The Heartbreak Lounge Read Online Free Page B

up, walked back to their table, sat down. A gust of wind blew rain against the windows, made the glass shudder.
    â€œWell?” Harry said.
    â€œThe boy’s name is Luther Wilkins. He’s still in surgery. We’ll know more later. The ER doctor says his signs were good, brain activity strong.”
    â€œAnd Errol?”
    â€œMinor bruising to his chest. Nothing much, but he’ll get a story to tell out of it. Never been shot at before.”
    â€œHe did good in there. Moved fast. The kid panicked. There was nothing he could have done about that.”
    â€œHe wouldn’t be moving very fast now if he hadn’t been wearing that vest. You should have had one too.”
    â€œNext time, I will.”
    Ray drank coffee.
    â€œI don’t think there’ll be a next time,” he said. He set the cup down. “At least not there.”

    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI don’t imagine that old man is going to invite us back. I don’t think he was one hundred percent in favor of us to start with.”
    â€œSo why were we there?”
    â€œA dozen robberies at black businesses in Neptune and Asbury since August, no arrests in any of them. The Citizens Crime Watch Committee decided to pool their money, hire private security. I quoted them a good rate. It was important to them, I think, to go to a black firm.”
    â€œAnd then the white guy shows up and all hell breaks loose.”
    â€œThere’s some will look at it that way, sure. Doesn’t make them right.” He gestured to the waitress, who returned with the coffeepot, poured for both of them. “I’ve been rotating three two-man teams out of seven different businesses for a month, and that’s the first time anything’s happened.”
    â€œSo you’re going to retire me?”
    â€œHell, it’s not like you did anything wrong. You probably saved a couple lives in there. But the neighborhood people … they can get unduly sensitive about white police in their midst. Even ex-police.”
    â€œI understand.”
    â€œAfter tonight, what actually happened in there won’t matter. There’ll be at least two other stories about it floating around on the street.”
    â€œIn both of which, I’m at fault.”
    â€œThis is a rumor community,” Ray said. “Word-of-mouth. People don’t always read the papers. And when they do, they don’t necessarily believe what they read anyway. Black folks have a long history of mistrusting authority. Can you blame them?”
    â€œSo this isn’t exactly a public relations coup for you. That what you’re telling me?”
    â€œNot what I said. I’m happy—grateful even—you took me up on the offer to come work with me. But maybe we should rethink this particular situation.”
    Harry sat back.

    â€œDon’t sweat it, Ray. I’m fine. You don’t need to go out of your way for me.”
    â€œDid I say I was? We’ll find something else for you to do. It isn’t a problem.”
    â€œBut is it worth it?”
    Ray didn’t answer, put his cup down.
    Harry looked out at the rain.
    â€œThis weather’s getting to me.”
    â€œHeard from Cristina?”
    Harry shook his head.
    â€œA letter about three weeks ago, that was it. Nothing since.”
    â€œYou try to call her?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œWhen she’s ready, she’ll call me.”
    â€œWith all that happened between you two, I can understand her wanting to get away, get some things clear in her head. But you act like she’s never coming back. Like it’s already a lost cause.”
    â€œMaybe it is.”
    â€œYou should listen to yourself. You think you were going to come back here, do the happily-ever-after thing just like that? You got the crap beat out of you, got your arm broken, her husband got murdered. Not exactly your normal courtship.”
    â€œI