CaughtInTheTrap by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page A

arrested you for anything.  You’re jumping to conclusions, Carla, and hearing what you want to hear.”
    “You don’t have a right to keep me here. I want to go home and I demand you take me there this minute! I will have your badge for unlawful detainment.”
    “Carla, you need to calm down and listen to me. Your life is in danger.”
    “No, you want to use me as a bargaining chip for Ty and Phil; I’m not doing that!”
    The dragon lady is back . “This is damn ridiculous. I’m wasting my breath and time trying to explain shit to you. I see what my partner was saying. Talking to you is like pulling my own teeth.”  He placed a hand on his chest and said, “If you have a man in your life, he has my deepest sympathy. There is now way in hell I would deal with a woman like you on purpose!”
    It slipped from his mouth before he had a chance to catch it; he’d insulted her and knew it. Zach cringed as her lips crushed tightly together.  He expected her to shoot off a round of ‘four-letter’ words at him. Instead, she turned on her heels and stomped away like a child remanded to their room for the rest of the day.
    He slammed his hand on the formica countertop showing his frustration at how he was dealing with Carla.  He finished putting the food away and stepped outside the cabin.  Removing his cell phone he called his sister; he needed advice on how to be more sensitive to the woman in his custody.
    “Hey, Patty, are you busy?”
    “I’m never too busy for my little brother.  What’s going on that you’re calling me at work?  Are you okay?”
    He sighed watching the rain continue to fall heavily. “Yeah, I’m still kicking.  I need some advice about a woman.”
    “Oh? Who is she and has my little brother finally fallen in love?”
    “Not a chance in hell of that happening. I’m having a problem with a woman I have in protective custody.  I keep saying the wrong shit to her.  I think I hurt her feelings this time.”
    He heard the breath leave Patty’s lungs. “Zachery what did you say to her?”
    “I’ve said a few inappropriate things to her.  Starting with calling her a big mouth and ending with a speculation that she might be unlovable.”
    “Wow, I’m shocked.  I know you have a phobia when it comes to commitments, but you’ve always been respectful to women.  Especially, if she has long blonde hair and dark blue eyes with that ‘come hither’ look in them.”
    He had to look around before he spoke to make sure Carla wasn’t in earshot. “She isn’t white.  Patty, she’s black.  I’m not used to dealing with black women. She talks back to me and doesn’t hold her tongue when doing it.  She’s called me an asshole so much I’m starting to believe I am one.”
    “Zach, she’s still a woman no matter what her race.  She has feelings and emotions just like white women.  Anyhow, why would you call her unlovable to her face?”
    “I don’t know. I guess it was the stuff Rodney told me about black women.  The more she fussed, the more she fit his profile.”
    “Rodney is an idiot when it comes to women and you know that.  You can’t take what he says about any woman to heart.  He’s bitter because his wife left him for another man and now all women are beneath him.  Well, let me see if I can help you fix this.  What is this woman like?”
    “Patty, really? You want me to describe her?”
    “Give me a profile like you would a criminal.”
    Zach walked to the far end of the porch and sat down on the worn rocker. “Well, she’s young—not yet 30.  She has a strong personality but I get the feeling her toughness is an act to hide her fears.  She worries about her family, especially her mom and sister.  She also hasn’t shed any tears, Patty.  She saw me take out two men. Why isn’t that bothering her?”
    “She won’t break down in front of you, Zach.  You’ve made yourself appear unapproachable so she doesn’t have that comfort level with you.