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“I’m many things, but a terrible mom is not one of them. She gives moms a bad reputation, and I hate her because of that. Moms already get a bad rep. Have you people seen some of the shit they’re now saying on television? It makes me fucking sick.” Nancy did not look happy.
“Calm down,” Maeve said. “They’re just television shows.”
“Some people take that shit seriously.” Nancy shook her head. “I get it, we’re not all saints and stuff, but come on.”
Grim had heard enough, so he climbed out of the car, and he was close to freezing his balls off.
“She’s in Room Three,” Grim said.
Nancy and Maeve rushed to catch up with him. He wanted to give Bettina a warning. Once she understood what that warning was, she was to get the fuck out of town and never return. That was what he was hoping for.
They got to the door, and then he stopped and knocked. There was an expletive, and seconds passed before Bettina answered the door. However, it looked like she had company, as her hair was a mess, and she wore a robe. Her lips were swollen, and her lipstick was smeared. She frowned when she looked at them.
Before Grim had a chance to talk, an older man, one he recognized from town, and he was pretty sure visited Martha’s fancy country club, stepped out of the room. “We’ll talk about nothing, Mrs. Jackson,” he said, turning on his heel and leaving.
Bettina looked impatient. “What do you want?” she asked.
“We’re going to have a little chat,” Grim said, stepping into the hotel room.
The bed was a mess, and there were some empty food boxes from a few places in town. Maeve and Nancy followed him inside, and they looked around at the state of the hotel room. Bettina Jackson was a slob. There was nothing neat about this place.
She moved toward her bed and sat down.
“Instead of gawking, why don’t you just come out with whatever shit you want to start selling me?” Bettina asked.
“Selling you?” Grim asked.
“Do you want to tell me to be a better mother, is that it? Do you think I should go soft on my ... Betty?”
“You can’t even call her your daughter, can you?”
She let out a wince.
“Fuck me,” Nancy said. “You really are an evil bitch, aren’t you?”
Bettina looked toward Nancy. “I don’t know who you are, but I suggest you leave, otherwise I’m going to call the cops.”
Grim smiled. “Go ahead, call them. I’m sure they will be happy to take your call.”
Bettina sighed and got to her feet, as she made her way to the hotel’s phone.
“Do you know what makes Rivermont Ridge so special?” Grim asked.
Bettina ignored him and reached down the sign.
“Isn’t it because the local cops work with the Chaos Monsters MC, to keep this town safe?” Maeve asked, in a startled gasp. “That’s how the town has been such a dream the past few years, right?” Maeve turned toward Bettina. “Who do you think told us where you were?”
Bettina’s jaw clenched as she gritted her teeth.
“So, you have the cops on your payroll. What, they’re just supposed to look the other way?” Bettina asked.
“They don’t look the other way. It’s simple, they don’t do their fucking job, and it’s up to the club to do it for them. Were you seriously whoring yourself out to country club fucks?” Nancy asked.
Bettina’s face went bright red.
“Were you charging him by the hour?” Nancy asked.
“I think it is time for you to leave.”