Page 40 of Special Agent Storm

“Okay. Here. Let me help you.” Ruby released the pressure slowly to be sure the other woman meant what she said. When she went to stand, the pain in her side caught her, and she almost doubled over.

Oh-oh! Now what?

Catching her breath, she gingerly stood for seconds before knowing she wouldn’t fall over if she took a step.

“Are you a cop?” Blondie turned her way, face filled with fear and smeared with tears of regret.

“No. I’m a nosy firefighter who can’t seem to stay out of other people’s battles. You know your victim is fleeing the scene.” Ruby’s self-effacement added sarcasm.

They both watched as the black lady drove her old, broken-down Toyota from the lot.

“Thank God, she can’t charge me now.” Wiping down her jeans, she glanced at Ruby shame-faced and nervous. “If I tell you I’m sorry, will you let it go? I really didn’t mean to kick you. I was just so fucking angry at having to walk out of the store without my groceries, I lashed out.”

“Why did you have to leave your groceries?”

“Because my asshole of a partner emptied out the bank account before he took off. When I went to use my credit card, there wasn’t enough money left to buy a quart of milk. I’ve got three kids. How the hell am I supposed to feed them?” She started to cry. This time her tears weren’t from rage. Fear had ramped up her worry, and Ruby could see she’d hit a wall.

Just then the squad car pulled up and the officer left her car, shaking her head as she watched everyone scatter. No one wanted to be involved… not with the authorities. Ruby knew things were that way nowadays – bloody shame.

“Hey, Ruby. What’s going on here?”

Glad to see it was a cop she knew from her job, Ruby stood as straight as she could, hoping the injury didn’t seem obvious, but before she could answer, Molly stepped forward.

“That woman had a knife and was attacking a black lady. Ruby stopped her.”

Ruby’s eagle-eyed stare at Molly meant to stop the tide of her words and it worked. Grudgingly, she added, “Nothing happened.”

“Ruby? You tell me.”

Blondie interrupted, “I was upset, officer. But it was just a scuffle. No one was hurt. I have three kids. I’m sorry to have started this mess. I thought the other bi-ahh… woman let go of her cart on purpose, and it almost caught my little boy. His asthma’s terrible today. I guess it set me off. I’m really sorry.”

After listening, the uniformed woman’s face seemed less judgmental. She looked at Ruby, and her expression softened further. She arched her head to the right, expecting Ruby to follow. Once they were alone, she asked, “Why are you limping?”

“Old injury. No biggie. Look, that mother’s in a bad way and doesn’t need more shit from us to deal with right now. Her old man cleared out their bank account, and she’s got three kids. It’s a bloody shame, but when she had to leave her cartful of groceries, she reacted to the first one who pushed her buttons.”

“You know we can’t have these people going off half-cocked, Ruby. This time you were here to stop her. What happens next time?”

“I’ll get her address and let the firehouse know to add her to the list of people who need help… is what happens. Instead of punishing people for hitting bottom, maybe we ought to try giving them a hand up. What you can do is make sure that prick isn’t anywhere around when she gets home. She’s pretty pissed.”

“Okay, you can leave. If you’re not pressing charges, I won’t be needing you. I’ll get her address and text it to you.”

“Thanks, pal. I owe you.”

Ruby slid her hand into the front pocket of her jeans and took out a twenty. Then she held it toward the woman who was calming her kids. “Here, honey, it’s all I have on me right now. But Officer Nolan will get your name and address and me and my friends at the firehouse will be around with some food for you from the foodbank we support.”

Blondie’s eyes filled. She reached out her hand to take the money, and Ruby saw it trembling. “You’re an angel. Thank you. I can get enough groceries with this, so we’ll eat tonight. My kids will be able to sleep then. What’s your name?”

“I’m Ruby Allen.”

“I’m Jolene. Jolene May Robinson. Thank you for – for stopping me from making the biggest mistake of my life. I haven’t pulled a stunt like that for years. Since I moved out of my parents’ house. I thought I was over losing my shit like that.”

“Hey, we all get pushed too far sometimes. But, Jolene, you have kids who rely on your strength now. Need I say more?”

Jolene’s head lowered and Ruby saw a tear drip off her chin. Voice strained and weak, Jolene answered, “I swore I wouldn’t put them through the same crap I saw when I grew up, and here I am with the police on my case. Dammit all to hell… life’s hard.”

Before Ruby could speak, Molly stepped out of the background where she’d obviously heard their discussion. She handed Jolene a card. “Look, honey, I own a petting zoo not too far from here. We have huge gardens. So big, I’m thinking a lot of the food will be rotting in the field if I don’t get someone to come and gather it soon. There’s fruit trees and berry bushes that are ripe now and ready to be picked. You and your kids would be welcome to help yourselves.”

As she reached to take the card, Jolene’s face lit with gratitude. “Thank you, ma’am. Both of you. I thought this was the worst day of my life, and you’ve changed that. I’m obliged.”

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