THE TWINKLING

CHAPTER 6 WHAT WICKED THING DOES LIE IN WAIT

There was no time to calm him down; I had to get him out of the water. The kid was strong . . . adrenaline rush, I guess. I managed to get him to the surface, but he was still fighting. I yelled at him, ‘Stop fighting me. I’m trying to help you.’ I shoved him ahead of me toward the edge of the ice, and just as I got him all of the way on the ice; he kicked his feet out. Kabam! He was still wearing his skates, and he got me right in the face.”

Officer Buffalo gingerly touched his face. “All I saw were stars that faded to black. Thank God some other people had arrived by then. They told me I fell back into the water and two men dragged me out.”

Officer Buffalo and I were silent for a while. I felt like crap because I couldn’t think of one decent thing to say to him. Finally, he said, “Well, Jade, you wanted to know what happened to my face, and now you do. I believe the deal was I tell you my secrets and you’ll tell me yours. Am I right?”

At a loss for words, I managed to mumble, “Good Lord, I’m having a lousy day.”

He burst out laughing, “What?”

Shaking my head, I said, “Listen, Officer Buffalo, I can be a jackass sometimes, and I readily admit that. The story you just told me took my breath away. I really mean it! It was the single most unselfish act of bravery I’ve heard about in a long, long time; and I apologize deeply and sincerely for my behavior earlier.”

He stared at me through the rear view mirror. “We’re almost there; the prison is right down this road,” he said, pointing into the darkness.

I couldn’t see anything, but I nodded anyway.

After pulling the car off the road and parking, Officer Buffalo turned around and asked, “Well?”

Perplexed, I asked, “Well what?”

“I want to know how you did what you did today. You said you would tell me if I told you what happened to my face. So I have, and now it’s your turn.”

Speaking slowly, as if to a not so bright child, I said, “Officer Buffalo, you’re in the middle of escorting an alleged criminal to the county prison, and you’ve pulled off the road to hear what you think is some big secret. Am I right?”

“Jade, don’t go into that hard ass act with me. I’ve been watching you and I know that’s what it is, an act. When you get scared you become defensive, attacking whatever or whoever is frightening you. In this case it was us. Am I right?”

I wondered to myself how he really looked under all of those bruises. He had great eyes, a vibrant electric blue. Then I responded, “You’ve taken some psych courses somewhere, right?”

I paused; he shrugged his shoulders and flicked his fingers prompting me to keep talking.

“Yes, I do go on the defensive whenever I’m scared. I’ve always been that way.” Laughing softly, I continued, “I have never experienced anything like what happened today in my life! I mean I don’t know what you saw . . . but, I felt bigger . . . larger somehow. Not only that; but the rage inside me was tremendous! So, Officer, I can’t honestly share with you, because it’s just as much a secret to me as it is to you. You know, the most horrible thing about this is when I find out, I don’t think I’ll like whatever it is at all.”

He nodded and stared at me.

I sighed deeply, and said, “Well, Officer Buffalo, you’re the pseudo-psychiatrist here; what do you think is going on with me? Am I going coo-coo for Coca Puffs, or what?”

“Well, if you are then so am I, because I know what I saw today. You did grow larger, just for a few seconds; but yeah, definitely noticeably larger. Yeah listen, Jade, um . . . I believe you. Okay?”

“About what, Officer?”

“Everything; you not being Janine Scott, and that you don’t know what happened to you today. I do believe that you will find out and it’s going to be profound and change your life forever. Call it a cop’s instinct or whatever.”

I closed my eyes to better absorb what he had said. Then I asked, “Will you do me a favor, please?”

“Sure, now that we’re friends.”

I lifted my brows high at that response.

He smiled and asked, “We are friends now, Jade, aren’t we? s**t, we just shared some important stuff here. I think that’s the first ingredient to any good friendship, don’t you?”

I had to smile and agree. “Yes, Officer, I guess I do.”

“So what’s the favor, friend?”

“I want you to apologize to Officer O’Brien for me. I was a little hostile back there.”

His eyes narrowed before he said, “Jade, I’ve known Officer O’Brien for over six years, and never have I seen her act that way with a suspect. It was incorrigible! I mean, she called your attorney a Jew and what she called you. Well, I don’t even want to say it. It was totally out of character for her. In fact, it was like watching her evil twin or something!”

“I do that to people sometimes. It’s my mouth, as you have already discovered. It has a mind of its own.” I offered with a smirk.

He laughed. “Yeah, you do have a way with words, a way of saying the wrong words. Still, what O’Brien did and said today I cannot and will not condone. Save your apologies for someone who deserves it. Okay?”

I smiled and shrugged. “Okay. Now I need to ask you a couple more questions and I’ll be done.”

He nodded. “Fine, but you’ll have to ask them while I’m driving. Alright?”

“Sure. First, what does the B on your nameplate stand for? I heard Officer Randolph call you Bosey, and I’ve been wondering about it since then.”

He put the car in gear as I spoke; he stopped abruptly and yanked it back into park again. Turning to face me, the expression on his face was intense as he said, “Okay, Jade I’m going to tell you this as a friend. I never tell anyonemy first name unless I’m forced too, and don’t you start with the wisecracks either. Deal?”

He had my curiosity peaked, and I really wanted to know. I answered, “Yes, I promise.”

Officer Buffalo said nothing for so long I thought he had changed his mind. Then, he said softly, “My first name is Beauregard. My full name is Beauregard Delmont Buffalo.”

I lifted my head, looked him straight in the eyes and said, “Your parents did not like you at all; did they?” We burst out laughing!

He turned back around and started the car again. “You’d better ask your second question, we’re almost there, Jade.”

With all the talk of becoming friends I had almost forgotten the man was taking me to prison, and my sinking feeling returned. “Back at the station, when Officer O’Brien and I got into our confrontation, there was a weird noise in the background. I’ve never heard anything like it before. Do you have any idea what it was?”

Officer Buffalo stopped the car in front of the gate, and I could see the prison was a huge dark, intimidating building and barbwire topped the fence. I shuddered at the thought of being inside.

Helping me out of the car, he kept his eyes on the ground while he said, “Yeah, Jade. I know where that noise came from too.”

Frightened, I asked, “What was it? Don’t leave me in suspense, Officer.”

Stepping close to me, Officer Buffalo said in a near whisper, “It was you, Jade. You were growling. That noise was coming from inside of you.”

I couldn’t move, or think! I just stood there waiting for the punch-line of his joke. After a couple of seconds I realized he was dead serious. I couldn’t think of one single thing to say after he gave that terrifying revelation.

The gates opened and two armed guards walked out, their nameplates read Holmes and White. Holmes said, “Hey man! You’re supposed to bring the car all the way into the garage after dark! And, why ain’t she in handcuffs?”

Officer Buffalo answered irritably, “I know what I’m supposed to do. There wasn’t anyone at the guard house, and I’m bringing her in myself. Secondly, she’s not dangerous so there was no need for cuffs. Okay?”

White replied, “Alright. Well, let’s just get her in, I’ll open the garage and you bring the car in. Holmes, you ride with him.”

Holmes was getting into the car when Officer Buffalo said menacingly, “I don’t need an escort, just get the garage opened. I’ll bring her in!”

Holmes and White exchanged looks of surprise. Throwing his hands up, White said, “Fine! You’re touchy tonight, aren’t you?” They walked off laughing softly.

Officer Buffalo said to me, “Jade, get back in the car.” He climbed in, started the car and drove forward slowly. Without looking back at me, he said, “Jade, I want you to watch yourself in here. Some of the women are real hardcore criminals. And, for God’s sake, don’t lose your temper, please!”

As we entered I saw a few other cars scattered here and there. My eyes were on the four large solid doors with the mesh wire on them. I was really scared and couldn’t stop thinking about what Bosey had said to me. I growled? Like an animal . . . really? I didn’t have time to think about that anymore, I was about to face the Land of Oz without my glass slippers.

Officer Buffalo turned around and asked sharply, “Jade, did you hear me?”

I nodded, not wanting to speak because I was busy fighting back tears again.

He helped me out of the car and we walked toward one of the doors. Suddenly, I had a premonition so vivid it rocked me. I took several steps back and fell against the car.