Passion In James County X
Badge of Dishonor
By D.C. Roi
Chapter thirty
"Don't screw this up," Rod's lawyer told him while they were walking out of the courthouse after Rod's arraignment the next day. He had made what he thought was an eloquent plea to get his client released on conditions, even though he believed the judge would set high bail. He was stunned when Judge Gephart bought his arguments and released the accused trooper on conditions, but then Judge Gephart had been getting pretty senile the past few years. "I'm not sure why the judge let you out on conditions, but I'm not about to complain," the lawyer continued. "The thing is, you better do exactly what the judge told you to do, or you're going to be back in the slammer, probably for the rest of your life."
"Yeah, sure," Rod said. "I heard what he said. I can't drink and I gotta stay away from my wife and kids, and from that fucker on the Sheriff's Department who's been screwing my wife, right?"
"Yes, and you have to check in personally at the Highway Patrol office at seven in the morning and six at night," his lawyer said. "And no drinking! That's important."
Rod walked out of the back door of the courthouse and got into his pickup truck. "Where the fuck am I going to go?" he wondered. Then a cold smile formed on his face. "Wanda!" he said out loud.
He fired up his truck and pulled out of the courthouse parking lot, headed for Wanda Dawes' house. On the way, he drove by the house where he and his family lived and got a gun he had taken off a drug dealer he busted and stashed away to use as a throwaway he could plant on a suspect, if necessary.
Then he drove to a nearby store and bought a twelve-pack of beer. "Fuck the judge!" he thought as he sucked down a beer while driving down the street.
Wanda Dawes, dressed in a lime green jumpsuit that clung to her ample curves, was heading for the kitchen to begin making dinner when she heard her doorbell ringing. She went to the front door, opened it and found Rod Billingham standing there, holding a twelve-pack of beer in his hands.
Rod looked a mess. He hadn't shaved in a couple of days while, his clothes were disheveled, and there was a wild look in his eyes. Wanda was frightened by what she saw.
"Hey, baby!" Rod exclaimed, "You look pretty fucking good. I like the outfit."
Wanda was stunned. Her husband had told her about the trouble Rod was in and she thought he was in jail. "What...what are you doing here, Rod?" she stammered.
"You wanna have a beer with me?" Rod asked.
"Ah...Rod...you...you have to leave," Wanda said. She didn't know why Rod was there and was afraid. If he'd raped one woman and shot at the cops like her husband said he did, then he was dangerous, and there was no telling what he'd do to her.
Rod walked by her, into the living room. "Come on, baby, I don't want to drink alone. You don't mind having a beer with me, do you?" he asked. He set the six-pack down on the coffee table, opened a couple of cans of beer, and took along swallow from one of them.
"Rod, please, you have to leave," Wanda said.
Rod looked at her and a cold smile formed on his face. "You don't really mean that, baby," he said. "Not after all you and I have done. Come on, baby, have a beer."
Wanda was really frightened now. "Rod, stop it, I want you to leave!" she said. "Now!"
"Just as soon as you come across with what I want, baby," Rod said. He walked across the living room to where Wanda stood and grabbed one of her breasts.
