I’d already thought of that. My original idea had been to go with him to Rosa’s, but my mom’s presence blew up that plan. Even if Chi-chi came, I hoped it would be okay since I wasn’t the one he was after. I’d heard a lot of terrible things about Chi-chi, but I’d never heard of him harming women or children.
“I can’t leave Mom when she’s like this. She could have a seizure or choke on her own vomit or whatever. Who knows if she has weird injuries we can’t see? Honestly, if she’s not awake and talking by the morning, I need to take her to the hospital.”
“She’ll hate that. CPS would come for sure.”
“I know. But I don’t know what else to do.”
Johnny nodded. “You’re the boss.”
Actually, I’m your sixteen-year-old little sister, but whatever.
After Johnny left, I texted Rosa to let her know he was on his way. Because of her position as a youth leader, I had to use a special relay system to text her. I got frustrated waiting for her reply, but when it came, she said of course Johnny could stay with her, but I’d have some explaining to do later. I expected nothing less. Thankfully, Johnny wasn’t a Center kid. Centerkids couldn’t go to Rosa’s personal home. But this situation, while still a big ask, was more the equivalent of her having a family member visit.
I checked on my mom to find her response level unchanged, but I tried to make her more comfortable anyway by pulling down her dress and taking off her jewelry. Her ankle still looked puffy, but I didn’t know how to help that. It wasn’t like we had a compression brace lying around. I settled for putting a bag of frozen tater tots on top of it while she slept.
In the bathroom, I held my foot over the sink and let the water run over the cut until it ran pink and finally clear. Getting my first proper look at the wound, I registered how deep the cut was. The glass had sunk straight into my flesh. Thank goodness I’d been wearing shoes. I knew it needed stitches, but no way would that be happening. Tossing the disgusting dishrag in the shower stall, I found an old hand towel we could afford to throw away and wrapped it around my foot. After taking off my other shoe and sock so I didn’t feel so lopsided, I washed the cuts on my hands with soap and water before putting the socks back on. I could get Band-Aids for myself and an ankle brace for Mom at the Center tomorrow.
But first, we had to get through the night.
While I cleaned my foot, the text came through confirming Johnny had reached Rosa’s safely. One less thing to worry about. I checked on my mom—still out cold—and turned off all the lights in the trailer. We didn’t have a car. Hopefully, if the place looked dead enough, Chi-chi would assume Johnny had hidden somewhere else.
In the meantime, I lay on my bed, clutching my phone. I texted Deck, letting him know Johnny was alright, but that I needed to stay in the trailer because of my mom. I hoped I’d hear from him soon that he’d found Eliazar safe and sound.
Chapter fifteen
Deck - Age 18
TWELVE-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO
Iparked my parents’ car a few blocks away from Chi-chi’s. We always rolled with Cruz, so I didn’t think anyone would recognize the old beaten-down Subaru, but it didn’t hurt to be careful. The late afternoon light shone too brightly to provide any cover, so I figured my best course was to walk into Chi-chi’s like usual. Folks were used to seeing me there, and I doubted Chi-chi had spoken about our disagreement with too many people.
As I reached the porch, two girls I vaguely recognized stumbled out of the house.
“Hola, Deck,” one of them said, holding the door open for me.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, squeezing past her into the entryway.
Four guys sat on the couches in the living room with controllers in their hands. Some cartoonish-looking game was up on the flat screen, but none of them were playing. One had his head lolled back on top of the couch, and the other three were staring into space, eyes glazed over. They were there, but not really. I’d gotten used to the look of a heroin high since I’d started hanging out here, but people this messed up were usually in the basement. It was rare for Chi-chi’s living room to be full of people yet so…lifeless. The bong on the table wasn't uncommon, but this time, I also saw white powder, needles, spoons, and a lighter.
“Hey. Anyone seen Chi-chi? Or Bash?” I asked.
One guy turned his head my way but didn’t say anything.Dios, they were really gone. This was why I almost never went in the basement, why I was so pissed with Johnny and Eliazar for messing with this shit. Thesevatoswere fucking zombies.
Unfortunately, they were zombies I needed to get information from. Eliazar’s phone said he was in this house, but where? I realized now my plan to rescue my friend had some flaws. I’d been so eager to find him that I hadn’t really thought about what would happen once I did. It wasn’t like I could fight everyone in this house, although I thought maybe I could handle the vegetables on the couch. I had a vague idea to negotiate with Chi-chi. Now that Cruz had agreed to pull the big job, Chi-chi couldn’t complain. If he wanted us to keep working for him, I needed to convince him not to fuck with our friends. Not that I wanted to keep working for Chi-chi, but I needed to buy time.
“Hey!” I tried again, a little louder. “Chi-chi or Bash around?”
I’d search the place if I had to, but a heads-up would be handy.
“Stop shouting,guapo.” One of Chi-chi’s girls, a woman named Nadia, approached me from the hallway. “Chi-chi’s not here. Left yesterday and said he’d be gone a few days. That’swhy theseidiotas”—she jerked her neck toward the couches—“thought they could bring their downstairs business upstairs.”
I tried to keep my voice level as I asked, “What about Bash? Seen him?”
Nadia’s forehead lifted. “Sure. He came in with your friend. The little guy. They went downstairs a while ago.”
Rage pumped through my veins. “They’re in the basement?”
Nadia gave me a puzzled look. “That’s right.”
