“My name is Rainy. Who are you?”
“Tray.”
“Nice to meet you, Tray. Now can I go back to sleep?”
“Why are you sleeping in my house?”
“I’m visiting your parents.”
“Oh!” he said and went back to watching the cartoon.
She must have drifted off, then she heard Darius calling Tray. “Come in here and eat your breakfast, Tray.”
“But, Daddy, why can’t I watch cartoons?”
“Now!” His father demanded.
“Uh— Daddy,” Tray whined as he left the room.
Rainy could hear them in the dining room. The dishes were clattering, and she could hear them talking, but not what they were saying. The older boy entered the family room. Rainy watched as he was searching for something. Darius walked into the room. “Kevin, I just ran your brother out of here. Leave the young lady alone so she can get some sleep.”
“I need my catcher’s mitt, Dad. I have to have it for after school practice.”
“Try the living room, Kevin. I saw it on the coffee table.”
The boy started to walk out of the room and then turned, looking at her. For some reason, he favored one of her uncles. And how could he? He wasn’t related to her. Rainy chalked it up to just being homesick. And she was. She even missed her father. It had now been over six months that she had not seen any of them. And running into Darius was making it worse.
Now she sat up, giving up on getting any more sleep. Darius stuck his head in the door. “You stay put. I have to take the kids to school. I’ll be back in about ten minutes. If you want something to eat, help yourself.”
But as soon as she heard them pull away from the house, she laid back down and closed her eyes.
***
Upon Darius’s return, Rainy was sound asleep. He didn’t wake her, but let her rest. Even he didn’t know what was in store for her when they went to court. A lot of times it depended on the mood of the judge you went in front of. And he was hoping for Rainy’s sake that the judge was in a good one. Darius was going to suggest to the judge that Rainy be placed in her father's custody and maybe do community service. But that all depended on how hardcore this judge was because Rainy had broken the law just by being with The Screaming Bandits.
If everything went the way he had hoped it would, he would wait a least a week to take Rainy back to New York so she could get to know his family. After all, she was a part of it, whether she knew it or not.
***
Rainy woke up at noon and strolled into the kitchen. Darius was seated at the kitchen table working at his computer. He glanced up at her. “Hey, sleepyhead, do you want something to eat?”
“Sure.”
Darius got up and went to make her something to eat. “Did you get enough rest?”
“Yeah, thanks for the use of your sofa.”
“You’re welcome, and sorry Tray woke you up this morning.”
“Now I know why when I was a little kid, Samie hated it when I watched cartoons in our room. They are pretty irritating first thing in the morning.”
“Not when you’re six years old!” he laughed.
Rainy smiled at him and nodded her head to agree. “He’s cute.”
“He’s the devil himself, says his mother.”
“Ah, come on. I bet he’s not that bad.”
“Give him time, he’ll show you.”
She shrugged. “I more than likely won’t see him again.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
“Hey, you don’t know. The judge might send me away for life.”
“If that was the case, they have to give you a trial first. They can’t just send you up the river. And I’ll be there with you, Rainy. So stop worrying so much.”
“Yeah, that’s easy for you to say.”
He sat a plate of food in front of her. “After you eat, go take a shower. My wife left you an outfit to wear to court. And there is a pair of shoes, also. We have to be at the courthouse by 3:00 this afternoon.”
“Okay,” she replied. She was starting to get scared, but there wasn’t too much she could do but face the music.
Chapter 21
Court
Rainey stayed right beside Darius, heading into the courthouse. She wanted to stop him and wait a minute. Maybe he was in a hurry to get this over with, but she wasn’t. What if they put her back in jail, or worse, a women’s prison? Rainy took a deep breath and let it out slowly as they came to the doors of the building. As they walked through the scanner machine, the buzzer sounded. The guard made Rainy back up and wait while they searched her. “I have a plate and screws in my right angle from an injury,” Rainy declared.
The guard used a portable x-ray machine to see if that was the issue. Then she nodded her head and let Rainy pass.
Walking down the corridor, Darius was frowning at her. Finally, she said “What?”
“What injury?” Not until that moment did Darius even wonder why Rainy was limping.
“A fifteen-foot gator almost had me for lunch. He crushed my right ankle.”
“And just where is this gator now?”
“Dead. Decker shot him, and he hates me because of it. He loved, Old Smokey. He said I caused his death because I didn’t listen to him.”
Darius smirked at her now. “I don’t think he cared more for that gator than he did you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“If he did, you would be the one who was dead.”
Rainy sighed. “Not to hear him tell it.”
Darius chuckled now. “Sometimes, Rainy, actions speak louder than words.”
“Or maybe it was just a gut reaction to help me.”
“What did you do that he told you not to do?”
“Went to the river.”
“Why, if he told you not to? There had to be a reason.”
“I went after Grisly.”
“And who might Grisly be?”
“He’s just a little mutt, but I like him. None of the bikers or their old ladies do. They are so mean to that little dog.”
“Who does this dog belong to?”
“I don’t know for sure, but Handlebars, or Hans as Decker calls him, has a basket on the back of his bike. I think that’s where Gris used to ride. But I’m not sure.”
“Haven’t you seen who he was with when you’re riding?”
“No, because Decker is in the front with Tinman. And Hans and Liz ride in the back of the pack.”
“So you’re in the front with Decker?”
“No, I never ride with Decker. Well, most of the time I don’t.”
“Who do you ride with, then?”
“Whoever Decker tells to take me. Might be Boozer one time, or Tools the next.”
“Do any of these people have real names?”
“No.”
“So what’s your given name?”
“Gator Bait, what else?”
Darius tried his best not to bust out laughing. He bit his bottom lip and chuckled.
“So tell me about the gator attack.”
“Like I said, I went after Grisly. When he got to the river, he was acting funny. Like he was looking for something. The water was moving, but it’s a river, so of course, the water moves. Then Grisly started to run back and forth barking, and he would bounce every time he barked. I remember I reached down to grab the tiny dog, but he kept getting away from me. This plays back in my mind in slow motion. This massive gator lunged out of the river. I grabbed Grisly and turned to toss him away from the gator. That’s when the gator clamped down on my ankle. God, I can’t even begin to tell you the feeling. I knew I was going to die if I didn’t do something. He was dragging me towards the river. His lower body was in the water. I was on my belly, and there was a small tree to my right side. I reached for the tree, and I held on for dear life. I remember kicking the gator with my left foot as hard as I could. But he only bit down harder. I can tell you this, your life does pass before your eyes.
Because the tree started to pull up from the ground. At that time, I knew I was dead. All I wanted was for Grisly to stop that god awful barking. Then the tree gave way, or I couldn’t hold on any longer, and he was hauling me into the water. Then I heard a loud gunshot, or maybe more than one. I don’t remember. And the gator stopped for a moment. He began to pull me again, and then there was the sound of more gunfire; Three more rounds. The gator’s jaws were locked down on my ankle. I couldn’t get my foot free. A few of the bikers came running when they heard the gunfire. It took two of them to open Old Smoky’s mouth and pull me free. I knew I was badly hurt. I tried to move my foot, but I couldn’t. However, Decker didn’t know because of the boots I had on. And there was no sympathy from any of them. Decker grabbed me. I was still face down. He drug me by my shirt all the way back to camp. He cursed and swore as he paced back and forth. Then he told me that the gator’s name was Old Smoky, and it was my fault he had to kill him. In all my life, I’ve never had anyone get that angry with me.”
“What happened after that?”
“I had to get up because I had to pee. Now you would think I would wet my pants with all that was going on. As I came to my feet, I fell face first. That’s when things started to get weird. Of all the bikers, Handlebars is the meanest one I’ve met. He’s gruff and just nasty when he talks. Never says a kind word to anyone. He always takes the toe of his boot and tosses poor little Grisly into the air. I hated that bastard with all my heart. But it was he who came over to me and lifted me up into his arms, holding me like a baby. ‘We have to get this child to a doctor,”he demanded. And when no one spoke, he said, ‘Now Decker, or she’ll bleed to death.I called an ambulance. They are going to meet you at the old race track with a chooper.” They sat me on the motorcycle and tied me to Decker, with my foot on top of the gas tank. I passed out after that. The next thing I knew I woke up in the hospital.
“And the bikers?”
“I thought they were gone.”
“But?
“Four weeks later, Handlebars was in front of the rehab center waiting for me. I guess at that point, they felt that I was part of their club.”
“And were you?”
“Never D. I’m not like them. I could never be like them.”
“Why didn’t you call your dad to come and get you?”
“You don’t understand. They would hurt him. Just like street gangs, what theirs is theirs. And at that point in time, I belonged to them. I thought they were done with me, but I couldn’t go back home until I knew for sure. And I wasn’t about to bring them down on my family.”
“Okay, I understand Rainy. I really do. But you must have needed help, someone to take care of you.”
“Liz and Handlebars took care of me when Decker wasn’t around.”
“Did Decker treat you any better?”
“No, but Handlebars did. Hans is a softy, I found out.”
***
That was all Darius needed for the judge to listen to. It was a story told in Rainy’s own words, telling him she was afraid to leave the bike gang out of fear they would harm her family. Darius didn’t know if this would help Rainy. After all, this was going to be just a hearing, but he had to try.
As they entered the courtroom, Darius knew Rainy was getting nervous. They took a seat and waited for her name to be called. There were two cases in front of her, so it took a while.
Finally, the judge called out her name. Rainy and Darius stood up and went to stand in front of her.“Ms. Graystone, that is your real name?” asked Judge Jody Jollson.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
The judge looked at her now. “Do you realize how serious these charges are against you?”
Rainy shook her head. “I’m not sure what I’m charged with.”
“Drug dealing, racketeering, kidnapping, human trafficking, and murder. How do you plead?”
Rainy gasped in shock. “Not guilty.”
Darius motioned to the judge. “May I speak to you for a moment, Your Honor?”
“Yes, do you need a sidebar?”
“Yes, if I may.”
Darius left Rainy’s side and went to the judge’s sidebar. “I recorded this without Rainy knowing. I don’t know if this has any merit, Your Honor, but I believe her.”
“What is this young woman to you, Detective? And don’t tell me she’s a friend of a friend. No one would go to all this trouble for a friend of a friend.”
“She’s my wife’s sister. And I used to be partners with her father.”
“So her father is a friend as well as family?”
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s a friend, but yes, he’s family.”
“Why was she with this gang anyway?”
“She was a rebellious teenager, and she went with them to humiliate her father. But after they had her, they wouldn’t let her go. There were multiple rape attempts on her by different members of The Screaming Bandits. She was also shoot at and badly beaten.”
“Alright, I’m going to look into this and see what I can find out. I need the information on her parents.” Darius walked back to the table and picked up the folder. Returning, he handed her papers with all of the information on them. After she looked them over, she glanced back at Darius. “Detective Torres?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“What is your wife's name.”
“Charlotte Torres.”
***
She made a face. She knew these names from an old kidnapping case from years earlier.“This girl gave the name Samantha Perez. She’s not any relation to Samantha Graystone?” Darius just stared back at her and didn’t respond. “ Is she one and the same, Detective Torres?”
“Not exactly.”
“Who is this young woman to you?” the judge demanded to know.
“Rainy Graystone, my wife’s kid sister.”
“And your wife’s name is Samantha Perez?”
“Let’s just say, it was before she went under.” Now the judge was glaring at him as if to say she needs more information. “We’re in witness protection.”
“Your name was?”
“Darius Perez.”
“Alright, I need some time to work something out. Does this girl have a place to stay?”
“Yes, my wife and I will be happy to have her stay with us for now.”
She smiled now. “I bet you will. Two weeks from today, Detective, at 3:00. Enjoy your reunion.”
“Thank you, Judge Jollson.”
“You just make sure she’s back here in two weeks, and don’t you dare let her get away from you.”
***
Darius walked back towards Rainy as the bailiff called the next case. “What happened?” Rainy asked frantically.
“You have to return in two weeks. Then the judge will decide if the case goes to trial or not. Or, she might just sentence you.”
“Can she do that?”
“In some cases.” He placed his hand on her lower back and walked her out of the courtroom. “You have two weeks, Rainy. You’re going to stay with me and my family. Relax and enjoy yourself. Wait until you meet my wife. You’re going to like her, I just know it.” Rainy may never speak to me for about a year, but in the end, but I know she will forgive me.
“I already met your sons. I like them. They’re both cute.”
Darius grinned at her and said, “Of course they’re cute, they look like me.”
Rainy could only roll her eyes. “I guess that’s why Keyon was so cute, then because he favored you?”
“That’s right, only he has eyes like his mom.”
***
Rainy started to correct him and say, “you mean had” as in the past. But it was a good feeling to talk about Keyon with someone who loved him also. God, she missed her nephew and sister so badly.
As they returned to Darius’s home, Rainy was feeling uneasy. What if his wife didn’t want her there? She knew what he said about his wife and how she would like her. But it’s like Liz told her about t
he biker chicks. “You’re another female, so you’re a threat to their relationship with their man. What if he decides he likes you better? That’s just the way a woman’s mind works.” Liz was pretty smart, and after all, she knew his wife was upset that she was there. She heard part of their discussion last night.
“Make yourself at home, Rainy. I have some errands to run, but I’ll be home before the wife and kids get here. I’m off for the next two weeks, so maybe we can show you the town tomorrow. I’ll bring us lunch back with me. I know it’s late for lunch, but you hardly ate anything this morning. I shouldn’t be gone for more than an hour.”
Now she was alone in the house. She wanted to go into their bedroom to see if maybe there was a photo of his new wife. But she felt she would be trespassing on unwelcomed ground. “Nope, better not,” she said out loud. After all, she would meet the new old lady soon enough. She walked around the rest of the house. She went into the boy’s room, then went back into the living room and took a seat. Then she saw something and it upset her. In the cabinet of the entertainment center was a small crystal hummingbird. It was a Christmas gift from her to her sister Samantha. Yeah, she understood that it belonged to Samantha, and that’s why Darius still had it. But she wanted it because she’s the one who gave it to Samantha. She was going to ask Darius if she could take it with her when she left. If she didn’t go to jail, that is.
Finally, she turned the TV on. She needed something to think about rather than her late sister. She began thinking about how strange all of this was. Of all places to run into Darius. Georgia? She really didn’t get it. It had to be a million to one chance of that happening. But the past half of year had been crazy as hell anyway. So what’s next? She wondered.
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