Johnny quickly did as he was told, just as I knew he would. That’s why I had brought him along. He wasn’t the brightest man I’d ever met, but after the last time he fucked up a run, he knew damn well he’d better follow directions this time.
“Now, you listen to me and listen good,” I said when he came back over to me. “I want you to take this car over to the scrap yard at Magnolia Recycling. You know where that is?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ve already called Herman, so he’ll be expecting you. When you get there, I want you to put this fucking car through the compactor twice—no, make it three times. Ya hear me?” I grabbed Johnny by the collar so he understood how serious I was.
He started nodding quickly.
“Good. Now, git.” I pushed him toward the truck.
He didn’t waste any time hopping back into the flatbed and pulling off just as fast as he’d pulled up. I got back into the truck with Patrick and we headed back toward El Paso, while the Wildman boys headed to Louisiana to dump the cell phones in the swamp. I checked my watch, satisfied by all that we’d accomplished in less than fifteen minutes. I had to laugh, wondering what LC Duncan would think if he knew I’d just made his nigger sheriff and his police car disappear without a trace.
Chippy
27
I squared my shoulders and said a quick prayer as I approached the door, reminding myself to remain calm, even though I knew it would be difficult. I knocked softly. After a few moments when no one came to the door, I knocked again, this time slightly louder. I was just about to leave when the door finally opened.
“Grandma!” Nevada tossed his arms around me in a hug so tight that we both nearly fell over.
“God, I have missed you,” I said, hugging him just as hard. I had missed our daily routine ever since Consuela had taken him out of my house. When he was with us, I was in charge of getting him to and from school and all his various activities, so we spent a lot of time together. Now his absence left a hole in my heart. I loved that boy so much. LC had said it many times, but he really was our future—which made it even more important that I completed my mission successfully.
I stepped back to get a good look at him, and my eyes filled with tears. Rio may have been my baby, but Nevada was my heart.
“I missed you too, Grandma,” he said sadly.
“My goodness. I do believe you’ve gotten taller.”
Nevada laughed. “Funny. I’ve only been gone two weeks.”
“I know, but it feels like forever.” I peered at him a little closer. “There is something different about you, though.”
Nevada smoothed his finger across his top lip, where there was a faint, thin line of hair. “Well, I have been growing a mustache.”
“Yes, I can see that,” I told him, squinting to see his imaginary mustache. “Well, can I come in?”
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry.” He stepped out of the way, and I entered the hotel suite.
He whispered, “Grandma, can you talk some sense into my mom? She’s taking me to California tomorrow.”
“Your father told me. That’s why I’m here,” I whispered back.
I looked around, a little surprised by how unkempt the place was. Either the hotel housekeeping staff wasn’t very good, or Consuela was a hot mess. I knew it wasn’t Nevada, because he kept his room at my house orderly and clean.
“Where’s your mother?” I asked.
“She’s in her room getting dressed.”
“Nevada, did you order room service again?” Consuela walked out of her bedroom and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me. “Chippy . . .” There was no doubt from the tone of her voice that she was surprised by my presence, and not pleasantly.
“Hello, Consuela,” I said politely.
“I didn’t know you were coming.” She glanced at Nevada, picking up a few things from the sofa.
“Oh, I was in Manhattan and thought I’d stop by to see Nevada. I’m sorry. Should I have called first?” I purposely put her on the spot. I wasn’t Vegas or Nevada—she couldn’t bully me.
“No, of course not. You’re his grandmother. You’re always welcome,” she said with fake cheerfulness. “Please, have a seat.” She gestured to the sofa.
I sat down, and Nevada sat next to me. She cleaned off an armchair and sat across from us.
“So, what’s this I’m hearing that you’re going to be attending school in California?” I addressed my question to Nevada, but I was looking directly at Consuela.
“He’s going to attend Simi Valley Prep,” Consuela answered for him. “It’s one of the best boarding schools in the country.”
I took a moment to let her words sink in, then I unleashed my attitude. “Boarding school? He’s not living with you?”
Consuela’s eyes darted to Nevada. Obviously she knew at that point we were about to have words. “Nevada, leave your grandmother and me alone so we can talk. Go finish packing.”
“But, Mom—” Nevada started to object, but I shook my head at him. His protests subsided just as quickly as they started. “Yes, Mom,” he said, then gave me a hug and exited the room. He trusted me to handle this.
“You know, Consuela, when Vegas told me you were taking Nevada west, there wasn’t really much I could say. You’re his mother. A child should always be with his mother.”
She nodded as if she thought I was done, but that was far from the last thing I had to say.
“But what the fuck is this shit about boarding school?”
She flinched a little but recovered quickly, firing back with plenty of attitude of her own. “I’d rather have him in boarding
