The Call
718 Words
Not long after Tiger stepped out to the compound gate and finished his call, Julian’s phone rang. He glanced—Marcus Vale—walked to his door, answered.
“Yeah, Captain?”
“What you doing?”
“Come on—just small stuff, and it reached you?” Julian’s earlier fury gone, replaced by flattery. “Those guys in my yard—your friends?”
“Sort of,” Marcus said. “They know my brother. Heard you’re police—called me.”
“Friendly fire.” Julian quipped, masking the earlier clash.
“Why hands?”
“Not me starting,” Julian clear, always planning exits. “Your friends targeted the girl from the k********g case.”
Marcus paused. “The hostage?”
“Yeah. Network Broadcast—same compound. She screamed outside—I had to check. You know—if she’s got pull, Chief came personally that day. Can’t ignore—trouble for all if big.”
Julian low. “Planned to talk them down. Didn’t know they’re yours… they pulled knives. Couldn’t let that slide.”
“You sure about the girl’s connections?” Marcus frowned.
“Don’t know details.” Julian. “But media brass picked her up—Chief saw her off personally.”
“Ah. You close with her?”
“…” Julian bullshitted instant. “Decent friends.”
“Misunderstanding then. Pass phone to Tiger—I’ll sort. Tell the girl Tiger didn’t know her ties—no hard feelings. I’ll set dinner—he buys.”
“Small stuff. I’ll tell her.”
“Good.”
“Wait, Captain.” Julian walked to Tiger. “Your call.”
Tiger paused, took phone aside, spoke brief with Marcus—hung, face dark.
Julian grinned. “All know each other—say earlier, no hands.”
Tiger gritted. “f**k off, kid. This beating—not over.”
“Sorry, Tiger bro—couldn’t let you strip the uniform.” Julian light.
Tiger gnashed teeth, tossed phone to Julian, waved. “We’re out.”
Aside, Caleb watched whole thing, confused to Julian. “How’d you fix? You and Captain—what relation?”
“What relation?” Julian countered.
“Captain respects Tiger—you beat him like that—one call done? Thought uniform gone.” Caleb baffled.
Julian thought, leaned to Caleb’s ear. “Never told you—Sixth District top administrator… my second uncle.”
“f**k—no truth from your mouth.” Caleb rolled eyes, no more questions. “Anything else? Gone if not.”
“Thanks.” Julian slapped shoulder. “Sleep in tomorrow—noon fine.”
“Human at last.” Caleb grinned. “Out.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
Caleb left compound.
Gate, Evelyn smoothed hair, stepped to Julian. “Sorry… trouble again.”
Julian curious. “You test my skills or what? Every time we meet—trouble.”
Evelyn pouted. “I’ve been unlucky lately…”
“Hey—why they after you?”
Evelyn glanced Julian’s clothes, polite. “Cold outside—inside?”
“Sure.”
Evelyn opened door, led Julian into her room.
Julian scanned—layout like his, but girly, clean, faint fragrance.
“Drink?”
“Besides water—anything?”
“Uh… no.”
“No fake politeness.” Julian sat. “Water fine.”
Evelyn shed coat, poured warm from thermos, explained soft. “Planning feature on bottom-tier patients. Ran into dealer ring. Deeper contact—no**, vicious. Media—besides living, duty to speak for society. Shot photos… trouble found me.”
Julian cup in hand, direct. “Family well-off?”
“… Decent. Why?”
“Feels like full belly, looking for pain.”
“Bullshit!” Evelyn shot back. “Judicial—how say that?”
Julian laughed. “Kidding—why mad?”
“You entered—cursed twice.”
“Leaving.” Julian no more advice, stood.
“Cup down.”
Julian set cup, hands behind, left—face no joke.
Evelyn called Tiger dealer too—coincidence with Marcus connection?
Julian first felt off—but couldn’t pin.
…
Hospital.
Tiger sat surgical, phone to Marcus, roared. “Don’t get it—punk no background—why shield him?”
- Writer
