Page 34 of Absolute Valor

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. We haven’t had a break in or anyone arrested from the shop.”

“Are you fucking with me, Ree Ree?”

“Listen, if there had been a problem, I would have had to call the insurance and alarm people. I haven’t had to do that, so no.”

“She hasn’t called me or come by in almost a week. Pops said he heard she was in lock up when I picked him up yesterday from county.” Austin started clicking away on the keyboard as Dylan scribbles again.

You’re doing great, but we need to meet tonight.

“Listen, Lucas, I have the money and I was able to pay the power bill, so you can go back to the trailer tomorrow. I’m hoping we can meet this evening so I can get you this money.”

There is uncomfortable silence on the phone and I worry the line has disconnected. “Hello? Lucas, you still there?”

“You ain’t been over there in awhile, you find someone new to sleep under? Not that I give a shit, so long as you remember who your baby belongs to. She still needs takin’ care of.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” He had denied her at every turn, unless she could get him money, he wanted nothing to do with her.

“Hey, I was thinking ‘bout something.” I can’t help it and roll my eyes, he hasn’t thought out anything in his entire miserable life. “What day is your boss coming back?”

Looking to Dylan, the panic is clear in my eyes. “Thursday.” I blurt out, cringing as it leaves my mouth.

“All right, I’ll meet you at Pop’s at five-thirty. Grace hasn’t seen him in a couple of weeks and she might like that.” My body quakes with the anticipation of holding my baby again. “I need you to leave the alarm off tomorrow night. That motherfucker whose ass I nearly kicked, owes me for the bottle he threw like a bitch. I bet there are a few things around the shop I can get my money out of.” Dylan makes a hand gesture as if imitating masturbation. “Make sure you bring the stack of cash you showed me, Amy got locked up last night for soliciting and public intoxication. Damn bail bondsman won’t give me any credit since I didn’t pay him the last time. You know I hate having them both locked up at the same time.”

“I’ll see you later, Lucas.” For the first time since I’ve known him, I hang up on him.

The moment my call ends, Dylan is on his. “It’s Morgan, put me through to central booking.” At the same time, Austin is drilling away on the keyboard.

“Hey, Kennedy. Why are you answering the phone in central booking?” Looking off in the distance and taking Claire’s fingers in his, a sudden smile covers his face. “Well, congratulations, I better get an invite.” He laughs through his demands. “Listen, I need you to have your new fiancé do me a favor; there’s a female inmate whose paperwork needs to be misplaced.” He’s silent again as he leans over, kissing Claire on the lips. My God how that man has changed.

“Amy Campbell, she was picked up in the last twenty-four hours.” Silent again, he sends another kiss in Claire’s direction.

“Yes, that’s her. Okay, thanks. And I mean it about the invite.” Ending the call he turns to Austin. “You got a lock on Clifford?” Dylan questions as Chase taps my thigh so I’ll move off his lap.

“Yep, his ankle monitor was placed back on him upon his release. According to the city’s system, these are the blueprints for his home.” Chase crossed the room, making his way around the back of Austin’s chair to see over his shoulder. I tune out the discussion of going in and forming a perimeter. All I can concentrate on is the strong possibility of having Grace back again.

“Audrey?” Claire calls my name, bringing me back to the goings on in the room. “I would feel a lot better about all of this if you would come to my condo and wait with us. I’d also like to have a look at the baby, make sure she is doing okay. You’re welcome to stay in my bedroom, I was going to Dylan’s tonight anyway and that will give you a secure place to stay as long as you need it.” I glance to Chase whose face is furrowed in concentration.

“Thank you, I am willing to pay you of course.” My intentions were met with disdain. “Audrey, you are family and we always help out one another. You’ll offend me if you try and pay me.” I nod in agreement, while my gut screams at me to find a way to compensate her.

“Audrey, forgive me, but I need to clarify a few things you said earlier.” Austin leans in, keeping the conversation between us. “It’s obvious you knew who Chase was in your dealings with Virginia. How do we know you’re not working with her now?”

I find it odd he hadn’t asked me this before taking me two states away to celebrate his wedding? “While it’s true I knew Gina or Virginia, whoever, was working several cons. I assumed they were mostly to do with her job as a stripper. I knew she had a porn site, but I didn’t know what she did on it. During Chase’s welcome home party, I noticed her, even spoke to Lainie about her. But the second I saw trouble brewing, I bolted out of there, too worried of what she would do if she saw me.” I’d waited for two hours in the heat for her to leave, so she wouldn’t do something to Grace.”

“She never mentioned Chase’s name when she would talk about the Marine she was s-sleeping with. Only that he was giving her things hand over fist.” I couldn’t look at Chase, knowing how twisted Gina was in her sexual preferences, if Chase shared her taste, there was no hope for the two of us. I hated sex. Hated having a man grope at me while he sweat atop me, and then turned over to snore, while his smell grew in intensity.

“It was when the credit card company called I had a better idea of what was going on, how deep she was going to get at him. That’s why I said what I did when she broke in here. Now, you can choose to believe me or not, I know you have more reasons to doubt me than to trust me. But ask yourself this, why would you want someone you can’t trust working for you, handling your money and knowing your business, all of it?”

Austin looked at me for several seconds, his hand resting against his chin. I stared into the same blue eyes I felt myself falling for, this time in a man I had no romantic notions for. “Lucas called you Ree Ree, is that code for something?”

My fingers fumbled together, picking at my nails and the skin around them. “No, it’s not code for anything. It’s short for retarded. He started calling me that after Grace was born. Amy told him it wasn’t a good word as it insulted the mentally challenged. So he shortened it, making it simple, like me.” I’d lost track of how many times I’d been called that name, as he got off in my hand.

Austin nodded, “And the name Dragonfly? Who does he mean?”

This is the simplest of all questions. “Ginny has a dragon tattoo, one of her regulars gave her the name Dragonfly. Lucas thinks it makes her seem mystical, like she has powers or something.”

Dylan and Chase join us, the tension thick from his accusations. “Everything okay over here?” Dylan isn’t stupid, he can read people better than their own mothers.

“Fine. Austin just had some…concerns.”

Dylan looks intently at Austin, a silent conversation passing between them. “I questioned her motives, she corrected me.” He shrugged, his doubt extinguished as quickly as it started.

“We put Grace on the company insurance so you can have her checked out once we get her back.” This was Dylan’s form of deflection, I’m certain as Chase is playing on his phone, ignoring the entire thing.

“All right, y’all, we need to pick up some things, let’s get going.” Chase raises his eyes to the group, holstering his handgun in the back of his pants. Dylan and Austin follow, kissing their girls before heading for the door. Chase turns back to me, but keeps his hands to himself. Maybe this is the way he prepares himself for a mission, like the athletes who refuse to have sex during playoffs. As the chime of the door opening sounds, I remember something Lucas once said.

“Hey, Chase.” He turns to me, a stoic look on his face. “Make sure Lucas sees your truck. The Shelby.” He says nothing, but quickly nods as he exits the door.

“Well, ladies. Which one of us get to tell Priscilla there’s a new baby in the family?”

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