Mace’s eyes had cut to me; he stared at me a second and I could tel by the white flash in his mouth area that he grinned. Then he grabbed Clarence’s wrist, twisted it around to his back and shoved him face first against the brick wal . He pul ed some cuffs out of the back of his cargo pants and slapped them on Clarence.
“Stay,” he said to Clarence as if he was a dog.
I dropped my gun and put it in the back waistband of my jeans.
“You can take your boot out of his neck now,” Vance said
“You can take your boot out of his neck now,” Vance said to me.
I looked down. Jermaine was stil curled up in apparent agony and not going anywhere.
“Whoops,” I muttered and lifted my foot.
Vance crouched and cuffed Jermaine. Mace had pul ed a phone out of his pocket and he’d connected.
“Luke. We got a pick up. Yeah, another couple from Law,” he faded a bit into the shadows and I heard him say,
“You are not gonna fuckin’ believe this…”
I walked to Martin and Curtis. “You guys okay?” They didn’t speak, just nodded, mouths open in disbelief.
“Curtis, your head?” I asked.
He just kept nodding.
“Why were they chasing you?” I asked them.
They kept staring at me.
“Come on boys, spil . These are bad guys, worse than most. What were they doing chasing you?”
“We thought we’d help you go after the drug guys,” Curtis told me.
“Yeah, we been fol owin’ them two for awhile,” Martin threw in with pride.
Oh crap. Not this again.
“Al the kids are talkin’ ‘bout doin’ it. We got sick of talkin’ so we decided just to do it,” Curtis went on.
“It’s so fuckin cool you’re workin’ with Crowe,” Martin said and turned to his brother. “Told you she was workin’
with Crowe.”
Curtis nodded but was silent, overwhelmed by the excitement of it al . His eyes moving between me and Vance who had pul ed up Jermaine and was positioning him against the wal next to Clarence.
My eyes returned to the kids. “Don’t say fuck and I’m not working with Crowe.”
“Yeah you are. I heard he’s like, your man and you’re like, his woman,” Martin replied.
“Yeah, Sniff said that, today, you two were huggin’ at that bookstore where they al hang out,” Curtis put in.
Damn Sniff and his mouth.
I looked at Vance and noticed he had turned to us. I didn’t know him wel enough to guess his reaction to this latest fiasco but, if I’d had to guess, it wouldn’t have been him smiling wide like he was pleased about something which was exactly what he was doing.
I sent him a look and turned back to the boys. “Al right, kids, let’s get this straight. You two do not go out on the street and get in the faces of bad guys. Anyone else you hear talking about it, you tel them I said the same to them.
Do you hear me?” I said in my word-is-law voice.
“We hear you,” Curtis said.
“No need. You workin’ with Crowe and that Mace guy in on it too…” Martin replied, trailing off, awe stil in his voice.
“Streets’l be clean in no time,” Curtis added, like we were superheroes.
I looked back at Vance and he was stil smiling.
I rol ed my eyes.
Headlights came from behind me and I turned and saw a black Ford Explorer heading down the al ey. It stopped close to us and Stark swung out of the driver’s side. A huge blond guy that looked like a relative of the big man at Fortnum’s got out the passenger side. They walked up to us, both of them were grinning.
Martin and Curtis’s mouths had dropped open again.
“God dammit,” I hissed under my breath.
Just what I needed, Super Dude Stark and Paul Bunyon sweeping up the trash. The kids were going to talk about this until Christmas.
Mace re-emerged from the shadows just as the huge blond said, “Jesus, Law, you ever take a night off?”
“The Law never takes a break,” Curtis offered.
I looked skyward. As I was doing so Vance approached me and curled an arm around my neck, pul ing me into the side of his body. Martin and Curtis had trained their gazes on us and, again, their mouths dropped open but now their eyes were bugged nearly clear out of their heads.
“Knew you were his woman,” Martin final y said.
I’d had enough. “You two know Hazel?” I asked.
More awestruck looks.
“Your Camaro?” Curtis breathed.
“Yeah. She’s parked on the street, lock yourselves in until I get there. Tonight, you’re sleeping at King’s.”
“We get to ride in Hazel?” Martin asked.
“Move!” I snapped.
They both ran.
I turned toward Vance, which only succeeded in my curling into his body. I pul ed back at the neck but his arm didn’t go anywhere so I gave up.
He was grinning down at me.
“Take your arm away,” I said.
He didn’t, instead he leaned in and kissed my forehead.
This was such a strange thing to do in the current situation, and I was so shocked by it, I blinked at him.
“What was that for?” I asked.
“I’m just relieved that when you told me you knew what you were doin’, you actual y knew what you were doin’.” It wasn’t a wel -lit al ey but I was pretty sure he was looking at me with new respect. I felt a rush of warmth, starting at my bel y and going outwards. I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything.
The big blond guy and Mace were pushing Clarence and Jermaine toward the Explorer.
“Where are they taking them?” I asked.
“Don’t know. We stil got Shard in the holding room.
You’re chal enging our capacity,” Vance replied.
“You… you… what do you mean you stil have Shard?
What’s a holding room?”
Vance was watching them load up Clarence and Jermaine. His eyes came down to me and his arm loosened, sliding from around my shoulders. I pul ed back but he kept me close with his fingers curled around my neck.
“I didn’t like the way Shard was lookin’ at you last night.
We took him to the holding room in the offices to talk to him, convince him he didn’t want retribution. He’s being difficult.”
“Oh my God,” I breathed. That did not sound good.
“Oh my God,” I breathed. That did not sound good.
“Don’t worry, he won’t touch you,” Vance said and I figured either they would talk him out of it or Vance would stop him. One way or the other, he wouldn’t touch me.
Something about the thought of that made that rush of warmth intensify.
“So what about Clarence and Jermaine?” I asked.
“They aren’t low level. We’l need to talk to their people.
Lee’s already taken his side in this, whatever happens, you won’t feel it.”
My head jerked in surprise and I stared at him in the shadows. “What do you mean, Lee’s taken a side?”
“I mean he’s made it known where he stands,” Vance replied.
“And where does he stand?” I asked.
“By you.”
My breath caught and it was my turn for my mouth to drop open. “You’re joking.”
“Nope. Not a popular opinion. Hank and Chavez both want you shut down. They think you’re gonna get hurt and vigilantism isn’t a big hit with them. You aren’t real popular with Darius either. Stil , Lee decides somethin’ that’s it,” Crowe said.
“Where do you stand?” I asked.
“Got your back when you’re on the street. The rest of the time I’l be tryin’ to talk you out of it.” I put my hands to my hips. “I thought you just said I knew what I was doing?” I asked.
“He gave you a classic opening and you took advantage of it. He thought you were a joke. You kept your cool and did wel but word
’l get around. Somehow, with your shit, it gets around faster than most. People wil begin to take you more seriously. Maybe take you as a chal enge and look for you. You won’t get the same opening again.”
“I’l be ready for it,” I said. “That’s not my only move.” Vance’s shit-eating grin made an appearance. “So, what you’re sayin’ is, you wanted to lose this morning when we were wrestling in bed?” Vance asked.
I opened my mouth to speak (or probably yel ) when Luke materialized at our side.
He was smiling huge, no half-mouthed grin this time and I knew he heard what Vance said. Vance dropped his hand from my neck.
“Hate to break up this lover’s chat but we gotta take these boys in. You gonna speak for Law or you want me to do it?” he asked.
“Speak for me?” I asked.
“I’l do it,” Vance said, ignoring me.
“Speak for me?” I repeated.
“You givin’ her your protection?” Luke asked, ignoring me too.
“Speak for me?” I said again then I hesitated, my eyes narrowed and I went on. “Protection?”
“Yeah,” Vance answered Luke’s protection question.
“Um… protection?” I asked.
Mace arrived at us. “Tel them she’s got mine too,” he said.
“Excuse me… boys?” I cut in.
Vance looked at Luke. “What about you?” he asked.
Vance looked at Luke. “What about you?” he asked.
“I’m in,” Luke replied.
“Hel oooooo?” I cal ed.
“You want to cal Lee, make it official?” Mace asked.
I gave up, crossed my arms on my chest and tapped my toe.
“Yeah,” Luke answered on a short laugh. “He’s at dinner with Indy, Roxie, Hank, Al y, Tex and his parents. Welcome to Denver for Roxie. He’s probably ready to murder someone about now. He’d kil to get a high priority cal .” The guys looked at each other with amused faces.
“Um, pardon me but it is after midnight. I doubt they’re stil at dinner,” I informed them.
They al looked at me.
“Shit,” Mace muttered.
“Probably shouldn’t cal him then,” Luke half-grinned.
These guys.
“Does someone want to tel me what you’re talking about?” I asked.
“We’l leave that to Crowe. Later,” Luke said then he de-materialized, poof, gone.
Same with Mace.
I didn’t ask how these boys seemed to appear and disappear without apparently moving. I had more important things on my mind.
“What’s that mean, speaking for me and protection?” I asked, turning ful y to Vance.
“Jermaine and Clarence work for the same guy. Not good to have your boys in a showdown with a white woman in an al ey and they get bested. Normal y, Princess, you could expect retribution. Someone’s gotta talk to him to convince him not to send someone to put a bul et in your brain. That someone is me.”
I didn’t say anything partial y because I didn’t want to think about a bul et in my brain and partial y because he cal ed me “Princess”.
“At the same time I make this rumor of you and me bein’
partners true. I give you my protection and they’l take that into consideration before they, or anyone, thinks to move on you. It’l mean a fuck of a lot more with Mace and Luke in.
It’l mean even more if Lee throws down.”
I knew he was saying serious stuff but the only thing I could think to say was, “Princess?”
He got close, his hands went to my hips and pul ed them to his and he looked down at me. “You understand what I just said to you?” he asked softly.
I nodded but said, “Princess?”
He grinned and got closer, his shadowed face blocking out the smal amount of light.
His voice stil soft, he said, “You sleep in that big bed, wearin’ soft, lacy nightgowns, al those fancy sheets and pil ows and fancy furniture in the living room. You live like a fuckin’ princess.”
“I’m not a princess,” I whispered.
“You are to me.”
Oh my God.
I didn’t say anything, couldn’t say anything. I just stood there and stared at his shadowed face.
He kissed my forehead and said, “Get your kids home.” And then he, too, vanished into the night.
Chapter Seven
Wear Something Nice
The minute I swung into King’s the next morning I knew the night’s escapade had already made the rounds.
There were twice as many kids there than yesterday.
They al looked at me when I walked in and the room went wired.
“God dammit,” I muttered under my breath.
“Hey Law!” Curtis shouted from across the room.
I walked to him, ignoring the eyes that fol owed my progress. “How’s your head?” I asked.
“Good,” he answered, grinning at me like a fool.
“You have a headache, dizzy at al ?”
“Nope, nothin’.”
“You feel dizzy, you tel someone, yeah?”
He nodded.
I turned to Martin who was standing beside him. “You okay?” I asked.
“Definitely,” he nodded, pleased as punch to be a central character in my crusade.
I shook my head, shoved his shoulder, turned and saw May bearing down on me like a storm cloud. Without a word, she grabbed my arm, dragged me across the room and into the quiet hal .
“Thought you said you weren’t partnered with Crowe?” she asked, eyes bright again, this time her excitement was mixed with a shade of anger at not being in the loop.
“Um…” I said.
“And what’s this I hear ‘bout you two havin’ a date? You go out on a date with Crowe last night and didn’t tel me?” she kept on.
“It wasn’t a date, as such,” I hedged.
“You spend time with him last night, outside of kickin’
black boy dealer ass that is?”
“Wel … yeah,” I admitted.
“He get in your panties?” she was relentless.
“May!”
“Wel , did he?”
“No,” I answered.
“Did he try?” she went on.
My eyes slid away. This was none of her business, of course, but one didn’t real y go up against May. She might be a soft touch but she was also a mother hen and a nosy, straight-talking one at that.
“Hon,” she said and I noticed her anger was gone, “this is the best news I’ve heard al month, maybe al year.” My eyes came back to her. “What?” I asked.
“You need a man. Don’t know why the boys aren’t crawlin’ al over you, way you look. Hate to see you lonely, livin’ your life for a bunch of kids, most of ‘em won’t give you the time of day. Every girl needs to get her some and get it regular if she can. You need a life outside this place, and, what I hear of him, you settle him down a bit, Crowe might be just the boy to give it to you.”
I thought for a second about the herculean task of
“settling” Crowe down a bit. It almost made me laugh and then I looked at May’s face and decided against it.
“May, it isn’t like that.”
She just looked at me.
“May it was just one, kind of, date,” I said.
“He ask you out again?”
“Um…” I hesitated and May leaned threateningly closer.
“Yeah, tonight,” I admitted.
“Mm hmm,” she mumbled, crossing her arms and nodding at me.
I stared at her a beat.
Whatever.
Time to move on.
“I have work to do,” I said.
She stopped me as I tried to move away. “You real y flip Jermaine on his back and kick him in the bal s?” she whispered.
Slowly, I nodded.
“Girl, you’re workin’ on becomin’ famous,” she smiled and let me go.
Famous was not what I was going for but I figured infamous was
more where I was headed.
I went in search of Sniff and Roam and found them in their bedroom.
I stuck my head in and said, “I want you both here al day.
Later, we’re going to talk.”
“Hey Law,” Sniff cal ed. “Fuckin’ cool what you did last night.”
I gave him a look. “Stop saying fuck,” I told him.
Sniff grinned.
I looked at Roam. He was smiling at me.
I couldn’t help myself, I smiled back.
* * * * *
It was nigh on impossible to get any work done. Kids and col eagues alike approached me. Some asked flat out if what they’d heard about last night was true (those were my kids). Some skirted the issue and looked at me like I might be a touch crazy (those were my col eagues). I did my best to talk it down, making it sound like your normal, average, everyday drive through town in the middle of the night when you coincidental y find yourself running into two drug dealers and confronting them in an al ey with a Glock (though I didn’t mention the Glock).
Furthermore my mind kept racing forward to that night, when I was going out with, and then getting laid by, Vance Crowe. I stil hadn’t come up with a delay tactic and the flight to Nicaragua was looking more and more appealing as the day wore on.
I took two appointments with kids, cal ed a couple parents, did some paperwork and, along with the talk of my adventure last night, I heard the whisperings that the kids thought it was so cool some of them wanted to try it out for themselves. This was regardless of my warning to Martin and Curtis.
I wanted to ignore it and hope it was al talk but it was beginning to become clear that I wouldn’t get that choice.
May approached me after lunch. “Hon, you’re gonna have to say somethin’. You can’t ignore this. You tel them not to do it, they won’t do it. They look up to you. They’l listen to you.”
I looked at her not certain she was right. The kids never listened to anyone. My word might be law in the Shelter; it didn’t hold the same weight when it came to the street.
Then I looked across my cubical to Andy, the other ful -
time social worker. He heard May and silently nodded his head. That’s when I knew May was right.
Damn.
I pushed back my chair.
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