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The following day, Angel was leaning her head on a table in the library as Luann massaged her shoulders. “I hate this waiting.”
“Is that why you tried to restack the entire library in one morning?” Luann teased. “Kemper said it could take weeks before we hear anything.”
“That is so nice.” Angel moaned softly as she patted Luann’s hand that was now resting on her shoulder.
“The massage?”
“That too,” she murmured, feeling a sense a calm wash over her. “I meant hearing you talk again. It seemed the deeper we got into your case, the more you started to shut down. Well, until I spanked you.”
“Will you spank me again tonight?”
Angel turned, ready to pull her down onto her lap when Merriman stepped into the library.
“Rivers, your lawyer is here.”
They froze, realizing that this might be the last time they would see each other.
“Come on, Rivers, I don’t have all day.”
“Go on.” Angel tried her best to sound happy. She watched Luann walk away, hating that she hadn’t been able to at the very least hug her goodbye.
She tried to put on a brave face as she watched Luann disappear into the hallway. Just as her resolve was starting to crumble and she was ready to give into the tears, Merriman stepped back into the library.
“You know, Walters, if your cramps are that bad, maybe you should go sit in your cell.”
“My cramps?” Angel muttered, not understanding what this woman was talking about. “I’m not due for another two weeks.”
Merriman rolled her eyes as she sneered at her dimwittedness.
“They’re taking her to county. So, about your cramps?”
“Right. My cramps are killing me, I think I will go back up to my cell,” she blurted out as she grabbed the pass Merriman was holding out for her and rushed back to her cell.
She paced nervously around the tiny cell until Luann finally appeared. Without a word, they rushed into each other’s arms.
“How can something that feels so good make me miserable?”
“I don’t know if I can do this.” Luann sobbed.
Angel held her tightly as she rubbed her back until the last of her tears had fallen.
“Time to pack and go.” Angel took a shy step back.
“Not much to pack. Not that it matters since Kemper told me that I’m going directly to county.”
“Did he give you any clue as to how long you’ll be in county?”
“Who knows? He told me that I’ll be sitting around waiting for my hearing. He also said the DA is digging his heels in.”
“Assholes.” Angel growled as she watched Luann shed her prison uniform and change into a bright floral dress. She couldn’t speak as Luann gathered her few meager possessions while Merriman lingered outside of the cell.
“Is that yours?” Angel asked as she took in the ill-fitting dress.
“God no.” Luann blanched. “Do I strike you as a daisy and bluebird kind of gal?”
“Not in the least.”
“The police gave it to me. My clothes had Sara’s blood on them.”
“Oh,” she muttered, once again realizing that Luann had been the one to find the body. From what Angel had learned, Sara had been her only friend. Finding her butchered in her apartment broke something inside of her.
“Do good tomorrow,” Luann encouraged Angel as they hugged once again. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Angel whispered as she gave her one last squeeze.