* * *
“Well, Dempsey? Are you going to listen to your two trainers now and get that fight with Santana cancelled? The guy’s nuts. Your buddy Huang could pick him up now on just what he tried to pull here at practice.”
Mike, who was leaning up against his car in the parking lot with Stan and Jerry bracketing him, shook his head and shrugged.
“I’m playin’ out the string, Stan. There’s no use ducking him. Like you said – he’s nuts. Maybe the faceoff will end this. Terry thought I could get his friend off. He may be tougher than a bleached, rawhide chew-toy, but he’s also dumber than a bag of rocks. He actually thought all I needed to do was phone the cops. If I beat him in the ring or he beats me, maybe this all ends.”
“Yeah, in a funeral. I go along with you about this not ending well if there’s no fight, but he can’t do much from jail. Even if you don’t get him arrested you could go to the officials and let them know what he’s done. I’m sure they didn’t miss that crap going down outside the weigh-in. I can’t believe they didn’t already call you to say the fight’s off.”
“I’ll bet Terry has a relative on the board,” Jerry inserted. “Stan’s right. Why the hell else hasn’t he been booted?”
“I’ll check it out with the Oracle when I get home.” Mike straightened away from the car. “I have to go. With Laura living at my house for the time being, I promised Joanie I’d help her rearrange the bedroom today before dinner.”
Stan tapped Jerry’s arm. “Now I get it. Dempsey’s duckin’ advice and the hard questions ‘cause he’s suicidal with Laura riding him every night about all his shortcomings.”
Jerry folded his arms over his chest. “How is that going for you?”
“I’ll let you know, Jer… just as soon as I know.
Stan chuckled. “So now she’s part of Batman and the dog wonder’s inner circle – the Oracle, huh? I like it. This is sad. The Oracle has the Batman on leash. What about the dog wonder?”
Mike hesitated until Stan snapped his fingers for an answer. “She watches ‘Family Guy’ with him.”
“Oh Dempsey,” Jerry turned his head away in comic disappointment. “The dog wonder has chosen sides. You’re so far down the Demon authority ladder already he’ll be taking you out for walks pretty soon. Go now. Find out from the Oracle whether Santana has friends or relatives on the MMA circuit board. We want a report tomorrow when you come to watch us. You are coming again tomorrow, right?”
“He will,” Stan said. “Mikey knows we need feedback on our performance at practice.”
“You both did very well. I think you only got beat downfield four times, Stan.”
Stan’s mouth dropped open until he realized Mike was needling him. “Okay… good one. There will of course be payback. Don’t fool around with the Oracle when the parentals aren’t looking either.”
Mike opened the Chevy’s door. “Not going there. See you two tomorrow with my report. Work on stripping the ball on the run, Stan. You need to quicken your first step downfield, Jer. I want to see improvement tomorrow.”
Stan and Jerry were in one finger salute mode as Mike drove away.
* * *
Laura, Connie, Janis, and Gail walked a very happy Demon to a smaller park near Mike’s house but in the opposite direction of Washington Manor Park. Janis had called everyone to arrange a meeting. She knew Laura being pregnant and now residing in Mike’s house would strain an already tenuous working relationship and beginning friendship with Gail. As Janis had already explained to Connie - without Gail’s Dad, Steve, Demon Inc. would be history.
Connie glanced around the innocuous streets at sunset apprehensively. “Are you sure it’s okay to walk out here?”
“Officer Huang told Mike’s Dad they got everyone involved,” Laura answered. “They pleaded out because of firing at the police, and made a deal to get the guys who sent them. When your own lawyer’s telling you ten to fifteen years if you don’t cooperate, I guess gang/drug dealer togetherness wears thin. We don’t even have to testify. I have to admit though drive-by shootings weren’t on my worry list before our walk the other night.”
“It’s beautiful out here,” Gail said. “How did Mike… oh crap! Look at the size of that dog over there… see it in the yard across the street? It looks like a Rottweiler.”
A huge black and brown Rottweiler looked toward the group of teens as Gail pointed in its direction. The unleashed dog charged across the street with a low toned growl, straight at Demon, apparently unconcerned with Demon’s aura.
“Let go Demon’s leash, girl,” Janis ordered, while lifting her cell-phone up to take a movie. “You can’t hold him back while he gets mangled.”
Laura dropped the loop held loosely in her hands. All four girls backed off a step away from Demon who watched the Rottweiler skid to a hunched snarling stop only a couple feet away. The dog darted forward while varying its snarls with staccato barks in an escalating violent manner heralding an attack. Demon watched it from his sitting position in front of the teens with calm interest.
Connie nudged Janis. “What should we do?”
“Pray the owner finds out his dog’s loose before Demon rips him out a new one,” Janis replied.
“I wish I had my stun gun,” Gail remarked. “That thing’s twice Demon’s size.”
The Rottweiler attacked, jaws snapping for Demon’s neck. Teeth crunched on empty air as Demon leaped to the side of the dog. His teeth closed on the Rottweiler’s neck with the blinding speed of a sprung bear trap. The Rottweiler collapsed with a terrified keening whine of anguish. Demon released it and the Rottweiler streaked back across the street to a surprised man who had emerged from the house where they had seen the dog at first.
The man frantically examined the wounded Rottweiler as it yipped in his arms. “What… what the hell happened to my dog?”
“He attacked us,” Laura called out, holding up Demon’s leash.
“Hank’s never attacked anyone! Who’s going to pay his vet bill?”
“You are, Mister.” Janis held up her cell-phone. “I got the whole thing in HD. If you don’t want jail in your future you best make sure Hank stays on leash.”
Faced with video evidence his dog had attacked, the man cursed and helped his dog Hank inside the house.
Janis waved her phone in front of Laura’s face. “Hello. When you’re out with D, you never leave home without your iPad. Video evidence is vital for the canine crusader.”
“Arf.”
Laura waved a warning finger at Demon. “What did I tell you about eavesdropping on our conversations?
“Grrrrofff.” Demon turned away, garnering appreciative laughter from his four human companions.
“I do have my iPad,” Laura said. “By the time I thought about it the whole thing was over. You are hell’a fast with the vid, Jan. You sure pulled that guy’s string quick. What were you going to ask me before about Mike, Gail?”
“I was wondering how Mike took to you moving in.”
“Not too well.” Laura started walking again with the others falling in around her.
Connie moved around so she could look into Laura’s face. “You turned on the waterworks, didn’t you?”
Laura started to protest but kept silent instead.
“What else?” Jan demanded. “I see the guilt dripping off you. Spill it.”
“I jumped all over him about doing MMA and the faceoff with Santana. Hell… he almost got shot. You were there, Gail. The whole thing is goofy.”
“I know Mike cares about you,” Gail replied, shaking her head. “If you don’t quit trying to ride him like a trick pony he’ll stop talking to you altogether.”
“So you think… wait a minute.” Laura stopped on the sidewalk, glaring at Gail. “Don’t you care what happens to Mike?”
Gail smiled. “I care, but I have enough sense not to interfere with what he wants to do. I’d do a ‘friends with benefits’ on him in a heartbeat.”
Laura gasped while both Janis and Connie
laughed. Janis put an arm around Gail’s shoulders.
“Gail’s right, Laura. Mike didn’t make waves when you tromped off to Florida and slutted out to Moomoo. He’s a standup guy. Take the damn spurs off.”
“Slutted out to Moomoo… what the…” Laura shut up. Her girlfriends were watching her with amused indifference. “Okay, okay, I’m out of line. I’ll knock off the ball and chain act. Moomoo? Really?”
Demon tugged on the leash, starting the park trek in motion again.
Janis’s phone played ‘The Exorcist’ theme song. “Jerry, I told you never to call… what… he did? Okay, I’ll tell Laura to find out. We’ll compare notes whether Dempsey mentions it or not. I’ll see you around eight.”
Janis regaled her friends on the short version of Mike’s confrontation in the stands with Santana that Jerry had given her. “Dempsey’s supposed to ask you to find out if Santana has a relative on the San Jose MMA Board that sets up the fights, Laura. I think Jer might be considering the possibility Dempsey would skip the investigation.”
“That Santana’s got it bad,” Gail remarked. “Their fight’s tomorrow. I could see why Mike wouldn’t want to bother checking the MMA Board. What good would come of getting the fight canceled now? It’ll only piss Santana off more. If he does have-”
“He does.” Laura had been working her iPad while Gail talked after handing Demon’s leash over to Connie. “Julian Santana.”
“This is going to be one damn dangerous fight,” Janis remarked with a shake of her head. “You’d best stay off Dempsey’s back today, Laura. He’ll definitely have enough to think about without your two cents.”
“I get it!” Laura grabbed Demon’s leash while waving her hands in surrender. “I thought I could reason against this brutal crap. I was wrong. Demon’s on my side though.”
Demon immediately halted his progress toward the park, spun around and yanked his leash out of a surprised Laura’s hands. The act caused pandemonium for a few moments with uproarious laughter and astonished remarks of glee.
“Good Lord, D,” Janis said finally, seeing Laura still standing stock still with her mouth open. “You are one scary dog.”
Connie knelt down to hug Demon, still laughing uncontrollably. “Oh… my… God! You are so… extreme!”
“We better take D on to the park before he decides to take us directly into the Twilight Zone,” Gail added, patting Laura’s shoulder sympathetically. “When we get back from the park maybe Mike will be home. He knows the score. There’s no use getting worried unless he’s worried.”
Laura nodded numbly. “Sorry, D. Let’s go run you into the ground playing Frisbee.”
* * *
“That’s perfect, Mike.”
Mike looked up from the third movement of his sister’s dresser. “Okay then, I guess you and Laura are all set. I hope this arrangement will be it. You said you talked it over with Laura already, right?”
“Yep, and we won’t be abusing you to change it again. I promise. You haven’t said much about the practice. How’d Stan and Jerry do?”
“It was fun watching them practice. They do very well. I’m glad I don’t play football.”
“I heard your call in to Mom.”
“Oh… well you know how it is, Sis, just another day in the neighborhood.”
Commotion at the front door downstairs and the sound of familiar voices heralded Demon’s park party’s return.
“I see that trapped look on your face, Mike,” Joanie observed as Demon bounded through the bedroom door for energetic hellos.
“This looks great, Joanie,” Laura stated clasping her hands together as she looked around. “We had an exciting journey to the park complete with attacking dog, and upbraiding of idiot hanger on.”
Joanie giggled, watching Mike’s studious look of interest. “Meaning you found out about the confrontation at football practice, expressed displeasure, and Demon handled some dog like it was a gerbil?”
“Wow, girl.” Janis walked over to hug Joanie. “You got it in one sentence. Are you sure you don’t want any part of the Demon Inc?”
Joanie shook her head with attitude. “Nope. I’m close enough to this business without being in the spotlight. I’ve seen what the rest of you go through. I’ll stick to being a groupie.”
“You should have seen how Demon handled the dog,” Connie stated, bending down to stroke Demon’s head. “Anyway, it’s all good, Demon handled the dog and we gave Laura her past due attitude adjustment about Mike.”
Mike continued straightening items in the room while expressly ignoring the females grouping inside the bedroom.
“Say something, Mike, you putz,” Janis smirked.
“Happy days,” Mike replied, straightening from his final adjustment on the nightstand next to what would be Laura’s bed. “I have a fight tomorrow night. I’m hoping the conclusion will end all the bad stuff with Santana. If it doesn’t, we’ll have to go from there. I’m glad Demon’s okay.”
“Arf!” Demon reiterated.
“You could throw the fight, maybe…” Laura shut up immediately as she garnered looks of outrage. “Crap… I did it again.”
“Want to take this one, Dempsey?” Janis asked.
“We all know I ain’t throwing the fight so why further dignify an idiot remark like that by acknowledging it?”
“Oh yeah!” Janis snapped her fingers. “That’s what I’m talkin’ about. Reply, Laura?”
Laura sat down heavily on her bed, waving a hand weakly. “Nope. I’m good. Sorry, Mike.”
“Forget it. I did call Officer Haung to let him know about Santana’s latest interaction with me. He said he’d contact Sergeant Gilmer and Officer Natallia from the weigh-in to let them know Santana’s done another up close and personal. Gail, has your Dad decided what he wants to do next?”
“He’s leaning toward taking Demon aboard the Hornet. They have some spooky stories about that ship. Dad’s applied for special permission to take D around on the carrier either before or hopefully after visiting hours.”
“A haunted ship? Oh boy,” Connie mumbled. “Tell Dempsey about Santana’s relative on the MMA board, Laura.”
“Oh yeah… I almost forgot.” Laura took out her iPad. She showed the bookmarked page with picture and credentials to Mike. “Julian Santana is Terry’s uncle.”
“That explains how he’s been getting away with some of the intimidation stuff, but even a relative on the board shouldn’t be able to make a gun incident like happened at the weigh-in disappear.”
“I have Officer Huang in my contact list,” Laura replied. “Want me to send him the link?”
Mike nodded. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I think I’ll go watch TV and then pass out when I get tired. Thanks for checking on Santana. I’m hoping the whole thing will be behind us after tomorrow.”
Mike walked out of his sister’s room without pausing. Demon followed him a moment later.
Chapter 12
One Problem Ends And Another Begins
Mike glanced down at the thin MMA gloves he wore as the referee cautioned him and Santana. He grinned, knowing Santana would take anything he did as a personal offense. Keeping his feet moving, Mike flexed his arms to keep loose, while steadfastly avoiding Santana’s malevolent stare. He backed off a step from the ring center, took a deep breath, and embraced the aggressive curtain sweeping over him. Mike closed his eyes, avoiding the violent images he kept in check from obliterating his conscious thought. Mike instinctively knew he was a killer. He avoided the thought of hurting anyone with the thread implanted by two model parents, but the tenuous grasp he controlled through force of will slipped on occasion. This was one of those occasions. The referee barked the last of his cautions and backed away. He asked each of them if they were ready and after receiving gestures in the affirmative he gestured them into battle.
Within seconds, Mike knew Santana’s attack would be to keep him on his feet. That coincided nicely with Mike�
�s expectations. Santana launched a forty second flurry of tightly coordinated punches that would have stunned or overwhelmed anyone else. Mike endured. He slapped aside what he could and absorbed what he couldn’t, pulling away to deaden the effects. Santana’s frustration mounted with each passing second. A minute into the bout Santana pulled back. Mike hit him with a roundhouse left kick to the head that bounced Santana off the ropes in a daze.
Mike didn’t follow the attack up. He flexed his fingers in his gloves with anticipation, days of pent up anger and frustration mounting. Santana’s rage, palpable to cohorts in his corner, and visibly warring across his facial features, heralded a moment where the two stood motionless in the ring, as if in the eye of a hurricane. It was then Mike took him down in a split second grapple.
Mike released his hold, swiped an elbow across the bridge of Santana’s nose, and snaked his left hand around Santana’s elbow. In seconds Mike forced an unbreakable arm-bar. Santana tapped out anxiously as pain raced up into his brain along with the hopelessness of his position. Mike dislocated Santana’s shoulder with a quick wrench upwards with his right hand while rolling slightly for better position. He stood with both hands held up in acknowledgement to the referee’s animated gestures, an award winning surprised look on his face as if he had no idea Santana must have been very close or in the process of giving up. In reality he had been blocked from view of Santana’s desperate surrender gesture, which even the referee had just noticed. Mike stolidly watched Santana rolling on the ring floor in agony as his corner men and the ring doctor rushed in. Mike involuntarily smiled. It was then he looked up at his corner crew. His smile vanished.
In Mike’s split second glance toward his corner he saw a reflection of what lay before him if he could not control what seethed in the dark side of his soul. Meeting his Dad’s grim look, Mike lifted his right hand in acknowledgement. Instead of cheers for the winner, the hundred or so people in the arena made little noise – not enough to cover Santana’s groans from the ring floor where the doctor treated him. Mike avoided looking over at the section where his Mom, Joanie, Laura, Janis, Gail, and Connie sat. As the referee raised his hand, Jerry brought him a t-shirt and Stan handed him a wet towel. Stan leaned in close to Mike with Jerry hovering to hear what was said.
Demon (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 1) Page 16
