Cop Said “You Two Aren't Welcome Here” To Twins — Both Were Federal Agents Investigating Him
Chapter 13
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Jayda stood in the motel parking lot for a long moment, looking at the cracked pavement. "I'm taking some vacation days," she said."Jayda—""I have 22 days saved up, sir. I'm taking them, starting today." Her voice did not shake. "I'm not leaving my sister in a jail cell in Hollis County. Not for one night. You can fire me later if you want."There was a long silence on the line. "Don't do anything stupid," he finally said, and hung up. But he did not say no.That afternoon, Jayda drove to the Hollis County jail for visiting hours. She sat in a small plastic chair in front of a thick window; a guard brought Kendra in wearing an orange jumpsuit and sat her down on the other side of the glass. They both picked up the phones on the wall."You okay?" Jayda asked."I'm fine," Kendra said. "The food is terrible; the bed is worse. How's Hank?""Mad. Lucy's been crying all day. Half the town is mad." Jayda leaned closer to the glass. "The boss pulled us off. I took leave. I'm staying."Kendra almost smiled. "Of course you are.""Preliminary hearing is tomorrow morning at 9:00; the judge decides if there's enough to even charge you. I'm bringing the button.""Good," Kendra said. "Bring the whole thing. Don't cut a second."Behind Jayda, a door opened; heavy boots walked across the floor. Kyle Dempsey stopped right behind Jayda's chair, bending down so he could see Kendra through the glass, smiling the same wide, slow smile from the bar."Look at you," he said loud enough for Kendra to hear through the window. "Orange is a good color on you. Better than that badge."Jayda did not turn around. Dempsey put his hand on the back of Jayda's chair and leaned close to her ear. "Your sister's in a cage," he said quietly. "You're next. Then the old man, then the girl. By the time Uncle Gordon is done, there won't be anything left of Delaney's but the sign."He straightened up, tapped the glass twice with his knuckle, and walked out.Kendra and Jayda sat looking at each other through the window."9:00," Kendra said."9:00," Jayda said.The courtroom was full by a quarter to 9:00 on Friday morning. Hank and Lucy sat in the front row; behind them were people from the tavern—regulars, other bar owners from Main Street, even the man who had posted the video. Reporters filled the back two rows.Kendra sat at the defense table in a borrowed blue suit next to a lawyer the FBI had sent down from St. Louis; Jayda sat right behind her holding a laptop. Gordon Pratt stood at the other table, handsome and calm, shuffling papers.The judge was the same older man from Lucy's bail hearing. He came in, sat down, and said, "Let's get started."Pratt called his first witness: "The State calls Sergeant Kyle Dempsey."Dempsey walked up in his best uniform, put his hand on the Bible, and sat down in the witness chair, looking out at the crowd like a man who had done this many times and never lost.