"You're a good boy," Cilla told Kai later, when he walked her and her cousin to the door. They were the last to leave when the group dispersed for the night. She tugged him down by his collar so she could plant a kiss on his forehead, then chuckled and rubbed her lavender lipstick off with the ball of her thumb. She ended on a sigh. "I don't know why some smart, lucky girl hasn't snatched you up already."
"Because the girls around here are
too smart?" he quipped.
"Not smart enough." Melba
shook her head. "All three of you need someone wonderful in your lives.
Start another dynasty to run this town before that young snot runs it into the
ground."
"Might want to be careful how loud
you say that," Kai offered. He glanced up and down the street.
There were still a few cars in parking
slots in front of the various restaurants and shops that were open late. He
flinched when he saw a Cadburn black-and-white, then he recognized the dent in
the bumper. That was Officer Shrieve's vehicle. Of course. Shrieve was a
distant cousin of the Tweeds, and he always showed up to escort them home on
Guzzler meeting night. The Tweeds refused to drive in nice weather, even though
they lived four long blocks away. They were eighty-plus years old and insisted
they had gotten to that age because "we don't coddle ourselves." He
would drive a hundred yards behind them during the entire walk to their duplex,
with his lights off, and they would pretend they didn't see him. Then on Sunday
they would have some incredible bakery to give him on their way to church.
Kai loved the people of Cadburn. Most
of them, anyway.
"Let him try something,"
Melba said, punctuated with a snort. She winked at him. "He used to be
bearable. When that sweet Deirdre was still alive. We always hoped she'd make a
decent human being out of him. Ever since that Ashley came into his life …
Well, they're perfect for each other. One of these days, he's going to finally
go too far, and he'll be too proud to admit he was wrong. Then he'll be gone."
"Big arrogant booby of a bully,"
Cilla added.
"Uh, do you know …?" Kai touched two fingers to his eye, then his lip.
The elderly cousins shrugged. They hadn't heard what had brought on Curtis' latest injury. That just meant whatever it was had happened quickly and recently. Sooner or later, the reason for the beating would make the rounds of the wagging tongues of Cadburn, and Kai would hear it. Too late to retaliate. Again.
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