Maria slapped his arm. “God, no! That’s the worst thing we can do. Mama’s scared of the police. Nearly everybody is.”
“Then how about Mr. Kraft? I can tell him.”
Maria shook her head. “We can’t. He’ll just make us talk with Mr. Dixon.”
“Well then, let’s go talk to Dixon.”
Maria squeezed Stump’s hand. ”That’s what I suggested to Mama but she turned away. I think he might be the one who hurt her.”
Dumbfounded, Stump’s jaw dropped.
“Mama won’t tell me what happened.”
“Maybe I could get my dad to help? It’s not his department, but he’s a detective.”
She glared at Stump and grabbed for the door handle. “You’re not listening to me. I should have known you wouldn’t understand. I’ll go find somebody else.”
Stump’s hand pulled at hers. “Don’t go. I’m sorry. I know you said she’s afraid of the police, but I don’t know what else to do.”
“We have to work on it ourselves. Together. In secret.”
“Work on what? This is none of my business.”
“I know, but somebody has to figure out what happened and turn him in. The police will listen to you. You’re smart and white.”
“White? I don’t know what that has to do with anything. I think the cops would listen to you, too. You’re her daughter.”
“I would but if Mr. Dixon is the one who hurt Mama, and if he sees me asking questions, he might hurt her again, or hurt me, or throw us out of the building and Mama says we can’t afford to live anywhere else. That’s why I need you to do it. You work here so it won’t look suspicious if you talk with some of the people.”
”I wouldn’t know what to do and it would take a lot of time and I already have too much to do. Besides I don’t want to make waves either. I might get fired.”
“Please!” She scowled right at him. “What if it was your mama?”
Ouch! She might as well have taken a giant bite out of his heart. Stump remembered exactly how he felt when his own mother had been slipped a date-rape drug and ended up in the hospital. He didn’t need coaxing to fight then. Maria’s mother deserved the same respect. “Okay. You’re right. I’ll try.”
Maria squeezed Stump’s neck so hard it hurt. “Thank you, thank you. I knew you’d do it.”
“Do what, exactly? I don’t really know what you want me to do.”
“Maybe you can talk to some other people and see if they know anything. Dixon has had a lot of women live with him. He may have done bad things to them or somebody else. If so, you can turn him in without dragging Mama into it.” She touched his chin. “I’m sorry, but I have to get back to Mama. Let’s meet again tomorrow and I’ll introduce you to a friend who can help us.”
“Tomorrow? I can’t. I’m meeting somebody else.”
“Another girlfriend?”
“Not a girlfriend. An attorney. I already promised her. I’m sorry, but it can’t be helped.”
“So you do like me?” she asked, smiling gently.
“Well, yeah. Sure I do.”
“Okay then. Just promise me you won’t tell anybody what we’re doing. I could never forgive myself if Mama got hurt again.”
“Okay. I promise.” Stump said softly. “I’m really sorry about what happened.”
Maria grabbed Stump’s face and gave him his very first serious non-family kiss on the lips. “You’re so sweet,” she said, pulling away quickly. “You’re my boyfriend.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
In her mid-twenties and very short, Danielle Delgado wouldn’t intimidate a grade-schooler, but she had one big thing in her favor: She was willing to work on Stump’s case for free. Stump and Myles met her in her office as she’d requested.
“I’ve spoken with Mrs. Crumpler at the City Planner’s office,” she said while tapping some papers. “I have the list of everything we need to do right here.”
Shocked, Stump glanced at Myles, then back to Ms. Delgado. “How’d you do that so fast? It took me lots of calls just to get a straight answer out of that office.”
She shrugged. “Apparently the best thing we can do to improve the safety codes is get the residents to vote on it. If we give them a couple years to get it done they might go along with the idea.”
“What if they don’t want to go that route?” Myles asked.
“But I want to force them to do it,” Stump said. “It might piss some of them off, but it’s for their own good.”
“I know what you mean,” the attorney said, nodding. “Older people are always using that line on us, but I’m afraid there really isn’t any realistic way to force them to do what you want. As good as your idea is, some people will fight you because they don’t have the money or don’t think the risk is all that great.”
Stump swallowed. If he were to be completely honest, he’d heard some of the residents make comments along those lines when he handed out brochures with Myles.
“If the legal process fails,” she continued, “about all you can do is try to inspire them to upgrade their homes on their own. That’s why you should be sure to deliver those brochures Mr. Barella made for you.”
“We’ll be distributing the last half real soon,” Myles said.
“Good. In the meantime we should be able to get everything you need and you can present your idea at the next meeting. From there, you should know fairly quickly what you’re up against.”
Stump’s gut rumbled. “I guess nobody cares as much as I do, but I ain’t quitting.”
Myles said to Delgado, “His mom always said he’s no quitter.”
“Okay, then. First, I need a neighborhood map that shows the exact houses we’re talking about. You can probably get something from an escrow or title company.” She turned her page. “Oh, yeah, I could use pictures of individual houses that appear neglected or unsafe. I’ll upload the best ones into a packet.”
Myles turned toward Stump. “James would probably help you.”
“I also need a written report from a professional, stating the common safety problems in the area. I’ve got a list of home inspectors here who can do that.”
“Are they free?”
“Hardly. It’ll probably take a couple hours to create a good report. I’m not sure what an expert would charge.”
“I’ll try to cut a deal with somebody,” Myles said to Stump. “You might have to paint their house or something.”
Stump raised his brows. “This pisses me off. All I wanted to do was help make homes safer so other people don’t die like my mom did. Now I’ve got to do damn near everything and I don’t get anything out of it.”
“Hold it there, Stumpster,” Myles said. “You’re taking out your anger on the wrong people. Ms. Delgado is trying to help you, for free no less, so am I, and some others.”
Stump hadn’t really thought of it like that. “Sorry. It’s just that I’ve got school and a job and homework and I’m trying to get my driver’s license and I still have to deliver a bunch of brochures.” Then there was Maria and her mama and his desire to get back in the kissing van, but nobody needed to know of those complications.
“You should know where you stand in a few days,” Delgado added. “And it’s only going to cost you about sixty dollars for office supplies and copies. You can pay me later.”
”Wait a minute,” Stump said. “This was supposed to be free.”
“I’m sorry. I can waive the legal fees, but I can’t pay any of the out-of-pocket expenses for you.”
Stump bit his lip. It was always the same damn thing. “But I don’t have any money.”
“I suspected that. Can you mow my parents’ lawn for them? They just live a few miles from here. I’ve already spoken with them. If you can do that a couple times, they could pay the incidentals for you.”
Stump groaned. “Mr. Kraft might let me use the Cal-Vista mower.”
“There ya go,” Myles said. “We can throw the mower in the b
ack of my truck.”
Danielle Delgado tapped her folder. “Okay, then. Get me what I need by Monday and I should be able to get your packets together in time for the meeting.”
Stump made an arm-nest on his attorney’s desk and laid his egghead, complete with his scrambled brain, right in the middle.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It wasn’t that much to ask. Stump only wanted two things out of life: to get his own car and to eliminate the overwhelming guilt he’d been hosting ever since his mother’s passing. Neither issue should have been very damn complicated, but they’d both become quagmires.
To get a car he had to get a job, which started off okay, especially when he met Maria, but then Dixon Browne had injected himself in the mix. Now, Stump was expected to figure out if Dixon really hurt Maria’s mama, or anybody else, without Maria’s mama knowing what he was doing. How the heck could he do that?
Now at Cal-Vista Stump dipped Ol’ Ug’ into the bike rack. He looked across the courtyard where a Hispanic woman was sweeping dirt off the sidewalk near a pallet full of mulch bags and a newly-dug flower garden. He wondered why anybody would wear sweatpants and a sweatshirt this far inland, especially in the afternoon.
On the other side of the pool Dixon flung open the door of Kraft’s building and walked quickly toward Stump. “You’ve done it again, you twerp,” he said as he blew by. What the hell was that about?
As Stump entered the office, Mr. Kraft came out of the restroom. “I don’t know what’s worse,” he said while setting a small plastic bottle of meds on his desk. “The disease or the medicine. Sometimes I wonder if it’s all worth it.”
“I’ve still got some work to do back by the fence,” Stump said, trying to change the subject.
“That reminds me,” Mr. Kraft said as he slipped slowly into his chair. He opened his drawer and pulled out an envelope. “You got a few days into this pay period.”
Oh! Cool! It was about time something good happened. Stump almost snatched the envelope right out of his boss’s hand. “Thank you, sir.”
“You want to know something?” Mr. Kraft said. “Some people should be ashamed for the way they approach their jobs. They do the least they can to get by. That’s like stealing.”
Uh-oh. A lecture. Dixon must have seen Stump and Maria in the back of Manuel’s mini-van and said something about it to Mr. Kraft.
“But then there are the other people,” Kraft went on. “They put in their best effort, whether anybody is watching them or not. It’s a matter of character to them. You’re like that. I can tell by how much work you’ve done already. A guy like you approaches his payday differently. He holds his chest out, walks right up to the boss and grabs his money, like you just did.”
Whew. Apparently Mr. Kraft thought Stump was doing okay after all. “Thank you. I’ll try to remember that.” He started to turn around but thought better of it. “Can I ask you something, Mr. Kraft? I don’t really know how to ask this, but do you think it’s possible that the manager is hurting people around here?”
Kraft lifted his head. “Dixon? What made you ask that?”
“I’d rather not say. You know, in case it’s not true.”
“Alright. I’ll respect that, but he doesn’t have to hurt anyone. He has the authority to get rid of people if they cause trouble.”
“Never thought of that. Thanks. I’m going to get after that back fence area now.”
Once outside, Stump squeezed his envelope and thought about the things he’d accomplished around Cal-Vista: the painting, the weeds, the trash, the scraping of the wooden fence along the back of the lot. Mr. Kraft was correct. He had earned that check.
Savoring the moment, Stump slowly opened the envelope to admire his very first real paycheck. Forty-six dollars? He busted his ass for a friggin’ forty-six bucks? That wasn’t even enough to pay Myles back for Ol’ Ug’s tires. To make matters worse, it would be another two weeks before the next payday and he’d be broke the whole damn time, just like he’d always been. Why work at all if you’re going to be broke all the time?
He recalled how his mom sighed when she’d been paid. He remembered her clipping coupons and scraping coins out of the bottom of her purse just to find a tip for the pizza delivery driver. He understood her better now. Wished he could thank her for all she’d done that he’d taken for granted. He shook his head and stuffed the check in his pocket.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Pulling weeds sucked. “Hello, Stump.”
Huh? He turned. Somehow Maria had wandered all the way to the back of the lot without his seeing her. She held out a napkin. “This is for you.”
She had a large cookie in one hand and a glass of lemonade in the other. Stump wiped his forehead with the back of one of his gloves. “Wow. Thanks.” Somehow, Maria knew how to make difficult moments better. He plopped his gloves on the ground, took a big bite and washed it down. “Chocolate chip is one of my favorites.”
“Mama made them for Dixon, but she let me pick out the biggest one for you.” Maria pointed back toward the new flower garden. “That’s her sweeping the sidewalk. I told her that you’re my boyfriend.”
Boyfriend? There it was again. He’d clearly surpassed the crushboy level. “How’s your mama doing, anyway?”
“Not too good. She wears hot clothes and won’t tell me what’s wrong.” Maria puckered her lower lip. “We both cried when Señorita left.”
“Your cat? Where’d she go?”
Maria lowered her head. “Mama said she snuck out the door when I was at school. I just hope she’ll come back.” Maria poked Stump’s arm. “Hey. Mama’s going inside now. Let’s get in Manuel and Juanita’s van where we can talk better.”
The kissing van! Even though the back seat would be awfully hot Stump could take a few minutes to be alone with the girl who thought of him as her boyfriend. They climbed in and Stump propped the door open with his foot.
“Mama’s been working really hard the last two days. She barely stops to sit down and keeps the bathroom door closed when she’s in there. I think I heard her cry.”
“I’m really sorry, Maria. I know what it’s like when something awful happens to our moms.”
“I still think Dixon did something to her because she won’t talk about him.”
“But Dixon doesn’t need to get mean,” Stump said, recalling Mr. Kraft’s earlier comment. “He can just throw people out if he wants to.”
Maria clucked her tongue. “He’s not going to beat people up in the courtyard where everybody can see.”
True that. “So I suppose you still want me to help?”
“Of course I do. Mama is the sweetest woman I know. You have to find out what he did and then we can figure out what to do to him.”
“I’ll try, but I’ve got so much to do. Report cards are coming out before long and I ain’t doing too good. On top of that, I gotta get ready for my next big meeting and mow some old people’s lawn. And I still have to get some work done when I’m around here. If I lose this job, I’ll never have enough money to—”
“You know something?” She kissed his cheek. “You amaze me. You’re doing all of the things you just mentioned but you’re still going to help me.”
“I still think you should just call the police. Let them figure it out.”
“I already told you if the cops make Dixon mad he might make everything worse. Mama doesn’t want to risk it. You should come by tonight before you go home. Then you’ll see how sweet she is.” Maria’s eyes were pathetic, her tone desperate.
“To tell you the truth, I remember how I felt when somebody hurt my mom.”
Maria clapped her hands. “I knew I could count on you.” She laid her head gently on his shoulder and turned her lips toward him. It was the moment Stump and his mirror-buddy had anticipated. He closed his eyes. As their lips met he swirled his head slowly around, like the movie stars. He rubbed her shoulders and felt her bra strap. It was an incredibly natural moment, unlike
the goofy giggle-kisses he once got at a party, even different from when Maria had kissed him a couple days earlier. Was it too early in the relationship to stick his tongue out? Is that what a full-blown boyfriend does? How far? Oh damn. He had a cookie crumb in the back of his mouth.
As if on cue, he detected the tiniest tip of Maria’s tongue. Somehow all of his other questions went away. His tongue matched hers. He was doing it. For real kissing. French kissing. His heart pounded and his penis stiffened. An incredible memory embedded itself in his mind.
Suddenly the van door blew open. “What the hell’s going on?” Dixon asked, glaring. Under other circumstances, Stump and Maria’s private game of tongue tag would be none of Dixon’s business, but Stump was supposed to be working. “Sorry,” he said, shifting his shorts.
“You think you’re smart,” Dixon said as Stump got out. “But I know your game. You wait until the old man isn’t paying attention, and then you chase innocent girls. I know what you’re after, and it ain’t going to happen while I’m around.” He faced Maria. “And you. Your mother would be ashamed. Besides, you can do better than this twerp.”
“That’s not a nice thing to say about my boyfriend.”
Boyfriend! There it was again.
“Now get out of here,” Dixon said to Maria, “before I make you wish you’d never met this guy.”
“Okay, I will, but you’re not nice.” She turned to Stump. “Come see me when you get off work. He can’t stop us then.”
Wow! She’d just defended him. Girlfriends were rad.
As Maria walked off, Dixon returned his attention to Stump. “Let’s get something clear. I don’t like you. You’re nothing but a spoiled rich kid.”
“I’m not rich.”
“Oh, bullshit. I know about all that money that was handed to you.”
“But I don’t get it for five years.”
“Boo hoo! On top of everything else, the old man says he wants you to paint the lines in the parking lot, but I was going to give that job to somebody who’s raising a family. But that’s no sweat off your balls. Right, rich boy?”
“I keep telling you, I’m not rich. I gotta work just like everybody else.” Sort of. While it was true that he needed to work, Stump’s situation wasn’t at all similar to somebody who had to feed a family and had no way of tripling his or her money. Maybe he really was taking advantage of people around there—except Maria who kept calling him her boyfriend. He couldn’t help it if he was so darn charming. He bent for his gloves. “I gotta get back to work.”