Well, just like with the other story I just updated, I can't post as much as I'd like because it won't save it when it's too long. This is only about half of what I'd intended to post. FF. net hates me tonight!
Linka isn't having much luck either. It's unbearably hot. She was not used to the heat of Arizona compared to her homeland. When she was in Arizona, she spent most of her time indoors, in the air conditioning, or when she was outside, she was in the pool, or it was night time when the air was cooler…but now, she's in a stuffy jail cell. The air so hot and thick she was having a difficult time breathing. The fact that she was suffering from mild anxiety wasn't helping her breathing either.
She didn't belong here. These other women were criminals, she could tell just by looking at them…and by the way they were looking at her, she knew that she would not last long if they decided to gang up on her. She knew that her crying would only bring attention to herself, but she still could not stop.
"Hey Barbie girl…what're you in for?"
"Uh, I uh, was…"
"Bah bah bah...SPIT IT OUT. Or are you mental?"
"Nyet, I…"
"SHE'S A MAIL ORDER BRIDE!" One of the other detainees interrupts.
"I AM NOT!" Linka finds strength in her anger at the implication.
"Hey! Show a little respect or you won't last very long at all here!" The original antagonist warns. "Now, answer my question…What are you in for."
"They think I'm a…"
"Prostitute!" Another prisoner suggests as everyone laughs.
If there's one thing Linka hates more than anything, it's being interrupted. It's one of her biggest pet peeves with Wheeler. She looks up at the woman in front of her and says,
"I cannot answer your question because no one will let me finish."
The woman leans down and gets in Linka's face, her repugnant breath almost causing Linka to gag.
"You'll answer my question whether they let you finish or not! Talk over them. Don't stop when they start."
"They think I am a drug dealer."
'THAT'S IT?!" One of the prisoners laughs hysterically. "That's nothin'! They think I killed my boyfriend!"
"Did you?" Linka asks, not sure she wants to know the answer.
"Well, yeah…but he had it coming," the woman answers, showing no emotion or remorse. Clearly a sociopath.
"But I am not a drug dealer. I am innocent!" Linka insists.
"Of course you are. We're all innocent, aren't we girls?!" Another inmate taunts Linka as they all agree and laugh at her.
Linka breaks down in tears once more, her chest tightening, struggling to breathe, unable to get any fresh air into her lungs, the outer edges of her vision darkening, and then, complete darkness as she passes out.
She wakes to find herself propped against the wall. The brutish woman who had initially approached Linka then leans closer in, putting her lips next to Linka's ear, her lips brushing against it as she speaks.
"You gotta stand up for yourself Blondie. Don't show fear. What are you gonna do if we don't end up as cellmates once we get transferred to the big house? What will you do if I'm not around to protect you?" She says as she strokes Linka's cheek.
Linka is extremely uncomfortable now, both by the closeness of this woman and at what she's implying.
"I uh, I have a, umm…a boyfriend," Linka stammers as she releases the breath that she's been holding once the woman leans back.
"That's nice…but I don't see any boys here…and there aren't any where we're going. It gets pretty lonely in there."
"I uh…what I mean is…umm, while I appreciate the…uh, attention…no that's not right…the umm,"
"Spit it out Blondie you're starting to sound like a slow person again!"
"I am not like that. I umm, only like boys…boy…one boy…my boyfriend."
"I'm married...what's your point? I'm just sayin', it's always nice to have a friend to take care of certain needs."
"Umm, how many times have you been arrested?"
"This is my third. Third strike. I'm gonna be in for a while this time. And it's a long time between conjugal visits."
"Conjugal visits? What is that?"
"They let'cha get together with your spouse for a roll in the hay."
"Oh."
"So you and that boyfriend of yours might wanna tie the knot between now and your arraignment," the woman suggests.
"Oh, I will not be here long…I told you…I am innocent."
"Right…I forgot," she says sarcastically.
"Miss Kozlova!"
"Da, that is me…are my friends here? Can I go home now?" She asks Deputy Sheridan excitedly and thankful to be saved from her new admirer.
"No one's here and you're not going home anytime soon…unless it's with a one way ticket back to Russia."
"What? One way?!"
Deputy Sheridan opens the cell door and leads her out.
"Where are we going?" She asks.
"Interrogation room. I want the truth."
To Be Continued...
