“I’ll get on to him,” Drummer offers. “Just give me all the info you’ve found about this General De Souza. If there’s something we can dig up on him, might strengthen her reason to seek asylum.”
“What about Todd Jenkins? Reckon we can get him to come clean?”
“Think you’ll have no end of volunteers to try.” Drummer sits forward. “Problem is, we can threaten, but can’t leave amark on him. Police wouldn’t believe an admission of guilt if it looked like it was beaten out of him.”
I frown. “Could we bribe him?”
“How much money would it take for a man to voluntarily put himself inside?”
It’s a good question. More than I’ve got. My account’s being drained by Mariana’s lawyer. I shake my head.
“Have you thought about getting her fake papers?”
“I have. Should have done that from the fuckin’ start. Thing is, I don’t think she’d have taken them. She was doing everything right. Respected that, you know? That’s why I stayed clear. Knew it would do her no good to be associated with us.” I shake my head. “She’s training to be a nurse, Drummer. Too many people know about her status. She’d have to move elsewhere and start all over again if she had a new name.”
His fingers drum on the table. A sure sign he’s thinking. “If she hadn’t,through no fault of her own, got into a situation that put her DACA status in jeopardy by being charged with a felony, she’d still be here and workin’ toward her goals. If she’d kept her nose clean for another six years, her brother would have been able to sponsor her. But now the system’s got hold of her, it’s not going to be easy to get her out of its clutches. What does her lawyer say?”
“Summed it up in about the same way.”
“Mouse, you spend your time with computers. Perhaps you don’t mix with humans enough. You say none of the CCTV cameras were pointed at the junction? No fuckin’ need to stop there, Mouse. Your computers can’t help you all the time. Some of those stores were open when the collision happened. Have you thought about putting a leaflet up to see whether anyone saw anything?”
Of course I hadn’t. I just went to my go to. Technology. “You think that might work?”
“No fuckin’ idea, Brother. But what would it hurt to try?”
Nothing at all. Just a trip back to the stores. “As soon as Mariana’s out of solitary I need to go and see her again.”
“Expected that. I don’t like hearin’ what happened there. Something’s not right. Heard stuff about those detention centres, shit I don’t like.” Drummer’s eyes darken. “You’re her lifeline while she’s in there, Mouse. Go as often as you can. And Drew? You brought him back here for a reason.”
“I like the kid, Drummer. He’s been forced to grow up fast. I feel responsible for him. Didn’t like leaving him on the Rez. It was a fun time, but he stays any longer? He’s going to get shit thrown at him. Doesn’t deserve that along with losing his sister. It would be better for him to go back to his old school.”
“Took a likin’ to him myself. Carried himself well while he was in here. Polite, respectful. Probably used to keeping his head down. He can stay. Prospect can give him a ride to school if there’s times you can’t take him. How old is he again?”
“He’ll be sixteen in a couple of months.”
Drummer nods, then gives a half-smile. “In Arizona he can get his driver’s permit already, only needs to be fifteen and a half. Eligible now. He’ll have to have someone over twenty-one driving with him for six months, but helping him learn to handle a car might be a better use of the prospect’s time than just acting as a taxi service.”
I sit back. I hadn’t thought of that. Buy him a car… I grin, fuck, kid’s not even mine and he’s already becoming expensive. “Great idea, Prez. And getting a car will help take his mind off his troubles.”
“A bit of independence always helps,” Prez agrees. “Only thing is, he’ll have to have a legal guardian go with him to get his permit.” My face falls. Prez notices. “Fuckin’ world we live in, parents being torn away from kids. Bet there’s an expedited way for someone awaiting deportation to sign their child over.Must happen often, especially where there’s a risk to the parent returning to their home country. Documented kids probably better off livin’ here.”
“You could well be right, Prez. I’ll get hold of the lawyer. See if Mariana can sign something.”
His face grows grim and his lips press together. “Just think about it carefully, Mouse. Make sure this is a step you want to be taking. If Mariana stays in detention, or fuck, is deported, you’ll have responsibility for him until he’s eighteen. Can’t decide it’s not what you want later.”
It might fuck up my plans to go with her if that happens, but I’ll take that step when it comes. Apart from that, “I’m already responsible for him, Prez.” There’s no way I’m walking away from the boy.
One of his close scrutinising looks, then he raises his chin. “We’ll bring this to the table later. Now scat. You’ve got a car to buy.”
I laugh out loud as I leave Prez’s office. I find Drew at the pool table playing with Truck. I wait until their game’s finished. The prospect’s won, but the result doesn’t surprise me.
Drew looks at me anxiously. I smile, and slap his back. “You’re fine. You’re staying.”
“Mouse?”
“Yeah, Sam?”
“I take it Drew’s going to be here a spell?” At my nod, she continues, “Viper’s just finished two new blocs. If you don’t mind moving, you could take one of them. One suite for you, one for the kid.”
