Page 131 of Mother Parker
“So, what’s going to happen?” I asked. “And who the fuck is Collins?”
“He’s known on the street as Rat Man,” Wyatt said, rolling his eyes. “You go to the station and give your statement and press charges. We’re trying to find who else was paying for protection to get them to press charges, so hopefully, that will take care of them. Elliot’s brother has disappeared, but with his testimony, the local department should be out to arrest him. I know it’s not ideal, but it’ll be a good test to see just how dirty the MPD is.”
Sometimes I wished I didn’t have to find out just how corrupt this island had gotten, but I guessed that was one of the problems of owning a business in the town center and being friends with a bunch of retired SEALs.
“Come on. If you’re ready, I’ll drive you to the station,” Maddox said.
“I can drive us,” I told him.
“We’re headed there too, so two birds, one stone, and all that jazz,” Maddox said.
“We?” I asked when Elliot stepped through, tail between his legs and hugging himself.
“He’s going to the station too. To tell them all the things his brother made him do. Aren’t you, Elliot?” Wyatt asked him in a raised but calm voice, and Elliot nodded, barely moving his head.
I noticed how terrified the kid looked, and as angry as I was at him, I also felt sorry for him. The bruise on his cheeks was purple in the daylight and looked painful.
“Good morning, Elliot,” I told him sharply. “How are you feeling today?”
“Good morning, Mr. Hwan. I…I’m very sorry for what I did. I hope you can forgive me one day,” he mumbled.
The kid couldn’t even look me in the eye. And it partially broke my heart, but at the same time, I kept thinking about how much worse things could have gotten.
It wasn’t just the shop.
If he hadn’t told his brother about Parker, he wouldn’t have been shot. And we didn’t know if he only intended to scare him or downright kill him.
And that terrified me.
“I understand, Elliot. And I forgive you,” I said. “But the trust I had in you is broken, so I can’t…I can’t have you work here anymore.”
Elliot closed his eyes and nodded his head really fast as if he were fighting back tears. He was doing a poor job because when he reopened his eyes, two tears streaked down his cheek.
“I’m sorry,” I told him.
“Don’t worry, Hwan. I’ve already offered the boy a job at the bar. I need a good pot washer now that the kitchen is getting busier. And we’ll see about getting him back to school, won’t we, Elliot?” Wyatt said.
Elliot gave him a half-smile, and Wyatt laughed.
“Go on, now. Go,” he said.
Maddox and Elliot walked out of the shop, and just before I followed behind them, I turned to Wyatt and hugged him.
He might look like a grumpy old man sometimes, but he was a good man, just like his last name suggested.
“You’re a softie, Mr. Goodman,” I told him.
“Me? Fuck off, you little shit,” he replied, and I laughed.
I knew Elliot would be safe with him. And he’d teach the kid some discipline. And hopefully, reinforce his moral compass. God knew Elliot needed it.
I started to go, but Parker stayed behind.
“Go on. I’ll be right out,” he told me.
I wanted to defy him, to stay there and listen to what was so important that I couldn’t be there to hear it, but the way he smiled at me through the toughened, worried face told me all I needed to know. He was only trying to do his job. Keep me safe.
As soon as I stepped out, I froze. There was a line of people waiting to get in the shop even though I didn’t open for another half hour or so.
