“Order for me. I gotta piss.”
Then the heat from that hold was gone. Green didn’t bother looking up at the lit-up menu, he knew what he wanted and what Ruxs wanted too.
“Can I help you?” The bubbly woman asked from behind the counter.
He sighed heavily. “I got two orders. I’ll have two double-cheeseburgers, without pickles, extra mustard. One order of sweet potato fries, no salt. And I’ll have a sweet tea with mine. My next order. Two double burgers, no cheese, and no ketchup. Pickles on the side. Two orders of onion rings. Water no lemon.”
“Is that all?” She smiled.
He smiled back. “Yeah that’s it.”
After she gave him his total, she’d just finished swiping his card when his partner was back by his side. The woman looked at both of them, blushing slightly while she waited for him to sign his receipt. They often got this from women, especially younger ones. Green had tribal art tats on his neck that peeked out of his usual tight, white T-shirt. His spiky black hair went in whatever direction his hands moved it in throughout the day. Denim jeans, fitting loosely on his narrow hips with a black-studded belt. His badge clipped to his hip.
Ruxs’ pale green eyes wooed even the married ones. His dark designer stubble was always trimmed and neat. He dressed like a trendy Calvin Klein model. Leather coat. Cargo pants with black motorcycle boots. Always some band T-shirt. Today it was his favorite. Metallica. Tomorrow it’d probably be Green Day or The Stones. Ruxs ran his hand back and forth over his simple buzz cut. But Green knew that that jet black hair was baby soft, not prickly.
They took their trays and walked over to their usual table. The one next to the window that let them see the entrance to the restaurant and the entire parking lot. As soon as Ruxs sat down he asked, “What do you think the meeting is about?”
Green shrugged, taking a huge bite of one of his burgers. “No fuckin’ clue.”
Ruxs took a few of Green’s sweet potato fries and automatically moved a few of his onion rings onto Green’s tray. He picked up the pickles that were placed on the side of his burger and put them on Green’s second burger. Same routine.
They were almost finished with lunch before Green finally asked Ruxs, “So where are you taking this girl?”
Ruxs didn’t answer until they’d thrown out their trash and were walking back to Green’s truck.
“Um probably to a movie. Get a little something to eat.” Ruxs shrugged, buckling his seatbelt. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Watching the game,” Green said pulling back into traffic and heading back to Cleveland Avenue. Usually he and Ruxs would be on his couch putting back a six-pack watching it together. He tried not to feel pissed about it, this wasn’t Ruxs’ first date for fuck’s sake, and Green had definitely been on his share.
“Fuck man. That’s tonight. Shit.” Ruxs looked at his cell like he was going to call and cancel. “Oh hey. She sent another message. Maybe she’s gonna be —”
Green turned and looked at his partner, who’d suddenly gone quiet. Ruxs was staring at his phone.
“What?”
“She sent a message with her address. Said she’s already getting ready.”
“Damn, what time is your date?” Green chuckled humorlessly.
“Fuckin’ eight, dude.”
“Man. Have fun with that,” Green deadpanned. He took the turn onto Cleveland hard enough to jerk Ruxs in his seat. He could feel those dark eyes on him, but he kept his eyes forward.
Ruxs reached under the seat and pulled out his twelve-gauge shotgun – or as his partner liked to call it – his intimidator, and laid it across his lap. Green slowly turned onto the street that most of Chainz’s houses were on. They weren’t going to ask any questions today. Just move through and see who looked like good prospects. Besides, they needed to keep their trouble level down for at least a few days.
They rode in a few loops. There were a lot of snarls in their direction. Ruxs kept his face stoic as always. A few guys were standing around, but they quickly turned their backs to them as they cruised through the drug-infested neighborhood.
“There’s one of Chainz’s main guys on the stoop over there.” Green pulled to a stop next to the curb and watched the man carefully. Most residents in this neighborhood knew who they were. Knew they were cops. But Green and Ruxs were far from worried, because everyone also knew they were fuckin’ crazy and Ruxs was surgical with that goddamn shotgun. The guy watched them back just as carefully, but Green saw the slight shift in his eyes as he looked around to see who else was watching. Yeah, I saw that. The guy stood and yanked open the screen door and walked into the house without a backwards glance. The screen slammed shut behind him but he didn’t close the big door.