Scared Silent by Neil Turner

Author:Neil Turner [Turner, Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Neil Turner Books

After dropping off Penelope and her security people at Brooks and Valenti, I call up Darnel Wix’s address on my car GPS, then peel out of the alley behind our office. On some level, I know this is a bad idea. There’s nothing subtle about my arrival outside the building where I first encountered Wix four months ago. A new pair of kids is standing guard at the top of the steps.

“No time for your tough-guy act this afternoon,” I tell them as I climb out of the car and brush my suit jacket back to give them a good look at my Glock. “One of you needs to get his tail inside to tell Mr. Wix that Tony Valenti is here to discuss his boy. Denzel’s in the hospital. He might die.”

The boys exchange startled looks. The largest shoots me a quick nod and disappears inside while the smaller boy eyes me suspiciously.

“Y’all don’t wanna be coming around here sayin’ what we ought to do, dude. Could be bad for your health. Know what I’m sayin’?”

“I’m in no mood to put up with crap from a child,” I snap back.

His eyes smolder with resentment but he keeps his mouth shut.

“What the fuck you doin’ here again?” Darnel Wix shouts as he bursts through the door. His eyes are ablaze and the cords on his neck are bulging.

I shoot a withering look at the kid standing at the top of the steps. “Junior here didn’t tell you?”

“Somethin’ about Denzel and a hospital?”

I explain, concluding with, “You should be at the hospital, Wix.”

“Nothin’ I can do about that. I ain’t no doctor.”

Seriously? “Whatever else you may be, Wix, you’re that boy’s father.”

He shrugs. “Ain’t nothing for it.”

“You can be a parent! What kind of man brings a child into the world and then abandons him?”

Wix simmers but doesn’t reply.

I take a step closer. “Denzel is in danger. Step up for once and be a father!”

“What the hell can I do?” he asks with a dismissive snort as he eases closer still. “I put up with enough of your shit now, mister. Time to get your cracker ass outa here while you still can.”

I don’t give an inch. “What you can do is lean on the punk who was with Denzel the night Harry Hood died. Talk to your lowlife gangsta buddies, get the word out that anyone who hurts Denzel is going to have to deal with you.”

Something flickers in Wix’s eyes. He’s made a decision. I hope it’s the right one. When he turns and starts to walk away, I try to nudge him in the right direction.

My eyes cut to the two kids standing sentry as I call out after Wix. “You don’t give a damn about your own flesh and blood? You expect these children to have your back when you won’t lift a finger to help your own son?”

He pauses on the top step to look back at me, then shoots a sideways glare at his little soldiers.

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