“Miss Haynes is no flight risk, she has a new baby waiting at home for her…”
The judge, younger than I was expecting, raises his hand and cuts him off.
“Miss Haynes should’ve made better choices if she cares for the child like you say. Bail is denied.”
My lawyer goes to argue but the judge slams the wooden hammer down and nothing more is added.
“Why didn’t you tell him the drugs weren’t mine?”
“This wasn’t the time for that…”
I don’t understand.
Bail denied.
Denied?
No, it can’t be. I need to be at home with Elsa.
Hot wetness rolls down my cheeks, but I can’t move to wipe it away.
From behind I vaguely hear my dad yelling at the lawyer. The lawyer is mumbling something back. But I can’t process what they’re saying.
Cuffs are put on me and I’m yanked up by my arm. Just before I’m led through yet another door, I turn in time to see my dad and hear him promise he’ll sort this out.
“What happens now?” I ask the officer hauling me down a long corridor.
I’m fully aware my voice is shaking.
“Now you get to check into Bolton’s finest hotel, where you’ll get to experience the finest cuisine, sleep on the softest sheets and if you’re lucky…” I frown at his sarcasm, and he sighs. “You’ll do as you’re told and keep your head down till you get out of here.”
“Do you know when that will be?”
“I have no idea. My advice, don’t think you have friends here. Rely only on yourself.”
“Can I call my dad, please?”
He stares at me for a long minute. “Oh shit, you’re gonna get eaten alive.”
A door slams behind us and it shakes me to my core. I can’t do this.
29
Darius
Elsa has been up and down all night, not wanting to be fed or changed, like she can sense her mom is somewhere she shouldn’t be. Securing her car seat in the back of my car, I take her out for a drive to see if it’ll settle her down.
It only takes a few streets before she nods off. I keep driving until I pass by the river and stop.
Leaving Elsa to sleep, I climb out and sit on the trunk looking out over the water.
Even on its most choppy days, the water always calms me. But it’s something I’m far from this morning.
I’m struggling to wrap my head around the shit show that occurred in court yesterday. I never want to see the look of fear on Amelia’s face again. I felt for sure her lawyer would get her out, but he was as much use as a chocolate teapot as my grandma would say.
I just don’t understand how she didn’t make bail. I’ve seen the news and heard the radio, politicians banging on how they’re going to clean up the city from violence and drugs, like they have been for years. Why make a stand yesterday using Ameliaas a reason to hit the rough parts of the city hard when she has nothing to do with it. If the judge just listened to her lawyer, he would’ve seen this was all bullshit.
Getting back behind the wheel, I turn the engine on and drive over to see Mr. Haynes.
