Halcyon
Chapter 25
by Bridgid
Lonnie lay on her back thinking about all of the scum she'd put behind
these bars. She wondered if anyone she'd busted ever spend any time in this
particular cell. Talk about a bit of irony.
The woman's block was never quiet. Most of the incarcerated bitches were issued
a million words a day to say and they didn't shut up until the last one was
uttered. Some of them probably went into deficit. The sound of the plastic
mattress protesting every time she moved hardly covered the din of her cell mate
who seemed to be ragging it. She was a heavy set black woman who smelled like
sweat and piss, Laticia Burns had to stand sideways to use the sink they shared
in the cell. It was barely wide enough to support two bunk beds and the sink was
a fixture which was built right into the back of the toilet as if it were part
of the tank. Dull stainless steel and reeking of something that resembled
spoiled fish and the scent of one of those port-a-potties, it was hard to feel
clean no matter what since they were not allowed to have soap in the cells.
For most people this would be claustrophobic and humiliating. The lack of color
and presence of plenty of cold hard steel was a glimpse into the hell men could
create for each other and the regimentation of eating when you're told, sleeping
when you're told and random lock downs could either break a person's spirit or
it could wake sleeping demons, create monsters from otherwise. Lonnie tried to
loose herself within. She thought of Bud but the moment she felt a slight bit of
warmth, the sounds of some inmate stroking herself made her feel sick. Should
she try to talk to Laticia? Fuck no! That woman was the missing link. Her
decision to remain to herself was unceremoniously taken from her.
"You're a fine little cunt. What you do, sweet thing, kill your old man?"
Lonnie didn't turn her head but her eyes shot to the woman. "No. I killed the
cunt who was messing around with him."
"Well sugar, I like to have me a ho who'd eat her own fucking kittens."
"Maybe you'll get lucky someday."
Laticia turned away from the sink and stood over Lonnie's bunk. She stood
arrogantly and looked down at the woman as if she were some kind of pulled pork
sandwich in a synagogue.
"You don't belong here. Something ain't right about you."
"Yeah, just like you, I didn't do it. Listen, Laticia or whatever your name is.
Could you do me a favor and move over to your own side of the suite. It's a
little crowded here." Lonnie quickly covered her eyes with her forearm. The
woman kept stroking the skin on her chest and sniffing her fingers for some
unknown reason and Lonnie didn't even want to venture a guess about it. Of
course covering her eyes meant she didn't see it coming. Laticia lifted her from
the bunk as if she were a toy. Before Lonnie could fight back, she was pinned
against the bars with that smelly meaty hand pressed over her mouth.
"I'm gonna fuck you up, cop." Raising an elbow abruptly, she bruised Lonnies
cheek with a blinding blow. "There now, what'd you go and do that to yourself
for?" The elbow came up again and this time it sent Lonnie's conscious self on a
cruise to the Bahamas. She crumbled to a heap onto the painted cement floor.
Laticia dragged her limp ass over to her bunk and threw her on it face down. She
picked up a gray wool blanket from the floor, wiped her face with it then she
tossed it over Lonnie's head.
"Sleep well, princess."
Thomas drummed his fingers on the table as he watched the man sitting across
from him melt down. Sure he cared about Lonnie too, he loved her in his own
brotherly way but this was no time to crumble. He didn't see Bud White as one
who'd be used to it either.
"Lawyer," Thomas broke the silence with one significant word.
"They've assigned a public defender but you know how they work. They'll have her
copping a plea just to make the DA's office look good during elections." Bud
rubbed his eyes then ran his hand up over his head. "Dunno where I'll come up
with the money but I'll get someone good for her. Thomas, if we can dig up
enough evidence we can get this thrown the fuck out. She said she didn't do it
and I believe her."
"I can come up with enough for a retainer. You got someone in mind?"
"Yeah. I know this bulldog son of a bitch of a criminal defense attorney who
gave me some grief. His name is Addley, Joseph Addley."
"See if he'll take the case. Have you gone to see her yet?"
Bud shifted in his seat and sat upright. He shook his head no and the expression
on his face spilled the conveyed the pain he felt. She was alone without a word
from him yet and he was afraid to see her broken, afraid of how he'd react to
it.
Thomas leaned forward. "Don't abandon her this way. I know it's not gonna be
pretty, White, but you have to go. Think of what must be going through her mind
right now."
Thomas was right. Bud knew if he didn't get over himself she'd figure he bailed
on her, gave up on her. "See if you can get a hold of Addley. Tell him we'll do
his leg work, whatever it takes. Tell him we'll dig up whatever we can but tell
him to do whatever it takes to get her the fuck out of there now. I'll ... I'll
go let her know what's up."
"Would you rather I came with?"
"No. I gotta do this on my own right now."
"Well, why are you still sitting on your ass? Go," Thomas ordered. It garnished
a cold look from Bud but the man nodded. He had the entire drive to the lockup
to think about what he'd say to her.
Everything he planned to say became a mire of shit by the time he arrived at the
jail. He found himself swallowing back bile several times as he parked his car
and got out to climb the cement steps to the visitor's area. Once inside he had
to surrender his weapon before the guard buzzed him through an interlock that
led down a long steel gray hallway. The place was so fucking cold and it had
everything to do with the piss poor lighting and the sound of metal grinding on
itself as the doors slid closed when they passed through. It made Bud's hair
stand on end and his gut wrench. It bottomed out when he heard the guard call
for inmate number thirty three zero two twenty one.
Lonnie was awake but still lying face down when the cell door mechanism wound
and ground. A guard stood in the door with fine pair of stainless steel
bracelets for her to wear to the ball.
"Get up, Brannigan. Someone decided to waste some of their precious free time to
visit you," the guard growled. "You know the drill. Turn around and present your
hands."
When she pushed herself up and turned the guard noticed her face. He looked over
at Leticia who just shrugged and retreated to her hole. A second guard moved in
behind him and a female one stood in the doorway. It was she who spoke up.
"You need to go to the infirmary, Brannigan?"
"No," she replied in a rasp.
"What happened to you? Got something to report?"
Her face was bruised from her chin to her temple and she wore a shiner that
looked almost painted on. The swelling and pain in her jaw made it difficult for
her to speak but she managed. "I fell over my fucking shoe laces."
"You don't have any shoelaces."
"No shit," she spat as she turned around and presented her hands to the male
guard. He snapped the set of bracelets on and moved to say something close to
her ear.
"This don't mean we're engaged or nothing but if you're interested in a warm
shower, I'll see what I can do."
"Fuck you!"
"That's what I was hoping for. Come on now. You don't want to keep your guest
waiting. I'm sure that big ape ate up all of the hors de oeuvres by now."
The jailors shuttled her out of the cell and down the hall to a room with a row
of glass divided booths. As she cleared the divider their eyes met and it's not
as if she didn't suspect it was him but as the guard removed the cuffs and
pushed her down in the chair she began to shake. Bud on the other hand stood up.
He glared down into her battered face and pounded his fist against the glass.
Lonnie shook her head frantically.
"No, no, no!" she cried but he couldn't hear her through the soundproof glass.
One guard moved to grab her arm to take her away and another came up behind Bud.
She shook her head again and begged the guard to let her go. "Please, he's a
cop. It's okay."
Bud turned to the man behind him. "Won't happened again," he choked as he melted
down into the chair. If ever he had to muster up some self control this was the
moment but he wouldn't apologize for it. Not a fucking chance. They managed to
win a second chance.
Lonnie picked up the handset to the phone and motioned for him to do the same
but he just sat there staring at her. She put a hand on the glass and turned to
look at the clock behind her before looking back at him. They were only allowed
a half hour and she needed to hear his voice.
"Please, Bud." It wasn't hard for him to read her lips no matter how fucked up
her face was. He grabbed the handset and pinnned it to his ear.
"What happened to you." His eyes glazed over and his brow furrowed with the ache
he felt in his chest.
"Nothing can be done 'bout it, baby. Just shit is all. Fucking good to see you.
I was worried."
His nostrils flared as he struggled to maintain his composure but it was the
look in her eyes that got him. Deep aqua filled with pain, confusion and fear
but there was one little flicker that was meant just for him and it had a
halcyon effect.
"Don't shit me, Lonnie. I need to get you out of here."
"I know. I won't survive here."
His heart spilt in two and he closed his eyes. He worried, agonized for her and
for his baby that she was carrying. It sent a tear down his cheek but he quickly
mopped it away with his sleeve. When their gaze met again the halcyon flicker
was bigger.
"Don't break, Bud. I need you to know I didn't do it and I need you to know that
I love you." She raised a hand and placed it on the glass. His response was slow
but he placed his hand on the glass watching as hers vanished behind it. She
wasn't so big now, was she?
"What about bail?"
She shook her head. "No hearing yet. Fucking lawyer postponed it."
"I called Thomas. He's working on getting Addley."
What he said sank in but she was preoccupied with the feel of the warmth from
his hand through the glass. "I need to be held. I want to be in our bed."
What could he say? He didn't deal with helpless very well and right now he was
powerless. Bud chewed his lip and sniffed back the liquid that ran from his
nose. "Lonnie, tell them you need medical help. Tell them you're worried for the
baby. I sure as fuck am."
She nodded and the corner of her lip twitched. "I'm gonna be okay. Kid's gonna
be okay. I promise you that, baby."
"I know, and Lon ..."
"Times up," the guard standing behind her announced. Before Bud finished his
sentence the phones shut off. It's a good thing she could read his lips because
he said it and it seemed pretty damn easy for him this time. He said, "I love
you, Lonnie."