Page 78 of Nash Falls

“And the point?” said Nash.

“In Steers’s world, a cut from wrist to shoulder that scars over is like a form of ownership of another human being.”

“Like how plantation owners would brand slaves?” Nash was appalled.

“And it’s also meant to be both a form of punishment and a warning. If he did suffer that sort of cut, Rhett must have done something to displease Steers.”

“I wonder if his father has the samebrand.”

“I guess the only way to find out is to nail the son of a bitch and strip-search him during his intro to prison.”

Nash was looking down at his own arm and thinking that if Steers did that to people who worked with her, what would she do to people who were working against her?

Like me?

CHAPTER

38

MOM, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?”

A startled Judith Nash looked around at her daughter, who was standing in the second-floor hall of their home.

“Maggie, what are you still doing up?” said Judith, who was not looking pleased with this unexpected encounter.

“It’s one in the morning. Where have you been? I texted and called.”

“I…” Judith looked at her purse. “I guess I turned my phone off.”

“So where have you been?” Maggie persisted.

“Not that I need to account for my whereabouts with you, but I had dinner with a friend and we went back to her house and had a few drinks.”

“You had a few drinks and youdrovehome?”

Judith tensed. “You are not my mother, okay, Maggie? And I was not under the influence. I was fine. I had dinner and the drinks were spread over several hours.”

Maggie folded her arms over her chest. “What friend?”

“Excuse me?”

“What friend were you out with?”

“That is none of your business.”

“Was it Sally? Or Jean? Or Katherine Tucker?”

“I… I don’t have to answer that.”

“You don’t have to because I calledallyour friends looking for you. No one had heard from you. I thought you’d been in an accident.”

“Please don’t tell me you called your father in New York? He’s due back tomorrow.”

“I didn’t, because he would have probably run all the way home.” Maggie looked her mother over. “That’s a pretty clingy, low-cut dress for a night out with agirlfriend.” She took a whiff. “Andthatperfume? Really?”

Judith’s expression turned ugly. “I resent the hell out of what you’re implying.”

“Who said I’m implying?”