by Gale Borger
Pone nodded. "Good idea. Come on Bean."
"Hey, Pone, Shroom, for real man, shouldn't we wait for the cops?"
Pone stopped and looked at both boys. "Uh, we'll come back. The cops are on their way, and we can be back before they get here."
Shroom turned and stated walking. "No we don't have to come back. They don't know who we are."
"Yes they do."
"How?"
Pone looked like he was going to puke again. "Cuz my dad's a cop. I told him the whole story."
Shroom blew up. "What? Your daddy is Five-oh? Aw man, you are lame! I suppose you gave him our names?"
"Yup."
Shroom took off down the street, mumbling to himself, He punched the air and waved his arms. Pone and Bean followed him.
Bean stopped after about a half a block and pulled his T-shirt up over his face to wipe his eyes. Can't let anyone know he cried for Dead Chick, whoever she was. He took a deep breath, wiped his nose, hitched his jeans, and trotted after Shroom.
Chapter 3
Pone and Shroom grabbed a Dew at the gas station on the corner. Bean met them on the way back.
Pone tossed him a can. "I called Ollie and told her what happened. She ain't happy, but she's not calling Probation."
Bean popped the top. "Thanks." They walked back toward the alley.
By the time they got back to the alley, the cops had the street blocked off, and police officers stopped anyone from getting past the yellow tape draped across the entrance.
Pone pointed behind Cop Number One. "There's my dad. Let's go!"
Bean grabbed his arm right before Cop Number Two grabbed him. Number One said, "Whoa Kid. You can't go in there."
Pone looked at him. "But that's my dad over there. I was the one who called you guys."
Cop Number Two looked him over and curled his lip. "Oh, yeah. You must be Mikey Junior, the criminal. I heard about you." He pointed to Shroom and Bean. "These your slimeball friends, Junior?"
Pone gritted his teeth. Bean backed up and Shroom surged forward. Cop Number One stepped in front of him and Shroom slammed into him. He never saw the cop move. He looked up and up. The cop was staring straight ahead. He slowly looked down his nose at Bean and Shroom. He smiled. "Sorry, but you boys can't go past this point until I can get some clearance. But in the meantime," he winked at Shroom, "Try not to kill my partner, would you?
Bean could see Shroom come off his anger thing in stages. He watched Shroom weigh the odds and realize the three hundred pound cop would take him apart and reduce him to bite-size pieces. He realized Cop Number One wasn't being a dick; he was just doing his job.
Bean tugged on Shroom's T-shirt. "Hey man let's back off here. We don't need a cop calling your PO, or mine for that matter."
Shroom pointed to Cop Number Two. "Yeah, but that guy's got no call disrespecting me like that. I didn't do nothin' to him."
Bean faced Shroom and laid a shoulder against his. Talking quietly he said, "Look, the other guy was okay. Let's talk to him and ignore the butthead. Let me give it a try."
Shroom relaxed and looked up at Bean. "You got it goin' cool, White Boy. Go ahead and do your thing."
Bean smiled for the first time that day. "Watch and learn, Dawg."
Bean turned to the Cop Number One. "Excuse us Officer," he squinted and read his nametag. "Shmeeden, but we're the kids who found the body. Our friend's father is already in there. Detective Williams. Could you send someone in to tell him his son is here, please? If we can be of help, we will be sitting over there by the curb."
"Sure kid, will do."
Flashing a charming smile at the cop, Bean half shoved Shroom to the curb.
Shroom spun around. "Why you got to kiss that cop's butt? That's our Dead Chick in there. We got a right to be there."
Bean shook his head. "Did you hear my lips smacking? I didn't kiss anyone anywhere. That was called being polite. Our rights ended when the first cop showed up. That is their job, their dead chick, man. If they need us, they'll call us."
Shroom huffed. Bean grabbed his arm, He tried to explain. "Hey, this ain't our gig here. It is what it is, and we aren't going to change it. Polite manners don't cost us a cent, but got us into places we couldn't go a minute ago, Watch and learn, my brother."
Shroom yanked his arm away and plopped down on the curb. He took a swig of his Dew. He studied the pebbles and bits of rubber at his feet. Bean paced back and forth until Pone joined them. A large black man in a suit followed him over. He stuck out his hand to Bean. He jerked his head in Pone's direction. "Hi, I'm this one's father, Mike Williams. My friends and some of my enemies call me Big Mike."
Bean took his hand. "Mr. Williams, pleased to meet you."
They all looked down. Shroom looked up from the curb. "Yo." Bean shoved him with his foot and Shroom stood. He wiped his hand on his pants and gave Bean an evil look. Turning back to Mike Williams, he held out his hand. "Shroom."
"Shroom? That's it?"
"Yup."
Mike smiled. "Nice to meet you, Shroom. Could I ask you a couple of questions, please?"
"What kind of questions? I don't know nothin'."
"Well, that may be true, but could you spare me a couple minutes anyway?"
Shroom shrugged his shoulders and hitched his pants. He mouthed "Told you so," to Bean. He dragged his feet and followed Detective Williams. He listened while the detective talked. Bean and Pone waited at the curb.
When they returned, Detective Williams said, "Well boys, we are about finished here." He looked at Bean. "Did you have anything to add?"
Bean shrugged and looked at the ground. "I puked on my shoes."
Detective Williams coughed to cover a laugh. Uh, can I reach you at the garden center later?" All three boys nodded.
Bean said, "Don't you want to ask me anything?"
Detective Williams looked at his notes. "Can you add anything other than you threw up on your shoes?"
Bean turned red and shook his head. "Uh, no, sir."
Pone and Shroom laughed and started down the street.
Detective Williams patted Bean's shoulder as he walked by. He whispered, "Don't feel too bad, I threw up at my first homicide too."
Bean stood with his mouth open while Detective Williams turned and walked away.
Bean caught up with Shroom and Pone. He was still smiling. Pone shoved Bean. "What did my dad say to you?"
Bean said nothing, but he smiled and strolled down the street.
They were about to the corner by the gas station when they heard, "Hey guys! What's going on?"
Shroom sighed. "Crap. Son of Bill Gates found us." Pone and Bean laughed.
Cash ran to catch up with Pone, Shroom, and Bean. Shroom led with, "We found some dead chick." He turned and started walking.
At Cash's panicked look, Bean said, "We did. We found a dead hooker." He pointed down the street where the police cars were grouped. "She's in that alley behind that dumpster."
Cash dropped his tool caddy on the ground. "Wow. No joke? Wow."
Shroom shrugged. "Go look if you want." He pointed to the rude cop. "Ask that guy, I know he'll help you out."
Cash scratched his head. "Man, I would have been earlier, but somehow I lost my hoe. Or maybe it went missing somewhere else. I was pulling weeds in front of the police station, and I turned to grab the hoe and the hoe was gone. I have been looking for it. I thought I left it at the library, but it wasn't there either. That's why I was late meeting with you."
Shroom turned to Pone and grabbed his T-shirt. "Yo, did you hear what he said? His hoe is missing."
Bean looked confused. "Well, we found one."
Cash looked dazed. "Found what?"
Bean smiled. "A ho."
Cash shook his head. "A what?"
"A ho."
"My hoe?"
Shroom rolled his eyes. "Geez Bean, just shut up.
Pone said, "I had better call my Dad. Cash, don't leave."
Cash did not understand.
"Hey, why is Pone calling his dad? And why are they upset my hoe is missing? Am I in trouble or something?"
Shroom coughed. "Uh, I don't think so, but that girl's head was chopped open. Maybe they think your hoe did it."
Cash started to panic. "My hoe? No way, man! If they think my hoe did it, then they will think I was holding it while that chick was killed! I did not kill anyone today or any other day!"
Bean rushed over to Cash. "Slow down, Cash. No one is saying you killed anyone. I mean, you might have paid someone else to do it–"
Shroom laughed and Cash turned white under his fake tan.
Bean patted his shoulder. "No, Man, I'm kidding you. The police might want to ask you a few questions, and Pone wants his dad, the detective to do it. His dad won't think you did it."
Cash wiped the sweat off his face. "Me and cops don't get along. They tend to think I am a smart ass."
Shroom snorted. "That's because you are a smart ass. Teachers don't like you 'cuz you're a smart ass. The cops don't like you 'cuz you're a smart ass. I don't like you 'cuz you're a smart ass. Heck, no one likes you because you're a smart ass!"
Cash took a step forward. "You little mother–"
Shroom ducked into a fighting stance and pasted a wide grin on his face. He wiggled his fingers as a silent "come on" to Cash.
Cash did not want to fight, but didn't want to be called kitty-cat names either. He stepped closer to Shroom. He looked at Bean for help, but Bean just smiled. "You've been pretty rude to me too, White Boy."
"Who you calling white boy, Bean? You are a white boy!"
Bean looked at Shroom and Pone and laughed. "Not today, my brother, not today."
Shroom ducked low and turned his side to Cash. "Come on, rich boy. I'm gonna kick your smart ass into tomorrow."
Pone jumped between the two and faced Shroom. "Stop it! Both of you! Geez, Shroom. If you don't want to be labeled a gang banging punk, then don't act like one!"
Pone flipped his phone closed and grabbed Cash, holding his arms behind him. "It's not worth catching another charge, Cash. Walk away. Bean is right for once. Surprise everyone and make them believe you have manners."
Another voice came from behind them. They turned to see a dry-eyed Spaz, hands on her hips and loaded for bear. "All right, break up the hug fest, boys. I'm ready now. Where's a cop when you need one?"
Pone smiled. "My dad is on his way. He needs to speak to Cash too."
"Cash? Why does he have to speak to Cash? What's up, did he forget to pay another parking ticket?"
Shroom spoke up. "Naw, he just lost the hoe that might have killed Dead Chick."
Spaz flinched. "Even the cops can't be stupid enough to believe pretty boy here killed Amy."
"Amy? Was that the girl's name?" The deep voice came from behind them, and it made them all jump. "I hope we aren't–what was it? Oh, yes, stupid enough to jump to such an easy answer to our current problem."
As one, they turned toward Pone's father. In his hand, Detective Williams held a long plastic bag. He stepped away from the group of teens and he and another officer carefully unwrapped their package and laid it on the sidewalk.
Detective Williams spoke to the group. "Look familiar to anyone?"
They all stood like statues. Only their eyes moved as one. Up the long wooden handle to the triangle of steel with gunk on the pointed end, they knew without a doubt the garden hoe lying on the plastic was the tool Cash lost. It was also the tool that probably killed Amy the Hooker.
Chapter 4
They each had their own thoughts on the matter.
Cash thought, "Oh, my God! I'm going to prison!"
Bean thought, "Oh, my God, Cash is going to prison!"
Pone thought, "Oh, thank God, at least it's not me."
Spaz thought, "What does a garden hoe have to do with Amy?"
Shroom thought, "Oh my God, they are going to arrest the Mexican 'cuz the smart ass rich boy hoe'd the Ho! He'll probably get some fancy lawyer to get him off while I get stuck with a Public Pretender and I go to prison…"
"Well?"
Startled, they all looked up to find Detective Williams had been watching each of their reactions to the garden hoe.
"Well?" he repeated.
Everyone except Spaz stood wide-eyed and silent. She stepped forward. "I don't know what that thing has to do with anything. I knew the dead girl, so talk to me. These idiots don't know nothing."
Detective Williams studied the boys for another few seconds. He told Spaz to come with him. She did, but yanked her arm out of his hand when he tried to guide her away from the group.
Bean flinched. "At least it's not just me."
Shroom pushed his bangs out of his face. "No, you had it right. It's you, all right."
Bean sighed.
The young officer who re-wrapped the hoe faced the boys. "So, gentlemen, can I say that by your stunned looks you know where this hoe came from?"
Bean nodded. "Yes, sir. It came from the Olive Branch Garden Center. You can tell by the O.B. carved into the handle. All our tools have that."
Shroom crammed his hat on his head. "You can't keep your mouth shut for one minute, Bean! Why you gotta blab to the cops about the hoe? Now they are gonna arrest us and I'm going to prison! I hope you are happy, Mr. Big Mouth!"
Shroom stomped over to the curb and sat. He put his head between his knees and threw his ball cap on the ground. Cash was speechless. Pone spoke up. "Officer, I think the murderer must have taken the hoe from the garden center, or from the tool caddy we drag around town when we do garden work. I know we make good suspects because we are all sitting paper, but I know we can account for our time."
Bean valued his life, so he walked a big circle around Shroom to stay out of striking distance. "That was my point, sir. That is how I know for sure someone else picked up that hoe. We are watched over by so many people, it won't be hard to find out where any of us were when she was killed."
The officer took notes and asked a few more questions. When he was done, he tucked the notebook into his pocket. "That should do it for now. You are free to go."
Cash stood. "Well, if you guys want, my truck is parked at the library. I can drive us all back to the garden center. That way you don't have to walk."
For the first time in the four weeks, they had been together, everyone agreed with Cash. Shroom could not get out of there fast enough. Pone was right behind him. Bean held back when the others called him. He told them he had to see his PO and would catch up later. He watched the truck as it burned rubber out of the parking lot. Bean strolled back to the alley.
He was leaning against a building when Spaz was finished with Detective Williams. She looked around and saw him. He pushed away from the building and came forward. "All finished?"
She nodded and looked down the street once more. "Where is everyone?"
Bean looked at her. "Uh, they kind-of went, uh, back. I thought uh…that I would wait here for you. I mean, do-wait-done." He looked anywhere but at her. He sighed loudly. "I meant, wait until you were done."
She leveled a look at him. "Why?"
Bean stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground. "In case they asked you about the hoe."
"The ho? Can you please call her something else? Her name was Amy."
Bean was not listening. "Yeah, we think someone stole it."
"Stole what?"
"The hoe"
"Why would someone steal the ho? She's already dead."
It hit Bean that she was talking about Dead Chick. "Not Dead Chick, the garden hoe. But I guess she could be called the 'Garden Ho' if that is how someone killed her.
"Killed the ho with a hoe. How rude is that?" Spaz looked at the ground.
Bean laughed. "Pretty rude. Good thing they didn't steal a leaf blower…Uh, hey, are you ready to go? I'll walk with you if you want."
She sobered and looked at him like he was pond scum. "Okay, but put a hat on or something, would you? In case someone sees us, I don'
t want them to think I'm like, with you or anything, okay?"
"Come on, Spaz, you're just mad 'cuz you're starting to like me."
"I like you like I'd like getting a needle shoved in my eye."
Bean smiled. "Well, I'm moving up in the world."
Spaz grinned. "Because I didn't say 'drop dead'? Yes, I guess it is. But hey, I mean it." She pulled a purple beanie out of her pocket. "Here. Put that on."
"What?" Bean squeaked.
"I said, put it on."
Bean pulled the purple beanie over his ears. "Okay, fine. Now what? Do you want me to wear a fake mustache too?" Bean saw a faint smile before Spaz scowled at him again.
Spaz turned and started walking. "Better yet, let's stop at the pet store for a collar and a muzzle."
Bean laughed large and trotted to catch up to Spaz. "You got yourself a deal. Can I get a collar with spikes?"
Spaz giggled. "You got it."
Bean stopped and pointed at her. "Gotcha! You laughed. You're starting to like me. I knew it!"
Spaz opened her mouth to blast him, but Bean looked like a happy St. Bernard, and she had a soft spot for dumb dogs. "Maybe a little, but don't get used to it.
He smiled. "Come on, pal. Let's go buy that collar."
She smiled back. They bumped knuckles and headed for the garden center.
Chapter 5
Pone could not stop thinking about the dead girl. He tried to focus but couldn't. He knew what he had to do, but did not want to take that first step. He had to see his dad. He had to help the dead girl. It ate at him all afternoon. He was about crazy with it by supper. Before he was done eating, he knew he needed to spill his guts to the one person he did not want to confront.
Pone stood up half way through supper. He whispered to Bean, "Cover for me. I'll be back."
Bean nodded and kept eating. Pone fled.
* * *
After supper, Big Mike Williams sat at the kitchen table, his notes spread before him. He sipped his hot coffee began to read. He squinted and slid his reading glasses onto his nose. "Hmmm, much better."