Marina sighed. “Shorthand for that ho over there.”

Halcyon stared at Marina for a couple seconds, then burst out laughing. “Oh my God. That’s awesome. I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to laugh. Actually, I do.”

Halcyon took a minute to pull herself together, then blew out a breath. “Okay. So the first order of business is a lawyer, right?”

“No. The first order of business is Harold. He needs to get his sidepiece to back off pressing charges.”

“You can try, but I wouldn’t expect much. Harold is deep in the new-nooky fog. My guess is that Little Miss Chastity can’t do any wrong.”

Marina started her car and pulled away. “He better get out of the fog before he loses his daughter.”

She drove by the CPA office but Harold’s car wasn’t in his parking space so she headed for the house and pulled in behind his shiny new Mercedes. She stomped up to the front door and banged on it.

“What the hell are you doing?” Halcyon asked. “Open the door.”

“I threw my key in the bayou the day I moved out.”

“Good grief.” Halcyon dug in her purse and pulled out a key, then unlocked the door. “It’s Halcyon and Marina,” she called out. “I suggest you get out here where there are multiple escape routes because you don’t want me to corner you.”

There was a noise from the master bedroom and a minute later, Harold shuffled into the living room. He didn’t bother to say anything. Just stood there looking impotent.

“Avery is in jail,” Marina said. “Locked up in a cell like an animal. You let them take her.”

“What was I supposed to do?” Harold asked. “Deputy Pitre arrested her. I couldn’t stop him.”

“You didn’t even call me,” Marina said. “I had to hear about this from Adelaide. That’s our daughter! I know you don’t care about me, but how could you abandon her?”

Harold stared at the floor, shaking his head. “There was nothing I could do.”

“Maybe not then, although I doubt it,” Marina said. “But you can certainly do something now. You can call off your little girlfriend. If this goes to court, Avery will lose her scholarship. Her future. She’s already lost her father. How much more should she pay for your bad decisions?”

“Don’t you think I tried?” Harold said. “I’ve been begging Chastity all morning to drop the charges. But she won’t back down. And the truth is Avery did attack her.”

“Completely and totally unprovoked, right?” Marina asked. “Because sweet Chastity would never do anything to rub salt into a wound. Especially to Avery, who she’s always had a problem with.”

Harold’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t change her mind. Avery should have never come here.”

“Shouldn’t have come where? Her home?” Anger coursed through Marina. “You shouldn’t have cheated! And definitely not with Chastity LeDoux. You picked the worst person possible and you know it. The least you can do is get your little pet in line. Clearly, she has daddy issues, so tell her to drop the charges or you’re going to ground her.”