PRECIOUS CARGO

 

By: Kenda

 

The Beginning Of The End

                              

(Prologue)

 

 

     I look back on it now, and wonder when it all went wrong.  When everything fell apart at the seams.

 

      Things had finally come together for my brother and me.  We had finally hit our stride, so to speak, and had achieved nothing less than a string of glorious victories at the finish line.   Neither one of us could have been happier with our professional lives, nor with our personal lives, for that matter.  After all those years of workin' our tails off to eek two incomes out of a job that very often doesn't even provide one, we had arrived at a point where we no longer thought of ourselves as struggling P.I.'s.  Instead, we thought of ourselves as simply, successful private investigators.

 

      It was a good feeling.  One I was proud of.  And one A.J. was proud of as well, though these days he has a hard time admitting that to himself.     

 

     I've never been one to look too far into the future.  Usually I'm pretty content with just makin' it through another day.  Generally I let tomorrow worry about itself.  But I look back now on that day in the office, the day when Carlos walked in with his cousin, and I wish to God I'd had a crystal ball.  I wish I could have seen the freight train barrelin' down our track with its whistle blowin' a warning we musta’ been deaf not to hear.  I've wished a hundred times I could go back to that day, thereby changing the outcome of everything that came afterwards.  Thereby sparing the brother I love unjust pain and heartache. 

 

       If I'd only somehow known it would turn out to be...the beginning of the end.

 

 

Chapter 1

 

 

 

     A.J. and I were gathered around his desk that Tuesday morning of January 9th, 1990.  We were attempting to dry a set of blueprints with a blow dryer, when the office door opened without the preamble of a knock.

 

     "So, Ricky, what have you gone and ruined this time?" 

 

     I looked up briefly, then returned my attention back to the delicate task at hand.  "Nothing, amigo. Nothing."

 

     A.J. was all too eager to discount my 'nothing'.  "An important set of blueprints that we need for a job this evening. Big brother here managed to spill a full mug of coffee on them."

 

     "Hey!  It wasn't my fault!  If you hadn't let the door slam when you came in this never woulda' happened."

 

     "Rick, face it," my sibling imparted.  "It's always your fault."

 

     "It is not!  I don't know why I always have to take the blame for--"

 

     "Okay, amigos.  That's enough," Carlos refereed.  "This is just one of many disagreements I've witnessed over the last thirty-five years.  Therefore, I'm well aware that it could go on all day.  Unfortunately, my cousin and I don't have the time to be a part of your brotherly hi-jinx this morning."

 

     It was then that I took notice of Carlos's cousin, Adriano, standing behind him. By Adriano's side was a young girl who appeared to about fourteen.

 

     A.J. shut off the hair dryer and set it aside as Carlos introduced, "Rick, you remember my cousin, Adriano Garcia."

 

     I stuck my right hand out. "Yeah. Sure.  How ya' doin', Adriano?"

 

     The slender, brown-eyed man in blue jeans and a green flannel shirt gave my hand a firm shake.  "I am fine, Rick."   

     I had worked on Adriano's Oldsmobile with Carlos and Adriano one Sunday afternoon a few years back.  Although that was the last time I'd seen him, Carlos spoke of him on occasion.   

 

     "And this is Rick's younger brother, A.J.," Carlos introduced. 

 

     A.J. walked around from behind his desk, and with a smile shook the hand Adriano extended to him.   "It's nice to meet you, Adriano."

 

     Carlos put an arm around the girl's shoulders and encouraged her to step out from Adriano's shadow.  "And this is Erika.  She's Adriano's daughter."

 

     The girl shook the hand I offered her.  "Hi, Erika.  I think I remember seein' you at your dad's house a few years ago."  I eyed the thin girl's typical teen attire of short denim skirt, oversized white dress shirt that probably belonged to one of her older brothers, and baggy denim vest.  She was a pretty girl, just cresting womanhood.  I had no doubt that within a few short years she'd be a real knockout.  "Only then you weren't much into wearin' skirts if I remember right.  I think you helped us work on your dad's car that day, didn't you?"

 

     "Yeah," the girl acknowledged with a shy smile.  In much the way a mare straightens her mane she tossed her long black hair over her shoulder with a graceful shake of her head.   

 

     Carlos went on to introduce Erika to A.J., who also shook her hand.  He gave her a smile and a "How are you, Erika?  It's nice to meet you."

 

     I cocked an eyebrow at Carlos that he interpreted accurately to mean, "Is this business or pleasure, old buddy?"

 

     The grim line around Carlos's mouth and the firm little shake of his head gave me my answer.  Business.  Serious business.

 

     A.J. must have read Carlos's body language as well.  He made quick work of ushering everyone toward the circle of four overstuffed chairs that surrounded the large round coffee table in the middle of the office floor.  I offered our guests sodas, which they all declined, then pulled a chair over from A.J.'s desk to complete the gathering.

 

     No one spoke for a few seconds, which was okay with me.  It gave me a chance to subtly study our visitors.  Adriano continuously worried his lower lip with his teeth and appeared to be exhausted.  Even with his ruddy complexion I could easily detect the dark circles under his eyes.

 

     Erika seemed on edge.   She sat perched on the end of her chair, her hands tucked under her thighs, her shoulders hunched forward as if she were cold.  Her legs never stopped moving, jiggling up and down nervously from the moment she had been seated. 

 

     Since Carlos was an old friend of mine, A.J. let me take the lead regarding the discussion.  For the time being, I directed my attention to the man I had met more than three decades earlier in a third grade classroom at Mission Bay Elementary School.

 

     Conversationally I asked, "So, Carlito, what can we do for you today?"

 

     Carlos's dark eyes met mine.  There was no hint of the mischief they usually contained.  "Adriano and Erika have a...bit of problem that they need help with, Ricky.  When my cousin explained to me what's been happening recently to his daughter, I suggested we come see you and A.J.  Maybe the two of you can be of assistance...or at least offer some other options for us to consider."

 

     I looked across the coffee table at Carlos's cousin.  "What seems to be the trouble, Adriano?"

 

     The man looked unsure of himself for a moment.  He glanced at Carlos and received a small smile and nod of encouragement.

 

     Adriano looked back at me.  "Carlos may have told you that my wife passed away two years ago, Rick." 

 

     I nodded.  I recalled that Adriano's wife had been in remission from some form of cancer back when the three of us worked on his car that Sunday afternoon four years earlier. When she had died two years after that Carlos had been a pallbearer at

her funeral.

 

     "I had a rough time of it right after Leonora passed away."  The man looked at his daughter and smiled sadly.  "We all did.  Erika had just turned twelve.  My sons were sixteen and seventeen.  All three of them missed their mother very much.  I...well I did not handle the whole thing so well.  I took to drinking too much--"

 

     Erika reached over and squeezed her father's hand.   "Papa, don't."
                                                  

     Adriano smiled at his child.  "It is okay.  This is something I have to do, Erika.  Something we both have to do.  We can no longer pretend the bad times have not happened.  They are as much a part of us as the good times are."

 

     Adriano returned his attention to me and A.J.  "As I said, I took to drinking too much to hide from the pain.  To not have to see the sad faces of my children who no longer had a mother.  For the first year after my wife's death I spent more time in the corner bar than I did at home.  The boys...well, I thank God they came through it all right.  That they did not pay the price for my foolishness.  My weakness.

 

     "James, my oldest, tried to be both mother and father to his younger brother and sister.  For my sixteen-year-old Nathaniel, that was enough.  For Erika,"  The man looked at his daughter once again and smiled softly.  "Well for Erika, it was not.  And it should not have been.  I should have been there for her.  But I was not.  And now we are both paying the price for my mistakes."  The man hung his head in a gesture I could only interpret as one of shame.

 

     When Carlos's cousin couldn't seem to go on I offered gently, "I'm sorry for all your troubles, Adriano...Erika.  My brother and I lost our father when we were young so we know how difficult the loss of a parent...as well as a spouse, can be for a family.  But I'm a little confused here as to how A.J. and I can be of help to you."

 

     Adriano looked up from the floor and cleared his throat. 

 

"Because I was not around much...and usually hung-over when I was, my daughter found herself in need of more than I...or her brothers, were capable of offering.  She...she joined a local street gang."

 

     Slowly I began to see the light, as did A.J. I'm sure.  The grief stricken girl felt abandoned, betrayed, and probably a hundred other things by the mother who had died.  The father that should have been there to help her pick up the pieces was too busy drowning his own sorrows in a bottle of Jack Daniels.  At twelve years old she was left feeling lost and alone.  No doubt a gang provided her with the family unity she was so desperately seeking.

 

     With just a trace of the accent leftover from his childhood in Mexico Adriano said, "You must understand, Rick...A.J., my daughter is not a bad girl.  She is not the kind of girl who hurts people, or--"

 

     "Adriano," A.J. interrupted the man's unnecessary explanation.  "Neither Rick nor I are here to pass judgment over you or Erika.  What's happened is in the past.  Just tell us how we can be of help to you now."

 

     At my brother's words, Adriano looked as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.  I gave A.J. a smile.  I was grateful for the empathy he brought to emotional situations such as these. 

 

     The man rubbed his palms nervously over his blue jean clad thighs as if what he was about to tell us was difficult to reveal.  "Erika joined the Conquistadoras shortly before her thirteenth birthday."

 

     I exchanged glances with both Carlos and A.J.  The three of us were well aware that the Conquistadoras, in English the feminine version of the word Conqueror, were the sister gang to a very powerful male street gang that had been in existence in San Diego since the 1950's called the Conquistadores¢.  Even for all the trouble Carlos and I had gotten into as teenagers, and for as foolhardy as we had been at times, we had always been smart enough to stay away from those guys.  They were bad news in a big way. 

 

     The jittery little girl with the coal black hair who was sitting across from me now hardly fit my image of an uncouth, street-smart female gang member.

 

     Before Adriano could go on with his story, Erika spoke.  Both A.J. and I had to strain to hear her though she was no more than five feet from us. 

 

"I...I thought that being in the gang would be cool.  I knew some girls at school...they were in it and made it sound so neat.  My Pop...he already told you about his problems, and Jimmy and Nate...well, they tried to help, but they weren't my Mom, you know?"

 

     My brother and I nodded, not interrupting the girl whose eyes flicked back and forth from one of us to the other.

 

     "So I thought that in this gang of girls...that maybe somehow I'd get what I was missing at home.  Or at least that's what I think I was looking for.  I don't even know myself anymore.  All I know is that there was a bunch of girls, thirty in all, and some of them were a lot older, in their twenties, and they made it sound like they would take my Mom's place for me.  That they would be kind of like...my older sisters if I wanted them to be."

 

     As Erika became more comfortable with A.J. and me she sat up straighter, stilled her legs, and talked with more volume and confidence. 

 

"At first it was fun.  It was like being in a club just for girls.  Later I figured out that's how they recruit new members.  That they go easy on you in the beginning to gain your trust.  Then as they ask you to do more and more... bad things for them...well I guess they assume that you'll either be so much a part of the gang that you won't question it, or if nothing else that you'll think you owe it to them to do whatever they ask."  Erika dropped her head and looked down at the floor.  She almost whispered as she finished with,  "No matter how bad it is."

 

     "And is that what happened to you, Erika?"  My perceptive brother asked gently.  "Did they ask you to do bad things? Things that you didn't want to do?"

 

     Erika's face was hidden by her long hair.  She gave a tiny nod in answer to A.J.'s questions. 

 

     Adriano reached over and rubbed a hand up and down his child's back.  "Erika was in the gang a little more than a year.  After the first eight months she knew she wanted out, but did not know how to get out without risking her own life.  It was shortly after that time that I came to my senses.  Saw what I was doing to my family...especially to my daughter.  I came home one night and threw all the liquor out of the house.  That was over six months ago now and I have not had a drink since. Have not stepped foot in a bar since that time.  My kids and I started going to church together again.  I took an interest in their activities again.  I have tried to take the place of their mother as best I can.  The four of us have made some big steps forward in the right direction. 

 

     "When I had sobered up enough to realize just what Erika was doing, just what this gang was all about that she belonged to...I went a bit loco.  I grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, screaming and shouting at her in Spanish.  My son James finally had to pull me away from her.  I was so angry with her...and angry with myself.  Leonora and I did not raise our children to steal from, or hurt other people.  We were just eighteen years old when we were married and left Mexico.  I came to this country to give my unborn children everything I did not have as a child.  I did not want them born into poverty.  Nor did I want them to join the street gangs that were so prominent in my youth in Mexico City.  Leonora and I worked hard to buy our own home.  To provide nice things for our family.  We raised our children to be good honest citizens.   When I found out what Erika had done, that she had joined the Conquistadoras, I felt like I had failed my wife.  I knew that if Leonora had lived this would have never happened."

 

     Before the man could go on with any more useless and unnecessary self-incriminations I asked for clarification, "But Erika's out of the gang now?"

 

     "Technically speaking, yes she is,” Adriano nodded.  “She has been out for five months.  But they will not leave her alone."

 

     I looked at A.J.  He gave a slight nod of his head, indicating to me that he knew as well as I did that most street gangs don't take too kindly to a member suddenly deciding that their itinerary of activities isn't appealing.

 

     I returned my attention to Adriano who was explaining, "They call our house at all hours of the day and night.  They have threatened to hurt me and my sons.  They have threatened to...to kill my daughter.  They will not leave us alone.  They do not seem to understand that she no longer wants to be a part of their gang."

 

     "Oh, they understand it all right."  I stated. "They just don't like it."

 

     "I have done everything I know to do," Adriano said. "For five months they have hounded my child like dogs on a fox hunt.  I took her out of the public high school where she was a freshman and now have her in a private Catholic school.  I thought that would help.  I thought that if she no longer went to school with some of those girls it would all come to an end.  When it did not, I had our phone number changed.  It is now unlisted.  Still, the calls come.  Somehow they still get through.  One of the boys or myself drives Erika to school and picks her up, but still they follow us.  They taunt us.  They dare us to challenge them.  I instruct my sons, do not cause trouble.  Ignore them, and eventually they will tire of their games.  But still, they follow us.  Harass us.  I cannot leave Erika in the house alone for fear that one of them will break in and harm her.  As a last resort now, I am putting my house up for sale.  I think the only thing we can do is start over somewhere else where no one knows us.  I am beginning to think that we cannot even stay in San Diego.  That Erika will only be safe if we move several hundred miles away.  Maybe even to another state."

 

     With that Erika began to cry softly.  Adriano put a comforting arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him.  I could just barely hear her muffled apology. 

 

"It's all my fault, Papa.  I'm so sorry.  I don't want us to have to move away.  Jimmy and Nate are in college here.  Your job is here.  Our family is here.  I didn't mean--"

 

     Adriano rocked back and forth with his child.  "Shhh," he hushed.  "It is not your fault.  We both have made our share of mistakes, but those are behind us now.  The boys can go to college anywhere.  They will not care.  You know that.  And as far as a job goes, well I can get a job anywhere too.  The change might even do us all some good.  It might be the best thing for us.   Remember what your mama used to say?  God doesn't close a door without opening a window.  Good things will come of this.  We just cannot see them right now.  And as for our family...family will always be family no matter where we live."  Adriano looked over at his cousin.  "Isn't that right, Carlos?"

 

     Carlos leaned forward and laid a hand on Erika's back. 

 

"That's right.  We'll come see you, Erika, no matter where you end up living.  You better tell your old man to buy a big house with lots of bedrooms 'cause ya' know, when our family comes to visit, they usually end up staying a couple of years. We're a hard bunch to get rid of."

 

     I could tell Erika's sobs had changed to a choked laugh at Carlos's inside joke.  The girl pulled away from her father and wiped her wet eyes with her white shirtsleeve.  When she discovered she had smeared black mascara across it she moaned, "Oh, no.  Nate's gonna kill me."

 

     A.J. rose and pulled a clean hankie from his pocket.  He walked over to the water cooler and wet a corner of it.  He came back and handed it to Erika.  “Here,” he said with a smile. “See if this will get it out."

 

     The girl scrubbed vigorously at the sleeve for a few moments, then handed A.J.'s hankie back to him.  She smiled through her tears. 

 

"Thank you, Mr. Simon.  That worked pretty good.  I got almost all of it out."

 

     "A.J.," my brother corrected with a dimpled grin.  "And you're welcome." 

 

     The gallant knight in shining armor, otherwise known as my younger brother, went over to his desk and picked up a box of Kleenex, as well as grabbed a Coke out of the office refrigerator.  He handed both to Erika and received another bright smile of adoration and a grateful, "Thank you."

 

     Getting back to the business at hand I offered, "I think you're on the right track with everything you've done so far.  Pulling Erika outta the school where she has to see these kids everyday was the first thing A.J. and I woulda' suggested.  As far as getting an unlisted number goes, that was the right move, too.  Why these kids can still get through I can't tell you.  Either one of your kids gave the number out to a friend, who than inadvertently passed it on to the wrong person, or one of these gang members has some kind of connection with the phone company.  Maybe one of 'em has a relative who works there.  Regardless, I have a friend who can fix that for us.  I can get you a new unlisted number.  I know Bruno - my friend, will make sure no one gets a hold of it.  The only thing I can add is to be very careful as to who you give it out to.  Only give it out to those people who have absolute need of it.  Maybe you should get an answering machine.  That way you can screen your calls and won't have to deal first hand with the harassment if it somehow does continue.  And, after a while of not having the satisfaction of getting a live human voice at the other end, these kids might quit calling."

 

     Adriano listened intently to what I was saying, nodding after each point, and after the points I continued to make. 

 

     "Unfortunately, I have to agree with you in regards to putting your house up for sale.  None of us likes to turn tail and run, but when there's no other option open to us it doesn't mean that we're cowards.  Sometimes it just means we're smart.  I know enough about these gangs to know they won't give up.  And as much as I hate to say this, you're correct in your assumption that they probably intend to harm Erika if they have a chance to get a hold of her.  I hope I'm wrong about that, but it wouldn't be fair to either one of you if I was less than honest."

 

     "Have you talked to the police, Adriano?"  A.J. asked.

 

     "On several occasions.  They have not been much help, however."

 

     A.J. nodded his understanding.  "Many times there's nothing they can do until something happens.  Yet I know how frustrating it can be to be told that when you're trying to prevent something from happening in the first place."

 

     "Exactly," Adriano agreed.

 

     "Rick and I have a friend down at the police station who I believe would be sympathetic to Erika's plight.  I don't know if there's much she can do, but I do know she'll listen and willingly offer her thoughts and suggestions.  She may have Erika talk to an officer in the Gang Prevention Unit, as well.  I'd be happy to call and see if Lieutenant Marsh...our friend, is available this morning if you and Erika would like to speak with her."

     Adriano looked at his daughter, letting her make that decision.   Erika chewed on her lower lip a moment before turning her attention to A.J. and saying softly,  "Okay.  I...guess that would be all right.."

 

     A.J. smiled at her.  "It'll be painless.  I promise.  Abby only bites Rick.  And then, only when she's been provoked beyond her ability to cope anymore."

 

     "Hey!"  I protested over everyone's laughter.

 

     A.J. walked over to the phone on his desk and dialed Abby's number at the station.  He got her on the first ring.  He briefly outlined Adriano's dilemma, listened to whatever it was Abby said to him in return, thanked her and hung up.

 

     A.J. returned to our circle and sat down.  "She can meet with us at one o'clock this afternoon."

 

     I glanced at my watch to see it was just a few minutes past eleven.  "As long as we've got some time to kill how about if A.J. and I treat the three of you to lunch?"  I offered as I rose.  "There's this really good restaurant just a few blocks down that has a great luncheon buffet.  It's all you can eat from eleven until two."  I smiled at our youngest visitor.  "And they also have an ice cream buffet where you can make whatever kind of sundaes you want.  They've got everything from chocolate sauce to strawberries, to caramel, to bananas--."

 

     "Ricky...Ricky," Carlos beckoned for my attention right in the middle my recitation of my favorite part of Spooner's luncheon buffet.

 

     I looked at my old friend.  "What?"

 

     "Sit down please."

 

     "Why?  Don't you guys want to go to lunch?"

 

     "In a few minutes," Carlos stated.  "Adriano has something else he wants to talk to you about."

     I sat down, exchanging glances with A.J. as I did so.  I could tell he was as confused as I was.  We were both under the assumption that for the most part, we had helped Adriano and his daughter as much as we could.

 

     "What is it, Adriano?"  I prompted when the man didn't say anything.

 

     "Erika and I came here today upon the advice of Carlos to get both of your opinions regarding what has been happening to our family.  I am very glad to hear that the things we are doing to keep her safe are the right ones.  I will also gladly talk with your police lieutenant friend and heed to any advice she can give me.  But, as well, I came here this morning for another reason."

 

     Politely, A.J. asked, "And that reason is?" 

 

     Adriano looked over at Carlos a second, as if to check and see if he was doing the right thing.  Carlos gave a small nod of his head.

 

     Adriano shifted his eyes to A.J. and me. 

 

"I...I...well. I thought I might be able to hire the two of you to act as...as bodyguards, I guess you would call it, for Erika." 

 

     Adriano must have seen the dubious glances A.J. and I exchanged because he rushed on.

 

"Carlos has told me that the two of you have done this type of work before.  That sometimes you are hired as bodyguards for important business people...even celebrities."

 

     I couldn't meet my brother's intense gaze when he cocked an

eyebrow at me and gave me a look that clearly said,

”Celebrities?"

 

     Okay. Okay.  So maybe I had exaggerated to Carlos as to the prominence of some of our clients over the years.  Hey, I'm only human.

 

       A.J. turned to Adriano.  "Well...yes, it's true.  Rick and I have served as bodyguards on occasion for some prominent business people."  He looked at me as he finished with, "And on one or two occasions we may have done work for some minor celebrities.  Very minor celebrities.  But generally, Adriano, these are just one shot deals."

 

     At the puzzled lines that suddenly etched themselves into Adriano's forehead A.J. explained, "Generally we just escort the person to some event or another for one evening.  Yes, there have been times when we've served in the capacity of bodyguard for several days in a row, but that's fairly rare.  And to be honest with you, we've really never been involved in something like this.  Something that could be potentially dangerous to our client if we screw up."

 

     "But I know you can do it," Adriano insisted to A.J.  "Carlos speaks so highly of both of you.  And I have read of both of you in the paper many times over the years."

 

      The man shifted his pleas to me.  "Carlos thinks of you as a brother, Rick.  He trusts you with his life.  He trusts my daughter's life to your care, and to A.J.'s care, as well.  He told me that if he was facing this type of problem with one of his own children, that the two of you would be the first people he would turn to for help."

 

     "Look, Adriano," A.J. said gently, "Rick and I are flattered that you and Carlos have such confidence in our abilities.  And I know Carlos and Rick have a very tried and true friendship that goes back many, many years.  Under any other circumstances I wouldn't hesitate to offer you our services.  But in this case...well, it's just that in this case Rick and I may be a bit out of our league."

 

     I looked at Carlos, who refused to offer any of his thoughts on the matter.  I knew that meant that regardless of what he wanted me to do, he would stand by the decision A.J. and I made, and that our friendship would come out of this just as strong as it ever was.

 

     My mind formed the words I wanted to say to Adriano.

 

Look, I agree with A.J.  We'd really like to help you, but we're out of our league on this one.  These gangs are just too dangerous to mess with.  The best thing you can do is sell your house as quickly as possible and get the hell out of Dodge.

 

      I should have said that.  But I didn't.  The look on the man's face stopped me before I even got the first word out of my mouth.  He was lookin' at me and my brother like we were the only prayer he had left in this world.  Like we were the only hope he had of keeping his child safe.     And then I thought of Carlos, and the friendship that went back thirty-eight years.  If I said no to Adriano, wasn't I letting Carlos down as well?

 

     I looked from the hopeful eyes of Adriano, to the scared ones of Erika, to the neutral ones of Carlos.  Finally I settled on A.J.'s blue ones.  To those in attendance I said, "If you'll excuse me and my brother for a minute, we need to have a quick conference in the hall."

 

     A.J. followed me out into the hall and quietly shut the door behind us.  He ran a hand down his tie, straightening it neatly inside his khaki green sport coat.  I waited for him to speak.  In all the years we'd been in business together, I'd never known him to hold back on his true feelings regarding a case we were both on the fence about taking. Until this time.  How I wish to God now, that this time had been like all the rest.  That this time he would have just said, "No, Rick.  No way.  There's just too much potential danger with this one.  I know Carlos is an old friend, but we're just going to have to tell his cousin no."

 

     But instead of those words, the words I was fully expecting and would have accepted had they come my way, A.J. leaned silently back against the wall.  When he didn't say anything at all I asked, "Well, what do you think?"

 

     "Just what I said inside.  That we may be out of our league on this one."

 

     I nodded.  "I know it.  But on the other hand, it could turn out to be relatively easy.  I mean, if Adriano's house sells quickly, it could all come to an end in a fairly short period of time."

 

     "I suppose it could," A.J. agreed amiably.

 

     I floundered for another reason to take the case.  "And it could be that a couple of new faces will intimidate these kids."

 

     "I suppose that could happen," A.J. agreed again.  Though I knew if he was to speak his true thoughts it would be to say sarcastically, "Yeah, and if pigs had wings they'd fly."

 

     I paced the hallway with frustration and indecision.  "Come on, A.J.  Help me out here."

 

     "Rick, I've already told you twice how I feel.  I'm concerned that we may get in over our heads on this one.  The last thing I want is for that little girl in our office to get hurt because of one of us.  On the other hand, you're right.  It may turn out to be relatively easy.  And I suppose overall, we never have the luxury of knowing what exactly we're getting into on any case we accept.  So, maybe we shouldn't try to look so far ahead with this one either."

 

     I stopped my pacing and came to stand in front of him.  "So what's all that mean?"

 

     He smiled.  "It means this one's yours."

 

     "Mine?  What the heck is that supposed to--"

 

     "It means that Carlos is an old friend of yours to whom I know you feel a tremendous amount of loyalty.  This needs to be your decision, not mine.  I'll stand by whatever you think is best."

 

     I studied him for a long time, trying to decipher what it was he really wanted me to do.  When my brother suddenly developed such a poker face is beyond me.  Usually I can read him like a book.  But this time he called my bluff.  This one time I had to base my entire decision on his words alone. 

 

     Carlos is an old friend of yours to whom I know you feel a tremendous amount of loyalty, kept echoing over and over in my head.

 

     Finally I nodded. "I'm gonna tell Adriano we'll take the case."

 

     Again A.J.'s features didn't reveal to me whether or not he thought I was making a mistake.  He simply accepted my decision with a nod of his own head.  "That's fine.  Let's go work out the details."

 

     It didn't take more than a half an hour for A.J. and me to get a clear picture of just what Adriano wanted us to do.  Basically, we just had to pick Erika up in the mornings and drive her to school, then in the afternoons pick her up and drive her home.  One of us would stay at the house with her in the afternoons, as well, until either Jimmy or Nate returned from their college classes at U.C.S.D., or Adriano returned home from work.  It seemed like a fairly easy arrangement.  By the time the five of us left for lunch that day I was beginning to wonder what A.J. and I had been so concerned about in the first place.

 

     Not knowing exactly how long our services would be required, I just had Adriano sign a standard contract with us that held us free of all liability in the event that something went wrong.  We went over that part quickly - neither of us having any desire to dwell on it.  We then agreed to a modest fee that Adriano would pay weekly.  If we ended up staying on the case longer than anticipated, Adriano promised to pay the balance of what he owed us upon the sale of his home.

 

      A.J. didn't take part in the arrangements I made with Adriano.  He sat around the coffee table talking to Erika and Carlos while Adriano and I worked out all the details at my desk.   I knew A.J. was leaving it up to me as to what kind of a fee we were going to charge, and as to how we were going to get paid that fee, out of respect for the fact that Adriano was the cousin of an old friend of mine.  I wish now he hadn't.  Maybe the guilt wouldn't be so damn bad if he hadn't been so solicitous.  So understanding.  So concerned about my feelings of loyalty to Carlos.  I look back now and wonder where my feelings of loyalty to my brother were that day.

 

 

 

Chapter 2

   

    

     A.J. and I bought Carlos, Adriano and Erika lunch just like I had promised we would.  Carlos left to go back to work right after lunch, while the rest of us went to see Abby.  Adriano gave Carlos a hug outside the restaurant, telling him in Spanish how grateful he was for all Carlos's help and support.

 

     I promised Carlos that I'd drive Adriano and Erika home as they had ridden to the office with him. Adriano, Erika and I headed for my truck. A.J. was going to follow us to the police station in his Camaro as the four of us wouldn't fit in my truck.  Just as I was helping Erika make the step up into the cab she glanced over her shoulder and gave a longingly look in A.J.'s direction. 

 

     I knew full well what that look meant. "Would you rather ride with A.J.?"

 

     The girl smiled eagerly.  "Yes.  That is, if you don't mind, Mr. Simon."

 

     I couldn't help but smile back.  "I already told ya' twice, it's Rick, not Mr. Simon.  You're makin' me feel old."

 

     "Okay," Erika nodded.  "Rick."

 

     "Go ahead then.  Go get in the car with A.J.," I instructed.  "We'll see you down at the station in a few minutes."

 

     The girl looked up at me.  "You really don't mind?"

 

     "Naw, darlin'.  I'm used to it by now.  All our beautiful female clients fall head over heels in love with blondie over there."

     Erika blushed.  "Mr. Si...Rick!  I'm not in love with A.J.!  It's just that I've never ridden in a sports car before."

 

     As the girl ran toward the Camaro I laughed.  I turned to her father. "Now that's the most original line I've ever heard from any female who's got the hots for my brother."

 

     Adriano laughed as we both climbed in the cab.  "If Carlos hadn't told me so many good things about A.J., I might be concerned.  We have a name in Spanish for such a handsome, smooth talking man."

 

     Now it was my turn to laugh.  "I know the exact one you're thinking of, amigo.  And I don't think I'll share it with A.J.  But, even if Carlos hadn't told you so many good things about my brother, I’ll take this opportunity to assure you that my brother hasn't been interested in fourteen-year-old girls since he was a fourteen-year-old boy.  And don't let those looks fool you.  It's been a long time since A.J. was fourteen."

 

     Adriano and I talked back and forth quite comfortably for the rest of the ride to the police station.  I could tell A.J. and Erika were doing the same thing.  Every time we were stopped at a red light I glanced in my rearview mirror to see the two engaged in animated conversation.

 

     True to A.J.'s predication, Abby was both sympathetic and understanding of the Garcias' problems.  She offered what suggestions she could, though they didn't differ much from the ones A.J. and I had discussed with them earlier in the morning.  She then called down to the Gang Prevention Unit and made arrangements for an officer to talk Adriano and Erika.  Not only was there the possibility that the officer from that specialized unit could give some good advice to the Garcias, but Abby thought, as well, that Erika might be able to pass along some valuable information regarding the Conquistadoras. 

 

     Abby walked us down the two flights of stairs where she introduced Adriano and Erika to the man she had spoken to on the phone only moments earlier, Gary Childers.  As father and daughter were shown into Gary's office, I told them A.J. and I would wait for them out in the hallway.

 

     Abby waited with us.  "I hope you two know what you're getting into."

 

     Nonchalantly I asked, "Whatta ya’ mean?"

     "I mean a gang like the Conquistadoras is nothing to mess around with.  You guys know as well as I do that most of those girls are as tough as the boys.  And that they have a very close association with the Conquistadores¢."

 

     "We know," A.J. acknowledged.

 

     "I just hope you do," Abby stated in a tone that sounded very much like that a mother would use with her wayward children.    "Most of our officers who patrol the beat those kids call their turf ask for a transfer as soon as they have enough seniority.  It's a special breed that volunteers to work the Gang Prevention Unit."

 

     I echoed A.J.'s words.  "We know all that, Abby."

 

     "Well, just keep it in mind. You don't want to get too involved with those kids"

 

     "Come on, Abby, what were we to do?"  A.J. asked.  "The Garcias need help.  They didn't have anyone else to turn to."

 

     Abby smiled. "So they turned to Richard and Andrew Simon.  The patron saints of hopeless causes."

 

     "That's us," I quipped. 

 

     "Don't I know it," Abby tossed back.

 

     "Just what are the Conquistadores¢ and Conquistadoras into these days?"  A.J. asked with curiosity.

 

     "Aside from theft and the normal neighborhood mayhem they engage in, drug trafficking is their big thing from what I hear.  That's why it's so important to them that their members don't leave the gang like Erika chose to do.  They're afraid the ex-gang member will reveal the secrets they harbor.  The girls in the Conquistadoras do a lot of breaking and entering.  A lot of fencing.  Some drug running.  And all of them have to 'give' themselves to a boy in the Conquistadores¢.  Become his sexual partner until the time comes that he chooses to move onto someone else."

 

     "Yeah, Erika told us that," I stated grimly.  "That's part of the reason she left.  She was about to be 'given' to a twenty-year-ld thug who bragged that he killed his first victim when he was only thirteen."

 

     "Sounds sadly typical," Abby nodded.  "But, if you really want an accurate answer to all your questions, you’ll have to ask one of the officers from the G.P.U.  They'd know better than I would."

 

     Someone came out of the Unit's office to tell Abby she was wanted back upstairs in her own division.  She said her goodbyes to us, then left us with a final warning.  "You two be careful on this job.  Don't get yourselves tangled up in more trouble than either of you can handle."

 

     A.J. looked at me and smiled.  "Well, I never thought I'd live to see the day when Lieutenant Abigail Marsh actually cared about what happens to little old us."

 

     "Boy, me either,” I grinned.  “Do you suppose this means that it's gonna be easier to get classified information outta her from now on, A.J.?"

 

     Before A.J. could answer me Abby interjected, "Don't even think it.  And I'm only concerned about your well-being because one of my closest friends happens to be the unfortunate woman who gave birth to you two misfits."

 

     A.J. and I laughed as Abby disappeared up the stairs.  We then went into the Gang Unit and talked to an experienced officer like Abby had suggested.  I don't know if we were any wiser when we walked out an hour later with Adriano and Erika, but at least we'd gotten answers to all our questions.   And we both knew without a doubt that we wanted to avoid any confrontations with the Conquistadores¢.  I remember thinking, for just a split second, that maybe we should just tell Adriano we couldn't take the job after all.  But, of course, I didn't do that.  And I've regretted it every day since.   

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

 

     I heard the bell ring, then watched as in mere seconds, hoards of teenagers spilled out the doors of the stately old brick building.  St. Joseph's High School, where Erika had been enrolled only six weeks earlier, was a twenty minute ride from the office.         

 

     Groups of laughing boys and girls flocked by my truck, elbowing and jostling one another like playful pups that had been penned up too long.  The kids passed me without so much as a backwards glance, though some of them did wave and call out hellos to other parents who were parked in the lot awaiting the arrival of their offspring. 

 

     From what Adriano had told A.J. and me, St. Joseph's High School demanded a lot from its students in terms of academic achievement, as well as behavior.  It was probably one of the few Catholic high schools left in San Diego that still had a rigidly enforced dress code.  I had noted on the first afternoon I picked up Erika that all the girls wore navy blue skirts that hit just below their knees, white blouses, and navy blue vests or sweaters depending on the weather.  The boys wore navy blue dress slacks, white shirts, navy ties, and like the girls, either a sweater or a vest completed their uniform.  I never saw any of the kids' feet, boys or girls, in anything other than black dress shoes.                   

     I gave the horn a little toot when I saw Erika scanning the parking lot in search of my truck.  She said goodbye to a couple of girls she had been walking with and ran my way.

 

     I leaned over and opened the passenger side door, taking her books from her as she climbed in.

 

     "Hey, kiddo.  How was school?"