“Assault?” He threw up both hands. “How the hell did I assault you?”
“You grabbed me despite my protests—twice.” I lifted my nose and shot him a look. “Assault.”
I repeated the name of the mall and pizza joint and hung up the phone.
“You’re crazy!” he yelled, but worry settled heavy in his eyes.
“Me?” My laughter had an evil edge.
Wait until he is in jail. If he thinks I am crazy, I’m sure he’ll enjoy his inmates’ company. They didn’t treat pedophiles kindly in jail.
And before I knew it, I was cussing at him in Spanish because that made me feel better.
He laughed in my face, visibly annoyed. “It’s good I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”
“Is everything okay here?” The manager, a taller male wearing an apron that read Jack’s Pizza Place, approached us.
For all I knew, he could have been the infamous Jack himself.
“No, it’s not okay.” I pointed a shaky finger to the culprit. “This man has shamelessly been taking pictures of those teenagers over there.”
Crazy Guy took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “Lady, it was one picture.”
I shrugged, indignant. “Before I stopped you. One, two, three—it doesn’t matter, pervert. You shouldn’t be taking pictures of underage children. You don’t even know them!”
“I do,” he said with his teeth clenched.
I peered up at the manager, smirking, and placed a hand on my hip. “Now, he knows the kids. Sure. Sure.”
This man was demented.
“I’m leaving. This is pointless.” Crazy Guy huffed and then turned to leave but not before I grabbed his forearm.
“You’re not going anywhere. I’ve called the cops.”
He condescendingly stared at me, glancing down at my grip on his forearm. “Good. Because I’d like to file a counter charge of assault.”
I retracted my hand like he had some leprous disease, and my mouth slipped slightly ajar. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He let out a sarcastic laugh. “I would, and I will.”
The nerve of this Ted Bundy–looking, maybe even serial killer pedophile.
“You’re ridiculous!” I adjusted my purse on my shoulder and threw him a vicious smile. I’d show him. “Macy! Sarah!”
“Lady, what the hell are you doing?” He frowned, panic clouding his features.
I raised my eyebrows. “Well, you said you know these kids, right?”
But the kids weren’t moving, all caught up in each other’s worlds and the games they were playing. Are these teenagers deaf? I walked straight into the game room, realizing the noise was quite loud. The dinging sound of pinball machines, balls rolling and thudding down a chute, the jingle of change and the chatter of kids must have drowned out the commotion outside.
“Hey, kids!”
All of my kids turned my way.
Macy waved. “Miss Cruz.”
I hated that I was about to ruin their evening, but this was what I’d been lecturing my kids about when we talked about predators inside and outside of school.
Keeping them safe and helping them learn were my top priorities.
“Sorry, guys. Can you come out here whenever you’re done with your game?” I stalked straight out of the room and stood a good distance away from Crazy Guy.
And right on cue, the cops stormed in.
Then, to my surprise, random patrons at the restaurant began to yell.
“Guys like you belong in a special kind of hell!”
“He needs to go to jail!”
“Someone should cut off his dick!”
I wanted to shout along with them, but I kept my cool and rested my hands in front of me.
The female officer tipped her chin toward us. “What’s going on here?”
Crazy Guy’s face was fifty shades of red. “I’m telling you, I did nothing wrong.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was sure these cops had heard it all. Soon after, they’d find some dead bodies stuffed in his fridge. Hell, you never knew.
“I know those kids,” he protested, rubbing at his brow.
He shot daggers my way, and I simply waved and smiled with a tilt of my head.
Hi, Mr. I’ll Be in Jail Soon.
“Well, we’ll find out in a second,” I sassed.
Finally, the kids filtered out of the game room and staggered to a stop, most likely seeing the cops.
I sidled up next to Sarah and Macy and slipped my arms over their shoulders in a show of protection and support, hoping they didn’t get too upset when they found out what was going on. Caroline stood right beside Macy. The boys filtered out and stood around us. I felt ready with my gang to convict this man.
And then Sarah spoke, curiosity heavy in her tone, “Uncle Mason?” She blinked at Crazy Guy. “What are you doing here?”
The smile disappeared from my face.
And my heart stopped.
Mason
Sarah’s face turned a bright crimson. I paled.
I’d never forget the look on my sweet niece’s face—concern and a touch of fear. I took a step forward, but the cop held me back.
“Young lady, do you know this man?”
Her eyes teetered from her friends, to her teacher, and to the cops before landing on my face.
And my stomach dropped—to the floor and kept on going.
“Yes.” Her voice almost didn’t sound like her own, older, louder, confident. “He’s my uncle.”
She closed the gap between us, and linked her arm through mine. “I’m sorry, Officer. Did my uncle do something wrong?” Her voice was full of strength, a strength I’d heard her use when she was arguing with Charles or when she was at the playground, sticking up for Mary.
And it crushed my heart because she was on my side, and it was my fault the cops were here in the first place. I wanted to drop to my knees and ask for forgiveness, rewind time to three hours ago, where I could have made a different decision.
“Yes, there was a call made by this woman.” The officer motioned toward the petite brunette who had caused all this mess.
“Gabby Cruz,” she croaked out. She tugged at the front of her shirt and shifted in her spot.
I should feel vindicated, but I felt strangely amused, watching her cringe.
Well, well, well. Where was the fiery woman who had called the police earlier?
Even sheepish and annoying as hell, this woman was still beautiful.
The officer continued, “This woman called in about a man following underage kids and taking their pictures. Another complaint has been filed against your uncle for battery.”
Slowly, Sarah retracted her arm from mine, the strong set of her jaw going lax. “You followed me?”
I had no words. Because I didn’t want to admit it. When she stepped away from me, my whole world disintegrated. I’d embarrassed her, in front of her friends, in front of her teacher, in front of all these strangers and these cops.
When her lip quivered, I wanted to wrap my arms around her, just like I had when she was a little girl.
Gabby raised her hand and stepped in front of the officer, her eyes wide and horrified. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake. I had no idea this was a family issue.” She slapped her head. “I just watched a 20/20 special about predators yesterday, and you know”—she waved a hand—“with all these things going around”—she laughed nervously—“you can never be too sure.”