Free 1 The Bitches of Everafter by Barbra Annino Page A

rounds, just like you wanted.”
    Judge Redhood tapped her high-heeled foot. She didn’t do that often, but Tink knew from experience that it was an anxious habit.
    Why would she be anxious, Tink wondered.
    A chair slid back. “I want you to up the surveillance. Watch them more closely.”
    “You want...I mean, what? Why?” Robin asked.
    Tink bit her lip, waiting for the judge to drop the hammer on him. If there was one thing her boss didn’t like, it was being questioned about anything she did or said.
    To her surprise, Tink didn’t hear any glass breaking or Robin being strangled with his own moustache.
    Rather, she heard the false smile in the judge’s words as she said, “Well isn’t it obvious? I care about my town and I want only the most upstanding citizens living in it.”
    There was a pause. Then, “And what seems to be the trouble with your car, Officer Hood? I thought I heard a commotion before you pulled up to the house.”
    Hood’s chair squeaked. “Electrical problem. Gotta get it looked at.”
    “Hmm,” the judge said.
    Another pause.
    “If that’s all, Officer Hood, you may leave now.”
    The chair groaned as Robin got to his feet. “I’ll show myself out. See you next week.”
    Tink took cover behind a huge vase as Robin left the judge’s office. He shut the door and turned the corner, his boots clacking along the tile. The front door opened and closed. Then Tink scurried back to the office doors.
    There was silence for a moment. She heard the judge tapping on something. After a moment, Redhood said, “It’s me.”
    There was a pause, then “I don’t see how,” said the judge.
    Another pause. Tink had pretty good ears, but not good enough to hear across telephone wire transmissions.
    “No, I don’t think memory is an issue yet, but it may be soon.”
    What was she talking about? Whose memory?
    Silence.
    “I’m not certain. Could be days, could be weeks.”
    Another pause, longer this time. Who was on the other end of that phone call?
    “My biggest concern is the treaty.”
    Treaty? Was she talking to some sort of government official? The mayor? The president? This was too weird.
    Redhood took a deep breath, then said, “I don’t think that’s wise. The protocol—” She stopped abruptly.
    Whoa. No one cut the judge off. Not in conversation, not on the highway, and not on the phone. Tink waited for her to explode at whomever she was speaking to. Except she didn’t. She only sighed. 
    “No, of course not, but—”
    The judge drummed her heel, faster this time. The sound vibrated through the door.
    “Yes, I understand.”
    A long pause.
    “Consider it done.”
    The judge hung up the phone. Tink heard a crash and the shatter of broken glass. It wouldn’t be the first lamp her boss had smashed out of anger.
    This was big, whatever it was. Bad too, if Judge Redhood was rattled. Tink decided then and there to pay a little more attention to what went on around this place.
    For now, though, she tip-toed backwards, away from the judge’s office.
    She was almost near the curve in the hallway when she heard a menacing growl from behind her.
    Fang.
    Tink ran for her life.
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     

    13
    Sugar and Spice Isn't Always So Nice
     
     
    It was Saturday, and for as long as she could remember, Snow liked to do chores on Saturdays. She liked to clean, cook, bake, garden and do home repairs. She was in her room, making her bed and wondering what the consequences would be if she did just that. What if she cleaned up this place all by herself and none of the other women would have to lift a finger? Surely they wouldn’t be cross with her if she took on the burden alone.
    Right?
    Anyway, how else was she supposed to occupy her time? She had nowhere else to be today and she knew she’d just go stir crazy sitting here twiddling her thumbs. Maybe she should speak to Granny. Certainly if Granny tasked her with something, the others couldn’t be mad at Snow. And after she