The Devil's Right Hand - J. D. Rhoades [14]
“This court stands adjourned,” the bailiff called out. “God save the State and this honorable court.”
“Mister Keller,” a voice said.
Keller turned. Officer Marie Jones was sitting in a red Honda Accord in a parking space in front of the courthouse. The driver’s side window was down. Her uniform blouse had been replaced by a white T-shirt with a Gold’s Gym logo on it. Her police cap was gone but her light-brown hair was still pinned up. She still wore the mirrored shades.
“You need a ride?” she said.
Keller approached the vehicle. “My car’s in the impound lot,” he said.
“I know,” she said. She leaned over and opened the passenger side door. “Get in. I’ll take you over there.” Keller got in. She pulled away from the curb without speaking. She was dressed in a pair of black workout shorts and tennis shoes. Keller looked her over. Her body was lean and muscular, the body of a swimmer or long-distance runner.
After a few moments, she spoke up. “I’m sorry about Eddie,” she said. “Officer Wesson, I mean.”
“That would have meant a lot more if you’d been there to tell what really happened.”
She sighed. “No one told me about it. I went off-duty and went to the gym.”
“Would you have told the truth if you’d been there?”
“Of course I would have,” she snapped. Keller looked at her for a long moment. She thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I don’t know. I mean, yeah, I guess. “ She sighed. “Fuck, I don’t know.” She sounded weary.
“What is he, your boyfriend?”
Jones yanked the wheel suddenly, steering the car over to the side of the street and slamming on the brakes. She turned to Keller. “Get out,” she said. Her voice was absolutely flat.
“Whoa, whoa.” Keller said. “I’m sorry, I--”
“I am so SICK of that bullshit!” she slammed her open palm on the steering wheel. “From Eddie’s wife. From my ex. From every asshole in the station. The ones that don’t assume I’m fucking Eddie assume I’m some sort of dyke because I’m not fucking him. Well, fuck them, and fuck you too.” She grabbed the wheel with both hands. She rested her head on the steering wheel for a moment, getting herself under control. Her knuckles were white.
“You’re right,” Keller said softly. “I was out of line. It was a stupid thing to say. I’m sorry.”
She took a deep breath and straightened up. She looked straight ahead for a moment, took another breath, blew it out. She turned to Keller.
“I sit for the Sergeant’s exam next month,” she said. “I’ve got a kid that my ex keeps threatening to take away every time I make a fuss about the back child support. You think I need that kind of problem?”
“Not meaning to add to your load, but you’ve got another problem. Wesson’s a psycho,” Keller said. “He’s apt to turn on you.”
Jones shook her head. She pulled the car back into traffic. “He’s really an okay guy,” she said. “He’s just been having some problems at home. He’s wound a little too tight these days, I guess.”
“Officer Jones,” Keller said. “Your partner’s more than wound too tight. I’ve seen that look in people’s eyes before. He’s getting ready to cut loose. And when he does, he’s going to kill somebody. And maybe get himself killed as well. Or you.”
She shook her head again. “He’s my partner,” he said. “I’m supposed to look after him.”
“You’re supposed to look after each other,” Keller said. She didn’t answer. Keller could see he was getting nowhere, so he changed the subject. “How’d you find out about the hearing?” he asked.
“Your boss got me on my cell phone,” Jones said. “I tried to get here, but I ran into her in the parking lot and she told me it was all over, that you’d been turned loose.” She looked at Keller. “Do you mind if I say something?”
Keller shrugged. “Depends on what it is, I guess.”
Marie laughed. “Fair enough. It’s just that your boss-- Angela, is it?”
“Yeah, Angela Hager.”
“She’s pretty, but she’s kind of spooky-looking. What’s the deal with the gloves?”
Keller leaned back in the seat and looked out the window. “She’s got some pretty bad scars. Burns. She doesn’t like people staring at them.