Free MC: Callahan by L. Ann Marie Page B

everything is settled and look like a fool in front of more than just us.” He huffs and walks around his desk to the computer. I look at the boys. “His idea of a good kid is the one selling fuckin’ drugs.” Moron.
    Little Ben and Ricky cover their mouths. The door opens behind us and we all look. Peter and an Associate come in. “Tiny, good to see you, it’s been a while.”
    “Brother, it has. Mello is watching the video; did Digs get it to you?” I shake Peter’s hand.
    “Yeah, I just watched it with Larry, he’s the Principal.”
    I shake his hand and throw him chin. “Larry, I’ve seen you at meetings and at the Club.” He nods. “VP is on his way,” I tell Peter.
    “This isn’t good, whenever drugs are around the Club goes to war,” Peter says.
    “I think this time we can bypass all that and do it quietly and quickly. The security guard seemed to know what was in the bag before he brought us in here. I wouldn’t let it go until we had Mr. Mello as a witness,” little Ben tells him.
    “Good job, little Ben.” He looks at me. “Can you get the video of the security guard?”
    “I have Digs following it; he’ll send it to you when he finds something,” little Ben says. I don’t smile, but I want to. Little Badass is smart as hell.
    VP comes in and is surprised to see Peter. He throws chin then looks at little Ben. “I think a security guard is selling in the school. Ricky saw a kid dealing and took his backpack; I held it until we got here. Digs is looking for video putting the kid with the guard.”
    VP raises his chin at him and looks at Ricky. “Good job.”
    He turns to Peter. “Little Ben called me. Larry already called the kid’s parents and has him in a conference room. The guard is in another with one of mine outside.”
    “They done here?” I ask Peter.
    “Yeah, I got video clearing them. Little Ben played it smart.” He looks at Ricky. “You did good, Ricky, the only way we’re going to keep it clean is with help before it gets big. Thanks.”
    I look at VP. “You need me on this?”
    “Got HS here.”
    “I’m taking the boys for a ride, we’ll stay in town.” He throws me chin. “Let’s go, the road is waiting.” The Principal, Peter, and VP start talking about what they’re going to do.
    Little Ben walks behind Mello’s desk and grabs their backpacks. “I need Ricky’s phone.”
    “You’ll need a pass to leave and you need to make up the work.” He’s throwing attitude enough to draw attention from VP.
    “4.0, never a problem, just stopped drugs passin’ through the school and you give him shit? Simple thank you’d be better.”
    I laugh. “Let’s get in the wind, Little Brothers. If you were old enough I’d buy you a beer for a good fuckin’ job.” Peter and Larry laugh as we walk by.
    “Buy mine beer I’ll kill you in your sleep,” VP says, making me laugh.
    “Just a ride, Brother, plan on living through the night.”
    As we’re walking out Ricky asks why I’m not staying. “I’m not High Security, they take care of threats to the Club and community. I’m head of Transport and Prospects and I’m Sgt. at Arms for the Club, means I train the Brothers that aren’t Security.”
    “There’s a lot of Brothers. I wondered how they keep them all straight,” he says as we hit the lot.
    I look at little Ben. “Going to Transport to pick up my bike then to the garage.”
    He throws chin saying he’ll meet me there. When we get to Transport Ricky asks, “How come he can ride to school alone but not anywhere else?”
    “He can ride the yard with his Brothers as long as Security is with them, from the compound to the school is monitored and they’re tracked. The Club kids are high security risks, anyone with a bitch against the Club won’t think twice about using them.” He just looks at me like he’s thinking it over, then he nods.
    Dave gets Ricky set up; I had helmets painted to match the bikes. Little Ben is smiling the whole time.