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I hurried inside to get dressed and cursed as I tried to clasp my bra without Rumi’s help. He hadn’t brought up our relationship, which I was grateful for, but he’d never been more than a few feet away since we’d come to stay with him. Grandma’s separation anxiety comment hadn’t been far from the truth, Rumi had been clingy in the extreme. It didn’t bother me, though, because I was just as anxious whenever he was out of my sight.
I’d just pulled on a pair of Rumi’s sweats when I heard Nana bringing the detectives into the house. Walking as calmly as I could, I shut the bedroom door firmly behind me.
“What are they doing here?” Bird asked, coming out of the kitchen.
“Hi, Firebird,” Kent said with a nod.
“Just Bird,” my brother mumbled.
“Maybe we should sit,” Detective Lira said, putting his hands in his pockets.
My heart began to pound, and I wasn’t sure why as we sat down in Rumi’s living room.
“Out with it,” Nana said, glancing from one detective to the other. “What?”
“We’ve given our recommendation,” Kent said. He glanced at Bird and away. “The shooting was in self-defense.”
“Obviously,” I snapped, wishing he’d say whatever they needed us to sit down for.
“Unfortunately,” Kent continued. “There wasn’t anything we could do about the possession charge.”
“What possession charge?” I asked in confusion as Nana inhaled sharply.
“I’m a felon,” she said apologetically, her voice hoarse. “It’s illegal for me to carry a firearm.”
“It wasn’t yours,” I sputtered. At some point, I’d overheard how Nana had grabbed one of Pop’s handguns out of his saddlebag on her way inside.
“It doesn’t matter,” Detective Lira said quietly.
“Of course it matters,” I spat, jerking to my feet. “She had to protect us. You just said it was self-defense. She’s a hundred pounds soaking wet! What was she supposed to use, her purse?”
“The law is clear—”
“Then the law is bullshit,” I yelled.
“Sometimes,” Kent said quietly.
“What does this mean?” Nana asked, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
“You can turn yourself in,” Lira said, his voice kind. “Get your things in order here and then you can come in.”
“Take care of things here?” I said in disbelief. “Are you fucking serious right now?”
“You’re not helping, Nova,” Nana scolded. “Sit down.”
“Does Nana have to go to jail?” Bird asked quietly, his voice trembling.
Kent and Lira looked at each other, then at Bird.
“Probably,” Lira said.
“We’ll do everything we can to—”
“But it’s up to the district attorney.”
“So, you’re about as useless as tits on a boar,” I muttered flatly.
“Ashley,” Detective Kent said, reaching out to put his hand on top of Nana’s. “You let us know when you’re coming in, and we’ll meet you at the station.”
