Watson by Kathi Barton (ebook reader txt) 📕

too comfortable in those nasty things, Wesley Wilkerson. As soon as I’m free, I’m going to—”

“Oh, will you shut the fuck up? Christ love a duck, you do go on, don’t you?” Mother looked at Rayne and told her to keep her slutty mouth shut. “My slutty mouth? Honey, no one has anything on your mouth. I heard that you’ve sucked off every male within a ten-mile radius of the little town we live in. And I’m not a slut, you fucking moron. I’m Wat’s wife. I’m so glad I never got to meet you before all this went down. Or maybe I would have just taken you out and been done with you.”

“You aren’t my son’s anything, you cunt. I’ll say when he can marry and to whom. And when he marries, it will be someone like me.” Rayne laughed, and he and his dad leaned back and let Rayne take over. “What the hell is so funny now?”

“You and the other women. Thinking that you’re going to get out. You’re not. Not unless it’s in a black body bag and you’re no longer breathing.” Mother said she lied. “No. Again, that would be you. Because of your stupidity in deciding that you all should have the same trial, did you know that you’ve been charged with the murder of Eita Wilkerson, as well as Holly Wilkerson? Yeah, when you lumped all the stupid people into one trial, you get them all. Here, let me read it to you.”

“I did nothing to murder our dear Eita. Sure, I had a hand in a couple of the things around town, but I had nothing to do with Eita being dead.” Rayne picked up the paperwork from the attorney’s office. “Give that to me. You have no rights to anything with my name on it. You probably can’t read anyway. I heard that your kind is as stupid as they come.”

“I can read this just fine.” The other two women came into the room then and were chained to their places too. But they were far apart, Wats noticed. He wondered if that was by plan or necessity. “Fourteen counts of murder in the first degree. Twelve counts of murder in the second degree. Intent to do harm to a federal officer. Murder of a federal sitting judge. You guys sure do like to kill off people, don’t you? Robbery. Manslaughter. Prostitution. Selling of a minor. Well, I’m sure you guys know the rest of this list. I mean, they did tell you this, like fifty times when you got here. By the way, do you have memory issues? That’s the only reason I can think of that you’d be thinking you’ve done nothing wrong. I mean, seriously, there isn’t any way you can think you’re getting out of here unless you have some sort of dementia or have had a stroke.” Rayne turned to him. “Did your mother dearest have a stroke, Wats?”

“His name is Watson, and no, I have not had a stroke. I can remember things very well, and you can bet that I’m going to get you when I—”

“Yes, yes, I know. When you get out of here. You’re not, so I’m not worried about you any more than I am the other two women you’re locked up with. You’re just lucky that Ohio is no longer using lethal injection to kill off dirtbags like you.” Rayne got close to his mother, and he stood up. If she so much as harmed Rayne, he’d kill his mother without a second thought. They all watched as Mother leapt at Rayne, gnashing her teeth at her like a wild animal. “Yes, it really is too bad. I mean, if they would allow it, I’d take you out right now so that no one has to fuck with you and the other two. I just had a thought. You went from being the bitches five to only three of you. To me, that’s good. Perhaps you guys will continue to kill each other off or yourself, and the state will save a good deal of money.”

“I loathe you.” Rayne smiled at his mother. “When I get out of here—”

Rayne slapped his mother hard enough to jerk her head around. Blood poured from a split on her lip, and her cheek bore the print of her hand. When Mother started to speak again, Rayne hit her twice more.

No one moved in the room, not the guards nor any of the family that had come up here. Mother seemed as shocked as he’d ever seen her. It wasn’t until his dad started applauding that Wats knew this was about the best way to deal with someone like his mother.

“You’ve been told quite enough that you’re not getting out of here. None of you are. If I have to stand here and slap you around until you understand, I will. Say it after me, Tina, I’m not getting out of here.” Mother said she was and that she was going to kill her—another slap to her face, more blood on her nose and lips now. “You’re not going to get any help from anyone in this room, Tina. I’d learn quicker if I were you.”

“I’m going to—” This time, Rayne hit her with her doubled-up fist. Not only did his mother’s head snap back, but blood splattered down the front of her and Penny behind her. “Hit me again and—”

So Rayne hit her again. “I can do this all day. And I’m sure if I get a little tired, Abby or Amy will take over for me. Won’t you, ladies?” They both stood up. Abby pulled off her sweater and started shadow punching like she was getting ready to have her turn. “See? We’ve all learned that you’re not going to get out of prison. As soon as you learn it, we’ll be on our way. And you should also understand this. None of us will return. Not for any of the three