The Intersection of Law and Desire by J. M. Redmann

Author:J. M. Redmann [Redmann, J. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery & Detective, Fiction, Women Sleuths, Lesbian, General, Lesbians, Detective and Mystery Stories, Women Detectives, New Orleans (La.) - Fiction, Lesbians - Fiction, New Orleans (La.), Private Investigators, Women Private Investigators, New Orleans, Women Private Investigators - Louisiana - New Orleans - Fiction, Louisiana, Detective and Mystery Stories; American
ISBN: 9780393037937
Google: _4q4QgAACAAJ
Amazon: 0393037932
Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc
Published: 1995-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

The sun was finally shining, although I wasn’t in much of a mood to appreciate it.

I again thought about calling O’Connor, but knew it wouldn’t be prudent to use my phone nor the height of wisdom to walk out of my building and use the phone on the corner. I also wanted at talk to Barbara. All the major items on today’s agenda were things that I would prefer to avoid. I kept busy until the only chores left to me were the truly repugnant instead of the merely odious.

By this time it was five thirty, and Barbara should be home from work. The sun was setting as I got there, the short days of winter approaching. I sat in my car for a moment or two trying to think of what I wanted to say, to ask. I looked up to see Barbara coming across the lawn. I got out of the car to meet her.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hello,” she answered, wary but not hostile. She didn’t appear surprised to see me.

“How’s Cissy?”

“She’s okay. She’s watching TV.” Barbara crossed her arms across her chest, a barricade to my concern. “I’d prefer you didn’t see her.”

“I don’t need to see her. I really just wanted to find out how she’s doing. See if there’s anything I can do. Maybe this weekend…”

Barbara didn’t say anything for a moment, her arms still held tightly across her chest. She looked away from me before she spoke. “I mean not see Cissy…for a while.”

“‘For a while’?” I stupidly echoed.

She still avoided looking at me. “I just think Cissy needs to be with her family for a while, that’s all.”

“A week? A month? Six months?” I took a step toward Barbara, but she took a step away.

For a moment Barbara’s eyes met mine, then she looked away. “I need to protect Cissy. I’ve seen some of the people you hang around with, men who wear dresses, women in motorcycle jackets. I don’t know them or what they—”

“They’re not child abusers,” I cut her off. “I didn’t think you would fall for those ugly—”

“Micky!” Barbara cried. “I can’t afford an experiment in liberalism. This is my daughter. My daughter has been hurt.”

“Pandering to ugly myths and stereotypes won’t help her,” I shot back.

“This is my daughter,” Barbara repeated fiercely. “I don’t care what I have to do to protect her. I can’t afford to be fair and just and open-minded. Not if she gets hurt.”

“You might hurt her even more,” I replied. “Because if the only place you look is at the queer part of town, you’ll miss the real child molesters. The teachers, the ministers, the nice neighbor, a relative, a boyfriend,” I added pointedly. “That’s where they really hide, behind their façade of normality and kindness.”

Barbara shook her head. “It doesn’t change my mind. Cissy sees no one but family.”

“What about your boyfriend, Ted?” I demanded. “Does he have a criminal record? Any idea? Or does protecting your daughter only extend to getting rid of queers?”

Barbara glared at me before saying, “I think you’d better leave.

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