Flamethrower - Maggie Estep [12]
“Oh, Ruby,” Jody said listlessly.
The Psychiatrist was wearing a knee-length lemon-colored dress made of translucent material. She was holding a large yellow purse. She was paler than ever, and her bright hair had dulled. She looked as if she’d been up doing coke all night.
“I was looking for Violet,” Ruby said.
“Yes, she’s around.” Jody waved her hand. She seemed small even though she wasn’t.
“I guess I’ll wait for her,” Ruby said.
“Oh. Yes,” Jody said weakly. This was probably the last thing she wanted. But she didn’t have the strength to protest. She busied herself digging through her purse.
Outside the office, there was the sound of hooves against dirt as a hotwalker guided a horse past the door.
“I’ve been asked to come up with money,” Jody said after a thick three-minute silence.
“A lot?” Ruby tried to seem casual, as though she’d fully expected Jody to start talking.
“Of course.”
“I’m sorry. And you still haven’t called anyone?”
“No,” Jody said without moving her lips.
“You’re endangering your husband. If he’s even alive.” Ruby was surprised she’d actually said it aloud.
Jody finally looked Ruby in the eyes. “I’ve been through this before,” she said.
“Your husband’s been kidnapped before?”
“No. Me.”
“You were kidnapped?” Ruby was incredulous.
“When I was younger. My parents did as the kidnappers asked, and I was returned unharmed.”
Ruby instinctively knew further revelations were forthcoming.
“What did your parents do for a living?” Ruby asked. It wasn’t what she’d meant to ask. It had just popped out.
“They were psychiatrists,” Jody answered as if it were a natural question.
“Both?”
Jody nodded.
“Oh,” said Ruby. No wonder the woman chewed her fingernails. “So you’re planning on coming up with the money?”
“That’s why I’m here. I have seventy-two hours to get it, but I don’t have many resources. There was a substantial offer made some weeks ago for one of Tobias’s horses, and I’m here to see if Violet can sell the horse and collect the money in such a short time. Violet doesn’t know why I need the money so quickly, and I’d like to keep it that way.” Jody was staring at Ruby but she didn’t really seem to see her. Her blue eyes were bloodshot.
Ruby struggled for something to say. Then was saved by Violet coming through the office door.
“Oh!” Violet said, “Ruby!”
Violet looked drawn. This was hardly a shock. Jody’s husband’s colt, Fearless Jones, was hands down the most exciting horse Violet and Henry had trained in years. Ruby knew it had to be a heartbreak. She wished she could tell Violet that Jody had an extraordinarily valid reason for doing something this rash.
Ruby stood up to hug Violet.
“You might not want to do that.” Violet pulled back. “Our shower is broken. I’m afraid I’m quite ripe.”
“You smell fine to me,” Ruby said, realizing this sounded peculiar. No one seemed to notice though.
“Violet, you’re very kind to help me,” Jody said, rising from the couch and smoothing her dress down over her thighs.
Violet nodded. She looked as if she was about to cry.
“Could I have a word with you, Ruby?” Jody asked.
“Oh,” Ruby said, surprised, “sure.” She looked at Violet.
“I have an awful lot to do, Ruby,” Violet said weakly. “We’d better have coffee another time.”
“Okay.” Ruby felt overwhelmingly useless for not being able to console her friend.
On her way out, Ruby touched Violet’s shoulder. Violet tried to smile.
Ruby followed Jody Ray over to the dirt road behind the barn, where Jody stopped walking and turned to Ruby.
“I’m sorry for this,” she said, looking past Ruby.
“For what?”
“For what you’ve seen in the last twenty-four hours. For what it must be putting you through.”
“It’s not putting me through anything. Though it is frustrating. And horrible for poor Violet.”
“Yes,” Jody said, “poor Violet.”
Suddenly, Jody’s face folded in on itself, and she started crying. “I’m sorry,” she said, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.
Her mascara had streaked