He tried to grab the long lens of the camera, but the reporter ducked and ran behind the lunch counter, snapping away at a dozen somber black faces.
Doll noticed a paddy wagon pulling up to the front of the store. Before she could nudge Lola Mae, six policemen barged in the front door pulling handcuffs from their belts. One of them came over to Doll.
“Come on, baby, don’t give me no trouble,” he said as he held up the cuffs.
When Doll glanced at his nametag, her heart sank. She’d been warned about Gormley. He was fat and pink-skinned with small beady eyes, and he was snarling at her in a way that made Doll catch her breath. Gormley grabbed her wrist and pulled her until her face was even with his.
“What’s this?” he said, pointing at her face. “Hey, Frank. Come take a look at this one. She’s got one nigger eye and one blue eye. Your mama been fucking a white man, honey?” he said loud enough for everyone to hear. Then he whispered in Doll’s ear as he slapped the cuffs down hard on her wrist. “You like to fuck white guys, too? You want to fuck a white cop? That’s the only way I’m going to let you go.”
Gormley tried to pull Doll up out of her seat by the handcuffs. She resisted. She gave Doretha a pleading look, but Doretha pretended not to notice what was going on. Something worse than fear gripped Doll, a feeling of pure helplessness. She tightened her lips, determined never to feel this way ever again. Never. Not if she could help it.
“Come on now, don’t give me no trouble.” Gormley grabbed the billy club from his belt and was about to backhand Doll when Lola Mae jumped up from her seat.
“No!” she screamed.
From the corner of her eye, Doll saw Lola Mae stick out her arm just as the billy club came down. Lola Mae fell to the floor, writhing in pain.
Another officer, a tall, thin man with jet-black hair came running over before Gormley could get in another blow. “What the hell you doing, Gormley? You had strict orders not to use any unnecessary force.”
Doll recognized him. It was Lieutenant Kennedy. She began to breathe a little easier.
“The bitch wouldn’t listen,” Gormley said, giving Lola Mae a good kick as she lay on the floor.
Lola Mae let out a moan and began to cough.
“I’ll take it from here,” Lieutenant Kennedy said. He motioned for another officer to come over and assist. “From the look of that arm, you might want to call an ambulance.”
The young officer helped Lola Mae up and escorted her outside.
Gormley grunted and followed them out the door, but not before he gave Doll a look of pure hatred.
“Come on, I’m taking you home.” Kennedy uncuffed Doll and walked her out of the store and around the corner. He helped her into the backseat of his squad car. When he got in, he took off his cap and leaned over the seat. He spoke calmly, even though he was scolding her. “What in the hell were you doing here, Doll? You could have gotten yourself locked up, or worse.”
Doll knew what he meant. Gormley was notorious for such behavior.
She fell back against the seat. As they drove off, she began to wonder what might have happened if Lieutenant Kennedy hadn’t been there to help her, the truth of her mother’s words ringing in her ears.
You may not be so lucky next time.
Doll was relieved to find that Fannie’s car was still gone when they pulled up to the house.
“You won’t say nothing?” Doll said to Lieutenant Kennedy.
He shook his head. “Go on. Before Fannie misses you.”
Fannie wasn’t the one she was worried about. Queenie was going to kill her if she found out she’d gone against her wishes. Doll hurried down the driveway, hoping no one had seen her getting out of the squad car, and went into the garage to change back into her uniform. She sneaked up to the back door, and when she didn’t see Queenie in the kitchen, she went in, took a seat by the back window, and began polishing silver.
“Where you been?” Queenie asked as she came in the kitchen.
“What you mean?” Doll answered. “I been upstairs working on Miss Fannie’s dress, like I told you. Why?” She felt a trickle of sweat drip down the side of her neck.
“I didn’t hear the radio. You always play the radio when you sewing,” Queenie said.
“I had the door shut. Didn’t want to disturb you while you was watching your stories,” Doll said.
Queenie gave her a hard look. “Really? Since when you so considerate?”
“I’m always considerate, Mama. You taught me that. You a good mama.”
Queenie closed one eye. “Then why you sweatin’? You been up to something?”
Doll shook her head. “No, Mama, I been here the whole time. You just too busy with your stories to notice.”
Chapter Nine
Ibby could tell that Fannie was upset from her altercation with Vidrine a few moments ago. She was driving with one hand, smoking a cigarette with the other, and barreling down the street as if there were an emergency somewhere. Ibby wondered if she should be driving at all, considering the bump on her head.