Page 52 of Jobe

Tony’s men stared at the two detectives in disbelief. “So, if they’re doing gang work and get caught, they admit to it and go down. No pleas, no bargaining.”

“If you’re in a gang and took their oath—it’s thicker than anything. You get caught, you openly admit you’re in the gang. To deny the gang is to disrespect it.”

“So you got this Poco kid and nothin’ else on Mackenna’s drive-by?” Jobe asked.

Shane nodded, “Sorry, man. He confessed to the spray painting, the driving, the shooting…says it was all him.”

“That’s bullshit,” Jobe muttered, running his hands through his hair.

“Agreed,” Matt said. “It’s only one more off the street, but at least it’s one.”

“Well, I don’t have to worry about her and her mom not being safe in their beds now since they’re in my building, but, it’s just the rest of the time.”

Turning back to BJ and Lily, they continued to discuss their findings.

“ATF and FBI are working on the case as well since the transportation of guns has both of them nervous.”

BJ said, “Well, while Lily was following the money, it looks like the cameras have given us a bit more of a clue as to where they hide out. For the Sixers, Tito’s uncle’s grocery holds some kind of importance. Our cameras pick up guys going into the building across the street in groups of two or three. That building is an old apartment complex, but a quick look inside shows that they are heading to the basement.”

“Underground tunnel over to the grocery basement,” Matt surmised.

“We saw that with another case,” Tony added. “Seems like old-town Richmond is full of steam tunnels between various buildings.”

“The chief will be glad to get that intel,” Shane said. He and Matt stood to leave as the meeting came to a conclusion. As they were walking out of the door, Shane turned his attention back to Jobe. “Hate like hell to remind you, but we’re still considering Mackenna to be at risk. Take care, man.”

Jobe’s jaw ticked with anger as he nodded toward the detectives. The others were silent for a moment, knowing that nothing they said would have any effect on Jobe’s mood. Or loss of control.

* * *

Mackenna made her way into New Beginnings after waving goodbye to Terrance, who had dropped her off. Planning on working with the women today, she told him that she would text him when she was ready to leave.

Rose came by her small office an hour later to find Mackenna slumped back in her chair. “Are you all right?”

“I’m exhausted. I feel tired, sleepy, kind of nauseous…just generally yucky. And I don’t have time to get sick!” she complained. “For the past three weeks I have worked on the new grant proposals and I may have stumbled onto a real deal.”

“Girl, you’re working too hard,” Rose admonished.

“Yeah, well, there’s so much to do.”

“If you get sick, then none of this will matter.”

Just then Carla stuck her head in and said, “Hey, Ms. Dunn. I’m packed.”

Inwardly wincing, Mackenna had forgotten that Carla was graduating from the program today and was moving out. Standing, she embraced the girl tightly. Pulling away, she felt the sting of tears in her eyes, always loving it when the girls left while acknowledging that a part of her went with them as they moved out into their new circumstances.

The three walked into the kitchen, where the other women had made lunch. Gabby had been in the kitchen, whipping up her specialties and as Mackenna approached the table, her stomach lurched. She broke out into a sweat and tried to discreetly wipe her brow. Pretending that her phone was vibrating, she left the room and headed to the bathroom.

A bit later she returned, having dry heaved for several minutes. Begging off of the meal, she sat with the others as they laughed and talked about what life would be like for Carla and for Jenita, who would be leaving the next week. Finally, it was time to say goodbye. Mackenna had arranged for one of Tony’s men to escort Carla to her new apartment across town. She stood on the stoop waving as the official SUV left the road.

Rose walked up behind her and said, “You do good work here, you know?” Mackenna just nodded, unable to speak over the lump in her throat. “You fight an enemy that hides and attempts to overtake everything, but you never give up. And girl, one by one those women who leave here to a better life, do so because of you.”

Taking a shaky breath, Mackenna returned the hug and said, “Carla makes nineteen and then when Jenita leaves next week, that’ll be twenty who’ve made it through.”

“We should celebrate,” Rose enthused. “But first,” she stopped as she looked at Mackenna’s pale face, “you need to take care of yourself.”

“I think I’ll call Terrence to pick me up and head home. I just feel so drained,” Mackenna admitted.

Her mother came by Mackenna and Jobe’s apartment an hour later, just as Jobe was getting off of the elevator. “Ah came ta check on her. She did na come to see me,” Penny explained as Jobe let her into the apartment.

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