Silent Night: A Spenser Holiday Novel Read Free Page A

gave a little laugh that sounded like a hiccup.
    “Yes, like Slide. When I can keep him from running back to Carmen.”
    “Who is Carmen?” I said.
    “She’s Juan’s girlfriend. She lives on his estate out in Weston. Slide turned up out there a week or so ago. Carmen told me he looked like he had been hitchhiking for a while. His last ride must have dumped him off on the Weston highway. I guess he could see my brother’s big red barn from the road and decided to sleep there, where he could stay warm. She found him in the morning up in the hayloft. After a few days, Carmen sent him to me to see if he could be useful running errands. But he’s so attached to her, he keeps hopping a bus or hitchhiking back to Weston.”
    “Maybe he just prefers fresh air over Times Square,” I said, “like on
Green Acres
.”
    “What?” Jackie frowned.
    “Nothing. So what problem do you have that you need me for?”
    Jackie leaned forward and his voice dropped. “The property that Juan gave me? Where we both live and work? People are trying to make us get out.”
    “By means that require me, not a lawyer?” I said.
    “Yes.”
    “And no cops?”
    “That is correct,” Jackie said.
    “Because you aren’t legal?”
    “Yes,” Jackie said. “We are not strictly legal. We are, as you noted, unlicensed. Some of the kids are underage and don’t have any working papers. And some, as I mentioned, are illegal immigrants from Mexico.”
    “Who’s trying to drive you out?”
    “I’m not sure. It could be a street gang. Or the church. There is a local parish that is looking for property so they can expand. They want to build low-income housing and a school. Juan owns some other houses in the block where he puts his employees. At one time, the church wanted to buy us all out, but we wouldn’t sell. Whoever it is, they take the kids’ money and sometimes rough them up. A couple of the boys have been hurt, and plenty of them are frightened.”
    “If your brother Juan is so rich, why can’t he find out who’s trying to get rid of you and then do something about it?” I said.
    “Juan supports us financially, but he keeps his distance from Street Business. It could have a negative impact on his business and social interests in Boston.”
    “And what exactly are Juan’s business interests?” I said.
    Jackie smiled at me as though I should know. “My brother has a very successful import/export business with offices all over the world. Alvarez Worldwide Limited. Since I am not a businessman, I do not pretend to understand all the ins and outs of what he does, but I do know he is very rich and powerful. Most of his business is between Mexico and the States, and he travels a great deal between the two.”
    “And what do you want me to do for you?”
    “Find out who’s trying to get rid of us and make them stop.”
    I nodded.
    “Are you thinking about paying me?” I said.
    “We will pay you what we can.”
    “Were you thinking about when?” I said.
    “We will pay you when we can,” he said.
    “Gee,” I said, “do you have the same deal with the electric company?”
    Jackie straightened in his chair and looked at me evenly.
    “Mr. Spenser, it is not easy for me to ask for help. I am trying to do good in the community. I am being opposed by unknown forces that I cannot myself combat. I am told you are good at this. I am not. I tell you I will pay you what I can when I can. I am a man of my word, but that is the best I can offer. Will you help us, please?”
    I leaned back in my chair and thought about my other cases. That didn’t take long. I had no other cases. Crime in Boston had apparently taken an early holiday. Then I thought about the earnest man sitting in front of me, pleading for my help. I thought about Slide, a frightened kid trying desperately not to show fear. And I tried to imagine Hawk when he was Slide’s age, living on the streets and learning to survive.
    “Yes,” I said. “I will help