Page 8 of Freedom to Love

She pushed out of the car, closed the door, and hurried across the street. She jogged to the back of the house where there was a large, elevated redwood deck and a lower level to the house she couldn’t have seen from the front. She made her way to the lower level door and checked the knob. It was locked, but the door and knob were old, much like her own basement door. She dug in her back pocket and removed her wallet and a Costco card. She inserted the card into the doorframe at the knob and popped the door. She listened for an alarm. Nothing. Darkness encased her as she entered, along with the smell of grease, paint, and must. Another Sea-Doo sat to her right, guts displayed, with tools and parts surrounding it on wooden workbenches. Another one was covered and farther back in the dark. In front of her, stairs and a door at the top. She tugged on a string and a light bulb popped on.

Squinting in the bright light, she planted her foot on the bottom step and noise came from the door above. She stopped and made out the pet door just before a dog pushed through, barking. Brynn backed away as the dog ran down the stairs and stopped, barking at her in high pitch. The German shepherd mix was brave but also afraid.

She cooed him and carefully sat on the concrete floor. She looked away from him and waited. Slowly, he quieted and crept toward her. She comforted him and rested her hands at her side, palms up. He stepped to her and pressed his nose to her jeans and then her hand, which caused him to whine. She knew he smelled Vander, and she felt for him. She touched him and he licked her, first her hand and then her face.

She stood and clipped him to a leash she saw on a bench. He followed her back out the door, which she locked behind her.

“Good boy.” She glanced around quickly, checked his name tag, and moved back to the side of the house where she stopped and looked for people. When she was satisfied, she hurried back to the car, dog in tow.

Bea was cussing before she even got the door open to put him in the back.

“A dog? A God damned dog? Brynn, have you lost your mind?”

Brynn climbed in and put the car in gear. She drove slowly down the street and found her way back to the entrance of the highway.

“If Vander dies, there’s no telling how long he would be left in that house.”

Bea shook her head. “Motherfucker.”

“No, actually, I think his name is Gunner.”

“Is he a fucking cop? One of those K-9 dogs? You know, attack on command and sniff out drugs?”

Brynn looked at him in the rearview mirror. He was sitting and panting.

“I don’t know. He is a German shepherd.”

“Fuck.” Bea propped her elbow on the door and rested her head on her fist.

“He might be good to have around. You know, alert us to people.”

“Yeah, and he might tackle me when I light up my pipe.”

Brynn grimaced. “Even after I went to prison for you…and not to mention we’re running from the law…you bring drugs?”

“I can’t live without it. It fucks me up bad to go without. People like you just don’t understand.” She dug into her pocket. “But don’t worry. I’m getting into downers now.” She popped a few pills in her mouth and forced a swallow. “This will help calm me down.”

“My God, how much did you just take?”

“Relax, I’ve got a tolerance now. What I just took, won’t even hardly touch me. And it’s expensive. Which is why I have this.” She dug in the other pocket and pulled out a small rubber balloon. She smiled. “Know what this is?”

Brynn looked away. “Fuck off. I don’t want to know. And wipe that damn grin off your face. You have no reason to be proud.”

“Maybe not proud, but this right here, makes me very, very happy.” She slipped it back into her pocket and leaned against the seat in a relaxed pose. She closed her eyes. “Wake me in a few or when you hit a gas station. I need a Mountain Dew.”

Brynn accelerated, anxiety building. She knew what was in the balloon. A good number of women in prison were addicted to it. And the walls of the prison didn’t seem to stop them from getting it. Fucking heroin. People were using it instead of the costly pills. Opiates were opiates. People didn’t care about the form they came in, just the cost. And now Bea. God damn it. She might as well kiss her good-bye now. Heroin owned you and no one could seem to escape.

How had this happened? She was raised in the same house as Bea and Billy, and while it hadn’t been ideal or even close to good, she’d never even considered drugs. Not after she’d seen what it had done to their parents and other family members. And she’d tried her best to raise Bea and Billy well, but it had been difficult with their parents partying before they passed, people in and out all day and night. But she had done her best. It just hadn’t been good enough.

“And boy, have I paid the price,” she said, causing Gunner to perk his ears. Next to her, Bea snored and the quiet allowed her to think of Vander. Giving Bea a careful glance, she plucked the pay as you go phone from her back pocket and dialed information. She connected with the hospital and waited, nerves on edge.

A woman answered with a sweet, deep Southern drawl.

“Yes, can I have Sergeant Vander’s room, please?”

“One moment, please.”

Brynn heard her typing.

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