Vicious Carousel (Suncoast Society #25)(15)

“But he won’t get that,” Ed said.

“Probably not. Probably lucky if they give him one hundred thousand. But he might not be able to make bail. If so, then lucky us, he can sit there and rot in a cell while I dangle a deal in front of an overworked and underpaid PD who doesn’t want to defend an abuser in the first place. This isn’t a ‘he-said, she-said’ kind of situation with no visible wounds, obviously.”

Once they finished there, Ed drove them to another building where Betsy had to speak to a judge in chambers before Ed filed paperwork.

Then, they headed back to Kenny and Nolan’s house. Before Ed left, he said, “I’ll follow the arraignment and let you know what happens. Is there anything else at the apartment you need to get?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“You mentioned pictures. Do you think he has any memory cards or anything?”

Nolan nodded. “There was a camera, Tony said. Hold on.” He went to what was now her bedroom and they heard him digging around. A few minutes later, he returned with a computer bag—what had been her computer bag, holding what had been her computer—and a camera case.

The men searched through them. On the camera, dozens of pictures, including ones of her during play and after “punishments.” And several other memory cards.

“I don’t know if he had any other memory cards besides those,” she said.

“What about the computer?” Ed said.

“It was mine, but he took it and changed the password. Do you think Tony can fix it?”

“I’ll take it to him and see,” Ed told her. “Was the camera yours, too?”

She nodded.

“Okay, good. Then they’re your property. Do I have your permission to go through them, and the computer, for evidence?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

“Good. I’ll call the guys later and let you know what’s going on.”

“Thank you, Ed. I’ll find a way to pay you back for all your trouble.”

“Maybe,” he said. “If not, don’t worry about it. I help my friends, and you’re one of my friends. We take care of our own, you know.”

Once he was gone, the men got her settled on the couch. “Can we get you anything to eat or drink?” Kenny asked.

“No, I just need to rest, I think. Is it okay if I turn the TV on and take a nap out here? I don’t want to be alone in my room right now. I’ve spent enough time alone the past several months.”

“Sure,” Nolan said. “You get comfy. I’ll go get you some pillows.”





Kenny followed him to her room. “I’ll call Mom and cancel,” he whispered.

“Don’t you dare,” Nolan whispered back.

“What if Dennis comes?”

“So? We’re not changing our lives for him. Mom will understand us helping her.”

Kenny sighed. “I should go get her some stuff. She barely has anything.”

“Like what?”

“Well, for starters, a phone,” he said. “I’ll pick her up one of those cheap smart phones with a month-to-month plan. At least she’ll have that. And she doesn’t have decent f*cking shampoo, for chrissake. I’m not saying let’s take her to a spa, but we can afford to buy her some decent crap to make her a little more comfortable.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“Thanks.” Kenny kissed him and started rooting through her clothes. Then he took out his phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Sizes,” Kenny said. “I need to know what she wears.”

“You said shampoo.”

“I’ll get her some PJs. Something loose. She barely has anything that doesn’t look like she shouldn’t be auditioning for a BSDM porn movie. That shit’s not comfortable.”

“Okay.” They weren’t rich, but they had disposable income. No, it wouldn’t kill them to spend a little money on her.

“Besides,” Kenny said, “I need to get some more stuff for dinner tonight. So I have to go out anyway.”

In the living room, Nolan walked around to ask her if there was anything she needed, but she was already asleep.

Nolan sadly held the pillows. “I don’t want to disturb her.” He laid them on the coffee table where she could reach them if she woke up. He kissed Kenny. “Hurry back.”

“I will.” Kenny grabbed his keys and headed out to his car.

For chrissake, she didn’t even have tampons or pads. There’d been exactly two of each in the bathroom at the apartment when they’d gone through it.

The rat bastard had even been rationing stuff like that.

He ended up at a Super Target he favored and grabbed a cart. Heading first to the clothing section, he found several cute and comfy pajama sets, some with pants and some with shorts, that would be loose and comfy on her. He added a couple of pairs of yoga pants in her size, hoping they’d be comfy for her. Some T-shirts with different funny retro logos and graphics on them, slightly oversized, a bathrobe, and two pairs of slippers.

He went through the health and beauty section and bought new everything he could think of, especially hair care. He didn’t know if she’d even need it all, but he got styling gel, anti-frizz cream, three kinds of shampoo and conditioner for different hair types, razors, shaving gel, deodorant, tampons, pads—everything.