Dark Rain: 15 Short Tales (41 page)
Read Dark Rain: 15 Short Tales Online
Authors: J. R. Rain
He dabbed some more while I sat back in my chair and steepled my fingers under my chin.
“Michael said you were hardcore.”
“Michael should know,” I said.
“He suggested that it might be a bad move to come and see you.”
“And, was it?”
Steel Eye shrugged. “People don’t fuck with Michael.”
“Not even you?” I asked.
He shrugged again. “Anyway, you got Michael’s respect…” His voice trailed off.
“Which means?”
“Means you have my respect, too.”
“Now, I can sleep at night.”
We were silent some more after that “bro” moment.
Finally, Steel Eye said, “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Where are the cops?”
“Outside waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
“For me to call them up.”
“You that tight with the cops?”
“Tight enough.”
“And you ain’t scared?”
“Been a while,” I said, “since I’ve been scared.”
“Me too.”
“The cops scare you?” I asked.
“Nope.” Then he added, “Since neither of us is scared, what do we do about it?”
I said, “We can fight to the death.”
He looked at me from over the tissue and his swelling nose. “For what purpose?”
“Pride?” I said. “The love of a good woman? Street cred?”
He shook his head. “You always like this?”
“Spirited?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of idiotic.”
“That too,” I said.
“You going to call the cops up here or tell them never mind?” he asked.
I shook my head. “The way I see it, you haven’t done anything wrong. Unless you hurt Camry.”
“I ain’t ever hurt Camry.”
“Her bruises suggest otherwise.”
“Fine, so you caught me. Big deal. You gonna arrest me for slapping around my girl?”
“No, but I’ll beat the shit out of you and have Camry film it and we’ll put it on YouTube.”
“Bullshit.”
“Try me.”
He gave me the hard stare, or tried to.
Then nodded. “Fine, whatever.”
“Camry,” I said, without looking at her. “Will he keep his word?”
She didn’t answer. Not at first. I glanced at her. She continued staring ahead, unmoving.
“Or I can call up the police. Tell them Steel Nards killed a guy, based on your story. They may not get him for murder. But they’ll probably find something, especially with me on the job.”
“Hey,” said Steel Eye. “I thought, you know, we was cool.”
“We’re cool, unless you hurt her. Then we’re very much not cool.”
“Okay, fine.”
I studied him, then looked at Camry. “You want to go with him, or do you want protection? Or better yet, do you want to press charges?”
She shot me a look that suggested she’d had enough.
“Just leave him alone,” she said.
“There it is,” I said, sitting back.
“You’re being mean to him.”
I looked at Steel Eye. He shrugged. Camry got up and went over to him and hugged him deeply, bumping his nose. He yelped, and she touched it gently, kissing the tip and now they were both apologizing, followed by careful kissing and tears from them both.
I sighed and sat back, then called Sanchez.
“What’s going on up there?” he asked.
I looked at Camry and Steel Eye kissing deeply. I said, “We may need an ambulance.”
“For who?”
“For me,” I said. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Sanchez first appears in:
Dark Horse
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Spinoza stars in:
The Vampire With the Dragon Tattoo
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Detective Sherbet first appears in:
Moon Dance
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Aaron King stars in:
Elvis Has Not Left the Building
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Numi appears in:
Silent Echo
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Nick Caine stars in:
Temple of the Jaguar
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Monty Drew stars in:
Ghost College
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Roan Quigley stars in:
Dragon Assassin
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