Chapter 13
She hung up with Joe, and knew she had to meet up with Tobias so she opened the door and walked out only to be met with by an ugly kid with a blue bandana on his head and a tattoo across his face.
"Uh, hi, are you here to unclog the toilet? It's pretty bad…you may want to put on some rain boots or something." She figured distraction was the best tool at this point. Being face to face with a gang member is not where she wanted to be. It seemed to work. His face scrunched up with confusion.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Yea, it's just flooded. You should have brought a mop." He glanced down at his hands and feet and she used the distraction to walk past him and towards the front. I made down the hall and to the doorway when she heard a gun cock and him yell.
"Hey wait! I'm not a damn janitor!" Everyone around kind of shifted in their seats, but ignored the interaction. It of course caught Tobias' attention just a few feet away still talking to Sal at the register. His head turned to her, his eyes locking with hers. She mouthed the words 'Allegiant' and prayed he knew about the gang. He should considered that Erudite probably keep tabs on them making sure they stay on their own turf, and out of their business. He nodded and then leaned over to say something to Sal which made him nod and walk briskly away.
"Listen, Tris Prior, I have a message for you from the Allegiant." She could hear his footsteps getting closer. She closed her eyes and recalled all of her training on what to do should her attacker grab her from behind. She tried not to jump when the gun hit her square in the back. She opened her eyes and scanned for Tobias… he was gone! 'crap where did he go? Maybe to call Joe? Back up? Ok, girl focus you can do this you don't need him. You're strong and independent on your own. By the book, something that will stick when he is arraigned in court' Her thoughts swirled in her head a million miles a minute.
"So what's the message, or are you just going to stand there and breathe down my neck all day." He started muttering under his breath in another language.
"Turn around and I'll give it to you." She could feel the excitement, the anticipation building for him. His first kill, a family that he would have forever, somewhere to belong, that's all most of these boys were looking for anyway; a place to call home.
She slowly turned expecting to meet her death, or something similar, only to see Tobias sneaking up the hall, lip swollen and bloodied. A shiner starting to form on his right eye, she looked away quickly so she wouldn't give anything away.
"You know now that I'm looking at you again. I'm not surprised I took you for the maintenance man. I mean the outfit, the tattoo, and the overall stench of desperation all over you kind of sold it. Never would have pegged you as a gang member." He was losing his cool and she knew it but she knew if she goaded him enough than he would do something rash that could lead to an arrest. "I mean, if you would just give me a minute, I'd like to call and verify that you work for them, because I just don't believe you." She started to reach for her phone trying to stifle a laugh. It was the last straw and she knew it, he reached his hand up into the air and landed a backhand across her face so hard she had to catch her balance on the wall.
Tobias stood rigid a few feet away after having come around back, grappled with the gunman's accomplice, and cuffing him. He now stood using every ounce of restraint not to rush in and help. This had to be by the book. He closed his eyes, adjusted his grip on his gun, and sent up a silent prayer of help. He opened his eyes to see Tris right herself using the wall as support. He admired her resilience and appreciated her humor, even if it was at the suspects' expense.
"So, that's how it's going to be huh? Didn't your mama ever teach you not to hit a lady?"
"You're no lady you're the skank. You're tearing up the family."
"Yes, well, I must tear it up some more because you're under arrest for assaulting a police officer."
"I don't think so!" He realigned the gun at her, when Tobias jumped him, knocking the gun from his hands. They scuffled around a bit, the commotion causing some spectators. She grabbed the gun to keep it out of other hands and then all hell broke loose. Someone yelled 'gun!' which caused a stampede just as backup arrived. She tossed Tobias her handcuffs since his were being occupied by the other guy. The uniforms made it to us and she told them to frisk them both and check the car they came here in for drugs to see if more crimes could be added to their list of grievances. Sure enough they found drugs in the car and on one of the attackers. We were sent to the paramedics around back out of sight of the press to treat our injuries, while we waited for Joe.