Page 17 of All Twisted Up
“What are your names?” Candy leaned down into the BearCat to look at the two young men we’d brought out of the building.
“Joshua Calder and this is Billy Jenkins,” Joshua replied. “When can we get out of here?” He pointed to the small, gray car littered with glass still parked at the curb. “That’s Billy’s car and he has a puppy at home who’s probably leaving puddles all over the floor as we speak.”
“Not yet.” Candy shook his head. “First you’ll answer my questions.” The man sagged. “What were you doing in that apartment?”
Joshua sighed. “Billy needed to…um…score, and he said he’d met some guy at a local bar who told him where he could go. I took his keys away since he threatened to drive himself when I refused.” He looked down. “It’s the only reason we’re here at all.”
“Are you high?” the captain asked.
The guy looked indignant, fire flashing gold in his gray eyes. “I don’t do drugs. I have responsibilities, two good jobs, and people to support.”
“And yet you were with your friend who was looking to score something strong.”
He sighed. “Only because I ran into him on the street and could see he was messed up. I helped him get home and then stayed to make sure he was okay. When he decided to go out again…I couldn’t talk him out of it. I couldn’t let him go alone. He’s…well, he’s got a one-track mind when he gets like this.” He glanced at his friend who was sitting there—even now—looking totally out of it. “You’re not going to do anything like that again, are you, Billy?”
The kid shook his head quickly, hugging himself. He’d started shaking; either the adrenaline was wearing off or he was coming off something.
“You two okay, other than your friend’s shakes? Withdrawal?” Candy asked, looking them over.
Joshua took a moment to study Billy before turning back. “We’re unharmed but I’m going to see to it that he gets help.”
The captain narrowed his eyes. “Do you know who that apartment belonged to, Mr. Calder?” Before Joshua could answer, the boss went on. “That apartment belonged to a Mr. Pedro Gomez who is now dead in the back alley. It was a hangout for the Los Toros Mexican drug cartel. Did you know that?”
The guy looked like he was about to faint as he shook his head. “No I—”
“So, you’re not going home. You’re going to thank these two FBI agents for saving your stupid lives, and then you’re going to come with us to make a statement at the Los Angeles Federal Building,” the captain said.
My boss was intimidating as hell. If I were this guy, I’d be shitting myself, but to his credit, Calder simply straightened. “That won’t work, Mr.—” He leaned in to read the patch over Candy’s chest then craned his neck to look up at the much taller man. “Sorensen.”
“Captain Sorensen,” Candy corrected.
The guy saluted and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at the insolence in the gesture. “Sorry. That really doesn’t work for me, Captain.”
Candy’s glare faded as he stared down at the man with his hands on his hips. “It doesn’tworkfor you?”
Joshua glared right back. “Are you arresting us for being in the wrong place at the wrong time because if you’re not, we’re leaving. I have people to check on and he has a puppy, as I already told you, Captain Sorensen.”
The balls on the kid.
“No, I’m…not arresting you…but we need to—”
“Then, like I said, we’re leaving now. If you have to reach us, I’ll give you my number. We can make our statement at a later time.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a phone, staring at Candy. “I need your phone number,” he said, enunciating every word like the boss was slow.
Candy snorted and pulled out his phone, rattling off his cell number as Joshua typed. “Addresses too.” A second later, Candy’s phone beeped with the text.
“This your current address? And his?” He flicked a look at Billy as Joshua nodded.
“Thanks. Someonewillbe following up with you later today.”
“Nooo problem.” He climbed out of the BearCat, hauling Billy with him. He started to turn but then thought better of it and pivoted back to me, pointing. “And you have something of mine. I want it back before I go.”
Candy looked in my direction and I smirked, pulling out the small pearl-handled pocketknife which was still tucked inside my vest. I closed the distance to them, holding it up so the boss could get a look at it as I pulled out a tiny pair of scissors. “I think he was planning on trimming some cartel dude’s eyebrows with it.”
Candy pursed his lips, clearly trying not to smile. “Hand it over, Nash.”
I held it out, catching that now familiar flash of gold fire in Joshua’s eyes. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
He snatched it out of my hand. “Asshole!”
