“He pul ed a knife on my Dad!” I yel ed.
“Someone pul s a knife, you get the f**k outta Dodge.
You don’t jump on his back. Fuck! You’re a crazy woman!” Smithie shouted.
“I’m not crazy!” I shouted back
A plain-clothes police officer walked up and interrupted us with a soft cough. He introduced himself as Detective us with a soft cough. He introduced himself as Detective Jimmy Marker and told me he had to ask a few questions.
Smithie pointed at me, “You’re a pain in my f**kin’ ass.” Then he stomped away.
The detective had the opportunity to ask me two questions before his eyes moved beyond me and his chin lifted in that silent greeting men do so well .
Then I felt fingers curl into the waistband of my mini-skirt.
I began to turn around when I heard Eddie say, “Give me a minute, Jimmy.”
Uh-oh.
Jimmy looked at Eddie, his eyes knowing and maybe slightly amused, though I didn’t know what in the hell was amusing right now. He nodded and wandered away.
Eddie pul ed me back a few steps and moved in front of me. One look at his face and “uh-oh” didn’t do it justice, it was definitely the kind of look that garnered a “holy shit”.
Eddie was seriously pissed off.
I tel you, I couldn’t buy a break.
Before I could say anything, Eddie turned to Lenny, who had stil not left my side. He communicated something nonverbal y because Lenny said, “I got orders not to leave her.”
Eddie fished in his back jeans pocket and flashed his badge.
Lenny nodded, looked at me and moved away.
“Eddie…” I said before he started but he lifted up his hand, Smithie style, and I shut up.
I was getting “the hand” a lot these days and it was beginning to tick me off.
He waited a beat, hooking his badge onto the belt on his jeans. Then he shook his head.
“You know, I don’t even know what to say,” he said.
“Let me explain.”
“You got an explanation for this? This I have to hear.” I actual y didn’t have an explanation so I fel silent.
“That’s what I thought,” Eddie said.
Al right, enough was enough. I mean, what would he do?
“What could I do? He had a knife and was fighting with Dad. I had to jump on his back and try to help!” I yel ed.
Okay, so before, it actual y was an “uh-oh” moment and this was a “holy shit” moment.
Eddie’s face changed and he looked at me like I just told him I wanted to go to Pluto for Spring Break.
“I hadn’t heard that part,” Eddie said in his scary quiet voice.
“Eddie—“ I started again.