Silent Night: A Spenser Holiday Novel by Robert B. Parker Read Free Book Online Page A

Jackie said. “He’s a hard nut to crack. Been here about six months. He served time as a juvenile for breaking and entering, vandalism, car theft. You know. Pretty much kid stuff.”
    “Just enough to get thrown in with guys tougher than him,” Hawk said.
    Jackie looked at Hawk and nodded. “You got it. All these kids got a story. The Mexicans came over the border in Arizona being shot at; some of them saw a mother or father killed in front of them and somehow got away and reached relatives and made their way east. You take a kid like Teddy?”
    “The tall one,” I said.
    “Yeah. Good kid. But both parents were drunks and they dumped him. Just left him at an orphanage in Philadelphia. He had been there most of his life until he ran away and we found him. Or he found us is more like it. There’s a network of these lost street kids from city to city, and they hear about safe places to go. Some want to get there, some have already given up. These kids are so beaten up by living by the time we get them, I spend a lot of time just getting them to trust me.”
    “What give you the idea to start Street Business?” Hawk said.
    Jackie looked at Hawk. “I’ve always wanted to be like my big brother, Juan. A big success. Great with women. Lots of money. But it didn’t turn out that way for me. I tried a lot of things. Gambling. Selling cars. I wasn’t good at any of them. But I always liked kids. And I was lucky. My parents were good to us. As you know, my mother still lives in Lawrence, and my sisters and brothers all live nearby. Except, of course, Juan.”
    “Yes, of course, Juan,” I said.
    “You don’t like my brother?” Jackie looked surprised.
    “I don’t know him well enough to like him or not like him. I’ve only met him once. He does seem like an international man of mystery.”
    “He’s always been good to me, Spenser. And to our family. He has been generous with the fruits of his success. Without him, these kids would just be more sad stories out there on the streets. Because of Juan, they at least have a chance.”
    “And because of you,” I said. “Probably more than Juan.”
    Jackie shrugged as he stood. “I got to get a shower and do some chores. Thanks for coming by today. Both of you. The kids loved their boxing lesson.”
    A stocky guy about my size was leaning on the wall just inside the front door, filling the space occupied by Joe on my last visit. He was wearing gray sweatpants over running shoes, and a New England Patriots sweatshirt with a matching slouch cap. He straightened up as Hawk and I approached.
    “You security?” I said.
    His lipped curled to form something that could have been a grin or a sneer.
    “Security. Bus driver. Truant officer. Handyman,” he said. “Anything they need around this hellhole.”
    “Let me guess,” I said. “You didn’t volunteer for this duty.”
    “Christ, no.” The guy gave a short snort. “Volunteer.” He spat out the word like it described an unnatural act. “I’m minding my own business out in the suburbs, the boss says, ‘Frankie, get your ass into Boston and keep my little brother from falling into the Charles.’ The boss speaks, I jump. So here I am.”
    “The boss would be Juan Alvarez?”
    Frankie stiffened and pulled himself away from the wall.
    “Who wants to know?”
    “My name’s Spenser. This is Hawk. Jackie asked me to help find out who’s been causing problems for Street Business.”
    Frankie relaxed and resumed his job holding up the wall.
    “Lucky you. Heard about you. Super-dick come to save the day. Good luck.”
    I let that pass. “What can you tell me about what’s been going on around here?”
    Frankie rolled his eyes and exhaled elaborately. “Nothing going on around here. A few kids get their lunch money stolen on their way home from work.” He rallied himself from the wall to put air quotations around “work,” then settled back again. “Some get in fights and get knocked around a little.