When the defense attorney was screwing up to say something, Bereford slapped his hand on his bench, lifted up a piece of paper and kept talking.
“Now, I’ve read the victim’s statement.” He slapped it down and lifted up another piece of paper. “And I’ve read the witness statement.” Again with the slapping and the lifting, this time the blank side out. “And I’ve seen the pictures the hospital sent to our sheriff’s deputy of the victim after the attack.” Another slap down and lift. “And right here I have details of why this man has a protection order on him as lodged by his ex-wife.” He also slapped that down. “Now, he may not have been arrested in the past, councilor, but I assume you have passed the bar. So I’ll advise you to have a conversation with your client. Because, you see, if this court is forced to convene a jury to look into this matter, wasting time and county resources, during sentencing I’m going to be in a very bad mood.”
“You’ve tried and convicted him yourself, Judge,” the defense attorney spat.
“It’s not my job to try and convict him, sir,” Bereford returned. “What I’m trying to communicate to you is that you’ll have to wring miracles to come through with what I’m assuming with what’s been laid before me this morning is a very foolhardy promise you’ve made your client.”
“There are glaring issues with this case. He was held at gunpoint by a civilian, for God’s sake,” the attorney retorted.
Bereford leaned into his bench. “Son, if you think for one second a jury of Nebraskans is gonna have an issue with a neighbor hearin’ their female neighbor screamin’ and they see her racin’ away with a face full of blood then that neighbor joggin’ out with his pistol to see to things, you obviously come from somewhere else.” He waved his hand to the prosecution table. “Talk. Be smart. Do right by your client. And just to make things even more clear, if this gentleman posts bond and he’s within one hundred yards of the victim, he’ll be accommodated by McCook County for some time seein’ as he’ll be held without bail until this matter is settled.” Before the defense lawyer could say another word, Bereford stood while slamming down his gavel and shouting, “Adjourned!”
“All rise!” the bailiff called.
Hix had barely got his ass off the bench before Bereford disappeared through the side door, his robes flapping behind him.
Larry and Bets came forward to get the defendant while Gemini moved from his seat two rows back and approached Hix and Hal.
Gemini stopped and looked up at them.
“I’ll just wait for you outside, Hix,” Hal murmured and said, “Jones,” as greeting to Gemini while he shifted by him.
“Deputy,” Gemini replied.
They watched Hal go, and he was halfway down the aisle when Gemini turned back to Hix.
“It would seem I made you a promise I unintentionally didn’t keep, Sheriff.”
“You’re about as much to blame for that asshole attacking Greta as I am,” Hix returned, finishing with, “And it’s Hix.”
Gemini smiled but it died as his gaze shifted to the defense table.
“There are some who listen and learn and there are some who need to experience harder lessons.”
“Yup,” Hix agreed.
Gemini looked back to him. “He’ll make bail.”
That morning Hix had learned the man who attacked Greta was some rich muckity-muck who did something with construction over in Sheridan County. This, maybe, being why he thought his shit didn’t stink enough to shovel a colossal amount of it his ex-wife’s way during their divorce.
This also, maybe, why he thought he could sit in his car and face off against Gemini, his man and Hix in staking a claim to Greta he’d never have, thinking, maybe, if she knew who he was and how loaded, she’d feel flattered. Or thinking he had the money to elevate himself above any shit they piled on him, thus convincing himself he was untouchable.
He could just be psychotic.
He just was an asshole.
And until he made bail, he was now incarcerated and things would go worse for him if he approached Greta again.
It wasn’t a guarantee.
But he’d have to be an asshole, a moron and a tool not to catch Bereford’s message just now, and he didn’t get as loaded as he was being the middle of those.
The other two were a given.
“She’ll be all right,” Hix assured.
Gemini’s focus intensified. “Will she?”
That was when Hix’s focus intensified. “Yes.”
Gemini studied him a beat before he murmured, “I see.”
Hix suspected Gemini saw a lot.
So he confirmed, “Yup.”
Gemini smiled again but said, “I’m sorry you’ll need to be keeping his company at your department until he posts bond and scurries back to Sheridan County.”
“Not a lot of folk who take temporary residence in one of our cells are a bundle of laughs so me and my deputies will survive.”
Still smiling, Gemini nodded.
The smile died again when he asked, “Is she okay?”
“You may need to find another act for a week or two, Gemini. She’s okay but he did a number on her nose. I’m sure she’ll call and talk to you about it.”
“Call me and try to explain how she can still sing so she doesn’t lose her weekly installments to her keep-Andy-settled pot.”
“Sorry?” Hix asked.
“She looks after her brother,” Gemini told him.
“I know.”
“I mean financially as well. She’s his guardian.”
That wasn’t a surprise, knowing what little he knew about her mother, but that little was enough.
“So she sings because she loves it and she sings because she has to,” he murmured mostly to himself.
“I try to focus on the first part,” Gemini said.
Hix wanted to as well.
He knew Sunnydown. It was a nice place. But any of those places cost a whack.
“She’s a hairstylist,” he noted.
“Yes, but before that, well before that, Hix, Greta is a loving sister.”
“Shit,” he whispered.
With all that was going on, none of this had occurred to him.
And right then, it occurring to him, it also occurred to him that had to be rough on Greta and she lived that. She had for years.
And he’d walked into her house, laying her out about a mother who put her brother right where he was, also putting Greta in the position to look out for him for the rest of his days.
Christ.
Christ.
“I’m not telling you any of this as a break in confidence,” Gemini shared, pulling him from his thoughts. “Everyone in town knows, except, it would seem, you.” He lifted his hand and gave Hix another smile before Hix could speak. “I know. It’s complicated. But I also know it’s not my business.” He dropped his hand and the smile changed. “I further know, and am happy to do so, that you’re about to embark on a fabulous journey of discovery. Enjoy, my friend, and while you do, take care of our girl.”
Hix’s mind full of all he’d learned, he could do nothing but lift his chin.
Gemini gave him a low wave, turned and walked away.
At one o’clock, Hix walked into the salon, his gaze on Greta who was folding something at her chair.
She looked wiped. Dead on her feet.
She should have taken the day off.
“Hey, sweetheart. Ready?” he asked.