White Out by Dana King

Author:Dana King
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Down & Out Books

26.

Hensley took a shower and stretched out damp on the bedspread for five minutes of eyes closed. He chose the Springhill Suites at Pittsburgh Mills because it was the closest to Penns River without actually being in town where the chances were high he’d interact with too many of the protesters.

He dressed in a flannel shirt worn open over a tee he pulled from his laundry bag. Jeans and Timberlands he’d brought just in case he needed them. Checked himself in the mirror. Made adjustments so he wouldn’t look too stereotypical. Walked down the hall and stepped into an elevator already occupied by Spencer Richards, Karl Tucker, and a third man who looked familiar.

Hensley could arrest Tucker right here and frog-march him to the car. He’d be locked up in Pittsburgh before anyone who might want to do anything about it even knew the arrest had been made. On the other hand, a lot of outstanding warrants could be cleared and intel gathered based on what Hensley learned tonight.

He went for the gusto. “Hey, aren’t you Spencer Richards?”

Richards lit up like a teen in his first whorehouse. Tucker nudged him. “See? What’d I tell you?” Pay dirt.

“I saw you on the internet the other day. That’s why I’m here.” Turned toward Tucker, hand extended. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you. Jay Hensley.”

“Karl Tucker.” They shook.

Hensley extended a hand to the third man. “Jay Hensley.”

“I…uh…I’m not with them.”

Richards redirected Hensley’s attention. “Did you see the post this afternoon? About the rally?”

“I’ve been on the road all day. No internet. What’d I miss?”

“The police broke up a peaceful demonstration this afternoon. Arrested over twenty and sent half a dozen to the hospital. We’re meeting at six thirty in the Penns River Comfort Inn to decide what to do about it.”

“Fucking cops. Can I come?”

“Absolutely. Where are you from?”

The elevator stopped at the lobby. The unidentified man detached himself from the group as everyone stepped off.

“Woodridge, Illinois.” Near where Hensley lived a couple of assignments ago.

“Don’t know it.”

“It’s a little fart of a bedroom community outside Chicago. Most people think of the whole area as Downers Grove.”

“That I heard of.”

“See what I mean?”

Richards’s expression implied the start of an erection. “You drove here all the way from Illinois?”

“This is a big deal. They start getting away with killing white people and it’s all over for us. Gotta draw the line somewhere.”

The three stopped near the lobby doors. Tucker said, “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m the dairy manager at Jewel-Osco.” No sign of recognition. “It’s the big supermarket-pharmacy chain.” Hensley had worked his way through college at a supermarket, but not Jewel and not in Illinois.

“You married?”

“Wife’s a schoolteacher.”

“She didn’t mind you coming all this way alone?”

Hensley hemmed. Stopped short of hawing. “We’re separated.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be.” Hensley tried for a combination of bile and remorse. “She wants to live in a bubble and ignore the truth. It’s her choice.”

“Kids?”

“Two.”

“Give it time. She might come around. We have more women in the cause than most people think.

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