smashin’ a handful of their picture frames in the process. Then he got in my face and said if he ever saw me in his house again, he’d make sure it was the last time.”
“Fuckin’ hell.” My heart races just imagining what he put her through. “He sounds psychotic.”
“Egomaniac, self-centered, power-hungry prick,” he elaborates. “That was a few days before the Twisted Bull incident and why I was out with a co-worker gettin’ wasted. I needed a night out.”
Wesley must’ve been fuming by that point and used his pent-up anger on Wilder when he saw him get into my truck. Since Jonah hadn’t come out of the bar, he followed me instead and waited for the right moment to pull us over. He blames Wilder for sleeping with his wife and used me to antagonize him.
“So that’s the real reason he was stakin’ out in the parkin’ lot?”
“Yeah, he probably hoped I’d lead him to where I stashed Raven or maybe try and run me off the road. Not that I planned on drivin’ that night. Either way, he woulda fucked with me in some way if he’d gotten the chance.”
“Oh, so you got her outta there? Thank God.”
“Yep. One of her neighbors heard the fightin’ and screamin’ and called 911.
I got the protection order for Raven and me, filed a police report for the assault, and then took her to a woman’s shelter two towns over until I can find her an apartment.
I refused to leave their house without her.
Wesley was visibly pissed he couldn’t come after me with the sheriff there. ”
That’s why Sheriff Wagner said Wesley was already in hot water—the protection order and assaulting Jonah.
That would’ve been good information to have beforehand.
“Good for you. Now I’m glad Wilder knocked him out on his ass.”
He chuckles. “At least he’s suspended without pay.”
“And I’m sure that pisses him off even more.”
“Which is how I know this stunt is all his doing. I took his job and wife away and now he’s tryin’ to put me away. That’s why I couldn’t call Raven to help me. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s nearby, hopin’ she came to get me so he can follow her.”
Well, that’s an uncomfortable thought…
I look in my mirrors, checking for any suspicious drivers behind me.
“Don’t worry, I’ve been keepin’ an eye out,” he tells me when he notices.
Knowing more about the details makes me thankful I came because if I hadn’t, he would’ve been stuck there for days, and his sister would’ve been left vulnerable.
“Too bad you didn’t get pulled over in Sugarland Creek. Sheriff Wagner woulda known your history with Wesley and vouched for you.”
“Wesley ain’t that stupid, even if the rocks tumblin’ in his brain say otherwise. I work an hour away, so he had one of his cop buddies from another town follow me. He did it that way on purpose.”
I pull into the impound parking lot and stop in front of the office building.
“I’m sorry y’all are goin’ through this, especially Raven. Please let me know if I can help her in some way. And I’m sorry I assumed the worst about you and bailed at the café.”
“Don’t be. I don’t blame you considerin’ the information you had at the time. I’m grateful you were willin’ to come even when you thought I was a drug dealer.”
I chuckle, my face heating with embarrassment for being so quick to judge.
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad to be proven wrong. Hope you get some sleep and be careful, okay?”
“I will. Wesley knows if he comes near me, he goes to jail, so he won’t risk it. He’ll try and find other ways to get back at me—like he did today.”
He opens the door to get out but then glances over his shoulder. “Just to be safe, watch your back too, okay? No tellin’ what Wesley will do to anyone in his way.”