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boss, his gunmen, Joe Torres, and the stolen car. You all better give your-
selves up.
Yeah? Tiburon said. He looked around. He looked at the guns in Ty s
and Bob s hands. He looked at the four Piranhas and the others behind him.
Then he said to Jupe, Hey, man, I don t know, you know? I mean, there s
a lot more of us, right?
Jake Hatch sat up on the floor, suddenly recovered. Take care of these
kids, Tiburon! Jump them!
Tiburon shrugged. I don know, bossman. They got guns, you know?
You guys ain t gonna be a lotta help.
They re just stupid kids! They don t even know how to use the guns.
You can take them.
Maybe, hey? the smiling Latino said. But I been figuring it s maybe
time me and the band was getting raises, you know?
I pay you too much now! Hatch raged. Get these kids. You and your
dumb extra cars got us into this, you stupid pachuco
Tiburon stared at Hatch. Behind him the Piranhas muttered angrily.
Tiburon seemed to listen to the rumble of anger in their voices.
Jupiter saw the change. He moved quickly and talked straight to Tiburon.
He s been using you, Tiburon. Using all of you. He hasn t any respect
for you. You and the Piranhas are just useful jerks to him.
Tiburon didn t appear to hear Jupiter. He was too busy staring at Jake
Hatch. Hey, you want help from a gang of dumb pachucos, bossman? Hey,
you don know one from the other, right? They all look the same, them
dumb pachucos, right?
Hatch turned purple where he sat on the floor. Get us out of here or
you re finished, you hear! Take care of these kids, you brainless cholo, or
you ll never work for me again, you hear?
Tiburon shook his head. Hey, what can a bunch of dumb pachucos do?
Cholos estupidos? Hey, they re all lazy an greasy, right? Fat greasers. He
smiled at Hatch, then looked at Jupiter. Hey, fat Anglo, we tell you all
about this smart bossman an his big-time operation. You tell the cops they
should go nice an easy on Tiburon and the Piranhas, okay?
You know we can t tell the cops what to do, Tiburon, Ty said, still
holding Hatch s gun and watching the Piranhas.
But we ll do everything we can, Jupiter added quickly. We know
you mostly only delivered the cars here. Other guys stole them for Hatch,
professional crooks. The gang s mechanics chopped them up, not you guys.
Tiburon nodded. You pretty smart for a young guy. Yeah, they give us
the cars all painted up to look like our regular wheels, and we drive em to
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The Shark Sings
the gigs an back here. Or maybe they take us to the gig, and we only drive
em back.
What about that red Mercedes? Ty asked grimly. The one you stole
in Oxnard.
Tiburon shrugged. Okay, so I steal a couple cars myself when they don t
got no cars ready for us. It was dumb. I louse it up anyway.
Jupiter said, If you turn state s evidence and testify in court against
Hatch and his gang, the judge will give you a break for sure.
Don t listen to them! Jake Hatch cried, pulling away from Pete and
lunging toward Tiburon. I ll give you a raise. All of you. You ll be the
richest wetbacks in town.
Tiburon looked at Hatch, at Jupiter and Ty, then at the Piranhas behind
him. He shrugged.
Okay, smart Anglo, let s go talk to the cops.
Ty lowered his gun. Pete grinned. Bob and Jupiter breathed more easily.
Kelly ran to Pete and threw her arms around him. Pete blushed bright red.
Kelly laughed, kissed Pete, and stepped back.
Jake Hatch suddenly jumped and grabbed Kelly. He held her in front of
him, twisted her arm behind her, and backed toward the elevator. Anybody
who tried to shoot him would hit the girl.
Everyone stay right where they are! Anyone comes near me, this little
lady gets hurt. You got that?
No one moved as Hatch backed into the elevator with his hostage. The
wall slowly closed on him and the terrified Kelly.
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17
The Hottest Wheels
IN THE CHOP-SHOP THERE WAS A SHOCKED SILENCE. Pete ran to
the closed wall.
How do you open this? Quick!
He stared at Tiburon, who shrugged. I don know, man. Someone always
open it for us.
Joe Torres laughed. Figure it out yourself, hot-shot.
The boss is too smart for you punks, Max the gunman sneered.
The two mechanics shook their heads. They didn t know how to open
the hidden door. Jupiter whirled to face Tiburon.
How did you get in here?
The office over there, Tiburon said. Same way we always go out.
Office? Where? Pete said. Show me. Hurry!
Sure, man, only the stairs down come out on the wrong street, you
know? I mean, you gotta go all around to the front to get in the garage.
Show me! Pete cried.
I ll go with you, Ty said, tucking one pistol into his belt and handing
the other one to Bob. They re tied up good, but keep an eye on them.
Tiburon took Ty and Pete to the alcove in the far corner of the room,
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