"Why?"
"Bebe imagines fucked-up things and maybe knowing would help her."
"I doubt that."
"Tell me."
"You heard how I died, right?" she says, stepping closer, yet seeming farther away now. "How he tied my ankles to one truck and my wrists to another then tore me apart really slowly."
When I nod, Ginger doesn't react immediately.
"He came for me that day, and I ran. Sabine and a few other girls were with me, and they ran too. Trigger only caught Sabine. He shot another girl, Dolly, in the back. When Sabine stopped to help her, he grabbed her."
"He knew she wasn't you?"
"Yeah, he knew."
"So he killed her and you ran?"
"Wouldn't you?" she asks, sounding tired. "He killed two of my friends. He scared the shit out of my allies."
"Not Paro."
"No, Paro was loyal. He seemed useless to a guy like you, but he kept me informed."
"Where did you go?"
"None of your fucking business."
I smile at the wrath behind her words. I'd seen cold women in my life, but Ginger raged. The heat of so much hate could burn down all of Little Memphis.
"I should have kept a better eye on Bebe," she says, checking her phone. "Who would have thought a freak like Taz would grab her at the park during the middle of the day? I rarely underestimate assholes, but I did with him."
"It worked out. I got her to move in with me, and now I'm planning to keep her. Tallulah has a real home. That wouldn't have happened if not for the fucker Taz. I'd say I got more out of that day than he did."
Ginger smiles. "He wet his pants and cried when we came for him. Not in the beginning. He was so very brave in the beginning. When he knew he would die, he begged. It was funny."
"I wanted to kill him."
"He was expecting you, but never saw me coming."
"No, I guess he wouldn't."
"I don't think Trigger will last until after New Year's," she says, studying me.
"No, he won't."
"You have things handled with Bebe and Tallulah, correct?"
Giving her a nod, I wait to see if she asks questions. I hope I get to tell her it's none of her fucking business. She doesn't take the bait.
"When Joker's in charge, your problems aren't over," Ginger says.
"How do you figure?"
"I assume you know Wolfman and his evil fuck brother are being paroled soon."
Frowning, I move too quickly, and she reaches for her weapon. Ignoring her fear, I sigh.
"See, I keep hearing that, but he's supposed to stay in prison for a few more years."
"They don't keep murderers, rapists, or baby molesters in prison for their whole sentences. Do you really think they will for a guy running dog fights?
"My dog was one of those dogs."
"Share your sob story with the parole board," she says, eyes hard. "Not that it'll do any good. They're going to release them."
"How do you know?"
"I told you at the school. People love to talk, and I listen. Wolfman worked with Trigger and things went well for him. He pissed off Trigger, and the law came down on him. Now he's playing nice again. Trigger has more power than you think. That's why he and his top guys need to die messy, so the people who bow to him will bow to Joker. Assholes respect terrifying power."
"I know I do."
Ginger smiles. "Yeah, me too. Bebe isn't an asshole, and Wolfman isn't done with her. He's gotta be put in the ground to make her and Tallulah safe."
"I'll handle it."
"If you don't, I will. His brother too. They're like you and Ford. If you take out one, the other will hunt you down. You'll need to kill them both for Bebe and Tallulah to be free."
Maybe there are questions I should ask her, but I can't think of them. I'm not sure why I came besides needing to talk to her away from the other guys.
"I should get out of here before someone wonders why I'm hanging at a hotel in the middle of the day."
"Trigger thinks I'm hiding in the West Side. He has Zombie and Wino searching motels."
"You know everything, huh?"
Ginger smiles. "You're muscle. You crack skulls. I'm a leader, meaning I'm responsible for other people staying alive, including you and your brother. If I don't know everything, bad things happen like with Taz and Bebe."
"I like being muscle for a reason."
"This isn't where I get sappy and promise not to take you out if you ever get in my way. I'll just say I'm glad Bebe has a man like you. She deserves better than a loser like Wolfman or a soft fucker. It's what Sabine would have wanted."
We study each other for a minute. Neither feels much trust, but we're on the same page. Protect Bebe and Tallulah first. Then paint the streets of Little Memphis red with the blood of Trigger and his allies.
40
Bebe
Who's Feeling Nuts?