"But make them feel comfortable and they'll talk," Kelsea commented.
Crystal pointed at the younger woman. "Wise."
"Ladies," Officer Craig Peterson's face was less than welcoming, like the atmosphere.
"Hey, you speak English again," Crystal said brightly.
"I bet you cast some kind of voodoo magic to make it happen too," he spit out, his words angry and accusatory.
"Well, I don't have any experience with voodoo," Crystal replied thoughtfully. "But we did use magic."
His pale face reddened. "Maybe you just want to go home. You're taking up space."
They all made a point looking around the empty room where the only other person was being paid to clean.
"I think, officer, that the eleven pm crowd seems to have died down. I bet we're safe." Crystal winked. He glared.
Jen smiled widely. Ursula waved and Kelsea and Tilly held in their laughter.
He grumbled something inaudible and then they were left alone again.
"Think she has enough evidence?"
Jen looked to where Carol sat. Carol nodded.
"She has written communications between them, a video recorded conversation on her phone and she knows details of the murder that they haven't released."
"Think she will be charged?"
"I think she's hoping for a deal in exchange."
"Poor soul. She didn't know what she was getting mixed up in."
Jen made a face that said she did not care whether or not her situationship knew what she was getting herself into as she crossed her arms and threw out the kind of attitude that made her an eight on the 'don't mess with her' scale.
"Are you going to continue seeing her?" Ursula asked.
Jen looked at her and made a humming noise. "That woman used me and I don't care what situation you're in or what kind of money you need. You use someone to make your life easier and put them in danger? Girl, that's the kind of red flag selfish I don't have time for."
"I don't know her situation, but sometimes people make mistakes when they feel like they have no other choice," she replied softly.
"You always have a choice."
"Amen," Tilly said. Then more gently, "But she did come forward and knew it was wrong."
"After a man was murdered!" Jen leaned forward to whisper-yell to Tilly. "That is one hell of a limit."
Tilly nodded quickly. "That's true."
Then out came Chief Theodore Landry followed by a tall, curvy woman with curly strawberry blonde hair that fell to her shoulders, shoulders that looked weighed down and eyes that immediately found Jen with a flash of fear and regret, and maybe something a little more.
All the women watched the silent exchange between her and Jen like they were about to find out pivotal information in a drama finale.
The Chief had her taken to another room, spoke to an officer and handed him a file then walked to where they all sat, now each at attention and on the edge of the uncomfortable seats.
"It's going to be a long night, ladies."
"We'd like to stay," Ursula said.
