On the Edge Read Online Free PDF

his statement: You did the right thing despite what the Reyes might do to you .
    â€œAm I in danger?” I asked, flat out.
    He took his time in answering. “If some of the gang members come after you, it will only make things worse for Ramon and Diego. But you never know about these guys. My advice is to stay in public places. No more walking through the park after midnight.”
    Darn, no more moonlight strolls . But in all fairness, what could he say? No worries, you’re safe? Or Good luck, it’s just a matter of time?
    â€œNow, I have to get going, unless you have any questions for me.”
    I hesitated. There was something else I needed to know. “Was there a funeral for Hector? I didn’t hear about one on the news.” The moment I spoke his name, my throat seized up. I tried not to think about him, about his suffering, about his family. But it was always there, lingering beneath the surface.
    â€œI believe his family held a service,” he said, then stood up.
    â€œGood.” Hector deserved that, at least.
    Before he stepped outside, Gutierrez said, “Don’t forget, Maddie, you can’t share details of the case with anyone. If anything is leaked, your credibility will come into question. And our whole case is resting on your testimony.”
    â€œDon’t worry, Detective. I get it.”

FRIDAY NIGHT
    THE NEXT NIGHT, I SAT BY MYSELF, slowly working through my medium fries.
    The staff room looked like a cramped locker room, its walls splattered with forty years of McDonald’s propaganda. There was even a life-size Ronald McDonald statue, his hands cupped like he was praying. Creepy. I could never sit facing the thing, for fear old Ronald would wink at me.
    The door swung open. “Diaz! I was missing you.”
    â€œHey.” I hadn’t seen Manny since last Friday, and I’d actually missed joking around with him.
    He slipped his uniform on over his T-shirt, then plunked down beside me. “I been worried about you.”
    For once, Manny wasn’t joking.
    â€œI’m okay. It was a horrible thing, you know?”
    â€œI know.” And I could tell that he did. You didn’t get tattoos like that without having witnessed a few things yourself.
    â€œEverybody thinks I have a death wish because I talked to the police. It wasn’t like that. I had to talk about what I saw.” I looked at him. He knew about gangs, didn’t he? Maybe I should ask. “Do you think the Reyes will come after me? I heard their leader is . . . brutal.” Which was the mildest way I could say it.
    Manny didn’t miss a beat. “Salazar doesn’t give a shit about you, Maddie. He’s not gonna lose sleep over Ramon and Diego. He’s got a lot of guys like them. They were small-time, trust me.”
    Just the name Salazar made my stomach sick. He was the head of the Reyes, a kingpin who dealt in drugs, guns, and girls. His name had come up many times when I’d researched girl trafficking for my article last year. Not that I had dared name him in print.
    â€œSalazar’s got his hands full these days,” Manny said. “He’s got a cartel from Tijuana trying to put him out of business. Plus, his dealers are getting robbed left and right. No one even knows who’s behind it. Some say it’s an underground gang. Point is, you’re not even a small fish to him. You’re, like, a fucking guppy.”
    I smiled. I’d never been so happy to be called a fucking guppy. I only wished I’d talked to Manny days ago. I might have slept better if I had.
    â€œDo you know them, Ramon and Diego?”
    He shrugged one shoulder. “Yeah, kinda. We’re from the same neighborhood. Never liked them, though.”
    â€œSo you don’t think they’re . . . planning something. I mean, without Salazar.”
    â€œIf Ramon and Diego wanted to get you, they probably would’ve done it by now. They