“He enlisted me to help out, Keola. He just wanted it to make sure that we didn't let the slip through until we had enough evidence to prove,” Joaquin tries to save his ass.
Greer tries to get up from the ground holding his cheek and adjusting his jaw. “Now I'm beginning to understand why Charlotte had a problem with the word evidence. It's beginning to be an annoyance here, so either speak now or I'm grabbing everybody,” I command.
Joaquin throws his laptop towards my attention pointing out a bunch of emails. On the side were the names of the kids that Cedric had given us previously. And in all honesty it looks like a hit list if one didn't know what it was.
“So you hacked into the school system I see, after we didn’t allow you to hack into Charlotte’s system,” I point out.
“Only for the necessary research.” Joaquin assured me, “The only thing we didn't understand is how Cedric ended up getting the names. He had said, if we remember, that the club was given a name for such a to go and find. So if the Falcons didn't get the name then who did?”
I shake my head with the rapid thoughts, “You mean to tell me that there is yet another Middleman? How much more coverage can the Falcons have?” Now I'm beginning to see why Charlotte had her outburst of wanting to end the Falcons in a hasty manner. I cast a look over at Greer who keeps his head down avoiding eye contact.
“I think Greer, Lottie, and Teresa had a point. I think the club is underestimating the coverage or how much reach these people have,” Joaquin tries to tell me further.
I push the laptop back to him, “What are you trying to tell me overall that someone within the school system is giving them names?”
“Would that be so hard to assume? With enough bad shit that goes on, I don't think we should put it past them to consider someone within the school system?” Joaquin suggests then starts to get quiet again.
He shows me the computer and the search information it’s pulling from, to answer his question, no it’s not hard to assume their malicious intent, who’s name I see pop up on the screen.
Who in the school system would honestly do such a fucked up shit like that? Aren't educators supposed to put their interests in the students and support them and protect them?
“I think it's time to tell the board in the club we may have another Inside Man that we have to extinguish?”
“I’m ready for some blood anyway.” Greer speaks up. I smack him in the back of the head.
“You’re going to stay here. Your fucking attitude and outbursts have been childish lately. You want your brothers to patch you in, then fucking earn it,” I say, but Greer stands up defensively, “You have done a lot for the club, I won’t push that aside, but the recent bullshit, I think it’s time to talk with Memphis, and settle your shit out,” He huffs. His cheeks rising with heat. “You can fight me all you want, but I want to see you patched in. But not if you’re going to put yourself in more danger or worse.”Be like my former partner, dead.
As much As he wants to square up his shoulders rise and fall and with a simple nod he sits back down in a chair in front of the table.
“Guess it's time to show the boss,” Joaquin throws his leg off of the bar stool with his computer in hand and in a verse of Hellfire, Jackson and D.R brushed through. The men struggled to find their breath but with fear in their eyes it couldn't be good.
All my heart could wonder is if she was ever going to walk through those doors again. Jackson finally finds his words and says, “We got to go, something has come up.”
And with those words never comes any good news. Because the last time those were said somebody was found dead or nearly dead.
Chapter 48
Lottie
Latenightcallsarenever my favorite part of the job but a necessary evil. As I turn on the overhead lights to the shelter overnight desk, one of the residents follows me into the doorway. After breaking up a potential fight and heated argument, I brought them in to finish up one last note for the next person to come in for their shift.
The resident begs and pleads that she doesn't know what came over her. Not that the shelter has a strict curfew of when all people have to be asleep because some people don't sleep, but we do have a respect rule around here. And we trust that the residents follow it but we're all human and sometimes we don't like the rules.
I know I could change a few rules or two.
I left Topaz in the parking lot. She said that she felt better knowing that she could keep an eye on the back in the parking lot in case somebody were to come through. I guess it's true of what the club said, she stays out of the light as she makes for a perfect guard. I mean I wouldn't want to throw a punch at her for sure. She may be sweet and bubbly on the outside and one for color in her braids, but I know that with a loaded gun at her side she wouldn't be one to mess with.
“Ms. Lottie, I promise I would have never done that but the girl was pissing me off,” the resident says as I jot down the incident.
“I know you didn’t mean to but you have to admit, it doesn’t look good for you,” I say.
“What are they going to do?” there’s sadness in her voice as she fights with a strain.
“Well,” I brush my hair out of my face, throwing my hand on my hip, “I imagine that the shelter coordinator will bring in you and the other resident and y’all’s case managers, bringing you to discuss what happened and get to an agreement.”
“So I get a warning?” hope floats in her voice.
I nod, “Maybe. But seriously, I know it’s frustrating but hey, more reason to find your new home and get out of here.” I offer some incentive to leave the shelter. As we say, shelter is never forever, only temporary.
