“C AN’T CALL THE COPS.” James was hunched over the wheel, staring at the road. I had no idea where we were going.
“We’ve considered that how many times in the last three days?” There was always a reason not to call the cops.
Angel rode shotgun, silent since we took off.
“Angel, where did you get the gun?”
“The Colt 380? Part of the package.”
I must have looked surprised.
“When you hire Angel, you get the complete package.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to know any more.
“He may be dead.” James looked like he was in a trance as the truck raced down the road.
“I can’t imagine what kind of trouble we’re in.”
“Hey!” I couldn’t let that stand. “Angel probably saved our lives. Jesus, the man was shot in self-defense and you’re worried about the trouble we’re in. James, think about not knowing the trouble we’re in. Think about us not being here to worry about it.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Yeah. There’s that.”
“Angel, what was the thing about rogues and imbeciles?”
He smiled. “Alexander Dumas.”
James and his movie quotes. Angel’s quotes from great literature. And I had nothing.
When we pulled into the apartment complex, it was almost dark. No one had said another word.
“Do you think this is a good idea? Here, where we live?”
James shrugged his shoulders. “Where would you go? These guys have tracked us through the DMV, so they obviously know where Emily lives. They know where we live. I would guess they know where Jackie and Fuentes live. Maybe you have a better suggestion.” Bitter and cold, and he was right. We’d run out of options.
Angel stepped out and I scooted over the seat and saw Em’s T-Bird right in front of our apartment. Not a good time.
She was dozing in the driver’s seat and I tapped on the window. She blinked and opened her door.
“Hi, babe.”
“Em, what are you doing here?”
The three of us stood there, looking into the car.
“Em, this is Angel. Angel, Em.”
They nodded at each other.
I figured she had to know what had transpired. I didn’t want to go from beginning to end, so I started at the end. “Angel saved our lives tonight.”