And sending Stick to dump me would be the most monumental dick move ever. Lucas had promised—no more dick moves.
When we got to my room, my hands were shaking and I turned on Stick as soon as the door had closed. “What? What is it?”
“Lucas is in jail, and I need you to come and stay with Andy while I get it worked out.”
I walked to the desk and sat in the chair. Placing my shaking hands on my knees, I took a deep breath. “Oxy? Was it Oxy somehow?”
Stick looked at me like I was crazy. “No. No way. He’s totally clean.”
“Well, he’s not exactly ‘clean’ if he’s in jail, is he?” I almost didn’t recognize my own voice.
“No. He was busted for stealing a car.” He ducked his head.
“Yeah, you better duck your head, asshole,” Jane said from the doorway. I hadn’t even noticed her coming in. “So Lily’s guy is in the pokey. Why do I think this all circles back to you?” Jane said to Stick as she shut the door and came into the room. She was dressed in casual jeans, not club wear. I didn’t know where she’d been, but she wasn’t at all tipsy. She came over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “You okay, Lil?”
I nodded. “How often…when does…”
Stick stepped toward us. “This is the first job he’s done for me in forever. He’s really given it all up. He told me he told you the whole story. I just want you to know he wasn’t lying to you. This was a one-time thing and it all just came together tonight.”
I gave a skeptical look while Jane snorted.
“No. Seriously. He was doing me a solid. And you know he needed the money for all the legal stuff they’re trying to do for Andy, and to pay for his mom’s extended rehab stay.”
No, I hadn’t known that part. Not about him hurting for money. Not that I could have done anything to help on that front. I think Grayson and Susan might have had a few choice words if I came to them asking for money for my boyfriend’s mother’s rehab costs.
But I would have done it if it would’ve kept Lucas from resorting to going back to that life.
“It was a favor to me. All the cards fell into place for tonight and I needed his help. He did it for me.”
“And the money,” Jane added.
“Yeah, that too.”
“So, okay, you’ve told her. Time to take your Grand Theft Auto ass back to your side of town and leave us Bribury Basics the hell alone. We may all be lemmings, but we sure as shit aren’t car thieves.”
“Wait,” I said. “What did you mean you need my help with Andy?”
He looked around the room, and I knew he was thinking of a way to spin whatever it was he planned to say. “I think I can have it all taken care of by Monday so that nothing shows up on his record. But I need you to stay with Andy tomorrow and into Monday while I make that happen. Mrs. Jankowski’s not up to being with Andy all day when he’s awake. And Andy knows and likes you. It won’t freak him out to have you staying with him.”
“What are you going to be doing?” I had visions of Stick, like, I don’t know, killing a witness or something on Lucas’s behalf. Probably a bit too harsh, but what did I know?
“I’m…I’m going to turn myself in. Trade myself for Lucas.”
“Can you even do that?” Jane asked.
Stick shrugged. “The DA can make that call. And let’s just say he’s been jonesing for me for a long time.”
“If he’s aware of you, why aren’t you in jail too?”
“He’s never caught me in the act, or with stolen goods.”
“Yeah, because you get others to do it,” Jane said.
“I take as many risks as anyone who…works for me. More.” He shook his head, sighed. “Listen, we don’t need to get into it all.” He looked at me. “Are you willing to stay with Andy while I make a deal with the DA? It could take a few days, and Lucas might not be released until it’s all hashed out.”
“So, you just take his place? Like it was you who stole the car? Who’s going to buy that?”
“No, it’s not like that. I have…information…names that the DA has been after for a long time. I give him some…locations where he might find some more cars, take the rap for the attempt to steal the Jag. Do some time, but not too long. And Lucas is home with Andy, no smears on his record to throw CPS on his trail.”
