isn’t going to leave the kid. Boyfriend’s not going anywhere. Most gang kids never leave the neighborhood until they go to jail.”
“Yeah?”
“So they stay right here while I figure out what to do about a couple things,” Jesse said.
“Like what?”
“Like how to help them, and what the hell you’re up to.”
“What if she moves in with him?” Crow said.
“We know where she is,” Jesse said.
“Not much of a life on Horn Street,” Crow said.
“Not much of a life on Sewall Street, either,” Jesse said.
“There’s bad and there’s worse,” Crow said.
“Won’t be forever,” Jesse said. “Once I get it figured out, we’ll go take her away from Horn Street.”
“And if she won’t come?” Crow said.
“We make her.”
“Man, you are cold,” Crow said.
“Keep it in mind,” Jesse said.
“How come you’re going along with any of this?” Crow said.
“Girl’s a mess,” Jesse said. “Her old man is in the rackets in South Florida…”
“Her old man is the rackets in South Florida,” Crow said.
“…and her mother’s a drunk,” Jesse continued. “Kid needs help. And you seem like you might give her some.”
Crow nodded.
“Okay,” Crow said.
“Let’s be clear,” Jesse said. “I don’t trust you.”
“Be crazy if you did,” Crow said.
“I don’t believe this is pure concern for the Francisco girls,” Jesse said.
Crow shrugged.
“Don’t matter too much what you believe,” Crow said. “Thing you can trust, though. I keep my word.”
Jesse nodded.
“And you keep yours,” Crow said.
“You think?”
“I know you, Stone, just like you know me. We been listening to the same music for a long time.”
“And we know all the lyrics?” Jesse said.
“All the ones that matter,” Crow said.
27.
