Crescent City Connection

this.”
    They drove around until they had a plan, though in the end it was all Daniel’s plan. Daniel had spent his life studying survival; Dashan had spent his bent over books. He could drive, Daniel thought.
    The first thing—to buy some time—was to cut the phone lines. That should be easy, as most public buildings have phone boxes outside. They went to buy supplies: wire cutters, coveralls, a couple of new caps. They already had plenty of guns.
    Daniel left Dashan in the car, sweat running down his cheeks.
He’s not going to last, Daniel thought. I just hope he gets through this one.
    In his coveralls, cap, and shades—this time the reflecting kind—Daniel found the phone box and cut the wires. Then, toolbox in hand, he went to the principal’s office and asked for Shavonne Bourgeois’s room number.
    The secretary was a black woman of about thirty, with straightened hair and about sixty extra pounds. She had a round, pretty face and wore no makeup. She was chewing gum.
    She said, “If you need to leave something for her, I’ll see that it gets there.”
    Daniel might have argued with her, might even have tried to sweet-talk her, but there was no time for that. He said, “Take me to her, darlin’.”
    The woman looked puzzled, as if she couldn’t believe someone would talk to her like that.
    He said, “Her dad’s been in an accident. He’s not expected to live.”
    “My God! Stay here and I’ll get her.”
    “I’m going with you.”
    The woman stood up and walked around the counter. She was nearly at the door when she seemed to remember her job.
    She turned to him. “Sir, I really need authorization from the child’s parents. I’m sorry, but I—”
    “Her mother’s at the hospital.” He looked over her shoulder at three curious faces, two black, one white, all female. “Look, could we talk in the hall?”
    The woman shrugged shoulders that looked massive—though not unattractive—under dark green fabric. She crossed the threshold and almost the second she did, Daniel put the gun to her head.
    “Let’s go.”
    Fortunately, it wasn’t far. The woman wet her pants almost instantly and hyperventilated the entire way. He didn’t know how long he had before she passed out.
    He shoved her into the room. “Get the teacher out here.”
    But the teacher didn’t have to be asked. She took one look at the secretary and without even a word to the kids, click-clicked to the door of the room. “What is it?” she hissed.
    Daniel showed her his gun. “Shavonne Bourgeois. Now.”
    “I’m sorry, but I really can’t—”
    He shoved the gun in the secretary’s temple so hard she jumped. “You can, or I’ll kill her.”
    Without flinching, the teacher turned around; an extremely cool customer, also black, a lot older than the secretary. “Shavonne, can I see you a minute?”
    As soon as the girl was close enough, Daniel grabbed her. The teacher made a noise like someone who’s been hit, and literally grabbed for Shavonne. Took her around the waist and pulled. Daniel had her arm. Shavonne, suddenly the object of a tug of war that might result in mayhem, screamed, “Mama. Mama, Mama!”
    Daniel hit the teacher with the gun, its butt to her temple. The sound was ugly, even to him.
    The secretary, seizing the distraction, started running down the hall, screaming, “Help! Help! Kidnapping! Help!”
    Daniel fired a shot, and she fell down. He didn’t think he’d hit her—hadn’t even aimed for her—but she lay still.
    Room doors were cracked and timid heads peeked out. However, one man, a large black dude Daniel thought might have been a coach, flung open his door and lunged.
    Daniel didn’t have so much as a split second to make a decision. He simply fired, more or less a reflex.
    The bell rang, signifying school was out for the day.
    Only later did Daniel remember that Daddy said no one gets hurt. It occurred to him to throw himself from the speeding car.

Twenty-three
    CAPPELLO GOT THE call while Skip was questioning Lovelace. The girl was still screaming when the sergeant came in. Skip knew from Cappello’s face the worst had happened.
What can be worse?
she thought.
I killed a man today
.
    Another man.
    Cappello took care of the girl first. “Calm down, Lovelace. Take a deep breath.”
    Skip said, “What is it?”
    Cappello said, “Let’s get her squared away.” She turned to Lovelace. “You okay, darlin’?”
    Lovelace shut up quickly. Nodded, looking terrified. “Is it