2nd Chance
Chapter One
ON A TUESDAY NIGHT, I found myself playing a game of crazy eights
with three residents of the Hope Street Teen House. I was loving it.
On the beat-up couch across from me sat Hector, a barrio kid two
days out of Juvenile; Alysha, quiet and pretty, but with a family
history you wouldn't want to know; and Michelle, who at fourteen had
already spent a year selling herself on the streets of San
Francisco.
"Hearts," I declared, flipping down an eight and changing the suit
just as Hector was about to lay out.
"Damn, badge lady," he whined. "How come each time I'm 'bout to go
down, you stick your knife in me?"
"Teach you to ever trust a cop, fool." Michelle laughed, tossing a
conspiratorial smile my way.
For the past month, I'd been spending a night or two a week at the
Hope Street House. For so long after the terrible bride and groom
case that summer, I'd felt completely lost. I took a month off from
Homicide, ran down by the marina, gazed out at the bay from the
safety of my Potrero Hill flat.
Nothing helped. Not counseling, not the total support of my
girls-Claire, Cindy, Jill. Not even g ... read full excerpt from: 2nd Chance ebook
