Chapter 8
The drive over to the station is tense. Minnie can feel her heart still pounding out of her chest, skin cold and clammy. It seems even Marlin is ill at ease, his large hands tight on the steering wheel. He’s got a large, flatbed truck, and he drives it like he means business.
Every turn, sharp. Every light, a race off the starting line. Minnie finds herself hanging onto the ‘oh no’ handle more often than not. He should have had the decency to at least warn her that he drove like a madman before offering to take her to the station!
What, would you have preferred to ride with Red? Minnie grimaces.
Her breathing is sharp and jagged as she tries not to focus on how this car ride feels like that dreadful day, so long ago, being dragged around town in her father’s stolen car with a crew of wicked men. The speed, the chaotic driving style. It all brings back memories in shades of ominous unease.
She tries to slow her breathing, but her calming techniques aren’t working.
“You’re awful quiet over there,” Marlin utters, his voice like deep thunder cracking over the silence of a peaceful field. “You ‘aight?”
Minnie takes a deep breath and rubs her nose, looking down at her purse dejectedly. Why is she such a pathetic mess? “…I’ve been better.” Another sharp turn has her squeaking, flailing in her seat. Time to speak up, Mouse. “Must we drive so…haphazardly?”
A low chuckle emits from his chest. “Ah, it’s my driving that’s got you pale as milk, is it? Shiiiid. Sorry girlie, old habits die hard.” He attempts to slow down to a more normal style of driving. “I’ll bring out my Driving Miss Daisy side, just for you.”
As they sit at another stoplight, Minnie asks, “What do you mean, old habits die hard? You’ve said that before.”
For a moment, he says nothing, staring straight ahead. The color of the light changing from red to green casts a halo of neon across his features. After the odd pause, he replies softly, “A bit of driving got me in trouble in the past, that’s all.”
Minnie bites her lip and frowns, looking out her window into the darkness of the night. Her mind is bursting with questions, which helps her focus on anything other than what just happened to Gage. “Were you in prison as well? Like Gage?”
He gives her a sharp look before taking another turn, nice and slow. His big hands seem to dwarf the steering wheel. “For a shy little thing, you sure like to ask the tough questions, don’t you?”
She feels horrible. Minnie supposes asking someone if they’re a felon could be seen as insulting. The words come out in a rush. “I can be nosey. I get it from my mother; she always pries. I shouldn’t have asked that, I’m sorry-”
They aren’t far from the station now. Minnie’s heart pounds as she tries not to think about what comes next.
“You can ask whatever you want, girl.” Marlin’s tone is calm and straightforward as he relays his piece.
“I was in prison. So was Chase. And Red. I’d like to say we’re all perfect stand-up citizens, but we aren’t.
We did time. We deserved that time. I’m old enough to accept that, but it took a stretch for me to come to terms with it.
Now, we gotta fix ourselves.” He gives her a small smile.
“I’d say Gage is doing a stellar job if someone like you would even give him the time of day. ”
Someone like her. Minnie bites her lower lip.
She knows exactly what he means; an Uptown Gold girl.
She’s someone who would normally never cross paths with someone like Gage.
She’s supposed to be someone who would cross the street to avoid him.
At least, she assumes that’s what he means… what else could he mean?
“Just because I grew up on the fancy side of town doesn’t mean I can’t like someone who didn’t,” she says defensively.
“Gage is more than his past, and I’ve chosen to see beyond it.
He’s driven, street-smart, and handy. I’ve seen him fix things in my house that my father would scratch his head at!
Not to mention how good Gage is with cars.
” Shoot, that reminds her; he needs to give her an oil change soon so she can avoid the mechanic.
She sits up straighter. “He treats me better than most of the guys who date my sister. You’d think that would count for something… ”
Actually, she’s certain Gage treats her better than all of the guys that Ariel dates. Her sister either has very poor taste or simply finds men who are too self-centered to see beyond themselves.
Marlin seems to catch on to where her mind has gone. “I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume Gage hasn’t met your ‘rents. You worried about what they gonna to think of him?”
Minnie grimaces, remembering that morning. “We saw my father at the butcher this morning when we were getting the meat. My father is already brooding somewhere about it. When he broods, it’s never good. He’s protective. And he has…”
“Has what?”
She shrugs awkwardly. “He has a lot of pull in town. His vast donations earn him a lot of favors.”
Marlin pulls into the police station parking lot, putting the truck in park.
He mulls over her words, chewing on them.
Finally, he says, “Fathers are tough. No one is ever good enough for them.” He turns off the ignition.
His tone is cryptic when he comments, “Sometimes though, fathers have reasons for being upset.”
Puzzled, but nodding along, Minnie wonders what he’s insinuating. It seems odd to her because wouldn’t a friend be on Gage’s side and want everyone to accept the good person they’ve become? What is Minnie missing?
The police station looms, seemingly alive with late-night action. Vehicles come and go, as do the people through the front doors. Weekends are always busy for the law around here. Being near Harrow’s Row means there’s never a dull night for the police.
“You ready? Want me to come in with you?”
Stepping out of the truck, Minnie heads towards the front doors, saying, “As ready as I’m going to be. I would appreciate your backup.”
“Got it, girlie.” Marlin follows behind her, a large hulking man looking very much like her own personal bodyguard.
Steeling herself, Minnie marches up to the front desk. Putting on her brave face, she draws herself up to her not-so-impressive height and looks down her nose the best she can. “I’m here for Gage Travers. Whatever bail you’ve set, I’m going to pay it.”
A harried-looking woman sits behind the desk.
Her brown hair is pulled back in a tight, military-style bun and the expression on her face shows she is far from amused by Minnie’s posturing.
“Who are you, the Queen of England? If he’s the one who came in tonight with SWAT, we aren’t setting him loose. Or the other one with him.”
Not about to be deterred so easily, Minnie forces herself to push forward despite internally quailing at the confrontation.
She has Marlin backing her, so that has to count for something.
“Your officers busted down the front door and took them both. I’d like to know on what charges and why they’re being held.
We were only told a ‘call had been made’ about illegal firearms and drugs.
That doesn’t sound like you can hold him to me.
In fact, I question the legality of your actions! ”
Marlin leans down to whisper in her ear, “Easy there, killer. Being a ball-buster won’t help.”
The stooge behind the counter is utterly unmoved, instead choosing to glower at Minnie as though she’s become a criminal herself.
What a novel experience! “You are correct. We received a call that there were guns on the premises with individuals who do not have the right to own guns anymore. Gage Travers and Chase Kerristan are not under arrest, but they are being detained for questioning. Besides, we did find a substantial amount of weed on-premises-”
Marlin makes a face of confusion and surprise, then stifles a groan of annoyance. The groan sounds suspiciously like Chase.
Perplexed, Minnie splutters out, “Weed? Why didn’t you just bring us all in then? Goodness.”
The unhelpful woman shrugs. “I didn’t make the call on who was picked up. Just go home, you can get him -or them both- tomorrow.”
The sinking feeling inside Minnie grows. “Can I at least see Gage to make sure he’s okay?”
“No.”
Fine. The woman didn’t want to make it easy? Time to pull a very old card. Setting her shoulders, Minnie says, “I’d like to speak with Captain Noweth.”
The woman scowls at her as if she’s a rancid nuisance. Her face turns red with irritation. “He’s busy.”
That excuse isn’t going to work on Minnie. “He’ll speak with Minerva Fray. Tell him I’m here.”
The woman digests the name, realizing exactly who Minnie is. Then, she rolls her eyes and rolls her seat around, calling behind her, “Can someone tell the Captain he’s got the Queen Herself, Miss Minerva Fray, here to see him? Yeah, the Bank Hostage.”
Minnie feels her face become quite unamused.
For a minute more, she finds herself having a glaring contest with the woman behind the counter until a familiar face finally arrives; an old friend of her father’s. Captain Noweth, the man who had taken care of her at the station after that horrible event years ago.
She remembers how he gave her a nice hot chocolate and a terrible muffin that tasted like dirt.
She hadn’t cared; she’d thought he was a saint after he reunited her with her father that day.
He’s got a well-lined face, aged from stress, but his dark eyes carry warmth.
He made her feel safer that horrible day long ago.
His expression softens a bit when he sees her, coming around to the lobby side. “Minerva,” he says in greeting. “I can’t say I had you paying me a visit on my bingo card for tonight.”
“Captain,” Minnie replies with relief, tension leaking out of her shoulders. “It’s been a while, I know. But, I have a bit of a situation…”