“How unfortunate for you.” Emma turned away from them, pretending to be interested in something outside.
Cindy gave Casey a kiss on his cheek leaving a lipstick mark. She rubbed her thumb across it, “I always do that, don’t I? Well, no matter, it’s gone now. I’m afraid I have to run. I’m picking your mother up for a Church meeting. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Smiling a dismissal at Emma, she turned and walked away.
Great, Casey thought, what a performance. Emma would have little doubt who Cindy was. “Sorry about that.”
“About what?” Emma asked, reaching for the burger that had been placed in front of her. “She’s your girlfriend, she was just saying hi.”
What could he say without looking like an asshole, he wondered? That he was going to break up with her since he’d met Emma? That would sound weird. Sighing, Casey picked up his burger and began to eat. Damn, damn, damn.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sherry Stewart placed a hand on her husband’s back. “Are you all right?”
Jason turned to face his wife and sighed. “To see Kerry lying there so quiet, not moving, scares me to death. She was always the one who kicked the covers off, remember?”
Sherry sank weakly into a chair that had been propped against the wall outside Kerry’s hospital room and buried her face in her hands. “She looks terrible, doesn’t she? He hurt her so badly. I can’t understand why anyone would do such a thing.”
“He’s not a human being, Sherry, he’s an animal. He should be hunted down and shot like the animal he is,” Jason said, his voice hard. “Instead, if the police catch him, he’ll be given every available consideration due to him, under our legal system.”
She lifted her head and gazed at her husband. “What should we do?”
Jason rubbed a tired hand across his eyes and said wearily, “I don’t know. I think we should get the hell out of here as soon as possible, don’t you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know anything, anymore,” Sherry admitted, looking at the ceramic floor of the hallway.
Jason knelt beside his wife. “It’s been hard, Sherry, hard to see her like that. But at least she’s alive.”
“When can we take her home?”
“As soon as the doctor gives us the green light. Her physical wounds look bad and they’ll take time to heal. But I’m more concerned about what this did to her inside,” Jason said, taking his wife’s hand. “But we’ll get through it. We’ll get her whatever help she needs.”
She nodded and leaned wearily against him.
Chapter Twenty-Four
As they drove through Marion, Tennessee, Bonnie stared out the car window. Jimmy Joe hadn’t moved for a while and she’d had to lean close to make sure he was still breathing. She didn’t know too much about sick people but she knew he needed a doctor, fast. Peering over at Orley’s profile, she sighed. She could just make out his face in the glow from the streetlights as they passed. He was really drunk. He’d be little help. She decided to call her mom.
“Orley, stop at the next gas station. I need to pee and I want to call my mom. I forgot to add minutes on my cell.”
Orley nodded his head slowly and muttered, “I need to pee too.”
“Fine, we’ll both pee,” Bonnie snapped, sick to death of Orley.
Pulling to the side of a Seven Eleven convenience store, Bonnie jumped out and headed for the bathroom. Washing her hands afterwards, she grimaced in the mirror on the wall over the sink. She looked like shit. She guessed it didn’t matter much. It wasn’t as if she had to look good for Orley. God knows he didn’t care.
She still would have liked a bath though. She felt grubby sitting in the car for so long.
She walked out of the bathroom and headed for the phone booth beside the store. Reaching into her jeans pocket, she pulled out the change she’d found in her purse earlier.
When she heard the phone ringing at her mom’s house, she felt depressed. What the hell am I doing? Jimmy Joe was probably dying and she was calling her mom for advice, to make sure she was doing the right thing. She’d have to tell her mom she was bringing Jimmy Joe back after she got him to a doctor. She might spend some time in jail but it would be better than being stuck running from the law with Jimmy Joe and Orley.
Bonnie frowned when the phone rang for the tenth time. Where was everyone? Uneasy, she was about to hang up when she heard her aunt’s voice come on the line.
“Aunt Dean? It’s Bonnie, can you put mom on the phone?”
“Girl where you been? We been looking everyplace for you.”
“It’s a long story. Will you just put mom on? I don’t have that much change on me.”
“I wish I could.” Her aunt began to speak, only to hiccup then start crying into the phone. “I hate to be the one to tell you, but your mama, she passed on last night. She had a heart attack and died when she heard about Jimmy Joe. I’m sorry, child, I am, I know how much you loved your mama but she’s in a better place, that’s for sure.”
Unable to talk, Bonnie just stared down at the receiver that had dropped from her hand. Her mama dead, she couldn’t believe it. Not her mama. Her mama was strong, so she couldn’t just die like that. She couldn’t.
She walked slowly back to the car. Climbing in, she turned and looked back at Jimmy Joe. What ever would Jimmy Joe do? He loved their mama more than he loved anyone. Bonnie would have to take care of him now. She knew in her heart was what her mama would have wanted. Grabbing the bottle of whiskey Orley kept under the front seat, Bonnie took a long drink. I love you mama, she whispered. I’ll take care of Jimmy Joe, I promise I will.
***
Orley pulled up in front of the doctor’s house and parked. Bonnie jumped out, thought for a second, then stuck her head back inside the car. “Wait here till I come back.”
She pulled her head out and hurried toward the back door. After a few minutes, the light over the porch door flashed on. Ten minutes later, Bonnie was running back.
She jerked the car door open. “Help me with Jimmy Joe. The doctor is going to look at him. I told him Jimmy Joe was in an accident. So keep your mouth shut!”
Orley lumbered out of the car and peered toward the house. Unsteadily, he pulled the door open and reached inside, grabbing Jimmy Joe’s feet. “Come on Jimmy Joe, Orley will help you.” Orley pulled him out and swung him over his shoulder. Stopping abruptly, Orley let out a huge burp.
“For crying out loud Orley, will you try and act a little sober? This guy ain’t stupid. You want him to call the cops? Look, when we get him inside, you come back to the car until I need you, you got that?”
“Yea, okay, anything you say Bonnie.”
Bonnie took his arm and steered Orley into the small surgery where he laid his friend on the stainless steel table, then squinted at the doctor under the bright lights. Orley farted, then giggled.
“What’s up, Doc?” He asked, then laughed and turned to Bonnie. “Do you get it?”
Bonnie shut her eyes in exasperation. What a stupid freaking moron he was. “Go back to the car while the doctor looks at Jimmy Joe, I mean Ja---…Paul.”
“Who’s Paul?” Orley asked, squinting down at Jimmy Joe, to make sure it wasn’t someone named Paul.
She swallowed the lump of fear in her throat and Orley’s hand, leading him out the door. “I’m sorry doctor, my boyfriend has had a few too many. I’ll just take him to the car.”
Orley whispered. “I’m your boyfriend, Bonnie? Wow, that is so cool. I ain’t ever had a real girlfriend.”
Bonnie leaned him against the side of the car and sighed. “Just wait here until I call you, do you hear. Don’t move, okay?”
Orley sniffed, tears rolling down his cheeks. He leaned back against the cold car. “I’m so proud to have you for a girlfriend, Bonnie. I really am.”
Bonnie pressed a tired hand to her cheek and shook her head. Damn stupid man was crying.
She turned and hurried back inside the house.
“How’s he
doing?” She asked, returning to the room.
Without looking up the doctor asked. “How did you say this man got hurt?”
She nervously cleared her throat and said, “A car accident, we think. We don’t really know him. We just were driving by and found him beside the road. Hell, we were just being a good citizen, that’s all.”
The doctor looked up, skeptical. “Really?”
Bonnie gazed around the small surgery. “I hope we didn’t wake anyone up. When we came in I mean.”
“Nope, no one here but me. The wife died ten years ago, cancer took her.”
“I’m sorry. Look we sure appreciate you fixing up Paul.”
The doctor ignored her and finished the stitches he was working on. Reaching for a syringe, he administered a shot before pulling off his plastic gloves. “Now maybe you will be kind enough to explain what really happened?”
“What do you mean?”
He sighed and stared hard at Bonnie. “This man is in serious condition, I’m going to have to call an ambulance for him. He needs to be in a hospital.”
“A hospital, I guess we could take him to a hospital,” Bonnie said, stalling for time, looking down at the bloody mess around the table.
“It looks worse than it is,” the doctor said kindly. “Look, I don’t think you did this to him so I’m going to give you a few moments. Maybe you’ll realize it’s in your best interest to tell me what really happened.”
“Let me talk to my boyfriend,” Bonnie stammered backing out the door. “I’ll be right back,” she squeaked, before running out to the car.
“Orley, get your shotgun. The doctor’s gonna call an ambulance. We have to get Jimmy Joe and get out of here.”
“I ain’t shooting no doctor, Bonnie,” Orley hiccupped.
“God, we ain’t shooting him, we just need to stop him from calling the hospital until we get out of here. Get your gun and come on.”
Orley peered at Bonnie and scratched his nose. “I ain’t going nowhere until I get a kiss.”
“Are you crazy? Get your fucking gun and follow me or so help me God, I’ll shoot your freaking head off myself,” Bonnie screamed.
“All right, all right. But you owe me a fucking kiss,” he grumbled, grabbing the shotgun from the back floorboard.
“Fine, I owe you a mother fucking kiss.” Bonnie pushed Orley into the room, and followed close behind, stepping carefully to one side.
The doctor froze when he saw the shotgun aimed at him. Frowning, he glanced at Bonnie.
“We ain’t gonna hurt you, doc. But we need time to get out of here, so we’re going to have to tie you up.”
“So,” the doctor said, “you did do this.”
“No, we didn’t. Unfortunately, this sorry bastard is my little brother and I have to help him on account of my mama. So just don’t move until I can find some rope.”
The doctor nodded and leaned against the counter.
Bonnie turned, impatient, and pushed Orley out of the way. Stumbling on a bloody patch on the floor, his feet went out beneath him. Automatically, his fingers tightened on the trigger. He felt the gun kick and watched in horror as the bullets caught the doctor square in the face.
“Oh my God. Orley what did you do!” Bonnie screamed, horrified.
“I didn’t mean too. You know I didn’t mean to,” Orley blubbered.
“You blew his fucking face off,” Bonnie screamed again, her body shaking.
“What did you push me for? You shouldn’t have pushed me,” Orley cried, staring down at the doctor.
Shocked, Bonnie stared down at the mess that used to be the doctor’s face. “What are we gonna do, Orley? We’ve got to get him out of here!” She screamed, grabbing the gun. “Carry Jimmy Joe to the car. We gotta go now!”
Orley hauled Jimmy Joe Joe’s body off the table and stumbled out. Giving the doctor a last look, Bonnie hurried over to the medicine cabinet. Grabbing a plastic bag out of the dispenser, she stuffed bottles of pills into the bag. She hurriedly looked for antibiotics. When she had what she needed, she gave the doctor one last look before running out the door.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bonnie peered inside the small motel. She could see an old man standing behind the counter. They had flown out of Tennessee after shooting the doctor and were now in the hills of Kentucky.
When she’d spotted the small hotel with the vacancy sign on, she heaved a huge sigh of relief. It had been a blessing. Jimmy Joe needed somewhere to stretch out. Some place besides the back seat of Orley’s old car.
She scratched inside her purse and pulled her wallet, then counted her money. She only had about fifty bucks. Surely, that would be enough for a room in this flea bitten motel.
Bonnie glanced over at Orley and sighed. He’d been driving and crying ever since they left the doctor’s house. He looked like he might keel over any moment.
“Stay in the car, Orley and I’ll try and get us a room.”
Orley burped and nodded.
Bonnie pushed the car door open and walked shakily into the motel lobby and up to the counter. The old man didn’t look up so she and leaned forward, then tapped the old man on his shoulder. He’d been dozing standing up. Snapping upright, he glared at Bonnie. “You don’t have to scare me half to death?”
“I’m sorry. I just need a room. How much does it cost?”
The old man yawned and stared for few minutes at the woman standing in front of him. “Twenty-seven a night.”
“Do you have a room with two beds?”
“This look like the Holiday Inn to you?” He growled, still mad.
“You don’t have any rooms with two beds?”
“No. But, seeing as we’re so slow, I’ll let you have two rooms and you only have to pay half price for the second room.”
“That sounds good,” she said, digging in her purse. “Do I pay now?”
The old man looked at the dark circles under Bonnie’s eyes and softened. “Naw, you can pay me when you leave.”
“Thank you.”
“That’s okay. All of us have had hard times.”
He grabbed a check-in sheet and two keys from a pegboard behind him, and handed them to her. “Here, put your information on this, then I’ll bring clean sheets around in a few minutes.”
“I’ll just come and get them, if that’s all right,” Bonnie offered, not wanting him to see Jimmy Joe.
He figured she probably had fifteen people in the car, and seeing as it wasn’t his motel, he just nodded. He didn’t care how many people slept in the same room. He’d seen worse things on the night shift at the motel. “Suits me fine,” he agreed, watching as she hurried out.
***
Between them, Orley and Bonnie managed to get Jimmy Joe into the room. Pulling a sheet over him, Bonnie sat on a chair and stared at her brother. He didn’t look much better than he had before they took him to the doctor.
Exhausted, she glanced over at Orley. He was already asleep on the bed beside her brother. She walked into the bathroom and shut the door.
She stared at her face in the mirror and choked back sobs. Her poor mama was dead. What would become of her family now? They all counted on her mama. Now she was going to have to be strong all on her own.
She shook her head and walked back into the bedroom. The two of them seem to be sleeping okay. She grabbed the other key, picked her set of sheets, and let herself out the room. Hopefully they’d both sleep for a while. She let herself into a room similar to the one she’d just left and lay down on the unmade bed. Bunching up an old flat pillow, she stared at the ceiling.
Her daddy would be lost without mama. Probably drink himself to death in no time, she figured.
Her other brothers would be sorry, of course, but not like Jimmy Joe. He would absolutely freak when he found out.
She turned on her side and closed her eyes, drifting off into an uneasy sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Huddled in a small group outside Kerry’s hospital r
oom, Emma and her parents listened impatiently as the sheriff talked.
“What are you telling us?" Jason Stewart demanded, interrupting him. “Are you saying that the guy who kidnapped Kerry is coming back after her?”
“I’m saying it is a possibility,” the sheriff tried to explain. “We know he got medical attention, so we assume it won’t be long before he’s up and moving. His mom died of a heart attack a couple of days ago. If he was unbalanced before, we’re thinking this will send him over the edge.”
“The doctor said Kerry could leave tomorrow,” Jason said, rubbing his forehead worriedly. “Are you saying she’s not safe here?”
“She’s as safe as we can make her. I’m just letting you know how we’re leaning.”
“Sherry, what do you think?” Jason asked his wife.
“I think we should leave today,” Sherry said. “Kerry can’t take much more.”
“I agree,” Jason said, grabbing his cell phone from his pocket. “I’ll try and charter a plane. That way we have some control.” Turning to Sherry, he continued, “I’ll have better reception outside. I’ll be back as soon as I can arrange things.”
The sheriff glanced over at Casey and nodded. “You stay here. I’ll make arrangements so we can escort them to the airport. We need to sneak her out. Avoid the press if we can.”
After receiving a nod from Casey, the sheriff turned and hurried off.
Sherry fluttered her hands nervously in the air and turned to Emma. “I’ll go gather our things. Try not to worry, we’ll be home tonight.” She gave Emma a hug before returning to Kerry’s room.
“Looks like we’re leaving,” Emma said.
Casey felt his heart sink. “Probably the best thing to do.”
Emma looked at the floor. “Maybe I can give you my cell phone number and you can call me. I mean if you have some news.”
“I can do that,” Casey agreed, feeling better. At least, he wasn’t losing all contact with her. “I’ll give you my number if you need me, I mean if you have any questions.”
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