Bad Moon Rising

Troy spoke first, “You can’t do that.” He sounded whiny, “It’s mine.”

“Do w

hat I advise.”

“If I get caught…”

“Then do not get caught. Use some sense, Troy. You’re in far too deep to argue with me.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

“Finish the last ones. Do that, and then we finalize the rest.”

I said to Hondo, “What happened to all of Jericho’s peace and love talk?”

“Evidently Troy is a bad boy and isn’t following the gospel of Moon.”

I glanced up and saw Moon walking towards us. Troy had disappeared. We moved away from the crowd and waited for him.

Moon gave each of us a gentle man-slap on the arm and said, “The two bronzed paladins. I am sorry to learn of your friend’s passing.”

“Some people murdered him.” Hondo said.

“I know, a terrible thing, especially so soon after the Artells. It is a dark time in our city.” He edged a little closer, “I saw him yesterday, here on the beach.”

“Did you talk?”

“We did. He searched for someone and asked if I knew them. I didn’t recognize the name and told him if I heard something I would let him know.”

I said, “Who was he asking for?”

“He only had a nickname. Someone called Mano, if I remember correctly.”

“Where did you talk to him?”

“Here.”

“Right here?”

On the walk, near the Sidewalk Café. Why?”

Hondo said, “Just curious.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?”

I said, “We saw you and Troy talking, and he didn’t look too happy.”

“He isn’t. Troy is making some shaky investments and wanted my advice.”

“Your advice? Are you an investment counselor?”

I caught a tiny glint of anger in his eyes, “No, I am a friend. You know about friends, Ronny. You don’t abandon them in their time of greatest need.”

Moon’s words stung. I said, “Don’t get defensive, Jericho. I thought that if you were an investment counselor, I’d ask advice on some stocks. Like, which ones caught Tony’s eye, so I don’t invest in them. C’mon you can tell me.”

He smiled, and I caught motion out of the corner of my eye as three young women came our way. Moon’s Maidens.

Suri said, “We need to borrow him for a bit, sorry.” She smiled when she said it but she wasn’t asking if she could take him. She gently tugged at Moon’s arm.