Page 5 of Night Moves

Something about the way he moves bothers me, but I’m distracted. Too many moving pieces and I’m on alert, ready for a physical confrontation. I’d like to think it’s just some buddies meeting up, but their attention on the woman tells me it’s more.

Like Diego, I’m wondering if it’s opportunity or planned? He nods at me from behind the thugs, and it’s like I hear him say;let it play out.

She’s almost to me when the men quicken their steps. One of them says something behind her. She spins, almost stumbling.

Rushing forward, I reach out to steady her. “Honey, you okay?”

One of the thugs looks at the newcomer who shrugs, then back at me. “Get lost buddy, this ain’t any of your business. Bitch, get over here.”

“Excuse you. This is my wife. Who the hell are you?”

The men look at each other, the newcomer scowls. “Then she’s two-timing you buddy, cuz she belongs to someone else. He’s been looking for her. You need to get lost before you get hurt.”

“No.” The woman is trembling and holding Eizlee even tighter and shaking her head. “No.”

Wakened, Eizlee cries into the woman’s shoulder. “Mama. Wan’ Mama.”

Something snaps in me. Are these the men who killed my sister? If not, they’re the same kind of scum who prey on women. Stepping forward I shift her behind me.

“I think you need to leave my family alone.”

Newcomer gives me a once over, apparently not impressed with my button up shirt and dress slacks. Yeah. Well, looks can be deceiving.

One of them steps toward me. None of them notice Diego. He grabs two of the thugs by the sides of their heads and slamming their skulls together lets them drop. Newcomer takes off like a rat in an alley leaving the last one behind.

Diego smiles, if you can call a shark showing its teeth a smile and grabs the last man standing by his shirt front. Pulling him close he simply says, “Talk.”

“I-I-I don’t-don’t know nothing. I’m new. My boys,” he nods at the two on the ground, “asked if I wanted to make some extra cash. I said yes. We were supposed to follow the broad and keep tabs on her till the other guy showed. That’s all I know. That’s all they told me. Nobody said nothin’ about a baby or things going down.”

Diego gets right in his face. “You better find some new boys. I catch you doing this kind of shit again, nobody’s gonna find you.”

Once released, the kid runs like his pants are on fire.

Diego takes the bag the woman was carrying. “Let’s get out of here before anyone else shows up.”

CHAPTER4

Willow

“No. No, I’ve got to leave. Oh god, I have to get away.” He’s got his arm around my back and is leading me down a side street. They’ve found me.

“We’ve got you. We’ll keep you safe. Do you know what that was about?”

It’s too dark to see his expression, but somehow, I feel his concern. “No. I—I don’t know. Look, I need to go, I—I’ll be late. But I’ll need to see your driver’s license to make sure you are who you say. Then I’ll let you take Eizlee.”

“We’re almost at my car.” Another block and he stops in front of a sleek SUV.

The other man puts Eizlee’s bag in the cargo area then opens the back door. A car seat is already secured in the middle, with a pink elephant stuffy in the seat.

Tears run down my cheeks. It’s going to be okay. He’s going to take care of my little love. She’ll be safer with him. My heart is breaking. This is it. I’ll never see her again.

He pulls out his wallet and hands me his driver’s license using the flashlight on his phone so I can see. His picture is without the beard he’s sporting now, but his eyes. The eyes are the same. As if guessing my concern, he pulls out his military Id that shows him with the beard.

I nod. “Thank you. I just want to make sure she’s going to be safe.”

“Are you the babysitter? Were you watching Eizlee Jane the night my sister was killed? Do you know what really happened?”

“I—I can’t. I’ve got to go.”

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