Page 79 of Guarding Glenda

Once inside, we all sat.

Hammer asked, “How’s Manny?”

Shrugging, I said, “Still up in the air. Sam thinks he just needs some fluids and calories, but we won’t know for sure until he wakes up.”

“I talked to Skeeter,” Hammer told us. “He said they went out a couple nights ago as instructed and did some asking around, but didn’t get any hits. I think someone knew something, maybe was friendly with the Scorpions and followed them.”

“Makes sense they wouldn’t get Skeeter since he’s been staying here,” I said.

Hammer nodded. “I told Manny he was welcome to stay, but he’d been here a bit the last couple weeks. Said he needed to do some laundry and shit. I think he was gonna call his boss, too. He wasn’t getting paid during his suspension and didn’t want to lose his job.”

“That’s why I didn’t drop him at the hospital. Just hope Sam can handle it.”

Bama chimed in. “You did what we all would have done. If he comes through, I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”

“And if he doesn’t?” I asked. We tried to avoid cops at all costs. You take someone to the hospital like Manny was, and there would be cops. But it’s always risky. I wasn’t quite thirty yet but I still felt old compared to Manny. Hell, I wasn’t sure he could legally drink. I hoped the kid still had time to enjoy the scars and tell the story.

“Bama’s right. You did the right thing. We got enough problems. Plus, it would probably only make his boss more suspicious. Although if they reach out to him to reinstate him and he doesn’t answer, who knows.”

I rubbed my scruff. “Yeah, he ain’t driving no bus for a while. Not with those legs.”

Hammer rubbed his hand over his hair. “Well, maybe we can figure something out. I’ll talk to Sam tomorrow.”

I didn’t think about that in the moment. Even though we avoided the cops, how the hell would he explain to his boss he couldn’t work?

“So Skeeter didn’t see anything? Notice anyone suspicious?” I asked, switching gears back to something we may be able to deal with.

Hammer shook his head. “No, but it was lowkey. They’re just prospects. I told them to just poke around, maybe ask some girls if they’d seen any other colors run through. That sort of thing.”

“And you trust these prospects to not run their mouths?” Bama asked.

Hammer told him, “Well, if they can’t follow instructions, this is the kinda shit that can happen.”

“What if they didn’t?” I asked.

Hammer smacked his hand on the table. “What do you want me to say, Leigh? They’re prospects. They were doing prospect work. I know you’re struggling with what happened to Manny–”

“I’m not struggling. But if the kid didn’t fuck up, we don’t need to act like this was his fault.”

“Well until he wakes up or we find out something new, we don’t know either way. Get a fucking grip. It’s not like we don’t have a reason to be suspicious.” Hammer stood up. “I’m tired. You two aren’t going out tonight. I already got Rogers and Froggy following up where Skeeter said they’d gone. But tomorrow, we’ll spread out, or we’ll act on whatever they find tonight.”

Hammer left the office and didn’t pull the door. Looking over at Bama, I asked, “You off the hook, too?”

“Yeah, I already had a quick meet up with a regular earlier, and he’s got me putting in some hours at the pool hall.”

I stood up. “At least it’s slow during the day.”

“Shit. I’m being Mr. Fixit, not watching the bar. That place is falling apart, so I’m patching what I can and telling him what we gotta replace. He’s moody as fuck about it.”

“When is he not?” I joked. “I was at the shop today.”

“Feel good to be back?” he asked as we started walking out.

“Yeah. Idle hands and all. But I’m looking forward to taking her home.”

“At least you know she’s safe here. And she and Hammer squashed their beef.”

I replied, “I noticed. I’m glad. She was nervous to be here. She really didn’t mean to break code.”