Page 43 of Abandoned

Logan stepped up beside Ernie. “How about we go talk over here?”

Zara exchanged a nod with Logan. She moved toward Rainie, though she didn’t want to get whacked with the leather purse that hung from her shoulder.

Zara motioned away from the crowd. “Let’s go sit on my back bumper.”

“I’d rather not. I’ll stick to where all their”—she pointed at the people—“cameras can record whatever happens here.”

Zara wasn’t sure that’s what Rainie really wanted. Not after her behavior yesterday.

“You know Ernie told me what a lousy cop you are. Of course he’s grateful for that. Apparently, up in Indiana you liked to party as hard as the people you arrested.”

“I’m not here to talk about my past, Rainie. We’re here because of the way you acted going into this establishment and because you hit Ernie.”

“You telling me that you’d be okay if your man decided to spend the evening here instead of with you?”

“No, I totally understand your frustration with him on this, but you didn’t handle it well, and for someone who is out on bail, you’re treading some thin ice.”

Rainie kicked a rock across the ground.

Maybe she was actually calming down and they could deescalate this without having to arrest anyone.

“Rainie, I need to check with the owner, but if he doesn’t press charges, why don’t you go home? And you and Ernie can talk this through tomorrow when he’s sober.”

Rainie’s gaze darted up to Zara’s. “If anyone needs to be arrested, it’s Ernie. It’s all his fault. If he’d treat me like he promised he would, we’d be fine.” She glared past Zara to Ernie who sat on Logan’s bumper.

Logan had turned and was talking to the owner of the club who didn’t look happy and kept pointing at Rainie.

Zara stepped into Rainie’s vision. “Hey. I need you to stay calm. I’ll go talk to the owner too and find out where we’re at. Can you be chill, or do I need to cuff you and put you in the back seat?” She pointed to her squad car.

Rainie crossed her arms and leaned back against the cruiser. It was something.

Zara turned and walked to Logan and the owner.

“I want her arrested. People can’t come into my business in a fit of rage and have no consequences. She’s a total lunatic and needs to be locked up for good. People like that shouldn’t be allowed to roam free.”

Ernie stood. “Don’t talk about my girl like that. She’s not crazy.”

Logan put a hand to Ernie’s chest. “Chill, man.”

The crowd was inching nearer. It was only a dozen men and about five barely clothed women, but they were all getting too close for comfort.

Zara turned her attention to them. “Y’all need to back up. Better yet, go back inside or go home.” She spread her arms and walked toward the crowd, but they didn’t back up like normal people.

They needed more police officers on site. She clicked her radio. “Requesting further backup.” She gave the address. Hopefully, officers from the new shift would show up. Ones that got some sleep recently. She was too tired to deal with this.

Rainie moved toward the club owner.

Oh no!

Zara abandoned the crowd, but she wasn’t fast enough. Neither was Logan.

Rainie shoved the club owner, who shoved her back again.

Everything turned to chaos. Zara could barely figure out whose limbs were whose, as multiple men and women grappled for one another.

Two squad cars pulled in, sirens blaring. Thank You, Jesus.

Zara needed to focus her attention on finding Rainie in the midst of the fighting. She looked over just in time to see Rainie taking off. Ernie was right beside her. They were not getting away from this.