A womans voice cried out, Gordon, stop it!
I paid for this damn house. And Ill
Gina needed to get inside to help Vicki Bismarck. But she wasnt going to leave these four aging gangbangers out here where they could surround the house or lie in wait for her and Derek to come back outside. Were not interested in you boys today, she articulated in a sharp, authoritative tone. But if you make me check the registrations on your bikes or van, or I get close enough to think any of you need a Breathalyzer test, then it will be about you.
Prison Tat Guy was the first to head toward his bike. Hey, I cant have my parole officer gettin wind of this.
Potbelly #2 quickly followed suit. Im out of here, man. Gordy doesnt need us to handle Vic. My old ladys already ticked that I stayed out all night.
Potbelly #1 clomped the snow off his boots before climbing inside the van. But he sat with the door open, looking toward the man with the flask. What do you want me to do, Denny? I told Gordy Id give him a ride back to his place.
Flask Mans watery brown eyes never left Ginas. We aint doin nothing illegal here, querida. Were just a bunch of pals hangin out at a friends place.
Its Officer Galvan to you. She had to bite down on the urge to tell him in two languages exactly what kind of man he was. But she wasnt about to give this patronizing lowlife the satisfaction of losing her temper. She was a cop. Proud of it. And this guy was about to get a lesson in understanding exactly who was in charge here. Mr. Bismarck isnt going to need a ride. Potbelly #1 slammed his door and started the vans engine. Gina smiled at Flask Man and pulled out her handcuffs. Denny, is it? Ive got plenty of room in the backseat for both you and good ol Gordy. She moved toward him, dangling the cuffs in a taunt to emphasize her words. How do impeding an officer in the performance of her duty, aiding and abetting a known criminal, public intoxication and operating a vehicle under the influence sound to you?
You cant arrest me for all that.
I wouldnt test that theory if I were you. Derek stepped out of the way of the van as it backed out of the driveway and sped after the two men on motorcycles. Not with her.
Gina was close enough to see Flask Mans nostrils flaring with rage. Handcuffs or goodbye?
I dont like a woman telling me what to do, he muttered, striding toward his bike. Especially one like you. Once he was astraddle, he revved the engine, yelling something at Derek that sounded a lot like a warning to keep his woman in check. The roar of the bikes motor drowned out his last parting threat as he raced down the street, but Gina was pretty sure it had something to do with her parentage and how their next meeting would have a very different ending.
Make sure they stay gone, Gina said, hooking her cuffs back onto her belt and running to the front door. She opened the glass storm door and knocked against the inside door. KCPD! she announced. The woman screamed, and the man yelled all kinds of vile curses. Vicki Bismarck, are you all right? This is the police, answering a call to this address. Im coming inside.
Twenty minutes later, Gina and Derek had Gordon Bismarck and his former wife, Vicki, separated into two rooms of their tiny, trashed home. Gina had bagged the box cutter Gordon had dropped when shed pulled her gun and blinked her watery eyes at the stench of alcohol, vomit and sweat coming off Gordons body. Either Gordy and his buddies had been beefing up their courage for this confrontation or theyd partied hard and gotten stupid enough to think violating a restraining order was a good idea.
Although the slurred epithets were still flying from the living room where Derek had taken Gordon to put a winter coat on over his undershirt, and Vicki was bawling in the kitchen while Gina tried to assess the womans injuries, Gina was already wrapping up this case in her head. Even if Vicki refused to press charges, she could book Gordon on breaking and entering, violating his restraining order and public intoxicationall of which should keep him out of Vickis life long enough for her to get the help she needed. If shed ask for it. Clearly, this wasnt the Bismarcks first rodeo with KCPD. That probably explained why Gordon had brought his friends.
Although she hadnt noted any stab wounds on Vicki, the woman was cradling her left arm as if it had been yanked or twisted hard enough to do some internal damage. Gina glanced around at the slashed curtains and overturned chairs in the kitchen, her gaze landing on the shattered cell phone in the corner that had been crushed beneath a boot or hurled across the room. Clearly, thered been a substantial altercation here.
Gina righted one of the chairs and urged the skinny woman to sit. Will you let me look at that arm? Gina asked, tearing off a fresh paper towel for the woman to dab at her tears. When Vicki nodded, Gina knelt beside her. Bruise marks that fit the span of a mans hand were already turning purple around her elbow. But there didnt seem to be any apparent deformity suggesting a broken bone. Didnt mean it hadnt been twisted savagely, spraining muscles and tendons. Gina pushed to her feet and headed toward the refrigerator-freezer. An ice pack should help with the swelling.
She heard a crash from the living room and spun around as Derek cursed. Ginaheads up!
Are you turnin me in, you bitch? My boys are gonna kill you!
Gordy! Vicki screamed as Gordon charged into the kitchen.
Chapter Two
Gina simply reacted, putting herself between the frightened woman and the red-faced man. There was no time to wonder how the drunk had gotten away from Derek. She ducked beneath the attackers fist, kicked out with her leg, tripped the big brute, then caught his arm and twisted it behind his back, following him down to the floor. Before his chin smacked the linoleum, she had her knee in his back, pinning him in place.
Hes too big for the damn cuffs, Derek shouted, running in behind the perp. He knelt on the opposite side, catching the loose chain that was only connected to one wrist.
Gordon Bismarck writhed beneath her, trying to wrestle himself free. His curses switched from Vicki to Gina to women in general. Locking her own handcuffs around his free arm, Gina twisted his wrist and arm another notch until he yelped. Dont make me mad, Mr. Bismarck. Your buddies outside already put me in a mood.
The mention of his friends sparked a new protest. Denny! Al! Jim! I need
Uh-uh. She pushed his cheek back to the floor. They went bye-bye. Now you be a good boy while my partner walks you out to the squad car so you can sober up and chill that temper.
My boys left?
Thats right, Gordy. Derek wiped a dribble of blood from beneath his nose while Gina locked the ends of both cuffs together, securing him. Youre on your own.
I dont want him touchin me, Gordy protested. I dont want him in my house.
Not your choice. Gina stayed on top of the captive, her muscles straining to subdue him until he gave up the fight. She glanced up at Derek, assessing his injury. Other than the carpet lint clinging to his dark uniform from a tussle of some kind, he wasnt seriously hurt. Still, she kept her voice calm and firm, trying to reassure Vicki that they could keep her safe. You got him okay?