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hesitated. “It was like something was telling me to get out of there. Maybe it was the Spirit of God or something. I know that sounds crazy.”
    The detective smiled. “No, Julio, I don’t think that sounds crazy at all. I think it sounds sensible.”
    “Julio is going to be starting GED classes here in another week,” said Consuela. “He is really trying to turn his life around. I’m proud of him for that. It’s not easy to walk away from the gang.”
    “No, it’s not,” said the detective, turning to Julio. “But it’s the best decision you’ve ever made.”
    “I hope so. I just couldn’t stay,” said Julio. “I’m hoping to major in criminal justice in college, after I get my GED. I’d like to be a detective someday. I’m just worried about my juvenile record getting in the way.”
    “Don’t worry about that,” assured Bill. “I’ve had a look at that record. It’s just a juvenile record, and you haven’t been involved in any really serious trouble. Down the road, if you want to join the NYPD, give me a call. I’ll help you.”
    The detective rose to his feet and handed Julio his card. “If anything elsecomes to your mind that you think might be important, would you give me a call?”
    Julio stood up and smiled, though slightly. “I sure will, and thank you Detective Strom.”
    The detective shook Julio’s hand. “Thanks for coming to us, Julio; I know that took some courage.”
    “I just wish I could have been more help, detective,” said Julio. “I want you to get whoever did this to Miguel and the others.”
    Bill smiled. “We’ll get them Julio. You just keep looking up. And keep up the good work. One of these days I hope to see you in our department. We need good men on the force, ones who really appreciate what we’re dealing with. Stay in touch, Julio, even if you just need someone to talk to, OK?”
    “I will,” confirmed Julio.
    “That was a little help,” muttered Bill, as he walked down the hallway. At least he knew now what the youths had been doing in the park and why they might have gotten into trouble. Meeting Julio was a pleasant experience, too. That in itself had been worth the trip. To see the lights go on in a young person’s head, to see kids change course before it was too late, always gave Bill a good feeling. It didn’t happen often enough. He’d try to keep an eye on Julio, help him if he could.

     
    It had been the better part of a week since Leland had encountered the angels in the park. Since that time, his life had become more hectic than ever. He had 16 girls in his employment. They were flabbergasted when Krissie gave them the news that Leland was going out of the love business. They were even more surprised when they were each presented with a check for $5,000 out of Leland’s private account.
    “This is just the first of it,” explained Krissie. “Leland has promised to provide you additional money for schooling or refer you to someone else if you really want to continue in the business, but he is out of it for good.”
    When asked why such a successful pimp was closing his doors, he answered that he had found religion. There were no specifics, just religion. Still moreastonishing was the revelation that Krissie and Leland were planning on getting married. Imagine that. It seemed that Leland was full of surprises this week.
    But Leland didn’t hold the monopoly on surprises. His friend Dale, from Manhattan Gold, had some good ones, too. “Meet me in my office; the assay is in.” That was the sum total of the message on Leland’s answering machine. When he arrived at Manhattan Gold, Dale practically spirited him into his office.
    “The assay is in on your gold,” he announced. “They ran it three times. The news is good, really good. That sample is 86 percent pure gold, but all of the rest of it is iridium, a dense and very expensive metal, with a market value equal to the gold. It has a number of scientific and manufacturing uses. I