Page 14 of Justice

When we finished dinner, Justice and I walked over while holding hands as we stopped at Ma’s chair.

Beaming at us, she nodded. “Two, I see.”

We smiled at her as we nodded.

Her smile faded a bit as she curled her finger at us.

We both leaned in closer.

In a low voice, she told us, “I do have to say that for once, I might have been wrong. If there is real trouble, you will need more than just you two. You’ve got a huge family here that you can count on, so don’t do this alone.” She looked over at me. “There are times in life when you just need help. Take it.”

I stared at her. “But what if—”

She patted my hand. “What if you can’t or shouldn’t do it alone? It will be too late then.” She gave me a nod. “You need to be fearless, yes, but you gotta be smart too.”

I had no real reply. For one, I couldn’t talk about it here. For two, she didn’t know about the men holding my sister while telling my mother not to involve anyone or Belle would die. Well, she would not be returned in one piece was what he really said, but that meant the same thing.

“Have a good night, Ma,” Justice said as he led me out of the dining room. He pulled me all the way out to the back steps in front of the patio dining area.

We sat down and stared up.

“Great, a cloudy night,” he said.

I took his hand again. “Do you think Ma is right?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Isn’t she always?” We both laughed a little, then he stated, “She is 100 percent spot on, Scarlet.”

I turned my head to look at him.

“I already realized this at dinner,” he explained. “I have some questions for you too.”

“Like what?”

“Like what instructions did they give your mother when they contacted her.”

“Just that she had a week to get the funds. Then they would call her on Thursday at noon, which is tomorrow.”

“And that’s it?”

I nodded.

“Scarlet, do you really believe that they think she has that kind of money?”

I paused at this and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“If they know your dad at all, they know about her and her job. I believe they know she would get you to give them the money.”

I sat still and thought about this. “Yeah, if they know my dad, they know he doesn’t have a way to get that kind of cash.”

“So why would they front him fifteen thousand dollars worth of drugs? These dealers are usually not that stupid or careless.”

“So, what are you saying here?” I asked.

“It might be a set up, is what I’m saying. In fact, the more I think about it...The more I feel like it might be Deacon’s people doing this.”

I sucked in a deep breath and asked. “What?”

Nodding, he explained, “Deacon knows you are here, I’m assuming. What if he investigated your life and then set this up,so you will believe you have to do it by yourself. He catches you and then he has another hostage.”