her leg, they also cushioned her mind, by reducing her anxiety. When you lose your husband the way Ashley had, and then, a couple of months later, are raped and nearly murdered, you will do anything to tranquilize the wounds.
Even though a part of her recognized how ill advised it was to abuse the medication and alcohol, especially being a new mother, at times her depression could be so debilitating; Ashley felt that that and the fact that she was a victim gave her an excuse to behave this way.
Another radical transformation in conduct she had undergone was smoking. Each time Ashley needed a cigarette, she had to go out to the front porch, because her mother would not allow her to light up inside. Furthermore, now, just about everywhere Ashley went, she wore dark shades, like a paranoid celebrity.
Pertaining to the drugs, eventually, when Ashley had used up all of her pain pills, she turned to Kitty Woo, a pharmacist that she used to work with. To earn extra money Kitty sold illegal prescriptions. Her business was not a major operation: she only distributed to a select number of friends.
Now Ashley needed to line up another transaction. After checking, the stairs to make sure her mother was not on her way down; Ashley quietly picked up the living room phone and dialed her dealer’s number.
She had to be careful. The last time Ashley phoned Kitty, she had called from her bedroom. Without knocking, her mom had barged in. Since Ashley did not have many friends (actually, she didn‘t have any at all, except for the people she knew through work), her mother had automatically become interrogative as to whom her loner daughter was secretly talking to.
“Hello?”
“Kitty.”
“Oh. Hey Ashley. How you doing?”
“I’m okay I guess.”
“How’s the baby?”
“She cries a lot. Other than that, she seems happy.”
An Asian-American, nearing thirty, who wore purple-framed glasses, Kitty chuckled. She had a terrific sense of humor, and did not take life too seriously. “Babies are supposed to cry. That’s their way of commanding attention. Now what can I do for you, Ashley?”
“I need to see you right away.”
“Already?”
“Uh huh.”
“But I just saw you a couple of weeks ago.”
Lately Ashley had been popping pills like Tic Tacs. Her last supply should have lasted her a month.
“Please!” she implored. “Can we meet?”
“Umn . . . Yes. Does it have to be today? Or can it wait until tomorrow?”
“I’d rather meet you today. If it’s all right with you.”
“Sure,” said Kitty. “I’m just getting off work. Tell you what, stop by the Chadwick Deli at six . . . And Ashley-”
“Yeah?”
“If you have your baby with you like you did the last time, no deal! You come alone.”
“Okay. Gotcha. No baby.”
CHAPTER 12
By six o’clock the weather in Southern New Jersey, as it had been for most of this summer day, remained sunny and delightfully mild.
Ashley wore a plum-colored tank top, denim shorts, and sandals. Her golden hair had not been recently brushed, yet it still looked fantastic. Even more like Marylyn Monroe since she’d recently had it slightly trimmed.
After locking the doors to her new car, a rackety crowd greeted Ashley as she entered the Chadwick Deli. This was where she and Kitty Woo normally made their transactions. Jersey-style submarine sandwiches were the deli’s specialty.
As she scanned the cordial ambiance, a mishmash of scents seized Ashley’s senses, particularly the pleasurable aroma of oil and vinegar. It took a minute or so before Ashley finally located Kitty.
The pill pusher sat at a table toward the back, underneath a poster of stacked cold cuts. In front of her, in a Styrofoam container was a clump of potato salad, and a bottle of Arizona green tea. “Glad to see you’re alone,” Kitty announced politely. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” Ashley parked herself in the booth. “Have you been waiting
Even though a part of her recognized how ill advised it was to abuse the medication and alcohol, especially being a new mother, at times her depression could be so debilitating; Ashley felt that that and the fact that she was a victim gave her an excuse to behave this way.
Another radical transformation in conduct she had undergone was smoking. Each time Ashley needed a cigarette, she had to go out to the front porch, because her mother would not allow her to light up inside. Furthermore, now, just about everywhere Ashley went, she wore dark shades, like a paranoid celebrity.
Pertaining to the drugs, eventually, when Ashley had used up all of her pain pills, she turned to Kitty Woo, a pharmacist that she used to work with. To earn extra money Kitty sold illegal prescriptions. Her business was not a major operation: she only distributed to a select number of friends.
Now Ashley needed to line up another transaction. After checking, the stairs to make sure her mother was not on her way down; Ashley quietly picked up the living room phone and dialed her dealer’s number.
She had to be careful. The last time Ashley phoned Kitty, she had called from her bedroom. Without knocking, her mom had barged in. Since Ashley did not have many friends (actually, she didn‘t have any at all, except for the people she knew through work), her mother had automatically become interrogative as to whom her loner daughter was secretly talking to.
“Hello?”
“Kitty.”
“Oh. Hey Ashley. How you doing?”
“I’m okay I guess.”
“How’s the baby?”
“She cries a lot. Other than that, she seems happy.”
An Asian-American, nearing thirty, who wore purple-framed glasses, Kitty chuckled. She had a terrific sense of humor, and did not take life too seriously. “Babies are supposed to cry. That’s their way of commanding attention. Now what can I do for you, Ashley?”
“I need to see you right away.”
“Already?”
“Uh huh.”
“But I just saw you a couple of weeks ago.”
Lately Ashley had been popping pills like Tic Tacs. Her last supply should have lasted her a month.
“Please!” she implored. “Can we meet?”
“Umn . . . Yes. Does it have to be today? Or can it wait until tomorrow?”
“I’d rather meet you today. If it’s all right with you.”
“Sure,” said Kitty. “I’m just getting off work. Tell you what, stop by the Chadwick Deli at six . . . And Ashley-”
“Yeah?”
“If you have your baby with you like you did the last time, no deal! You come alone.”
“Okay. Gotcha. No baby.”
CHAPTER 12
By six o’clock the weather in Southern New Jersey, as it had been for most of this summer day, remained sunny and delightfully mild.
Ashley wore a plum-colored tank top, denim shorts, and sandals. Her golden hair had not been recently brushed, yet it still looked fantastic. Even more like Marylyn Monroe since she’d recently had it slightly trimmed.
After locking the doors to her new car, a rackety crowd greeted Ashley as she entered the Chadwick Deli. This was where she and Kitty Woo normally made their transactions. Jersey-style submarine sandwiches were the deli’s specialty.
As she scanned the cordial ambiance, a mishmash of scents seized Ashley’s senses, particularly the pleasurable aroma of oil and vinegar. It took a minute or so before Ashley finally located Kitty.
The pill pusher sat at a table toward the back, underneath a poster of stacked cold cuts. In front of her, in a Styrofoam container was a clump of potato salad, and a bottle of Arizona green tea. “Glad to see you’re alone,” Kitty announced politely. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks.” Ashley parked herself in the booth. “Have you been waiting
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