Firestone by Claudia Hall Christian

gave an indignant snort.
    “ They’re expecting quite a
disruption today,” Schmidty said. “They will certainly be there to tape
it.”
    “ In court?” Mike
asked.
    “ We’ve been informed of
just such a thing,” Schmidty said.
    “ Okay,” Scary Andy nodded.
He glanced at Mike, and said, “We’re in, but like I said, we have
to be at roll call at one. Will we be done by one?”
    “ We should be,” Schmidty
said.
    “ Then it’s a go,” Scary
Andy said.
    “ Thanks,” Mike
said.
    Scary Andy took out a cellphone and texted
the word “Go.”
    “ What does that mean?”
Jeraine asked.
    “ Andy works on a team that
does security for a lot of highly placed politicians and even
royalty,” Mike nodded. “Around the world.”
    “ I can’t really
afford . . .” Jeraine started.
    “ You mean you’re broke?”
Scary Andy looked at him.
    “ Accountant issues,”
Schmidty said.
    “ I didn’t have issues,”
Jeraine said. “I had an accountant who had issues of the Caymans
variety.”
    Scary Andy laughed. Schmidty shifted
uncomfortably. Scary Andy tapped on the barrier window and the
limousine driver rolled it down.
    “ Pull over,” Andy
said.
    “ Yes, sir,” the driver
said.
    The driver pulled the limousine over, and
Mike got out.
    “ Where’s Mike going?”
Jeraine asked.
    “ Home,” Scary Andy said.
“He would have stayed if my team hadn’t taken the case. But now
that we’re on it, he’s not needed. He can go home and
paint.”
    He leaned toward the driver and said,
“Go.”
    The limo moved into the traffic on Colfax
Avenue.
    “ Wait.” Jeraine rubbed the
growing pressure in his head. “How am I going to pay
you?”
    “ I can easily
cover . . .” Schmidty started.
    “ No,” Jeraine said. “I
promised Miss T that I wouldn’t take on more debt. She’s been
through enough. And all of this . . .”
    “ Are you talking about
Tanesha Smith?” Scary Andy asked.
    “ My wife,” Jeraine
said.
    “ She’s already there,”
Scary Andy said. “One of our team has secured her along with her
mother and father. They are with a man named Fin. You know
him?”
    Jeraine nodded.
    “ Good,” Scary Andy said.
“Your parents have just arrived. They are on their way into a
conference room.”
    “ How . . .?” Jeraine and Schmidty said in
unison.
    “ We were in place,” Scary
Andy said. “Listen, about payment, there is something you can do
for us.”
    “ What?” Jeraine
scowled.
    “ You can write a song we
can give our loved ones,” Scary Andy said. “You know something
about how much they give and how much we take and what assholes we
are and . . . I mean, I’ve put my Luz through hell.
You wouldn’t believe what she’s put up with. I’m still on active
duty. Could you . . .?”
    “ Mr. Wilson doesn’t do
requests . . .” Schmidty started.
    “ Sure,” Jeraine said. “I
can do it. I can’t guarantee when.”
    “ But you’re good for it?”
Scary Andy asked. “’Cuz if you’re not? I can always tell Tanesha
that you made a deal and . . .”
    “ How do you know Tanesha?”
Jeraine asked.
    “ It’s a small world,”
Scary Andy said.
    “ I’ll have my office draw
up the papers,” Schmidty said, and swallowed hard.
    “ Listen to you,” Scary
Andy said. He made his voice sound geeky, and said, “I’ll draw up
the papers.”
    Scary Andy laughed. He stuck his hand out,
and Jeraine shook it.
    “ I think you’d make a mint
on the song,” Scary Andy said. “It would be nice if maybe you
donated to soldiers coming home.”
    “ Done,” Jeraine
said.
    Schmidty looked at Jeraine for a moment.
Jeraine nudged his shoulder.
    “ Of course,” Schmidty
said. “You have to recognize that we’re not used to this kind of
thing.”
    “ Who is?” Scary Andy
laughed.
    “ How do we know you have
the authority to make these agreements?” Schmidty asked.
    “ You don’t,” Scary Andy
said.
    Schmidty and Jeraine shifted
uncomfortably.
    “ Call your