Pretty Dangerous Read Free Page A

don’t even want to see that, that...”
MiMi’s temper flared hot as the image of his smiling face flashed
in her mind. Luz let loose with a string of derogatory names in
Spanish. “Yeah, whatever you said.”
    Luz laughed. “Ow, he should leave before you
get out.”
    “So, you figure he’s gonna take the money and
run?” Diana’s tone was conversational as she gazed off at the
soccer game.
    MiMi looked at her. “What?”
    “You were asking a lot of questions about
hiding money and how to move money. Your boyfriend, he’s smart.
They think he’s a tourist that just got stupid.” Diana shifted her
gaze to MiMi.
    “Roddy is exactly what he looks like, a
stupid tourist who scored and got caught. I just asked because you
both were talking about your old boyfriends and gang members.” MiMi
hoped her voice didn’t reflect her sudden case of nerves.
    “You seemed a little bit more interested than
just making conversation.” Diana lifted a dark eyebrow. She pushed
away from the wall and sat down next to MiMi. “I might be able to
get a guy who can help, for a reasonable fee of course.”
    “No way, you’re totally wrong. We’re not...
you know,” MiMi whispered and glanced around. “Roderick wouldn’t
know the first thing about that sort of stuff. And I definitely
don’t.”
    “Diana, I could tell she was green the second
they pushed her into the cell,” Luz put in with a snort.
    “Uh-huh.” Diana gazed at MiMi for a few
seconds.
    “Hey, your pal Lola is tryin’ ta get your
attention,” Luz said and pointed to the other woman standing a few
feet away. “Tell the bitch I said hello.”
    Diana transferred her gaze to Luz. She gave a
short laugh and shook her head. “You never learn. Three times
inside and you never learn.”
    “Yeah, yeah. Makes two of us,” Luz retorted
and winked at her.
    Diana threw down her cigarette, crushed it
out and strolled off, still shaking her head. Moments later she
joined a group of inmates. Soon they were engaged in conversation.
Their exchange flew right over MiMi’s head. Once again she
regretted not paying attention in her high school Spanish class.
She listened for her name or any word she might understand. Soon
the women moved away.
    “I have to get away from this place,” MiMi
mumbled.
    Luz waved to a player on the field who raced
along. “Watch what you say to Diana. Her man is big into one of the
gangs.”
    MiMi looked at her sharply. “She never
said...”
    “She wouldn’t. If he thinks you or your
boyfriend are operating without his permission? That would be a
sign of disrespect. Hey, score already,” Luz shouted. She kept up
her pretense of concentrating on the game.
    “Like I told her, Roddy is a dumb tourist.
I’m dumb for even being interested in Roddy.” MiMi forced herself
to laugh, hoping it sounded genuine.
    Luz didn’t look at MiMi. Instead she waved at
another clump of inmates seated on the grass watching the game.
“I’ll keep close to you, so will my cousin over there, the one with
the ball.”
    “I thought you and Diana were good friends.”
MiMi swallowed against the lump of terror in her throat.
    “It’s smart for me to know what she’s doin’
and sayin’, okay? We get along, but I know to watch her. You
should, too.” Luz glanced at MiMi briefly. Then she glanced at
where Diana stood with a clump of other inmates.
    “Why are you telling me this?” MiMi wiped
beads of sweat from her forehead. Suddenly the heat came from
inside her gut.
    “Diana, Lola and some of their friends are
getting way to cocky for their own good.” Luz wore a serious
expression for an instant before she smiled. “Hey, let’s get a
basketball game goin’ next time.”
    The players finished the game when guards
signaled they were to wrap it up. They called back to Luz playfully
about what she could do with a basketball. Half of it was in
English, half in Spanish. A few women yelled Creole. Luz let loose
another string of Spanish as she stood