“I am,” I said, peering around Knox. The oaf didn’t budge when I nudged him in the back.
The man looked back to Knox, and whatever he saw there had him grinning.
“I’m chief of police around here, but you can call me Nash. It’s real nice to meet you, Naomi. Sorry it’s under these circumstances. Mind if I ask you a few questions?”
“Um. Okay,” I said, suddenly wishing I would have taken a moment to wash my face and fix my hair. I probably looked like a deranged, zombie bridesmaid.
“Why don’t we have ourselves a chat out in the parking lot,” Nash said with a jerk of his head.
Waylay’s attention was back on the movie as she sipped lime green sugar.
“Sure.” I followed him out and was surprised when Knox joined us. He headed right over to Nash’s SUV, which read Knockemout Police down the side, and leaned belligerently against the hood.
“You’re not necessary for this part,” Nash told him.
Knox bared his teeth. “You want me to leave, gonna have to make me.”
“I’m sorry. He’s been like this all morning,” I explained to Nash.
“Honey, he’s been like this his entire life,” the chief countered.
It didn’t hit me until they turned identical glares on each other. “You’re brothers, aren’t you?”
“No shit,” Knox grumbled.
“Sure are,” Nash said, turning his full wattage grin on me. “I’m the good one.”
“Just do your fucking job,” Knox said.
“Oh, now you want me to do my job. You can see how I’d be confused since—”
“Gentlemen,” I cut in. This was going nowhere fast. I didn’t have the energy to diffuse the tension between the brothers, and we had more important concerns. “I don’t mean to overstep. But can we get to the part about my sister?” I suggested.
“I think that’s a fine idea, Naomi,” Nash said, winking as he pulled out a notebook.
Knox growled.
“Let’s get your statement, and then we’ll figure out what needs to happen next.”
A man with a plan and a smile. He was certainly more pleasant than his brother.
* * *
“You’re sayingI can just take possession of a human being?” I clarified a few minutes later. I really needed more coffee. My cognitive abilities were fading fast.
“Well, I wouldn’t advise on referring to it as ‘taking possession.’ But in Virginia, kinship care is a way for kids to stay with a family member as guardian when they can’t be with their own parents.”
I might have been imagining it, but I thought I saw a guarded look pass between the brothers.
“So I would become Waylay’s guardian?”
Things were moving so fast. One second, I was getting ready to walk down the aisle. The next, I was suddenly in charge of deciding the future of an eleven-year-old stranger.
Nash swept a hand through his thick hair. “Temporarily. You’re obviously a stable, healthy adult.
“What happens if I don’t?” I hedged.
“Juvenile and Domestic Relations will place Waylay in a foster home. If you’ve got no problems staying in town for a few weeks while we figure things out, the law’s got no issue with Waylay staying with you. If things work out, you can even make it permanent.”
“Okay.” I nervously wiped my hands on the back of my shorts. “What things are we going to be figuring out?” I asked.
“Mainly what your sister is up to and what that means for guardianship.”
“I’m in big trouble. I need money, Naomi.”
I bit my lip. “She called me last night. Said she needed help and wanted me to bring cash. Do you think she’s in actual danger?”
“How about this? You focus on Waylay and let me worry about your sister,” Nash advised.
I appreciated the theory, but in my experience the only way to make sure a mess was cleaned to my satisfaction was to do the cleaning myself.
“Did you bring cash?” Knox asked, his eyes on me.
I looked down at my feet, feeling stupid and embarrassed. I knew better. “I did.”
“She get it?”
I focused on Nash’s face since it was friendlier. “I thought I was being smart. I had half of it in the car and left the other half in my suitcase.”
Nash looked sympathetic. Knox, on the other hand, grumbled something under his breath.
“Well, I guess I’d better get back in there and introduce myself properly to my niece,” I said. “Please keep me posted.”
“You’re not staying here.”
This proclamation came from Knox.
I threw my hands up. “If my presence bothers you that much, why don’t you take an extended vacation?”
If looks could boil blood, mine would have turned to magma.
“You’re not staying here,” he repeated. This time he pointed to the flimsy door with the busted lock.
Oh. That.
“I’m sure I can come up with a solution,” I said brightly. “Chief—”
“Call me Nash,” he insisted again.
Knox looked like he wanted to shove his brother’s head through the already damaged door.
“Nash,” I said, turning up the charm. “Do you know where Waylay and I could stay for a few nights?”
Knox pulled out his phone and glowered at the screen as his thumbs moved aggressively over it.
“I could give you two a ride to Tina’s place. It’s not exactly homey, but she’s a lot less likely to break in and bust up her own stuff,” he offered.
Knox stowed his phone in his pocket. His gaze fastened on me, and there was something smug about his expression that made me irrationally irritated.
“That is so nice of you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help,” I told Nash. “I’m sure Knox has much better things to do than spend any more time in my vicinity.”
“My pleasure,” Nash insisted.
“I’ll just pack up what’s left of my things and tell Waylay where we’re going,” I decided and started back to the room.
My relief at finally being free of the bad-tempered, tattooed Knox was interrupted by a thunderous rumble.
A motorcycle with a man the size of a bear prior to hibernation rocketed down the street at a speed that was definitely not the legal speed limit.
“God damn that Harvey,” Nash muttered.
“Guess you better go get ’em,” Knox said, still looking smug.
Nash jabbed a finger in his brother’s direction. “You and me are gonna talk later,” he promised, looking none too happy.
“Better hurry and uphold that law,” Knox said.
Nash turned back to me. “Naomi, sorry to leave you in a lurch. I’ll be in touch.”
Knox wiggled his fingers antagonistically as his brother hustled back to his SUV and took up pursuit with lights flashing.
Once again, I was left alone with Knox. “You didn’t have something to do with my nice, polite ride disappearing, did you?”
“Now why would I do that?”
“Well, it sure as hell isn’t to spend more quality time with me.”
“Come on, Daisy,” he said. “Let’s pack your shit. I’ll take you and Way to Tina’s.”
“I’d prefer if you kept your hands off my shit,” I said haughtily. The effect was ruined by my unladylike yawn. I was running on fumes and only hoped I could hold on long enough to get away from the Viking before I crashed.
A VAT OF LIGHTER FLUID AND A NAP
Naomi
Hillside Acres looked more like a festive campground than a trailer park.
Kids played on a small, well-kept playground on a patch of grass that hadn’t quite submitted to the long Virginia summer. The mobile homes had picket fences and vegetable gardens. Creative color schemes and cozy patios added to the curb appeal.
And then there was Tina’s place.
It was a single-wide trailer in the back corner of the park. The beige box sloped hard to the right looking like it was missing part of its foundation on that end. Weeds that had fought their way through the gravel hit me at the knee.
The trailer across the road had a cute screened-in porch with string lights and hanging plants. Tina’s had makeshift cinder block steps leading to a rusty front door that hung slightly ajar.
Knox was glaring again. But for once, it wasn’t at me. It was at the notice posted on the door.
EVICTION.
“Stay here,” he ordered without looking at me or Waylay.
I was too tired to be annoyed as he Macho Man-stepped inside.
Waylay rolled her eyes. “She’s long gone. She busted in here before the motel.”
On reflex, I reached for her and put my hands on her shoulders. She jumped back, looking at me like I’d just tried to give her a wedgie.
Note to self: Don’t rush the physical affection.
“Uh, where have you two been staying?”
Waylay shrugged. “I stayed at my friend’s house the last two nights. Her parents don’t mind an extra kid for dinner. Dunno where she stayed.”
The only time “responsible” could be applied to Tina was when she was impersonating me over the years. Even still, I found myself horrified at my sister’s approach to parenting.
“It’s clear,” Knox called from inside.
“Told ya.” Waylay bounded up the steps, and I followed.
The trailer was worse on the inside than it was outside.