Page 50

"Let's go, Beni," I said backing up. "This is a matter only the police can handle."

"We're the police here," Jerad declared angrily. "This is our territory. We decide what's to be done, hear?"

"C'mon," I said reaching for her hand, but Beni was nearly hysterical with anger and fear. She lunged forward to snap the envelope out of Jerad's hands and he pulled back and caught her around the waist.

"That's an assault!" he cried. "You all saw it." She struggled to get out of his grasp.

"Let her go!" I demanded.

"She committed a crime. She has to be tried and punished. We're the police, judge and jury here," Jerad said. "You want to be her lawyer? Okay, start pleading her case."

Beni tried to kick herself free. Jerad passed the pictures back to Chumpy and put a choke hold on Beni to stop her from resisting. Then he pulled the envelope with our money out of her hand and shoved it into his pocket. She started to gag. I panicked and screamed.

"Stop it! You're hurting her. Let her go now!"

"Only way I can let her go is if you agree to take her place as the defendant. We allow that sometimes," he said.

Beni gagged again. Her eyes bulged with her effort to breathe.

"Okay," I said. "Let her go."

He loosened his grip. She went to her knees, choking and spitting.

"You're horrible," I said. "How can you do this to her? Does it make you feel big and strong in front of your friends to bully a couple of girls?"

His eyes lost their glee and became cold again.

"I think you have a big mouth and someone's got to teach you a lesson," he said. "Tonight's your lucky night, girl. Step up here and let a man make you a real woman:'

Beni looked up at me. I saw something in her eyes and started to shake my head, but she moved too quickly. She turned and with her closed fist, she swung her arm up between Jerad's legs and hit him hard where it hurts a boy the most. He gasped, seized his stomach and fell to his knees. Beni slammed her open palm into his nose and he fell onto his back. The others just stared in disbelief.

"Run, Rain!" she cried rising to her feet.

I turned and ran, expecting her to be right behind me. I ran with all my might toward that doorway. I heard the shouts, but I didn't look back. I banged into something hard and nearly fell when it spun me around. Somehow, I managed to keep my balance and keep going. Moments later, I shot out into the street. I ran a few yards and turned, waiting for Beni to appear. She didn't. Instead, I saw Carlton in the doorway.

"Come on back here," he called.

"Beni!" I screamed.

"Come back here. She ain't going nowhere."

I looked behind me at the empty street and then at Carlton.

"I'm goingto get the police," I said.

"You better not," he threatened. Another boy came up beside him.

My feet felt glued with fear to the sidewalk, but I had to do something and do it fast. I turned and I ran without looking back. When I rounded the corner, I saw a car and ran out onto the street, waving my arms. The driver stopped. It was a black man about Ken's age.

"What's wrong?"

"They've got my sister in an old warehouse. Please, take me to the police," I begged.

"Who's got your sister?"

"Gang members," I said.

His face wrinkled with fear. "I ain't gettin' involved with no gang."