Read Online Color of Justice by Gary Hardwick - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gary Hardwick
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about it. People knew, but as long as they didnât screw up, it was cool.
The relationship was fine until Vinny caught one in an attempted robbery and decided to call it quits and go to law school. Danny didnât protest. He thought Vinny was more cop than lawyer, but heâd learned a long time ago not to tell her how to manage her future. Most women in general didnât like that, but it particularly troubled a black woman when some man tried to control her.
Danny learned that there was an animosity between men and women in the black community that is different from the one in mainstream America. Itâs not so much a battle of the sexes as it is a war of souls. In a nutshell, black men dealt in a lot of bullshit, and the sisters were not having it. So when Vinny decided to make this major life change, he shut the hell up and let her do it.
But her decision had an effect on the relationship that he didnât see coming. The first year of law school is a trial by fire. The workload is heavy, and the professors challenge, intimidate, and belittle you in class.
Since sheâd started, Vinny had been gone all day and studied all night. She was like a phantom roommate. When Dannyâs mother died, Vinny had been right there, like a rock, but when she was sure he was okay, she was off again. Danny didnât like it, but Vinny was going for a dream and he was not about to whine about not seeing her. They still loved each other, and for now, that was all he really needed.
âVinny?â he called as he stepped into the living room.
âWeâre back here,â he heard her voice call from another room.
He started toward the den, wondering about the we Vinny referred to. They lived alone, so she had to have company. Vinny came from a big family, ten kids, so it could be any one of them. He hoped it wasnât Renitta, her big sister. Danny disliked her and knew the feeling was quite mutual.
Danny dropped his coat and moved closer to the den. He was hoping he could unload a little of his day on her, but Vinny didnât much like totalk about police work anymore. So as much as he wanted to talk about the elusive killer, he decided not to say anything.
Danny entered the den to find Vinny at a table covered with books and papers. She looked up and smiled. He scanned past her to the black man who sat next to her, smiling like an old friend.
âHey,â said Vinny. She came over and put a kiss on his cheek.
âWhaâsup?â asked Danny casually. He was still looking at the man, wondering how long it would be before Vinny told him who he was.
âThis is Clarence Stanton, my study partner,â Vinny said finally.
Danny shook Clarenceâs hand. His grip was firm, hard even, as though he wanted Danny to know he was a real man. Danny squeezed back just as hard.
âNice to meet you,â said Clarence.
Clarence was of medium build. He was a good-looking guy, one of those men who cared a little too much about just how handsome he was.
âWe got anything to eat?â asked Danny.
âWe got that chicken from yesterday,â said Vinny.
âCool. Iâm gonna have a beer. Anybody want one?â
âNo, thanks. I donât drink,â said Clarence quickly.
âIâll take one,â said Vinny.
Danny got two beers and walked back to Vinny. Clarence was still sitting next to her, but heâd moved farther away.
Danny handed Vinny the beer and gave Clarence a quick smile. He went back into the kitchen and ate his chicken cold. If this was a typical night, Vinny would be up until midnight with her nose in some book, so he didnât count on any companionship.
Danny finished his meal and watched TV, trying to ignore the occasional laughter that came from the den. He didnât like Clarence and the implication of âstudy partnerâ was not good. But this was why he was seeing Gordon. The old Danny would have been in Clarenceâs face,
The relationship was fine until Vinny caught one in an attempted robbery and decided to call it quits and go to law school. Danny didnât protest. He thought Vinny was more cop than lawyer, but heâd learned a long time ago not to tell her how to manage her future. Most women in general didnât like that, but it particularly troubled a black woman when some man tried to control her.
Danny learned that there was an animosity between men and women in the black community that is different from the one in mainstream America. Itâs not so much a battle of the sexes as it is a war of souls. In a nutshell, black men dealt in a lot of bullshit, and the sisters were not having it. So when Vinny decided to make this major life change, he shut the hell up and let her do it.
But her decision had an effect on the relationship that he didnât see coming. The first year of law school is a trial by fire. The workload is heavy, and the professors challenge, intimidate, and belittle you in class.
Since sheâd started, Vinny had been gone all day and studied all night. She was like a phantom roommate. When Dannyâs mother died, Vinny had been right there, like a rock, but when she was sure he was okay, she was off again. Danny didnât like it, but Vinny was going for a dream and he was not about to whine about not seeing her. They still loved each other, and for now, that was all he really needed.
âVinny?â he called as he stepped into the living room.
âWeâre back here,â he heard her voice call from another room.
He started toward the den, wondering about the we Vinny referred to. They lived alone, so she had to have company. Vinny came from a big family, ten kids, so it could be any one of them. He hoped it wasnât Renitta, her big sister. Danny disliked her and knew the feeling was quite mutual.
Danny dropped his coat and moved closer to the den. He was hoping he could unload a little of his day on her, but Vinny didnât much like totalk about police work anymore. So as much as he wanted to talk about the elusive killer, he decided not to say anything.
Danny entered the den to find Vinny at a table covered with books and papers. She looked up and smiled. He scanned past her to the black man who sat next to her, smiling like an old friend.
âHey,â said Vinny. She came over and put a kiss on his cheek.
âWhaâsup?â asked Danny casually. He was still looking at the man, wondering how long it would be before Vinny told him who he was.
âThis is Clarence Stanton, my study partner,â Vinny said finally.
Danny shook Clarenceâs hand. His grip was firm, hard even, as though he wanted Danny to know he was a real man. Danny squeezed back just as hard.
âNice to meet you,â said Clarence.
Clarence was of medium build. He was a good-looking guy, one of those men who cared a little too much about just how handsome he was.
âWe got anything to eat?â asked Danny.
âWe got that chicken from yesterday,â said Vinny.
âCool. Iâm gonna have a beer. Anybody want one?â
âNo, thanks. I donât drink,â said Clarence quickly.
âIâll take one,â said Vinny.
Danny got two beers and walked back to Vinny. Clarence was still sitting next to her, but heâd moved farther away.
Danny handed Vinny the beer and gave Clarence a quick smile. He went back into the kitchen and ate his chicken cold. If this was a typical night, Vinny would be up until midnight with her nose in some book, so he didnât count on any companionship.
Danny finished his meal and watched TV, trying to ignore the occasional laughter that came from the den. He didnât like Clarence and the implication of âstudy partnerâ was not good. But this was why he was seeing Gordon. The old Danny would have been in Clarenceâs face,
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