Chapter 10 #2
It’s no secret that I have a temper. I’ve learned to control it over the years, but everyone has a limit. He doesn’t even try to put his hands up or move away when I swing at him. I’m not sure what he expected, but it clearly wasn’t me punching him in the mouth and splitting his lip.
His wife cries out like he’s just been beheaded and scrambles backward like I might attack her next while Will, the grill cook, steps between me and Austin.
The shock on Austin’s face is so satisfying but it doesn’t tamp down my anger.
I’m not the type to scream and rant. My rage is quiet and my voice is deathly calm when I tell him.
“I know you did this. Get the fuck out.”
“I’m calling the police!” Bethany sobs, pulling her phone out of the pocket of her long blue jean skirt and retreating a few more steps. This woman is afraid of her own shadow. You could almost feel sorry for her since she was raised extremely sheltered, but she’s as hateful as they come.
Austin holds his hand up at her. “Don’t. I’m fine.”
“But you’re bleeding!”
Ignoring her, he swipes the rivulet of blood from his chin and glares at me. “That’s a serious accusation you’re making. I didn’t have anything to do with this.”
“Bullshit.” The word escapes through my gritted teeth as I step around Will.
Austin starts to smile and winces a little.
“You’ve had a hard time lately. I heard about your house and now this, so I’m willing to be charitable and forgiving.
Apologize, and I won’t press charges for assault.
” Even bleeding, he’s so smug, so sure he’s in control.
The diner has never been so silent while everyone watches him take a step toward me again.
Some people just don’t learn the first time.
Before his foot touches the ground, I slam my fist into his nose. All my strength goes into the punch, along with all the anger and fear and despair I’ve felt since Mom died. No matter what happens, I’ll never forget the crunch under my knuckles and how good it felt.
“I said get the fuck out. Run and tattle to Daddy and Uncle Clay, you little bitch.” With that, I walk outside, sit on the curb, and wait to be arrested.
It’s freezing in here. The other time I was arrested was during the summer, and the cell was sweltering.
This isn’t as bad as that. Unlike last time, I don’t bother Calli to come and bail me out since I already have a criminal lawyer on retainer because of the fire investigation.
He thinks he can get me out on my own recognizance by tomorrow morning.
I’m spending the night, but I don’t care. It was worth it.
There are three other women in here with me. A dour faced older woman sits on the corner bench, scowling at the gray floor. A redhead with an undercut and both arms full of tattoos lies on another bench, trailing her fingertips over a crack in the wall. The last one I recognize.
“Molly?”
A woman about my age lifts her head from where it’s been resting on her palm. “Hey, Silly.” I haven’t heard anyone use that nickname since I was a kid. Which makes sense considering we haven’t spoken since I was about fourteen.
I move over to sit beside her. “I didn’t know you were back in town.” Molly moved away when her parents split up. She used to return to stay with her grandma in the summers and we often had sleepovers there.
“I was just visiting. Guess I didn’t leave fast enough,” she says with a giggle. She’s high on something judging by her tiny pupils and easy smile.
“What did they get you for?”
“Vicodin. At least I popped a couple when they pulled me over. It’ll make the night go easier. What are you here for?”
“I hit an entitled asshole in the face a couple of times.”
She blinks at me as if my words take a second to make it through, then bursts out laughing. “You haven’t changed a bit. Who did you hit?”
Sighing, I lay my head back against the wall. “Austin Matheson.”
The other two women instantly look my way and the redhead says, “The judge executive’s son?”
“That’s the prick, yeah.”
All eyes are on me now. They’re both quiet for a minute before the redhead exclaims, “Girl, they’re going to put you in a dungeon.” Her words crack me up in my tired state, and she grins at me. “What’s your name?”
“Silver.”
“I’m Kyla.” She comes over to sit near me and Molly.
“What are you here for?” I ask, stretching my legs out and leaning back against the wall.
“Weed possession. It’s boring. Tell us about whooping Austin’s ass.”
I realize the older woman is listening with interest as well. When our eyes meet, she nods. “I’m Abby.”
“Nice to meet you.” The words fall out automatically, but it feels like a strange thing to say in a jail cell.
Nothing is nice here. “He’s mad that I won’t sell Lucky’s Diner to him.
He tried siccing the health department on me but that didn’t work.
Then someone vandalized the diner last night.
Busted out windows, destroyed new equipment, and flooded the place.
I can’t prove it was him, but I know it was.
Then he had the audacity to come in and gloat over it. ”
“So you popped him one?” Molly asks.
“Or two.”
Molly giggles, and Kyra grins at me. “It’s about time someone did,” Abby mumbles, lying down on one of the benches.
She’s the only one who sleeps. Between the bright lights and constant chill, I know I won’t be able to and have no desire to try.
Kyra gets released a few hours later. Molly and I spend the night catching up, talking and laughing together.
I’m doing my best not to think about the clusterfuck I’m in because there’s nothing I can do about it right now.
My lawyer is true to his word, and I’m released early in the morning, just a few minutes after Molly, whose grandmother bailed her out.
My phone is full of texts and missed calls.
News has probably spread around town by now.
I open the one from Diana first, and she lets me know that she’ll meet me with my keys anytime.
I send her a reply, and she assures me she’s on her way to Lucky’s.
When I step out the door, Molly waves to me from the passenger seat of a Buick that Jesus might’ve owned. “Silver!”
Molly’s grandmother, Celia, comes into the diner a couple of times a month for lunch and a box of crullers. She grins at me when I bend down to look in the passenger window. “Ms. Celia. How are you?”
“Above the ground. Can I give you a ride home?”
“Thank you, but my truck’s at the diner. I can walk.” It’s only a few blocks away. The wind picks up, raising goosebumps on my skin.
“Get your ass in here, young lady. I’ll drop you off at your truck.” She won’t get any more resistance from me. I’m tired, cold, and in desperate need of a shower and some food.
She glances at me in the rearview mirror before pulling away from the curb. “I heard about what happened. I’m sorry.”
I’m not sure if she means my house burning down or the diner being smashed, but it doesn’t matter. “Thank you.”
Molly dozes off with her head against the window almost immediately and doesn’t wake when Celia turns into the diner’s lot. It breaks my heart to look at the place covered in boards with the parking lot empty and a closed until further notice sign on the door. Diana pulls in right behind us.
“There’s the manager with my keys,” I announce, getting out of the car. “Thanks for the ride.”
Celia rolls her window down and stops me before I can walk away. “Do you know where I live? Last house on Wildwood?”
“Sure, I know where that is.”
She glances over at her sleeping granddaughter, then back at me.
“Come and see me. I can help you get the Matheson’s off your back.
” I’m too tired to hide the doubt in my expression, and she nods her head repeatedly.
“I mean it. I know you have a million things to do right now. And I’ll be out of town with my son for the next week but stop by next Thursday afternoon. I can help.”
At this point, I’d agree to help from a priest, witch, or a summoned demon if it would straighten out the disaster my life has become. I can’t imagine how she thinks she can help, but why not?
“Okay, I’ll be there. Thanks again.”
After getting my keys from Diana, I let myself in the diner and have a quick look around.
They continued the cleanup after I was arrested, and there isn’t much left to be done until we get the windows in and the equipment repaired.
I make a quick call to Camille, letting her know no one needs to come in until further notice, that the place will be locked up.
I take a minute to look through my texts and missed calls.
It’s mostly people that I barely know or rarely talk to, wanting the whole story and gossip.
Calli hasn’t called but I’m not surprised. She and Arlow were supposed to be in St. Louis yesterday, taking his family to the zoo. She’ll be ringing my phone off the hook later, once the news reaches her, I’m sure. There’s one text from Lee that came last night.
Lee
Lock up tonight. I won’t be home.
Yeah, well, that makes two of us. I sigh, getting into my truck.
It’s just past nine when I make it to Lee’s and he hasn’t returned yet.
I shower, eat some leftovers, and feed the animals.
As soon as I crawl into bed for a nap, I hear Lee’s keys in the door and his boots thudding on the kitchen floor.
The sound of his voice as he speaks to someone on the phone is strangely comforting to hear, and sleep steals me away.