Page 21 of The Rose and the Hound
I was about to leave when an older woman approached him, kissing him on the lips and pushing her breasts out. Her face was familiar. I was running through images in my head when it struck me. Loretta! I’d never seen or met Loretta but a photograph of her leaving court with Rose had been included in the media reports following Dr. Conti’s attack. Loretta was stalking Rose, but why? I wanted to charge over and confront her, but that wouldn’t be wise, not in front of Lee. I also wanted to give the police a heads up in case Loretta was framing Rose, which seemed more and more likely given her stalker wasn’t male or obsessed with her in a sexual way. I hid my face, turning to watch the dancer on stage. I felt sick about how I’d treated Rose. She must think I hate her.
I turned my head discreetly every now and then to watch her. I considered pulling out my phone, reversing the camera andwatching her that way, but my phone would be pointed toward the dancer, and it would be a great way to get myself thrown out and on Lee’s radar. On my last head check, I saw that Loretta had already walked away toward the exit. I drained my drink and followed her to her car. In the world of stalkers, Loretta was an amateur. She was about to meet a professional.
Chapter 27: The Shadow—Mother dearest
I was very pleased with Lee. Men were suckers for blow jobs. He probably had fewer than five brain cells, but he had enough mental capacity to take what I wanted from Rose. Having her was the biggest mistake of my life. It made me a “mom,” and while I didn’t wear the daggy jeans and dowdy sweaters of a mom, it put men off just the same.
When Rose was arrested, I’d been dating Leland. He had huge potential. He was a stockbroker in an unhappy marriage, with three vacation properties. I was so close to landing him when Rose’s name was splashed throughout the media. He dropped me like a hot potato, returning to his fat wife.
How much more of my life did Rose want to ruin? I’d got her to adulthood, happy and in one piece, yet she continued to be a burden. Whoever her father was must have been a fruit loop because she didn’t get it from me. And she had the worst taste in men. The plumber was hot, but he was a tease and didn’t seem to have any money. Dr. Conti had money, but it was plain stupid of Rose to go after her psychiatrist. Why couldn’t she just go to a yacht club in a tight, low-cut dress and look confused? That had worked for me a few times. No matter how many times I told her to think with her head and not her heart, she continued to fail. If I had to have had a daughter, why couldn’t she at least have been one I could be proud of? Rose was physically beautiful. She had potential. I should be relaxing on the beach, with her rich husband supporting us both. Instead, I had a daughter in the psych ward and was fucking a meathead to keep my life together.
I owed Lee big time for this. With Rose locked up, I’d be kept informed of her progress and her whereabouts, if she ever got out that is. With her locked up as “Rose Myrtle,” I would be free to find a new man. Lee was young and fun, but he was as broke as shit, which wasn’t my style.
Chapter 28: The Hound—Righting wrongs
I fiddled with my phone and called out to the scurrying woman in front of me.
“Loretta Swan!”
She turned, her face moving into something that resembled recognition. She definitely knew me, which was an admission of guilt in my eyes.
“Who are you?” She feigned confusion.
“You know who I am. You’re coming with me now to clear things up with the police. Rose did nothing, and you know that. Come with me and we’ll sort it all out.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Or who you are. If you know my daughter, you know that she’s troubled. I’m doing the best I can for her.” She held her head high in indignant anger.
“I know your daughter. And I know you. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t dig into your past before confronting you? I know you well enough to understand that you’d never do anything out of the goodness of your heart. Come with me now, or I’ll go on my own and talk about your little secret.”
I had no knowledge of any such secrets. I’d done a surface-level dive in her past as part of Rose’s background, but that was it. She was a gold-digging bitch, but that wasn’t illegal. My intuition told me this woman had a seedy past and present. The look on her face told me I was right.
“What kind of proof do you have?”
I winked. “I think you know that. And I think you know that confessing what you did to Rose will be minor in comparison with what I have to say.”
She shifted uncomfortably on her feet. “I don't know what you're talking about.”
I just stared at her and raised an eyebrow.
“Fine,” she snapped. “I'll meet you at the station.”
“No, you’ll come with me now. You’re not someone who inspires a great deal of trust, Loretta. You’re a shitty mother and a terrible human being. I think we both know that.”
She walked over close to me and began stroking my chest.
“I’ll come with you, but I’m sure we can work something out,” she purred.
I pulled back and pushed her hand away. This woman was repulsive.
“I think you’re overestimating your appeal, Loretta. Get in the car.” I motioned to my car, while pinning her with a sharp glare.
Thrusting her breasts out, she wandered over and waited for me to open her car door. Not happening.
“Get in. This isn’t a fucking chauffer service.” She huffed but climbed into the passenger side.
The ride to the police station was brutal. Loretta kept shimmying in her seat so her minidress would ride up her thighs, all the while lightly touching her cleavage. This woman was such a stereotype. It’s like she was a character written for a high-drama soap opera.
_____________________
