Page 28 of Legacy of Smoke
“Yo, Sprout, Smoke, get your asses back here.”
Whatever had Poke’s balls, it was important. We didn’t exactly run, but with long legs like Sprout had, I had to double up my steps to keep up.
“What gives? Holy fuck, is that Lily’s car?” Sprout’s attention diverted from Poke immediately.
I recognized it from the build site the first day. She’d almost taken out a support leaving. Someone fucked it up good. All the windows were broken, her tires slashed, except one, and the glove box was only hanging by the cord. Her car stereo was gone, and I’d bet there was no catalytic converter equipment mounted under the car.
“Fucking stripped,” I noted.
“I wasn’t us,” Sketch said.
“I wonder how long it’s been here?” Sprout walked around it, studying the damage.
I held up the match book we snagged off my brother. “Ten bucks says more than three days.”
“Poke, ask the desk.” Sprout ordered.
“On it.”
“Tell ‘em we’re here to tow it. Sketch, call your guy.”
“What if she’s here?” I asked.
“Fuck.” Sprout scrubbed his hair into even more wild knots than already sat on his head. “Call Poppy, get Lil’s number.”
“Me?” The guy she accused of sleeping with her sister?
“Yeah. You. Unless you wanna go back on that ol’ lady comment?”
For a slack-ass, Sprout knew exactly how to cut a man. “Right.”
She picked up first ring. I walked away a couple of steps just in case she tore into me. “Hey, Poppy.”
“What’s wrong?”
How in the hell did sheknow? “I found Lily’s car.”
“It broke down on her sometime this week.”
Sprout owed me ten bucks. “Did she say where?”
“No, she didn’t. I’m not her favorite person right now.”
That was understandable. Both of us were on Lily’s shit list. “Would you know how to reach her so we can figure out what to do next? Sprout’s going to have it towed to the shop.”
“The one in the junkyard?”
“Yup. It needs body work and repair, and… parts.”
“Oh Jesus. Where did she leave it?”
I clammed up, but Poppy was a good guesser. Or maybe it was years of getting Lily out of one bit of trouble and then another.
“A drug dealer’s?”
“No.”
“Please don’t say motel.”
