By the time Maggie and Juju got into downtown Kensington, it looked like a war zone. Police cars and SWAT vans littered the streets. Some of the young prostitutes were crying and called out to Maggie as she passed, but Maggie kept walking, just as Colby had instructed. Stop for no one. Get back to your apartment, he’d said.
Maggie and Juju paused for a brief moment when they saw Rock pushed up against a police car as an officer handcuffed him. Feeling their eyes on him, Rock looked over at the two girls. Juju gave him the finger; Maggie held his gaze.
“You fuckin’ no-good whore,” Rock screamed at Maggie.
Maggie did a curtsy and walked on.
Rock watched as she strutted down the street. His rage boiled as he realized that his own bitch had set him up. Maggie had outsmarted him. She’d help to take down everything he’d built. Rock felt like a complete fool, and his anger grew stronger. He felt as though he had the strength to break out of the metal cuffs, run down the street, and rip Maggie’s limbs from her body. Instead, the police officer shoved him with force into the backseat of the cruiser.
Then the officer pushed him over on the seat. “You fucking, low-life scum. Don’t worry. Where you’re going, there will be plenty of time for you to be angry. So for now, keep your shit together, or we’ll make it harder on you.”
It wasn’t until three o’clock the next morning that Colby rapped on the apartment door.
Maggie opened it cautiously. She and Juju had been unable to sleep. They felt wired. Maggie threw her arms around Colby’s neck, and he held her close.
“It’s done,” Colby said.
Stepping inside the apartment, he closed the door behind him.
Maggie and Juju watched him, their eyes like hungry animals’ as they craved information.
“It all happened pretty smoothly. Two officers were shot in one of the houses they raided. One of the officers died, and the other is in critical condition,” Colby recited.
Maggie’s eyes grew sad. “What about Rock? He’ll go to prison?” she asked, wanting confirmation.
“He sure will. Rock’s going to prison for a very long time, thanks to you,” Colby said, knowing that she’d worry if she thought Rock would be set free.
“Fuckin’ A,” Juju rejoiced. “And they arrested Thelma?”
Colby smiled and nodded. “Someone—I can’t imagine who—put quite a hurting on her.”
Juju beamed victoriously. “That chick had it comin’ to her.”
Then he grew serious. “There is one thing,” Colby said, looking right at Maggie.
“What?” Maggie shrieked.
“This was the biggest bust in Kensington in the last twenty years. My police chief and the lead detective I work for would like to meet you and personally thank you for all that you’ve done,” Colby said, beaming.
Maggie slapped his arm. “You’re such a troublemaker.”
“No, I’m serious. They really do want to meet you. I told them I’d ask. It’s completely up to you. If you’re not comfortable, they’ll understand,” Colby said.
“I guess it’s fine,” Maggie said, looking at Juju, who nodded. “Are they going to come here?”
“No, we’ll drive down to the police station and meet them there,” Colby explained.
“When?” Maggie asked.
“We’ll meet them in the morning. I’ll pick you up around eleven, OK?” Colby said.
Then Maggie turned to Juju. “Will you come with me?”
“Hell, yeah!” Juju shouted.
As the girls lay on the mattress together after Colby had left, they giggled about the damage Juju had done to Thelma.
“Juju, I’m not sure what I’m going to do now. I mean, we have to get Joey from the Freys, but we’re going to have to get real jobs,” Maggie said.
Suddenly, the new freedom was liberating and paralyzing. Being free of Rock and his guys had only seemed like a fantasy. With it all behind her, Maggie slowly began to panic. What would she do now? How was she supposed to start her life over? Then it dawned on Maggie that there was hard work ahead.
At the station the next morning, Maggie and Juju held hands as they followed Colby into a large, well-lit room with lots of tables and chairs. There were police officers drinking coffee and eating junk food from the vending machines against the wall. Still following Colby, they walked through the room as the officers watched them closely. Colby led them into a cozy office that had a large, mahogany desk and a long, leather sofa.
Several men turned to greet Colby. Finally, he stepped aside as he introduced Maggie and Juju to each of the very official looking men in suits. The last man to be introduced had been leaning over the desk with his back to them, writing in a small notepad. He finally put the pad away, looked up, and strode toward the girls.
“Hey,” Colby said. He seemed happier to see this man than he was to greet the other suits in the room. “Maggie, this is Detective Harker.”
As Maggie extended her hand, Detective Harker seemed to be in a trance. He looked into her soulful blue eyes. There was no doubt in his mind. He’d looked at her picture a million times over the last nine years. He took her hand in his and held onto it tightly.
“Maggie, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Detective Harker said with sincerity.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Maggie responded, trying to pull her hand from his. But the Harker guy wasn’t letting go. He just kept looking into her eyes and smiling. Maggie thought he was a little odd, but then his name jumped out at her. Rae Harker was the detective who worked with my parents when I went missing, she remembered.
Maggie turned to her friend. “This is Juju,” she said, hoping Harker would let go of her hand.
Coming to his wits, he let go and addressed Juju. “So you’re the little girl who put the hurting on that big woman?” he asked, beaming with pride.
Juju puffed her chest out, feeling for the first time in her life like she had a reason to be proud. “Yep, that’s me. I hope that bitch rots in hell,” she added.
Detective Harker nodded and returned his gaze to Maggie.
“What?” Maggie asked, growing antsy from the attention Harker kept giving her.
“I know you,” Harker stated. “We’ve never met, but I know you.”
Harker could see by the strain on Maggie’s face that he was freaking her out.
“What I mean is, I know your parents,” Harker clarified.
Maggie’s heart seized. She looked at Colby, who seemed just as confused. “Yes, I read about you in the newspaper,” Maggie countered.
Detective Harker looked surprised.
“Well, it was good to meet you,” Maggie sputtered abruptly. “We’re gonna get going now.”
Detective Harker raised his hand, and Maggie stopped immediately. “I need you to stay,” he said. “I have some things I want to talk to you about. Important things that you’ll definitely want to hear.”