“Dad! Stop it!”
Everything happened fast after that. Mohawk turned and punched Vega in the shoulder. Vega punched back. Giants jersey joined in, landing a hard right to Vega’s cheek. A dish and glass fell to the floor and shattered. People in adjoining booths and nearby tables stepped back. Joy began crying. Two uniformed officers jumped into the fray. Vega recognized Wilson throwing his body between Mohawk and Vega while Duran grabbed Vega’s shoulders from behind. Vega hadn’t even seen them come into the diner.
“He put his hands on me!” shouted Mohawk. “I didn’t do anything. That cop is fucking nuts!”
Vega, his cheek already beginning to swell, tried to lunge at Mohawk again. Duran tightened his grip.
“Qué co?o, Jimmy! We come in on our coffee break to this?”
Vega felt only rage until he looked at his daughter’s face. She turned away. A great wave of shame welled up inside of him. Whatever good will she still had toward him after the shooting had just dissipated in a stupid fight in plain view of dozens of witnesses and two members from his own department.
“These are the guys who slashed Joy’s tires,” said Vega. He didn’t even sound convincing to himself.
“Where’s your car?” Wilson asked Mohawk.
“My car’s been at the mechanic’s since Friday with a busted tailpipe,” said Mohawk. “Matt doesn’t have a car. Andre drove.” He nodded to Giants jersey.
“Where’s your vehicle?” Wilson asked Andre.
“Right there,” Andre said, pointing out the window to a silver Toyota sedan gleaming under the floodlights of the diner parking lot. It wasn’t a Jeep. It wasn’t even dark-colored.
Duran and Wilson exchanged looks. They didn’t need to say a word. It was too late for words anyway. Vega’s fists had done enough talking already.
Chapter 20
Officer Duran forced Vega to sit in the booth with some ice on his swollen cheek and not engage anyone. The three young men went outside with Wilson. Joy, meanwhile, took herself off to a stool at the counter and never once looked in Vega’s direction. A boy and two girls she seemed to know from the college came over to console her.
“You gonna arrest me?” Vega asked Duran.
“Right now, we’re trying to save your ass,” said Duran. “Wilson’s convincing those punks that if he locks you up for assault, he’s gotta lock them up too and let a judge figure out who started it.”
“They’re gonna say I put my hands on him first.”
Duran shrugged. “In the heat of a fight, who’s to say?” They held each other’s gaze across the table. The diner was back to its normal hustle and bustle—all except for Vega in the far corner booth with a plastic bag of ice wrapped in a towel from the kitchen staff. His left cheek was swollen. His left eye felt like it was starting to bruise. Some of the diner patrons craned their necks to see what the commotion was about. Vega felt embarrassed. He held the towel over much of his face and stared down at the chipped Formica table.
“They didn’t slash Joy’s tires, I take it?” said Vega.
“It was a big leap on your part to ever think they did. I told you, Jimmy, we’ll take care of the campus situation. But it’s gonna take time. And it’ll take even more if you keep going Rambo on us.”
Vega studied his hands. His knuckles were swollen. His fingers hurt to move. He hadn’t broken any of them, but he felt like he’d sprained every one. “So if Wilson gets them to take a hike, am I free to leave?”
“I can’t do that.”
“But you just said—?”
“I said, we’re trying hard not to arrest you. But that doesn’t mean I’m just letting you walk out of here. Not the way you’re behaving. You’re emotionally unstable. No better than any EDP we get called out for. Your daughter doesn’t even want to be around you right now. We’re taking her home.”
Vega swallowed hard. He saw Joy shoot a sideways glance in his direction and quickly look away.
Wilson walked through the diner doors and gave Duran a thumbs-up. Duran nodded. “Okay. We’re doing well here. The students left without pressing charges. Your daughter’s going home with us. Your ride is on its way.”
“My ride?”
“Wilson says you’re friends with this Lake Holly detective his dad knows. He’s on duty. He’ll be your driver. You’re staying in Lake Holly tonight.”
“What? Where?” Not with Joy, that was for sure. No way would Vega stay at his ex’s house. He’d rather sleep in a motel than lower his pride and go there.
“Your daughter called your girlfriend for you. You’re staying with her tonight until you cool down.”
“Oh no. No! I want to talk to Joy. I want to go home.”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you, man.”
“Neither does my girlfriend.”