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She dipped the little triangle into cocktail sauce
Sean realized that it looked as if they were all dipping into a little pot of blood
Rutger Leon swaggered down the street, ar sure he carried his knife
The cop had brought hiy-- Esquire, as he liked to call hi ain
The bitch was going to get hers That da for another pop when she wasn’t pulling her oeight in any shape or forer to please Man, she’d do anything for a fix--anything He liked the taste he got in hisabout it Still, she’d caused this, caused hione off the deep end-- charging an aroing to get hers
The cops assumed the bitch was safe But there were always leaks So now little Callie was in the hospital, shaking away by now, he was certain, facing withdrawal Poor baby
He walked around the corner, looking up at the building He had the rooreens Callie was going to have the words "whore" and "bitch" carved into her back cheeks before the cops on duty ever suspected trouble
Maybe it was a good thing Ray got killed Rutger wanted Callie back Wanted her when she was in one of those --at all that he wanted And she wouldn’t be too quick to make it with anyone other than a john he’d picked out for her--not with her butt all carved up with his signature descriptions Actually, she wasn’t going to get much punish about her expression while he told her what he meant to do
Hospitals--no matter how the administration tried to ie didn’t lad she and Sean had coood to see Callie all scrubbed up, pale and wan and hurting still, but sedated to get through the night
Callie suys really ca at the foot of her bed
Callie twitched She’d probably twitch now and then for a long tis were a disease like no other
Callie looked at Maggie shyly "You’re not even a cop"
Maggie shook her head "We just wanted to see how you’re doing"
"Hand’s all wrapped up," Callie said She winced suddenly, and closed her eyes, groaning "Oh, God, I don’t know, I don’t know "
Maggie reached out suddenly, squeezing her hand "Fight it Think that you’re going to be clean, you’re going to start over Hell, Callie, think about that guy’s teeth! That’s enough to keep you off the street" Callie had been in hellish pain It was evident in her ashen coloring Still, she ser’s in jail I hope they throay the key!" Sean glanced at Maggie, then back to Callie "Actually, Callie, they let Rutger out"
"Oh, God, I’ie said firmly
"You have two cops out in the hall, Callie Friends of uys Twoto be fine"
Tears pooled in Callie’s eyes She looked like a little girl lost, so sainst the white expanse of her hospital bed, frail beneath the worn hospital gown "I wish I could believe you!"
"Well, you’ll believe gie corrected
Sean looked at her
"We’ll come before you take me into work, and I really need to be in by ten A Monday , you know"
Sean offered her the half-set soive you another shot Help you along a little, okay?" Callie tried to sht," Sean assured her His voice was deterie’s hand They paused to talk to the two cops outside Callie’s door
"Maggie, Jio them
Jimmy was about thirty, crinkly brown hair, friendly hazel eyes Angus was older, white-haired, with pale-blue sparkling eyes They both shook her hand, acknowledging her with a speculation Sean ignored
"I understand you guys have all reat, and I really appreciate it"
"Hey, Sean, it’s a tough time for all of us," Jimmy said "The last weeks have been brutal If we can help the little waif in there, all the better"
Angus nodded "Sean, now, ye’re a man puttin‘ in his own fair share of hours, and we heard ye were afraid fer the wee lass," he said Obviously, Maggie thought, Angus was as Scottish as his naht fine fellow there, eh, Ms Montgomery? We’d do a lot fer the likes of hireat!" she assured him Impulsively, she kissed his cheek "Thanks"
"Hey!" Sean protested, laughing "Angus, you’re stealing irl It’s that accent Wous, want to teach me an accent?" Jimmy queried hopefully
" ‘Tis us claiht When they reached Sean’s place, Maggie im her arrily, with passion, need--and tenderness
"Hey!" heat her zipper, and then her hemline "What did I do to deserve this?"