“They don’t have that much knowledge,” Hank returned, his voice and eyes hard.
Before I could reply, Eddie leaned in. “Something else, Law. You get Jet involved in any of this shit, she, or any of them, gets caught up or put in danger –”
“Back off, Chavez,” my patience was waning, “they came to me. I’m not recruiting. This is a one woman deal.”
“This shit spreads,” Eddie warned.
“I’d sooner gnaw off my own goddamned arm than see Jet or Indy or Roxie or any of them, get hurt,” I told the boys.
And to my surprise, I meant it and the looks on their faces told me they believed me.
Final y.
“They’re planning a birthday party not a vigilante drug war,” I continued.
This was met with silence.
“Though, Tex did offer me tear gas and grenades,” I shared.
“Jesus Christ,” Hank muttered under his breath.
“Don’t take him up on it,” Eddie said straight out.
I stared. “I thought he was joking,” I murmured.
“Fuck.” It was Eddie’s turn to mutter under his breath.
Before anyone could say anything else, Indy walked up to us, burrowing in between Eddie and Hank.
“Hey guys.” She smiled then she looked between the three of us, felt the tension and her smile faded. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I said immediately. “So, is it cashews or macadamia nuts?”
She looked at me. “Cashews. It’s always cashews and you aren’t fooling anyone.” Her eyes flashed between Eddie and Hank. “You two, back off.”
“Stay out of it Indy,” Eddie said.
“You stay out of it. This is Jules’s deal,” Indy returned.
“Indy –” Hank started but Indy cut him off.
“Excuse me but wasn’t it you that went bal istic when Roxie was kidnapped? Lee nearly had to lock you into the safe room.”
Hank’s eyes remained hard but he didn’t respond.
Indy’s gaze cut to Eddie. “As for you, you think you wouldn’t go maverick if something happened to Hector?” Indy asked Eddie.
“Hector?” I cut in.
“Eddie’s younger brother,” Indy told me.
“I’m a cop,” Eddie reminded Indy.
“You’re a cop who already doesn’t fol ow the rules. You’d lose your fucking mind if something happened to Hector and it could and we both know it.”
“Hector’s my brother, this kid Jules is avenging –” Eddie started.
“He meant something to her,” Indy interrupted him.
“God dammit, Indy –” Eddie carried on and Indy leaned in.
“ He meant something to her,” she said quietly. “You know how it is. You already lost Darius, Eddie, and what happened to him turned you into a cop. You know.” I watched, fascinated, as Indy and Eddie squared off.
Neither spoke. Neither moved.
I was beginning to think Indy was a bit of a head-crackin’
mamma jamma too.
I realized this could go on al night. “Oh, for goodness sakes,” I cut in, “it’s cool, we’re cool, the world is cool. Indy, do you want a drink?”
She tore her gaze away from Eddie’s and looked at me.
“I can’t. Lee cal ed. It’s time.”
Saved by the cal from the badass boy.
“Great,” I said, “let’s go.”
Indy kept glaring at them both deciding to include Hank in her unhappiness. I grabbed her arm deciding not to go the way of the glare; I’d already been rude enough. I dragged her to the door.
We were in Hazel and on our way to the Nightingale Investigations offices before I asked about Hector.
“Lee, Eddie and Darius were al best friends for as long as I can remember. As kids they were wild, serious wild, crazy wild,” she told me, then stopped.
“Yeah?” I prompted. I kept my eyes on the road but I heard and felt her move in her seat to turn to me.
heard and felt her move in her seat to turn to me.
“It isn’t my place to say, but we al loved Darius, we al stil do,” she said, shocking me.
I didn’t respond.
“He was a great guy. I think he stil is that guy, somewhere deep. When he was in his late teens, his Dad was murdered. Long story, sad and ugly. Darius had a rough time, fel in with a bad man, lost his way and never found it back.”
I nodded. Some people were born bad; some people were forced into it. It was interesting to know which sort of person Darius was.
“Lee and Eddie had different reactions to this. Lee straightened up and went into the Army. Eddie straightened up and went into the Academy. Regardless, they’re al close to this day.”
“And Hector?” I asked.
“Hector’s a wildcard. No one knows what he’s into and he’s gone off the radar. Eddie and Lee are trying to get a lock on him but they’re getting nothing. I told you about Lee, Eddie and Darius because they could get into some big trouble, hotwiring cars, bar fights, shit like that. Rumor has it Hector’s giving them a run for their money. We’re talking bad shit far beyond hotwiring cars and bar fights.” I pul ed in my lips, catching her meaning. I didn’t respond and simply drove.