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All the guys mocked her question. “Sweetie, I’d love for you to try and arrest me.” Beanie opened his arms wide, big grin on his face. “Search me, search me.”
“Step away from my car and be on your way or I will.”
Champ had quieted down. But Beanie smacked the hood of her car with his hand, dragging a large ring and putting a deep scratch in the paint. The barking started up again.
“Make me, make me, make me,” he said in singsong cadence.
He came toward her in a long, loping step, lecherous gleam in his eyes. Danni pushed the cart away from her and surreptitiously slid her ID and handcuffs into the front pocket of her hoodie.
She closed the distance between her and Beanie. Command presence was the phrase of the day and she’d bet money this boy-man would fold if pressed.
“I’m not playing around. You’re harassing my dog and damaging my car. I will place you under arrest.”
Danni saw the flicker of uncertainty in Beanie’s eyes.
One of his buddies spoke up. “Hey, Lenny, this is boring. Let’s go find something else to do.”
But the other kid spouted off. “No, I want to see her try it.”
She’d have to put her money where her mouth was, Danni knew, but she was prepared.
Lenny got chicken-chested. He tried to puff his skinny chest forward and strut as if he were dangerous. “Yeah, babe, come get me.” He grinned at his friends, then turned back toward her. He reached out and grabbed her shoulder. It was the opening Danni needed.
She grasped his hand in both of hers, twisting the wrist backward, causing Beanie to gasp in surprise. She pulled him forward, off-balance, then spun him around to fold him over the hood of her car. His cheek hitting the hood made a satisfying slap sound.
“Hey!” The others surged forward, but Danni held up her badge with one hand, keeping Beanie secure with the other.
“He’s under arrest, boys. Back off or you’ll find yourself in the same position.”
“You can’t arrest him. We own this block.”
“What?” Danni frowned, then heard the familiar whoop of a siren. She turned to see a black-and-white cruising toward her. It was tiny Yen Nguyen and huge Mel Howard.
“Long time no see,” Yen said when she exited the car and walked up, eyes on the guy on the hood of Danni’s car. “What’s going on?”
“She attacked our friend!” someone yelled.
“Quiet,” Mel said. His voice was as intimidating as his size.
“These kids were harassing my dog while I was in the market. This one damaged my car and then tried to put his hands on me. I’ve restrained him.”
All the kids began to protest and Beanie struggled under her hand.
“Let him up,” Yen said. “We’ll take it from here.”
“Sure.” Danni complied.
“Over here, Leonard,” Yen said to Beanie.
Yen obviously knew the kid. Danni wanted to step in and protest the easy handling, but she held her peace.
“You need to stop bothering people. We told you before not to hang out here,” Howard said, addressing all the boys. “And, Leonard, you’re a long way from home. Does your mom know you’re all the way out here?”
“Of course she does. You can’t make us stop,” Lenny whined, rubbing his wrists as he stepped away from Danni. “She needs to go to jail. I’m gonna tell my mom what happened here today.”
“Just go home, all of you,” Howard ordered. “We’re tired of getting complaints.”
Danni held her tongue, more from shock than anything else. What was going on?
