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said, “Hit Squad?”
    Whisper and Mickey put up their hands.
    â€œA tie,” said Birgit.
    Peter held up a coin. “Heads for Cleanup; tails for Hit Squad.” He tossed it in the air.
    â€œHit Squad it is then,” said Birgit. “Next item on the agenda: we’ve got to swear an oath of secrecy. Nobody knows who we are or what we do. Agreed?”
    The three boys nodded.
    Birgit said, “We must swear never to tell. Hold up your right hands and say, ‘I swear!’”
    The three boys held up their hands. “I swear!” they said.
    â€œThat nobody knows who we are or what we do,” said Birgit.
    â€œThat nobody knows who we are or what we do,” they repeated.
    â€œOkay, let’s get to it,” said Birgit. “Our first clean-up job, I mean hit. I say let’s get the thugs who beat up Joey Washington. He’s out of hospital but he was hurt pretty bad. The only reason he was mugged was because of his skin color. It’s obvious. They didn’t try to steal from him. Can you believe it? Any other suggestions?”
    Whisper whispered to Mickey, “What skin color is this guy?”
    Mickey whispered back, “Black.”
    Peter said, “What about the three animals who assaulted you in the stockroom?”
    Birgit’s eyes gleamed. “If you like. I just didn’t want it to be only
my
agenda. Any other suggestions?”
    Mickey almost suggested the Agostino brothers, but he held back. There was lots of time to get those slobs.
    Silence.
    Then Whisper spoke. “I heard what they did to you. They’re scum. We can take care of Joey’s muggers later. When we find out who they are.”
    â€œLet’s hit Birgit’s attackers, the three animals,” said Peter, nodding.
    â€œMichael?” said Birgit.
    â€œFine by me,” he said.
    â€œThe three animals it is,” said Birgit. “Shelley Crewell. Jessie Jones. Mona Tease-dale. Our first hit.”

Chapter Eight
    Mona Teasedale didn’t know why she’d felt so bad all day.
    She wondered whether she should call Shelley and Jessie and say she was sick. But she would miss the party tonight at Red Grinwald’s. Red was nineteen and shared an apartment with Tommy Garr, also nineteen. Mona usually had a good time at Red’s. He never seemed to mind if you didn’t bring anybooze or grass; he always had lots. So she was reluctant to stay home. Maybe she’d feel better once she got out of her boring house where all her mother ever did was watch TV. Her dad had split years ago.
    Two hours later, at the party, she still felt wobbly. Red’s apartment was wall-to-wall people, and the music thumped in time with her headache. She saw Red’s pig-shaved head coming at her through the crowd.
    â€œTake a shot of this, Mona baby, and you’ll feel great.” He held out a glass.
    She’d already had too much beer. “No thanks, Red. I think I’d better find the others and go home.”
    He put the glass down on a table and reached his hands around to massage the back of her neck. The skin of his fingers was rough from his bricklaying. He had a brick-red complexion, too. And his hair used to be red before he shaved it all off.
    â€œCome and lie down for a while.”
    Mona could see Red’s bedroom from where she stood. “No thanks, Red.” Shespotted Shell across the room with Tommy. They were necking.
    â€œI’ll give you a massage. You’ll feel better.” Red had to shout over the noise of the music video.
    â€œI said good-night, Red.” She crossed the floor and yelled in her friend’s ear. “Shell, get Jessie. I’ve gotta go. I don’t feel good, okay? You coming or do you want to stay?”
    Shelley pouted. She didn’t relish the thought of walking home alone, but she wanted to stay. “Can you take me home later, Tommy?”
    Tommy shook his head. “Can’t