Page 23 of Tequila Tuesdays

Charlene huffed. “She’s fine. If I had a nickel for every time she hasn’t come home, I’d be fuckin’ rich.”

“Okay. Do you have a way to get a hold of her? Or do you know where she is? Her court appearance is coming up, and I need to talk to her.”

Mikey piped up from his spot in front of the TV. “She’s a fucking adult now. She needs to go use the stupid CBD license she got in school last year and move the hell out.”

Charlene frowned at him. “Mind your business, Mikey.”

“It’d be one less fuckin’ mouth to feed,” he muttered under his breath.

I cocked my head to the side. “A CBD license? I didn’t know an eighteen-year-old could get one of those.”

Charlene smirked and stepped outside next to me, then closed the door behind her. She absently bounced Bertie on her hip. Bertie stared at me with lovely hazel eyes. I smiled at her and waved. She waved back. Shanda was right, she was adorable.

“So tell me about this CBD license,” I said, trying to break the ice.

“It’s a CNA license. He’s a fucking moron. And probably on drugs on top of being born stupid.”

She said it so nonchalantly I wondered for a second if I’d heard her correctly.

She rolled her eyes. “You think I didn’t know? I’m pretty sure you knew less than a second after he opened the door. He has fucking sores on his face.”

“Yeah, those were kind of hard to miss, and I’m a public defender. So…”

She sighed. “I don’t know where Shanda is, and she hasn’t answered her phone. But she’s fine.”

“All right.” I pointed at her apartment. “Aren’t you worried about your baby and Shanda being around him if he’s using?”

“Yeah, but what the hell can I do? I threatened him with his life and his dick if he ever did it inside the apartment.”

“Are you here all the time?” I asked carefully.

“No,” she clipped. She knew what I was thinking.

“Huh. Anyway, do you know where Shanda could be?”

“She has an older boyfriend who comes around sometimes. She might be staying with him. Jared, I think?”

“Jason?”

“Yeah, that’s it. I’ve only met him a couple of times.”

Either this woman willfully ignored what was staring her right in the face, or Mikey was a better liar than anyone gave him credit for. I’d bet my bar license Jason was using Shanda as a cover for coming around here. And probably other things.

“Please let Shanda know I came by. And tell her to call me so we can talk before her hearing.”

“Kay.”

Bertie started jabbering, and she held her hand out to me like she wanted a high five.

“Geez, she’s too cute. What’s her name?” I held up my hand close to hers, and she slapped it. I didn’t see a point in telling Charlene I already knew about Bertie.

Charlene smiled a little, and she looked like a different person.

“Roberta, but we call her Bertie.” She gave me a half-assed wave and stepped back into the apartment. “I need to get ready for work, but whenever Shanda pulls her head out of her ass and comes home, I’ll tell her you were here.” Then she closed the door in my face.

I turned and walked slowly back down the stairs, wondering why I was more concerned about Shanda than her own mother. It was time to call in some help.

Chapter 10

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