Free Angel Baby: A Novel by RICHARD LANGE Page B

maybe thirty, thirty-five. He’s wearing a T-shirt advertising a surf shop, plaid shorts, and black Converse tennis shoes. Surely this isn’t the guy Freddy’s been talking up all day, his best driver. This pendejo can’t even keep his hair out of his eyes, has to brush it back every time he turns his head.
    “Just so you know, this isn’t going to be a regular thing,” he says to Freddy. “Nighttime is the wrong time to be fucking around down here.”
    “If you have trouble with anyone, tell them you know me,” Freddy says.
    “Yeah, right,” the bum says. “I do that, I’ll end up in the river.”
    “Hey, we’re all going to end up in the river someday,” Freddy says.
    He leans in close to speak quietly to the bum. The bum listens for a while, nodding agreeably, but then suddenly stops Freddy and says, “In the morning? You didn’t say anything about in the morning.” Apparently there’s a disagreement over the details of the trip. Not being able to hear what’s being said, all Luz can do is watch the men argue in urgent whispers. The bum puts up a fight, but Freddy is relentless and eventually gets his way. He slaps the bum on the back and steers him to where Luz is waiting.
    “Now come and meet our friend,” he says. “She needs our help.”
    “There any beer around?” the bum asks.
    “Goyo,” Freddy calls and tips an imaginary can into his mouth. Goyo grunts and walks into the office.
    Freddy brings the bum over, and Luz moves away from the fence, standing up straight to squint down her nose at him. His blue eyes are bloodshot, and he looks as if he could use a shower.
    “ Señorita Luz, this is Kevin Malone, who’s going to take you across,” Freddy says.
    Malone lifts his chin by way of greeting, doesn’t even meet her gaze. It’s like he could take or leave this job. This infuriates Luz. She can’t believe she’ll be putting her life in the hands of this cabrón.
    “This is what I have arranged for you,” Freddy continues. “Tomorrow morning you two will drive to Tecate, where a friend of mine will be working at the crossing. At ten a.m., you and Kevin will pass through his station into the U.S. It will be very quick and very simple with no possibility of being stopped. You won’t even have to hide; you can sit right up front in the car. Then, once you are across, Kevin will drop you wherever you would like, and you can be on your way.”
    “I told you I need to leave today,” Luz says. She struggles to keep her voice under control.
    Freddy raises his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “I know, I know, but it’s late, señorita, and my man isn’t on duty until tomorrow.”
    “I want to cross tonight. I want to cross right now.”
    “I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. Everything will be fine though. I promise you’ll be safe and comfortable. Kevin will take you to a nice hotel, and —”
    “No,” Luz interrupts. “I want to leave tonight, and I’m not getting into a car with him.”
    “What do you mean?” Freddy says.
    “I want another driver.”
    “Another driver? But Kevin is the best. He’s already taken five people across today.”
    Goyo returns with a can of Modelo. Malone opens it and has a sip.
    “Look at him,” Luz says. “Drinking like this is nothing. And he doesn’t even speak Spanish.”
    “Sure, I do,” Malone says in Spanish. “A little. Do you speak English?”
    “Fuck you,” Luz replies in English. “How’s that?”
    Freddy steps between them. “Listen,” he says.
    “You listen,” Luz says. “I’m paying you a lot of money—more than I should be—for this special deal or whatever it is, and I want someone sober, I want someone smart, and I want to cross tonight.”
    Malone turns to Freddy with a shrug. “Customer’s always right,” he says. He takes another swig of beer and walks to his car, leans against the trunk, and tilts his head back to look up at the sky.
    “Chingada madre!” Freddy shouts. He advances on Luz