“Hello” she said in a groggy sleep induced mumble.

“Yes, is this Ms. Tina Kennard?”

“Yes it is.”

“This is the Redfield police department and last night we were called to the scene of an altercation at Levi’s Lounge. We arrested a Ms. Elizabeth Porter on several charges. She can be released now if you will come down to the station and sign her bond. She was held in the drunk tank last night but refused her phone call and we found your number in her purse. Ms. Kennard someone will have to come and sign we can not release her on her own signature because she lives out of state and is a flight risk for her court appearance.

“Thank you for call officer, I will be there to pick her up. Go ahead and begin processing the paper work for her release.”

Hanging up the phone Tina headed for the coffee pot to brew a pot while she was in the shower. Quickly showering and waking Angie, she sipped her first cup of the day as she phoned her next door neighbor to see if she would keep Angie for a couple of hours this morning. As she thought about the events of the last 24 hours as she dressed Angie she had a hard time pushing down the anger that was building inside of her.

On the drive to the station she began to understand why Bette was so hurt especially if she had overheard Rachel, but surely when she heard Tina’s response it had eased some of the hurt Bette had felt. Maybe she didn’t hear the whole conversation before she ran thought Tina.

But what made Tina the angriest of all was Bette turning to booze and maybe drugs again to mask the pain. All the hard work she had put in trying to beat her addictions over the last few years were gone. She would have to

start over again and Tina didn’t know if she or Bette had the strength to.

The police sergeant at the front desk had Bette’s release papers waiting for her when she arrived and in about 15 minutes Bette was brought from lockup. As Tina’s eyes took in her rumpled form from head to toe. The first thing she noticed was the huge shiner on Bette’s right eye.