Farley's Folly

Eric smelled the impending kick.

"Touch that dog and I'll flatten you!" His voice slammed the

chests of the two teenagers.

The Drake brothers stepped several feet away from Jerome and

Scruffy."I know who you are," Eric said. "I know where you live. The

cops have their eye on you. Get!"

Nick Drake grabbed Mack's wrist. "I got a better idea. The

Newman sisters are getting out of school. We ought to be on Monk

Street." Mack grinned. "I can picture them now. Short skirts, tight

jeans, you're right."

They started away from Eric and Jerome.

"How are things at the home?"

"Things good, Mr. Piper. Dawn and Claudia on duty today."

Jerome lived in a community residence for the developmentally disabled.

"Dawn and Claudia nice, Mr. Piper."

"In more ways than one."

"Dawn is a nurse. Claudia used to be a secretary. Now she's with

us."

They heard a crash. Metal against metal. A garbage can had hit

the lamppost. Mack was facing Eric, middle finger raised.