"How's a dull looking dude like you attract way cool babes like that?" It was just after noon on Thursday, five days after the murder, and Beau Cobb, the bail bondsman, was talking to Ray through the bars. "My cop buddy told me you had two wicked girls in the visiting room at the same time. Said they weren't total mad-ten hotties, but he wouldn't kick either one of them out of bed."
"Kicks a lot of them out, does he? One is my sister, just so you know before you go too far with your fantasies."
"Which, the one with the rockin' body or the stylin' one? The stylin' one came back today. Hey, guess you know they're going to transfer you out to county jail today."
"County jail?" It had never occurred to him there even was a county jail. "I thought they would keep me here until the trial."
"No, this city jail is like the holding tank. You got locked up last Saturday; you're long overdue for transfer to CJ. I don't like to go out there, that's a serious place, you know. Bunch of stinking cave men in crowded rooms with not much supervision."
Going from this place to some place worse had never occurred to Ray. This terrible place suddenly felt good. The liberal visiting hours here at city jail let his spirit escape. It had made all the difference. All that was ending?
"Here you're sitting around drinking coffee and socializing with city police; out there you're facing what they call Correctional Officers who never loosen the grip on their billy clubs."
"Do you have attorney Jerry Kagan in your directory, Beau? Call him for me, please. I'll pay you."
Beau smiled, punched up the number and after a quick look down the hall at the officer reading a newspaper, passed the phone to Ray.
Kagan got on the line and explained the city jail was temporary to be near the courthouse for proceedings. Transfer out to the county was normal after a couple of days. Kagan would talk to the judge about a delay.
Beau left. A few minutes later, when the jailer appeared and snapped the cuffs on, Ray assumed this was it, the escort out to county jail. But they were headed for the visiting room. This time he remembered her name.
Meg Emerson carried a small plastic bag. "I took up a little collection at the office and bought you a couple of things." She held out a small bag for the officer to inspect, two paperback books and some chocolate covered pretzels
"How great, thanks." Ray held up the books. "The only thing I've had to read in my cell is the label on this jumpsuit. Hope you didn't bring Dostoyevsky."