‘I know that. Do you really think this will keep them honest and let you take the P?’ He stepped back and I saw my Beretta was in his hand. I step...ed back and made a decision. I wanted to scare him off. I turned around and grabbed the hem of my shirt in one hand, the top of my skirt in the other. ‘No, but this will.’ I turned around and pulled them back so he could see the unmistakable gang tattoo on my skin with my initials. I turned back and he looked surprised, but cool. Patrick didn’t fight. "He leaned in a little closer and asked, "Have I met this Steve?"Kia's cheeks warmed as she thought about the man who'd caught her eye. "His dad is Franklin — the one who owns that land."Gary grunted in acknowledgment. He remembered the young man, and couldn't think of any immediate reason to disapprove of him. Franklin owned the largest tract of local land along the route of the proposed highway. He'd resisted at first, but the proponents of the project had finally made him an offer that. I darted out of my desk chair and ran to my phone. I looked at the screen. I didnt recognize the number, but I picked it up anyway. Hello? Hey Brooklyn, its Sylvia. I told you Id call you. She let out a giggle. I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out sometime. Maybe the park or something. Like, tomorrow, after school? I was so happy, Ive only been to school for one day and already ive made a friend. And a super sexy one too. Of course Ill go to the park with you, itll be fun, I told her.. John called to ask me to go up to the Dakotas to check on the small office up there. The Chief had been sick and there seemed to be some problem among the deputies. I told John, "That's the third problem in the last half hour. Send me the file so I can review it as I chase around." I discussed the possible listening devices in Minnesota and he said to make sure I followed up.I asked Wanda to reserve the plane for tomorrow morning as I would try to fly up to South Dakota first, before going back.