It totally was a thing.
On this thought, Mal came out of the school.
And he did it walking fast.
This heightened Jagger’s attention, since Mal wasn’t doinganything fast these days.He still slunk around the store like he had shoesmade of concrete.
“There he is,” Jagger said.
“Which one?”
“Black kid.Jeans.White tee.Gray hoodie.”
“Got him.”
Jag’s back snapped straight when he saw what came next.
“And there are the twins.The two white fucks followinghim.”
Watching Mal walk like he was trying to look like he wasn’trunning away, but was totally running away, Jag rolled his head on hisshoulders.
While he did, he felt—and heard—three pops.
They were so deep, Dutch heard them too.Jag knew it when hefelt Dutch’s eyes on him.
“Shit, brother,” Dutch said quietly.“That’s fucked up.”
“It’s all right.”
“It isn’t.Seriously, how are you that wound up when you’relivin’ the goodness with Archie?Is this kid under yourskin that much?”Dutch asked.
Jagger had a feeling that wasn’t about Mal.
Jag kept his eyes on the kids as they made their quick waydown the sidewalk when he answered, “You know it happens.It always happens nomatter what’s going on in my life.”
“Yougottaget on top of that,”Dutch advised.
“Right,” Jagger muttered, then louder, “We don’t roll, we’lllose them.”
He felt Dutch’s focus shift away.“Two bikes are loud.Weneed to give them some more—”
Dutch stopped talking when they watched Aaron Harris advancefast on Mal and shove him so hard, Mal went down to his hands and knees.
Seeing that, without a word between the riders, two bikesroared to life when Aaron didn’t hesitate to draw back a foot to kick.
Jag and Dutch rolled out, and when they got close, like theyhad a mind meld, they both rolled up.
Dutch, straight up on the sidewalk, cutting off theHarrises’ retreat, Jagger, beyond the action, cutting off an advance.
The second Harris brother, Allan, who’d been hanging backwhile Aaron whaled on Mal, tried to make a break for it, but was caught shortby Dutch grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him around, giving him ashove to keep him pinned between the bikes.
Aaron not only saw there was no retreat, school had just letout.There were kids everywhere.
He’d waited until they were off school property, andprobably out of sightline of staff, to instigate his attack.
But now he had an audience.
And he was so intent to retain his street cred, for him,retreat wasn’t an option.
