Criminal

laughter. Butch was telling them both to meet him outside.
    Evelyn told Ulster, “Thank you for speaking with us. I hope you won’t mind if we call with any questions?”
    “Of course not. Shall I give you my telephone number?”
    Her pen nearly disappeared in Ulster’s left hand. He gripped it in his fist, not between his thumb and index finger, as he wrote down the seven digits. Above this, he carefully wrote his name. It was more like a child’s scrawl. The ballpoint tore through the paper on the last letter.
    “Thank you,” Evelyn said. She was visibly reluctant to take back the pen. She slid on the cap and closed her notebook. Ulster stood when they did. He offered his hand to each of them. They were all sweating in the heat, but there was something particularly clammy about Ulster’s skin. He held their hands delicately, but for Amanda’s part, it only served to remind her that he could crush the bones if he so chose.
    Evelyn’s breathing was shallow as they walked toward the door. “Jesus,” she whispered. As relieved as they both were to be away from Ulster, the sight of Butch Bonnie almost sent Amanda back inside. He was obviously livid.
    “What the fuck are you two doing?” He grabbed Evelyn by the arm and dragged her down the cinder-block stairs.
    Amanda said, “Don’t you—”
    “Shut your face!” He pushed Amanda against the wall. His fist reared back, but stopped short of punching her. “How many times do you have to be told?” he demanded. “Both of you!” He stepped back. His feet scuffed across the sidewalk. “Jesus Christ.”
    Amanda pressed her hand to her chest. She could feel her heart punching against her rib cage. And then she saw that Evelyn had fallen. She ran to help her up.
    “No.” Evelyn stood up on her own. She slammed both hands into Butch’s chest.
    “What the—” He stumbled back.
    She slammed him again. Then again, until he was up against the wall. “If you ever touch me like that again, I will shoot you in the face. Do you hear me?”
    Butch looked dumbstruck. “What the hell’s gotten into you?”
    Evelyn paced back and forth. She was like a caged animal. “I am so sick of you assholes.”
    “Me?” Butch took out his cigarettes. “Whadabout you broads? How many times you gotta be told to leave this be?” He dug his finger into the pack. “I tried to be nice. I tried to warn you easy. And then I hear you’re snooping around my CI. Making trouble. Mr. Nice Guy ain’t workin’. What else am I supposed to do?”
    “Who’s your CI?”
    “None of your goddamn business.”
    Evelyn slapped away the cigarettes. She was so gripped by anger she had trouble speaking. “You know that dead woman is Jane Delray.”
    His eyes cut to the side. “I don’t know shit.”
    “Who told you to say it was Lucy Bennett?”
    “Ain’t nobody tellin’ me to do nothin’.”
    Evelyn wouldn’t give up. “Juice didn’t kill Lucy Bennett.”
    “You best be careful pining after some nigger in jail.” He gave her a condescending look as he picked up his Marlboros. “Jesus, Ev. Why you comin’ off like some kind of bull dyke?” He looked to Amanda for help. “Come on, Wag. Talk some sense into Annie Oakley here.”
    Amanda tasted bile in her throat. She threw out the filthiest thing she could think of. “You motherfucker.”
    He barked a shocked laugh. “You’re motherfuckerin’ me?” He fished in his pocket for his lighter. “You wanna know who’s mother-fucked?” He lit the cigarette. “You’re fucked”—he nodded toward Amanda—“for going to the jail yesterday, and you”—he pointed to Evelyn—“are fucked for putting her up to all this.”
    “Putting me up to what?” Amanda demanded. “She’s not my keeper.”
    He hissed out a stream of smoke. “You’re both gonna be transferred tomorrow. I hope you still got your white gloves for crossing duty.”
    “I hope you’re up for a sex discrimination lawsuit,” Evelyn shot back. “You and Landry both.”
    Smoke snorted out from his nostrils. “You ditzy bitches throw that around all the time, but you know what? Ain’t a one’a you done it yet. Keep cryin’ wolf while you’re directing traffic.” He waved to them over his shoulder as he walked away.
    Evelyn stood watching him, her fists clenching and unclenching. For just a moment, Amanda thought she might chase after Butch and jump on his back. Amanda wasn’t sure what she would do if this happened. Her fingernails were