by Seven Steps
19
Hand in hand, Cassia entered my apartment.
Lindsey was up again, brewing a cup of coffee. A bag of sugar and the milk sat next to her. Lindsey loved sweet coffee.
When the door opened, she turned to us, a surprised look on her face.
“Lindsey Wells, this is Cassia Johnstone. My girlfriend.”
Lindsey looked from Cassia to me with a surprised expression.
“Why is she here?” She asked. “We’re kind of in the middle of something, don’t you think?”
“Cassia is going to help us. I told her everything and I think I have a plan.”
“What kind of plan?” Lindsey asked.
“Maybe you should brew some more coffee. Cassia and I are walking to the store.”
“For what?” Lindsey asked.
“We’re going to need some supplies if we’re going to save Ms. Tuck.”
20
The wind howled through the dark city streets like a rogue banshee. Coldness rose from the water behind us, turning the cool April night frigid.
Lindsey, Cassia and I stood near the docks, waiting for Jeff and his men to show.
He was already two minutes late.
Maybe he wouldn't show at all. Maybe Ms. Tuck was already dead.
Cassia shivered next to me and I pulled her close. She was wearing one of my old sweatshirts. I'd kissed her when she emerged from my room with it on. There was something about her wearing my clothes that was so freaking… sexy.
At five past midnight, a black truck pulled to a stop in front of us. It blended in perfectly with the dark streets. If we weren’t looking for it, we would have missed it.
My heart hammered in my chest, and my breathing turned erratic.
This was it.
This was the moment I came face to face with one of the biggest drug kingpins in New York City. And I had no idea what would happen.
The front passenger door opened and a tall, well dressed, lanky man stepped out. He sported a perfectly shaped goat-tee and a long, finger shaped face.
He adjusted his perfectly tailored black suit. Dark sunglasses made him appear even more mysterious.
Two more men climbed out the back of the truck. I recognized one of them as Max, the man I had seen on my first date with Cassia. He’d given me a 48 written on a white sheet of paper, a number that most likely indicated how much time Lindsey had left before they came knocking. I hadn’t passed on the letter to Lindsey. It was one in many mistakes I’d made in the last few days.
He walked over to us and stood nose to nose with Lindsey. Her gaze dropped to the floor and I watched my sister do something she'd never done before.
She cowered.
“So,” Jeff said. “This is the girl who robbed me not once but twice.”
“I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-”
His hand flew across her face, silencing her.
I charged forward, fist curled. Furious at the man who dared touch my sister. My teeth bared, I pulled back my fist, ready to do battle to protect my sister’s honor.
At the last second, Lindsey pushed me back.
“No. Don't. He'll hurt Tuck.”
My cheeks billowed in and out like the sails of the ships bobbing in the water behind us.
Jeff hadn't even flinched, which meant he was either incredibly stupid or incredibly confident. I wondered if the two guys standing behind him had anything to do with that confidence.
“Your brother loves you. They say that love goes beyond the grave. That it extends beyond all space and time. If you don’t give me what’s mine, we’re going to test that theory. Now, I’m going to ask you this just one time. Where is my money?”
Lindsey’s cheek stained pink, but she managed to hold her chin a little higher.
“Where's Tuck?” She asked.
“The old lady is fine. For now.”
“We want to see her.”
“You aren't in any position to make any demands.”
“How do we know you won't kill us once you have the money?” I asked.
Jeff’s eyes bored into mine. He didn't seem like he liked being trifled with, but I wanted to get Tuck and Cassia home safe tonight and I wouldn't stop until I had at least some assurance of that.
“You don't,” Jeff replied.
I put on the bravest face I could. “We aren't going to show you the money unless you show us Tuck.”
“If you keep me waiting, I'll show her to you in pieces. Now, where's my money!”
There was no way out of this. He wanted to see the money first.
The time had come.
“Okay,” I slowly backed towards the water, while simultaneously pulling off my backpack. “Here's your money.”
When I reached the edge of the dock, I snatched the book bag the rest of the way off my back and held it over the water. My throat was dry. My hands were shaking. But I fought through the devastating fear because, if I didn’t, there would be no tomorrow for Ms. Tuck.
Or, maybe, any of us.
“This bag is not waterproof. Show us Tuck or I'll drop it.”
Jeff eyed me for a long time.
“You got heart, man. I can’t deny that. You’re stupid, but you got heart. In another life, I would have asked you to join my crew. But, in this life, I’m going to cut off your hand before I leave this dock.” He pointed at me, and my entire body shivered. “You remember that.”
Looking into Jeff’s eyes was like looking into the eyes of a cobra about to strike. They were focused. Angry. Evil.
How could Lindsey rip off someone with eyes like that? Even if it was to spite an ex-boyfriend. She’d played a dangerous game. We all had. And now, we were paying the ultimate price.
A minute passed, then Jeff smiled, as if this were all part of an elaborate plan, and turned to Max.
“Show him the old lady,” he ordered.
Max went back into the car and rolled the back window down. Ms. Tuck’s frightened face revealed itself.
She was all right!
My body expelled a relieved breath. I put my hands on my knees, feeling dizzy and overwhelmed.
She was okay. Maybe things would be okay after all. Maybe I just had to do what Tuck always said.
Have a little faith.
“Ok, cowboy. I kept up my end of the deal. You keep up yours.”
I nodded.
This was it.
This was the moment of truth.
I pulled the bag back from my shoulder and handed it out.
Jeff gestured between Max and the bag. “Max, go get it.”
Max jogged over, took the bag from me, and jogged back to hand it to Jeff.
“You have what you want,” I said. “Now give us back Tuck and we'll be on our way.”
“Not so fast.”
Jeff looked at the bag, then at Lindsey.
“Open it.”
Her eyes went wide, and I feared that we’d bolt at any moment. “What?”
“I said open the bag.”
Lindsey peeked at me, then crouched down and unzipped the book bag. Her hands were shaking.
Mines were too.
Cassia stood behind her, looking pale and terrified.
I shouldn’t have brought her. I should have left her home where it was safe. If anything happened to her I’d never be able to forgive myself.
“It's all there Jeff,” Lindsey said. “Two million dollars, as promised.”
Jeff glanced at the bag, then back at me. He didn't look half as impressed as I was the first time I'd seen it.
He snapped his fingers. “Tony.”
The second man, standing silent until now, moved in. He snatched the bag from my sister then started rifling through while Max held up a light over his head.
He picked up each stack and flipped through it.
One by one.
21
My gut tightened. I walked forward and grabbed Cassia's hand, not knowing what they’d do if they found out what we had done.
&nbs
p; Each stack flipped made my heart flip too.
I just wanted to get out if here and pretend I'd never heard of this money.
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t think.
We thought we were so smart, but we were just kids. No match for a man like Jeff.
Stack by stack was checked until, finally Tony stopped. He checked a stack again. Then a third time. Then he unbound it from the paper bands we'd bound them into and checked each bill. When he handed a stack to Jeff, I felt sick.
Jeff expression was a mixture of amusement and anger. “So, you thought you were slick, huh? Hiding blanks in with the rest if the cash hoping, I wouldn't notice.”
I released Cassia's hand and stepped forward.
“Jeff-”
“Whose idea was this?”
I swallowed, unsure of what Jeff would do.
“Whose?”
“It was mine,” I said. “The girls had nothing to do with it. Take me and let them and Tuck go. Please.”
Cassia started to protest but I cut her off with a look.
“You and you alone, huh?” Jeff asked.
“Yes. Me and me alone.”
Jeff's finger went to his chin, and he stroked it thoughtfully.
“You go to that Private school, don't you? St Mary's Academy?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you have friends there?”
I frowned. “Some.”
“Good.” He snapped his finger. “Max.”
In an instant Max hoisted Lindsey off the ground and headed for the car.
My heart dropped to my feet. My gut clenched so hard I thought I’d vomit. I thought Jeff killing me was the most terrifying feeling ever. No. The most terrifying feeling was watching him drag my sister away.
“No!” I ran forward, desperate to rescue Lindsey from Max’s meaty clutches.
Jeff's hand caught me beneath the throat, strangling me off my feet.
“You listen here. You have one hour to find me the rest of my money and meet me back here. Just one hour. At the end of the hour I will tie stones to your sister and foster mother and throw them in the river. Then, and only then, will I take back the remainder of the money. Do you understand?”
Darkness encroached on my vision. I saw spots. I couldn't breathe. A garbled sound left my crushed windpipes.
He must've taken that as a yes because he dropped me.
“One hour.” Jeff said before climbing in my car and speeding away with my sister and mother in the back seat.
My plan had backfired.
And now I had lost the only family I had left.
This was worse than I could have ever imagined. What would I do now?
22
This was all my fault. The words spun round and round in my head, unendingly. Mercilessly.
This was all my fault. If I hadn’t spent the money, then we’d have it for Jeff. But now, we’re over a hundred and forty thousand dollars short and I had no way to get the money.
I could ask Cassia, but I’d never put her in that position. I’d gotten myself into this mess. I had to get myself out.
With nothing left for us at the dock, I took Cassia’s hand and walked to the car. She was shaking. Or maybe it was me that was shaking?
I let go of her only long enough to climb into the driver’s side and close the door. Then I allowed my head to roll forward and bang onto the steering wheel.
I’d lost two of the most important people in my world in less than two days, and everything inside of me felt devastated. Like a nuclear bomb had detonated in my heart, leaving only dirt and debris. I sniffed back tears, trying to compose myself.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to take Jeff’s head and slam it into the cement.
I wanted to go back in time and kick myself for ever touching that money, no matter how noble I thought I was being or how it was that very money that’d lead to Cassia’s hand being in mine right now.
I was a fool.
A fraud.
And now Lindsey and Ms. Tuck were going to die because of me. I shook my head against the steering wheel, feeling the bumpy leather slide against my forehead. I focused on the sensation instead of the pure misery that burned up my throat.
“Alex,” Cassia whispered.
She pulled at our joined hands. Then, her fingers traveled up my arm and to my neck, sliding me away from the steering wheel. I buried my head in her neck and squeezed her tight.
“It’s going to be all right,” she said.
“I’ve screwed everything up. I should never have touched that money.”
“Alex, you can’t think that way now.”
“But it’s true. I was so selfish. My mom and my sister are gone. Jeff’s going to kill them and it’s all my fault.” I sniffled, trying my hardest not to sob on Cassia’s shoulder like everything within me was screaming to do. “All I wanted to do was pay off the house and get you to like me. And now it’s all backfired.”
“You didn’t need money to get me to like you, Al. I already liked you.”
I pulled away, searching her eyes for truth.
“Really?”
She nodded. “Yes. Really.”
I sniffed, surprise temporarily winning out against my anger. “But why didn’t you say anything?”
“My dad was pushing Grant. And, I guess I just thought you wouldn’t like me in that way.”
“Why wouldn’t I like you?”
“For the same reason every other boy didn’t like me. Because I don’t look like I just stepped out of an Instagram filter. When you’re a bigger girl, boys don’t tend to notice you. Plus, you kept babbling about this mystery girl.”
“But you were the mystery girl.”
“A small detail that I wish I had known a long time ago. But the point is that you didn’t need that money to impress me. Heck, you didn’t even need it to impress my dad. Honesty is what’s most important. Honesty and smarts. And you have both of those. At least, you did.”
“I do. I mean, I do right now. I’m all done with lying and stealing. I’m a changed man. I did those things to win you over. And now I’m giving them up to keep you.”
She smiled, and we shared a light peck on the lips. It was brief, but I still found myself clinging to her.
“But that doesn’t matter now. Me turning over a new leaf won’t save Ms. Tuck or Lindsey. They’re still going to die unless I can find the rest of that money.”
She pulled me back into a hug.
“What if I gave you the money?” she asked.
“No. I can’t let you do that.”
“But Alex, I have the money and you need the money. Please, let me help you. You won’t even have to pay it back.”
“Cassia, if I take that money, then you become part of this.”
“I’m already a part of this.”
“No. A deeper part of this. I want to keep you safe. I’ll fix this.”
I wanted to add a promise, but I’d broken too many of those lately. Instead, I pulled her into another kiss, longer this time.
It felt like I had lost everything. I needed some of Cassia’s warmth and hope to help me make it to my next breath.
I felt like giving up.
I’d never get that money.
My sister was going to die.
My mother was going to die.
And, though I wanted to remain hopeful, I felt, deep in my soul, that there was nothing I could do about it.
23
I couldn’t sit here, on this dock for another minute. So, I put the car in drive and headed home. Maybe there was something I forgot there. Some clue I’d missed. Some small, important piece of evidence that might just save everyone I loved.
Though I had no idea what that evidence might be.
The car silently crept through the streets of Manhattan, making its way to the Brooklyn Bridge and home. It was late, so traffic would be light. I could still make it back here quick if I had to.
Lights slid acros
s us in waves, filling the car with brief flashes of pale gold. It was a cool April night, but pools of people still stood on street corners and crowded around bar entrances. This certainly was the city that never slept.
What was I going to do?
How was I going to get Lindsey and Tuck out of this one?
“Alex,” Cassia said, squeezing my hand.
My head lifted, and I looked at her.
Her smile was warm and comforting.
I needed that smile now.
“Tell me about them,” she said.
“About who?”
“Ms. Tuck and Lindsey. Tell me some things you love about them.”
Something I loved about Lindsey and Tuck. It was hard to choose. I loved everything about them.
“Ms. Tuck is an amazing cook. Every morning she makes us this big breakfast of eggs and grits and bacon and biscuits and coffee. Then, before I leave, she gives me a hug. She’s the only person to ever do that.”
I bit my lower lip, trying to keep myself together.
“Lindsey’s the only person in the world who I can fight with and laugh with all in the span of a minute. She’s so strong and so funny. She used to laugh more before…” I cleared my throat. “She wants us to see the world. To backpack across Europe and go on a real-life African safari and to volunteer in Peru. She always used to say, the world is much bigger than New York City.” I laughed, remembering how Ms. Tuck would roll her eyes and shake her head at Lindsey’s big plans. “I pushed back a lot. I told her that I wanted to go to college here and stay close to Tuck, but I think that if those two got along better, then the three of us could have left, you know?”
“You’ll do it,” Cassia said. “The three of you will get away some day. You’ll tweet from a mountain in Switzerland or from a walkabout in Australia.”
“Yeah, right,” I scoffed. “That was Lindsey’s dream. To see the globe. And now…”
My chest burned. My breathing shallowed.
I didn’t want to complete my thought. I didn’t want to think of such an unsure future. If something happened to Lindsey and Tuck…