Delta Stevens 2: Storm Shelter Read Free Page A

“There’s nothing more for us to do here, Brown, so leave it be.”
    Highbaugh stood next to Brown, who lowered his baton to his side. Brown’s expression was a cross between disbelief and profound anger. “You’re making a big mistake, Stevens.”
    Lowering her weapon, Delta shrugged. “Why don’t you boys move along now. Jan and I will handle these guys.”
    Highbaugh grabbed Brown’s arm and helped move his reluctant body toward the front door. “Someday, Stevens,” Brown yelled when he reached the front door, “you’re gonna have to learn to lighten up and be one of us!”
    Delta shook her head as she bent down to pick up the knife. “Brown, if being one of you means acting the way you just did, then I’d rather be a meter maid.” Watching them walk out of the door, Delta holstered her weapon and motioned for the biker to stand up.
    “You pack a mean punch, little lady,” the biker said, grinning a toothless smile at Jan as he rubbed his bleeding hand.
    Looking at the knife, Delta inspected it more closely. It didn’t look like any butterfly knife she had ever seen. This appeared older, as if it might be an antique.
    “Nice knife, huh?” the biker said.
    Delta nodded. “Nice enough to go to jail for?”
    “Ah, man, can’tcha gimme a break?”
    Delta looked up from the knife. “I already have.” Examining the knife again, Delta was sure it was an antique. “What are you carrying a knife like this around for, anyway? It looks like an antique. I thought bikers kept Bowie knives in business.”
    The biker resumed smiling. “Got one of those, too.”
    “I’m quite sure you do. So answer the question.” The smile disappeared as quickly as it appeared. There were three things men on the street would boast endlessly about: their cars, their weapons, and their sex tools. They were usually pretty honest about the first two.
    “It is. I ain’t ever seen one like it either.”
    “Just the same, they’re illegal and I’m going to have to take it in.”
    The biker nodded.
    “But that’s all I’m taking. If I have to come back here tonight, I’m coming with a paddy wagon and plenty of ’cuffs. You understand?”
    “Yes, ma’am. And thanks, man. Thanks a lot.”
    Looking over at Jan, who was motioning to her that they should get going, Delta asked, “You need medical attention for your back or anything? I mean, I wouldn’t want you to sue me a week from now because of back problems.”
    He shrugged her off. “Nah. But you can tell that little piece of rat shit that just left that if I ever have the chance of meetin’ him in a dark alley, he’s gonna need more than that baton to keep me from twisting his neck like a fuckin’ turkey.”
    Smiling, Delta stared out the door. “I’ll be sure and tell him.”
    In the car, Jan shook her head and started to fill out a Quik-Form about the incident. “You amaze me,” she said. “That guy could have torn your fool head off.”
    Delta started the car and drove a few blocks before replying. “The real danger in that bar wasn’t those bikers, and you know it.”
    Jan nodded. “That’s another reason why you amaze me so. After all you’ve been through, you’re still able to work with morons like Brown.”
    Delta looked out the window at the moon. “Grudges are a waste of energy, Jan. I learned that one from my grandmother a long time ago. Young cops fly out of the Academy, ready to right the world of all its wrongs. When they find out it doesn’t quite happen that way, they get a little hard-headed.”
    Jan’s eyebrows raised in question. “And Downtown Brown? Is he, too, just hard-headed?”
    “Him?” Delta grinned, thinking back to him standing there like John Wayne on rope soap. “No. He’s just a dick with a big stick, that’s all.”
    “That’s all?”
    Delta grinned at her. “Isn’t that enough?”

Chapter 3

    It was 1:45 when they received their last call. “S1012, we have a possible 603 at 91 North Hemingway.”
    Jan