Cady picked up her feet and jammed them against the wire mesh that separated prisoners from the driver. Jill did the same thing.

“Keep that up, and I’ll add assault to your other charges.”

Cady’s middle finger shot in the air. Not to be outdone, Jill did the same thing.

At the police station, with his fellow officers gawking at his prisoners, the patrol officer ushered Cady and Jill into the station. He handed them over to a fellow officer just as Boomer Ward walked out into the hallway. His jaw dropped as Cady and Jill sashayed past him like they’d never seen him before.

“What the hell…Somebody better explain what the hell is going on here. Why are these women here? What do you mean you’re locking them up? What did they do?” He listened to the charges, his eyes almost bugging out of his head.

Larry Denville walked into the station, and said, “I need a quote. I also want to see the police report when it’s ready.”

Pete Danson, his eyes wild, blew into the station like a wild gust of wind, Andy Hollister behind him. “I want to see my clients, and I want to see them now. What are the charges?”

Boomer rattled them off. Pete blanched. “Tell me you’re making that up.”

“They’re in the drunk tank. Go see for yourself. They’re staying there, too.”

“I don’t think so! This is all a big misunderstanding. We need to talk about this, Boomer.”

Boomer eyeballed the arresting officer, and said, “Make it good, Carpenter, or you’re going to be walking the boonies and doing crossing guard duty.”

“Conroy, fetch the prisoners. Now!”

“But, Chief…”

“Now means now, Conroy, or you’ll be walking the boonies with Carpenter.”

Boomer tried to strike a pose befitting the fine office he held, but when he saw Cady in her bikini sashaying down the hall, he did a double take, as did all the officers in the duty room. A moment later she was in his face. “Is this where you start with the thumbscrews?”

“No, this is where you go home and sleep it off,” Boomer said quietly. So quietly, Cady had to strain to hear the words.

“Are we free to go?”

“You’re free to go,” Pete said. “I’ll take care of the paperwork.”

“Fine, you do that. You’re fired. I hate liars.” With as much dignity as she could muster, Cady stalked out of the police station. Jill followed, with Andy in tow.

“We’ll give you a ride home, Cady.”

“Thanks, but I think I’ll walk.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea considering what you’re wearing.”

Cady looked down at the skimpy flowered bikini and nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

Cady cried all the way back to Lola’s mansion.

At the house, she asked to be dropped off at the gate. “I’ll walk the rest of the way. Thanks for the ride. I guess I lost my shoes, too.” She hugged Jill and tried not to look at Andy’s miserable face. “I hope your sister is okay, Andy. If there’s anything I can do for her, let me know.”