She doesn't give me many details, just who it will impact which surprises me considering the popularity of Beth and her friends. I relax after Beth leaves with some games and reflection on the past thirty six hours. I basically let a woman steal my car and make me pay for a paint job from people I don't trust and I have no clue why other than she could slit my throat or kick my ass. She didn't seem like she wanted to do that the two times we actually spoke but after the first time I'm not taking any chances. I get a couple hours before I can hear Mom downstairs and I stop my game to go see her. It takes about four seconds to figure out she's not happy. I decided to go to her in the foyer rather than wait for her to come to me.
"Why the hell didn't you call me last night? Do you know how worried I've been," Mom asks with a little more heat than I've ever seen from her.
"I don't know but I can guess and I'm sorry Mom. Things got away from me and before I knew it I was sleeping on a couch at a new friend's house," yes it's a lie but I'm being sincere," I didn't call and I was wrong."
She's mad but after three months gone from being left dead in an alley she has a right to be mad with me. I get a hug and Mom takes her time with it before letting me go and then the threat.
"Call, I don't care what is going on, you call. Understand," Mom informs me," Don't call and I'll have Bethany make you into a male cheerleader with a skirt."
We laugh a little, it'll never happen and that's the point of the threat. The family settles in for the evening and after dinner everyone heads in their own directions and I head back to my room and hop on my computer to find I have about a dozen more friend requests on Facebook from people I don't know or barely know and a message from Marta. I take a look at it and realize it's not actually Marta.
-Hey man, spoke with my cousin and she said that you talked to your sister and called off her people. I don't know what to do about this situation and I want to talk with you and bury this. –C
I don't know why but as good of a day as I was having and how I've been feeling this sets me off and I'm pacing my room and feel like punching a hole in something. Problem with that is other than my bed there isn't anything I can punch that I won't break my hand on. Nobody comes and sees me before I calm down and I get some sleep while looking forward to school in the next few days.
Detective Nancy Escalante
With the surveillance detail on Mr. Ortega and his people removed, I find the victim, Guy Donnelly, attempting to buy an illegal firearm from an undercover cop. He probably didn't know that Detective James was an undercover cop with the biker getting up but when I saw him walking into it I had to message him to not sell it to Guy. Looking at everything that happened before, the beatings and the humiliation that he endured I'm surprised he didn't kill someone or himself but with my having to close the case and the watch dogs in blue to keep Carlos and his boys in check I'm expecting a call about reprisal. Worst part of the lack of evidence is Captain Miller, he's been breathing down my neck about not being able to get any solid leads on a lawyer, a wealthy powerful lawyer's step son being stabbed. Add to that Guy's mother being the new saint of halfway houses and soup kitchens and I'm under the gun to get some cases off desk and closed.
I'm in Carl's, that's the full name of the bar considering Carl is a retired swat captain and if you aren't a cop and drinking there you're probably in the wrong place. I'm about two drinks in and going to stop at three when three chairs on my table pull out and the seats are taken by Detective James, Detective Crawford and Officer Martinez. James is the large bald white biker minus the vest and going with a simple jacket and jeans, Detective Crawford is white also and sporting a high and tight for his brown hair and blue suit minus a tie, and then there's Officer Martinez Crawford's new boy and a bit of a cowboy with the hat and boots.
"Detectives," I greeted them, turning to Martinez," Officer, what can I do for you?"
"Miller was busting my balls today about you stopping that buy," Detective James says, reminding me of Guy.
"Yeah but he's not going to get you closer to the gun runners you think are out there. He's a scared kid," I tell James who nods a little in agreement.
"Well we heard about you and the lack of evidence on the kid's stabbing. Kind of funny how everyone around that group won't talk about the beatings they gave that kid. If the boy were mine I'd have pulled that Carlos kid? I'd have pulled him aside and let the boy beat the shit out of him," Detective Crawford states as their drinks arrive.
"That beating should have been enough, they've done close to it before but why stab him," I muse for the rest to think on," It was more than they ever thought if it was them."
"Escalation maybe," James asks and Martinez shakes his head.
"Nah, it's about being able to get away with it. They had to know the kid was rich and had a powerful family. They get away with killing him or getting that close to it and they can say they took it to the rich white folk," Martinez says and it makes sense.
"Maybe but there was nothing putting them at the scene, no physical evidence and no witnesses. Even the kid himself couldn't give me anything concrete," I tell them
shaking my head," All he could tell me other than masks was they spoke Spanish."
"Yeah that narrows it down to at least half the city," Crawford jokes and all of us laugh.
We all laugh a little and talk about nothing before I head back to my home. Inside and in some sweats I check my messages. I don't have any and it's upsetting me more than I thought. We dated, things were great and now we're on a break because when I was there he wasn't and when he was there I wasn't thanks to both our jobs. I must remind myself that it was his choice and I won't call him, I didn't want a break. I'm laying in bed thinking; Guy said he wanted a gun to protect himself. Why not get a legal one if you are looking for self defense?
Guy Donnelly: Wednesday two weeks into January
I got my car back but I don't take it to school, not because I don't want to but Bethany is attempting to bond with me by hanging out for thirty minutes a time as we go to and from school. Did Carlos's cousins' shop do a good job, yes. Did I pitch a fit about it and try to get it for free, no. I just didn't show any real emotion when I got it back. I told them it was fine and left but I'll be the first to admit the new color makes the car seem like a different machine, more dark and mysterious. Also considering it's not a traditional color for the classic muscle car it stands out as unique. The whole way to school today Beth was pestering me in her truck to meet her and the girls for something after the second lunch. I have my first lunch and could go home if I was taking my car but I figure I'll try to be at the auditorium. Classes go by quickly enough and I even catch up with Syd who is waiting to see my new car now that it's finished and I promise we'll go out for a drive or something. Her parents really like me I'm guessing since I've been invited over for dinner a couple times and it has been a nice thing. My best friend is the closest thing I have to a girlfriend but neither of us see each other that way and I've tried to. I think Syd just isn't interested in me but that's alright when she's at least someone I can count on for the most part.
I make it to the auditorium and have Lela show me into the stage area from the side where I'm fitted with a microphone while Bethany briefs me on what is happening.
"Okay there are just a couple judges out there so just focus on your singing and when talking use the microphone on the stage otherwise this one is for singing only," she informs me referencing the one on my chest.
"Alright but what judges, is this a talent show or something," I ask and she shakes her head.
"I need you to trust me, this will be worth it," Beth informs me and I am shown to the side of the stage.
I wait and when my name is called I discover there is nobody else on the stage and the lights are pretty bright so I can't see the crowd. I must look goofy in a black long sleeve t-shirt and jeans with black high top shoes as I hear someone addressing me.
"Guy Donnelly," I was asked in a male voice and I nod," I'm Mr. White, with me are Mrs. Lawson and Mr. Akagi. Your request for an open audition is a little late in the season for a scholarship but Mrs. Lawson assures me you are worth a listen."
"Thank you," I replied, "scholarship?