Street Rules

Frank's.

'To Fridays.'

'Here, here.'

As Dimmler vied for Gail's attention, Noah said close to Frank's ear, 'I see Dim and Dimmer have joined us. Dimmler's all right,' he conceded, 'but Hunt's a freak. He'd rather be out knockin' heads than working.'

Bobby and Diego cheered as Munoz' arm went down, then Frank looked down the table, asking Bobby how his talk with Itsy had gone. She'd come back home last night and her detectives had paged Frank so she could be in on the interview, but she hadn't been able to break away. She'd told them to throw another girl in Itsy's face but not to mention who it was.

'She was pretty strung out, wasn't in much better shape than when Nook talked to her the last time. We rattled her cage about a girlfriend and she took it pretty hard. She was asking us who it was, begging us to tell her. She's a mess. She couldn't even tell us where she was when Placa got shot. Thinks she was hanging around with a guy named Droopy. They were both trying to score.'

'You find him?'

'We're looking. I got a CI might know who he is. He used to be a King until he got jumped out for using.'

'So you don't think she knew about Lydia?'

'I doubt it. About all she thinks of anymore is where to get her next hit.'

'Does she have wheels?'

'No. She went to El Monte with her mother. She's got an old Riviera. We asked about Ocho, if anything was going down with him and Placa. She said she didn't know. She's been out of the set for a while and most of the Queens just diss her now.'

Frank watched the bubbles pop in her club soda, mulling this over. Putting her head close to Frank's, Gail asked, 'Are you narrowing in on anybody?'

'Well, at first we had a good possible suspect, then we had two more, but they seem to be slipping through our fingers. At this point, I have to say no.'

Bobby and Nook had checked out the other Playboys Lydia said were at the party, but had gotten nothing of substance. When pressed, they all admitted being there with Ocho, but were vague about the party's timeline. Ruiz could have slipped away anytime.

Dimmler vied for Gail's attention as a cop in civvies bumped Frank's chair. Kneeling behind her he said hello to the ME.

'Hello,' Gail replied, obviously annoyed.

'I was wondering if I could buy you a drink.'

'I already have one.'

'Well, when you finish that one.'

'I'm only having one.'

'Hey, pal. She's at our table,' Dimmler growled.

'Whatever,' the cop in civvies said, then snickered, 'Arnold.'

Coming out of his chair, Dimmler said, 'You want to make something outta this?'

'No, man, just relax.'

When the cop stood, he was taller than Dimmler but not nearly as buff.

'Maybe later, doc. See you around.'

'I hope not,' she said to Frank.

'Sorry about that,' Dimmler said. Gail took him aback when she said, 'What are you apologizing for?'

Hunt grinned nastily while Dimmler stammered, 'Well, for his behavior.'

'Like yours is so much better? Honestly, you guys are like wolves fighting over meat scraps.'

Her tone got the attention of the rest of the table. Noah started to say something but Hunt interrupted.

'Hey, lady,' he drawled, his cowboy boots propped on the rung of Gail's chair.

Hunt reached into his lap as Gail glared at him. Unzipping his fly, he cupped his dick in his hand, and said, 'I bet you've never seen one of these before.'

Everyone at the table froze. Frank quickly decided the best way to deal with the situation, but Gail calmly peered into Hunt's lap and replied, 'You're right. It looks like a penis but I've never seen such a small one.'

Hunt's sneer faded, and Johnnie groaned. Frank was about to usher the cop out when Gail added, 'I'm a doctor, you know. You should really have that looked at. It might need to be removed.'

Nervous chuckles went around the table, and Dimmler, not as dim as his friend, thought it best to leave.

'Come on,' he said tugging on Hunt's arm. 'Let's go.'

Hunt stood but shook him off, righting the cowboy hat on his head.

'Yeah, let's leave the cunt-lickers and their faggoty friends,' he jeered. Johnnie jumped to his own defense but Munoz put a hand on him, calming him down. He accompanied his colleagues to the door as Noah congratulated, 'Good one, doc.'

'Excuse me,' Frank said, and Bobby murmured, 'Uh-oh.'

The three men were talking on the sidewalk and Frank called Hunt's name. Dimmler swore under his breath. Muhoz said, 'Lieutenant, I'm —'

She held up a hand. Hunt was a good head taller than Frank, bigger and meaner. Under his chin, close in to break his swing if he wanted one, she said, 'I can't tell if you're stupid, psychotic or both. Even a dumb cowpoke like you has got to know you just bought a CUBO, maybe a suspension. If you've got a union rep, you better call him.'

Thumbs hooked in his jeans, he laughed, 'Thanks for the tip.'

'I'm glad you think this is funny,' Frank smiled, ' 'Cause it's going to get a whole lot funnier.'

'Whatever you say,' he mocked.

'Take him home,' she ordered, not leaving his face. Dimmler hustled him away, but Hunt wouldn't break his derisive stare. And Frank wouldn't let him. Even after his buddies got him into the back of their car he kept his eyes on her. Craning his neck, he flicked his tongue from the rear window. Frank watched the car drive around the corner, stood there after it was out of sight.

When she reclaimed her chair at the table, Johnnie speculated, 'I wonder how Hunt's new asshole feels.'

'You should know,' his partner jabbed back, and the boys started one-upping each other over who'd gotten the worst reaming by Frank. Gail's drink was empty and Frank asked, 'Can I get you a refill?'

Gail shook her bob and Frank finished her soda. She was tired of cops and men, their noise and banter. Glancing at the doc, Clay's advice came to her.

'Hey. You like Italian food?'

Frank had to lean close to ask, and she picked up Gail's peachy shampoo again. 'Doesn't everybody?'

'Want to get out of here?'

'I'm right behind you.'

The doc drove behind Frank to her favorite restaurant, and as they settled heavy linen napkins in their laps, Frank told Gail she was great with Hunt.

'God, what a creep.'

'You should lodge an official complaint. The guy's got some serious problems. I'm going to take care of it from my end but the more stuff that goes in his file the better.'

'You're damn right I will. What an asshole. Or am I just an asshole magnet? First his beefcake friend, then that other guy? Maybe it's my pheromones.'

Frank tried to suppress a smile, but Gail insisted, 'No really. Christ, I get so tired of all these gorillas running around thumping their chests. And if one more man ever says to me at work, what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this, I'm going to lay him out on the table! I swear I am.'

Frank let her rave, then Gail said, 'You must get that a lot too, huh?'

'Not really.'

Gail looked puzzled, then laughed. Frank was handsome, especially when she was relaxed. Wheat-blonde hair