Page 162 of Never Flinch

“Or not to abort,” Kate always says. “Remember that. Life isalwaysthe preferred choice, but that choice belongs to the woman.”

There have been rumors that she may run for office. Perhaps even the highest office. Holly finds the idea ridiculous. Kate’s too focused on her own cause to ever be elected. She has tunnel vision. Or so Holly thinks.

Holly has resigned her post as Kate’s security. Three ex-military women have taken her place. They are younger than Holly, and better looking (as the young tend to be). They call themselves the Bod Squad.

Corrie has gone back home to New Hampshire.

The Buckeye City Police and Fire Departments were and continue to be in a heap o’ trouble. A commission has been created to study the causes of the riot, and to come up with sanctions for such behavior. Police Chief Alice Patmore and Fire Chief Darby Dingley have both resigned. Questions about the decision to play the charity game while a serial killer was on the loose continue to be asked. “Better belated than never,” Buckeye Brandon says of those questions.Crows, actually.

The boys in blue and those in red hunker down, probably embarrassed by their behavior (maybe even shocked), but not too worried. Yes, the Softball Riot has become comedy fodder for late-night talk show hosts in their monologues, but that will pass. And really, how many cops and firemen can be suspended when there’s crime to fight and blazing buildings to be put out? Half of the combatants claim they weren’t even there, and the other half claim they were trying to stop it. Which Holly knows, from Tom Atta and Lew Warwick, is utter bullpoop.

Most members of the PD and FD will skate. There are two notable exceptions. Ray Darcy, the Guns first baseman, has been suspended for six months, the first three without pay. George Pill has had his ass canned from the Fire Department. From all that Holly has heard from Warwick and Izzy, that dismissal was better than the assault charge Pill so richly deserved. Izzy declined to press charges. Russell Grinsted tried to convince Izzy to sue Pill, but Izzy declined. She never wants to see George Pill’s face again. Or Grinsted’s, for that matter.

Jerome had his novel filed away on his desktop and has gone back to it. His close call—he hobbled on crutches for a week because of first-degree burns on his feet, and showed Holly the constellation of burn-holes in his shirt—seems to have delivered a needed jump-start to his creativity. He plans to work on the Army of God book when he’s finished his private eye novel. He says nonfiction is where his heart lies. He stays in touch with Corrie, telling her that her bad dreams will pass. Corrie says she hopes he’s right.

There were no Sista Bessie shows in Buckeye City, of course; even if Betty hadn’t suffered a minor heart attack, the Mingo was a crime scene. It is currently closed, with a few June and July shows—GeorgeStrait, Maroon 5, Dropkick Murphys—rescheduled to the fairgrounds. Others have been canceled.

The Mingo, with Maisie Rogan now at the helm, will reopen in August with a very special show.

2

Frankie’s Fabulous Fish Wagon opens for business. Sitting and waiting for Izzy, hands folded neatly before her (she has finally stopped biting her nails), Holly thinks:I have killed five people now, and do they keep me awake at night? They do not. With four, I was in fear of my own life. With Donald Gibson…

“I was doing my duty as a bodyguard.”

A job she will never,ever, do again.

Betty Brady, also known as Sista Bessie, has flown back to California in her private jet, and with Barbara Robinson to keep her company. They have grown very close, but Barbara stays in touch with her old friends, and will be back… at least for awhile. Holly FaceTimed with her just last night. It’s Barbara’s second close call with death, and she’s suffering her own nightmares, but says that, on the whole, she’s doing quite well, partly because she has a basis for comparison. She tells Holly that at least Donald “Trig” Gibson was anordinarycrazy, if there is such a thing; not like the other one. They don’t refer to the other one by his name, Chet Ondowsky, but simply as the outsider.

She says she’s writing poetry again, and poetry helps.

3

From behind her: “I’m hungry as hell, but you might have to help me with the food.”

Holly looks around to see Isabelle Jaynes walking—with great care—toward their favorite table. Her arm is in a sling, and her shoulder is practically mummified. She clearly hasn’t been to the beautyparlor since her injury; Holly can see two inches of gray growing out of her dye-enhanced red hair. But the eyes are the same; misty gray and good humored.

“Andgetthe food, of course. Fish tacos for me.”

Holly helps her sit down. “I want scallops, if he has them today. Do those pins in your shoulder hurt?”

“Everything hurts,” Izzy says, “but I’ve got another ten days’ worth of heavy-duty painkillers. Beyond that I’m not looking. Feed me, woman. I need vittles and a gallon of Coca-Cola.”

Holly goes to the fish wagon and brings back the chow. She doesn’t have to help her friend eat after all. Izzy’s a righty, and it’s her left arm and hand that are incapacitated.

Izzy turns her face up to the sky. “The sun feels good. I’ve been spending too much time indoors.”

“Are you doing physical therapy?”

“Some. There’ll be more once they unstrap me.” Izzy makes a face. “Let’s not talk about it.” She starts on her second fish taco.

“Will you ever pitch again?”

“Fuck, no.”

“Okay, next subject. Do you know anything about the Real Christ Holy Church?”

“Ah. As a matter of fact, I do know some stuff, and it’sdee-lightful. Lew Warwick told me. You know he’s acting Chief of Police now, right?”

---