“I love you, baby,” said Foreman.
She chuckled. “That wasn’t so hard now, was it?”
“No,” said Foreman. “Wasn’t hard at all.”
“Can you come down here? Daddy would like to see you.”
“I will,” said Foreman. But even to his own ears his voice sounded unsure.
“Tell me you love me again, Ulee.”
He told her so, and ended the call. He stood there for as long as he felt he could, thinking of all he had and what he’d do to keep it. Smoking, drinking, and admiring the sky.
WHEN Strange had cleared out of the immediate neighborhood, he pulled the Caprice over to the curb and phoned Quinn.
“Terry, it’s Derek. You at Devra’s place?”
“I am.”
“I got Montgomery’s address. I don’t know how we’re gonna handle this -”
“Derek, it’s all right.”
“What is?”
“Mike Montgomery’s right here, in Devra’s apartment. So’s the boy. Everything’s all right.”
Strange felt his grip loosen on the wheel. “I’ll be right over. Don’t let Montgomery go nowhere, hear?”
“Figured you’d want to talk to him,” said Quinn. “We’re waitin’ on you now.”
Chapter 31
QUINN met Strange at the door and let him into the apartment. Quinn was smiling and so was Devra, the boy at her side. He was holding on to the tail of her shirt and did not let go of it when she moved to embrace Strange.
“Thank you,” she said. “You okay?”
“I’m real good now,” said Strange. “We alone here?”
“My roommate hasn’t been home for a couple of days. She’s been layin’ up with her boyfriend ever since I told her I don’t want that man burning smoke in front of my son.”
“Montgomery’s in the kitchen,” said Quinn. “Devra hooked him up with a soda.”
“What happened?” said Strange.
“Montgomery said he took Juwan to his place, but the boy couldn’t stop crying. Montgomery figured, he brought the boy back here, he could pick up some of his toys, might make him feel better.”
“He could have bought the boy some toys at a store,” said Strange.
“True,” said Quinn.
“How’d they get in?”
“Lady across the hall, a Mrs. Roberts, has a key. Devra reminded Juwan of that before they got split up.”
“Smart boy,” said Strange, and Juwan smiled.
“I’ve been getting our things together,” said Devra.
“Good,” said Strange. “I’m gonna call my wife, have her get a bed ready in our guest room and a sleeping bag for the boy. You can stay with us for a few days until Ray Ives figures out a better arrangement. You’ll like Janine, and she’ll like having a woman around for a change. I got my stepson, Lionel, he’s kid-friendly, too. And a dog. You into dogs, Juwan?”
“Will he bite me?”
“Nah, old Greco’s a boxer. Boxers love kids.”
“I’ll just finish packing up,” said Devra.
Quinn and Strange watched her walk down a hall, Juwan holding her shirttail tight.
“Let’s go talk to Montgomery.”
“Don’t be too hard on him,” said Quinn. “He doesn’t want to admit it, all that bullshit about picking up some toys here. He was bringing the kid back. He did a good thing.”
“I know,” said Strange. “I want to thank him, is all.”
Quinn looked at the dried drops of blood on Strange’s shirt and the blood still on his hand.
“You cut yourself?”
“Not my self, no.”
“You come down here, get all violent on people, Derek, it’s gonna be bad for business.”
“Come on, man, let’s go.”
Mike Montgomery was in the kitchen sitting at a small table, leaning back, his long hand around a can of Coke. Strange said, “Mike,” and extended his hand, but Montgomery did not move to take it, and Strange had a seat. Quinn leaned against the counter.
“I just wanted to tell you,” said Strange, “you did a real good thing tonight.”
Montgomery nodded but did not meet Strange’s eyes.
“You like kids, don’t you, Mike?”
Montgomery shrugged.
“How about football, you into that?”
Montgomery swigged from the Coke can and set it back down on the table.
“I got a football team for young men, just getting close to their teens. I could use a guy like you to help me out.”
“Shit,” said Montgomery, shaking his head, smiling but without joy. “I don’t think so, man.”
“Okay, you’re tough,” said Strange. “But you don’t have to be so tough all the time.”
“What else I’m gonna be?” said Montgomery, now looking at Strange. He wore his scowl, but it was a mask. His eyes told Strange that he could be, was, someone else.
“You can be whatever,” said Strange. “It’s not too late.”
Again, Montgomery said nothing. Strange slipped a business card from his wallet and dropped it on the table between them. Montgomery made no move to pick it up.
“You hurt him?” said Montgomery, his eyes moving to the blood across Strange’s shirt.
“Took him down a few notches, is all.” Strange leaned forward. “Tell me something: Who’s protecting McKinley?”
Montgomery shifted his weight in his seat. “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. And if I did know I wouldn’t say. I already betrayed him once tonight. Don’t be askin’ me to do it again.”
“You’re better than you think you are,” said Strange.
Montgomery looked away. “Tell the little man I said good-bye, hear?”
He got up from the table and left the kitchen. Soon after, Strange and Quinn heard the front door open and close.
“You tried,” said Quinn.
Out in the parking lot, Mike Montgomery got into his Z, a car McKinley had paid for in cash and given him as a gift. He hit the ignition and drove over to Suitland Road, taking that out of D.C. and into Maryland. The cell phone on the seat beside him began to ring. He had programmed it to go to messages after six rings, but three was enough for his ears, and he reached over and turned the power off. McKinley had been trying to get him all night, and that ringing sound was like someone screamin’ in his head. Horace was his father and older brother, all in one. But he shouldn’t have hurt that girl like he did. And he shouldn’t have fucked with no kid.