Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money. I'm just playing.
Trial no.9 – Part 3
Stephanie sat on the brown couch in the bonds office watching Lula, who was, somewhat half heartedly, doing the filing. "Tank says that Connie should be home some time tomorrow."
"Thank God," Lula said fervently. "The temp Ranger's got working here ain't no fun at all. You believe she actually makes me do all the filing?"
"That must suck for you. You know, it not being your job and all."
Lula gave her a measuring look. "Feeling cranky today, are we?"
"Lula, how well do you know Tank? I mean really know him," Stephanie asked.
"Well enough. He's a good man. Better than I ever thought I might deserve."
"You love him?"
"All the way crazy about him."
"No matter what he might have done in his life?"
Lula looked at her keenly. "There's something eating you, girl. Reckon you saw something you didn't like."
"Ranger–"
Lula held a hand up. "Stop. Stop right there. Don't tell me. What makes you think I wanna know?"
"But–"
"But nothin'. Maybe it ain't your business to tell."
Stephanie stopped. "Okay. Maybe I saw something I wasn't supposed to see. And maybe it shocked me, and maybe I can't think the same way about the person involved any more."
Lula put the pile of files down and sat down next to her on the couch. She fixed her with a gimlet stare. "Now, don't take this the wrong way, 'cause you're my friend. Hell, you saved my life. I owe you big, so I'm gonna tell you the truth and I want you to think real hard about it.
"Now the fact is, this ain't your world, not really. You weren't born in it, and you don't have to stay in it. If you want nice easy choices between right and wrong, you can go back to Officer Hottie, or someone like him. Make your momma happy.
"If you stay here, it ain't so clean and easy. You gotta look a little bit deeper and ask why people did what they did, not just what they did. That's the judge of right and wrong for us: the reasons why.
"I was a 'ho for a lotta years. I broke the law every damn day. Did that make me a bad person? Hell, all I know is that I did what I had to do to eat."
Stephanie looked unhappy. "It's not that easy, Lula."
"I never said it was. But ask yourself what would have happened if they hadn't done what they did. Ask yourself the reasons why. And when Connie gets back, maybe ask her how she can still love her daddy and her brother, knowin' what she knows."
o0o0o0o0o
Connie was lying on the bed staring at the ceiling in one of the RangeMan Atlanta apartments when there was a tap at the door. "Come in!"
Hal walked in. "Still hiding?"
"I hate this place. They aren't used to women being here, and it shows. They all look at me like I should be cleaning the floors or something."
He sat down next to her on the bed, and leaned over her for a kiss.
"And that's another thing," she carried on. "I can't wait to get back out on the road. I know I said I wanted us to keep a low profile since they already think Steph's just Ranger's piece of tail, but it's pissing me off. I know we're a secret in Trenton too, but it's different there with Steph and the guys helping us to cover up."
"Then I have some good news. Tank just called. We've been cleared to bring Warren back."
"Yes!" She sprang up from the bed and threw her arms around him. "Let's go home!"
o0o0o0o0o
Back in her black shirt and pants, Connie followed Hal and Wheeler down to the holding cells to collect Georgina Warren.
The woman was even more imposing in person than she was in her photograph, and the statistics recorded in her file hadn't been a mistake. She stood just a little shorter than Hal and her large body was bulky with muscle. Her hair was cut in a short crop, and she wore a man's tee-shirt, blue jeans and Cat boots. She looked a lot like a lumberjack. She was already in the process of having her hands cuffed behind her back when they arrived at the cell.
"Good morning, Ms Warren," Wheeler said to her. "I'm pleased to inform you that your stay at Hotel RangeMan is over, and it's time for you to become a pain in somebody else's ass. Mr Peterson and Ms Rosolli, here, will be escorting you back to New Jersey. Be a good girl for them, if you are actually a girl, and I hope that we never meet again."
He turned to Hal and Connie. "She's all yours. We'll walk her down to your vehicle for you."
Hal just nodded. Connie followed his lead and remained silent as they followed Wheeler and his men as they escorted the FTA down to the basement car park. They watched as she was shackled to the floor bars of the SUV before getting in themselves and pulling out of the parking lot.
o0o0o0o0o
With a skip secured in the back, the atmosphere couldn't have been more different than the one on the journey out. This time the seats stayed upright, feet remained on the floor and conversation was non-existent.
Connie started to chafe within the hour. Hal hadn't spoken at all, choosing instead to project the atmosphere of menace that all the Rangemen appeared to be able to turn on for the occasion. She could see the point, but it was going to feel like a long journey.
She kept sneaking glances over her shoulder at the woman in the back, who just stared stoically straight ahead through the windshield and didn't acknowledge her at all. Connie sighed. It was going to feel like a very long journey.
o0o0o0o0o
Finally, when Connie had lost track of the number of times she had peeked over her shoulder at Georgina, one of her peeks showed the woman mountain with her eyes closed, asleep.
"It doesn't seem right, keeping her hands cuffed behind her back for the whole journey," she murmured quietly to Hal. "That's got to be really uncomfortable."
"Safety precaution. If her hands are free there's nothing to stop her from hitting the driver and killing us all."
"Even so. She's been no trouble so far."
"Wheeler thought she was trouble."
"Don't get me started on Wheeler. I can't believe the way he talked to her. It was uncalled for. Wheeler is an asshole."
"That he is. Okay, first rest stop I'll see what I can do to make her more comfortable. Maybe we can use a couple of extra pairs of cuffs to give her a little more room to move."
o0o0o0o0o
"Miss Warren." Connie shook her shoulder gently. "Miss Warren, wake up. We're taking a break."
"I'm awake," she rumbled. "Have been all along."
Hal opened the door to the back, released the leg shackles securing her to the floor of the SUV and helped her to climb out into the fresh air.
They were outside yet another roadside diner. Connie regarded it glumly. "I'm getting kind of tired of these. There's only so much diner food I can eat. I can feel my ass spreading just standing here."
Hal was still in scary RangeMan mode and didn't respond. Georgina was equally silent.
"I'm going to end up talking to the furniture at this rate," Connie muttered under her breath. "I might stand more chance of getting an answer."
They went in and sat down. Hal rearranged Georgina's cuffs so that her hands were shackled in front of her and ordered her a sandwich.
She sat there stolidly and made no move to eat it, just staring at the back of someone's head at the next table.
Connie and Hal ate their own sandwiches in silence, Connie watching Georgina watching nothing. When they had finished, Hal moved to get up and reached over to take Georgina's arm.
"Hold on," Connie interrupted. "She hasn't eaten anything."
Hal shrugged. "She's had her chance. We need to go."
"But we've been on the road for five hours. She needs to eat something." She turned to Georgina. "Come on, you must need something to eat."
Georgina just looked at her.
"Oh come on, somebody talk to me! Georgina, you're going to get sick if you don't eat, and we have a long way to go this afternoon. Just eat something."
Hal muttered something under his breath about Burg women and feeding people, and she glared at him briefly before bringing her attention back to Georgina.
"I'm not your child," Georgina said slowly.
"What?"
"You heard. My welfare is not your problem. Leave me alone."
"Of course it is. It's why I'm here."
"Bullshit. You're here in case I cry rape against the man mountain here. You don't care if I live or die. No-one does. So just back off."
Connie stared at her incredulously, not quite believing that she had called Hal a man mountain. He had barely two inches and twenty pounds on her. Either of them would block all the light from the doorway with no trouble.
"No. I'm here to make sure you're looked after. So you will be looked after, if I have to force feed you while he holds you at gunpoint. Now eat, or we do this the hard way."
Georgina turned her head to look at Hal. He stared back at her impassively. Neither of them moved.
"I give up," Connie complained. She waved at the waitress. "Excuse me. Can we get this wrapped to go?"
o0o0o0o0o
When the waitress returned with the wrapped sandwich they got up to leave.
"What are we going to do about a bathroom break?" Connie asked Hal.
"I'll wait here with her. You go. Check out how secure the women's bathroom is at the same time. Know what kind of thing you're looking for?"
"Escape routes, possible weapons, that sort of thing?"
"You've got it. We'll decide what to do when you get back."
Connie went into the ladies' room and used the facilities. There was an openable window high in the wall that she didn't think somebody the size of Georgina would be able to get through. There was also a mop and bucket set in a cleaner's closet, but she wasn't sure how much damage anyone could do with them. Overall, she decided that she was probably safe letting Georgina go long enough to use the bathroom. It sure as hell beat handcuffing the two of them together and trying to stay the other side of the door to the stall.
She went out to collect Georgina and took her inside, leaving Hal standing guard at the door. Once they were inside she released the handcuffs and leaned back against the basins with her arms folded.
"So, come on, Georgina. What gives?"
"You're escorting me back to jail and you have to ask me that question?" Georgina asked grimly.
"Doesn't explain to me why you want to be as miserable as possible all the way there."
"That's my business, not yours."
"Wrong. I'm going to be sitting in a car with you for the next five or so hours. That makes it my business, so talk to me."
"Leave me alone."
"Oh for the love of God! What, are you starving yourself to death with a broken heart or something?" Connie asked, exasperated.
"Yes."
"Oh." Connie stopped. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
Connie walked to the bathroom door and stuck her head round it. "Hal?"
"Yeah?"
"We might be a little while, okay?"
He looked at her, concerned. "You got your gun?"
"In my pocket. Give me ten minutes? Emergency girl talk."
He nodded. "Shout if she causes any trouble."
"Will do." She pulled her head back in and turned back to Georgina. "Now imagine we have a big jug of margaritas in front of us and tell me all about it."
Georgina nodded reluctantly. "My girlfriend sold me out. She was the one I had the fight over in Trenton. We were so good together; I thought she was the one. Then I caught her in this bar with some guy all over her and they both laughed at me and I lost it. I hit him with the first thing I could find."
"The table leg."
"Yeah. I was mad, and he was laughing, and the table was right there, and next thing I know the table was in pieces and the leg was in my hand. Anyway, someone called the cops and I got arrested. I jumped bail and came down here to my aunt's, stayed for a couple of weeks while I tried to figure out what to do next. Then, all of a sudden, she's calling me and wanting to get back together and stuff and wanting to know where I am, so I tell her. Next thing I know, the men in black are at the door and they grab me and take me to their own private jail. You know the rest."
Connie sighed. She was firmly on the side of the bondsmen when it came to bail jumpers, but Georgina's story still sucked. "If it's any consolation, most skips get turned in by friends and relatives. It's not just you. And she sounds like a real bitch. You're probably well shot of her."
To Connie's horror, Georgina started to cry quietly. It was like watching a mountain slowly shake and crumble. "I thought she was the one," she sniffed.
Connie looked on helplessly, not sure what to do. Finally she patted her on the shoulder. "There, there. I'm sure there's someone a whole lot better for you, out there somewhere."
The human contact seemed to push Georgina over the edge. She threw her arms around Connie and started to cry in earnest. Connie bit back a squeak as she was engulfed by the enormous woman. She continued to pat her shoulder helplessly, not sure what else to do.
Hal poked his head through the door with his gun at the ready and did a double take when he saw Connie barely visible past the bulk of Georgina wrapped round her.
Connie caught the movement despite her limited view. "Out," she mouthed silently, pointing to the door as she continued to comfort Georgina.
He raised his eyebrows and showed her five fingers to indicate five minutes before disappearing again.
Georgina's wails had turned to great, racking sobs. "Who's going to want me?" she wept. "She didn't want me, no-one wants me. Look at me! Why would anyone want someone that looks like me?"
"You look fine just the way you are," Connie said firmly.
"Really?" Georgina sniffed. "You think I look okay?"
"Of course I do."
"You're not just making it up?"
"I wouldn't do that. Now, do you think you could use the bathroom and eat your sandwich in the car? Because Hal's going to be in here in a minute wondering what's keeping us."
o0o0o0o0o
Hal wished that Connie had left well enough alone and let Georgina 'Call me George' wallow in her personal pit of misery.
'George' was pathetically grateful for a sympathetic ear. He'd been quite happy with her stony silence, but now the floodgates were opened and she chattered relentlessly without pausing for breath. He felt like he was stuck in the middle of the pajama party from hell.
"So, Connie, do you think I should grow my hair long? Because I was big when I was in high school and I figured out pretty early I was never going to be a cheerleader, so it seemed like the best thing not to even try to be pretty, because you know how bitchy those pretty girls can be if they even get a sniff of you wanting to be like them. I just went the other way and thought, well if I'm stuck with a body like a boy then I might as well dress like a boy, no point in me ever trying to fit into a size eight, I could starve for a month and I'd still be a size twelve, and I put on muscle real easily, and I found out that if I looked scary then no-one ever dared to bitch me out so I just carried on that way and I know I like girls but that doesn't mean that I'm not a girl. I mean it would be nice to be pretty even if I don't know where to start, it's been a long, long time since I even tried. Do you think I should maybe get some cosmetics and try them out? You don't think I'd look dumb do you? Because I don't want to look dumb, and I don't want to look like a house wearing a dress. Maybe I'm getting all carried away for nothing, I mean you said you liked me just as I am, right? And you said there was someone out there for me somewhere. I just wonder, do you think I should go out looking for them or is that too desperate? Maybe I should just wait for them to come to me, but then what if I meet them and they don't even notice me, I mean I have to put some effort in, right? Connie? Right?"
"Well, I think you need to put some effort in. You need to feel good about yourself. My friend Lula knows some good stores for larger women back in Trenton that you could check out. You should try some tailored styles, maybe some color. And the Macy's cosmetics girl is amazing. I bet if you went in and asked, she'd put a starter kit together for you, and show you how to use it too. She'd love it. You should try some scent too. I bet you'd look real pretty."
"Do you think I should try to meet someone new too? What kind of effort do you think I should put in for that? I mean I don't want to look needy or anything, do you think that lonely hearts is too lame? And do you think it would be better to do the ad or to answer someone else's? Maybe I should lie, I heard everybody lies, like if I said that I was generous or something that's better than saying that I'm really big, because if everybody lies and I tell the truth and say that I'm big then they'll think that by the time they take my lie into account maybe I look like Godzilla and maybe they won't even give me a chance, and I really want a chance. Connie, I deserve a chance, right? Connie?"
"Of course, everybody deserves a chance. There's someone out there for everyone. No way should you be settling for someone who hooks up with other people and laughs at you."
"Maybe I should do one of those video ones so that people could see what I look like and get that out of the way first, but then what if people saw my video and they were scared off straight away? I don't think I could stand that, if no-one even wanted to meet me. What if I did a video and I didn't even get a single contact? I would want to die if that happened."
Hal thought that he would be quite willing to help with that. His jaw was starting to hurt from clenching his teeth.
And Connie just kept on helping, oblivious. "I think that you should just concentrate on being happy for a while without needing anybody else. I mean, some of the best things just happen out of the blue when you least expect it."
She looked warmly at him. This was probably the point where he was supposed to smile goofily and share the love. She could whistle for it. 'George' was still a fugitive and he still had the job of bringing her in. If Connie wanted to hug the world that was up to her; he was a Rangeman. He just wanted to hug her. Except that he couldn't in front of the damned skip. His knuckles tightened on the steering wheel and he drove a little bit faster.
o0o0o0o0o
They had been on the road for five hours since lunch when Connie raised the subject of sleeping arrangements.
"Are we going to stop overnight again and carry on in the morning?"
'George' was all for it. "Hey, that would be great, it would be just like being roomies. You could show me how to use cosmetics and stuff.."
Connie looked at Hal cautiously. "I guess so. I know she's okay now and all, but we shouldn't really leave her in a room on her own."
"I'll need a toothbrush and things. They didn't give me anything to bring with me."
"Not necessary," Hal cut in. "I'm not tired. We'll press on."
"Are you sure? There's at least another three hours of driving in front of us." Connie was the picture of concern.
"I'm fine," he gritted, and drove a little faster again.
o0o0o0o0o
"All right, enough," Connie said firmly. "Hal, you're starting to drift across the lanes. We need to stop."
"It's only another couple of hours. I'm fine."
"No, you're not. And I'm not; I'm hungry. George is hungry. Surely you're hungry too?"
"'George' is sleeping the sleep of the blissfully ignorant, and I want to get home and get rid of her more than I want to eat."
"But why? She's fine now. She's like a different person now she's relaxed."
Hal thought about pointing out that he had preferred the original George, but decided against it. "McDonalds. We'll stop at the next McDonalds on our route. Will that do?"
She grimaced. "It'll have to."
o0o0o0o0o
They pulled into a McDonalds and got out to stretch their legs before going into the restaurant.
Hal noticed with intense irritation that George was following Connie round like a lovesick puppy as she walked a brisk lap of the parking lot. He fought the urge to go and pick her up and put her down further away from Connie's personal bubble. If fact, as far as he was concerned, Connie's personal bubble wasn't nearly large enough for his liking. 'George' needed to be a good foot further away from his woman.
"Food!" he called out sharply and walked into the restaurant without waiting for them.
They ordered their food and sat down at one of the plastic tables. 'George' plunked herself down next to Connie, leaving Hal to carry the tray of food over to the table.
Hal took the seat opposite, and proceeded to wolf down a Big Mac and fries at a speed that left Connie staring at him with her jaw hanging, her own meal barely started.
"What?" he asked irritably.
"Not hungry, huh?"
"Just keen to get going again. You sure you don't want to eat that as we drive?"
She snorted. "Yeah, like you want Ranger to be able to smell burgers and fries in the SUV when we get back."
"Who's Ranger?" George asked from her seat next to Connie.
"Our boss. Makes Hal here look like a fluffy bunny."
"Jeez. Scary thought."
Yeah, Hal thought. Be afraid. And don't think I didn't notice how fast you moved to make sure you got the seat next to her.
"Are you two going to eat your food or what?"
"All right! We're eating." Connie made a show of picking her burger up. "And I'm driving the last leg, too. You need to sleep."
o0o0o0o0o
Hal tried to sleep in the passenger seat while Connie drove towards Trenton, but every time George opened her mouth he snapped awake, his nerves strung tight with irritation.
The woman had even shyly asked Connie if she dated much back in Trenton. By the time they finally reached the Trenton city limits, he was about ready to reach into the back and throw her out of the moving SUV. It was about 11 pm but he insisted they went straight to the police station to take George in anyway.
Connie had finally worked out that something was wrong, and was sneaking concerned looks his way, but he had brushed off every question, just sitting upright in his seat with his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead. As they pulled in and stopped in the police station parking lot he sagged back into his seat.
"Con, you want to take her in?" he asked. "I think I've had it."
"Sure. George, come on out. We're here." She had stopped bothering with cuffs after the McDonalds stop. She didn't expect any trouble. On the contrary, George was looking distinctly upset at the prospect of losing her new found friend.
Connie escorted her through the back door and over to the custody desk to be booked in.
"Connie, we're okay, right?" George asked anxiously. "Everything's going to be okay?"
"Of course it is. Just don't jump any more bail."
"I wanted to ask… " George took a deep breath. "Would you come and see me in jail?"
"I'm not sure that's–"
"Please. You've been so nice to me. I don't think anyone's been nice to me like that before."
"There are lots of nice people in the world, you know, if you let them in. But okay, I'll come and see you if–"
Georgina wrapped her in an enormous bear hug and lifted her right off the ground.
"George," she squeaked. "Air!"
"Hey! Put her down!" The custody officer was up and shouting, concerned that a skip was out of control.
"Put me down, George."
George put her down as she was about to be rushed by three or four cops. They backed off when it became clear that no-one was in any danger.
As the world came back into view, Stephanie was revealed standing by the custody desk.
"Steph? What are you doing here this time of night?"
Stephanie shrugged. "Skip, same as you."
"On your own? I thought Ranger had you in the building while… " Connie trailed off, not wanting to continue while standing in the station.
"Change of plans," Stephanie said quietly. "I'll catch up with you tomorrow when you've had some sleep."
She pocketed her body receipt and walked out into the parking lot.
Connie watched her leave with a speculative look before turning back to the custody officer and collecting her own body receipt.
o0o0o0o0o
Hal was just about awake when she got back to the SUV. He looked terrible. She leaned over the console to wrap her arms around his neck and clung on tight. "You're an asshole," she mumbled into his neck.
"Sorry." He wrapped his arms around her as well.
"I know she was a pain in the ass, but she was just so sad. I couldn't bear it. All locked up behind that scary front and daring anyone to give a damn about her."
"She liked you too much."
"I liked her."
"Not the same way. I mean she liked you, liked you."
"Yeah, and like I said, I liked her too."
He sighed. It was too late at night for conversations like this. "Didn't you ever get a crush on someone?"
"Oh, don't be so–" She sat up suddenly, eyes wide. "No! You can't seriously mean…"
He nodded. "I think she was all yours if you wanted her." He reached out to pull her back into the hug.
"Shut up," she said into his neck, "and let's go home."