Chapter Twenty-Seven

Courage

Inside, Lucas knew that it was an absolutely terrible idea to get involved. He didn't know much but what he did know about the gang Ryan Thatcher belonged to was not good. Lucas had heard the tales of people discovered with a strange new drug in their systems, twisted in pain on the sidewalk. The drug would certainly give you a high but it was ravage your insides and was certainly not safe for consumption. Lucas once knew a boy even younger than he was that had taken the drug out of desperation – they found him face-down in the middle of the suburbs, bleeding from every orifice.

He knew, though, that if he didn't make a move then Naomi and Tanzi would both be in deep trouble. There was rumblings that Ryan Thatcher was a very violent person with a number of disappearances being connected to him. Apparently the fact that he always lost in the street racings got to him and the man had to take his frustrations out on other people. Lucas could not just sit and watch a man like that attack the two women. He took a deep breath as he rounded the corner and strode towards Ryan Thatcher and his thugs.

"Hey!" Lucas called out, loud enough to grab the attention of every person in the courtyard. He could feel Lacey staring at his back but he couldn't turn around, couldn't chance involving her in a man like Ryan Thatcher.

"Who the hell are you?" Ryan demanded, tapping the ugly tire-iron in his hand.

"I'm someone who can help you," Lucas said, hoping the shaking in his voice couldn't be heard. "I have knowledge you want."

"Excuse me?" Ryan seemed confused at Lucas' words.

"I got important information," Lucas came to a stop in front of Ryan, his eyes eying the tire-iron warily. "The kind of information someone like you could make great use of."

"…Well? Out with it, then, boy."

"No," it took everything Lucas had to say that simple word. Ryan's face twisted in anger and Lucas quickly continued, "Look, you guys deal in trade, right? So I want to trade… My information for you guys to just leave. Forget about these two and this manor and just go."

"It better be damn good information," Ryan said. "Because if I'm not satisfied then your blood will run down this driveway."

"Lucas, do not…" Naomi started but stopped in her tracks as Ryan swung the tire-iron, stopping it at Naomi's neck.

"Shut it," Ryan said, his voice full of unsaid threats. Naomi could only nod slowly.

"It is about your Chemist," Lucas said carefully. This drew an immediate reaction. Ryan turned fully aware from the two women to look at the young man.

"Do you know something about what happened?" Ryan demanded.

"I do… but like I said. My lips are sealed until you promise to leave."

"…He's bluffing," the thug called Marc said with a sneer. "Look at him, he doesn't know a thing."

"Shut up," Ryan demanded. "But Marc here is right. How do we know you're not talking out your ass."

"Your Chemist is named Lou. He worked in the train-yard, making that drug of yours."

"Any addict would know that,"

"I know that the train he was using to make those drugs was blocked off with a broken piece of track and I know that you guys found a jacket stuffed into the pipe."

Marc and Ryan exchanged glances before Ryan looked back to Lucas. "You were there?"

"A friend of mine saw it happen. I know the name of the man who did it and it is someone you know particularly well. So… What do you say? This information is worth you guys leaving, right? You'll be able to take out the man who took down your Chemist."

Ryan seemed to think for a moment. His girl popped her gum and leaned in close to him. "…I think you should go for it, babe. Lou was important to us..."

"I know…" Ryan said softly before looking back to Lucas. "Fine. You have my word. Tell me the name of the man who killed our Chemist and we'll let your friends off the hook."

Lucas had to force himself not to sigh in relief out loud and spoke only the name, "Daniel Gecko."

Marc's head snapped to Ryan. "Gecko?! That crazy bastard was the one who attacked me last year! He was a constant customer."

"I know," Ryan stroked his chin. "He would certainly be the kind of person to try a stunt like that."

"Good information, right?" Lucas said hopefully.

"It was, it was." Ryan nodded. "But that does not stop the fact she killed one of ours," and with that Ryan Thatcher swung his tire-iron in a clean arc, catching Tanzi clean on the side of her head.

At that moment – as Tanzi fell wordlessly to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut – Lucas didn't realise that he had moved until he was on top of Ryan Thatcher, raining punches down on the man. The tire-iron skittered down the driveway as Ryan desperately raised his arms up to block Lucas' wild throws. Most blows were blocked but Lucas managed to get in a good hit on Ryan's jaw just as Marc and another of the goons caught Lucas' arms and painfully wrenched him backwards. Lucas fought but the goons threw a couple of punches into his gut, slowing him down.

"Tanzi!" Naomi had fallen to her knees to look at Tanzi's head. Blood was already flowing from the gash in her skull but Tanzi was still breathing, albeit shallowly. Naomi grit her teeth and cradled Tanzi's head, looking back at Lucas who had been forced to his knees.

Ryan spat a glob of blood to the ground and looked like a demon from hell as he stared at Lucas. "That was a very big mistake, boy." Every word was interrupted by a deep breath. Ryan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out something small and sharp. Naomi realised with horror that it was a slender knife with the design of a skull on the hilt. Lucas only looked up at Ryan with spite, hoping that Lacey wasn't watching. He had fought for seventeen years to live. He had lived on the streets, had stolen food just to get by. He had been kicked, spat on, and laughed at for not having a home, for not having a family. Lucas was only glad to he had managed to meet Lacey before he met his end – the only person who showed him true kindness without considering his past or his present. Lacey was only look to his future and for that Lucas would never be able to repay her.

Then something happened with took everyone off guard.

Ryan's girl reached forward and in one smooth motion hooked Ryan's arm, spun him around and slammed him to the floor, sending his knife skittering. She immediately said, "Ryan Thatcher, you are under arrest for assault, suspected homicide, drug trafficking and trespassing. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say maybe given in evidence."

"A-Angel!? Wh-What—" Ryan voice was strangled as the woman dug her knee into his back. The sudden blare of sirens echoed around the grounds as the thugs looked to each other in shock, not quite comprehending what just happened.

"Get on your knees, now!" The woman said firmly. "If you run you will make it much harder on yourself."

The first police patrol car drove up the tarmac of the driveway fast, narrowly avoiding the tire-iron as it came to a halt behind the thugs. Two of them had already dropped to their knees with their hands behind their heads. The other two holding Lucas had let go and decided that the best course of action was also to kneel.

A second patrol car joined the first as a pair of officers ran up to the girl and handed her a pair of handcuffs. She quickly cuffed Ryan tightly as he spat curses. "You were a cop? How long have you—you goddamn bitch, Angel, what the hell are you thinking!?"

"The name's Carol," The woman said calmly as she stood up. She turned to one of the officers of the second car – the pair had started cuffing the thugs. "Call an ambulance, now! We got a severe head injury."

The events that followed seemed almost a blur to Naomi. The thugs were each read their rights and bundled off into the police cruisers to be taken away. Ryan himself was placed in one car and was driven away as he spat curses. The police woman, Carol, had gently pushed Naomi aside to look at the wound in Tanzi's forehead.

"Naomi, how are you?" Lucas asked as he crouched down next to her, looking worriedly as Carol looked over Tanzi.

"I am fine, Lucas, just… shaken…"

"Lucas!" Lacey had run up and hugged Lucas tightly.

"I'm okay, Lacey… Just fine…" As Lucas turned to Lacey, Naomi fell to a seated position. She felt completely exhausted as she watched Carol place Tanzi's head in her lap and could only wait in silence as officers started swarming around the driveway.

The ambulance had arrived and quickly whisked Tanzi away; Naomi had asked to go with her but they explained that only family members could ride in the back so she had begrudgingly watched the ambulance disappeared back down the driveway. Both Lacey and Lucas were talking to separate officers, evidently giving their statements. Naomi had already given her statement to one of the policewoman, Carol, had been talking to an officer and had finally finished, turning to walk over to Naomi herself.

"I'll take you to your friend," Carol said with a smile as she sat next to Naomi on the doorstep. "I'm sorry I haven't had time to explain what happened. It must seem very confusing."

"Whether I understand it or not, I would say you managed to save Lucas just in time," Naomi replied. Carol's face fell slightly.

"I'm sorry I didn't see Thatcher's strike coming. Your friend is hurt because I failed to predict his actions." Carol sighed and suddenly offered her hand. "I'm sorry, I did not introduce myself. I'm Detective Constable Carol Teyern."

"Naomi Collado."

"This is your house?"

"It is. Look, I do not mean to sound rude… but I gave my statement to that officer over there. I just want to get to my friend."

"I understand. I just wanted to apologise for trespassing on your property. This was… an unexpected diversion."

"What do you mean?"

"Obviously, I cannot go into much detail, but as you can guess I've been undercover. We were followed the actions of Ryan Thatcher and the group he belonged to. We were hoping he was coming here to meet someone higher up the food-chain that we could grasp our hooks in. With a mansion like this we figured there was no doubt he was coming to talk to that higher-up. Turns out I threw away my cover for a mistake."

"But you saved Lucas' life," Naomi pointed out.

"I know. I don't regret breaking my cover it just means we're back to square one…" Carol shook her head and quickly stood up. "Sorry, I'm getting off track. Let me take you to the hospital to visit your friend… I forgot to ask her name."

"Tanzi," Naomi replied as she stood up as well. She didn't fail to notice a slight hesitation in Carol Teyern's expression before the Detective Constable smiled again.

"Let's go. We'll be taking one of the cruisers." Carol moved to the aforementioned cruiser as Naomi walked over to Lucas and Lacey, who had been left alone.

"I am going to be going to the hospital," Naomi said to the two of them. "Are you able to watch over the manor? Be here for when the others get back?"

"We should come with you," Lucas said, frowning. "You're in danger…"

Naomi mulled that over for a moment. "I suppose you are correct. I expect she will allow the two of you to come as well. We'll phone Ruby on the way."