Safe Harbor - 36

"Mick says he saw them heading south along Bridge St.," King said.

"Just the girls. I didn’t see no guys. One of them’s called Cry, like Crybaby."

"That’s them." Kurt started off again then realized the boys were right behind him. "You don’t have to stick with me now that I know which direction they went."

"Look, Father," King said, "if they really do run into the bastards they’re gonna need more help than you can give. You ain’t used to the streets and all. Get what I’m saying?"

Kurt nodded. "I do, but I don’t want to put the two of you…"

"Zip it, Father, we’re in, right Mick?"

"Uh, yeah, right."

He didn’t like the idea, but Kurt realized they’d undoubtedly tag along anyway so he might as well live with it. It took ten more minutes before they saw the girls. Jo-Jo was posed against the wall of a building under a light over a shop window. Cry sat somewhat provocatively on the shop’s steps.

"Amateurs," King muttered under his breath.

Kurt shook his head. "Going for the obvious I suspect, though they are pushing it a bit."

As they watched from a block away, a lone car pulled to a stop in front of the girls. Jo-Jo strolled over, bent down to look inside and after a minute shook her head. Kurt could tell she was arguing with the driver before she straightened and paced back to her spot, flipping him off as she did. The car’s tires squealed as it drove off.

King grinned. "Wonder what he wanted her to do. Musta been something real bad."

"Or she was smart enough not to get into the car and leave Cry by herself." Kurt looked around, frowning. "Where the hell are the guys?"

"One’s in the doorway to the apartment building, one’s by the side of the dumpster in the alley and," King shook his head. "No clue on Prizm."

While they were talking another car drove slowly past the girls, stopped and backed up. This time Cry went to talk to the driver. The end result was the same; she shook her head and returned to the steps. Kurt heard her tell Jo-Jo the man wanted them both for the price of one. Jo-Jo’s reply would have singed the man’s ears if he could have heard her.

King tapped Kurt’s shoulder. "So we gonna wait and see what happens?"

"I am." Kurt kept his voice low as he moved deeper into the shadows. "You don’t have to."

"You got a short memory, Father. We told you we’re in." King hunkered down, resting his back against the wall with Mick right beside him.

Kurt nodded sharply as he searched the area, wondering where Bobby was. He was sure he had to be somewhere close by.