waiting for you two slowpokes to show up, right, Vince?” Jorge asked looking over at Vince who sat in the only other chair in Jorge’s room besides the computer chair which Jorge himself was sitting in. “What took so long?”
“We had to wait for my mom. She finally got a job,” Raven said beaming. “That’s one of the things she has to do to get C.J. back.”
“That’s real good news, Raven,” Jorge said grinning.
“And then,” Julie said smiling, “we had to get past your dad to get up here. He’s scary.”
“I told Jorge the same thing,” Vince added. “I said next time, man, meet me downstairs.”
“I second that,” Julie said.
“I third it,” Raven grimaced. “Is he always that mean?”
“Yeah, pretty much since I totaled his truck and, well, before that, Tino dying. I guess I don’t blame him,” Jorge said looking down for a second. “Ok,” he started, “I’m not going to write any of our ideas or our eventual plan down because I don’t want there to be a record of it, or any evidence that would lead back to us.”
“Hold on,” Vince said hopping up and walking over to Jorge’s closed bedroom door. “Let me just take a peek and make sure no one’s listening.”
“Go right ahead,” Jorge nodded.
“No,” Vince said closing the door. “I’m programmed to do that because my mom is such a snoop.”
“Yeah, join the club,” Julie added. Raven and Jorge nodded in agreement.
“Alright,” Julie began, “I was up all night thinking about this and I’m not sure exactly what it is we’re planning on doing.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Jorge said.
“I know,” she went on. “But, are we going to try to get a confession out of Eric? Or, hurt him? I keep going back and forth in my head because a part of me really wants him to die for what he did to Davey,” Julie’s eyes got teary, but she kept going. “I mean he really does deserve to die,” she stopped and looked at the others. Vince, Raven, and Jorge all shook their heads yes.
“Yeah, he does,” Vince verbalized what the other two were thinking.
“But, then again,” Julie continued, “if we could get a confession and the police were involved somehow, then he’d rot in prison and that’s more of a punishment than death.”
“Right, but my mom’s old boyfriend, Darius, when he used to threaten my mom, saying he’d kill her if she ever left him, he’d always brag about one of his hoodlum cousins who’d killed a man and only got eight years. And, that Darius would take eight years in the pen just to have my mom out of the picture.”
“Yeah,” Jorge scowled, “an asshole who has a point. And, that’s about all Eric would do if he got 3rd degree murder charges pinned on him.”
“An accident my ass,” Vince snarled.
“My brother’s life for a lousy eight years?” Julie put her hands on her head. “I don’t think so,” she said shaking her head back and forth.
“Ok,” Jorge said, “I agree with you, Julie, he’s got to pay more than just time for what he did.”
“So what are we going to do?” Julie asked looking up.
“I think we should get outta here to talk about this,” Vince said. “I’m getting spooked thinking someone will hear us.”
“That’s your car out front, right Vinny?” Julie asked.
Vince nodded.
“I’ve got a perfect hideaway if you don’t mind driving,” Julie said.
“Let’s go.”
“Pull up really slowly here,” Julie said pointing to her old house. “that big blue one there, see? The one that’s for sale.”
Vince pulled up and parked on the road, right in front.
“That’s my old house,” Julie said peering up from the back seat she shared with Raven. “I’m going to check it out first and make sure no one’s in there. If the coast is clear, look for me up in that window, the one in the middle, way up high in the attic, and I’ll give you a signal to come up.”
“I’m coming with you,” Raven said climbing out behind Julie. “You can’t get rid of me that easy,” she said grinning.
“I’m coming, too,” Jorge said opening the passenger door.
“No, Jorge, stay,” Julie said gently closing the door again. “It’s not going to look too slick if three of us are going in. At least if it’s just me and Raven, I’ll say we’re meeting my mom here for a showing.”
“Alright,” Jorge said gloomily. “I’ll sit and stay like a good boy, pant, pant,” he joked.
“And, I’ll keep Lurch in neutral, ready to make a break for it if the two of you come high tailing it out of there,” Vince grinned.
“Yeah, man,” Jorge teased, “it looks pretty Adam’s Family in there.”
“Watch it, Jorge,” Julie said squinting her eyes and pulling her meanest face, “those are fighting words. I’ll have you know it was a lot nicer when we lived here. Mom kept up the yard and had flowers growing in all the beds.”
“It’s a whole lot nicer than the dump I live in,” said Raven. “Notice how I never invite you guys over to my place?” she asked looking embarrassed. “That’s because I live in the ghetto.”
“It’s ok, Raven,” Julie said wrapping her arm around Raven’s shoulders, “we still love you.”
Raven shrugged.
“Ok little Ms. Eeyore and your side kick, Tigger,” Jorge smiled, “why don’t you two go check it out?”
“We lived upstairs,” Julie said leading the way. “And the landlord and his wife lived below us. They really used to fight,” Julie said shaking her head. “She definitely wore the pants in that family. And, she had one of those screechy voices that carried, too.”
“I hate those.”
“Me, too. I remember after we moved, Davey and KiKi and I would still tiptop around and keep our voices quiet even though Mom rented us our own house. We were just so used to trying to be quiet like little mice, just to avoid the landlady’s screams and moans of irritation.”
“Sounds like where I live,” Raven said.
“Up here,” Julie said opening the attic door.
“When C.J. would wake up early,” Raven continued, following Julie up the stairs, the people below us used to cuss and swear and take a cane or something and bang on their ceiling.”
“Most people are shit, Raven,” Julie said pulling the light cord. “Isn’t that what you told me when we first met?”
“Unfortunately, I still think I’m right,” Raven said.
Julie walked to the window and started jumping up and down to get Jorge and Vince’s attention. “Here they come,” she said.
“Me and Mom and Kerstin came here the night Davey disappeared,” Julie said once they were all sitting on the dusty floor. I thought he might be here because this was the one house he always wanted to come back to.”
“Yeah, he told me about this place,” Vince said. “And, all the crazy stuff he and a friend of his used to get into.”
“That’s my brother,” Julie smiled.
“So,” Jorge began, “What are we going to do?”
They all sat quietly for a minute thinking.
“I think we should take him out on the water and let him experience everything Davey did,” Vince said.
“Only, he’s not afraid of water, Vinny,” Julie said.
“Well, whatever we do,” Raven started, “we have to be really careful it doesn’t get traced back to us. Have you guys seen those Cold Case Files? Even years later, they can figure out who done it, and right now, my mom’s in enough trouble without having a killer for a daughter. She’d never get my baby brother back if I had a rap like that.”
36
Stakeout
“Ok, duck now,” Vince said quickly as he drove by Eric’s apartment.
“What did you see” Jorge asked, with his head shoved down so far that he resembled a turtle.
“I didn’t see his car,” Vince said making a uey further up the road and circl
ing back.
“His Pontiac, it’s red now,” Julie said from the back seat where she and Raven were packed like two sardines in a can.
“I know, remember, I’m the kid who’s still got matchbox cars all along one wall in my bedroom. Still unopened, too, mind you.”
“Oops, I forgot, Vinny,” Julie said. “You and Davey were both car crazy.”
“What do you see now?” Jorge asked.
“He’s not home,” Vince answered.
“What time is it?” Julie asked.
“Quarter to four,” Raven answered.
“I bet anything he’s working his shift at the job he got at Tyson chicken,” Julie added.
“Circle back on more time and park somewhere safe,” Jorge advised. “Let’s do it.”
“Julie,” Vince turned around in his seat and looked at her. Now that Vince had parked in the alley behind Eric’s, everyone sat upright and ready.
“Julie, you go first, just like we planned. We’ve just got to hope Eric hasn’t started locking his door.”
“Watch out for the dog,” Raven said pulling a face.
“Ruby? No, she’s my baby,” Julie grinned. “She won’t go after me, but she might tear into you,” Julie teased.
“Girl! Stop! You want help?”
“No, Raven, I’ll put her in the bathroom. She’d probably attack Jorge first anyway.”
“Julie, let’s get started,” Jorge said seriously. “We’re wasting precious time here.”
“No,” Vince said, “if he’s working, he won’t be back ‘til after nine. And that’s only if he doesn’t stop off at Sam’s Tavern for a beer.”
“I don’t care,” Raven said. “I’m scared. I want to get this over with.”
“Alright,” Julie said jumping out of the car. “Give me five minutes to