Page 96 of Smooth Moves
“Did you see any?” But Cash would be prepared.
“No, but that doesn’t mean anything.”
“This bar. You know for sure it’s a WSW hangout?”
“Well, no. But that’s what Juan said.”
“Where is it? What’s the bar’s name?”
Rafi told him, and Cash wrote it down. He had a friend he could call, a buddy he’d worked with on the first security job he’d found upon returning to the States. Though Cash hadn’t lasted at the job, he’d made some contacts.
“Now, as for the rest of it, you’re going to tell Jordan about school and about this shit-for-brains teacher. You let her handle that. Because what that guy said is wrong.”
“But it’s not.” Rafi teared up again. “Man, you don’t get it. My brain is just wrong. I can’t do math or fractions or multiplying. None of it! It took me forever just to understand how to deal with money because the dollars and cents part gets confusing. I’m fifteen, and I still can’t tell time unless it’s digital! Adding and subtracting, word problems, it’s all a mess.”
Cash frowned. “What do your parents say?”
“I can’t tell them. I don’t want them thinking I’m a moron. I deal. But now I can’t hide it anymore. It’s so hard to do anything at school, and I hate it.”
“Okay, settle down.” The kid was getting all riled up. “First things first. You trust your sister with the school nonsense. This teacher shouldnotbe around kids. If I have to go in there, I might hurt him.”
Rafi blinked.
“I’ll handle Juan. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. But you have to promise me you won’t run away and you won’t lie to Jordan. Not anymore.”
“I-I won’t.” Rafi looked at him with a spark of hope. “But if she knows about Juan, I won’t be able to stop her from going to the cops. She’s big on no drugs.”
“I know. Maybe you can keep that part about Juan out of it. Just stick with the school crap. I’ll handle Juan. He won’t be a problem to you anymore. I swear.”
“Okay.”
“Promise. Because if Jordan finds out about Juan, you’ll be getting me in trouble too.”
“I swear.” He held out a pinkie, and Cash stared at it. “Shake. Pinkie promise, man. You never break that.”
Cash shook his head. “Yeah, okay. Pinkie promise. Now watch TV or something while I make a few calls. Don’t do anything, no calling Juan or leaving the house, until I tell you.”
“I’ll stay. I promise.”
“Good. I’ll order us a couple of pizzas in the meantime.” Cash went into his bedroom and shut the door. After ordering food, he scrolled through his phone and found the number he wanted.
Ritter picked up on the second ring. “What?”
“Yo, Ritter. It’s Cash Griffith.”
“Cash. How are you, man?” Ritter was a decent guy. Tall and built like a tank, he’d been a heavyweight fighter in his younger days and had segued into security work. Like Cash, he had a low tolerance for assholes.
They’d bonded over beer and a loathing for their boss then quit that bank security job around the same time. Right before said bank had been cited for fraud, embezzlement, and a host of other problems Cash hadn’t needed to be around.
“I’m good. Working with my brother now.”
“Yeah, saw your ugly face on TV a few weeks ago. Nice moves.”
“Whatever. Helps get chicks though.”
Ritter laughed. “So what’s up?”
“I figured you were still doing security. That’s your thing, right?”
