The Girl in the Middle

What she did to save Clay

*Tom*

Of course Clay has gotten himself thrown in jail at the most critical time in the foolish situation he has brought upon himself and the rest of us. It is only a question of time before Zombie will try and get to Amber. Her psyche won't be able to handle that yet. And it will force us to tell her why she has that name and what it means.

Not that I don't want to tell her, she deserves to know. But it isn't my decision to make. It is something Clay and Kattie has to tell her and it can very well change her decision to stay.

Having her staying with me at least secured her from Zombie, he will never get to her here. The downside is, that as my gang is much bigger, there is a lot more people that can potentially let their mouths run of with them. Which meant

I has to keep her away from my own members as much as possible.

Every Tuesday we have a meeting for the leaders in the old church. Every gang has to send at least one person to represent them and speak on behalf of the gang. Due to everything that has happened those past weeks I went myself this time, to support Kattie when the questions about Amber will be discussed. So I leave Amber in Mike's capable hands. He is an old friend and I trust him to keep her safe and far away from everyone else so we don't have any unwanted situations. And he is the next best to get her started on her training.

It's not that I really feel like going to the meeting. I know there will be arguing, and probably so done will be yelling. I already have a mayor headache brewing, but I know I am needed there.

It's everything with Amber showing up, Clay going back on drugs, getting himself locked up. The prospekt of what Christopher and her father might do. And what Zombie might do.

And then there is Kattie. She has started coming by more and more often, to train and to talk. But I know what she really wants, I am just not sure I want to do that again. Or well I want to, but I am not sure it is a good idea. It could give me a lot of problems with Michael and with Clay if I start something with her.

Also I know how it ends, the same way as always. With a 'Sorry Tom, but you know it was never going to be serious', and her leaving to devote her time to another man, it being Clay or Michael or someone else.

Don't get me wrong, I mean it isn't like she has left me heartbroken and sobbing or anything, but well it does make me look bad and okay feel a bit bad too, that I don't seem to be enough unless she is down and need to be picked up.

————————————————————————————————————-

I meet Kattie and KC in front of the church, and Kattie holds me back. I look at KC. "Just go on, set things up, we'll be along in a minute". As soon as he is gone I look at her. "Is something wrong Kattie ?"

"Tom, I don't know if I did the right thing". She refuse to look me in the eyes. "The price for Clay's freedom was steep".

"What have you given them ?" I asked her, starting to feel worried.I know to well that she is willing to do almost anything to help Clay.

Kattie is biting her lip before answering. "I kind of promised them to search for Sarah Noble in the underworld".

"Have you given any promise to what you would do if you found her ?" I ask her, kind of holding my breath. Clay brought this upon himself, it wouldn't be fair sacrificing Sarah, or well Amber for him.

"No. But I promised to get back to them when I had talked to all the leaders about it. In return Clay gets out again in a week". She look up at me. "What am I going to tell them ?"

"The truth". I suggest. "Well at least up to Sunny let her go". I shrug, I mean that they could easily find out themself if they wanted to.

"The rules forbid me to turn in Sunny". She points out. "He can have me judged and punished if I rat him out to the police".

"Everyone knows about his business, even the police. If they weren't so damned scared of us they would be questioning him themselves". I put an arm around her shoulders. "You haven't done a bad deal. You haven't promised to tell them were she is or to exchange her for Clay".

"I almost did". She admits, keeping her eyes on the ground.

I don't really have any doubt that she would have. Clay has always been, I don't really know how to explain it, but she has always followed Clay like a tamed puppy, even though she claims that no man will ever own her and despite the things he has done to her.

I send her a small smile. "Well almost doesn't count".