Chapter 10 #4
He wasn’t at all surprised to see a police officer standing there. “Hello, officer. Can I help you?”
“Is your name Kyle Miller?”
Kyle nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“I’m Officer Jernigan,” the policeman said, holding out a hand for Kyle to shake. As Kyle shook it, the officer said, “We got a complaint from Margie Ivitts. I take it you know Mrs. Ivitts.”
“Yes, unfortunately. She’s been following me and my girlfriend around, and it’s getting a bit ridiculous.”
“You went to a lot of trouble last night,” the officer said with a lopsided grin.
Kyle pulled out his best confused look. “What do you mean?”
“Come on. We know it was you. Had to be. And I don’t blame you. That old biddy is trouble with a capital ‘T’. I’d just hate for you to get caught doing something like that so she actually had a case against you.”
“If I did do something like whatever it is, she’d never catch me. You see, sir, I have an older brother and sister. I’ve been picked on my entire life. So I know how to retaliate in grand fashion and still not really hurt a thing.”
“That’s just it. You didn’t, and there’s nothing we can do about it. But she could get you for trespassing.”
“We could also get her for trespassing because she keeps coming around and harassing us.”
The police officer nodded. “I understand. Get a restraining order against her.”
“We’ve talked about it, but that wouldn’t keep her away and would just waste the department’s time trying to get her under control. I don’t think it would accomplish a thing.”
“You might be right, but it would be better than getting caught doing something you shouldn’t.”
Kyle chuckled. “Think anybody would convict me?”
The officer laughed loudly. “Not unless they had to! Have a good evening, Mr. Miller. Nice meeting you.”
“You as well, sir.” Kyle closed the door, grinning the whole time.
“Kyle?” He turned to find Briley standing there. “What was that about?”
“Oh, nothing, son. Just giving somebody a taste of their own medicine.”
Briley grinned. “Wouldn’t be my crazy ex-grandmother, would it?” the boy asked, using his and Hadley’s favorite term for Margie.
“Maybe.”
“Can I help?”
“No. If somebody’s going to get into trouble, it’ll be me, not you.”
“Well, if you need help …” the kid said with a huge smile.
“Might need some ideas.”
“I’m full of those!” Briley said with a laugh.
“I bet you are, son,” Kyle said and ruffled the boy’s hair as he walked past. “I bet you are.”
He waited until he and Gina were alone before he told her what he’d done. “You didn’t!”
“I did. Wish I could’ve been there to see her reaction. I’m sure she lost her shit,” Kyle said, laughing.
Gina was laughing too. “I bet she did! She knew it was you. That’s why she sent the cops over here.”
“Yeah, but they’re not going to do anything. They despise her as much as we do, so they won’t do anything unless I tear something up, and I’m not planning to do that.”
“So what’s next?”
“We wait to see if she’s going to come after us again. If she does, I’ve got more surprises in store for her. It’ll be too much fun.”
Gina was still laughing. “I almost hope she turns up so I can see what you’re going to do next!”
“Oh, it’ll be good, trust me.” And boy, it sure would be.
Gina had only been at work about ten minutes on Monday morning when the front door opened and the devil’s sister came strolling in. “I need to talk to you, missy,” Margie spouted off.
“No, you don’t. I have nothing to say to you. Dad told you the next time you showed up here, he’d have you arrested for trespassing. Get out.”
There was a rustling behind Gina and she felt her dad’s presence. “Do as my daughter says and get out, Margie.”
“You tell that boyfriend of yours to leave me alone!”
“First off, I’m not going to tell that boyfriend of mine anything from you. And second, we’ve asked you to leave us alone and you won’t. If he did anything to you, and I do mean if, I think he’d be justified, don’t you?”
“No. That’s just wrong. I haven’t hurt any of your property,” Margie pointed out.
“Was your property damaged in some way?”
“The wheels were taken off my car!”
“But were they damaged? Did you have to have something replaced?”
“I couldn’t drive it until I got somebody to put the wheels back on!”
“But were they hurt?”
“Well, uh, no, but—”
“But nothing. If nothing was hurt, what’s your problem? Now get out of here. I don’t want you around, and I certainly don’t want you around my children.”
“Now see here—”
“No, you see here. This is my property and you’re not welcome here,” Miles said forcefully, and the glare in his eyes told Gina he meant what he was saying. “If you don’t leave, I’ll carry you out myself, do you hear me? Now go.”
“I’m going, but I’ll be back!” Margie yelled, storming out.
“Don’t bother!” Gina called after her. “Jesus, I wish she’d leave us alone!” she shrieked as the door closed behind Margie.
Miles shook his head. “I don’t expect that’s going to happen. But I will say, if anybody you know needs help getting back at her, I’d love to help them.”
Gina laughed. “You know, Dad, somebody I know just might take you up on that offer!”