Page 32 of Sundowners
The leader of the group tilted his head and his creepy grin was gone. He now assessed Creed to be a threat, as did his accomplices.
I moved toward Creed but he shook his head.
“It’s all right, Professor. They’re done having fun now. Aren’t you?”
Heavy footfalls sounded behind me.
“Roman, stand down.”
Uncle Rey approached, his weapon in hand but pointed at the ground.
“We were just leaving,” the frat boys said. Then they turned and walked away as a unit.
“Stay right there. Raise your hands above your head and don’t move.”
Rey’s partner went after them and he checked with me, never taking his eyes off of me.“You hurt?”
“No. They cornered that man over there,” I said, pointing to the family, who were trying to fade into the crowd. “Creed and I intervened…” My words trailed off as I looked at the nurse.He remained in the same position, staring at the group as if he’d seen a ghost, but knowing he couldn’t let on that he was spooked. He remained at attention.
The leader turned with his hands up and glared right back at him. A wordless exchange passed between them until Rey’s partner shouted for the leader’s attention and their eye contact was broken.
“Do you know those men, Creed?” Rey must have noticed Creed’s bizarre behavior.
Creed shook his head but didn’t break eye contact. “No. But their methods are familiar.”
“What do you mean?” I asked him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He was rock solid, his entire body poised for action. I was pretty strong, I could deadlift 225 pounds, and even though Creed was a bit taller than me, I didn’t think he was much stronger…until now. “Creed?”
“You two stay put,” Rey said. “I’m going to go interview the family.”
Rey walked off as another unit approached, and he sent them to his partner to deal with the young men.
Creed bent and picked up the golf club. “Can you return these? There’s something I need to—”
“Creed! My uncle needs to interview you.”
“I know. I swear, I’ll talk to him, I just need to check something out.”
“But—”
“Roman, I would never hinder a police investigation. Do you trust me?”
I’m not sure. “Yes.”
His gaze was steady, his breathing calm, he didn’t appear to be exhibiting any threat.“Thank you.”
He turned and walked into the arcade, and as I watched him, my heart started pounding.He can’t be leaving the scene. I can’t just let him go! But I’m not a cop. I—
“Where did he go?” Rey said as he approached.
“I don’t know. He said he needed to see something. What’s up?”
“The dude said it was a misunderstanding, that he wasn’t attacked, but Jesus, he was scared to death, and his kids… We had to let those guys go with instructions to leave the Boardwalk.”
“What? If we wouldn’t have intervened—”
“They didn’t have weapons. They claimed they were asking the man directions. There’s nothing we can do.”
I laced my fingers together on top of my head and exhaled. “What about security cameras? Wouldn’t they show what happened?”
