Obsession 3

by Treasure Hernandez

  “Well, it’s never too late to go back to school,” Ray tried to encourage Secret.

  “But way too soon to go back to jail,” Secret said sadly.

  That was inevitable. There was nothing Ray could say or do to take that burden from Secret.

  “If you don’t mind my asking, what are you locked up for anyway?”

  Secret sighed and proceeded to tell Ray the short version of what happened that day in the car when she and Lucky were pulled over by the police while she was driving her car.

  “Ma’am, I’m Officer Hawkins with the K-9 unit. Booser here is a dog trained to sniff out drugs. We have reason to believe drugs might be in that bag. Do we have your permission to check out the content?”

  Secret felt cornered as both officers glared at her. “Ye . . . yes . . .” Secret started.

  The officer with the K-9 unzipped the bag while the other kept Lucky detained up against the car. The dog started barking wildly.

  “Good boy.” The officer pet his dog, took something out of his pocket, and fed it to the dog. The dog lost interest in the duffle bag and began devouring the snack. “Look what we have here.” He held up a plastic bag full of white stuff to his partner.

  “It ain’t mine.” Those were the words Lucky said and would be forever embedded in Secret’s mind.

  “You’re not going to sit here and tell us that all those drugs belong to your pregnant girlfriend are you? Because unless you tell us the drugs are yours, well . . .” The officer shrugged. “The car is in her name. The bag was in her car. As far as we’re concerned, the drugs are hers then. So either you man up or we handcuff your girlfriend and haul her and your unborn baby off to jail.”

  “They ain’t mine,” was all Lucky said as he then watched the police officer drag a shocked Secret over to his car and place her in the back seat.

  “Li’l Muffin, I don’t even know what to say,” Ray said after hearing Secret’s story.

  Reliving that moment brought tears to Secret’s eyes. “I couldn’t believe he let them handcuff me and take me to jail while I was eight months pregnant.” Secret shook her head. “For the past month I have been lying in that jail cell thinking every night that this was the night his conscience would get to him, not let him sleep. Then every morning I’d wait for the guard to come do like they do in movies.” Secret deepened her voice as if trying to sound like a man. “‘Miller, you’re out of here.’” She sighed. “But that never happened.”

  “I don’t understand why you just don’t tell them the truth yourself,” Ray said. “Why are you waiting on some knight in shining armor to come rescue you? Rescue yourself.”

  Secret nodded. “I know; that’s pretty much what Detective Davis out there said. Said I can be a free woman if I help myself.”

  Ray got excited for Secret. “Then it’s a no-brainer. Tell them the dope was really his and testify against him in court.”

  “Well, it’s not that simple. They actually want me to help set him up. Kind of go undercover like I want to get with him again, play on his team, you know. In short, they want me to get information that could put him away and feed it to the police.”

  “How?” Ray looked confused.

  “They want me to act like everything is all good with us again, get him to trust me and then turn on him. They’ll drop all charges against me and I won’t ever have to worry about jail again.” Secret looked down at Dina and kissed her on the head. “Then I can spend all the time I want with this little one right here.”

  “I don’t know.” Ray shook her head in doubt. “That sounds kind of dangerous. I mean, do you really want your daughter around that situation? You know this guy better than me, but is he violent or anything? What if he suspects you of setting him up? I’ve heard guys in drug rings are ruthless.”

  Secret chuckled. “It’s not like that with him. He never laid a hand on me, at least not in a way I never wanted him to.” Secret gazed off for a moment as if thinking about the good times with Lucky. “And the cops are trying to say he’s the big man on campus in the dope game, but I swear I never saw any proof of that. I mean, I knew he probably did a little something something illegal, but nothing on the grand scale that the cops are trying to say.”

  Ray swallowed before she spoke. “Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but from the way it sounds to me, you’re still protecting him somewhat. Girl, you should be pissed! Who gives a damn whether he is what the police think he is? Turn his ass over to them on a silver platter and keep it moving with you and your baby girl. Shoot, wouldn’t have to ask me twice. I’d be like where is the paperwork so I can sign on the dotted line.”

  “I would, I mean I want to,” Secret stressed.

  “Then what’s stopping you?”

  Secret paused for a moment. Was this the door she’d been trying to push open? The door of opportunity? This entire conversation with Ray had been Secret knocking, was Ray now opening it? And should Secret walk through it?

  “Well,” Secret started, “Detective Davis said I could be out of jail as early as tomorrow.”

  Ray gave her an “I told you so” look. She clapped her hands together. “See, so what are you waiting for? Let’s get that detective in here and handle this so that you and your little girl can go home.” Ray headed toward the door.

  “Wait, hold up.” Secret stopped her. “That’s the problem. I can’t go home.” Secret’s voice became very solemn. “I don’t have one.” Secret was almost certain the apartment she’d been living in prior to going to jail was no more. At the time she landed the apartment, she’d been living out of a hotel that Lucky had put her up in. Considered homeless and pregnant, she ended up receiving low- or no-income emergency housing. The police had probably ransacked her place and reported her to the landlord who in turn had probably reported her to the housing authority.

  Ray’s excitement vanished just like that. Her hand stopped mid-reach for the door. “But where were you staying before you went to jail?”

  “It was a place the government subsidized. I’m sure the police have confiscated everything I had in there since I’m this big drug lord.” Secret used her fingers as quotation marks and rolled her eyes. “I don’t even know if the landlord has evicted me. I’m just not sure whether it’s safe to take the baby there, or if there is still even a ‘there’ to go to.”

  “Damn,” Ray said under her breath. She thought for a moment and then snapped her finger. “I got it! You can come stay with me, at least until we can figure everything out with your housing.”

  If Secret could have, she would have jumped out of that bed and done the Holy Ghost dance she’d witnessed members of her grandmother’s church doing when she was a little girl. It used to scare her to death. She thought those people were possessed the way their heads used to bob up and down with their arms flailing wildly.

  “Are you serious? Are you sure?” Secret didn’t want to appear too excited and come across as if she’d been waiting for Ray to say that all along, even though that’s exactly what she’d been waiting for.

  “Sure.” She looked down at Dina. “Like I said, I’d love the sound of a little one in the house.”

  At first that put a smile on Secret’s face, but then it suddenly turned to a frown. “But what about Ivy?”

  Ray shooed her hand. “Ivy is on tour with her band. She’ll be gone for the next two weeks.”

  “But what if it takes longer than two weeks to look into my place, get on my feet, and get situated?”

  “Doesn’t today have enough worries of its own? We’ll drive ourselves crazy if we concern ourselves with two weeks from now, don’t you think?”

  If it was only Secret fending for herself, she would have agreed with Ray. But she had another life she was in charge of. She didn’t want to find herself thrown out on the streets, homeless with a baby. If that was the case, perhaps Dina would be better off going to a foster family or something.

  Seeing the doubt and worry in Secret’s eyes, Ray walked over a
nd put her hand on Secret’s shoulder. “Knowing your story and the fact that I’m in a position to help you but didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.”

  Secret thought Ray could teach Lucky a thing or two about having a conscience.

  “Please, let me help you. At least let me get in touch with someone who can. Your mother, best friend, father, anybody.”

  “Negative,” Secret said, shaking her head. “My mother is the one who kicked me out onto the streets in the first place, after trying to beat my baby out of me.”

  Ray gasped.

  “My father, he’s either dead, somewhere with a needle in his arm shooting up drugs, or he’s dead somewhere with a needle in his arm. Or he’s at his home away from home: jail. My best friend, she came to visit me when I first got locked up but I haven’t heard from her since. I’ve been so worried about having this baby in jail that I haven’t had time to worry where she is at. But knowing Shawndiece, she’s okay. If anybody is a survivor, that chick is.” Secret let out a soft laugh. “She’s probably over in Paris right now with some guy spending all his money.” Secret’s eyes filled with sadness. For the first time ever it hit her that she had nobody, not a single soul. It was just her and Dina.

  “Well, you have me,” Ray said almost as if she’d heard Secret’s thoughts out loud.

  Secret looked up at Ray and smiled with teary eyes. She placed her hand on top of Ray’s that rested on her shoulder. “Thank you,” Secret lipped, trying to keep from breaking down into her ugly cry.

  For the past month she’d been living a nightmare and now it felt like a dream was coming true.

  Chapter 8

  “Whoa, this is a really nice place you and Ivy have.” Secret set down Dina’s car seat that held the sleeping baby.

  “Thank you,” Ray said, closing the door behind the three of them.

  Secret stood in the middle of the foyer with hardwood floors and did a quick spin.

  “Girl, why you acting like Belle in the movie Beauty and the Beast?” Ray laughed.

  “Because this place is like a castle. Dang.”

  Ray nodded. “Yeah, Ivy and I like to think of it as our little palace.”

  Secret took a step into the opening that was the entrance to the large great room. “I used to live in Farmington with my grandma when I was little. She had a really nice home, but I don’t remember them being this big.”

  Ray looked around and admired her own dwelling. “Yeah, we had this built from the ground up.”

  “Well, when I grow up, I want to be just like you.”

  Ray smiled at the compliment. She then clasped her hands together. “So, let me show you yours and Lady Di’s quarters,” Ray joked with a bow.

  “Hold up,” Secret said as she walked over to the fireplace. On the mantel there were pictures of Ray hugging a girl. She actually looked a couple years younger than Ray. “Is this Ivy?”

  Ray looked over at the picture Secret was pointing to. Her eyes saddened as if she missed her. “Yep, that’s her.”

  “You two must be made for each other. You even look alike,” Secret said.

  “Yeah, I get that a lot.” Ray put her head down. “Well, come on. Let me show you two to your room.”

  The two women scooped up Dina as well as the supplies the hospital had sent home for the newborn. Being a worker at the hospital, Ray hooked Secret up with a lot of extra formula, diapers, wipes, and other odds and ends. All Secret’s belongings from jail fit in a single clear plastic bag.

  “I have to work two graveyard shifts in a row, but the first chance I get I’ll take you into the city to see what’s going on with your welfare, housing, and whatnot.”

  As they headed up a winding staircase, Ray stopped, turned around, and faced Secret. “Did they sign you up for that program where you can get free milk for the baby and stuff?”

  “Yes.” Secret nodded.

  “Cool.” Ray turned around and continued up the steps. Once they arrived at the top, they found themselves in a nice cozy loft that had a bay window overlooking the huge backyard.

  “This is too cute.” Secret walked over to the window and sat on the built-in twin-sized bed. She bounced on it a little bit. “Much better than both the jail cot and the hospital bed put together.” She laughed. “This will work just fine.”

  “I’m sure it would,” Ray said, “but that is not where you’ll be sleeping. I mean, you can come out here and lounge and whatnot if you want to.” She pointed to a rocking chair that sat across from the bed. “I love getting up in the middle of the night sometimes when I have a lot on my mind, grabbing a book, then sitting in that chair and escaping into another world thanks to one of my favorite authors.”

  “Escape from the real world, huh?” Secret asked. “I wish it was as easy for me as picking up a book.”

  “Oh, but it is, or even writing a book,” Ray said excitedly. “I’ve been working on a book of my own for the past year.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah, I mean, it’s just a little something.” She shrugged. “But I think it’s pretty decent.”

  “In that case, you’ll have to let me read it one day.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  Ray led Secret to the room where she and the baby would be staying. It was a huge guest room, the size of the living room at Secret’s old apartment. It had a king-sized bed, a chest, and dresser that matched the headboard of the bed. The color scheme was a light blue, yellow, and white. Secret felt like she had walked into the season of spring.

  Ray helped Secret unpack her few items. She then gave her a tour of the house. With baby in arms wrapped in a blanket, Secret followed Ray through the four bedroom 4,500-square-foot home. Their final stop was the backyard, which was about a half an acre in itself.

  “This is a lot of land,” Secret said as she looked at the groves of trees, bushes, and flowerbeds. She looked around at the beautiful, sturdy, and expensive patio furniture. It was situated by a beautiful brick fire pit.

  Ray went and sat down on the dark brown wicker couch. “We call this our outdoor living room.”

  Secret nodded in agreement with the nickname. “I can see why. It’s so cozy.”

  Ray patted the seat next to her. “Sit.”

  Secret looked down at Dina. It was May and there was a chill in the air. “Maybe another time. I better get her in the house.” Secret kissed Dina on the forehead and began rocking her. “Plus I need to wake her up to change her and feed her. All she does is sleep.”

  “That’s a newborn for you. And speaking of eating, let me whip us something up while you go take care of her.”

  Ray led Secret back into the house, closing the door behind them. Secret went up to her room while Ray shuffled around in the kitchen, putting together a meal for them. Fifteen minutes later Secret returned to the kitchen with Dina in her baby seat. She fixed her a bottle and sat down at the table to feed her while Ray put the finishing touches on her pasta Alfredo dish.

  “Looks good,” Secret said when Ray placed a plate in front of her. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome, Li’l Muffin,” Ray said as she joined Secret at the table with a plate of her own.

  The two began to eat, in silence at first before Ray offered Secret something to drink. “I’ve got tea, punch, or soda pop.”

  “Punch is fine,” Secret said.

  A few seconds later Ray returned to the table with a can of soda for herself and a glass of punch for Secret.

  “Thank you,” Secret said. She took a sip of her drink and then looked at Ray, who was steadily eating her food.

  Sensing Secret staring at her she looked up and with a mouthful of food and said, “What’s wrong? You don’t like your food?” She swallowed before completely finishing chewing her food.

  “The food is great,” Secret assured her. She then looked down at her food and played around in it with her fork a little bit.

  Ray took one more bite of her food then pushed her plate aside. “Lo
ok, if we’re going to be roomies, then we have to be able to tell one another what’s on our minds. When you let things build up, that’s a sure guarantee for—”

  Secret cut her off. “It’s nothing bad, nothing like that at all.”

  “Good or bad, speak.” Ray waited for Secret to gather her thoughts.

  “I guess I’m just a little overwhelmed is all. All of this just seems too good to be true. Three days ago I was in a jail cell going into labor. It was the scariest time of my life. Then I was in the hospital giving birth trying to hold my baby with handcuffs on. Now I’m here.” She raised her arms and let them drop. “It’s surreal.” She looked down at her baby daughter. “Three days ago I had no idea where my baby was going to end up when I got carted back off to jail, but now we’re both safe and sound, and together.”

  Secret was still in awe of how all the pieces of the puzzle just began to fall into place. Both she and the baby were allowed to stay in the hospital for three days. Secret opted to return to jail the next day after giving birth in order to get started on her release papers. After signing a deal with the devil, Detective Davis, to be a State’s witness against Lucky—that was, after she helped them set him up—she was released from jail the same day Dina was being discharged from the hospital.

  Ray had promised to keep a watchful eye on the little one for Secret. That was the only way Secret had been able to rest for those days she was apart from Dina.

  Ray had given Secret her phone number to call her collect to get updates on the baby. This afternoon when Secret was released from jail, Detective Davis took her right to the hospital, giving her instructions on what she needed to do for him along the way.

  “I know you’re a new mother and you have to spend time with your baby, heal, and all that. So I’ll give you a week or two to get situated. After that, you’re going to have a chance run in with ol’ Lucky boy.” Detective Davis shook his head. “What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall when he sees you’re out of jail.” He laughed.

  “Won’t you be watching me?” Secret asked.