“Well the parking lot is gated off. Where am I supposed to park?”
He stared at my leg.
I sighed. Normally my patience level was much higher, as well as my respect for men in uniform. “Yes. I have a bionic leg, and I could literally crush your junk beyond recognition if I kicked you between the legs?—”
“Miss, are you threatening a police officer?”
“Not at all. I’m simply stating a fact. This leg is designedand has a pending patent by Thaddeus Westbrook, andhetold me it could literally crush a man’s junk beyond recognition. I’m no more threatening you than a car salesman telling you a certain model gets eighteen miles to the gallon and goes zero to sixty in under three seconds. I’m stating a fact.”
I opened the back door and unfastened Shayna, hoping he wouldn’t slap handcuffs on me. My brain was not working properly. Adrenaline fed everything I did.
“Miss, I told you this is a no-parking zone, and the club is closed today for a private event.”
“Listen…” I pulled Shayna in front of me and covered her ears with my hands then lowered my voice to a whisper “…see this little girl? Her grandmother just died and her only living relative is playing golf here today, but he’s not answering his phone.” Because, of course, I didn’t have his number. “So this is sort of an emergency situation.”
His gaze flitted between me and Shayna. Conflict etched his face. “I ticket you in thirty minutes. I have your vehicle towed in an hour.”
I smiled. “Thank you kindly for your condolences.” I didn’t care about the ticket, so we had an hour. Having my vehicle towed was on my list of things to avoid. Landing in jail for child abduction was on that list too.
“Let’s go, sweetie.”
“Where’s Evson?”
I led her through the barriers and parking lot filled with luxury vehicles, but the security guard at the entrance looked a little smarter and meaner than Mr. I Wear a Uniform and Give Out Parking Tickets.
“Everson’s here. We’re going to see him soon.” Another promise I couldn’t guarantee. How did my morning turn into asegue to Hell?
Lies. Lies. Lies. Just the day before, I would have called myself a pretty honest person.
“Do you have a press pass or invitation?” the security guard asked.
No. I had a kidnapped child.
“My name is Lake Jones, Everson Banks’s nanny, and this is his…” I covered Shayna’s ears again because there had to be brownie points with God for not letting a young child hear my lies “…daughter.” Sister seemed too unbelievable. “There has been a family emergency and Everson is not answering his phone. Could you contact him for me?”
“Miss, this is a televised event. I’ll need to know what kind of emergency you have.”
“Death in the family.” I uncovered her ears once the lies were over.
He narrowed his eyes at me then looked at Shayna.
Don’t you dare… you unemotional bastard!
“Hey, darling… did someone die?” He leaned down a few inches from her face.
Who the hell asks a child that? I wanted to scream!
Shayna nodded. “Mama and Ne-ma went to see Jesus.”
He grimaced, standing back to his full height. “I’m very sorry for your loss. I’ll have someone track Mr. Banks right away.”
“Thank you.” I gave him my best grievance-laden smile as the top of my knee twitched, like the doctor tapping to check my reflex only more intense—much more intense. My bionic leg jerked forward landing squarely into his shin.
“Ah!” he cried, bending down to grab his leg.
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry.” Before I could make sense ofwhy I kicked him—because I didn’t try to kick him—a police officer had me in handcuffs.
We were escorted inside the building while they found Everson. I sat handcuffed to a chair in the manager’s office with my chin down, whispering, “shh, everything’s going to be okay” to a teary-eyed Shayna sitting next to me. The injured guard was hauled off for medical attention while the disapproving police officer watched over me.
