Actually, she’s certain Gage treats her better than all of the guys that Ariel dates. Her sister either has very poor taste or simply finds men who are too self-centered to see beyond themselves.
Marlin seems to catch on to where her mind has gone. “I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume Gage hasn’t met your ‘rents. You worried about what they gonna to think of him?”
Minnie grimaces, remembering that morning. “We saw my father at the butcher this morning when we were getting the meat. My father is already brooding somewhere about it. When he broods, it’s never good. He’s protective. And he has…”
“Has what?”
She shrugs awkwardly. “He has a lot of pull in town. His vast donations earn him a lot of favors.”
Marlin pulls into the police station parking lot, putting the truck in park. He mulls over her words, chewing on them. Finally, he says, “Fathers are tough. No one is ever good enough for them.” He turns off the ignition. His tone is cryptic when he comments, “Sometimes though, fathers have reasons for being upset.”
Puzzled, but nodding along, Minnie wonders what he’s insinuating. It seems odd to her because wouldn’t a friend be on Gage’s side and want everyone to accept the good person they’ve become? What is Minnie missing?
The police station looms, seemingly alive with late-night action. Vehicles come and go, as do the people through the front doors. Weekends are always busy for the law around here. Being near Harrow’s Row means there’s never a dull night for the police.
“You ready? Want me to come in with you?”
Stepping out of the truck, Minnie heads towards the front doors, saying, “As ready as I’m going to be. I would appreciate your backup.”
“Got it, girlie.” Marlin follows behind her, a large hulking man looking very much like her own personal bodyguard.
Steeling herself, Minnie marches up to the front desk. Putting on her brave face, she draws herself up to her not-so-impressive height and looks down her nose the best she can. “I’m here for Gage Travers. Whatever bail you’ve set, I’m going to pay it.”
A harried-looking woman sits behind the desk. Her brown hair is pulled back in a tight, military-style bun and the expression on her face shows she is far from amused by Minnie’s posturing. “Who are you, the Queen of England? If he’s the one who came in tonight with SWAT, we aren’t setting him loose. Or the other one with him.”
Not about to be deterred so easily, Minnie forces herself to push forward despite internally quailing at the confrontation. She has Marlin backing her, so that has to count for something. “Your officers busted down the front door and took them both. I’d like to know on what charges and why they’re being held. We were only told a ‘call had been made’ about illegal firearms and drugs. That doesn’t sound like you can hold him to me. In fact, I question the legality of your actions!”
Marlin leans down to whisper in her ear, “Easy there, killer. Being a ball-buster won’t help.”
The stooge behind the counter is utterly unmoved, instead choosing to glower at Minnie as though she’s become a criminal herself. What a novel experience! “You are correct. We received a call that there were guns on the premises with individuals who do not have the right to own guns anymore. Gage Travers and Chase Kerristan are not under arrest, but they are being detained for questioning. Besides, we did find a substantial amount of weed on-premises-”
Marlin makes a face of confusion and surprise, then stifles a groan of annoyance. The groan sounds suspiciously likeChase.
Perplexed, Minnie splutters out, “Weed?Why didn’t you just bring us all in then? Goodness.”
The unhelpful woman shrugs. “I didn’t make the call on who was picked up. Just go home, you can get him -or them both- tomorrow.”
The sinking feeling inside Minnie grows. “Can I at least see Gage to make sure he’s okay?”
“No.”
Fine. The woman didn’t want to make it easy? Time to pull a very old card. Setting her shoulders, Minnie says, “I’d like to speak with Captain Noweth.”
The woman scowls at her as if she’s a rancid nuisance. Her face turns red with irritation. “He’s busy.”
That excuse isn’t going to work on Minnie. “He’ll speak with Minerva Fray. Tell him I’m here.”
The woman digests the name, realizing exactly who Minnie is. Then, she rolls her eyes and rolls her seat around, calling behind her, “Can someone tell the Captain he’s got the Queen Herself, Miss Minerva Fray, here to see him? Yeah, the Bank Hostage.”
Minnie feels her face become quite unamused.
For a minute more, she finds herself having a glaring contest with the woman behind the counter until a familiar face finally arrives; an old friend of her father’s. Captain Noweth, the man who had taken care of her at the station after that horrible event years ago.
She remembers how he gave her a nice hot chocolate and a terrible muffin that tasted like dirt. She hadn’t cared; she’d thought he was a saint after he reunited her with her father that day. He’s got a well-lined face, aged from stress, but his dark eyes carry warmth. He made her feel safer that horrible day long ago.
His expression softens a bit when he sees her, coming around to the lobby side. “Minerva,” he says in greeting. “I can’t say I had you paying me a visit on my bingo card for tonight.”
“Captain,” Minnie replies with relief, tension leaking out of her shoulders. “It’s been a while, I know. But, I have a bit of a situation…”
