Catch Her If You Can
Chapter 25
Standard Disclaimer
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Previously…
"You're still an ass Tom ! Yes, I will dress up for you but not tonight honey…we have work to do. How did you get that tape from the VA?"
"Only the Shadow knows."
"God, it's corny lines like that, that make you sound so ridiculous."
I love her and I will figure out who wants to hurt our girl and then
Steve, Hector, Eddie and I will eliminate the threat.
Xxxxxxxxxx
"No! It's not happening!"
"Tom, Ranger is already included on finding out and helping protect Mike, we are not excluding him now!" yelled Steve.
"I don't like him, I have never liked him! He has treated women
Badly. How can you even think of allowing him near Mike."
"Look we were both in the service with him - he is good at what he does. I don't care for him either especially because of his reputation with women, but he cares about Mike and whether we like him or not she cares for him and trusts him."
"I'm working on my own on this and I am not sharing anything I learn with him until I have to. I'll call you when I know anything."
"Tom, we need to cooperate."
"I'll cooperate with you, Eddie, Hector and Mike. Use your SAT phones if you need me. I'll see you soon."
I turned to look at Eddie and then back to Tom, but he had already left. "Eddie, is he right? Will Ranger hurt Mike?"
Xxxxxxxxxx
Tom's POV
I went into Trenton, stopped by my 'place' and picked up some equipment and my vehicle. Hector had been by and left a few toys for me. Wouldn't Ranger crap if he knew about Hector, Eddie, Steve, Mike and me. Way to be aware of his surroundings.
I thought back to the first day of kindergarten. We had all lined up outside in the playground and marched into the classroom behind Sister Mary Frances. We had taken our assigned desks and sat with our hands folded. There was a really loud disturbance in the hallway and our door flew open and the principal was trying to drag in this kid who was kicking and screaming and fighting her all the way. I looked at Eddie, Steve and Mike and they were trying not to laugh. The kid was skinny, small and had so much long hair if he hadn't been wearing the boys uniform we wouldn't have known he was a boy.
The principal dragged him down the aisle and put him in the desk next to Mike. Uh Oh! The principal took out a belt and we all sucked in a breath, she then strapped him in his chair.
"Well Hector, see how you like sitting in the girl's aisle next to a girl. If you move from that chair without permission I will be notified. She turned and marched out of the room.
The room, which was in total silence, was called to attention by Sister Mary Frances. We all kept an eye on this kid because he was sitting next to Mike and we had vowed to take care of Mike in a blood brother pact last year when we were four. We didn't use a knife to draw blood but Steve, Eddie and I used a safety pin to draw blood, it was still a sacred oath which we still honor today.
The kid had his head down and his face was covered with his hair. He was kind twitching around and then he had his hands on the desk and the belt fell to the floor. Mike reached over and picked up the belt and spoke so quietly we couldn't hear what she said.
The kid shook his head and blew his hair away from his face and stared at Mike. She said something to him and he grinned.
"Stephanie Michelle Plum, do you have something to say to the whole class instead of that bad boy sitting next to you."
"Yes, Sister."
Steve, Eddie and I just held our breath because even we couldn't predict what Mike would say.
"Well, tell the class Stephanie Michelle what that is."
Mike stood up and said, " I told him I was proud of him for not being afraid to sit on the girl's aisle."
Sister's lips were trying not to smile. "Stephanie, I don't think he had much choice since the principal strapped him in the chair."
"But he did sister! He had himself out of the belt before Sister reached the door. He could have gotten up and sat anywhere because sister said he only needed permission to move and I gave him permission to move. I'm glad he sat next to me he's going to be my friend. Don't worry sister I'll buckle him up before Sister comes back"
At snack Hector joined us and pulled out an empanada to eat. When Eddie and I shared our snack with Steve and Mike, Hector shared his with them also. Mike took a bite and made her little noise and Hector looked at us and smiled. In the boys room we asked him if he wanted to watch over Mike too. The next day he became our blood brother when he pulled a knife out and made us slice our thumbs.
Everyone of us walked home after school except Hector. His older brother showed up with his friends everyday in an old car with the music blaring. Hector would jump in and wave and off they would go. The principal made a big deal out of Hector's long hair. One day during class Hector and Mike got caught talking and were made to stand in the corner. That of course did not stop Mike from talking. At recess, Hector and Mike went off to the corner of the playground and wouldn't let us near them. After recess we lined up and Hector was standing in line with his hair cut. He was covered in hair and so was Mike …it was a really bad haircut. Mike had cut it with Hector's knife. We sat at our desks when Sister walked up and down the aisles and she passed Hector and stopped, she shuddered while looking at his hair and continued down the aisle, but she didn't say anything.
That afternoon when his brother picked him up we were waiting with him. His brother stopped the car looked at Hector and asked him what had happened. Hector told him that Mike had cut his hair. "Well little brother I hope you didn't pay him."
"I didn't pay Mike! I kissed Mike!" and that was how the rumor of Hector being gay got started. Joey Morrelli overheard the conversation and spread it everywhere he could for years. People still believe it except the people who really know Hector.
I shook myself from the memories I had a lot to accomplish today.
I figured it would take the whole day and all night I had an idea what was going on but I needed to get my proof to bring to Mike, Steve, Hector, and Eddie and maybe Ranger. I still hadn't decided about including Ranger. I needed to be in Dover. I had a bad feeling about Dover.