The following is another excerpt from my work in progress, The Throuple Private Eye—Business is Booming, a Jen McDowell Series. This is the second draft. I’m at 50k words now. If you want to catch up, order the novella The Throuple Private Eye—Hate Crimes, on Amazon ($2.99). The link is https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084LTTHGN. Enjoy.
CHAPTER 13
The next day, Jen drove Molly to the police station so she could give her statement on what happened in the courtroom. They were a block from the station when they were stopped by a police barrier manned by two officers. Jen stopped and rolled down her window as one officer approached the car.
“What’s going on officer?” Jen asked.
“There’s a Black Live Matter protest in front of the station,” she answered. “Where are you going?”
“We’re headed for the station,” Jen answered.
“You’ll have to go in the back entrance,” the officer replied. “Do you know how to get there?”
“Yeah,” Jen answered. “I used to work there.”
While Jen was talking, Molly was looking at the crowd of protestors. “Jen, is that the Jones standing on the sidewalk behind the protestors?” she asked.
Jen looked where Molly indicated. “I think you’re right.”
Suddenly, Molly yelled, “What the fuck?” and jumped out of the car. Jen moved the car to the side of the road and tried to catch Molly. Molly ran up to Hannah and Oni Jones. Six-year old Cleo stood in front of them. “Is Grandma Anna with you?” she half shouted. All three pointed at the protestors. There was Anna. She had locked arms with a line of other older women and stood between the protestors and police.
Molly ran over to Anna with Jen right behind her. “Anna, you can’t do this. You’re too old to be demonstrating. You’ll get hurt.” The Jones also walked over.
Anna looked Molly in the eye. “Bull shit. This ain’t my first rodeo. Enough is enough.”
“What kind of example are you setting for Cleo?” Hannah asked.
“The right kind,” Anna shot back. “In fact, I’ll do one better.” Anna unlocked her arms from the other protesters and began to take off her clothes.
“No, no, Anna,” Molly shouted. “Don’t do this.”
“Somebody got to do it,” Anna replied. “Maybe a naked old lady will make the evening news.”
After a minute, there she stood--naked except for her shoes. The Jones made an effort to cover her exposed body, but Anna pushed them away. Then Cleo began to get undressed. “What are you doing, dear?” Hannah asked Cleo.
“Grandma is right,” Cleo answered. “I’m going to join her.”
Molly grabbed Anna’s arms. “Anna, do something. You can’t let Cleo get naked too. There’re too many perverts around here.” Anna didn’t say anything. “Okay, okay,” Molly said. “I’ll take your place. You take Cleo to the back and stay out of the line of fire.” Before anna could protest, Molly locked arms with the women on either side of Anna. She looked at Jen. “Well, are you going to just stand there or are you going to join us?”
Jen was torn. “Molly, I’m a police officer. How will it look?”
“It will look like you want justice,” Molly answered.
Jen stepped in next to Molly and locked arms. The Jones took Cleo toward the rear where it was somewhat safer. Jen expected to get an ear full about protesting in front of the station when Jonah returned home that night. To her surprise, Jonah said nothing. She was thankful for that.
CHAPTER 13
The next day, Jen drove Molly to the police station so she could give her statement on what happened in the courtroom. They were a block from the station when they were stopped by a police barrier manned by two officers. Jen stopped and rolled down her window as one officer approached the car.
“What’s going on officer?” Jen asked.
“There’s a Black Live Matter protest in front of the station,” she answered. “Where are you going?”
“We’re headed for the station,” Jen answered.
“You’ll have to go in the back entrance,” the officer replied. “Do you know how to get there?”
“Yeah,” Jen answered. “I used to work there.”
While Jen was talking, Molly was looking at the crowd of protestors. “Jen, is that the Jones standing on the sidewalk behind the protestors?” she asked.
Jen looked where Molly indicated. “I think you’re right.”
Suddenly, Molly yelled, “What the fuck?” and jumped out of the car. Jen moved the car to the side of the road and tried to catch Molly. Molly ran up to Hannah and Oni Jones. Six-year old Cleo stood in front of them. “Is Grandma Anna with you?” she half shouted. All three pointed at the protestors. There was Anna. She had locked arms with a line of other older women and stood between the protestors and police.
Molly ran over to Anna with Jen right behind her. “Anna, you can’t do this. You’re too old to be demonstrating. You’ll get hurt.” The Jones also walked over.
Anna looked Molly in the eye. “Bull shit. This ain’t my first rodeo. Enough is enough.”
“What kind of example are you setting for Cleo?” Hannah asked.
“The right kind,” Anna shot back. “In fact, I’ll do one better.” Anna unlocked her arms from the other protesters and began to take off her clothes.
“No, no, Anna,” Molly shouted. “Don’t do this.”
“Somebody got to do it,” Anna replied. “Maybe a naked old lady will make the evening news.”
After a minute, there she stood--naked except for her shoes. The Jones made an effort to cover her exposed body, but Anna pushed them away. Then Cleo began to get undressed. “What are you doing, dear?” Hannah asked Cleo.
“Grandma is right,” Cleo answered. “I’m going to join her.”
Molly grabbed Anna’s arms. “Anna, do something. You can’t let Cleo get naked too. There’re too many perverts around here.” Anna didn’t say anything. “Okay, okay,” Molly said. “I’ll take your place. You take Cleo to the back and stay out of the line of fire.” Before anna could protest, Molly locked arms with the women on either side of Anna. She looked at Jen. “Well, are you going to just stand there or are you going to join us?”
Jen was torn. “Molly, I’m a police officer. How will it look?”
“It will look like you want justice,” Molly answered.
Jen stepped in next to Molly and locked arms. The Jones took Cleo toward the rear where it was somewhat safer. Jen expected to get an ear full about protesting in front of the station when Jonah returned home that night. To her surprise, Jonah said nothing. She was thankful for that.
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