“Okeydoke,” I replied, rol ed over and careful y got up, holding my ribs.

When I was up and looked at him, he was staring at me with undisguised surprise.

“Sorry?” he asked.

“I said ‘okeydoke’. Can you hang on while I get ready?” He kept staring at me, then, slowly, he nodded.

“It takes awhile for me to get ready. Maybe you want to come back.”

His eyes went guarded.

“I’l wait.”

“That’s cool. Coffee’s in the kitchen,” I told him and then went to the shower.

* * * * *

I’d never pressed charges against anyone. I’d never even been to a police station except on a field trip in sixth grade. I wasn’t sure what the dress code was. I took a shower. I blow dried then parted my hair deep on the side and smoothed it into a severe ponytail secured at the nape of my neck. I caked on the makeup to try and hide the bruising (this, for your information, didn’t work). I wore a skintight, camel-colored, pencil skirt that came down to just below the knee and had a slit up the back, topped with a red, jersey t-shirt and, on my feet, sexy, red, spike-heeled sling backs. Final y, I tied a jaunty scarf around my neck.

I looked like Faye Dunaway’s Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde, but without the beret or shotgun and with a little more flair for color.

I walked out and Eddie was on the sofa, drinking coffee and watching a bal game.

“Ready,” I announced and went to the TV. “You want me to turn this off?”

Uncle Tex’s TV had to be thirty years old; it had no remote. It was likely considered a priceless antique in some circles. It definitely belonged in a museum.

I turned and looked at Eddie. He was giving me the once-over.

“Eddie?” I cal ed when he didn’t answer.

His eyes had kind of glazed over, but he came to and looked at me.

“Let’s rol ,” he said.

I almost didn’t get up into his fancy, red truck because my skirt was so tight but I made it.

We drove to the station in complete silence.

He parked and I twisted gingerly to undo my seatbelt. He stopped me from twisting back around to get out when he put a hand on my arm.

“You should know somethin’ about what’s happenin’ with your boyfriend,” he said, looking me in the eyes.

I blinked at him.

“Boyfriend?” I asked.

“Flynn,” he replied.

My back went up. “That would be my ex-boyfriend,” I informed him.

He stared at me, then ignored what I said and went on.

“You repeat any of this in the station, I’l deny it.” It was my turn to stare at him.

He continued. “Lee’s got one of his boys lookin’ for him.

Not only that, he’s put a bounty on Flynn so not only is Ike lookin’ for him, and the cops, but also every bounty hunter in about eight states. Lee’l probably get him before we do.

Hank has given Lee orders and Tex has agreed,” he paused and watched me. “Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”

I didn’t so I shook my head.

“Flynn’s going to the holding room before he’s turned over to the police. Vance has cal ed dibs. Vance gets first crack after Tex has his shot. Hank’s bowed out but you know that by now.”

Oh, I knew that last bit, for certain. Hank had been pretty clear that morning.

I also understood what Eddie was tel ing me. Bil y was going to this “holding room” and they were going to beat the going to this “holding room” and they were going to beat the shit out of him. I felt badly for Bil y, but I figured what comes around, goes around.

“Do you understand now?” Eddie asked.

I nodded my head.

“You got anything to say about that, say it now, to me. I won’t like it but I’l put in your word. Right now, it’s up to Tex and Vance to take into consideration what you have to say.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I’l talk to Lee about havin’ Flynn taken directly to the cops, no holding room. You should know, I doubt he’l listen.

It wasn’t easy for him to watch his brother, or Tex, go through that.”

Well, poor Lee. I thought.

It wasn’t a nice thought, but then again, I wasn’t having one of my better days. In fact, I wasn’t having one of my better weeks.

“Let me get this straight,” I said. “You think I’m going to ask you to protect Bil y?”

“That’s right,” he replied.

I turned ful y to him. It kind of hurt my ribs, but I did it al the same. I wanted to have his ful attention. “First off, he tried to strangle me, then he took a switchblade to the sweater I was wearing, then he hit me, then he dragged me through Hank’s house.”

Eddie’s eyes had been guarded, but the guard slipped at my words.

I ignored it and carried on.

“Then he kicked me in the f**king ribs, threatened to rape me on Hank’s bed and kidnapped me, bound my wrists, drove like a f**king crazy man for two days, tied me to the steering wheel any time he left the car and made me go to the bathroom with my hands tied while he watched.” Eddie’s guard was gone, now, his eyes were glittering.

“That’s just plain rude,” I told him. “I won’t even get into the two bad guys with guns or sitting on a stinking bathroom floor handcuffed to a f**king sink not to mention the fact that I didn’t get a shower in three days. I threw away my cutest pair of Lucky jeans because of that guy!” My voice was getting louder, it was fil ing the cab, and I didn’t care.

I threw up my hands and looked at the ceiling of the truck. “I mean, jeez! I broke up with him, like, I don’t know, years ago! A woman locks you out with your suitcases in the hal , get a f**king clue! ”

Okay, now I was shouting.

“Roxanne –” Eddie said.

I ignored him.

“Then, Uncle Tex is back here, al freaked out and Hank… whatever. And Lee’s boys are running al over the f**king Bible Belt,” I stopped and looked at him. “Are Nebraska and Kansas in the Bible Belt?” I asked but I didn’t wait for an answer. “Anyway, doesn’t matter. I don’t know what this holding room is, but I don’t care. Do whatever. Bil y’s a memory. I just don’t want to know.” Then I turned, opened my door and jumped out of the truck.

It would have been a great exit, except I kind of wobbled on my heel a little bit when I landed.

I started walking without waiting for Eddie, but he caught up to me.