Run to Ground(73)

If Dee had thrown a tantrum or cried or whined or acted like a normal kid, Jules could’ve held strong, but her sister’s stoic acceptance of disappointment was unbearable. “But I’ll talk to Mrs. Vang.”

“Really?” Dee’s eyes got even larger than normal.

“Yes.” With a look Jules tried very hard to make strict, she added, “But nothing’s set in stone until I talk with her, okay? So try to keep the excitement to a minimum.” Even as she said it, Jules knew she was too late. If Dee had been any more excited, the top of her head would’ve blown off.

“Okay.” She took a big bite of casserole, smiling the whole time. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. And don’t talk with your mouth full, please.” Jules had lost any last hints of sternness, though. Dee’s huge grin was too contagious.

“We have a job, too,” Ty blurted. There was a thump from under the table, and he winced.

“Tio, did you just kick your brother?” Jules demanded.

“Yes.”

“Why?” She darted a glance at Theo, wondering what he made of their antics. To her surprised pleasure, he wasn’t wearing his usual scowl. In fact, he looked almost relaxed…and amused. He was definitely amused.

“To remind him to keep his mouth shut.”

“Why should he keep his mouth shut?” Jules was simultaneously grateful for and exasperated by Tio’s blunt honesty. “What exactly is this job of yours?”

They exchanged one of their looks. Finally, Tio answered, “I’d rather not say.”

“Why not? It’s not something illegal, is it?” As soon as the words were out, Jules felt like the world’s biggest hypocrite. After all, by taking the kids and keeping them, she’d committed—and was continuing to commit—crimes much more serious than whatever scheme they’d come up with to make money…at least she hoped they were more serious. She sent another glance at Theo, who looked to be taking a great interest in the conversation. Great. Now, if the twins were breaking the law, a cop would know about it. Jules had a feeling she was in the running for worst parental figure ever.

The twins did their look-communication thing again, but it was more thoughtful this time. “We do not believe so,” Tio finally said.

“You don’t believe so,” Jules echoed.

“Why don’t you tell us exactly what you’re doing, and I’ll let you know if you’re breaking the law.” Theo’s even words caught the twins’ attention, as if they’d forgotten a cop was in their possibly law-breaking midst.

“It’s not illegal,” Ty said reluctantly after yet another silent conversation with his brother. “I’m, like, 99 percent sure.”

Tio frowned. “I’d put that closer to 84 percent.”

With a sigh, Theo made a get-on-with-it gesture.

“We’re offering protection services,” Ty blurted, the words tumbling quickly from his mouth, as if he wanted to get them out and have it be done.

Blinking, Jules tried to absorb his answer. It wasn’t what she’d been expecting, although, with the twins, she never knew what to expect. “Protection services? Like…the mob?” Guilt rose up in her again. Was this because of her influence? She’d tried to keep the whole mess of her involvement with Luis’s business away from her siblings, but it had been a fairly high-profile case. Once she’d refused to turn on Luis, the FBI had no incentive to keep her name from the media, so the kids almost certainly knew at least the basics of the situation.

To her relief, both twins were shaking their heads. “Not extortion,” Tio explained. “We’re not charging for protection from us. We’re charging for protection from others.”

“It’s like an anti-bullying campaign,” Ty added. “Only…with punching.”

“Punching.” Jules repeated faintly.

“Just as a last resort,” Tio corrected, giving his twin a look. “Mostly we rely on the threat of violence for intimidation purposes.”

Theo rubbed his hand across his mouth, as if he were hiding a smile.

“Okay, stop.” Propping her elbows on the table—having dropped her fork onto her plate long ago—Jules grabbed a handful of hair on either side of her head. “Tell us, using easily understood words and phrases, exactly what you are doing.”

“If a kid pays us fifty bucks, we make sure he doesn’t get picked on anymore.”

“So, basically,” Jules said slowly, trying to figure out what the best—most parental—response should be, “you’re hiring yourselves out as bodyguards.”