The Orion Plan Read Online Free PDF Page B

whispered. “Lying on the benches.”
    Luis nodded. “Yeah, he drinks forties. And he smells like shit.”
    Emilio pointed his screwdriver at the guy. “Don’t worry, we won’t get too close to him. We’re just gonna take his bombas . Come on, follow me.”
    He stood up and headed for the clearing, with his homeboys right behind. Now that they knew there were no Latin Kings lurking in the woods, there was no need to be quiet. Miguel and Diego started chattering and Carlos guffawed. When the bum heard them he spun around so fast he nearly toppled over. That made Carlos laugh even harder.
    Emilio stepped into the clearing and smiled at the homeless dude. “ Hola, old man. You been making some noise, eh?”
    The bum was scared shitless. His mouth hung open and his hands trembled. Now that Emilio was up close he realized he’d also seen this guy in the park. He wasn’t one of the crazy drunks, the assholes who shouted all the time and drooled into their beards. He was one of the harmless shuffling drunks who kept their heads down and scuttled away at the first sign of trouble. He took a shaky step backward, his eyes fixed on the screwdriver in Emilio’s hand. He glanced to the left and right, looking for an escape route, but Carlos and Miguel were on one side of him and Luis and Diego on the other. Paco came up behind the guy and shouted, “Yah!” to startle him, and the bum’s face turned into a fucking Halloween mask. Jagged wrinkles etched his forehead and dark semicircles cupped his eyes.
    Emilio couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. He was just a helpless wreck who stank of malt liquor. But then the guy’s eyes darted downward, focusing on the heap of mud at the center of that wide hole. He was hiding something there, no doubt about it. He’d probably buried some more firecrackers in the mud and was getting ready to light them. Emilio tested this theory by moving toward the mud pile. The bum got nervous and started clenching and unclenching his hands. With a desperate look on his face, he stepped in front of Emilio. “Please,” he rasped. “Leave me alone.”
    â€œRelax, amigo.” Emilio smiled at him again. “We just stopped by to say hello.”
    â€œI don’t have any money.” He turned out the empty pockets of his pants, which were caked with mud and falling apart. “See? I have nothing.”
    â€œYou sure about that? You don’t have any more firecrackers?”
    â€œWhat?” The bum scrunched his face. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œI’m talking about the mess you made here. Look at this place.” Emilio pointed his screwdriver at the mud-spattered trees. “And now you’re getting ready to do it again, right? You’re gonna blow up some more shit with those firecrackers you found.”
    The guy gave him a blank look. He was either playing dumb or zoning out. Then he shook his head vigorously, and his long greasy hair swung back and forth. “No, no. I don’t have any firecrackers.”
    Emilio took another step toward the heap of mud and pointed his screwdriver at it. “So there’s nothing hidden in this mud pie you made? You don’t mind if I check, do you?”
    The bum winced and lowered his head. His wrinkles deepened as he stared at the ground. “Please,” he muttered. “Don’t take it.”
    The guy looked so heartbroken, Emilio felt sorry for him again. He wondered if he should just let the bum keep the damn firecrackers. But Emilio couldn’t change his mind now, not in front of his homeboys. They were watching from the sidelines, enjoying the show. The homeless guy was the funniest thing they’d seen all night. Paco jabbed the air with his screwdriver, threatening to poke the guy in the butt, and the others hooted. They were so amused that Emilio worried they might actually cut the guy. The best strategy, he