“If Mouser doesn’t come—”
“One thing at a time, kid. Let’s do the next group, then call it for now.”
Eve ignored the headache while Dorian identified two more.
“Okay, that’s it for now. We’re going to walk back to Central, get my ride.”
“I had it brought down,” Roarke told her. “It seemed easier.”
“Yeah, great, fine. Thanks for all this,” she said to Mavis and Leonardo. “I’ll be in touch.”
“If anyone can help those children, it’s you.” Leonardo enfolded her before Eve could evade. As he embraced her, Mavis pinned Dorian with a look.
“Somebody just handed you a mega op. Don’t blow it. I’m saying that as somebody who might’ve been whacked enough to blow it in the back time.”
“You weren’t that whacked,” Eve said simply. “Let’s go.”
When they stepped outside, Dorian took one look at Eve’s DLE. “Man-o, that’s one totally out car. Doesn’t look like it’d drive over five.”
“In the back, strap in.”
After the required eye roll, Dorian settled in. “Hey, you got an AC back here. That’s prime. I can get another fizzy.”
“No.” Eve shot through the gates and prayed to any deity who’d listen to help her carve her way through traffic and get this done.
Roarke shifted. “There’ll be a meal for you and your friend at the school.”
She sneered at that. “Like veggie hash or soy surprise.”
“The surprise there is that anyone would eat either of those if they had a choice.” As that got a grin, Roarke did what he could to engage Dorian in conversation while Eve pushed through traffic.
Eve figured she owed him all kinds of monkey sex.
Still, when they pulled up in front of the quietly dignified building that housed An Didean, Dorian’s shoulders hunched.
“Give it a day,” Roarke suggested. “If you’re unhappy, we’ll try something else.”
Not wanting to risk the chance of having to chase the reluctant kid down the street, Eve hit vertical, shot over several vehicles, and dropped into a loading zone.
“Frost-tee!”
“A lesson in judging by appearances,” Roarke said as Eve flipped on her On Duty light.
“Don’t make me chase you,” Eve warned, and got out on the sidewalk. To make sure, she took a good grip on Dorian’s arm with Roarke flanking the other side as they walked to the front doors.
Roarke buzzed in, and Rochelle waited in the entrance hall, with Crack beside her.
As far as imposing went, they hit top level.
He owned and ran a downtown sex club, but obviously hadn’t dressed for work. Worn jeans and a black tee showed off an ultra-fit body. His shaved skull gleamed in the lights.
“Hey, skinny white girl.”
“Hey back, buff Black man.”
Before Eve could say more, he grinned at Dorian. “And hey, cutie.”
Rather than speak, Dorian edged a little closer to Roarke.
“Welcome, Dorian. I’m Rochelle Pickering, and this is my friend Wilson. Why don’t I show you around? The day students are gone until morning. We have summer classes and activities,” she explained. “The live-in students have finished dinner and have free time.”
“They said Mouser would come.”
“Yes, your friend Tom. He’s on his way. I thought you’d want to wait and have dinner together when he gets here.”
“He’s really coming?”
“Yes, he is. It’ll be good for both of you to have a friend as you start a new school, but I think you’ll make more friends here. Why don’t we go up, take a look at your room? I can show you some of the classrooms and other areas on the way.”
Eve decided, with considerable relief, to let Rochelle handle things as Dorian stepped toward her.
Rochelle, in a quiet blue suit, her hair wild dark curls, took Dorian’s hand. And continued to talk, in a voice as quiet as the suit, as she led the girl away.
“She’s got it,” Crack said. “My Ro knows what to do.”
“I need the kid secure. I’ve got two officers coming in to make sure of it.”
“Yeah, we got that, too. I’m staying until they get here. No one’s getting through me to hurt that child.”
And that, Eve could trust and believe.
Still she stayed, walked through areas, noted kids gathered here and there in the common areas, others jamming in the music room. A lot of space to secure, she thought, but then Roarke had secured it.