‘Naw,’ Cooly reported. ‘Good.’ I laughed, and so did everyone else. My laugh was one of relief more than anything else. I knew I had a lot of faint hearts running with me. If anyone had gotten caught, it was a sure thing that the Man would've been knocking on my door. ‘You sho save Lee's ass.’ Cooly giggled. Cooly was my main man, really the only cat that I could count on. He and I had been hanging together since junior high, when stealing beer and cigarettes was a kick. I was closer to him than any of the other cats, but it still got on my nerves when people commented that he and I were both in charge of the group. I wanted everyone to know that it was me all by myself, just like it was Spade all by himself. I knew that there was really no way to have a gang and be a loner, but cats got over by themselves, like Spade, and then seemed to hold check over an entire area. ‘Where'd Lee go?’ I asked Cooly. ‘I think he wuz headin’ fo’ Chelsea,’ Cooly drawled. ‘I seen the Man gainin’ on him near the co'ner, but when the cah blew up, the cops hit the brakes an’ Lee wuz runnin’ jus’ that much fastuh.’ ‘What the Man do?’ I asked.
