“Please tell me you’ve gotten her out of there.”
“No, unfortunately not. Because of the amount of cocaine found in the car, they’re not releasing her. She’s up in front of the judge in the morning, I’ve got the best lawyer here and they’ll get her bail first thing and then we’ll fight this from home.”
“Sounds like a plan.” The only one we have so far. “I’ll keep Elsa with me so you can focus on Amelia.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s fine, she’s sleeping.”
“Okay. I’ll call when I know more.”
Before he can hang up, I ask, “Did you get to see her? Is she okay?”
“I did for a couple of minutes, she’s scared. I don’t know how she would handle it if she’s not home tomorrow.”
I can’t figure out what to say to that and I don’t need to, he ends the call and I focus on Clare.
“If this doesn’t end well, you’re done.”
It’s not a threat, or even a violently veiled promise, it’s what’s going to happen.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she shrieks.
“It means… you are done.” I move slowly and lean over Tariq to get in her face. “It means, if Amelia isn’t home by lunch tomorrow holding my daughter in her arms, I take my gun and shove it up your ass and pull the trigger.”
Her eyes cut to Tariq, but I move into her line of sight.
“He won’t be able to help you.”
Standing tall, I take a deep breath and dig my teeth into my bottom lip. Turning to Jermaine, I order, “Find out who we have on the inside just in case.”
He nods once and walks out to sit on the porch. Stepping out with him, I pull the door closed behind me.
“Don’t let them leave, neither of them.”
“I’ve got ya.”
28
Amelia
Ithought the lack of sleep from having Elsa-Marie was bad enough, one night in lock up is far worse. One night and my body is weighted down with fatigue, fear, and a sense of numbness.
Seven other women have come and gone, and I’m still sat in the corner of the holding cell. My stomach rumbles and I bring my knees up to my chest and hold myself tight. I can’t see a clock but I’m guessing it’s morning by the change of officers and guards. I haven’t spoken a word since I briefly saw my dad and explained what happened. He couldn’t believe Clare would do something like that to me, but he did believe me. A couple of the other women knew each other, and I sat listening to them talk and try to imagine I was anywhere but here.
The door opens and a female officer calls my name. Sliding off the bench, I move to stand on the line I’m instructed to.
“Follow me.”
I try not to look at anyone we pass and when she leads me through a series of doors, hope grows I’m going home. As soon as it spikes, it vanishes, it’s just another room and I’m added to a line of four people.
I learned quickly there’s no point in asking questions, the officers either simply ignore you or take delight in not answering you. Seeing their attitudes myself, I realise why so many people have no respect for them.
The line moves forward, and we’re led into a courtroom. We’re all told to sit along the front bench and as soon as my butt hits the wood, I look around for my dad. He’s sat on the other side of the room and Darius is sat next to him. I try to smile at my dad, but I can’t look at Darius.
The three women and a guy I’m certain is still intoxicated go before me and two of the women are released on bail and the other woman and the guy are denied bail. My heart hammers against my chest bone as my name and the case number is called and I’m ushered toward one of the tables.
Dad’s lawyer steps up beside me and I will the feeling in my legs to return. Dad said this would be to see if I could get bail and go home. It’s hard to keep up with what’s going on through the rising panic racing through me.
