Smoke-Filled Rooms: A Smokey Dalton Novel by Nelscott Kris

Author:Nelscott, Kris [Nelscott, Kris]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: WMG Publishing
Published: 2013-12-07T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

As we stepped outside, the air was filled with shouting.

Pigs!

Peace Now! Peace Now! Peace Now!

Stop the Democratic Convention!

Horns honked from just a few blocks away. When we reached North Avenue, kids ran past us, the smells of incense and pot trailing after them. Police cars filled the street, and cops stood at intersections, arms crossed.

“What the hell?” Malcolm asked.

“They must’ve cleared the park,” Daniel said.

A bearded man with dark eyes was leading a group toward us. They were all chanting “Om” and staring at their hands. Another group of kids clutching rocks ran toward Clark Street.

“We’ve got to get out of here,” I said.

We hurried down the block. A group of protestors were carrying a Vietnamese flag and clapping their hands. Another group followed them, shouting, “Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh.”

Television cameras followed them. I ducked out of the way, pulling Malcolm and Elijah with me. We crossed the street, threading our way through the marchers.

The cops were setting up barricades at the intersection of Clark and North.

“Something’s going down,” Daniel said.

“And we’re not staying for it.” I ducked into the alley. To my surprise, all three boys followed me. We got into the car, and I backed out. I had to stop at the sidewalk and then inch my way through the crowd.

Instead of turning east, I went all the way to Sedgewick before turning south. I wanted to take Lake Shore home but that wouldn’t be possible. I didn’t think driving through the Gold Coast with a rusted Impala full of black males was a good idea.

As we drove, squad cars passed us going the other way, their sirens on, lights flashing.

“Shit,” Daniel said.

“You knew this was going to happen,” I said.

“Not yet. We haven’t done anything yet.”

I glanced at him. He was in the backseat with Elijah. “You came here. In Chicago, I think that’s enough.”

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