Morgan sat down on the floor, and she immediately came to him to be petted. The bad news was that he obviously wouldn’t be able to get on the treadmill if Tricks was anywhere in the house.
The good news was that at least he hadn’t killed himself.
CHAPTER 15
THE CALL CAME IN LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, RIGHT before time to go home. Listening to it over the radio, and to Loretta’s responses, Bo muttered, “Shit,” and dropped her head into her hands. They’d been so close to making it through the day without any drama.
It was Jesse’s day off; Officer Patrick Jones was in the station. He said, “I’m on it, Chief,” and was out the door. That was the fastest she’d seen him move in the entire time she’d known him.
Loretta said wistfully, “Man, I’d like to see this.”
Bo wasn’t of the same opinion. She’d been this close to going home. She could feel a headache coming on, precipitated by the drama and long hours she knew were coming at her. “I was hoping everything would go smoothly and the whole town could move on.”
“Yeah, but you’re not a Hobson. We live for shit like this.” Loretta paused. “Want me to call Jesse in? Not that Patrick can’t handle it, but Jesse has a way of settling people down.” That was because Jesse had perfected the cop’s “don’t mess with me” stare.
“He’ll be on a date with Kalie,” Bo replied, but they both knew Jesse would be monitoring his radio anyway, and he was probably already on his way with Kalie beside him. No one would want to be left behind in tomorrow morning’s gossip, not even Jesse.
For herself, she’d like to pack it in and go home, but that option was off the table now.
She got her cell phone and called home. Morgan picked up on the third ring.
“Anything wrong?” he said by way of greeting, getting straight to the heart of the matter.
“The divorce proceedings didn’t go well. I’ll probably be several hours late. Go ahead and eat whatever you feel like eating, and feed Tricks. I’ll grab something here when I have time. How’s Tricks?”
“She’s fine. She nearly killed me, but she’s fine.”
“Okay, good,” she said absently, and hung up. After a few seconds she realized what she’d said and started to call him back but gave herself a little shake and forgot about it. With Tricks, it could be anything. She’d find out later.
Within twenty minutes, the police station was a mob scene. She’d expected to see Emily and Kyle brought in, or at least Kyle, but that wasn’t the case. Patrick arrived first, with Melody Gooding handcuffed in the backseat of his cruiser. She was yelling and cussing at Patrick, kicking the seat, and generally raising hell. Then Jesse rolled up, as predicted, and of all people he had Miss Doris in his cruiser—handcuffed in the back, while Kalie Vaughan sat in the front passenger seat wide-eyed and shocked.
Miss Doris was spitting fire, yelling at Melody as soon as the officers had gotten the two women out of the cruisers. “I’ll kick your sorry ass all over this town!” Miss Doris bellowed. Her normally sweet round face was fiery red and not looking sweet at all, while her mild blue eyes were sparking fire.
Oh, holy shit.
Other people began showing up, crowding into the small police station: Emily and her mother; Mayor Buddy; a few members of the town council; the two lawyers who had been representing the divorcing parties; a couple of the volunteer firemen and a paramedic; Miss Virginia Rose, who must have been in the courtroom sightseeing; Sam Higgins, the school-bus driver; then Mr. Gooding and Kyle came in, with Kyle looking furious and sullen.
Kyle gave Bo a menacing look but then remembered where he was and quickly looked away. No, she thought, he did not want to start mouthing off in here and demanding she release his sister. He’d barely escaped being charged the last time, and that had led to his being forced to sign the divorce papers as Emily wanted them.
Last but not least, Daina arrived with her for-now boyfriend, Kenny Michaels. What on earth were they doing here?
The noise of all the raised voices was deafening, with everyone shouting and no one able to hear what anyone was saying. At least half these people had no business being here, Bo thought, though the paramedic might come in handy.
Daina slipped over to her and said, “I thought I’d come get Tricks, get her out of the way so you don’t have that worry.”
“Oh—thanks,” Bo said in relief. “But I kind of had a feeling this might happen, so I left her at home with Morgan.”
“You’re good, then?”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
Daina smothered a laugh. “We’ll get out of the way. Call me when it’s over. I want the scoop.” Then she and Kenny left, with Kenny giving a small wave as they went out the door.
There were still far too many people.
Bo climbed up on her desk, clapped her hands, and yelled, “Hey!” She didn’t like confrontation, but, damn it, she was the chief, and this situation couldn’t be sorted out with this many people in the way.
Silence fell, even between Melody and Miss Doris, who had continued cussing at each other the whole time. Bo was kind of stunned Miss Doris knew those words. Everyone in the crowded station turned to look at her.
“I want everybody out,” she said. “Even you, Mayor Buddy. Everybody except my two officers, Miss Doris, Melody, Loretta, and me. If you aren’t one of the six people named—out.”
“Now see here—” Mr. Gooding began hotly.
“No, I won’t see here. We can’t get this mess straightened out with everyone in here yelling at each other. Emily, Kyle, take your lawyers with you. If they’re needed after we talk to Miss Doris and Melody, they can come back. Out. I mean it. Anyone who is still here in sixty seconds will be arrested.”