Everyone thought I was moody as fuck because I didn’t joke and laugh with them, but they were already friends when Istarted working for Sparky. I wasn’t one to get too familiar, too fast.
“I’ll pass along the information.”
I walked out of his office and over to Denise’s desk, seeing her in the kitchen putting out a tray of pastries. It was just after eight in the morning, and the pastries looked damn good. I’d gone for a long run instead of a short one, not leaving myself time for breakfast at home, so I was starving.
“Good morning, Denise. Sparky asked if you’d print off the paperwork he’s forwarding and what you’ll get from CCDC in response. We have a bail run this morning.”
I reached for a cheese Danish, grabbing a napkin to hold under it so I didn’t make a mess. That much, Mom also taught me.
“You got it.” She then leaned closer, looking over her shoulder toward Sparky’s office. “Is he in the mood yet? He always gets in the mood when Monty is gone.”
I held in my laugh. That was no damn joke. “I’m not sure.”
She shook her head. “They’re very much in love, and with Monty out of town, Sparky doesn’t know what to do with himself. Hell, even Dixie gets tired of his BS, and she’s a sweet girl.”
People thought I was moody—as I heard them say when they thought I wasn’t listening. There was nobody moodier than Sparky.
“You’ll have to tell me, Denise. I haven’t worked here long enough to know.” I turned toward my desk, taking my pastry to eat in peace before Sparky and I left.
Dixie, our office mascot, trotted into the swamp with Hardy behind her, backpack on his shoulder. He disappeared into his office and returned quickly with a folder.
“Hi, Jagger. Do you mind feeding Dixie? I have something Sparky needs to see right away.”
Hardy didn’t wait for an answer before he hustled into Sparky’s office and closed the door. The kid was Sparky’s son, and it seemed they had a precarious relationship, though I’d never comment. It wasn’t my business.
I held my hand out, and the sweet dog came closer. “Hey, girl. Let’s get you some breakfast. How are you?”
I absolutely loved that dog. If Hardy would let me take her home with me, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
After I filled Dixie’s dish with food from the container in the kitchen pantry, I checked her freshwater fountain to ensure it was fully functional. I left her to enjoy her food while I grabbed a cruller and went to enjoy my second breakfast.
Checking a news app on my phone, I ate my fried dough and waited for Sparky to come out of his office to tell me what we were doing that day.
“Hey, will you go inside and start the paperwork to pick up our guy? I need to make a call. Here’s the folder. Check’s inside.”
Sparky handed me the paperwork as he stepped out of the shitty trap truck he used to drive prisoners to and from jail. He walked away with his cellphone to his ear, obviously having more important things to deal with other than our current client.
I flipped open the folder to see the information regarding the guy we were bailing out: Dickie Normous. What the fuck kind of name was that? No known address and no Social Security number. Sounded like a real winner to me.
His bond for aggravated assault was twenty thousand dollars, but we only had to put up ten percent, so the check was fortwo grand. I pressed the button outside the jail’s intake door to summon a deputy.
“Can I help you?” The voice was that of the redheaded clerk, Anita.
“Jagger Hansen from Sparks Bail Bonds to collect Dickie Normous? He’s been arraigned.”
“Yep.” The door buzzed, and I twisted the handle, stepping inside and over to the desk.
“Anita, it’s good to see you.” I handed her the bond papers Sparky had signed, along with the check.
“Hello, Jagger. Let me ask you somethin’. Do you like to show a lady a good time? Maybe you’d like to meet my friends and me at Piggy’s Bar in the Arts District. Ask Brian Greeley if I’m lyin’. He loves to come to Piggy’s to hang out with us.”
Without waiting for me to answer, Anita took the paperwork, offering a wink. If I were straight, that woman wouldn’t be my type, but maybe Gree liked his women a little rough? How the hell did I know?
“When I see him, I’ll tell him you said hello. Now, can I get copies of the paperwork, please? When can I collect Dickie Normous?” I handed Anita a twenty-dollar bill for the copies.
I had no damn clue who Dickie Normous was, but Sparky was intent on bailing the guy out after he got a call from… Did he say Governor Gregory?
Did Governor Thomas Gregory call Jesse Sparks to bail someone out? What the hell was going on? I couldn’t wait to see the person who went by the name Dickie Normous.
