Page 16 of Dark Alleys

“Had a Dragon on the vest.”

“Wonder why he’d be on River Rats’ turf.”

“Don’t know.”

“I’m sorry for your troubles, Cindy. Can I give you a ride home with your laundry? You helped me a lot.”

She sighed. “Okay. That would make it easier for me to haul my laundry home. My neighbor is watching Flint until I get back.”

We loaded the laundry bags into the back of the truck, and I drove one-handed to the address Cindy gave me.

Rimes Residence. Riverside District. Austin.

Cindy pointed to a battered fourplex on the street next to the river. All visible surfaces were blackened with graffiti. If Riverside had a bad section, this was it.

I parked as close to the building as I could.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“No problem. Can you manage?”

“Sure. I’ve got two good arms.” She laughed as she tugged the laundry out of the back seat. Only one bag compared to my three.

Four or five young gangers were leaning against the wall of the building smoking. Watching and waiting until they could rob somebody for drug money.

I decided to wait until Cindy went inside.

I watched her head towards the back of the building carrying the laundry and a guy in uniform came out to meet her and held up his hand. He wasn’t letting her in the building with her stuff and I decided to find out why.

None of my business and I’ve got more than enough troubles of my own. I should stay out of it.

I turned off the truck and hopped out, holding my wounded arm close to my side. “Want to explain to me what’s going on, Sheriff?”

“Eviction of Miss Cindy Rimes. She’s can’t pay her back rent, and the landlord wants her out. It’s gone through all the legal channels, and she officially can’t enter this building. As soon as her apartment is cleared, he has a new tenant coming in.”

Cindy was close to tears. “But I have to go inside to get my son and his bed and his clothes.”

The sheriff shook his head. Your apartment has been sealed by my office and your goods will be sold to offset what you owe.”

“I don’t have anything worth more than ten bucks,” she said, and I believed her. This kid had nothing.

“Sheriff,” I said, “Let me go in and get Cindy’s son. Her neighbor is watching him.”

“Who are you?”

I flipped open my creds so only the Sheriff could see what he needed to see. “Come with me, Marshal. I’ll show you where the child is.”

Before following the sheriff, I turned and called to her, “Cindy, put the laundry back in the truck and wait for me.” I pressed the fob and unlocked the doors for her.

She nodded, tears running down her face.

The sheriff led the way into the sewer hole of a building and the smell of it made me sick. “The neighbor watching the kid must be in this unit,” he said.

I knocked on the door and an old lady opened it a crack. The sheriff said, “Ma’am, are you watching a child for Cindy Rimes?”

“Yes, her son is sleeping on my sofa. Why?”

“Cindy has been evicted and has to find another place to stay. She wants her baby.”

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