No.
No, I was not okay. I was anything but okay. I was so far away from okay that okay was in another dimension.
“Peachy,” I said.
“Why are you lyin’ on the floor?” he asked.
Because the best guy I’d ever met thought I was some stupid, idiot woman who would protect an outlaw even after he’d beaten me and kidnapped me and dragged me through three states. Because that same guy was about goodness and justice and wanted nothing to do with a woman like me. Because that fact broke my heart and pissed me off and I wasn’t sure which one I felt more. I thought.
“I felt like having a rest,” I answered.
Eddie took a second to process this, then he said, “Did you talk to Hank?”
I nodded my head.
“I’m here to take you down to the station to file charges against Flynn.”
“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.