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I’d also make those boys wish they’d never so much as touched a hair on Lenny’s body.
I pulled up to Tony’s, turning the ignition off. Lenny slumped into his seat, staring at his feet.
Leaning over, I tilted my head to catch his gaze. “Are you sure you don’t need to see a doctor?”
“Nothing’s broken. I’ll be all right.”
He said it with such confidence that I wondered how he had so much experience with broken bones.
“Have they ever broken anything?”
“Not yet. But there’s always bullies. I’m an easy target. Usually the new guy. Small. Wearing old clothes.”
Recognizing his stubborn streak since I was usually hardheaded as well, I let it go. Instead, I handed him a tissue to clean up, then got out to give him time to sort himself out.
He met me at the front of the truck, the color back in his face, his steps a little surer.
Tony must have heard the engine because he was waiting for us at the open door. “Ciao, Lenny. You ready to take Pico for a walk?”
A smile appeared on Lenny’s face, and he nodded. “Can I hold the lead?”
“Of course. Come inside and we’ll get him ready.”
Tony led us through a cramped hallway and past walls full of picture frames. As soon as he opened a door that led to an equally messy living room, Pico shot out, jumping around us and barking.
Lenny laughed, then bent down to pet him.
We walked Pico for about ten minutes and carried him for at least twenty. But I didn’t mind and found myself enjoying spending time with Lenny, just being in the moment instead of thinking about work. Or how we still hadn’t found the shooter.
Once we returned Pico, we headed back to our apartments.
As promised, Lenny had been messaging Ariel the whole time, sending her photos of himself and Pico. He was busy texting as soon as we were in the truck.
“You want to get ice cream?” I suggested.
He grinned, phone forgotten. “The answer to that will always be yes.”
I laughed, feeling lighter than I ever remembered. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t stressed.
The ice cream stand was only a few blocks from home. Lenny and I joined the ever-present line outside.
“What’s Ariel’s favorite flavor?”
Lenny furrowed his brows. “Why?”
“Because I’m sure she’d want ice cream as well. Don’t you want to bring her some?”
He watched me with crossed arms, distrust stamped all over his face. “Do you like her?”
His question surprised me, and I stumbled over my words. “Well, um, I’d consider her a friend. And a neighbor, of course.”
That I was desperate to find out what she looked like without her clothes on wasn’t something I’d admit to a twelve-year-old. Besides, no matter how much I wanted to make us more than friends, I couldn’t.
Not until I’d found out if she had any connection to the shooter. Something I was doubting after spending time with her.
Not only was she broke, but nobody ever came to her apartment. And killing people was good money. I should know since I’d mastered the art of using a long-range rifle to take care of problems a long time ago. If she was really connected to the shooter, she wouldn’t be living in such a shithole.
“Don’t hurt her. She might look tough, but I’ve heard her cry in the shower almost every day since we moved out.” He bit his lip. “Promise not to tell her you know. She’d be embarrassed.”
