I Never Thought I'd See You Again: A Novelists Inc. Anthology (8 page)

Scenarios ran through Jake’s head. “It doesn’t even make sense that she’d lie about seeing Raul Garcia shoot two gangbangers — it puts a big fat target on her back.”

“What better way to start a war? Those prostitutes the G-5 gang supposedly killed were Cedros girls. G-5 and Cedros take each other out, Ranchitos move right on in. Might have been that she did see them killed, but it wasn’t Garcia. Frankly, they all need to be hauled in and sent to prison, but we only have so much manpower.” Tommy hesitated a minute, then asked, “Jake, do you know where she is?”

“No. I gotta go.”

Lucky said, “That didn’t go well.”

“It’s worse. I tipped our hand and now they could be coming here.”

“They can’t trace the call.”

“I can’t count on that. And even if they can’t, they’ll pull my file and find out she’s my daughter. I made Tommy suspicious. He may be a friend, but he’s a cop first.”

“Where are you going to go?”

“I have a place. I can’t tell you — I trust you, but I don’t want to put you on the hot seat.”

Lucky retrieved another burner phone. “Take this. Let me know what I can do. Do you have money?”

“Enough.” Jake glanced down the hall. “Now I need to tell Angel I screwed up and we need to run.”

Jake had gotten a variety of hair dyes, none of which would work on her hair if she didn’t bleach it first. Unless she just cut it off.

Angel stared at her reflection. She found a small pair of scissors in Lucky’s drawer and cut her hair until it was about chin-length. She’d never had it this short before and wasn’t sure she’d like it. She pictured herself in a coffin with this sloppy haircut and grimaced. But there was no going back now. She chose the lightest color dye and focused on her roots then combed it through to the What the fuck is going on?””d ends. Her scalp tingled and she let the dye soak in while she considered what was going to happen. She didn’t think about today — she felt like everything was already out of control. But when all was said and done, what was going to happen to her
tomorrow?

Jake may have called her his daughter, but he wasn’t going to raise her. She didn’t need raising. She was fifteen-and-a-half, and as soon as she could get her GED and become emancipated, she would. She didn’t want to see her mother again, not after finding out that she’d been drinking all her child support money. Five hundred bucks a month — hell, if she had saved that, college might have been a real option. But it was gone, and Angel wasn’t the type to regret.

She never thought she’d see her dad again after that day in the park ten years ago — she’d certainly never wanted to. She’d convinced herself she didn’t care about him. Now that she knew different, she didn’t know how to say goodbye — except, she’d have to. She’d suck it up and do what was expected of her. What choice did she have?

She showered and washed out the dye. Her hair didn’t look half-bad. It was streaky — brown, copper, even a little blonde. She combed her hair with her fingers, trimmed the ends to get them as even as possible, then towel dried the whole mess.

She stared at the dress and cringed. It was a long-sleeve black thing, almost shapeless. She sighed and pulled it over her head. When she looked, she was surprised that the dress didn’t suck. At least it wasn’t frilly or flowery.

A knock on the bathroom door made her jump.

“What?” she said.

“Just want to make sure you didn’t jump out the window.”

“It’s too small. I tried.”

“You’re not funny.”

She opened the door. He stared at her and she tried not to feel self conscious.

He said, “We have to go.”

“Great. I’m ready. What are we doing?”

“We’re going to find Maddie. If that doesn’t work, I have Lucky’s equipment and we’ll record your statement and send it to the DA himself.”

“I don’t get it — what changed?”

“The word around LAPD is that you’re a Ranchitos and starting a war between G-5 and Cedros Street.”

Angel stared at him, then laughed. She sat heavily on the edge of the bathtub and shook her head. “Un-fucking-believable.”

“We’ll fix this, but we have to go. They might find us here, since Lucky and I were in the Marine’s together. I’m sorry,” he said.

She stopped laughing. “You didn’t ask me.”

“Ask you what?”

“If I was a Ranchitos.”

He stared at her, confused.

She continued. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I screwed up. If I hadn’t reached out to Tommy, we’d have been safe here.”

She stood up and gave him a hug. It felt weird and good at the same time. “You didn’t believe the accusations, even though you have no reason to trust me.”

“Angel, we need to be honest with each other. If we’re going to get through this alive, I need to trust you as much as you trust me.”

“For the record, I’m not in a gang. The closest I’ve come to the Ranchitos are the boys downstairs in my building. I used to hang with them when we were kids, until they were recruited. I don’t need that shit in my life. Look what it did for Marisa.” Her voice cracked, but she didn’t cry.

“You didn’t need to explain. But — maybe that’s where this ridiculous theory came from.”

“What do you mean?”

“The boys downstairs could be known associates in your file. Or an informant exaggerated the connection.”

“We need to confront Kristina Larson.”

“Not when every cop in LA thinks you’re armed and dangerous. I have a plan. We’ll get your statement on tape and then we go from there.”

“And that’s why we’re seeing your girlfriend.”

Jake shook his head. “She’s
not
my girlfriend.”

Jake waited until dusk before he and Angel left on Lucky’s Harley and drove down I-5 until they reached Los Feliz, a hilly, affluent community in the heart of Los Angeles. Cutler owned property throughout the county from people who put up their houses for bonds, then bailed. Cutler sold some, kept others, and earned more money on rentals than he did from his bond cut. The small, Spanish style house set far back from the street and was a perfect place to hide out.

While Jake checked the doors and windows, Angel walked through the house in awe. The high ceilings, original small-paned windows, and oak hardwood floors throughout were nice, but the kitchen was original linoleum and tile, much of it chipped and when Jake plugged in the refrigerator it roared louder than the car he’d stolen that morning. He decided they didn’t need it for the time they’d be spending here.

“This is real nice,” she said, an odd lilt to her voice.

Jake realized Angel had never had a real home. She must have been living in that hovel most of her life. Jake’s family didn’t have much money growing up, and his parents were now both deceased, but he’d been raised in a home similar to this one, in Burbank. His parents had mortgaged the place to put Jake’s younger brother through college. Jake didn’t resent that his parents didn’t do the same for him, he hadn’t wanted to go to college, but now he wished he had his old house. A place where Angel could feel safe.

“We can stay here as long as we need to,” Jake said. “Cutler said there said, stepping into the room">
“ma were some supplies in the garage — why don’t you check it out while I try Maddie again.”

Jake tossed her the keys and watched Angel walk out the back door to the garage in back. As long as there were no busybody neighbors who knew Cutler’s house was vacant, they’d be okay, Jake figured. Besides, he wasn’t being hunted; Angel was the one in danger.

He called Cutler. “Thanks for the house.”

“It’s temporary,” Cutler said.

Perhaps. But Jake realized that if he was going to be part of Angel’s life, she needed a safe and permanent place.

But that was later. He said, “Did Maddie call?”

“Yes, and I know it was my idea for you to bring her in, but I don’t know anymore.”

“What did she say?”

“She’s angry and worried. She got your message, but she’d also heard about Angel — she knows Angel’s your daughter. Maddie Burke isn’t stupid, she put two and two together.”

“You didn’t tell her where I am?”

“No — because I don’t know where you are.”

Jake had to give Cutler credit for being a smartass. “Where is she?”

“Call her cell phone, she’s waiting for you. Be careful.”

“I didn’t know you cared.”

“You’re my best guy, Jake, the only one I trust not to stab me in the back.”

Jake cut Cutler off and called Maddie. She answered on the first ring.

“Jake, what’s going on? I got your message and then Cutler wouldn’t tell me anything. Is it true that your daughter is in trouble? That she was involved in a gang shooting?”

“Yes, and no.”

“What the hell, Jake?”

“Yes, she’s in trouble — but the G-5 gang is trying to kill her. We need your help.”

“I know what’s going on — the best thing you can do for Angel is bring her in. I’ll meet you at my office, we’ll take her to the main precinct, get her arraigned quickly, and — ”

“Listen. G-5 has a cop or an attorney on the take. Angel isn’t safe in custody.”

“You’re being paranoid. She’s wanted for killing a police officer!”

“She’s the target.” Jake rubbed his eyes. “I need you to trust me.”

“Jake, you’re putting me in a tough position here.”

“Never mind.”

“No — no, I want to help.”

Jake was on the fence. He wanted to trust Maddie — she’d been a rock during his plea negotiations — but she didn’t know Angel, she didn’t know">Should we choose a particular edvo the whole story.

“Where are you?” she asked.

No way was he telling her. He needed her, but he didn’t completely trust her. “I’ll pick you up.”

“Jake — ”

“Angel was nearly killed twice last night. I’m not putting her in further danger. When you hear the whole story, you’ll agree with me.”

“Working outside the system didn’t help you before,” she said.

“Meet me at the Observatory.”

“Why?”

“I need to make sure I can trust you.”

“That hurts.”

“It’s not for me, Maddie, it’s for my daughter.”

“You never talk about her, and now it’s
my daughter this
and
Angel that.
”

“You sound jealous.” If only. Maddie was far out of his league.

“I can be there in twenty minutes.” She hung up.

Angel was standing in the dining room, sleeping bags on the floor next to her. “I need to go,” he said.

“Okay.”

She didn’t ask where or why. Jake couldn’t read her expression. “I’m picking up Maddie and bringing her here.”

“She doesn’t have a car?”

“I’m not giving her this address.”

“I thought you trusted her.”

“I do.”
Mostly.
“This is a precaution.” He tossed her a burner phone. “My number is in there. Call me if you hear or see anything suspicious. I’ll call you if I need you to get out fast. If there’s any trouble and you can’t reach me, call Lucky. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”

Jake arrived early and watched the parking lot. Maddie arrived exactly twenty minutes after their call and parked her efficient Honda Accord at the edge of the parking lot.

Angel had called Maddie his girlfriend, but nothing could be further from the truth. It was clear from the minute he met Maddie that she wanted to fix people. She thought he was broken and her job was to make him whole. She’d done a good job fixing the situation of his attack on his partner, but he refused to be treated as damaged. He was who he was. He didn’t have a problem with it. At least he was fucking
honest
with himself and recognized his faults.

But Angel had picked up on something he hadn’t spoken about. He wanted a woman like Maddie — smart, independent, compassionate, beautiful. Hell, he
wanted
Maddie Burke so bad he’d risked his heart. He wasn’t surprised that she’d shot him down. After all, he’d been her client, he’d been on the verge of going to prison, and he had nearly beaten a man to death with his fists. All the jobs she’d sent his way since his release were charit What the fuck is going on?””d y, as far as he was concerned. They’d met a couple of times at her office, but she’d made it clear that their relationship was only professional.

It had bothered him before, but now that Angel was in his life, it bothered him less. He had more important things to worry about than his love life.

When Jake was certain no one had followed Maddie, nor had she brought in the police, he approached her car.

She immediately stepped out. She was still the same gorgeous brunette with porcelain skin and sexy red lips. “Jake. You’re okay.”

“Of course I am.”

“I heard about what happened at your apartment.”

“They were after Angel.” He gestured for her to follow. “Come with me.”

“I’ll follow you.”

He stared at her. “Maddie, if you don’t do this my way, leave now. If you ever trusted me, believe me when I tell you Angel is being set-up.”

She bit her bottom lip. “Okay,” she finally said.

She looked surprised when he handed her a helmet. “Put it on,” he said. “It’s the law.”

She did, then got on Lucky’s bike behind him. Her arms tentatively wrapped around his waist.

“You’d better hold on a whole lot tighter unless you want to fall off.” Jake started the bike and took off. Her arms immediately tightened and her chest flattened against his back. He grinned and rode faster than he needed through Los Feliz, taking a long way to get to Cutler’s house. He was confident she wasn’t watching the scenery and wouldn’t be able to give accurate information on their location.

He pulled straight up the driveway, all the way to the back of the house, before shutting off the bike. Maddie still clung to him. He took off his helmet and said, “Maddie, we’re here.”

She practically jumped off, tripped, and fell on her ass. He offered his hand to help her up, but she declined. “You did that on purpose,” she said after removing her helmet.

“Let’s go in.”

“Where are we?”

“Better you don’t know.”

She stopped on the small deck outside the back door. “Why don’t you trust me?”