Chapter 14
Not So Welcome Back
Day pulled up in front of the house after the long drive into the country.
“You need to behave when we go inside,” he said to M.J., who was quietly sitting in the back.
M.J. just nodded. He was becoming more emotionally cutoff the longer he was separated from Halleigh. His bright and cheery personality was becoming introverted. Day noticed it, but he couldn’t do anything to prevent it. He was busy dealing with the stress of finding Derek’s kids so he could reunite M.J. with his mother.
They were deep in the country. Crickets, owls, and peepers all sang their songs and came together in a symphony only heard at night in the country. Day took M.J. out of the backseat. They both stood next to the car surveying the house. Day was looking for any signs of an ambush. He knew that Flex had it out for him, and because of the tone of their phone call, Day had a feeling that Flex might act up. He saw nothing suspicious. M.J. sat in awe at the size of the house.
Day and M.J. guardedly walked hand in hand toward the front door. From the side of the house, Flex came sneaking up next to them. He pounced on Day and put him in a chokehold. Day managed to stay on his feet as he fought against the attack, but Flex had him beat.
“You finally come out of hiding, punk ass?”
“Yo, chill,” Day said through choked breaths.
M.J. was paralyzed with fear. He stared at the clash with eyes wide open.
The struggle continued.
“Stop,” M.J. said softly.
The two men kept scuffling.
“Stop,” he said louder and hit Flex on his thigh.
The tiny tap on the leg caught Flex’s attention. He spun to see what had hit him.
“What? You brought a kid to help you fight? Ha!” Flex chuckled as he released Day.
Day bent over and rubbed his neck, taking time to catch his breath.
“What’s up, little man? What’s your name?” Flex approached M.J.
“Leave ... him ... alone.” Day’s breathing was labored.
“What the hell you bringin’ a kid for? Thought I told you to show up alone.”
“I ... had to.”
“Get yo’ ass inside,” Flex barked.
Day entered the house with M.J, following. They stood just on the other side of the door and waited for Flex. Before Flex could dole out any more punishment or orders, Scar came from another room.
“Well, well, well. Look who came out of hiding.” Scar carefully eyed Day as he walked up to the trio.
“Yeah, and he brought some protection along with him.” Flex laughed at his own joke.
Day ignored Flex. “What’s up, Scar? It’s been a minute.”
“You damn right it’s been a minute. Who the hell is half pint over here?” He gestured to M.J. with a head nod.
“Yo, he my son. I had to bring him. It’s a long story.”
“I got loads of time, nigga. Enlighten me.”
Day was caught off guard. He wasn’t ready to have to explain who M.J. was and why he was there.
“Oh, ah, well, you see, okay, you want to know... .” Day had no idea what to say.
“Spit it out, nigga.” Flex shoved Day in the shoulder.
Scar just stared blankly at Day. It made Day feel uncomfortable, like Scar could see right through him.
“Like I said, he’s my son. My baby mama, me and her don’t really have much communication. Well, I found out she got hooked on the pipe and my little man here was being neglected. So ... you see, I found this out right around the time I was lookin’ for a place for you. That’s why I was a little off about securing that spot I was tellin’ you about.”
Scar just stared at him like he was waiting for him to continue. Day continued to make up a story.
“I had secured that spot for you, and I was heading to let you know. That’s when I drove by your place and that shit was swarming with all sorts of FBI, DEA—”
Scar interrupted. “You don’t gotta tell me who all was there. I know.” He leaned against the wall and glared at Day. “I’ve heard enough of your babbling anyway. Now I’m gonna ask questions, and I want answers. First, where the fuck you been?”
“I went deep underground. Seeing all of that shit, my first thought was that you got picked up. I was plannin’ on staying real low until I heard otherwise.”
Flex and Scar exchanged a look.
“You heard otherwise? That’s why you out looking for me?” Scar asked.
“I didn’t hear nothin’ about you.”
“Where were you ‘deep underground’?”
“I was at the place I had found for you,” Day continued to lie.
“When I’m gonna see this place?”
“Whenever you want.”
“How about right now?”
Day was about to lose it. If Scar took him up on his offer, he was fucked. It would be the end of Day if he couldn’t take Scar to a house.
Day was scrambling his brain to come up with a plan to get out of this mess when M.J. took off running into the living room.
“M.J.” Day called out.
M.J. ignored him and kept on heading to the next room. Day started to chase him, but Scar stopped him.
“Don’t worry about that. We got business to attend to.” Scar put a hand on Day’s chest.
Day’s knees got weak. “He shouldn’t be runnin’ around. I’ll get ’im.”
“He’s fine. He probably saw toys in there. Let the big boys stay in here.”
Hearing the word “toys,” Day figured that Derek’s kids were close by. He attempted to change the subject right away.
“Yo, you got any work for me? I need to get back on the grind.”
“Don’t get ahead of yaself. You don’t just come waltzing yo’ ass back in and expect to be welcomed with open arms. You still got some questions to answer.”
“A’ight. Ask away.” Day acted like he was standing strong, but inside he wasn’t so confident.
“First off, why the fuck we ain’t never heard of no kid before?” Scar asked.
“You know I don’t like to mix business with my personal life. I don’t want him growing up in the game. I want little man to have a better life.”
Scar slowly shook his head as he surveyed Day. “A’ight. Why the fuck it take you so long to come and find us?”
“I told you. I wanted to make sure the heat died down. I had no idea if y’all had gotten picked up.”
“How’d you find out we didn’t?” Flex asked.
“When I didn’t hear nothing about it on the TV, I went out on the street and started asking niggas if they seen y’all.” Day didn’t look at Flex. He kept speaking to Scar.
“How we know you ain’t got picked up and the feds got you doing their dirty work?” Flex said to Day then turned to Scar. “This nigga is lyin’, Scar. I can feel it. He got pinched and now he workin’ to put us behind bars.” Flex had always been jealous of the tight relationship that Day and Scar once had. He didn’t want Day coming back in and taking his place.
“You fool-ass nigga, if I was workin’ for the feds or anybody, they’d be here right now.” Day cut his eyes at Flex.
“You wearin’ a wire then.”
“Come check me.” Day put his arms out to the side.
With the quickness of a cat, Flex moved in and roughly handled Day.
“Easy, nigga, before I have to beat yo’ ass,” Day warned.
“Fuck you. I’m checkin’ for a wire, you snitch-ass bitch.” Flex ripped Day’s shirt open to look for the wire. The fight started immediately. Day grabbed Flex, and the two men started to wrestle. They knocked over a side table as they fell to the floor with a loud thud. Punches were landed as they fought for leverage. Day got an upper hand and started punching Flex in his face.
“Cut the bullshit!” Scar grabbed Day and easily tossed him off of Flex. Day slammed into the hallway wall as Flex struggled to his feet.
“Uncle Scar!” Talisa heard the noise
and came running with her younger brother. “What is that noise?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Who is that?” Talisa pointed at M.J., who had silently peeked his head into the room.
“He came to play with you. His name is Malek,” Day chimed in right away. His nervousness turned to excitement when he saw Derek’s two kids. He was so close to his goal. Now all he needed to do was get out of there alive and call Derek.
Talisa and D.J. walked over to Malek as the adults all watched.
“Do you like trucks?” D.J. asked.
“Uh-huh.” Malek nodded.
“Let’s play,” Talisa said. She walked into the living room with the two boys following her.
Once the children were out of sight, Scar punched Day in his stomach, knocking the wind out of him and bringing him to his knees.
“What the fuck?” Day huffed.
“That was for disappearing, nigga. While your bitch ass was hiding and dealing with yo’ kid, we was tryin’ to keep this business runnin’. You lucky that’s all I did.”
“Yeah, nigga. It was up to me, yo’ ass be dead by now.” Flex was standing behind Scar.
Day caught his breath and stood upright. “Look, I told you what happened. Obviously I ain’t wearing no wire.” He gestured to his bare chest, which had been exposed when Flex ripped open his shirt. “I’m here now and I need some work. Let’s cut the bullshit.”
“Nigga, you don’t tell us what to do.” Flex puffed his chest out.
“You think I’m gonna just give you your old spot back?” Scar asked.
As Day was about to answer, D.J. came into the room and cut him off. “We’re hungry.”
“Get the fuck outta here!” Scar yelled at the little boy. D.J’s fear froze him. He stood staring at his uncle with watery eyes as wide as saucers. His lips started to tremble, and he started to cry as loud as only a child can.
“Damn, man. You don’t gotta be like that. The kid’s just hungry,” Day said.
Scar snapped his head around to Day. He was obviously angry. His face was tense, and he was staring at Day like he wanted to kill him.
“Mu’fucka, you so concerned about them kids, you can take ’em. Yeah, matter of fact, that’s your first job back with the organization. Take them kids until I say you finished.”
Day couldn’t believe his good fortune. He couldn’t have dreamed it to work out any better. Instead of telling Derek where to find his children, he could now hand deliver them, reuniting with Halleigh that much sooner.
“Fine, if that’s what you want. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get back in.” Initially he was going to protest, thinking that would be what Scar expected. Instead, he agreed so he could speed it up and get out of there.
“Yo, can I speak to you?” Flex said to Scar.
“Speak.”
“Not in front of this shady mu’fucka.” Flex gave a challenging stare to Day.
Scar gestured with a head nod for Flex to follow him to the adjoining room.
The two men spoke in hushed tones.
“We need to take care of that thing in the woods. Let’s make Day dig the ditch,” Flex said.
“Nah. I don’t want that nigga knowing nothin’ ’bout nothin’ right now. Somethin’ ain’t right with that nigga.”
“That’s what I been sayin’,” Flex agreed. “I don’t trust that nigga.”
“He gonna take them kids out my hair so we can take care of that mess out back. Then when he come back, we take care of his ass for good.”
Flex couldn’t hide his excitement. “Finally. I been thinkin’ that nigga need to get murked for a minute.”
“Get ready to be diggin’ two graves tonight, son.”
“No doubt. I’ll dig that mu’fucka’s grave myself.” Flex was smiling from ear to ear.
Even though he wanted to take the kids and leave, Day waited patiently for the two men to return. He didn’t want to stir up any more suspicion, so he was going to let them dictate how this meeting would go.
“All good?” Day asked as the two men returned from their private meeting.
“As long as you take them kids out my hair, yeah, it’s all good.”
“Like I said, whatever you need me to do, boss.”
“Good. Take them kids and come back tomorrow night.”
Day gathered up the kids as fast as he could. They were having fun playing together, so they were somewhat resistant to the idea of leaving. When Day bribed them with a trip to Dave and Buster’s, they were quick to jump in the car.
“Sayonara, mu’fucka. Enjoy your last day on the planet.” Scar stood in the window and watched as Day drove away with the kids.
Once out of sight of the house, Day called Derek.
“I know where your kids are,” he said.
“Tell me.”
“They in the backseat of my car.”
“Let me speak to them.” Derek’s heart was beating fast.
“Let me speak to Halleigh,” Day countered.
Derek didn’t want to tell him that he had released her. “Trust me, she’s safe.”
“Trust me. I got your kids. Meet me in two hours.”
Day gave Derek the address of Halleigh’s house and hung up the phone.
“Shit,” Derek said to himself. He was now regretting letting Halleigh free. For all he knew, she could have made it home by now. If Day got home to see Halleigh, Derek’s chances of rescuing his children could be in jeopardy.
Derek grabbed his gun, jumped in his car, and sped toward a hopeful reunion with his children. He had no idea what he was going to do once he met with Day, but he was prepared to do whatever it took to keep his children safe.
Chapter 15
Painful Reunion
Derek arrived at Halleigh’s house well within the two-hour timeframe Dayvid had given him. He parked in his usual spot around the corner and out of sight of the house. He proceeded to his hiding place in the woods and began his wait for Dayvid—and hopefully his children.
As he sat there in the cover of the trees, he thought about his strategy. How could he stall Day and reclaim his children? His bargaining chip was Halleigh, and he had let her go. Now he had nothing. He didn’t know what he was going to do. His strategy was going to be to wait, see what Day did, then react. He sat in nervous anticipation as he carefully watched the house.
This could be the end of a long nightmare, he thought as he leaned up against a tree trunk. He vowed to himself that when he got his children back, he would get as far away from Baltimore as possible. He was tired of living his life always searching for retribution. He was going to devote his life to his children and raising them to be trustworthy, responsible adults.
The sound of the garage door opening and Day pulling in pulled Derek from his thoughts. He watched the garage door slowly close as he stood and positioned his gun in his waistband for easy retrieval. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for the showdown.
He pulled out his cell phone and redialed the number Day had called him from.
“Welcome home,” Derek said after Day had answered. He could hear the children in the background, talking to one another. “Now, bring my kids outside.”
“The fuck make you think you callin’ the shots, nigga?” Day drew his gun while he peeked out the window, looking for Derek. “Let me speak to Halleigh.”
“You don’t speak to her until I see my children.”
“Let me see you. Come to the front of the driveway.”
Derek followed orders and came out from the corner of the house. He stood at the end of the driveway and raised his arms like Jesus on the cross. He knew he was taking a chance and that Day could shoot him, but he gambled, thinking that Day wouldn’t do anything until he saw Halleigh.
Derek put his phone to his ear. “You satisfied?”
“Where is she?”
“Come outside.” Derek hung up.
Day was hesitant. He didn’t have a good feeling about this situation. Not see
ing Halleigh had him concerned. He was starting to think that Derek might be playing him. Before going outside, he ushered the children upstairs into Malek’s room.
“Y’all stay up here and play. If you good, we can go to the toy store later.”
The children’s eyes lit up and smiles stretched across their faces. They were already thinking about the toys they would buy. There was no way they were going to ruin their chance to get new toys.
Day looked out all of the windows of the house to make sure there was no ambush about to happen. He slowly opened the door and walked onto the front lawn. When Derek saw Day, he slowly walked toward him.
“That’s far enough,” Day said, keeping a safe distance between himself and Derek.
The two men were now face to face, each man at opposite ends of the yard, like an old Western showdown at high noon. The question was, who would be the first to flinch?
“This has gone on long enough. Let’s end this now. Bring my kids outside.”
“Nigga, you think it’s that easy? You ain’t gettin’ shit until I see Halleigh,” Day said.
“I guess we have a standoff then, because I’m not bringing Halleigh until I see my kids.”
“Let me speak to her.”
“No,” Derek answered.
Day was becoming frustrated. He was getting the feeling that Halleigh was dead. Why else won’t he let me speak to her? Day thought.
“Look, let me speak to her and this can all be over,” Day said.
“She doesn’t have a phone.”
“Then let me see her. Take me to her.”
“If you give me my kids, then I’ll tell you where she is.”
The situation was becoming heated. With each passing second, both men were becoming increasingly more agitated. Derek didn’t know how much longer he could hold Day off, and Day was losing hope that Halleigh was alive. Something needed to give. This game couldn’t go on any longer. It was just a matter of who would make the first move.
Derek felt like he was running out of time. He thought Day would figure it out sooner or later, so he needed to make things happen. His children needed him and he needed them. He started walking toward the front door.
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