CHAPTER 17.
Several weeks after the gang fight, Diaz Ramada had not forgotten his vow to seek revenge against the two cops who he felt had interfered. Diaz still worked the docks and kept his family safe but in his free time, he planned for the day he would fight back. Diaz struck out on his own, deciding he needed a decoy of sorts. He focused on the kid he'd seen who wasn't a member of either gang. He stalked the playground for a few days but when he didn't see the boy return, he just widened his search.
Diaz stood on the corner, smoking his cigarette and checking out the hookers who looked him up and down as they walked by. His shirt opened to the waist, revealed curly dark chest hair. Diaz smoothed out his mustache. His dark hair glistened and he felt on top of the world. He'd showered when he got home from the dock. He worked hard and played hard as well.
One hooker stopped to admire but Diaz waved her on. He had money in his pocket but first he had to introduce himself to this kid, then it'd be time for his own pleasure.
He slouched against a wall, waiting until he finally saw the boy he was looking for. The boy wore an over sized military jacket and dirty jeans. The hems were rolled up to accommodate his short legs. Long sandy hair hung to his shoulders.
Waiting until the boy had walked past, Diaz kept pace until the teen came to an alley, it was then that Diaz grabbed Ronnie from behind and dragged him into the alley until they'd reached a secluded area. All the while, the frightened young boy tried to wiggle out of the tight grasp at his neck. He kicked at the person behind him but succeeded only to connect with empty boxes and he heard papers scattering across the pavement.
Abruptly, they stopped and Ronnie found himself shoved up against a brick wall. A large hand clamped across his mouth and he was held tight against the wall by the weight of the older boy's body.
"So little man, what's your name?" Diaz waited, enjoying the fear he saw in the green eyes.
"I'll let go but don't fight me or run. 'Cause when I catch ya, I'll knife ya instead of just talking. That's all I wanna do for now. Just tell me your name." The last request whispered close to Ronnie's ear. The young boy flinched. He tried to move his head away but he was held fast against the wall.
Cautiously, Diaz took his hand away and Ronnie let out a long breath. He didn't move but stood, staring at the man in front of him.
Quietly, Diaz asked again for the boy's name.
In a meek voice, Ronnie answered but didn't offer any other information.
"Ok Ronnie. Tell me, why were you at the fight a few weeks ago?"
The small boy attempted to move but the older boy reached out with a quick hand and held the teen still. Diaz had to know if this kid was tight with the cops.
Ronnie swallowed the lump in his throat but forced himself to be calm.
"Just wanted to play on the swings." He wiggled against the abrasive hold but he was held too tightly.
"You know those cops? You friends?" Diaz let go slightly and when Ronnie made no move to break free, he let go completely but held him fast with a hard, sinister look.
"Don't know 'em except their names… Starsky and Hutch." Briefly worried that he had just gotten the detectives in trouble, he figured they could take care of themselves.
Diaz reached out to grab Ronnie's arm. The boy stiffened but didn't try to move. The older teen began searching through the jacket and when he pulled out the lighter, Ronnie shoved out of the loosened grasp.
"Give it back." Ronnie growled and tried to take a swing at the bigger boy without success. Diaz just slipped out of his way and laughed at the childish attempt.
"Easy there. So this is somethin' special?" He stepped back, with one arm stretched forward, his palm against the boy's chest. With the other he flicked the lighter, sending the flame up, then letting it die down. He watched Ronnie watching the lighter, then slid it into his own shirt pocket.
"You'll get it back after you do something for me." Diaz played with one end of his mustache as he thought. He'd heard of the two cops before but the gang fight was the first encounter with them. Those two had a reputation for being street smart and a good team. But that didn't scare him. It just made him more determined to seek revenge.
Ronnie tried to move away but quick as a snake, Diaz grabbed him around the neck and held tight. He didn't seem concerned that his captive was having trouble breathing.
Just as quickly, Diaz let go, causing the limp young man to slump to the ground. The older boy grabbed Ronnie's shirt collar and pulled the gasping boy to his feet.
"I want both of those cops. I don't care which one. I heard they're like this with each other." Diaz crossed two fingers together. "If I get one of 'em, then I'm guessing the other will come looking to save his partner."
Pleased with himself, Diaz smiled, revealing a gold front tooth.
Ronnie hitched a breath and licked his lips in an attempt to moisten his mouth which had gone dry with fear.
"What… how." The young boy swallowed and tried again to make sense of what was going on. "How'm I supposed to do that?" He watched the darker man. From somewhere, Ronnie pulled up his nerve and stared straight at Diaz.
The darkly tanned older boy let out a laugh and taunted Ronnie as he lit his own cigarette from the lighter. Then he slid it into the pocket of his shirt and patted it with his hand. He took a drag from the cigarette and passed it to the younger boy who turned his face away.
"You'll figure something out. I'm sure one of 'em would do anything to save your sorry little ass."
The cigarette hung from his lips as Diaz reached to his belt and pulled out a knife. He slid his finger up the blade, smiling, watching the expression across the younger boy's face.
Ronnie couldn't take his eyes off the big knife with the deep teeth. Diaz' message was clear.
"I know where ya live and I know you work in that car dump. So remember, I'll be watchin. And…" He flipped the weapon in the air and it stuck blade down, in the dirt between Ronnie's legs. Slowly Diaz reached down for it and kissed the sharp edge.
Diaz made a hissing sound as he moved closer, backing Ronnie up against the wall again. The teen closed his eyes, not sure what to expect but the homeless boy didn't want to see what was coming.
Quickly and without warning, Diaz swiped the blade lightly down Ronnie's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. It surprised the young man so much that he couldn't control the scream that escaped his mouth. It wasn't so much from pain as it was the stark meaning of the action.
Diaz smiled again and chuckled at the fear in the boy's eyes. He loved the reaction his knife always caused. This was the only friend he needed.
Without another word, Diaz stalked out of the alley, in search of leisure time activity. He grabbed his crotch, eager to ease the tightness against his jeans as he thought of one of those pretty street girls and what she could do for him. Between that and what had just been accomplished in the alley, this was turning out to be a really fantastic day.
Ronnie stayed up against the wall as he watched Diaz leave. He slid down into the dirt, curled into his body on the ground. He sniffed and rubbed the tears away from his face.
After a few minutes, he looked around to make sure Diaz hadn't come back. Instead of going back to his garage, he went to the mission for dinner. Feeling pretty confident that Diaz wouldn't dare enter the mission he slowly got up and headed that way. He kept glancing around and walking faster until safely reaching the shelter. Quietly he walked inside, smelling the food which had the desired effect. He felt calmer.
He tried to eat but was so nervous that the food had no taste. He could only think about one thing, getting his lighter back. That meant more than some cop's life at the moment, or even his own.
