Rainbow Gap by Lee Lynch

Author:Lee Lynch [Lynch, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626398009
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2016-10-24T04:00:00+00:00

*

It was a nightmare: They sat wet and cold in the air conditioned sheriff’s office. Jaudon had her arms folded on the table and her head down. A medic had come in and cleaned up her neck and ear, but it was all she could do not to scream with the ongoing pain. The deputies called in Momma and Gran and Pops.

Momma blew her top first at the deputies, then at Jaudon, and, when Berry told her she was to blame for befriending Allison, at Berry and Gran. Gran got up in Momma’s face and told her off. If Jaudon had felt better, she would have cheered for Gran.

They were there until three in the morning. Initially, they tried to claim they didn’t know anything or anyone involved, including Allison, but the shorter deputy reminded Jaudon that she knew their names.

“What in the world were you girls thinking?” demanded Momma.

“Now, Momma,” Pops said. “Watch your blood pressure.”

“They weren’t thinking, Wayne and Jessamine,” said Gran. “They were doing a good deed. Friends ask one another to help out and these two are generous to a fault.”

The lawyer was behind closed doors with the sheriff himself. Momma and Pops left the room.

Every time Berry tried to speak, Gran took one hand and Jaudon the other, to silence her. Jaudon thought, The truth is not what we need just now.

Allison, Berry once told Jaudon, said being caught helped expose what was going on. Jaudon answered that Berry was welcome to risk her career and reputation if she wanted, but more was at stake. The state of Florida could jail them for being together the way they were. Momma would never forgive her for sullying the family name and business. Pops’s heart might fail. Bat would come home to nothing. She’d be separated from Berry.

A phalanx of noise came down the hallway.

Jaudon saw Berry’s hands shaking and steeled herself to show no more weakness. “That sounds like those antiwar demonstrators we passed on the way in.”

“I recognize the chants—Rigo planned to be there. He can’t have been arrested. He said his dad is volcanic when he’s mad.”

The protesters passed. They heard new voices.

“Is that Momma out in the hallway?” Jaudon stuck an index finger in her ear. “I can’t make out what they’re saying over this ringing.”

“Shh.” Berry leaned forward, listening. “She’s arguing with the deputies. Telling them they’re picking on us because they can’t catch their bad girl.”

Jaudon drummed her knees with the flats of her hands and swiped at her head to stop the buzzing. “They’re going to be sorry they messed with Momma.”

“She is boilin’ mad. Your Pops is accusing them of beating on his baby girl.”

Jaudon’s headache was reviving her nausea. The buzzing sound seemed louder. She clenched her eyes shut against the light. It was their own fault if she dirtied their room. She swallowed hard.

Berry was looking at Jaudon’s eyes. “Angel? You look poorly.”

They were locked in, but not handcuffed. Berry moved closer to Jaudon.

“Keep away, Berry. You don’t want them thinking that about us.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.