Page 156 of Passion at the Lake

Before he could rush me, I did exactly what I’d taught Pris years ago and kicked him in the groin—hard enough to send his balls to Cleveland. “Stop resisting arrest.”

He fell backwards, breaking a chair, and curled into a ball on the ground.

Sonya showed up with the handcuffs she’d bought last year after the second time Jim-Bob Cranston downed too many shots of mezcal and had a chair-breaking fit.

Jordan limped over, took the cuffs from Sonya, and waved a hand at the onlookers. “Y’all give us room.”

Sonya and two of the regulars moved the crowd back.

I helped Jordan get the asshole’s hands cuffed behind him. All the whimpering fool wanted to do was cradle his raisin balls in the fetal position and moan like a baby—in between threats to kill me, of course.

I sat on his back to keep him restrained while Jordan read him his rights.

His only response was, “Arrest her,” when Angela came into view. “She stole my car,” he complained to Jordan. “And drove it down here.”

“From Boston?” Jordan asked.

“Yeah.” He spat blood. “It’s called auto theft.”

“Okay…” Angela sighed.

“Quiet,” I said more sternly than I meant.

The fact that she didn’t object or even flinch at my command meant she was used to being ordered around, and that bothered me.

“No,” Jordan disagreed. “It’s called an issue for the Massachusetts authorities. I’ve got no jurisdiction over a claim like that. But assault and battery of a Virginia resident in my county? That’s something I can’t let go. And it comes with a chance for you to enjoy free food and lodging in one of our prisons for a year.” She winced as she stretched her shoulder. “Asshole. And that’s before we get to assaulting an officer.”

“Dickless,” I said. “His name is Dickless.”

“Fuck you,” he wheezed. “And I need a doctor. I can barely breathe.”

“You shouldn’t have attacked me,” I said calmly. “I was protecting myself and also the deputy here.”

“She’s not in uniform. How was I supposed to know she was a cop?”

“Because I fucking told you,” Jordan scoffed. “Twice. And it’s deputy to you.”

When Jordan looked my way, I shifted my eyes toward the bathroom. “Hey, I understand if you gotta pee,” I told her. “I’ll stay with him.”

She looked at me, baffled. “What?”

Pris got the drift before Jordan. “I gotta go too,” she said as she grabbed Jordan’s shirt and yanked. “Come on, Angela. You too.”

After the three girls left, I leaned over and whispered to Dickless. “I don’t think you understand how we do things here.”

He grunted. “Fuck off. My lawyer will eat you hicks alive. I’m either leaving with Angela or getting her charged with grand theft auto. Her choice.”

CHAPTER45

Angela

Pris forcedme ahead of her down the hall toward the bathroom. Jordan stopped, and I bumped into her.

“What’s going on?” Jordan demanded. “He better not do anything to that asshole, or I’ll have to charge him too.”

“Keep going.” Pris urged us forward. “I’ve seen little old ladies move faster than you two.”

Jordan pushed open the door, and I followed her inside. We weren’t alone.

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