Hardheaded Brunette by Diane Bator Page B

popped it into his mouth. "Which is why Kane Garrick is hanging around town again."
    "Yeah. Kane and his girlfriend Mena." Gilda nodded. "Kane said she plans to open a new shop in town. A New Age kind of place he calls a voodoo shop."
    He glanced up and down the street. "Really? What's it called?"
    "I don't know. I—" She stopped. "Wait. Did you say he's hanging around town again ? When did you see him before?" And how had she missed meeting him then?
    "Hello, Miss Gilda." Happy strolled out of his store, his girth filling the doorway. "I hear there was a problem at the big fight today." He shook a thick finger at her. "I told you to stay away from your Sensei Mick and come work for me, did I not?"
    Gilda's face burned. "Yes, you did."
    "I told her that too," Gary said. "She'd be far safer working here with you than at that crazy karate school."
    Happy nodded. "Too much em perigo , this one. You see, Miss Gilda, we both agree. You tell Sensei Mick you work for me now. I take care of you. No more em perigo . You be safe here."  
    " Em perigo ?" Gilda glanced to Gary.
    "In danger." He patted her arm. "Danger seems to follow you around like a lost puppy. Your friend here is trying to protect you."
    She sighed. "Look, I know you guys are trying to help, and I do appreciate it, but I'm fine. No danger."
    "Uh-huh." Gary leaned against his dark blue Buick. "The Phoenix may be a new school, but there's still another body. Both Happy and I would be thrilled to see you work in a safer place, with safer people."
    Gilda scowled. "Don't you think that's a little hypocritical considering you're a bookie?"
    "And you are a lovely young lady." Happy pulled Gilda into a bear hug. "You come work for me and find a lovely young man who will take care of you and give you babies. Not a desordeiro like Sensei Mick, who works with lunaticos ."
    She needed no translations that time. Her jaw twitched. "Mick isn't a troublemaker and he hasn't gotten me into any trouble so far. In fact, he's helped make me a far stronger person than I was when I left Thayer." She couldn't speak to his comment about the lunatics Mick trained with, however.
    "Eh." Happy shrugged.
    Gilda snorted. "Well, I am."
    "Yes." Gary patted the top of her head. "Yes, yes, you are. Why don't I walk you home? It's a nice evening and I—"
    "Actually, I'm on my way to the school to check on things," she said. "I have a feeling nobody cleaned up after the police left or turned all the lights off properly."
    Happy and Gary exchanged glances. After a long moment, Gary took Gilda by the arm. "Come on, I think you're better off just leaving the mess until tomorrow. I'm sure Mick took care of things. He knows you'll give him what for if he didn't."
    Gilda had her doubts. She imagined the entire school was even messier than when she left. She pictured water bottles and litter on the floor. Maybe Gary was right.
    "Fine. I'll go home." She turned to walk with him, back toward her house, with plans to ask about the last time he'd seen Kane and Mena. "Maybe I just need to take the evening off and start fresh in the morning."
    "Wait." Happy held up a meaty hand. "Gary, I have the Scotch you asked for. I give to you—then you take her home."
    Gary held up a finger to Gilda. "You wait here. I'll be right back."
    As the front door of the store closed behind the two men, Gilda darted up the street toward Phoenix Martial Arts. The instant she opened the door, she regretted being stubborn enough to come back so soon. The stench of stale sweat and coffee gagged her. Water bottles, coffee cups, and food wrappers lay strewn on the floor.
    "You just don't listen, do you?" Gary ran up behind her, panting. "Gilda, I told you not to come here."
    She glanced around at the debris and winced. "Yes, you were right. I should have gone home and not worried about things. I really didn't think… Actually, I knew it would be bad. This goes beyond bad."
    She strolled around to her computer. Since someone had turned it