“Do you understand the terms of your release, Miss Sears?” he commanded.
She hadn’t heard a thing. Her mind was a whirl. She nodded blankly.
The judge nodded at the bailiff who called for all to rise, and her guard, the deputy who escorted her in, began to approach.
She heard Ana. “Here is a check, Nikko. When will you have her out?”
“In an hour, or two, maybe four. It just depends on how many are being processed today. You never know. I’ll handle the paperwork, no sense you all waiting around. Plus,” he whispered softly to just Ana and Monica, “Mrs. Russell doesn’t look well. But, I’ll need the title for the house? Does she have it?”
“I have it,” Ana stated. “I also brought my checkbook.”
“Great. Then you all shouldn’t wait here. As I said, it may take a while,” he muttered. “I’ll call when I have her out, and I can even drive her home. I’ll have paperwork to file with the county where she’ll be residing.”
Ana was whispering Nikko’s instructions to Jay and heard his firm agreement. He turned to Lou who tried to resist the orders to go home her new husband was giving.
***
Her mind was numb. Her mom’s house! Nikko’s confident voice giving them all directions. Her heart was racing. His was a face she thought she would never have to see again. Mortification set in, and not just because of her current situation, even though that should be enough.
The bailiff announced as the judge left that there would be a short recess before the next hearing. As Ronnie turned in the direction of the door she had entered from, photographers began to snap pictures again, and the flashes temporarily blinded her. She gave her mom, Jay, Ana, and Monica a smile.
“A few hours, baby,” her mom whispered through her tears. Ronnie nodded, and caught Nikko’s smirk.
He added, “Yes, I’ll get you . . . out.” His eyes barely hinted at the significance of the slight pause. She saw humor there too, eyes crinkling in his tanned and sharply angled face before she turned and was lead through the door.
Just before the door closed she heard Nikko again. “I’ll drive her home. Lou, Mrs. Russell, you look exhausted. Take her home, Jay,” he directed, “and as soon as I get all the paperwork done, we will be on our way.”
“Thank you,” she heard her mom murmur, and then there was the silence of the long hallway that would lead her under the street and back to her cell with nothing but time, until Nikko came for her.
***
The wait was longer than she expected and she was able to grab a quick shower. But, she passed on lunch thinking she’d be released soon. The congealed turkey on a slice of white bread with a scoop of cold mashed potatoes did not look appetizing at all. When the guard came to take her tray, she began to worry, but it wasn’t for long. Her stomach growled and she began to regret her decision, but just then another guard finally arrived to tell her she made bail. She was immediately brought to a holding room. An officer, framed in a small window called her forward, handed her a large manila envelope, and told her to examine the contents and sign. The envelope contained her personal belongings from the afternoon of her arrest.
After she assured the guards the contents of her purse were all accounted for, she was lead to a room where she could change out of her orange jumpsuit.
She quickly stripped out of the hated attire, and opened up the large yellow envelope again that contained her belongings. Taking off the white cotton panties and bra she was issued by the county, she donned her own red silky panties. She planned to burn them later though as they were a gift from Gary at Christmas when they had gotten back together.
She slipped on the denim mini skirt she had worn off the cruise ship, and the rust colored tank top. She was a tomboy at heart, and rarely dressed up, or wore skirts and dresses. But on the cruise, she had gone more girly than her usual attire. She had been trying. For Gary. The schmuck.
Ronnie picked up her small purse again, and quickly scanned the contents. Her wallet was there, her keys, her small make-up bag, but her passport was missing. Taken by the Court, so she wouldn’t leave the country she presumed.
She slung the bag over her shoulder and went out the door, leaving the jumpsuit and prison issued under garments lying in a heap on the floor where they had fallen. Good riddance. She hoped she had seen the last of prison grab.
“This way.” Another guard indicated a large door just down the hall. “What about my luggage, my clothes?” she asked. Those had not been returned to her yet.
“Evidence,” was the answer from the officer with a dismissive tone. She turned, shrugging her shoulders. She’d miss those items but felt she would receive them once she’d cleared her name. She had some things at her mom’s anyhow, and they were practically the same size. It would have to do.