"Mercedes Lackey - Urban Fantasies" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

His brother Manuel grinned at him. “I'm glad to see you outside thecárcel. But it was a little expensive,
paying for your three speeding tickets.” His grin broadened. “Maybe next time I'll let you stay longer,
until you learn to appreciate me more, eh?”

Carlos laughed and swatted cheerfully at Manuel. They walked together to the waiting car, Carlos'
customized old Chevrolet.At least the policíadidn't take my car,he thought.That would've been much
worse than spending a night in a jail cell next to a madman.

Ramon was seated at the wheel, and he smiled and nodded respectfully to his eldest brother as Carlos
slid into the seat behind him. “Mother will be glad to see you home,” Ramon said by way of greeting.
“She was very sad to hear that you'd been arrested again.”
“Mama is saying that county jail is like your home away from home, Carlos,” Manuel joked.

“Heh, they haven't arrested me for at least a year!”

“Until last night,” Ramon observed from the front seat.

“Ramon doesn't mind, since he could make time with Roberta at the party last night.” Manuel smiled,
then his smile faded at the cold look Carlos gave to Ramon.

“Is this true?”

The young man shook his head. “Roberta is your girl, Carlos, and everyone knows that. Maybe
someday I'll meet a girl that I like, someone who isn't already in love with my handsome oldest brother.”
He grinned. “Maybe she won't even like you! Wouldn't that be a wonderful joke!”

“Heh.” Carlos sat back in the seat, glancing out the window at the city. Ramon was driving carefully,
even sedately, probably not wanting any more trouble than they'd already had. Soon they'd be on the
101 Freeway and out of Hollywood, which was good. He would never have admitted it to his brothers,
but he had been afraid after being arrested in Hollywood. Outside of Van Nuys and the San Fernando
Valley, and away from his ownbarrio , any other city gang boy could've tried to make points by cutting
or killing him. That would've started a war, which he didn't want at this point—everything was -going too
well for his homeboys, and he didn't want anything that could cause trouble now. -Especially not now,
with what he'd heard from the madman in the jail.

“I have some work for you, Manuel,” he said. “There is a young girl I want to find. I only saw her for a
few moments, and I don't know where she lives. . . .”

“Isn't Roberta enough for you, Carlos?” Manuel asked. “How many other women do you need?”

Carlos considered hitting his brother, then -decided against it. Manuel would always be a joker, no
matter how many times Carlos bruised his fists against him. “This girl is different, Manny. She was at the
jail and is staying with a black woman who might be a policewoman. The girl's first name is Kayla, I don't
know her family name. The black woman's name is Elizabet Winters. You will find out where she lives
today.”

“What, today?” Manuel's voice held surprise and a hint of laughter. “You'll give me one day to find this
girl in the entire city of Los Angeles? That's very generous of you, brother!”