MOMENTS LATER
I turned to look at him. He wore a light-brown jacket, tan slacks, and scuffed black tassel loafers. He had his hands on his hips, a gold shield clipped to his waistband, and a curved smile on his face.
“Take what exactly?” I asked.
“The two losers you and your partner slapped the cuffs on,” he said.
I ignored him and opened the rear door of the patrol car. I nudged my prisoner toward the backseat and was preparing to ease him into it when Kenwood stepped in front of us, his right hand on the door. “I guess you didn’t hear me,” he said. “These two belong to me now. So hand them over and we’ll all go happily on our way.”
“This is our collar and it’s going to stay our collar,” I said, inching closer to him. “And not you or anybody else is going to stop that from happening.”
“I’m guessing you don’t know who I am,” Kenwood said, still flashing his curled-lip smile.
“You should also be guessing I don’t give a shit,” I said.
“Well, you should,” Kenwood said. “Both you and the black guy should take notice of who you’re talking to before you start running your mouth.”
“Which black guy would that be?” Pearl asked. “The one with the badge or the two in cuffs?”
“I’m Eddie Kenwood,” he said, keeping his eyes on me. “I’m a gold-shield detective, and neither of you is. So, hand over the two perps and get the fuck out of my way.”
“Get back in your car, Gold Shield,” I said. “Me and Pearl take these two in, book them, and fill out our paperwork. You want them after that, run it by the chief, and if he feels the need he’ll hand them to you. That’s how it’s going to work. The only way it’s going to work.”
“And what if I decide that’s not the way I want it?” Kenwood said. His voice was rising, and his pale skin was now tinged with red blotches. “What if I want to take them right now? What happens then?”
“Then one of us is going to bleed,” I said, stepping closer to Kenwood.
“I’ve seen you around,” Kenwood said. “You and the black guy. You’re both up-and-comers, at least that’s what I hear. Would hate to see anything get in the way of that.”
“You call me the black guy one more time, and there will be plenty to get in the way of that,” Pearl said. “Like a possible homicide, if you catch my drift.”
“You’re making a mistake,” Kenwood said to me. “A major-league mistake at that.”
“It’s mine to make,” I said. “Now, me and Pearl would like to get back to work, if it’s all the same to you. And we can’t do that unless you get the fuck out of my way.”
Kenwood held his stare for a few moments and then backed away from the car door. “I’m not going to forget this,” he said.
“It would be a mistake if you did,” I said. I tucked my prisoner into the back seat and Pearl did the same with his from the other side of the car.
“We’ll run into each other again,” Kenwood said, starting to walk away from the car. “I have no doubt about that. And when that day comes, it’s going to be bad luck for you and your partner. You can make book on that.”
“Hey, Kenwood,” I said, waiting as he turned around to face me. “I read about that last big bust you made, the kid from Inwood. It was in all the papers. I have to be honest, there was a lot in there that might spell trouble, but nothing in it that even came close to closing in on murder.”
“Maybe that’s why you’re running through the streets chasing low-end bangers and I’m the lead guy in homicide,” Kenwood said, the smile returning to his face. “Catch you later, losers.”
I nodded. “Unless we catch you first,” I said.