Free A Good Excuse To Be Bad by Miranda Parker

to those women. I don’t know how to be vulnerable and tough at the same time.”
    â€œYou will in time . . . I’m honored you thought enough of me to let me be here for you.”
    â€œWell, you’re my pastor.” I smirked. “If I can’t come to you with this kind of mess, then what good are you?”
    He laughed. “So true.”
    I noticed the time on the dashboard. If Ava had gone home, she would be there by now.
    â€œCould you use my phone to call Ava’s cell for me?” I asked. “I want to let her know we’re on our way.”
    â€œSure.” He reached for my phone, dialed, then waited. “Your sister isn’t answering the house phone or her cell. Are you sure she’s home?”
    I nodded. “Call it twin-tuition. She’s there.”
    My gut, however, bubbled and screamed. Don’t go down there, girlfriend . I sped up despite myself.
    Justus gripped the seat. “Slow down, Angel. We’ll get there when we’re supposed to.” His voice was soft, yet stern.
    I eased off the gas.
    He sighed. “Thank you.”
    â€œI’m sorry. Can you call my home and ask Whitney whether or not Ava has called?”
    â€œOkay.” He huffed again. “I understand your motive for rushing, but I’ve heard great things about Bishop McArthur. I don’t think he would ever hurt your sister. Is there a history of violence between them?”
    â€œNot with them. With me. Devon and I have a long, bad history.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œIt’s a long story.”
    â€œWe have about thirty minutes to go before we reach Decatur, so take your time, literally.” He nestled into the passenger seat.
    â€œOnce upon a time . . .” I sighed, then told him about my life—why up until this week Ava had stopped talking to me, and the real reason I launched Angel Watch Bail Recovery Agency after taking a contract gig with Tiger.

6
    Friday, 1:30 AM
The McArthur Estate, Stone Mountain, GA
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    I hadn’t been to the McArthur Mansion in a minute, but to say that they had had an extreme makeover would be a flat-out lie. From the security gate, we saw magnolia motley lining the front façade, a marble water fountain that twinkled in the night, and a home that made my place look smaller and less approachable than Granny’s old outhouse. And the gate looked like something from a Mission Impossible movie. I stared at the gate. When did all this happen?
    â€œDo you know the password?” Justus pointed at the security pad at the foot of the gate.
    â€œNope.” I pressed a few buttons until the gate opened.
    Justus’s left eyebrow almost lifted past his forehead. He chuckled. “Yes, you did.”
    â€œNo, I guessed. You know, twin-power.” I touched my forehead while the gates opened, then drove forward. “Sometimes I think Ava’s in my head.”
    â€œIs that true? Can you guys read each other’s minds?”
    â€œNope, but stranger things have happened.”
    â€œOf course. What was I thinking? My nephews . . . the things they come up with. It makes me wonder sometimes.”
    â€œMmmm . . .” I sighed as I veered right into the curve of the front drive. “Ava and I aren’t close enough anymore to feel anything but disdain for each other.”
    â€œThere must be something there between you, because your guess was a good one.”
    â€œIt was, wasn’t it?”
    I parked my car in the front drive, a bit away from the fountain. I didn’t want water messing up my new wax job. Justus stepped out, walked around to my side, then opened the door. He held his hand out for me. I hesitated before I took it.
    He looked at me. “Having second thoughts?”
    I looked down at my hands. They trembled. The lie about the keypad entry and Ava’s drop-off had my nerves bad. I shook my head. “Nope, I’m good to go.”
    Yep, I lied again. Call it a