“I’ve never known you to clean up anything at anytime!” I exclaimed as I walked to the small trash basket by the bathroom, finding it empty. “Did you put the empties in here?”

“Uh,” she continued. “Uh... I... uh...”

“So Hank got hammered from half a beer, fucked you, and passed out?”

“Yes, he did!”

“That’s bullshit! I’ve seen this man kill a twelve-pack and not even yawn!”

I dashed over to Hank and sat beside him on the bed. “Hank, wake up.” I shook him. “Hank!”

His blue eyes fluttered open and he looked up at me. He was unable to focus and he seemed disoriented.

“It’s me... Austin. Are you okay?”

He mumbled something unintelligible.

I spun back toward Angie. “You drugged him!”

She looked panicked.

I had her.

“Naw, I didn’t! He fucked me!”

“Please!” I threw my hand up dismissively. “Spare me that grotesque visual!” I stood and approached her. “You drugged him, you bitch!”

Behind me, Hank groaned and mumbled on the bed.

I turned back toward him and went to his side. Looking down into his confused eyes, I smiled. “You’re going to be fine, Hank.”

I approached Angie again. “You don’t think I remember what you did to that man in St. Louis when I was ten?” I yelled. “You used that date rape drug on him! I know all your tricks, Angie, and this is just another lame attempt at manipulation!”

I spotted an envelope full of money on the table and grabbed it. “What’s this?”

“It’s my money!”

She lunged for it, but I held it out of her reach. “You don’t have a pot to piss in, much less this sort of money!”

I quickly noted the logo of Hank’s bank on the envelope. “This cash is from our bank, First Union!”

“Gimme that money!” she hissed.

I slapped her hard across the face.

“I see it all now… Hank knew that I was upset that you showed up. He got this money to pay you to leave town. He came over and you drugged him to make it look like you two had sex! Then you called me and insisted that I come over!” I paused. “Not one of your best schemes, Mother! Maybe this would’ve worked on someone who wasn’t as familiar with you as I am, but not me! I know you too well!”

She scrambled to grab the money from my hand. “Gimme that!”

I shoved her away and she fell onto the motel room floor.

“I’m not giving you shit, Angie!” I screamed. “I’m putting our money back into our bank!”

“Austin,” Hank called out weakly.

“One second,” I said over my shoulder. “I need to take out the garbage first!” Furious, I stood over Angie. “You will leave town now and never return!” I ordered. “If ya don’t, I’ll call the police and have you arrested for drugging my husband! So go back to whatever rock you crawled out from under and never show your face around these parts again! Do ya hear what I’m telling you?”