20
The number on the caller ID wasn’t familiar. “Ballou Fugitive Recovery,” I said.
“Is…is this Jinx Ballou?” asked a frantic female voice.
“Yeah, who is this?”
“V-Vanessa Colton. Used to be Vanessa Nealey. You…you took my husband back to jail a while back.”
It took me a moment, but I remembered. Battered white woman giving me attitude when I showed up at her door, looking to arrest her then-boyfriend. I guessed she married the bastard.
“I remember. What do you want, Vanessa? I’m not looking for Freddie right now. If he’s jumped bail again, I suggest you contact his bail bond agent.”
“No, I…I need your help.”
“My help? For what?”
She sobbed pitifully at the other end of the line. “I want out.”
“Out of what?”
“Away from him. He…I’m so tired of being his punching bag.”
“So why ar
