Gatekeeper's Secret
Copyright© 2026 by Fick Suck
Chapter 23
“What in God’s name happened to you?” Grady said, as he stepped through the curtain in one of the long sets of cubicles. She had an icepack taped to her face.
“Rev. Masters is what happened to me,” Bettina said. “He’s a dead man. My brothers and my cousins are out hunting him down right now.”
“How?”
Bettina rubbed her face gently. “I was back at the dealership, speaking with Leslie McKinley about terms on that van I was interested in buying. Rev. Masters was yelling at Mr. Luke over money for the van; we could hear it down the hallway. Suddenly the reverend shut up and slammed a door. He came storming down to Leslie’s office, screaming that the van was his. He called me ‘a fuckin’ brown cunt’ and slapped the shit out of me, throwing me against the desk. Leslie had one of those old-fashioned three-hole punches on her desk, made of steel, which is where my hand landed. I grabbed that sucker, and I smashed it into his face with a good, hard swing. It wasn’t as good as a pipe wrench, but, let’s just say, my aim has improved.”
“Good?” Grady asked.
Bettina pinched the bridge of her nose. “He fell back against the door. When he saw me coming at him for another swing, he ran. He ran like a little girl, screaming. The coward ran, Grady, ran like his ass was on fire.”
“I’m glad you took a swing and connected,” Grady said. “Some people I know will be pleased to hear that a dash of justice was served today. How’re you doing though?”
“My face hurts and, I don’t know, do I have a face that men like to hit?”
Grady patted her knee. “No, you’ve had the misfortune to come in contact with men who have no issue hitting women.”
They waited quietly. Eventually, a nurse walked in with an iPad in a two-handled case. “We have a few forms for you to sign and then you’re free to go. The doctor signed your release.”
“How much is this going to cost me?” Bettina looked like she was going to cry.
“I’m told, but you didn’t hear it from me, that Mr. Lucius asked to cover your bill,” the nurse said. “He sits on the Board of Directors.” Bettina gave her a crooked smile and took the proffered iPad. She signed with her finger where she was told several more times than Grady expected.”
“Did they send you by ambulance?” Grady asked as they wound their way through the labyrinthine ward.
Bettina poo-pooed him. “An Uber for $25 or a wee-woo wagon for $2,500? I may have had the shit slapped out of me, but my brains are still intact.”
“Do you want to let me treat you to dinner now, or do you want to pick up my old truck that you’re using first?”
“Details, I was going to return it with a tank of gas and cook you a nice dinner,” she said. “Tamales with squash blossom soup. You know, tamales from the hottest tamale.”
Grady ignored the ancient joke that must have been written when his grandfather was in diapers. “We’re going for Vietnamese. Do you need to call your mom?”
“She’s trying to corral the boys before they get arrested for murder,” Bettina said. Then she raised her eyebrows, “Maybe I should bring her out to the ranch. She can cook for you.”
“Bettina, I love your mother ... right where she is.” As they drew near the ER. entrance, the automatic doors slid open and a paramedic pulling a stretcher rushed in, calling out for direction. Grady looked intently at the woman whose head was encased in the bright orange Styrofoam forms that lock the head in place. Her hair was flowing off the back of the polished backboard on which she was buckled. The gurney rushed past them as they stepped to the side.
“That woman looked a lot like Kimberly,” Bettina whispered as they stepped outside. Do you think...?”
“Yep,” Grady said through tight lips. “I do think. Maybe you want to give Jessica a call and give her a heads up.”
Grady drove them to the restaurant, half listening to the phone conversation of which he could only hear half. He figured there was an irony buried in that thought, but he was at a loss. Instead, he wondered how a person could be so violent when he had so much, a house, a devoted wife, a couple of kids, a job and the respect of some prominent people. His father had been a dickhead, but he was never violent or mean to him. Grady supposed that his grandparents had protected him from more things than he realized.
Four tables were filled with diners. “Where do you want to sit,” Grady asked. “I’ve got an ‘in’ with the owners and we can sit anywhere.”
“I know them too, Grady, and the only ‘in’ you have is sympathy for your poor ability to feed, clothe, and bath yourself,” Bettina said. “I don’t want people to see my face. Take that table in the left corner.”
A young woman stepped through the kitchen door, wearing a simple yellow dress and cowboy boots. Grady jerked to stop, staring, causing Bettina to bump into him. The woman looked up when Bettina complained, and her face lit up with a warm smile.
“Linh,” Grady said. “You’re back.”
“Grady, long time, no see,” Linh said. “I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather.”
“Let’s sit,” Bettina said, butting in. “I’m hungry. You guys can catch up later, after we put in an order.”
“Two Phỏ specials and an order of spring rolls,” Grady said, ignoring Bettina. He could not keep his eyes off Linh. “What happened to you? Why did you suddenly disappear?”
“I have customers to serve, Grady,” Linh said with a blush. “Your little girlfriend has the night off and my mother is in a mood. Cai will be upset that she missed you.”
Grady was barely listening. “What time are you done tonight?”
“I can’t tonight, Grady. I’m still under lock and key,” she said.
Grady thought about the funny wording for a moment and decided to try again. “Come to the ranch tomorrow and we can go for a horse ride. Please?”
She nodded. “I will ask my mother. Now, go sit with your babysitter.”
“She’s not my babysitter anymore,” Grady huffed. “Oh. You’re teasing me. I’m going to sit.”
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