Drawing the Line

by KD Williamson

  At least he wasn’t a John Doe anymore.

  “Damn, I hate it when I’m right.” Alvin sighed and scratched his beard.

  “Maybe, but we don’t know the circumstances.”

  “No, he could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but based on what his mother said, he was more than likely into somethin’ or about to be.”

  Still reluctant to agree, Rebecca wanted this young man’s life and death to be more than a series of bad decisions. “Let’s check with Homicide. I’m sure their hands are full. Obviously they haven’t gotten that deep into this case yet, but maybe they could shed some light on this.”

  “Was just about to suggest that, and I think we should be the ones who break it to Mrs. Stern.”

  Rebecca grunted. That, she could agree with. “Plus if it’s all the same to you, I’m drivin’ this time.”

  Alvin huffed, but it sounded closer to a laugh. “I don’t think so.”

  “Yeah? Why not?” She walked out into the hallway.

  “It’s my car.” Alvin moved in step beside her.

  “No, it’s police issue.”

  He shrugged.

  “You owe me.” Rebecca stared him down.

  “For what?

  “Bein’ an ass.”

  Alvin laughed out right. “Nothin’ new. Might wanna get used to it.”

  “Not gonna happen. You better get used to that.” Rebecca stopped and held out her hand.

  After turning off the highway, Rebecca passed a few boarded-up houses and blew the horn at some kids playing in the street. Center Hill was a stone’s throw from her own home in Grove Park and most of the area was a carbon copy—a mishmash of shitty and decent. For every nice-looking home, there were ten crappy, dilapidated ones. That went for apartment complexes as well.

  “Keep an eye out for building G.”

  “I’m lookin’.” Alvin paused. “It looks like some of them are missin’ the letters on the side.”

  “Great. Well, it has to be near F. So look for F.”

  Rebecca slowed and waited for a group of young men to disperse. A couple of them looked back at the car but continued to block the road.

  “Damn kids.” Alvin let down his window. “Move, niggas! Don’t you see us tryin’ to get through?”

  “Shut the fuck up, old man!” Laughter exploded from the group.

  Rebecca glanced at Alvin. “Yeah, shut up, old man, and watch your damn mouth.”

  “Sorry, gonna have to get used to it.”

  “I don’t even get how that seemed appropriate to you.”

  He shrugged. “Like they don’t talk like that to each other.”

  That wasn’t the point. Alvin was older and supposedly wiser. It wouldn’t kill him to set an example. He had seemed all right at first but now not so much.’

  She activated the lights and the siren. The men scattered.

  “You talk like this around Mark and Emmet?”

  “Yeah, why?” Alvin adjusted his seat belt.

  Rebecca shrugged. “Gotta be uncomfortable.”

  “They never said anythin’.”

  “I wonder why.” She caught his gaze.

  Alvin didn’t respond, but he looked away.

  “There’s F.” Rebecca pointed.

  They both scanned the building next to it.

  “Figures it’s one of the ones without a letter.” Alvin huffed. “Look at this place, this neighborhood. That boy never had a chance. I’m sure we drove past ten drug deals, and those kids blockin’ the street had on gang colors.”

  For several seconds, Rebecca was silent. She pulled into a parking spot in front of what she hoped was building G and turned off the car.

  Alvin stared at her. “What did I say now?”

  “Nothin’. That’s true sometimes, but in this case, we know the boy’s name.”

  Alvin made a sound, and Rebecca wasn’t sure if it was in irritation, agreement, or acknowledgement.

  “You takin’ lead on this too?”

  Rebecca met his gaze again. “Yeah, I think I better.”

  They got out of the car, and instead of looking for a possible elevator, they went for the stairs.

  A couple minutes later, they stood outside apartment 367G. Rebecca raised her fist, poised to knock.

  “I’m not an asshole. I just call it like it is.”

  Rebecca glared. “Most of us have a filter.”

  “Mine went to shit a few years back.”

  “Now isn’t the time to talk about this.”

  Alvin held up his hands in surrender. “I know.”

  After taking a deep breath and ignoring the hard twist of her stomach, Rebecca knocked. Even though she’d learned to separate the personal from the professional early on, that didn’t mean she wasn’t affected. She was human.

  “Who is it?”

  “APD,” Alvin answered.

  Mrs. Stern opened the door. For a second, her eyes were wide and full of hope, but only for a second.

  Rebecca pulled into her driveway. Sitting quietly for a moment, she embraced the exhaustion rolling through her. That meant she was too tired to think about Dani, in the past or the present. So far, staying busy had been the key. She’d learned years ago that idleness was her enemy, allowing assumptions and suspicions to grow and fester into nasty feelings that were impossible to contain.

  Getting out of the car was a minor chore. Rebecca glanced at her house. She’d forgotten to turn on the porch light, and there was no one there to flip it on. There was no one there listening for her car, no one there to greet her, except Peyton.

  Lately, the cat wasn’t enough.

  Chapter 8

  After pulling up behind Rick’s SUV parked on the side of the road, Rebecca got out and joined him under the hood of his car.

  “Thanks for comin’ to the rescue. Pretty sure my starter just went to shit.” Rick shined his flashlight in Rebecca’s direction, cutting through the darkness

  Rebecca shrugged. She had no idea what a starter looked like or where it was. “Well, while it’s wiping its ass, did you call for a tow?”

  Rick chuckled. “Yeah.”

  “Okay, well let’s go wait in my car. It’s gettin’ colder.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Just barely, and you’re only feelin’ it ’cause—”

  “Before you say it, you know I’m average height.” Rebecca walked toward her car.

  He followed. “Uh-huh, which is five-foot-four for black women. You’re shrinkin’.”

  Rebecca opened the driver side door and glared at him over the top of the car. “What? I’m not shrinkin’”

  “Black women are.”

  She sat down and glanced at him. “Is that some kind of political commentary?”

  “What? That Trump has made you…us smaller?”

  “Well, he has to. How else will he keep us down with those tiny hands?”

  Rick snorted. “Yeah, yeah, but what’s that story with the giant that was taken down by all those little people?”

  Rebecca tilted her head as she looked at him. “You mean one of those Star Wars movies where they use the rope on that big metal thing that looks like an elephant?”

  He reared back slightly. “What? No!” His voice went up a couple octaves. “The one with the white man. It’s a story I read in high school, I think.”

  “Oh, Gulliver’s Travels?” Rebecca guessed again.

  “Yeah, that’s it.”

  “God, let’s take a minute and enjoy that imagery. Trump’s ass topplin’ like a tree with a whole bunch of brown people dancin’ around him.”

  “I know, right?” Rick sighed.

  “Mm-hm.” Rebecca leaned back against the head rest. “By the way, you still doin’ that mentorin’ thing?”

  “Yeah, wh
en I can. It’s mostly teenage boys now, sixteen to eighteen.”

  “That’ll work. They’re just about old enough to hold the rope.”

  Rick laughed. “Great minds…”

  “Exactly, but on a lighter note, have you decided if you’re gonna do the sports-medicine thing yet?”

  “That’s not lighter.” He groaned and turned to look out the windshield. “I’m leanin’ toward it. If I get the right fellowship, my foot will be all up in that door. I already applied early to a few a couple months back. When I’m done, I could get hired on in a private practice and make a shit-load of money.”

  “Decisions, decisions. Not everybody gets to make money doin’ what they enjoy.”

  “True. I do love what I do.”

  “You’re kinda like Jesus.”

  Rick glanced at her. His eyes were huge. “Say what now?”

  Rebecca laughed. “You know, like a carpenter—you tinker with the framework.”

  He nodded and smirked. “Okay, I can see it. Like Jesus. I like it.”

  “Thought you would.”

  “Thanks for that and thanks for comin’.”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” Rebecca reached out to turn up the heat.

  “You coulda been workin’.”

  “I was actually on my way home when you called.”

  “Well, damn. Lucky me.” Rick put his back against the car door.

  “Mmm.” Rebecca met his gaze and studied him. The lack of tension in his frame and his teasing were a good sign. “You seem more…you.”

  Rick shrugged. “I told you, Dani’s doin’ her best to be okay about this whole thing.”

  “Yeah.” She wanted to believe that, but Rick wasn’t there a few days ago when it had looked like smoke was going to come out of Dani’s ears.

  He narrowed his eyes. “Did you really think all this was gonna be easy?”

  Rebecca didn’t answer.

  “Where do you see things goin’ with her?”

  She looked at him then. “I don’t know.”

  “Where do you want them to go? And don’t say I don’t know.”

  “I…” Rebecca paused to gather her thoughts. “It’s hard to reconcile who I am now with the person I was then. I didn’t have anythin’ but her. No direction. No ambition. Nothin’. So, I put everythin’ in her, and lashed out at her when she couldn’t do the same.”

  Rick looked at her silently. Light surrounded them as cars passed by.

  “I was wrong to do that, and the guilt…” She shook her head. “I haven’t been able to let it go. It’s been almost four years, and I wanna make it right. I have to. I’ve been so fuckin’ stuck.”

  He smiled.

  “What?” Rebecca asked.

  “Look at you bein’ all vulnerable.”

  “Yeah, well.”

  “So you want her to forgive you?” Rick pushed on. Thank goodness.

  “Yeah, that’s part of it, I think, and she’s nowhere near bein’ able to do that.” Rebecca zipped up her jacket.

  “Seems like you have to forgive her too.”

  Rebecca laughed. “I actually thought I already did, but seein’ her face to face like that brought it all back.”

  “Mmm, so then what?” Rick arched a brow and waited.

  Glancing away, Rebecca saw in her rear-view mirror a vehicle large enough to be the tow truck closing in on them. “Tow’s here.”

  Rick glared.

  The truck drove right past them.

  “Well, that must have been embarassin’ for you.”

  Rebecca still refused to look at him.

  “You don’t know, do you?”

  Instead of answering his question, she asked one of her own. “Why didn’t you call her to come get you?”

  Rick shrugged. “I haven’t seen you in a few days. I live with her.”

  “You think she’s home?”

  “Don’t know.”

  “Despite her tryin’, you don’t think she’ll have a problem with me just showin’ up?” Rebecca asked.

  “Do you?”

  Rebecca laughed. “Hell, yes.”

  “You could just drop me off.”

  “I could.” But she wasn’t going to do that. Rebecca had to start somewhere, and her last discussion with Dani wasn’t exactly a good jumping off point.

  Light filled the car again, and this time, a tow truck pulled in front of Rick’s SUV.

  By the time Rebecca pulled into the parking lot of Rick and Dani’s apartment building, her nerves were in tatters. Instinctively, she was tempted to hide it. Old habits and all that came with them. She gripped the steering wheel hard enough to cause discomfort.

  Rick patted her thigh. “Either she’ll try like she said she would—”

  “Or it’ll be a shitty good time for all of us, especially since she wants as little contact between us as possible,” Rebecca interrupted.

  “Yeah, but it’s my place too. I’m done sneakin’ around and bein’ a coward about this. Y’all are gonna have to see each other sometime. No way around it. Might as well start tonight.” Rick pointed. “She’s home. There’s her car.”

  Releasing a long shaky breath, Rebecca tried to prepare herself for another confrontation. If they kept exploding all over each other, eventually the animosity would have to blow itself out. Hopefully. However, she couldn’t be the old Rebecca, full of vitriol and resentment. “You’re all I have. The only person who sees me for who I am now.”

  He squeezed her knee. “I know.”

  Rebecca chuckled even though there was nothing funny. “I’m sorry. Must be a huge responsibility.”

  Rick held her gaze. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could handle it. Besides, you’re more than worth it.” He cleared his throat. “That’s why I should apologize to you.”

  “For what?”

  “For gettin’ caught up and tellin’ Dani I was willin’ to cut off my friendship with you.”

  “Oh yeah, that.” The statement still stung. Hell, who was she kidding? It was more than a little scary.

  “Yeah…that won’t happen again. Promise.” He reached out for her hand. “Okay?”

  “I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

  She wanted to hug him. So, she did.

  Dani scrunched her nose as she peered in the refrigerator. They needed to do some serious grocery shopping. She grabbed the huge pizza box. The contents were probably the only thing fresh enough to eat. After putting the box on the stove, she flipped it open and poked at the rubbery cheese. It didn’t look too gross. She picked a piece up and nibbled on the edge.

  Tasted fine. Dani took another slice and some paper towel and put everything in the microwave. After opening the refrigerator again, she grabbed a bottle of juice. Dani heard the door open. “Hey, all we have is leftover pizza unless you brought something home.”

  There was no response.

  She closed the door and looked toward the living room. He did bring something home. Dani actually experienced lightheadedness as blood drained from her face. It was a peculiar, tingly feeling. She clutched at the counter as dizziness swept over her. The ball of emotions that slammed into her chest was too tight and compact to unravel. Rick was forgotten. She stared as Becca walked further into the apartment.

  “…broke down. Had to call a tow truck. Becca picked me up.” Dani barely heard him. His voice was background noise.

  Becca looked away and actually stepped back. She practically disappeared behind Rick. Confused and somewhat fascinated by her actions, Dani was unable to tear her gaze away. Becca certainly hadn’t been like that a few days ago. Then, she’d been locked and loaded, ready to fire. Maybe it was because Rick was here? That had never stopped them before, especially after things got bad.

  “Dani?” Rick snapped his fingers. “Did you
hear me?”

  “Yeah.” She turned her attention to him, glaring at him as the microwave beeped.

  “It’s my place too.” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared right back.

  “I know that.” Dani spat the words at him as resentment inched its way to the forefront.

  “Good—you guys figure it out,” Rick said. “I gotta pee, and I refuse to hold it.”

  Now alone, their eyes met again. Dani let it all seep in. It was going to take some time to get used to the shorter hair. The style made Becca look more mature, and her smoky, intense eyes stood out more than ever.

  Becca cleared her throat and started to fidget. She shifted from side to side, and she couldn’t decide if her hands needed to be in or out of her pockets. Becca didn’t fidget. Suddenly, Dani realized that she’d been staring. Heat rushed to her face. Her reaction irritated her, and Dani wanted nothing more than to lash out at the cause. “What—”

  “Can I get somethin’ to drink?” Becca looked down at Dani’s hands, making her realize she was still holding the bottle of juice.

  Dani blinked.

  “Or I can leave right now if you want.” Becca’s voice was soft, yielding.

  What the hell was going on? Had they all fallen into the Twilight Zone or something? This had to be an act. Dani wasn’t sure what the reasoning was behind it, but she wasn’t going to be fooled. She laughed and opened the bottle of juice. “There’s water in the sink or the fridge. Take your pick.”

  “What’s funny?” Becca’s eyes narrowed, and she pressed her lips together.

  That was more like it. Dani knew that expression well. “You pretending. What did you do, take a Xanax on your way over?” She chuckled again.

  Becca’s face hardened even more. “No, but it’s beginnin’ to look like… Never mind.” She shook her head and moved toward the kitchen. Dani stepped around her and out of her way, giving her a wide berth.

  “God, I’m not gonna pounce on you or anythin’,” Becca practically growled.

  Dani looked at Becca and took a swig of her juice. These kinds of interactions were more like what she was used to. They were honest, and Dani had no intention of perpetuating a lie. Somehow talking to each other like this, especially over the last six months of their relationship, had eclipsed what they used to be. Happy, intense, and in love.