Hardcore Twenty-Four by Janet Evanovich Read Free Book Online

They still looked angry, gesturing at the police who were mostly stoic, clearing the way so the buses could get through to pick up their passengers.
    I recognized one of the cops and sidled up to him. “Will you make any arrests?”
    He shook his head no. “This is the Camden group. They’re okay. They’re just out here making some pizza money. We’ll load them onto the buses, they’ll stop at White Castle for burgers, and they’ll be home before the ten o’clock news comes on.”
    â€œWhat about the man who was speaking?”
    â€œHe’ll get elected,” the cop said. “He’s the only one running.”
    â€œI was hoping Zero Slick would be here. He’s FTA, and I know he’s an activist.”
    â€œHe’s probably protesting the Korean grocery on Madison and State. I heard that gig was assigned to the locals. We’ll be heading over there as soon as we get these folks settled into their buses.”
    â€œAren’t you afraid there’ll be trouble before you get there?”
    â€œThe television guy is still here. No one’s going to act out on Madison until the television guy gets over there.” He made a small grimace. “You know you’ve got egg on you, right?”

FIVE
    LULA AND I took Grandma home and then we went to the Korean grocery on Madison. A handful of people were standing in front of the store, blocking the entrance. They were holding signs that called for DIVERSITY NOW .
    I parked and approached one of the sign holders. “What’s the problem?” I asked.
    â€œDiscriminatory hiring practices,” he said.
    â€œThis store is owned by the Park family,” Lula said. “I shop here all the time. They’re real nice people. The whole family works here.”
    â€œTheir hiring practices aren’t sympathetic to diversity,” the man said.
    â€œThat’s because they’re all Korean, you moron,” Lula said. “This here’s a family-run store. You see the sign over the door? It says ‘Park Korean Grocery.’ You know how many Parks thereare? About forty. And they all live in two rooms over the store. What are all those people supposed to do if they can’t dribble down into the store to stack vegetables?”
    â€œThey’re fascists,” the man said.
    â€œYou don’t even know what that means,” Lula said. “Go ahead and tell me what makes up a fascist.”
    I pulled Lula away. “We’re supposed to be looking for Zero Slick, not inciting another riot.”
    â€œWell, I don’t see no chubby short guy with a brown ponytail here. The only short person I see with a brown ponytail is an unattractive woman wearing a dress that’s totally wrong for her. And she’s wearing it with sneakers.”
    I located the woman. “That’s Slick,” I said.
    â€œWell, he got no fashion sense. It’s like he’s giving women a bad name being dressed like that.”
    I had cuffs in the back pocket of my jeans and pepper spray hooked to my waistband. I also had a stun gun in my bag, but it was illegal so I preferred not to use it when there were witnesses. I walked around the group of protesters and came up behind Slick.
    â€œZero Slick?” I asked.
    He turned and looked at me. “Yes?”
    â€œI represent your bail bonds agent. You need to come with me to reschedule your court date.”
    â€œSure,” Slick said. “I’ll have my social secretary get in touch with you.”
    I clapped a bracelet onto his wrist. “We need to do this now.”
    He yanked his arm away, but I held firm to the second cuff.
    â€œAre you freaking nuts?” he said. “Can’t you see I’m working? Get this thing off me.”
    I reached around to secure his other wrist, and he smacked me with his sign.
    â€œHelp!” he yelled. “Police brutality.”
    â€œI’m not a police