Rafe sank onto the sofa and held in a curse. Ill call her myself.
Of course.
They finished the rest of their business, then hung up. Rafe returned to the bedroom, quickly changed out of his suit, into jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, then shrugged on his leather jacket.
He couldnt avoid Nina Blanchard forever, he thought. After all, he was the one who had hired her. But there was no way he could take advantage of her services while he was in Fools Gold. She was going to have to wait until hed solved the problem that was his mother.
* * *
AFTER LEAVING FOOLS GOLD, Rafe had been determined to experience what the world had to offer. Hed gone to Harvard on a scholarship, had toured Europe and made friends with the rich and powerful. But hed never been to jail before.
While he was sure they all looked somewhat similar, he had a feeling the Fools Gold jail was considered one of the better places to be incarcerated.
For one thing, instead of industrial colors, the walls were a warm yellow, trimmed in cream. Bright posters advertised the festivals his assistant so adored. Rather than inhaling the scent of cleaning supplies or something less pleasant, Rafe smelled chili and fresh-baked bread. The woman who signed them in to visit Glen was young and friendly, not the grim-faced officer usually found in the movies.
Weve been busy tonight, Officer Rodriguez said. Her shiny, dark hair was pulled back into a bouncy ponytail.
For one thing, instead of industrial colors, the walls were a warm yellow, trimmed in cream. Bright posters advertised the festivals his assistant so adored. Rather than inhaling the scent of cleaning supplies or something less pleasant, Rafe smelled chili and fresh-baked bread. The woman who signed them in to visit Glen was young and friendly, not the grim-faced officer usually found in the movies.
Weve been busy tonight, Officer Rodriguez said. Her shiny, dark hair was pulled back into a bouncy ponytail.
Rafe studied the hairstyle. Werent ponytails a bad idea in law enforcement? Didnt they give criminals something to grab on to, thereby giving them physical control of the situation? Or was Fools Gold so close to nirvana that they didnt deal with serious crime here?
Glen Simpson is a very popular man. Officer Rodriquez grinned. The towns averages are getting better, but theres still a shortage for our ladies of a certain age, and Glens a charmer.
May signed the clipboard. What averages?
We had a man shortage. The news about that all came out last year, and it was a mess. The media came crawling in, and there was a reality show here and everything.
I think I remember that, his mother said thoughtfully. True Love or Fools Gold. It went off the air before it was finished.
No one was watching, which is too bad. I thought it was good. Anyway, since word got out about our man shortage, weve been getting plenty of them moving in. Which has made my life more interesting. Her brown eyes sparkled. But most of them have been younger. So when Glen came, he was considered hot stuff. Hes only been in jail a few hours, and weve already had six She glanced at the clipboard.
make that seven visitors for him.
May looked uneasy. I assure you, Im not here on any romantic mission. I wanted to make sure Glen, ah, Mr. Simpson, was all right. She leaned toward the officer and lowered her voice. My sons the one who put him in jail.
Way to be supportive, Mom.
We could have worked things out.
Not if you planned to get your money back.
Mays expression tightened, a sure sign she was getting her stubborn on. He held up both hands. Youre right. Well check on him. Its the right thing to do.
He resisted glancing at his watch, confident they would be back at the hotel long before the bar closed.
Officer Rodriguez led them down a long, brightly lit hallway, then through a set of double doors. The delicious smells grew more intense, reminding Rafe he hadnt had lunch and it was closing in on dinner time.
Here we are, the officer said, pulling open another door and motioning for them to enter. Glen, you have more visitors.
Rafes only experience with jail came from what hed seen on TV and in the movies. So he wasnt sure where Fools Gold stood on the grim spectrum. But nothing had prepared him for Glens current living conditions.
The old man lay stretched out in his cell. There was the requisite cot, although this one was covered with a beautiful quilt, and there were at least a dozen pillows propped up on the bed. A brightly colored rug covered most of the floor. Flowers spilled from vases, and TV trays served as tables.
Just outside the barred front, a large, flat-screen TV sat on a stand. The sound of an action movie spilled into the space. A long shelf to the side of the television served as a kind of buffet. Nearly a dozen covered dishes and Crock-Pots stood waiting to serve. There were pies, cakes and cookies.
You!
Rafe turned and saw the police chief marching toward him. Maam?
Dont you maam me, she growled, grabbing his arm in a steely grip and dragging him back into the hallway.