Kevin carried on.
“I talked to him and got him to bare all. This included the fact that one of those New Mexican dudes blows stuff up in the New Mexico boonies all the time. So that Rosie didn’t, like, lead them to you, I came to tell you this was all going down, and saw some dude who I knew was not your style comin’ out of your apartment. I figured they found you without Rosie. He didn’t see me, so I followed him and he was just sittin’ in his car in your parking lot. But he had this little box in his hand.”
“Fuck me,” Ren murmured.
Kevin talked over Ren. “I figured he was waiting for you to get there so he could, you know…”
He trailed off. The room became stifling, so I urged him to go on, saying, “I know.”
Kevin nodded. “So he wouldn’t see me, I went in and kept an eye out. But you were takin’ a long time to come home, so I went to the stairwell I thought you’d use and had myself a doobie to smooth out the rough edges and pass the time.” His eyes went to Hank and he stated quickly, “It’s legal now, you know.”
“I know,” Hank growled, his thoughts on that matter not hidden even in those two words.
Again, I sighed.
“What I don’t know,” Hank stated. “Is why you saw a strange man walking out of my sister’s apartment and sitting in her parking lot, holding a box you knew was a detonator, and you didn’t phone the police.”
“The police?” Kevin asked, like the concept of law enforcement was foreign to him.
Hank said nothing, obviously realizing this conversation would lead to nothing good. But I saw his jaw clench.
The Kevster clearly also decided conversing longer with Hank would lead to nothing good, so he gave up, looked my way and kept going. “So, obviously, I missed you. Luckily I came up as you were comin’ up and,” he flicked out his hands, “we’re all breathing.”
“Where’s Rosie now?” Eddie asked, and Kevin looked at him.
“My place,” he answered.
“Mace, roll out,” Lee ordered, but Mace was already moving to the door.
I looked back at Kevin. “Why would Rosie think I’d help him?”
“’Cause you guys are buds,” The Kevster informed me.
“Since when?” I asked.
The Kevster looked confused. “You’re not buds?”
“He got my best friend in a situation where she nearly got kidnapped to Costa Rica,” I replied. “No, we’re not buds.”
“Dudette, that was like, years ago. Forgiveness is divine,” Kevin told me.
“Kicking ass feels better,” I replied.
At my words his eyes got big and he grinned a goofy grin. “You are so totally badass.” Then he threw his arms up in the air and cried, “Rock Chicks rule!”
This was true, all of it, but I didn’t get the chance to agree with him. Lee took over.
“There are uniforms in reception. You’re goin’ with Eddie now and making your statement. Then, until this shit blows over, you’re in my safe room.”
The Kevster’s eyes stayed big, but for a different reason this time.
He bounced in his seat and cried, “Dude! No! You have a no-smoking policy!”
“Man, you nearly got blown up today,” Lee reminded him. “You can stay here and stay off the weed or you can go out there and take your chances. Your choice. You got two seconds to make it.”
“Can I crack a window?” Kevin asked.
“No,” Lee answered.