Ghetto Girls Too. Anthony Whyte
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Название: Ghetto Girls Too
Автор: Anthony Whyte
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Современная зарубежная литература
isbn: 9781935883043
isbn:
“What’re you waiting for? You need to make some then.”
“Then maybe I could start understanding black folks a little better. Cuz every white kid from around the way knows hip hop and R&B are not the same,” Kowalski mocked.
“Hey, easy with that racial bullshit.”
“Okay, pops, I gotcha. Now let’s go find ourselves some credible witnesses.”
“Maybe our survivor will be the man.”
Both detectives walked to where Lil’ Long lay. They watched as paramedics struggled desperately to staunch the blood that dripped like water from a leaky faucet. The paramedics worked feverishly with bandages in their attempt to cover quarter sized bullet holes in Lil’ Long’s body. Hall frowned and turned away while Kowalski’s eyes followed his every convulsion.
“Let’s do this quickly. He’s losing a lot of blood,” a paramedic yelled.
“He’s going into shock.”
“Will he make it?” Kowalski asked
“We’re gonna have to move fast if he’s gonna live. We’ve got to get him to a hospital right away.”
“Wait a minute. I’m gonna help. I’ll ride shotgun,” Detective Kowalski said to Hall.
“What are you thinking of doing?”
“Provide them with an escort. As soon as this sonofabitch regains consciousness, I wanna be there like Johnny-on-the-spot.”
“You get an A plus for effort.”
“No, we get pay raises and promotions after we crack this wide open. That person on the gurney may be our only real witness. So whaddya say we give the paramedics some help to the hospital, huh?”
“What do you suggest we do, open a lane?” Hall asked resigned.
“You catch on real fast for an older officer.” Kowalski cranked the engine and was off in front of the paramedics.
“What’re they doing?” the paramedic driving asked immediately paying attention to the route.
“They’re guiding us to the hospital only used by officers,” the other replied.
“I guess they really want this one to live, huh?”
“I guess. Turn on the sirens.”
Wailing ambulance sirens cut through evening rush hour. Traffic flowed thick on the highway to the hospital. Even with the additional sirens of the lead detective’s car, Lil’ Long’s journey to the hospital was going to be perilous.
The emergency vehicle wound in and out of lanes trying to find a clear path to the hospital. The detectives radioed ahead in the search of a clear lane to the emergency room.
“This is Kowalski. We need a little help.”
“Go ahead with your request.”
“Give me local streets to a good police medical facility.”
“That’s easy. Cop shot?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“What is your position?”
In a matter of minutes, the detectives were in a hospital. They watched a team of doctors and nurses rush Lil’ Long’s near death body off to surgery.
“If he lives, he’s gonna be your headache,” Hall said sarcastically.
“In that case, I better have some aspirin handy,” Kowalski replied watching the creaking gurney carry Lil’ Long beyond the double doors.
SIX
In the annals of what remained of his wits, cannons bellowed. Don’t make me die, Lord, I wanna live. He heard words cocked and reloaded in his mind but no sounds shot past his swollen lips. Instead, he choked when the pain became unbearable. Blood dripped from his mouth.
Lil′ Long tried to hold on. This is just too hard. Internally, it felt as if bells were ringing loud in his head but he remained unable to scream or communicate. His head pounded so hard that Lil’ Long closed his eyes. He stopped resisting.
A shadowy figure whose eyes he couldn’t see approached him. He strained through the darkness trying to identify the figure. It was a familiar one, he was sure. Lil’ Long wanted to rise but couldn’t move. His mind became preoccupied with the activity. His facial muscles contorted into a silly grin. He knew he was no longer in charge of his movements. Darkness overshadowed every move but just beyond, something shone bright. The figure reached out and Lil’ Long dragged himself to the light.
There was the ease of a cool breeze against his face. He could speak again but no one could hear him. The cold wind swirled cradling him. Wrapped in a blanket of wind, Lil’ Long hung in mid-air on a wild spinning ride. Suddenly, he was in an amusement park laughing loudly. Though no sounds were heard, he felt a fascinating high.
Way up there with the birds, he could see his mother waving at him. Decked out in her Sunday best, her mouth opened as she attempted to tell him something. Nodding occasionally, Lil’ Long pretended to be interested in what she had to say but he did-n’t hear a thing. He really wasn’t trying to hear her.
The wind swooshed and swept him past her. He saw his best friend, Vulcha. They were kids again, running and chasing each other, chasing pretty girls in skirts. Then Lil’ Long watched while everyone disappeared from around him. Bars encircled him and once again, he was alone.
A burning sensation hit him. Lil’ Long tried but couldn’t block the pain. He dropped and felt his body throb and ache from the pain. Searing heat penetrated his fallen body, scorching flesh and everything else in its path. I’ll make ‘em suffer. I will torment their souls on earth and in hell. Death’s gonna be my revenge.
He peeped through blood and sweat then fretted silently when his body refused the command from his brain to motivate. It seemed like it was too late and he had no other plans. There would be no backup today. A profusion of sweat appeared along with thick blood. His thoughts faded in and out.
A look of determination contorted his features. Lil′ Long wanted to hang on. He knew he would if only he could bear the intense pain that came with each breath. He sighed heavy and summoned all his energy for this last ride. No matter how hard he tried, Lil’ Long still felt the life seeping through his bones.
The wind warmed. Lil’ Long’s thoughts fought back groggily from the edge. Blinking while twisting back and forth, he could see lights. Their brightness made him dizzy with pleasure. His lips parched, Lil’ long reached out to soothe the dryness. Leg irons and handcuffs restrained him making the task an impossible one.
Neither chains nor handcuffs gonna hold the kid back. I refuse to die. You can’t hold me down forever. Lil’ Long summoned strength through the fury of his thoughts. He gritted his teeth against the revenge he sought. I’m gonna make them pay. They will pay for Vulcha’s death and all this suffering they made me go through. I’m СКАЧАТЬ