Chapter 9

Dolly was in her bedroom, Ester's threat replaying in her mind. Would she actually follow through with it, she was unsure but she couldn't take the risk.

"Dolly…"

She looked up to see Julia standing in her doorway, looking worried. She walked over to Dolly and took a seat beside her at the end of her bed.

"You okay Dolly?"

"I'm not sure."

"What's happened?"

"You know Ester very well, you've been with her a long time, yes?"

"2 years, we shared a cell in prison and I got to know her really well. When we were released, I moved in with her."

"You really love her?"

"What's love….has something happened?"

"Hypathetically, if Ester threatened to kill me, do you believe she'd follow through with the threat?"

"Has she….thretened to kill you?"

"She thinks I'm going to turn on you all."

"Why would she think that."

"I came home this morning around 5am and she…."

"Where were you last night anyway."

"I'm getting to that Julia…..look, what I'm about to tell you…I didn't plan for it to happen, it just did."

"You slept with Mike, didn't you?"

"I know it was the wrong thing to do but…"

"Why, why is it wrong. You said he had feelings for him."

"I know but now Ester knows and she thinks that Mike and I will go behind your backs on this and…."

"She threatened to kill you."

"I wouldn't do that to you, any of you. I'm not like that, you know that."

"Yeah I do and deep down Ester does too. Look don't worry about Ester, I'll talk to her."

"No Julie, I…."

"Leave her with me, you look tired. Why don't you get some sleep, you clearly didn't get any last night." Julie smirked, as she left Dolly's room.

Ester was in the yard with Gloria, digging out a big enough hole to make a cesspit when she looked up and saw Julia approaching.

"Oh at last, it's about time someone else came and helped us. I'm telling you, this isn't on, I ain't getting paid to be doing this." Gloria groaned.

"Well technically Gloria you are." Julia replied.

"Oh yeah, well anyway…you could still get in here and help us."

"Oh Gloria shut up, Ester…I need a word."

Ester climbed out of the dirty hole, dressed in blue overalls and wellies as she approached Julia.

"Something wrong?"

"You could say that….back off Ester."

"What, Julia darling…what are you talking about?"

"You know damn well….Dolly."

"Oh, she came running to you, did she."

"What are you playing at, Dolly would never go behind our backs and betray us."

"She's sleeping with an ex cop Julia, for god sake….she…."

"Why the hell can't you just let the woman be happy huh, Ester….Dolly has spent the last 9 years in prison for killing her Husband…"

"Someone should tell Mike to be careful."

"Oh come off it Ester, we all know why Dolly killed Harry."

"She killed someone she loved…"

"I killed someone who betrayed me….there's a difference."

They both turned around to see Dolly standing behind them. She walked over to Ester and took hold of her hands in her own.

"Ester, this money will be split between all of us….an equal share, just like we agreed."

"You better mean that Dolly." She said, removing herself from Dolly's grasp.

"I do….and one other thing Ester."

Ester turned back as Dolly moved in very close, close enough that she could feel Dolly's breath on her face.

"What is it." Ester demanded.

"Don't you ever…ever threaten me again, do you understand. It's a big mistake Ester, don't ever cross me."

Ester stood, shock on her face as Dolly walked away. Julia leaned in and kissed Ester and smiled.

"And that's why you don't piss off Dolly Rawlins."

To Be Continued…