Page 20 of Stilettos and Outlaws

Bitch! That’s when I noticed Mom and Julie were chowing down on sausage biscuits. My stomach growled.

“Here ya go.” Mom tossed me a sandwich.

“Thanks.” I wolfed it down.

Frank stuck his head in. “Where’s my sandwich?"

“Who’s watching Chuck?” I countered.

“Glendale and Peoria have a slew of officers guarding him.”

Mom tossed Frank a wrapped biscuit. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Gotta say, I’m surprised there hasn’t been another attempt to grab Chuck,” Julie said.

Frank grinned. “Me too.”

“Maybe the entire gang is dead or in custody,” I said.

Mom shook her head. “Too easy. They are probably waiting for reinforcements.”

“Cookie,” Chuck bellowed.

Mom handed Frank two cookies. “That’s the last of them.”

“Thanks.” He hurried off.

Doc Halliday walked in. “You are both very lucky ladies. I’m releasing you and you are not to return to work for five days.” He handed us the work release documents.

“Why so long? It’s just a few bruises,” I asked.

Doc Halliday held up a hand mirror. “What do you see?”

“Ugh,” I grimaced. “It looks like someone beat the crap out of me.”

Doc put the mirror down. “Exactly. Not an image you want to present to the public. Plus, if you did get hit in the face again, you would probably lose consciousness.”

“Oh. That would suck big time.”

“Your dad has background checks he needs run. That’ll keep you busy,” Mom inserted.

Julie protested, “But I was going to work on my tan.”

“You are a member of the Alpha Dogs too,” Mom pointed out.

“Yes, ma’am. Background checks it is.”

Miss Kitty wiggled out of Mom’s purse and climbed up on her shoulder. Meow!

“Animals are not allowed in the hospital,” Doc Halliday grumbled.

Mom stroked Miss Kitty. “She’s a therapy cat.”

“It’s a kitten,” Doc Halliday pointed out.

Mom countered, “She’s a miniature.”

Doc Halliday narrowed his eyes. “Do you have the proper paperwork?”

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