James Grippando: Last Call

The Chevy skidded to a stop. Tatum reached across his brother's lap and pushed the door open. "Get him, Theo!"

Theo didn't move.

Tatum slapped the knife handle into the palm of Theo's hand. "Go on, do it!"

"Take the bike," shouted the rider, his voice quaking. "I paid over a thousand bucks for it. Really. You can have it."

"Now!" Tatum said to his brother.

"Why don't we just take the bike?" said Theo.

"We ain't here for no bike. You gonna cut him or not?"

The rider was ash white with fear, pleading. "Come on, guys. Please. Don't do this. I have a two-year-old daughter."

Tatum had lost all patience. "Cut him, damn it! Cut him good!"

Theo's gaze shifted back to the rider, who was trying to adopt a goofy martial-arts, self-defense pose. Theo could have kicked his ass so easily. It wasn't fear that was holding him back. In fact, there was strange satisfaction in walking up to a Bruce Lee wannabe and laying him out on the sidewalk – but only if there was a good reason to do it, like payback or protection. If Theo was going to turn some random Joe into a noisy amusement for a knife, it was important that he stand to gain something more than acceptance by a couple of punks who called themselves the Grove Lords.

Theo handed the knife to his brother. "You cut him."

"Pussy!" shouted Tatum. He reached across for the handle and slammed the door shut.

Isaac shook his head with disapproval as he hit the gas. The tires spun and gravel flew. Theo looked back and saw white boy fall to his knees, relieved and exhausted.

Tatum shoved the knife back into the glove compartment. Theo thought he heard him say "pussy" again, but the boom box was way too loud. Isaac was singing along to Prince again, changing the words: "This is what it sounds like when Theo Knight cries."

Twilight turned into night as they drove back into Coconut Grove. Theo retreated into thought. He was no pussy. He just wasn't as stupid as his older brother. Even so, Tatum would pound him when they got home, no question about it. Or at least he would try. Theo grew bigger and stronger with each passing month, and everyone knew that before long the younger brother would have the upper hand.

"Something's goin' down over there," said Isaac.

At the south end of Grand Avenue, right outside Homeboy's Tavern, a crowd had gathered in the street. A line of cars in the right lane was blocking traffic. The Chevy stopped a block away at the red light. Isaac rolled down the window and shouted to another Grove Lord who was standing on the corner.

"Hey, Switch," said Isaac. Switch (short for "switchblade") sauntered up to the driver's side of the Impala. Isaac said, "Hey, what's happenin', bro'?"

"You mean over there?" he said, indicating the crowd.

"I sure don't mean in your shitty little life."

Switch smiled, too dumb to know when he was being insulted. "Some bitch got her throat slit."

"Who?"

"I dunno."

"She still there?"

"Yeah. Blood everywhere. And she's wearing this short skirt with nothin' underneath.You can see it all, dude. Definitely worth a look."

"Cops there yet?"

"Uh-uh. Just happened."

"Let's go see," said Tatum.

Isaac raised the window. The traffic light changed, and the car started slowly down the street. Isaac looked at Theo and said, "Here's the deal, bro'. I'm giving you one more chance to make it."

"I ain't cuttin' no dead woman."

"Forget the knife. All you gotta do is walk up to the body in front of all these people. Make sure everyone sees you. And then I want you to steal something off her."

"That's too easy," said Tatum.

"I make the rules," said Isaac. "This is Theo's gig. You up for it?"

"Shit, yeah. No problem."

Isaac steered the Chevy into Homeboy's parking lot and killed the engine. "All right. Go for it, dude."

Theo climbed down from the low-rider and started toward the crowd. About fifty black folks had gathered, most of the adults with drinks in their hands from Homeboy's. The front door to the bar was wide open. The latest hit song from Kool and the Gang filled the warm night air. The nearest street lamp had been shot out by the Grove Lords weeks earlier, so the only source of light was the half-moon and the blinking Budweiser sign above the entrance to Homeboy's. The main crowd formed a semicircle that blocked Theo's view of the fallen victim. Several shirtless teenage boys were on their bellies, getting the X-rated up-skirt view that Switch had mentioned. Not a cop was in sight, but sirens could be heard in the distance. Theo needed to move quickly. He was about to break through the crowd when someone grabbed him by the arm, halting him.

"Don't go there," the man said.

Theo nearly slugged him in the darkness, but at the last moment he recognized his great-uncle. "Uncle Cy what are you doing here?"

"That don't make no never mind. Just do as I tell ya. Don't go there."

Theo glanced back toward his brother in the Chevy. "I gotta go."

"No, you don't want to do that." Uncle Cy tightened his grip. Theo noticed that the old man's hand was shaking. At six foot two he was taller than Theo, but he was a thin reed who lived on gin and cigarettes and God only knew what else. Theo could have shaken him off like a fly, but Uncle Cy with all his flaws was the closest thing he had to a father.

"You're messing me up here," said Theo.

"I ain't gonna let you do this."

Theo had no idea how the old man knew he was on a Grove Lord mission. He must have just figured that if Theo was out crusing with Tatum and Isaac, they had to be up to no good. "You need to let go."

"No can do, boy."

"Take you hands off me."

"Not tonight I won't."

"Get out of the way"

"It's for your own good."

"Don't make me knock you on your ass."

"You're gonna have to. 'Cuz I ain't lettin' you through here, boy."

Theo shoved him, and Uncle Cy went down like a bowling pin. Theo started through the crowd.

"Theo, stop!"

He kept going.

"Come back, boy!"

Theo ignored him.

"Theo, it's your momma!"

Theo froze. There was blood on the street, on her dress, in her hair – so much blood, the color of her long crimson nails dotted with cheap rhinestones. Flies buzzed with interest around the deep gash across her throat. The wound was just below the white leather choker around her neck, a few inches above the rose tattoo on her right breast. Theo didn't want to see her face, but some inner curiosity made him take a good long look. He saw the open mouth, the painted lips, the vacant eyes staring into the night – two black pools behind a hooker's false lashes and enough sparkling purple shadow to let the Johns know exactly what she was.

And he saw a leopard-print shoulder bag on the ground, beside the lifeless body.

Sirens in the distance grew louder. Theo stood silent and stared, as if searching for the right emotions. He didn't let his eyes go there, but he knew Switch was right: you could see right up her skirt. The view would have been only slightly less revealing had she been standing in her usual spot on the corner.

"Theo," his uncle said, but Theo ignored him.

He stepped toward his mother, bent down on one knee, and checked to make sure that everyone was watching.

Then he grabbed the purse and ran back to the Chevy.

Jack Swyteck woke after midnight. The television was playing, but the sound was still on mute. Rene didn't like sex in total darkness. Leno the night-light.

Jack stole a glimpse of the gorgeous woman in bed next to him. He was a lucky guy he supposed, on many different levels. He was a respected criminal defense lawyer with his own practice. He had an unlikely best friend in Theo Knight, an ex-con and former client who would do anything for Jack. His beloved abuela was healthy, and it had been ages since he and his famous father had argued the way they used to. With Rene in town, there was plenty to be happy about – so long as he didn't overanalyze things.