Reaper, page 15
“Yeah, but…” Raven looked skeptical.
“It’s just an idea. Think about it.” By then they were in front of the clinic. Reaper could see lights on, even at this late hour. After parking, everyone got out. Colly helped Reaper up the steps while Zip and Raven walked beside Wrath. After ringing the doorbell, they waited for someone to answer. The door opened a minute later, revealing a dark-skinned man dressed in whites. He took one look at Reaper and Wrath and called for assistance. A nurse appeared and between them and the teens, they got Reaper and Wrath into exam rooms.
* * * *
“Did the kids leave?” Zack asked when Dallas came into exam room.
“Yeah. I told them there was no sense in their hanging around. Oh, by the way, we’re both undercover cops, as far as the docs here know. They think the guys brought us here because they thought we were homeless.” Then he whistled softly. “That doesn’t look good.”
“At least I’m not in a cast,” Zack retorted, seeing one on Dallas’ arm, since the doctor had cut the sleeves off his sweatshirt to get to it. “I thought you said it wasn’t broken.”
“It’s not. But I still need the cast for a few weeks according to the doctor, until the fracture heals.” Looking at the huge bruise on Zack’s thigh, he asked, “Are you able to walk?”
“Not without crutches for a day or two,” the doctor said, coming into the room. “This,” he told Zack, “is a compression bandage. You’ll be using this except when you’re icing the bruise.” As he talked, he began wrapping the bandage around Zack’s thigh, starting at his knee and working up. “Keep it snug, but not too tight. It keeps the swelling out of the muscle tissue.”
“For how long?”
“The bandage and icing? Until the pain diminishes and the muscle begins to heal. That usually takes about forty-eight hours. Then you can start exercising the muscles, but carefully. No pushing through the pain. Luckily for you, your coat and sweatshirts kept your shoulder from sustaining more than minor bruising.” When he finished with the bandage, he stepped back, looking Zack. “Do you mind my asking what happened?”
Going with what Dallas had told the doctors, Zack replied, “We were looking for a pair of men who prey on the homeless. Unfortunately for us, it seems they recruited a few others to join their fun and games.”
The doctor looked at him dubiously. “You weren’t armed?”
“We were,” Dallas said, “but we didn’t get a chance to draw on them when they jumped us, since our guns were in our boots. And before you ask, we left them locked in the car rather than bringing them in here with us.”
“How did those kids get involved?”
“Wrong place, wrong time, but if they hadn’t walked in on the fight, we might not have made it out alive,” Zack told him.
“Sort of makes what you went through worth it, doesn’t it? Knowing there are street kids out there willing to step in when necessary. I hope you managed to arrest the punks.”
“It’s been taken care of,” Dallas said.
“Can we leave now?” Zack asked.
“As soon as I write you prescriptions for pain killers and antibiotics and get you some crutches.”
“I know this is a free clinic,” Zack said, “but given the circumstances, we’ll pay if you give us a bill.”
“Thank you. Believe me, that will be greatly appreciated.”
Twenty minutes later, Dallas and Zack were back at the car after Zack had gotten a short lesson on using crutches then paid the bill.
“Can you drive with one arm?” Zack asked, handing Dallas the keys.
“I’ll manage. You get in back so you can keep your leg up, the way the doc ordered.”
“That was the plan,” Zack said dryly.
It took some maneuvering, but Zack managed to get into the back seat, thankful that the shot the doctor had given him for the pain had kicked in. He realized he must have dozed off when he felt Dallas gently shake his shoulder some time later.
“We’re home.”
Once Zack was out of the car, he said, as he made his way to the back door of the house, “I’m glad we’re here before Mrs. Cook.”
Dallas laughed. “Because she’ll start mothering you?”
“And you, so don’t be so cocky. But more because of the way we’re dressed. This is not how she’s used to seeing us.”
“True that,” Dallas agreed.
They were still in the clothes they’d been wearing before the fight. Clothes that were now even more ripped and torn—and bloody.
By the time they reached the bedroom, Zack had gained a greater appreciation for how well Brian managed on crutches, and said as much to Dallas.
“Well, he has been on them forever,” Dallas pointed out, while struggling to get undressed with one hand.
It took Zack’s able, if careful assistance, to remove the sweatshirt and T-shirt he was wearing. After that, things were easier and soon they were in bed.
“Don’t you have to call in to tell them you’re not coming to work?” Zack asked drowsily.
“It’s Thursday. I’m off, thank goodness. But you’d better let Alice know you’re not going to be there.”
“Damn.” Zack took the phone from the charger and called his office, leaving her a long message, asking her to reschedule his appointments because he’d been in a minor car accident.
“That works,” Dallas said when Zack hung up. “I’ll use that excuse too when I go in tomorrow. At least I have a few days leave coming so I can take them and not end up on desk duty.” He shuddered, earning him a sleepy chuckle from Zack.
Very carefully, they curled up together, kissed and soon fell asleep. But not before saying, in unison, “I love you.”
Chapter Twenty
“What the hell happened to you?” Brian asked, when he opened the door to let Zack and Dallas in to his house Saturday evening. “Or shouldn’t I ask?”
“Let’s just say we ran into a bit of trouble the night before last.”
“From the looks of it, it was more than a bit,” Brian commented as he wheeled into the living room. “Have a seat before you fall on your face.”
Zack snorted. “I’m getting the hang of these, finally,” he told Brian, setting the crutches beside the sofa and sitting.
Dallas settled at the other end, where he could rest his cast on the arm of the sofa.
“So what’s this big news?” Zack asked, although he was certain he knew the answer.
“We’re ready to start painting then get everything moved from the old building to the new one. I was going to have you round up a few of the kids you know to help, but under the circumstances…”
“That’s great. When do you need them?” Zack took out the phone he used for Zip and the others.
“Tomorrow?”
“You got it.” He punched in Zip’s number, and when the teen answered, Zack told him what was needed. He smiled at something Zip said and told him he’d ask. Covering the phone, he said to Brian, “You’ll probably have more kids than you need. Especially if they can do it at night, so they’ll be warm for eight hours. The way the weather is right now, that’s a definite enticement, if you’re willing.”
“Hell, yes, I am.”
Zack relayed Brian’s reply then hung up after telling Zip he’d be back in touch with details.
“Of course,” Brian said, scrubbing his forehead, “I’ll have to find a couple of counselors willing to supervise at night.”
“Nope. Dallas and I can do that. It’s not like we’re in any shape yet to get back out there doing our vigilante thing.”
“And won’t be for a while,” Dallas added, shooting Zack a hard look.
Brian chuckled. “Knowing Zack, he wants to be out there before the week is up.”
“No shit, but it’s not happening. And that is doctor’s orders, not mine.”
“I know,” Zack said gloomily. “At least we can be useful at the building in the interim.”
“You’ll survive,” Brian replied, reaching over to pat his knee.
“Yeah, I know.” Suddenly Zack had an idea. One he would put forward to Dallas after they left. He knew if he said anything in front of Brian, he’d get a lecture and a half about it, and why he was even planning such a thing to begin with.
After Brian offered them beers—that they accepted—Zack asked, “Exactly what needs doing on the building, Brian, that the kids will be able to handle?”
The three men spent some time making detailed plans on how to proceed with the painting and other minor things within the scope of the kids’ abilities. Then they chatted for a few minutes more before Brian told Zack and Dallas in no uncertain terms that they should go home and get some sleep.
“You’ll need it,” he said with a laugh. “Supervising a dozen kids is not the easiest thing you’ve ever done. Trust me on this one.”
* * * *
“I don’t see why not,” Dallas said as they drove home from Brian’s place. “The problem is that we’re in no shape to do it.”
“What they need is training on the finer points of attack and defense. They know the basics just from trying to stay safe out there.” Zack tapped his lip pensively. “I know a man who might be willing to teach them, if he’s still around. It’s been a few years since I last saw him.”
Dallas cocked an eyebrow. “An ex-client?”
“Nope. A guy who showed me a thing or two, back when I was on the streets.”
“Damn, Zack, that was over twenty years ago. He could be dead and gone by now.”
“I’m still here and he was only a few years older than me.” Zack took out his phone as they talked. “He used to hang around at Spars.”
“And you think someone will remember him now?”
“Worth a shot.” Zack punched in the number for the gym. When the call was answered, he asked if the owner was around.
After a moment on hold, a man said, “Jim here. Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for an old friend I’ve lost track of, Nate Brown. I know he used to work out there sometimes.”
After a pause, Jim replied, “Name rings a bell. If he’s who I’m thinking of, he started his own gym, Rattlers he calls it, because that was his street name. It’s up north of the city.”
“That’s him. Thanks.”
“No problem. If you find him, tell him I said hello.”
“Will do.” Zack hung up then looked up Rattlers. “Feel like taking the long way home?”
“How long?” When Zack gave him the address, Dallas nodded. “I know right where it is. Mike took me up there once to work off some steam after a really bad night. The guy who owns it was there. Talk about one bad motherfucker. I bet he could take on Arreola and win.”
“Sure, if you say so.”
Dallas laughed. “You have no clue, do you?”
“I’d guess he’s a boxer, and you know I’m not a boxing fan. I didn’t know you were, though.”
“Not really, but some of the guys are, so I pick up on things.”
They bantered a bit about various sports neither of them really cared about until they arrived at the gym. Zack picked up on a few pitying glances when they went inside. It didn’t surprise him since he and Dallas still looked like the walking wounded with him on crutches and Dallas wearing a cast.
When he got to a counter at one side of the gym, Zack asked the guy manning it, “Is Nate around?”
“Maybe. Who wants to know?”
“Tell him Zack’s looking for him.”
“You found him,” a booming voice said from behind Zack and Dallas.
Zack turned and was engulfed in a bear hug that made him drop his crutches. Then the man released him, looking him over from head to toe.
“Who the hell did you run into? I thought I taught you better than to end up looking like you went a few rounds with a kangaroo.” Nate picked up the crutches then handed them to Zack. “Who’s your friend?” He turned to Dallas. “You in the same fight?”
“I was. I’m Dallas.”
“Dallas, Dallas. Yeah, I sorta remember you. You were here with Mike once. You’re not bad”—Nate tapped Dallas’ cast—“but not perfect either. “So, Zack, what happened and why are you here?”
“We need your help, if you’re willing. And not against the punks we ran into. They’re already taken care of.”
“Hope they look worse than you two. Come on. Let’s go into my office.”
Zack and Dallas followed him into a large room that obviously served as both an office and a place to store extra equipment. Once they were all seated around the desk on one side of the room, Zack told Nate a bit about what had gone on in his life since they’d been together twenty years ago.
“So,” Nate said, grinning. “You’re the infamous Reaper. I’m proud of you, kid.” He ran a hand over his short, graying hair. “So how can I help?”
“I have some kids… Not mine,” Zack added when he realized how that could be taken. “Homeless teens who I think could step in and take over for me, if they get some training. They’re pretty good at defending themselves, but that’s different from going after the kind of punks who prey on street kids.”
Nate tapped his fingers together. “How many and how old?”
“Right now, three. Two guys and a girl. All in their late teens.”
“A girl?”
“Come on, Nate,” Dallas said, “don’t be chauvinistic. Girls can fight just as well as guys.”
“Hell, I know that. My old lady can handle half the men who work out here. I take it these kids know you as Reaper,” Nate said.
“Reaper and Wrath,” Zack replied with a nod to Dallas. “A few others know too, and they’re keeping it on the QT.”
“Okay. So, when do you want to do this?”
“That depends. I could bring them here, of course.”
“But? It sounds like there is one.”
“The three of them are going to be helping out, along with some of their friends, painting and such, at the new home for Off-the-Street.”
“Yeah, I heard they have to move the shelter. So you were hoping I could come down there to teach them?”
“If you’re willing. I know it’s asking a lot.”
“Hell, kid. For you, I’ll do it.”
Dallas chortled. “He’s hardly a kid anymore.”
“Yeah, well to me that’s what he’ll always be. The kid I taught to defend himself better than he had been. Not that he was a slouch at it, but…” He patted Zack’s shoulder. “Now the kid is all grown up and dealing out some hurt to those who deserve it. I like that idea. When do you want me down there?”
“Tomorrow evening?”
“You got it. Just tell me where.”
Zack gave him the address before asking Nate, “So what’s new with you these days?”
Nate told him the latest, especially about his wife and family.
Finally, realizing it was getting late, Zack suggested it was time to get home. He and Dallas left with Nate’s promise that he’d see them the next night at the building.
* * * *
“Holy shit, that dude is scary,” Zip said when he came up from the basement of the new Off-the-Street.
He, Colly, Raven and a fourth teen Zip had recruited, who called himself Sway, were working with Nate on their fighting skills.
“I know,” Reaper replied. “I told you he’s the one who taught me, way back when. You look like you’re surviving, though.”
“Yeah. Am. He sent me up for”—Zip hurried over to the large cooler by counter to grab five bottles of water—“these.” Seconds later, he vanished down the stairs again.
Chuckling, Reaper went back to what he was doing—supervising a team of teens who were painting the walls on the first floor. “And the floors and themselves,” he grumbled before reminding them that there was only so much paint available, so they should be a bit less enthusiastic when wielding the rollers and brushes.
It was close to midnight when he called a halt for the night. Wrath came downstairs, followed by half a dozen teens, to announce that all the rooms on the third floor were finished. Admittedly, a quarter of them, plus those on the second floor, had already been painted when he and Reaper had arrived around six to take over from the counselors and kids who had been working during the day.
“Who’s up for pizza before crashing for the night?” Reaper asked the gathered throng.
“Who isn’t would probably be the right question,” Nate said, as he and his trainees joined the group.
Reaper counted heads then called a pizza delivery chain to order enough pizzas that the guy who answered the phone asked if this was some kind of prank. Reaper assured him it wasn’t, and gave him his credit card number to prove it. Aside from the pizzas, Reaper ordered drinks and asked for napkins and paper plates as well.
While they waited, Wrath suggested the kids clean up. Some of them grabbed their backpacks from where they’d left them, heading up to the bathrooms. Others went to use the kitchen sinks.
“So how did it go?” Reaper asked Nate, now that they were alone for a moment.
“You’ve got a good team. Raven…” Nate grinned. “You wouldn’t think it to look at her but she held her own when I had them working in pairs against each other.”
“Figured she would. What about Sway? He’s one I never ran into.”
“He’s got the brawn. He just has to learn a bit more self-control. I told them we should get together a couple more times to practice what I showed them. Okay if we do that here tomorrow night?”
“As far as I know, it is. I’ll call Brian in the morning, just to be certain. Since the painting is all but finished, I think carpeting is next on the list then he’ll start moving everything over from the old building.”
A loud banging on the front door, plus a few of the teens coming back into the room, put an end to their conversation. Nate let the pizza deliveryman in, then he sent Zip and Colly out to help him bring in the order. They spread the boxes out on the new admitting counter and soon all the kids were sitting on the floor to eat while Reaper, Wrath and Nate used the counter as their table.
