SinSatiable

by Shelia E. Bell

  “Shoots, as long as you got your money, then I say to hell with him.”

  “Oh, let me tell you about that! Instead of the three thousand I was supposed to get, Jason gave me thirty, one dollar bills. I was so pissed I could have killed him. Forgive me, Lord, but that’s the way I felt. Then I grabbed hold to my senses and I let it go. I told myself he wasn’t worth it. I didn’t even go inside The Lynx. I was too angry. He’ll get his. You can bank on that. Anyway, it was my intent to go home and change clothes but before I could do that, I got the call from my mother.” The two ladies became deftly quiet. Aisha drank some of her water and Elisa stirred her plate of Carolina Chicken Salad around with her fork.

  Aisha broke their momentary silence. “You know I told you I stopped by the studio before coming here.” Elisa nodded her head in response. Aisha continued. “Can you believe that I had a message on my Audix from one Kyle Taylor?”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “I wish. But I’m not. Jason had to tell him how to contact me, Elisa. He even called me by my real name. He offered his condolences over my father’s death. If Jason did that, he’s stooped to an all time low! He doesn’t know what Kyle Taylor is up to.”

  “You’re right. I think you should confront Jason about it. I know I would.”

  “I’m thinking about it. But one thing I don’t have to think about is calling Kyle back. He said he wanted to have dinner with me.”

  “Girl, he must be on something more potent that either of us,” Elisa laughed and took another sip of her drink.

  “Seriously though. Elisa, it’s over for me. I’m not going back to The Lynx. I have to get my life together in more ways than one. I’m a wreck. I’m no better than the crack heads that walk up and down the streets doing any and everything for a hit of that pipe.”

  “No you’re not, Aisha. That’s not true at all. Sure you snort a little coke every once in a while. So what. I’ve been doing coke and valium for years and I’m fine. If I wanted to stop, I could. But I don’t want to. It relaxes me like a person who smokes cigarettes or drinks a glass of wine every night before bed. So we do our thing – we snort coke. What’s so terrible about that?”

  “For one, it’s illegal. Two, it’s addictive. And three, it fries your brain, which is obviously true if you think that what we’re doing is okay. I am a drug addict. That’s what’s so terrible about this. I even have a name for the coke – baby girl. I have to have it. I don’t care if I’m in church, at my parents’ house, at The Lynx or the dance studio. I take it with me wherever I go. It’s like that commercial that says American Express – never leave home without it. Except I say baby girl, never leave home without it. Before I got out of the car and came in here I took a hit. And you tell me there’s nothing wrong with that?”

  “There isn’t. But have it your way because somehow you always manage to make insignificant things into huge mountains. Everybody has a vice of some kind, Aisha. None of us are perfect. At least that’s what you’ve told me time and time again. And now you’re being hard on yourself because you like to snort a little coke. And the money you’re making at The Lynx, you’re ready to kiss it goodbye because you’re feeling guilty because of what happened to your dad?”

  “Don’t you dare bring my father into this! Don’t you dare.” Aisha raised her voice in hurt and anger. “If I had been where I was supposed to be I could have told my father goodbye.”

  “I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but when it’s your time to go, there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Who’s to say that you would have been there to tell him goodbye if you hadn’t been with Kyle? You could have easily been doing something else. It could have been something as simple as having been in the hospital bathroom and before you made it back to his side your father could have died.”

  For the second time, they both remained silent. Aisha was lost in her thoughts and Elisa in hers. Both of their lives had connected along the pathway of life but they had started on two entirely different roads. Aisha’s faith and convictions were what used to hold her up and keep her keeping on during trials and tribulations.

  Elisa grew up living a hard knock life where her parents constantly fought each other verbally and physically. When she was about the same age as Hallie, Elisa was the victim of being ‘recruited’ after having run away from home. The day she ran away, she was supposed to be at school. But she had made other plans. Plans that included a life of living on her own and becoming a famous model. All of the cussing, fighting and threats at home had escalated to a point where she had begun to fear for not only her mother’s life but her life and the lives of her two younger brothers. The day she ran away, she vowed to make a life for herself and then go back to Kansas City to rescue her brothers. She had saved up enough money from babysitting and her after school job at McDonald’s to purchase an airline ticket. She had been saving her money for almost a year and a half. She arrived in Houston, Texas with high hopes and fast dreams so when the well dressed man and woman approached her while she was eating alone at Wendy’s she was thrilled. They both told her how beautiful she was and how they were searching for models for some of the top magazines like Seventeen, Vibe and Essence.

  They told her that they operated an exclusive modeling agency located in Memphis, Tennessee. They offered her what they called, ‘the opportunity of a life time.” They told her they would be willing to take her to Memphis and introduce her to the owner of the agency. Something within told her not to go, but what if what they told her was true. She couldn’t pass up this chance. If things turned out differently than what they said, she still had enough money to last a couple of weeks for her to get a room and food. She climbed in the car with them and within two hours she was on a flight from Houston to Memphis. She couldn’t believe the stroke of luck that had come her way and she’d only been gone from home for a little over two days. It wasn’t until a few days after her recruitment she realized something was wrong.

  Soon after arriving at The Lynx, she met the owner and for her it was love at first sight. His charm was magnetic and he treated her like a queen. He lavished her with gifts, clothes, jewelry, trips all over the world and lots of money. But six months later when she told him she was pregnant, he flipped. He accused her of screwing the other members without protection. Soon after that, his demeanor toward her did a 360 degree turn. He became physically and verbally abusive just like she remembered her father being toward her mother. She wasn’t allowed to leave her room until after she gave birth. When a doctor who was a member of The Lynx delivered her precious baby girl, she was overcome with love at the sight of her tiny daughter. She named her Gabby. The baby’s daddy, notorious Ronald Shipley, wanted nothing to do with her. Life for Elisa became a living nightmare. What she had seen and endured at home was nothing compared to the way she was used as a sex slave by Ronald and the men at The Lynx. During her first few months as one of the girls she wanted to run away but she was kept secluded on a locked floor along with several other girls. The only time she was allowed off the floor was when she was forced to perform sexual acts and illicit dancing for the men. Eventually, money started flowing way of tips from the men. Finally after a year, Elisa was raking in over $750 a week. That was a heck of a lot of cash for a sixteen-year old teenager. When Gabby turned two years Ronald allowed Elisa to move into a place of her own with the understanding that he owned her. He couldn’t have a child, especially his, running around The Lynx. Elisa was relieved to have her own space. She was willing to do whatever it took to keep Gabby from the clutches of her pedophile father and his sick buddies. Elisa understood that she was forever bound to do whatever she was told.

  Gabby was fifteen years old herself now. To protect her from the horrid life she’d led, Elisa made it her business to keep her end of the bargain with Ronald over the years. That meant going out with Jason to recruit new girls. Whatever Ronald wanted from her, she gave it to him. She couldn’t understand how totally opposite Ronald Shipley was from his twi
n brother. Ronald had no problem with carrying out his threats. Elisa had witnessed his anger unleashed on many of the girls. Through the years, she had been the recipient of it as well. Though she couldn’t prove it, she knew that he had committed murder as well. It was like Ronald was Jekyll and Pastor Shipley was Mr. Hyde. They were as different as night and day.

  ♦

  Aisha and Elisa finished their meals and Aisha was ready to leave. She couldn’t listen to Elisa’s denials about their drug addictions and sinful lifestyles. Elisa was certainly in denial but Aisha sure wasn’t. She needed help and maybe it was time to take Tameria’s advice. She would seek spiritual counseling.

  “What are you going to do about Kyle?” Elisa asked her as they exited Ruby Tuesday. “Are you going to return his call and accept his apology?”

  “You really think I’m that stupid. I told you Elisa. It’s over. I’m never going to The Lynx again. And I’m certainly not going to call that scumbag Kyle Taylor.”

  “All I can say then is good luck. You’re a better woman than I am.”

  “Why don’t you quit too? You can come and help me at the studio. I can use a good director. You’re talented, smart and good with the students. You’re a great dancer too. What do you say?”

  Elisa’s face beamed at the thought of being able to get away from The Lynx. She could have a new start and a real job. For once things could be normal for her and Gabby. Gabby, she thought to herself. If I leave, he’ll take Gabby. “Aisha, I wish I could but I’ve been at The Lynx for a long time and you can’t begin to pay me the kind of money I make there. I’m sorry.” Elisa explained reluctantly without telling her the real truth about why she couldn’t leave The Lynx.

  “Suit yourself. But still at least think about it?” Aisha pleaded with her.

  “Okay, I’ll give it some thought. Now come on. I’ve got to get home. I promised Gabby that I’d take her to get a new outfit at the mall. She’s going to a spring fling at school so you know that she insists on having a new outfit.” Elisa hugged Aisha tightly. She hoped that Jason or no one else from The Lynx would give Aisha any trouble for quitting. Poor Aisha had no idea what Ronald Shipley was capable of.

  CHAPTER 30

  Chandler sat in his suite at The Lynx thinking about his last two encounters with Aisha. As Kyle Taylor, he almost gave his cover away when he saw her walk into his bedroom that evening. He wanted to ask her why she doing what she was doing. He had her pegged all wrong and he began to doubt his intuitive side. Being intuitive was what had helped to make him an outstanding veteran cop. All the years he’d worked undercover, his cover had never been blown. That said a lot about him. But he almost blew it when he saw Aisha. He thought back on that night and remembered the sexiness she exuded as she danced to the music. Before he knew it, he was in Kyle Taylor mode. As Kyle he was a member of The Lynx Association. As a member he could have any and everything he wanted from any of the girls there. Watching Aisha or Luscious as she called herself, moving back and forth with her hair swaying against the flow of her body, aroused him and he wanted her. When she brushed off his advances, his ego was severely wounded. He went into Chandler Larson mode and lashed out at her before forcing her out of his house. After he’d done it, he felt horrible but the thought of how she had been deceiving him soon made the sympathy he had for her subside. When he ran into her at church the following Sunday he felt awkward at first because she still had the power to captivate his thoughts and his body. When he saw it was her, he moved in closer to Candyce. He could tell Aisha was hurt to see him with another woman. The look plastered across her face was one of shock and dismay. Yet, he continued to act cold towards her. She was no longer worth his time. He had left her a message at her studio several days before using his Kyle voice and asking her for forgiveness. It was all part of trying to get into her head to find out the part she played with The Lynx. He could have called her on her cell but decided against it, hoping that somehow a positive outcome would from calling her at the studio. The knock on the door jarred him from his thoughts of Aisha and the indictments that were about to go down in the next few days. He had located the files of the members of The Lynx, found out how they shipped their drugs into the city and the method they used to traffick girls. He had taped conversations, videos and a reliable inside informant, not to mention Hallie. All Chandler had to do was give the final word to his Chief and his back up team was ready to spring into action. Every facet of Operation Lynx was in place. The back up team was prepared just in case there was any trouble when they delivered the indictments to Shipley, Jason and Elisa. But first Chandler had a few loose ends to tie up. One of those loose ends was Hallie.

  “Who is it?” Kyle asked.

  “It’s Hallie, Mr. Taylor,” the familiar sound of the child’s voice responded. He opened the door and ushered her inside.

  “Hi, sweetie. Everything all right?” he asked her. He was glad he had everything set up to get her out of The Lynx first thing tomorrow morning. The plan was for his inside informant to pretend that he was going to take Hallie to the mall to get her new clothes. Periodically the girls were allowed to venture outside the confines of The Lynx but only with escorts. Either they went with some of the older girls who had gained trustee status or they were carried by Elisa herself.

  “Hallie, I want you to do everything I’ve told you to do tomorrow morning. Do you understand me?” He asked the anxious girl.

  “Yes, Mr. Taylor I understand.”

  “You’re going to be picked up around nine thirty. I want you up and ready. Don’t take anything along with you. Absolutely nothing. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, I know. I promise I won’t take a thing.”

  “Hallie, things are about to change for you. You’ll never have to worry about being hurt again. You hear me?”

  Without any advance warning she reached around his waist and hugged him as tightly as she could. Tears flowed freely from her child eyes. He stroked her hair gently like a loving father would his child. He fought back his own tears at the thought of all Hallie had experienced in her young life. Anger mounted in the base of his throat when he thought of Aisha again. He moved Hallie back and looked down at her. He wiped her tears away with the back of his hand.

  “Hey, I have your favorite. Chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream.” he smiled at her.

  “Wow, thanks Mr. Taylor.” A big smile exchanged places with her tears and she ran off into the kitchen.

  While Hallie was in the kitchen he went to the study and looked over the final plans for the down fall of The Lynx and Ronald Shipley. He looked at the pictures he’d taken when he was at Greater Faith and searched for any evidence that the Revered Donald Shipley knew about The Lynx operation. For the past few weeks the Feds had kept a close eye on the reverend too. So far neither Chandler nor his police partners had evidence or proof that the illustrious Pastor Shipley was part of his twin brother’s scandalous, illegal lifestyle. From all indications, Donald Shipley was everything he portrayed himself to be. A man of integrity with upstanding Christian morals, who displayed a love for God that appeared to be sincere. But Ronald on the other hand was a bad seed. That much Chandler was sure Donald Shipley knew about his twin. But Reverend Donald could not be responsible for his brother’s sick minded actions.

  CHAPTER 31

  Sandra Carlisle sat in the living room staring blankly out the picture window on to the sidewalk. She missed Benjamin’s hearty laughter, the way he ambled around the house. She missed the way he took care of everything from grocery shopping to paying the bills. The house echoed a silence that she was not accustomed to. Maybe she would go to Springfield and visit her brother and his wife for a few weeks. Her small church family was supportive and there was always someone calling her to check up on her or stopping by to see her, but things weren’t the same and never would be without her husband. Selena called almost every day to see how she was doing. Sandra was really appreciative for that. When he was alive, Selena and Benjamin h
ad an on again off again father-daughter relationship. She had grown up being poisoned by her mother’s constant belittling of Benjamin. It wasn’t until Selena was a young adult that she began to see that most of what her mother had told her about her father had been untrue. However, the distance between them made it difficult for them to ever establish a close bond like he had with Aisha.

  The day Sandra discovered she was pregnant with Aisha, Benjamin ran through the house yelling and screaming for joy. He pampered and petted Sandra’s stomach and did everything he could to make sure she had an easy pregnancy. When seven pound eight ounces Aisha Carlisle entered the world, Benjamin cried so hard the nurses and doctor thought they were going to have to give him a sedative. He was allowed to cut her umbilical cord and since then the cord of love he had for Aisha was never broken.

  Sandra soon took second place to her husband’s love and attention. It was like he was trying to make up for all the years he’d missed out on with Selena. Over time, jealousy slowly creeped up on Sandra. Benjamin still handled everything and he tried to be a good husband but it was no secret that Aisha was his treasure. Sandra began to pour herself into her work as a social worker at the Department of Human Services. If she didn’t make it home from work until late, she wasn’t missed. If she stayed out all day on Saturday, Benjamin didn’t mind. As long as Aisha was around he was happy and content. There was nothing too good for his little princess.

  Since his death, and her move to Little Rock Sandra hadn’t seen or heard from Aisha for weeks. Initially that was the way she wanted it. Benjamin loved Aisha and for her to be out in the streets somewhere while he was dying was unforgivable. How could she have even thought about going to some job when her father had been on his death bed? Sandra thought her daughter was insensitive and selfish and because of her, Benjamin’s last request to see her went unfulfilled. Sandra Carlisle cried until the doorbell rang and invaded her loneliness. She hurriedly wiped away her tears. As she pressed the wrinkles out of her cotton dress with both of her hands, she moved closer to the side entrance. Unlatching the door, her mouth dropped open wide when she saw Aisha standing on the other side. At first thought she felt anger and rage at her child. She was unable to say anything to her and so she stood in the doorway staring at her.