Someone Bad and Something Blue by Miranda Parker Read Free Book Online Page B

way too affluently for a child’s sleepover. Something was up.
    â€œI’m going to take you to see this idiot woman,” Mom said.
    I perked up. I’m pretty sure my eyes were bulging out of their sockets. “You’re what?”
    â€œYou heard me.” She looked around the garage, then back to me. “I knew you before you were born, Evangeline Grace Crawford. When your mind is set on something, you will scorch the earth until you get it. Today is not the day for that kind of foolishness. Don’t you agree?”
    I nodded.
    â€œI’m going to take you to see this crazy woman and maybe wrap my hands around her neck, if I can get that close. Then once you’re done, you have a standing appointment at Halle-Do-Ya Spa & Salon. That hair will do fine at jail, but not another minute in my presence. And then . . . I’m taking you shopping. You have a date with the best man this side of happy and I don’t want you to screw it up.”
    â€œOkay, but, um . . . when will I get my car keys back?”
    â€œDo you want me to wring your neck this morning?” Her eyes blazed.
    She stepped forward; I cowered back.
    Mom grinned and then revealed my keys. They’d been in her other hand the entire time. “You’ll get them when I give them to you. Now let’s go before everyone wakes up. JJ’s been waiting outside in this cold for at least ten minutes.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” I chuckled and let her lead the way.
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    Saturday, 9:15 AM
    Dunwoody Detention Center, Dunwoody, Georgia
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    Since Johns Creek was a newly incorporated city, inmates were housed at the city of Dunwoody Jail. It was about a half hour drive from the McMansion when you were riding in style.
    Mom’s Cadillac rode so well I couldn’t feel the tires kiss the road. Jean Jacques, her driver, was a Haitian transplant from New York. He’d been a part of the family for at least ten years. I think Mom hired him so she could practice her French. I liked JJ, although he rarely smiled.
    I had him chauffeur us to the back side of the jail. It was where the bail recovery agents brought in skips. I knew prison visitation didn’t start until ten o’clock and there was no way that Marlo would have me down on her approved visitor’s list. To be honest, I didn’t think she would be admitted into the population. If she had an affiliation with A1 Recovery Agents, they would more than likely be back here preparing to take her out in their custody. I hoped I had beaten them to the punch.
    I turned to Mama. “This is the part of today’s story where you stay in the car with JJ.”
    JJ nodded.
    â€œThat’s not the plan.” Mom shook her head. “I’m going. My mind’s made up.”
    â€œAll right. Come on,” I grumbled.
    JJ opened our door, then whispered to me. “Do you need my gun?”
    I stuck out my hand and slid his pistol underneath my shirt and placed it into the holster strap I kept in the back of my jeans. “Mesi.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.” He still didn’t smile.
    I tightened the silk scarf around my head as Mom and I approached the back door to the jail. I wasn’t shocked to see Marlo and Riddick Avery, the owner of A1 Recovery Agents, walking out. Riddick looked like the textbook definition of a bounty hunter. I had heard rumors that he ran with the U.S. marshals. He was rugged, white, blond, wore a ten-gallon hat, and had blue eyes that cut a hole through you, depending on the way he looked at you. He had women lined up to try out his handcuffs on their bedrails all over this state. Bad men here were often pretty.
    Riddick pushed Marlo behind him. “What are you doing here, Angel?”
    â€œWhy are you trying to scare my baby, Mr. Avery?” Mama asked.
    My eyes finally rolled in embarrassment.
    His brows wrinkled as he observed my mom, then he smiled. “Angel, is this your