“Ah. I see. So people who lie or cheat or say, go behind their best friend’s back and kidnap their sister while plotting to do unspeakable things to her body, should own up and pay for it, right? Should be punished?”
Of course he would go there. I narrow my eyes at him. “We’re not breaking the law, last I checked. Although I’ve been doing some Internet research and there are a few positions I want to try that might be illegal in some states.”
Gavin shakes his head. “Only you could make a crack like that when you’ve only been awake for five minutes.”
“What can I say? I’m pretty damn special.”
“If that’s what they’re calling it these days.” Gavin gives me a hint of a grin before motioning to the building before us. “You don’t have to go in, but I need to fill out some paperwork and help her get her personal belongings.”
I huff out my annoyance. I didn’t ride all this way to sit in the car. “I’m coming with you. Surprisingly, this is my first trip to a jail.”
Gavin rubs his neck, and I notice the exhaustion ringing his eyes for the first time. “Considering some of the crap we pulled as kids, that actually is surprising.”
I nudge him gently in the side as we make our way to the front door. “Well, Clyde, I always knew we’d end up here someday.”
His shoulders stiffen but then he winks at me. “You’re not bad company to have, Bonnie. I’m almost glad you came along.”
Bailing someone out of jail is a lot more complicated than it sounds. And when it’s someone who truly doesn’t deserve the time and effort involved, it’s that much more frustrating.
I think I always assumed you walked up to a teller’s window like at the bank and handed over your money in exchange for the inmate of your choosing. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Katrina with a K and Garrison with two R’s,” Gavin tells the lady in the uniform at the front desk. “She was picked up the day before yesterday.”
“Charge?” The woman says without glancing up from the computer.
“Solicitation, I think. I’m not entirely sure of the specifics,” Gavin mutters.
Sliding my fingers between his, I give his hand a squeeze. He doesn’t return it, but he doesn’t pull away, either.
The raven-haired middle-aged woman with a pixie cut taps away on the keyboard for several minutes before letting out a low sound that reminds me of one my Nana used to make. I’m pretty sure it’s the equivalent of her calling Gavin’s mom a two-bit hussy. Which she is, but still . . . this is her son standing here.
With an overly exaggerated sigh, she rubs her eyes before giving us an exasperated look as if she’s bored with our presence already. Her impassive gaze meets Gavin’s and I can see the pity and the slight disgust in it. I have no doubt that he can, too.
“There are several charges against her,” she tells us. “She solicited a police officer, Mr. . . .”
“Garrison,” Gavin supplies. “She’s my mother.”
The woman cringes and I want to slap her. What is it, her first day? Even I can manage to contain my feelings better than she is.
“Well, I’m sure your mother would love to see you, but unfortunately visiting hours are on Sunday only.”
“I’m not here to visit. I’m here to bail her out,” Gavin snaps.
Tugging gently on his hand, I pull him back enough for him to take a breath.
“Ma’am,” I say, leaning over the desk a little. “We’ve driven a really long way and we have to turn around and get back to Austin as soon as possible. If we need to contact a bondsman or whatever, we’d need to do that as soon as possible.”
“It’s ten grand to get her out today, but honestly, her court date is Monday morning. I can see that she’s had warrants out before for failing to appear. If I were you, I’d leave her here.” She shrugs and the movement tremors through Gavin’s body as if she punched him in the chest.
Ten grand. Holy hell.