Page 8 of Night Moves

“Vegas isn’t home?”

“No. I-ah came here with friends. But they’ve all moved. I stayed because of Vicky and Eizlee. So, it’s probably time to move on.” She glances my way. “She said you moved away and have lived all over, even foreign countries.”

“Vicky talked about me?”

“Yeah. She wanted me to meet you when you were here, but it didn’t work out. She missed you. Said you were a good guy. Wished you’d move back here, but understood your work was somewhere else. She was toying with moving, too.”

“Did she tell you what I do?”

“She said you were in the military, one of those elite groups. But you were getting out of the military and doing something else.”

“I am. I’m in private security now.”

“Like a cop?”

“No. I do private work. Diego used to be a cop here in Vegas. His wife still is.”

All the color drains from her face. She stands, knocking over her cup. “Oh shit. I’m sorry. Let me clean it up.”

Diego beats her to it.

“I should go. I’ve… I’ve got an appointment early in the morning that I just remembered.”

“Willow, wait. Please. You found her body didn’t you. You know who did this. Will you tell me the truth? Please. I need to know so I can protect Eizlee. Willow, was it a cop?”

“Taking her away, out of this town will be enough. You’ll both be safe.”

“But you won’t be, will you? So, tell me what you really know. And I’ll help you start over.”

“That’s not why I did it. I didn’t—She was my friend. She shouldn’t have… Eizlee shouldn’t have…. I need to leave. Can you show me out, please?”

“If they’re looking for you, and by the way you’re acting they are,” Diego cuts in. “All the burner phones in the world aren’t going to keep you safe. Tell us, let us help.

“My wife is internal affairs. We know there are dirty cops. Dirty politicians. We’ve been taking them down one or two at a time for a while now. Help us cut the head off the snake. We can and will protect you.

“Once this is settled our company will relocate you anywhere you want to go. Any state, any country. The company Diesel and I work for, HARDCORE INC Security, protects those that need help whether they can pay or not. Let us help, please. I don’t want any more motherless children on my watch.”

The door opens and we all turn. Raven walks in. She makes a show of removing her ear bud. “Full disclosure, I was listening. Sorry I’m late and you had to start without me.”

Crossing to Diego, she cups the back of his head and kisses him like they haven’t seen each other in months. When they finally part, she puts a carryout bag and her laptop on the counter. Opening the computer, she pulls up an article and turns the screen toward Willow. “Read that, then we’ll talk.”

Diego has already gabbed plates from the cupboard. “You didn’t eat today, did you?”

“Not now babe, scold me when we get home.”

Willow looks up from the computer. “This was you? I remember hearing about this on the radio.”

Raven nods as she pushes plates in front of Willow and me, while Diego plates her burrito. “Google my name and you’ll probably find photos. Diego has an aversion to cameras. But if you need us too, we can call people to verify his identity.

“We know that one of the clubs is pushing drugs, again.” She takes a bite and chews. “Damn I love these things.” She takes two more bites then lays it back on the plate.

“We shut one of the fuckers down and they open somewhere else. I know how this works.

“I also know there’s good cops and bad cops. Good politicians and crooked ones. People who put out the fire and some that start them. There’s always going to be both. Right, wrong. Good, evil. That’s how mankind is made. But you can’t give up the fight. You can’t give in. You stand for something, and you fight back. It’s all you can do.

“Some of us, like you, learn it the hard way. It’s your decision to make, if you stand up or walk away. No one’s going to force you. Or judge you. It’s scary as hell out there on the streets.

“I know there are scumbags on our force. But I’m sick and tired of the bad cops giving the good guys a bad reputation. I’m third generation of the ones fighting the good fight. I will take down as many as I can, for as long as I can.

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