Gay Pride Rally; Riverwalk Park; Sunday afternoon.
Despite the fact that it had rained off and on all day and the big crowd was surrounded by a line of protesters, the group at the Riverwalk Park Gay Rally was still in high spirits by the time Senator David Paige took the stage to speak on behalf of gay marriage. He spoke for nearly an hour, talking about his son and his recent injuries, and his own failure to understand his son until it was almost too late. There were cheers and wild applause from the crowd, but just beyond the protesters were getting louder and growing in numbers. Smith Derek, the head of the security covering the event, moved to keep a closer eye as Senator Paige's speech started to wind down.
"I don't like the sound of that," Charlie murmured to Deacon and Maggie looked past them towards the back of the crowd. Nia was on Deacon's shoulders and Charlie and Sherman were laden with blankets and picnic baskets. It had been a brilliant day - so far, made all the better by the company. Maggie had carried Nia for Sam and Charlie and the money they had paid had contributed to Sherman's surgery. Now Maggie was pregnant again but on her own account, Sherman's brother having donated the necessary.
Sherman hitched the basket up onto his arm and put his arm round Maggie as another particularly nasty shout went up. "I think," he said, "that now might be a good time for us to leave, hun. Shall I call a cab?"
"Please," Maggie said and he took his phone from his pocket.
Charlie looked up at Deacon and scowled. "Way to go to spoil a lovely occasion," he said. "If they hate it that much why didn't they just stay away?"
"Because they're Neanderthals and fear extinction?" Andras said. He had been taking pictures of families and placards and even the protesters, using a longer lens for the latter.
Fin had his hands in his jacket pockets and was apparently watching Sherman talk to the cab company but actually considering that one would never have guessed that he had once been a she. "Whatever the reason," he said, "I think it might be better if we made our way quietly to the nearest exit. Especially since we've got Nia with us."
"Hear, hear," Charlie agreed. "No rumbling in the presence of the munchkin. Let's take Maggie and Sherman to the cab then go home. The Manor isn't far."
"I guess the little lady is a lot more important than standing up to Neanderthals," Andras said, by way of agreement. "They're becoming extinct anyway. So yes, let's do that. Before anybody starts throwing rotten tomatoes."
Sherman grunted and slipped his phone in his pocket. "Got a ride for us," he said. "Pick up at the gate behind the stage in about five minutes."
"Okay," Deacon lifted Nia off his shoulders and handed her to Fin who looked like he'd been passed a handgrenade. "You carry the munchkin and <i>we</i>," he nodded to himself, Sherman and Charlie, "will get you there safely."
Clearly any Neanderthal would regret mixing it with Deacon.
###
The protesting crowd pressed in and there was a faint murmuring before a chant started amongst them. The security moved along with the police officers to hold them back, but as was usually the case, security was outnumbered.
"Shit," Smith muttered to himself, putting hand to the bluetooth piece in his ear as he started barking orders. Senator Paige's speech ended and there were cheers from the crowd once more, but they were a bit more strained. Everyone was starting to get nervous.
The organizer of the event moved to the podium to ask everyone to exit in an orderly fashion, which of course was not going to happen. Smith moved to the stage, sending one of his other men to deal with Paige's daughter Olivia while he got the senator out. If he could.
Andras was waving his long arms around Fin and Nia, not actually touching them but more sort of generally herding them in the press of the crowd. "Don't panic," he murmured. "Look, we can get out there, and none of the Neanderthals got around to there. Just follow Deacon. He's really tough." It was unclear whether he was trying to reassure Fin, himself, or both of them.
Maggie ducked one of Andras's flailing arms and grinned at Fin. "Is he always like this or has he just seen a wasp?"
"Not too sure," Fin said, supporting Nia who was singing lustily and waving an arm in time to the music from the PA system. The tunes were not the same, which was distressing enough, but Charlie's white faced, wide-eyed, determined expression was horrifying. "Let's just get out of here, shall we?"
###
Smith was grateful that Senator Paige was smart enough to recognize when he had his ass in a sling, because he didn't protest when Smith quietly murmured that he get out of the park as soon as possible. They exited the rear of the stage to the back where there was guarded, or supposedly guarded parking. The protesters had parked all around, blocking every official and security car available and there was a whole other mass of protesters chanting and shouting. Smith instantly saw red.
The people in charge of parking and driving were not his people, but they had been briefed by him as to what security measures this situation would require. Their blatant disregard for those made it obvious that someone on the inside was siding with the protesters. That was a matter to be handled later though, as Senator Paige was far too vulnerable back here.
Smith and his men moved to form a circle around the Senator to deflect any shots if they were taken as Smith got back on his earpiece again and shouted for a car. His men replied back that the situation was similar all over and that the City Police were on their way to help control the crowd, but no one, not even civilians were able to get out just yet.
"Pull someone on the street over, get me a cab, just fucking do - something!"
###
"Hey, it's Guy," Charlie said pointing to one of the cabs that had just pulled up. "You'll be okay now, hun." He leaned to give Maggie a kiss on the cheek before taking Nia back from Fin.
"Hey, Guy," Andras said, distractedly, not quite sure who that was, but vaguely remembering the bloke from -- somewhere. "So, let's get the fuck out of here now they're safely away?"
"Hi, Charlie, Deac," Guy said and grinned at the pregnant lady and her anxious looking spouse. "Where to?"
"Ferry Road?" Sherman said. "Looks like you might hafta go the pretty way, though."
"Naah," Guy said, "I'll just ... hang on. What's this?"
Grim-faced men in suits were converging on the little pull in area and others were hustling a group of people towards them.
###
Someone had gotten their head out of their ass and called in some cabs, and Smith meant to make use of one of them.
"Excuse me," he called, heading in the general direction of the cabs as his men and Senator Paige followed behind him. "I'm sorry," he apologized genuinely to the crowd, though he probably looked nothing less than deadly. He had no doubt that they all wanted to get out just as bad as he wanted the senator out. "I have Senator Paige here," he said in a voice that wouldn't be heard beyond the small crowd. "Can we have a cab? Or split one with someone? No one can get out and it's crucial that we get him out now."
Better to ask than demand.
There was a flurry of movement as some of the people dived into the cabs they had ordered and sat tight. One driver scowled and rolled up his window and looked straight ahead with his arms folded - clearly not a supporter. But a stocky man with his arm around the waist of an attractive woman flapped a hand at them. "Here," he said, "this guy says he'll take you."
Guy got out of the cab and looked over Sherman's head at Smith. "I can take four," he said. "Maximum." He glanced back along the road reading the traffic. "Now for preference."
"Airport," Smith said as he signaled the senator to move towards him and climb in the cab. "As fast as you can get there. He needs on the next flight to D.C."
Guy opened the cab door for the passenger and, since nobody else seemed inclined to, said, "Thanks, you're a swell guy, and you lady," to Sherman and Maggie. Then he got back into the cab and set the engine running, checking the mirrors and getting ready to move off.
Airport - as fast as possible. Guy made a face and wished he'd been starting from somewhere else.
Smith held his hand to his earpiece as he gave orders and directions for how to get Senator Paige's assistants and such to the airport, then moved to climb in the taxi passenger seat of the taxi as well. "Thanks for this," he said to everyone in the cab, and Senator Paige nodded as well, his mouth and eyes tight with worry.
"Belt up, fellas," Guy said, his eyes on the mirrors and as soon as he'd heard the right number of clicks he gunned the engine and nipped the cab out into a gap in the traffic. "Okay, hold tight," he said, changed lane and took the next left.
Charlie watched the cab go then grinned at Sherman. "Ah well," he said. "The Manor's just along the road. Why don't you come home for coffee and cookies - yes, Nia, yay, cookies - and when the crowd thins a bit D can give you a ride home."
"In the Challenger?" Sherman said with a grin and went and stood by Deacon, his new best friend.
Smith's eyes were on the traffic, mentally mapping out the route he would take had he been in control of the car. Surprisingly, when Guy moved at a speed so fast he had to brace his hands on the dash for support, it was exactly the way Smith would've done it himself. Impressive.
Once in the stream of traffic, Guy reached for his radio and said, "Lenny, traffic news? I'm on my way to the airport - yeah I know, change of plan, man. What's the route like."
The radio squawked again and Guy sighed, indicated and changed lanes again. "Fender bender on Arliss," he said. "We gotta go round it. Braking - now." The cab bumped up a kerb and slid into an alleyway, nosing past dumpsters and stacks of boxes. He glanced at Smith and gave him a grin, utterly confident and enjoying the ride, then returned his attention to the road.
Cabs weren't notorious for their horsepower, but the kid driving was making it do impressive things. Smith turned to glance at him curiously, and gave him a small smile in return to his grin.
"Do this often?" he asked as the tires squealed around another expertly maneuvered turn.
Guy chuckled. "Not often enough," he said. "Guess I watched <i>Bullitt</i> one too many times when I was a kid, huh? I'd do a fuckload better in a decent car. Er - sorry Senator for my bad language. Sorry miss." He slowed for the lights and made a left. Now they were paralleling Arliss on quieter streets that would lead into the heart of the industrial district - where there was a handy dandy exit ramp onto the freeway that led to the airport.
"I would imagine so," Smith said with a little smile. He looked over at the airport, then glanced back and Guy. "This your only job?"
"Uhuh," Guy said and fell silent again as he took the rather bumpy route through the industrial site. "Anyone want a burger?" he called back into the cab as they approached the truck stop. "Best burgers in the City. No? Okay then."
"What happened back there was a fuck up," Smith said, more musing out loud though it wouldn't hurt if everyone in the car heard it. "Senator Paige hired me personally, but the people in charge of crowd, ground, and parking security were hired by the organizers. It was completely and utterly a spectacle."
"Someone was in with the protesters," Senator Paige sighed. "I'd wondered that, but..."
"I'll hire more men. Drivers. This won't happen again," Smith was murmuring to himself as his mind spun with different thoughts. He looked at Guy and it was on the tip of his tongue to ask just then, but he thought it probably best to make job propositions when there weren't others in the car.
Guy glanced in the mirror at the Senator and his daughter and caught her eye and gave her a reassuring smile then beyond them to the road behind. He grunted and said, "Silver SUV - is it one of yours? There was one like it behind us just after we left the park. I remember that red and white bumper sticker."
"Ah yes, that would likely be my assistant," David Paige murmured, and Olivia turned around to look, along with Smith.
"Good eye," Smith said as he looked at the SUV. He hadn't caught it yet, or really even paid attention.
"You know what they say - 'follow that cab'," Guy said. "Shall I let him catch up?"
Smith turned to look to Senator Paige, who nodded "Yes, please. Thank you." He patted his daughter's knee and nodded to Smith. "After you drop me off, please see that you take them anywhere they need to go. I'll pay for it."
Olivia murmured, "Thank you, Dad," and Smith nodded his thanks.
Guy had slowed a little, keeping an eye on the SUV, but smiled into the mirror and said, "Sure thing."
When the car behind them caught up and they were safe at the airport, Smith climbed out of the cab to make sure the Senator got on his flight safe and sound. He escorted Olivia back out to the cab and opened the back door for her, but he climbed back up front with Guy again.
"That was some driving," he said, glancing at Olivia as her phone rang and she answered, then back at Guy.
Guy got the cab moving safely again before replying. "I like to drive," he said. "Was brought up in the business - Dad owned a hire company, limos and that. So I did a couple of chauffer courses." He smiled. "There's this place in New York. I'm saving to register there for a month. They do the full defensive driving thing. With that on my CV I might be able to do a bit better than cab driving."
"Oh yeah?" Smith said as he thought about that. "Well you know, I could use a driver for my company."
"Yeah?" Guy said. "So more of this kind of thing?" He raised his eyebrows. "Bet you don't need someone every day, do ya? Would I still be able to cab drive between gigs?"
"Yes," Smith said. "It wouldn't be an all the time sort of thing at all. Hell, even I don't work every day. Just when there's a big thing, like what happened today. Or when a client needs to be transported from the airport to wherever and wants to be secure. That sort of thing. Think you could do it?"
"Hell, yeah," Guy said. "I - er - naah, haven't got a pen. I can drop off my details at the Manor. Leave 'em with Frank at the desk, if you like." He glanced across at Smith and gave a chuckle.
"Sounds good. I'll be doing a full background check on you. Anything I should know about before hand," he said as he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and produced a business card. "Call me at that number and we'll talk about it privately."
Guy took the card and slipped it into his shirt pocket. "Sure," he said. "I got no secrets." Nothing that would affect his driving anyhow. He glanced in the mirror to check on his other passenger, but she was still on the phone.
Smith nodded and glanced over his shoulder at Olivia as well. "She'll want dropped off back at the park too. Hopefully some of the protesters have broken up so we can get our cars out."
"Cool," Guy said. "I'll probably be able to pick up another fare there as well. That was - quite a show they were putting on there. Any idea who the protesters were?"
"Some fundamentalist church group from the south is what one of the men on my team said. Apparently, they were making a big stink about it on the internet before hand. They've gotten quite worked up that one of the most conservative senators in a century is getting behind something like gay marriage." Smith shrugged. "Guess there's nothing better to do in the rural parts of the south than worry about other people's business."
Guy shrugged. "Doesn't make any difference to me," he said. "Can't see why they just can't leave 'em alone. They're not doing any harm to anyone."
"Me either," Smith said with his own shrug. "I look at it like it's just none of my business and they're people like everyone else. What they do is what they do, and if everyone is consenting, of age, and enjoying it, then more power to 'em."
Guy grunted, keeping just under the speed limit. "Yeah," he said indicating to change lane. "My kick-boxing tutor's gay. Married with a little girl. Somehow can't think of him as an abomination."
"Nah," Smith said softly. "I used to be a cop and I've seen straight men, straight women, gays and lesbians do things that would turn your stomach and keep you up at night. It's all in the person, not the orientation."
They turned into the park, now thankfully free of the protesters, and when they'd pulled alongside their cars, Smith turned to Guy and offered his hand.
"Thank you for all that you've done."
Guy raised his eyebrows again and took his hand and shook it. "No sweat," he said. "It was a pleasure to help." He turned in his seat and shot Olivia a smile. "I listen to Ms Paige's show nights. Not gonna let anything happen to her old man."
Olivia, who had been driven to her studio on more than one occasion by Guy, leaned up and patted him on the shoulder with a big smile. "You're the sweetest, and thank you again. I'll be seeing you sometime next week, I'm sure."
Smith also shot Guy his best version of a friendly smile and climbed out of the car with Olivia.
"I'll be seeing you soon, Guy. Later."
"Thanks, miss, sir, take care," Guy called, already reaching for his radio. "Hey Lenny, you got another fare for me?"