She smiled up at him. “I’m really sorry. I promise I won’t do it again. Can’t you maybe just…let me go with a warning or something?”
The deputy smiled at her. “I don’t know, miss. I’d like to help you out, but trying to obtain alcohol and possession of fake identification? Those are some serious charges.”
Gus snickered.
The deputy looked over at him. “You can put the alcohol back now, Gus. I’ve got it from here.”
“Yes, sir.” He moved off to return the alcohol to the shelf.
“Let’s go outside, miss,” the deputy said. He held open the door for her and let her precede him, his eyes moving over her as she walked out. When they got outside, he said, “Move over to the car.”
She did as he said, rubbing her upper-arms, scared to death he was going to put her in the back of the squad car and take her in.
He lifted his hand, palm up, and bobbed two fingers. “Give me your purse.” She did as he asked. Opening it, his eyes moved over her. “You have any drugs in here?”
“No, sir. I don’t do drugs.”
He laughed. “Right.” He searched through her purse, and then set it down on the hood of the car.
“Please. I promise I’ll never do anything like this again. Can’t you let me go? You let my friend go.”
“Yeah, I did. But you, now, are a different story. You were the one with the ID.”
“Please, sir.”
He tilted his head. “I suppose I could be persuaded to be nice about this. But I’d have to search you to make sure you don’t have any illegal substances on your person before I let you go. I find any, I’ll have to take you in.”
“But, I already told you, I don’t have any. You already searched my purse.”
“But I still need to search you. Put your hands on the hood of the car, miss.”
Jessie looked around the deserted parking lot. There were no other customers, just the creepy attendant. She swallowed and slowly moved to comply. As soon as she put her palms on the hood, she felt his hands at her waist and jumped.
Then his voice was in her ear. “Relax. Just do as you’re told.”
His hands slid down her hips, around and dipping into the front hip pockets of her jeans. Finding nothing, he moved around to the pockets on her ass. He slid his hands inside, palms toward her cheeks, cupping them. Jessie had never been searched, but she was sure this wasn’t how it was done. She turned to look over her shoulder at him.
“Eyes forward,” he ordered.
She obediently faced forward. She felt his hands move down to her thighs, moving between them, up to her crotch. Startled, she jumped, her hands coming off the hood. She immediately felt his hand between her shoulder blades, shoving her face down on the hood.
“Okay, we can do this the hard way.” He yanked one arm behind her.
She felt the cold metal of his handcuffs clamping around her wrist, and she panicked. “No, please. I won’t give you any trouble. Please don’t arrest me. I’ll do whatever you want me to.” Her words had no effect on him, as her other arm was pulled behind her, the other cuff clicking in place.
Then his body was pressed up against hers, pressing her down onto the hood. His breath was hot on her neck. “Yeah, Jessie. You are going to do whatever I tell you to. I guarantee you that.”
Oh, my God. What was he talking about?
Jessie heard a siren turn on and off with a warning whoop sound, and flashing blue lights filled the parking lot. She turned her head to see another squad car pulling into the parking lot at a rapid speed. She thought she heard a muffled ‘Fuck’ from the deputy as he yanked her upright, his hand clamped on her upper arm.
Then the door of the squad car opened, and another officer climbed out. “What the hell are you doing, Wilcox?”
“This underage minor was attempting to purchase alcohol with a fake ID, Sheriff.”
“Take the cuffs off her,” the other man barked.
“But, sir-”
“Now!”
The deputy moved to comply, and then the cuffs were off.
Jessie rubbed her wrists.
“I’m Sheriff Bennett, Miss Garrett,” the other officer said, moving to stand in front of her. “I know your father. Knew your mother, too. So, here’s what’s going to happen. Since I happen to know this is your first offense, I’m going to have you call your father to come down and get you. I’m going to put you in the back of my squad car while I talk to my deputy for a few minutes, then I’m going to have you make that call. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
He opened the rear door, and Jessie slid inside. The door closed and she looked through the cage toward the storefront. The creepy clerk was peering through the window. She looked out the side window and saw the sheriff speaking angrily with the deputy. She thought about how pissed her daddy was going to be when she called him and he found out what she’d done, but how glad she was that the sheriff had shown up when he did.
Cary was relaxing on his couch, watching highlights of Georgia Bulldogs football on the evening news when his cell phone rang. He reached for it, looking at the display.
Jessie.
Smiling, he moved his thumb over the pad and put the phone to his ear. “Hey, squirt. You talkin’ to me again?”
“Cary?” her trembling voice was in his ear. He could hear the fear in her tone and cadence. Something had happened. Something bad. He got all that from just that one word. His hand on the remote was immediately muting the television, and he was curling upright, his legs swinging to the floor. “Jess? Where are you?”
“I-I’m in t-trouble, Cary,” she managed to get out, brokenly.
“Where are you, baby-doll?” He was pressing the phone between his jaw and shoulder, reaching to pull his boots on with both hands. His only thought was to get to her.
“I’m scared, Cary. I need you.”
“I’m coming, honey. But you’ve got to tell me where you are.”
“P-please d-don’t t-tell my dad, Cary.”
He grabbed his keys off the table. “Christ, baby,” he pleaded softly, “tell me where you are.”
“The Gas-n-Go on h-highway eleven.”
He went out the door, the screen banging. “I’ll be there in ten minutes, sweetheart. Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m okay. Please hurry, Cary.”
“I’m already out the door, baby.”
She disconnected.
Cary pulled into the parking lot of the gas station, his eyes sliding over the only vehicle in the lot, a squad car. His gaze scanned the property. Jessie was nowhere to be seen, but someone was in the back of the squad car. Sheriff Bennett was standing next to it, leaning back against it, his arms folded.
Cary parked and got out.
The Sheriff straightened and met him several feet away from his vehicle.
“Cary, where’s Steve?”
Cary’s eyes slid to the back of the squad. He couldn’t really make out her face, but it had to be her. His eyes returned to the Sheriff. “He wasn’t around. What’s going on?”
The Sheriff glanced back at Jessie, and then his eyes returned to Cary. “In the case of a minor, I need to release her to a parent or guardian.”
“Bennett, sir, you know me. I practically
am
family.”
The Sheriff blew out a breath.
“What did she do?”
“She tried to buy alcohol with a fake ID.”
“What? I didn’t even know she
had
a fake ID.”
“Not surprising. Kids tend to hide that stuff.”
Cary’s arms folded across his chest, his stance widening, and his body going rigid as he looked toward the backseat. Now that he knew she was okay and relief rushed through him, anger took its place.
“My deputy caught them in the act.”
His eyes darted back to the Sheriff. “Them?”
“She had a girlfriend with her. My deputy let the friend go, but planned to make an example out of Jessie. He was going to take her to the station. Had her in cuffs and everything.”
Cary’s arms came unfolded. “Cuffs?”
“Wilcox is a by-the-book kind of guy.”
Cary’s jaw clenched.
“Look. I’ll release her to you, but have a talk with her father. She does this again, she goes to the station.”
“I understand, sir. Thank you.”
Bennett moved to open the rear door. “Climb out,” he ordered Jessie.
She did as she was told, her eyes going to Cary’s face. His disappointment was written all over it, as well as his anger.
“I’m letting you go. Do not do this again, you hear me?”
“Yes, sir. I promise.”
Cary looked at her. “Get in the truck, Jessie.”
She nodded and moved off.
Cary extended his hand to the Sheriff. “Thank you, sir.”
They shook hands, and Cary walked to his truck and climbed inside.
“Cary, I’m so sorry. I-”
“Not another word, Jess.” They rode in silence back to the farm. When they got there, he drove past the main house and pulled around behind his place. He shut the truck off, and they both climbed out. “Come on. You and I have a few things to talk about.” He moved to his porch, and she followed him up the stairs and inside. He dropped his keys on the end table and picked up the remote, switching off the flat screen that he’d left on when he’d run out the door. “Sit.”
She moved to the couch and sat. He moved in front of her, standing over her, looking down at her. She looked up at him. “I’m so sorry, Cary. I know I messed up.”
“Messed up? Is that what you call it?” She swallowed, looking up at him. He could see the dawning on her face when she realized just how pissed off he really was.
“Cary-”
“Messing up is when you miss curfew, or forget to do your homework. What you did was break the law, Jess.”
“I know, I-”
“What the fuck were you thinking? And where in the hell did you get a fake ID?”
“Cary, please, you were in high school. Don’t tell me you never did any of this.”
She had him there. “We’re not talking about me, Jess. This is all you. Your father has let you run wild, that’s what it is-”
“Run wild?”
“He should have taken a firmer hand with you. You’re spoiled. Think you can run all over the county, do whatever you want, come and go as you please. Racing that car he gave you up and down the highways. Well, those days are over, baby-doll. You hear me?”
She stood up. “You’re not my father!”
“Second time today you’ve said that to me, Jess.” She went to push past him. He grabbed her arm, stopping her. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Let me go.” She yanked on her arm, but she couldn’t break his hold. “You’re hurting me!”
“The hell I am, but I should. What I should do is take you over my knee. Swear to Christ, Jess, somebody needs to take you in hand.”
Jessie sucked in her breath. “You don’t have any right to punish me! Or have any say in anything about me.”
He grinned, “Oh, really. Well, we’ll see what your father has to say when he hears about this.” He started to drag her toward the door, and suddenly the place she’d been trying to pull away to run to, was now the last place she wanted to go.
She pulled back. “No. Wait, Cary, please. You can’t tell him.”
“Oh, can’t I? Try me.” He pulled.
She pulled back. “I thought you were my friend.”
Her words cut him like a knife. Yes, he was her friend, but fuck, that wasn’t all he felt for her. “Friend? Is that what I am, Jess?”
“Aren’t you?”
The corner of his mouth lifted up. “Yeah. I guess that’s what I am. Come on, let’s go have a talk with your father.”
“Please, Cary. Not tonight. Please, can’t we wait?”
“What good is it putting it off?”
She looked up at him, her eyes filling with tears. “Please, Cary. I’ll tell him tomorrow. I swear.”
He pulled his chin to the side, staring at her. “Don’t play me like that, Jess.”
She shook her head, a tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m not playing you, Cary. I swear it,” she whispered.
“Jess-” Fuck. As much as he wanted to claim her tears had no effect on him, it wasn’t true. They did. They always had. Suddenly she flew into his arms, her head burying in his chest, her arms wrapping tight around him. His arms came around her, and his hand brushed over her head. “Baby-doll, what is it?”
“I was so scared, Cary,” she cried softly.
He supposed it had to be a traumatic thing for a young girl, to be cuffed, put in the back of a squad car, and threatened with arrest. “It’s over.” He stroked her hair. “It’s over.”
She clung tighter.
“Baby, I’m here.”
She nodded into his chest. “Yes.”
“I’ll always be here for you.”
“You came for me.”
“Of course, I did.”
“I didn’t even have to tell you why. You just…came.”
He pulled back, looking into her eyes, his hand on her cheek, his thumb brushing her cheekbone. “I’ll always come for you, Jess. Always. Don’t you know that? Don’t you?”
She broke into a smile, huffing out a sob, and nodded. “Yes.”
A ring tone sounded from the depths of Jessie’s purse. They broke apart, and she looked toward her purse. “That’s probably Keri, checking on me.”
“Your partner in crime?” Cary asked, the corner of his mouth pulling up.
Jessie smiled. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. I better let her know I’m okay.”
Cary nodded, releasing her.
She moved toward her purse, and he walked into the kitchen.
He was standing in the open refrigerator door, staring at the contents when Jessie walked in. “You hungry, babe?” he asked and then looked up at her when she didn’t answer. She was looking at him, a worried expression on her face. “Jess, what is it?”
“I, um, have another favor to ask.”
“What now?”
“Um, my car.”
He realized he hadn’t even given a thought to where her car was. “Shit. Where the hell is it? They didn’t impound it, did they?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s at Keri’s house. I kind of need to go get it, before Dad realizes it’s not here.”
He shook his head. “Swear to Christ, baby-doll, you’re really gonna owe me big time after tonight.”
She smiled sweetly. “I could make you dinner?”
“Oh, hell, no.”
“Are we back to that again?” She put her hands on her hips.
He put his hands up. “I give up. Get your purse.”