Page 42 of Jobe

“Gabby didn’t know our shit, did she?” Jazzie asked, concern in his expression. Tito did not answer and that gave Jazzie a bad feeling…and solidified his desire to take care of the problem.

“We been courting the Kings,” Tito continued. “Gonna sell some guns to them at the end of this week. Like to hand them something else on a platter if we can.”

That peaked Waldo’s interest, as he leaned forward eagerly. “What’s on the table?”

“Kings got another girl there. Thought we give her back to them. In a way that sends a message.”

Waldo grinned. He liked the sound of that. Jazzie’s interest was sharp as well.

Pushing a scrap of paper at them with a computer image and a name on it, Tito simply said, “Get her. Take Poco and one other you choose and get her. Then make her pay. All the way. Then deliver her to the Kings with a note that they can thank us for the gift.”

The men laughed, anxious to do Tito’s bidding. Jazzie watched him carefully. Getting this King’s girl out would give him a good chance to see how best to get to Gabby.

The next morning, Jazzie could not believe how easy it was. The young woman left the center, walking to the bus stop to go downtown. He watched her in her clean, job-hunting clothes, knowing she was trying to shake the image of the Rivers off of her. Glancing to the side, he saw Waldo’s eyes glued to the girl’s ass.

“That all you think about? Fucking?”

Waldo grunted as his eyes never left the girl. “Hell, yeah. Nothin’ like sinkin’ my dick in some sweet pussy.”

“Who cares if it’s sweet as long as it’s pussy?” Poco called out from the back seat.

A bus pulled up, taking the others in line while the girl looked down at her watch. She was now the only one waiting for the downtown bus. As she stood, her hands nervously smoothing down her new skirt, she never heard the sound of soft footsteps behind her. Until it was too late.

* * *

“So where did she go?” Mackenna asked Carla.

“I don’t know. Teresa was dressed and out of here in time to make it to the bus stop for her interview. But they called and said that she did not show up.”

Rubbing her temples, Mackenna shook her head. She had just gotten into her office when Carla gave her the news. “I’ve spent two weeks lining up that job interview for her.” Looking up at Rose, who had joined them, Mackenna said, “I’m going to have to let Teresa go if she doesn’t have a good reason for missing that interview. I’ve got two more girls who want into New Beginnings and I already have room for two of them since Selena left.”

“Well, I’ve got more news,” Rose said sitting down. “A couple of the other girls are nervous hearing that Teresa missed her interview this morning. They swear she was excited about it and they think something happened to her. I think Selena’s situation has them afraid of gang retaliation.”

Mackenna sighed heavily. “A week ago, I’d have told them that that was ridiculous. Now I don’t know what to think.”

The three ladies were quiet a moment before Mackenna looked up, shaking her head. “All right, enough about this. Let’s get to work. I’m calling the social worker and telling her to let the two new girls know that they can come on over.”

* * *

Two days later, Mackenna was sitting in her DSS cubicle in the downtown office, having just finished a staff meeting. Calling her mom to check on her, she was glad to hear the happiness in her mother’s voice.

“Mom, I was thinking that we need to get back to our house,” she said tentatively. “I talked to the detectives this morning and they said that the house is no longer being processed as a crime scene, so I am heading over there now to check it out. I think we’ll just need to patch the holes and do a little touch-up painting. I made a call to our landlord so that he could make sure a window company came to measure the windows for replacement.”

She noticed the quietness of her mom. Biting her lip, she said, “Are you still there?”

“I heah. I know we nee ta ge back.”

Mackenna could hear the hesitation in her mom’s voice and knew that she was enjoying her time with the Delaros. “Well, we can’t move back until the windows are replaced and I’m sure it’s all secure. So if you’re happy, then there’s no reason to not stay with Joseph and Rachel for a little bit longer.”

“Oh, tha wou be lov-ly,” Penny said, the excitement in her voice evident.

After a few more minutes, they hung up and Mackenna sighed, knowing she needed to head to the house. She did not tell her mother that when she talked to the landlord, he was not happy that her job had ended up having the ramifications of a drive-by. In fact, he had indicated that he would prefer them not to move back in.Now I may have to find another place to live that can accommodate mom.

Several hours later, waving to Jennifer, who was still in her cubicle talking to some friends, she walked to the elevators when her cell phone rang. Seeing Jobe’s name, she smiled as she answered.

“Hey, sweetie.”

“Where are you, doll?” came the clipped response.

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