not to give
them reason to test my strength. Hector foresaw some problem or other. If I
could help, it might give the Locos another reason to leave me alone.
"Tonight at seven. Come
alone."
"Yes, Mambo Renee. Tonight at
seven."
* * *
Ten minutes before seven, Hector
was standing outside my shop. I saw no reason—except pure meanness—to
leave him standing there like a kid waiting to see the principal. I was
prepared for trouble, although I didn't anticipate any. I had a tiger-eye ring
with pure ricin, derived from the castor beans, on each hand. Making him sick
twice might make him suspicious. If he got aggressive tonight, he would die,
although I hated the thought and the consequences.
"Hector, come sit here and put
your hands on the table." When he did, I sat and placed my hands over his.
His hands tightened for a moment then relaxed. Abstractly, I realized putting
my hands over someone's hands kept me safe while I closed my eyes since he
couldn't reach or strike me without moving his hand. I relaxed and watched as
Hector's life over the next several weeks scrolled before my eyes. Yes, the
Locos were in big trouble. A week from now they would be in a fight. Outnumbered
and outgunned, they would lose their territory to a Salvadoran gang, MS666—the
symbol for the devil.
"Hector, I see another gang
wants your territory. If you meet them, you will lose. They have more weapons
than you. Your only chance is to hunt them in their territory, on your terms
not theirs," I said and remained quiet as Hector sorted through what I had
told him and began thinking about how he could take the fight to them. As he
did, his future changed. He had decided not to meet them in an all-out fight as
he had apparently agreed. Now that I had seen what he planned and the results,
I could make another prediction. "If you take the fight to them, a few
Locos will get killed, a few injured, but you'll hold onto your territory."
"Thank you, Mambo Renee,"
he whispered, looking deep in thought. He stood eyes downcast as he fished in
his pocket and pulled out a single bill. Placing it on the table, he gave me a
sheepish look, "Is this enough?"
I nodded more in surprise than
agreement, and before I could say anything, he was out the door. The face of
Benjamin Franklin stared up at me—a hundred dollar bill. Usually, I
charged fifty for a session, which could last anywhere from a half hour to an
hour depending upon the amount of small talk. I was surprised but didn't plan
on refunding Hector any money. The advice I had given him saved his life and territory.
I rationalized it benefited everyone—the neighborhood, the Locos, and
me—because the rival gang had a more violent reputation than the Locos. I
concluded life can be very complicated.
CHAPTER FIVE
MS666
What's wrong, Hector? You gone
pussy! Maybe, I should lead the Locos against the 666," Scab said
grinning, which resembled a gargoyle's expression, as the left side of his face
didn't match the right. The scar had damaged the nerves and couldn't respond to
match the other side. The Locos stepped back, giving Scab and Hector room.
Hector smiled.
"I'll tell you what, Scab.
I'll give you a chance to lead the Locos if I'm wrong. I say we'll lose if we
meet the MS666 as planned." He held up his hand to stop comments. "Banger
and Knife will go to Louis Armstrong Park midday tomorrow. Banger will find
someplace on St. Ann Street. Knife, you'll find someplace on St. Phillips
Street."
"Why so early?" Banger
asked.
"So that we know if they are
setting up a trap and to see what we will be facing. If it's the twenty-five
they claimed and they have no heavy guns, Scab can lead the Locos."
"If not?" Scab asked.
"Then you'll know why Hector
leads the Locos." Hector knew it was a risk, but Mambo Renee was a
powerful priestess. She had cursed him, used magic to beat Banner and Knife,
which saved his position in the Locos, and overcame Kweku's black magic. Hector grinned, "Everyone be here at six.
them reason to test my strength. Hector foresaw some problem or other. If I
could help, it might give the Locos another reason to leave me alone.
"Tonight at seven. Come
alone."
"Yes, Mambo Renee. Tonight at
seven."
* * *
Ten minutes before seven, Hector
was standing outside my shop. I saw no reason—except pure meanness—to
leave him standing there like a kid waiting to see the principal. I was
prepared for trouble, although I didn't anticipate any. I had a tiger-eye ring
with pure ricin, derived from the castor beans, on each hand. Making him sick
twice might make him suspicious. If he got aggressive tonight, he would die,
although I hated the thought and the consequences.
"Hector, come sit here and put
your hands on the table." When he did, I sat and placed my hands over his.
His hands tightened for a moment then relaxed. Abstractly, I realized putting
my hands over someone's hands kept me safe while I closed my eyes since he
couldn't reach or strike me without moving his hand. I relaxed and watched as
Hector's life over the next several weeks scrolled before my eyes. Yes, the
Locos were in big trouble. A week from now they would be in a fight. Outnumbered
and outgunned, they would lose their territory to a Salvadoran gang, MS666—the
symbol for the devil.
"Hector, I see another gang
wants your territory. If you meet them, you will lose. They have more weapons
than you. Your only chance is to hunt them in their territory, on your terms
not theirs," I said and remained quiet as Hector sorted through what I had
told him and began thinking about how he could take the fight to them. As he
did, his future changed. He had decided not to meet them in an all-out fight as
he had apparently agreed. Now that I had seen what he planned and the results,
I could make another prediction. "If you take the fight to them, a few
Locos will get killed, a few injured, but you'll hold onto your territory."
"Thank you, Mambo Renee,"
he whispered, looking deep in thought. He stood eyes downcast as he fished in
his pocket and pulled out a single bill. Placing it on the table, he gave me a
sheepish look, "Is this enough?"
I nodded more in surprise than
agreement, and before I could say anything, he was out the door. The face of
Benjamin Franklin stared up at me—a hundred dollar bill. Usually, I
charged fifty for a session, which could last anywhere from a half hour to an
hour depending upon the amount of small talk. I was surprised but didn't plan
on refunding Hector any money. The advice I had given him saved his life and territory.
I rationalized it benefited everyone—the neighborhood, the Locos, and
me—because the rival gang had a more violent reputation than the Locos. I
concluded life can be very complicated.
CHAPTER FIVE
MS666
What's wrong, Hector? You gone
pussy! Maybe, I should lead the Locos against the 666," Scab said
grinning, which resembled a gargoyle's expression, as the left side of his face
didn't match the right. The scar had damaged the nerves and couldn't respond to
match the other side. The Locos stepped back, giving Scab and Hector room.
Hector smiled.
"I'll tell you what, Scab.
I'll give you a chance to lead the Locos if I'm wrong. I say we'll lose if we
meet the MS666 as planned." He held up his hand to stop comments. "Banger
and Knife will go to Louis Armstrong Park midday tomorrow. Banger will find
someplace on St. Ann Street. Knife, you'll find someplace on St. Phillips
Street."
"Why so early?" Banger
asked.
"So that we know if they are
setting up a trap and to see what we will be facing. If it's the twenty-five
they claimed and they have no heavy guns, Scab can lead the Locos."
"If not?" Scab asked.
"Then you'll know why Hector
leads the Locos." Hector knew it was a risk, but Mambo Renee was a
powerful priestess. She had cursed him, used magic to beat Banner and Knife,
which saved his position in the Locos, and overcame Kweku's black magic. Hector grinned, "Everyone be here at six.
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