Read Online Snow Blind-J Collins 4 by Lori G. Armstrong - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lori G. Armstrong
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Mystery Fiction, Women Private Investigators
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fuckin’ Indian.”
“You think you’re above him? You’re a janitor , smart-ass. That man paid your goddamn salary and he deserved your respect, not your scorn.”
“Ooh, Damon, looky here. We got a prairie nigger lover who’s gonna rat us out. We’re shakin’ in our boots. You ain’t got no power over us, so get the fuck out of here.”
“She doesn’t have power over you, but I do.”
I turned and their gazes snapped to Luella.
Absolute silence.
The red-haired kid actually looked mortified. The other young man, a runt with long, greasy hair that didn’t mask the zits covering his face, still appeared defiant.
“You ain’t got no power over us”—he sneered—
“and you know you can’t fire us ’cause you’d be fucked.
No one wants this shitty job anyway.”
Another awkward moment.
“Besides, everyone knows you hoops stick together, no matter what, so ain’t no one gonna believe what you say.”
“Break is over. Get out of my sight or I’ll scalp you, eh?”
Hiking boots hit the linoleum floor and Mr. Big 74
Mouth and his companion strode out.
Luella didn’t look at me. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. Not exactly the family image we want to project to potential customers, is it?”
“Unfortunately, it’s typical of just about everyone’s attitudes around these parts, not just here.” It’d probably rile me worse, but I had to ask. “Do you get that attitude a lot? Since you’re Indian?”
“The mind-set that the only reason an Indian woman has attained a job at this level is because of racial profiling?”
“That, too. But I’m wondering about the attitudes of residents you’re caring for?”
“ Shee . Some residents doan want me in dere apartments because dey tink I’m gonna steal from dem, hey.
Dey tink ’cause I’m Sioux dat I doan got no education and de only ting I know ’bout business is how to apply for subsidies, hey.” Her sorrowful brown eyes finally met mine. “Yes. I hear that quite frequently. It never gets any easier hearing that garbage.”
“People suck. And it really sucks you get that from co-workers.”
“They don’t care. Kids these days don’t respect anybody. But thanks for calling them on their comments. Most folks would’ve walked away.”
“I’m a rebel with a conscience, not an agenda.”
Well, except for the one involving Vernon Sloane.
Luella cocked her head. “I see that, and I’ll admit I’m confused by it because you don’t look Indian.”
75
“I’m not. My half brother from White Plain was.
I watched him struggle with stereotypes his whole life and I hated it.” I slumped against the wall. “He’s dead and I still hate it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” I signed and buttoned up my coat.
“Sorry if you’ve gone to trouble, Luella, but I’m not in the mood for a tour right now.”
“That’s fine. I understand completely, Kate. I just hope you haven’t written Prairie Gardens off completely.”
“I haven’t. We’ll be in touch.”
“Be careful out there.”
I fled into the snowstorm.
76
My windshield wipers worked overtime as I crept through town. Because of the extreme cold, it wasn’t a heavy, wet snow comprised of big, lacy snowflakes. The white stuff was a fine dust, the consistency between talcum powder and sugar crystals.
When the 40-mph wind caught those icy crystals, it wasn’t like being in a pretty snow globe; it was like being in the middle of a sandstorm.
The mucky gray sky gave no hint to the time of day and I’d lost track. I glanced at the clock. Noon.
Damn day wasn’t even half over. I just wanted to go home and hunker down until the storm passed.
The parking lot of Safeway on Mt. Rushmore Road was jam-packed as locals prepared for the worst.
Maybe the forecasters were right for a change, and we were in for a big blizzard. I shivered and the urge to 77
book it home tripled. But being a responsible partner, I dialed the office to make my report.
Kevin
“You think you’re above him? You’re a janitor , smart-ass. That man paid your goddamn salary and he deserved your respect, not your scorn.”
“Ooh, Damon, looky here. We got a prairie nigger lover who’s gonna rat us out. We’re shakin’ in our boots. You ain’t got no power over us, so get the fuck out of here.”
“She doesn’t have power over you, but I do.”
I turned and their gazes snapped to Luella.
Absolute silence.
The red-haired kid actually looked mortified. The other young man, a runt with long, greasy hair that didn’t mask the zits covering his face, still appeared defiant.
“You ain’t got no power over us”—he sneered—
“and you know you can’t fire us ’cause you’d be fucked.
No one wants this shitty job anyway.”
Another awkward moment.
“Besides, everyone knows you hoops stick together, no matter what, so ain’t no one gonna believe what you say.”
“Break is over. Get out of my sight or I’ll scalp you, eh?”
Hiking boots hit the linoleum floor and Mr. Big 74
Mouth and his companion strode out.
Luella didn’t look at me. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. Not exactly the family image we want to project to potential customers, is it?”
“Unfortunately, it’s typical of just about everyone’s attitudes around these parts, not just here.” It’d probably rile me worse, but I had to ask. “Do you get that attitude a lot? Since you’re Indian?”
“The mind-set that the only reason an Indian woman has attained a job at this level is because of racial profiling?”
“That, too. But I’m wondering about the attitudes of residents you’re caring for?”
“ Shee . Some residents doan want me in dere apartments because dey tink I’m gonna steal from dem, hey.
Dey tink ’cause I’m Sioux dat I doan got no education and de only ting I know ’bout business is how to apply for subsidies, hey.” Her sorrowful brown eyes finally met mine. “Yes. I hear that quite frequently. It never gets any easier hearing that garbage.”
“People suck. And it really sucks you get that from co-workers.”
“They don’t care. Kids these days don’t respect anybody. But thanks for calling them on their comments. Most folks would’ve walked away.”
“I’m a rebel with a conscience, not an agenda.”
Well, except for the one involving Vernon Sloane.
Luella cocked her head. “I see that, and I’ll admit I’m confused by it because you don’t look Indian.”
75
“I’m not. My half brother from White Plain was.
I watched him struggle with stereotypes his whole life and I hated it.” I slumped against the wall. “He’s dead and I still hate it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” I signed and buttoned up my coat.
“Sorry if you’ve gone to trouble, Luella, but I’m not in the mood for a tour right now.”
“That’s fine. I understand completely, Kate. I just hope you haven’t written Prairie Gardens off completely.”
“I haven’t. We’ll be in touch.”
“Be careful out there.”
I fled into the snowstorm.
76
My windshield wipers worked overtime as I crept through town. Because of the extreme cold, it wasn’t a heavy, wet snow comprised of big, lacy snowflakes. The white stuff was a fine dust, the consistency between talcum powder and sugar crystals.
When the 40-mph wind caught those icy crystals, it wasn’t like being in a pretty snow globe; it was like being in the middle of a sandstorm.
The mucky gray sky gave no hint to the time of day and I’d lost track. I glanced at the clock. Noon.
Damn day wasn’t even half over. I just wanted to go home and hunker down until the storm passed.
The parking lot of Safeway on Mt. Rushmore Road was jam-packed as locals prepared for the worst.
Maybe the forecasters were right for a change, and we were in for a big blizzard. I shivered and the urge to 77
book it home tripled. But being a responsible partner, I dialed the office to make my report.
Kevin
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