Crossroads: An Anthology

by LaShaun, Elizabeth

  Chapter Five

  Look at this lying ass, slimy bastard, Jaheem thought as he sat and listened to Montgomery’s spiel. Jaheem Andrews was the community activist for ML King Gardens, the housing project that Montgomery and his cronies wanted for their high-rise project. Jaheem or Jah, as everyone called him, had known Montgomery and Clayton for years. There were both two slimy weasels together in his book. They would sell their own mother for the right price. Especially Montgomery’s self loathing ass, he continued to brood as the man at the podium continued to tell the residents gathered how great an opportunity they were being given. “You will have brand new residences, with great amenities,” Montgomery told them. “A brand new playground for your children, state of the art tennis and swim will be available,” he added as several of those gathered began to nod their approval, smiling and nudging their neighbors sitting in close proximity. Jaheem didn’t like what he was seeing. As soon as the question period began he had a few for Mr. Montgomery Southby.

  Montgomery continued to drone on sounding like a used car salesman as Jaheem continued to fume. Noticing movement, he turned his head and saw Delia enter the room, plastic smile in place. This fake hoe, Jaheem fumed, watching the woman stop and playfully tease a couple of the small children in the isle as she walked toward the side of the podium. Jaheem sucked his teeth in disgust knowing the woman could give two damns less about anyone in this room that wasn’t able to add more money to her platinum card limit. I got something for that trick though, Jaheem thought malevolently. He’d been doing a bit of investigating, needing some leverage to push Montgomery’s hand and make him ditch the proposed project. Bet he doesn’t know his wife is screwing his so called mentor huh, Jaheem smiled inwardly. He had the pictures to back up his claims too. It seemed that Delia and Clayton Tyler had been carrying on a sexual affair for the past two plus years. The sound of applause broke his thought and Jaheem turned to find Montgomery sitting and the moderator returning.

  “We will take a few questions at this point,” the stoic woman threw out. “Alderman Southby has a busy schedule, so the questions should be brief,” she added giving everyone a look.

  Jaheem wasn’t impressed. He rose immediately and opened his mouth, loving the irritated scowl present on both Montgomery and Clayton’s faces.

  “You say this new project is such a great thing for the residents of the Gardens,” Jaheem began. “Then you won’t mind sharing what the geological findings were for that particular tract of land, would you,” he threw out knowing very well what the land had once been used for.

  Clayton stood and approached the microphone. “Really Jah,” he began, trying to sound friendly. “Why would you deprive these wonderful people of an opportunity to have a new life, with new homes, and a new chance to make it,” he accused as several of the residents grunted their agreement, turning and giving him a look.

  Jaheem frowned slightly and told Clayton to answer the question.

  “Sit down Jah, damn,” one of the women threw out, sucking her teeth and rolling her eyes.

  “Yeah, you always tryna ruin shit for us,” yet another chimed in.

  Clayton and Montgomery smiled slightly as the activist admitted defeat for the moment and returned to his seat fuming. The moderator returned to the stage and asked if there were any other questions. Receiving a few nonsensical ones pertaining to free cable, washers and dryers, the two men wrapped up the town hall meeting and smiling waved goodbye to everyone heading for their chauffeured car. Smile now assholes, but I’m going to get that last laugh, believe that, Jaheem thought darkly, watching the two men leave and shaking his head at the ignorance of his own people.

  *****

  “That went exceptionally well,” Clayton remarked, lighting the huge cigar and puffing away. Montgomery chuckled and told him he agreed.

  “Darling, would you like to go to the country club with us or be dropped off,” Montgomery asked his wife.

  Clayton cast a sly glance her way as she smiled graciously and told him she would be fine at home. Turning to instruct the driver of her desire, Montgomery missed the look that passed between the two. Clayton’s dark stare was filled with jealousy. Delia had been denying him for almost a month now and he knew there had to be someone new. Granted he knew their affair was wrong, Clayton had fallen hard for the beautiful woman his mentee was married too. Delia was sexy in every language to him. He loved her fair skin and silky blonde hair. Her body was still toned and shapely and the inside of her gripped him like a vice when he made love to her. Delia gave him an arrogant smirk, the plastic smile returning to her face when Montgomery turned around and began conversing with Clayton again.

  Truthfully Delia’s mind was on Elijah. She couldn’t get enough of the stunning chocolate Adonis who turned her world upside down every time he sexed her. I need to know more about him, she brooded. Delia didn’t like how aloof Elijah still was with her. She was sprung and she wanted him to be the same way. Clayton was a decent lay, and he was definitely more powerful than Montgomery, but he wasn’t Elijah. That man was a machine with a purpose; Delia continued to muse, becoming deeply aroused. She was going to call him as soon as Montgomery dropped her off. She needed a serious dose of hard core sex.

  “I won’t be late darling,” Montgomery told her sweetly, breaking her thought and bringing Delia back to the present. She was shocked to see they’d arrived at the house and were in the driveway.

  “All right,” she returned sweetly. “Have a good day,” she added kissing his lips softly, knowing it was pissing Clayton off. “Tell Marissa hello for me, will you Clayton,” Delia threw out further driving the stake into his heart. Clayton managed to conjure up a smile and assure her he would, as his eyes bored into her own. Delia stepped out of the car as the driver opened the door, waving once more at Montgomery before turning and going inside, her cell phone already in her hand.

  *****

  Jasmine was about at her end with Damian. He was at her door constantly. He was her job almost as much. He’s going to make Elijah think there’s something going on with us, she thought angrily. Jasmine was still waiting on her dream man to call. It’d been two days since he took her number. She was hoping they would connect this weekend and perhaps go out and get to know each other. Jasmine smiled again thinking about him finally making a move on Wednesday. I never knew he paid attention to me, she thought smiling happily again. She had a good feeling about him. Elijah seemed like a very thoughtful man. He was refined but not flashy. Please let him call today, she thought as the knock came to her door and she sighed deeply knowing already it was Damian.

  “Why are you here,” Jasmine asked taking him in as he stood once again on her stoop.

  “I thought maybe you’d like to go to the park and relax a little,” Damian tried.

  “No, not really,” Jasmine returned dryly wanting him to go away. “What happened to you anyway,” she asked curiously seeing the bruising to his face and noticing the slightly pained step.

  “Someone jumped me,” Damian told her, hoping to illicit sympathy.

  Truthfully he and LaNeesa had gotten into yet another violent confrontation.

  “Why, what did you do,” she asked as he sighed deeply and told her nothing.

  “Can I at least come inside,” Damian asked, noticing they’d been talking for the last 10 minutes and she still hadn’t invited him into the apartment. Jasmine sighed deeply again. “I don’t see why,” she replied still standing in the same spot. “Jazzy, damn, why are you being so cold,” Damian asked, hurt that she was treating him this way.

  “Damian, you just don’t seem to get it,” she replied. “We had sex the other week, nothing more,” Jasmine patiently explained. “I’m not trying to be a bitch or anything, but I’m not trying to get back into a relationship with you either.”

  Damian nodded thoughtfully, sighing deeply. “Can I come in and we honestly talk about that,” he pleaded. Jasmine rolled her eyes exasperated and finally moved aside allowing him en
trance. Damian was praying with every step that he could convince her to give them another chance. He could hear in her tone that Jasmine was serious and for her it was the past, permanently. I can’t let that happen, Damian continued to think as she offered him something to drink and he graciously accepted, his mind still whirling as she left him alone and he tried to think of the best arguments known to man for them to once again be a couple.

  *****

  Elijah opened the door without asking who it was. It was Friday, so he was expecting Tangela to be on the other side. What he found instead shook his foundations.

  “What are you doing here,” he asked calmly, feeling anything but.

  “Can I come in,” Allison asked, never taking her eyes from his.

  Shrugging slightly, Elijah moved aside and allowed her entry. She took in the loft apartment, recalling what great taste her ex-lover had.

  “What do you want Allison,” Elijah asked again, getting directly to the point.

  Her presence opened up the raw gaping wound to his psyche once again.

  “Do you still hate me that much Elijah,” Allison asked softly, finding his eyes once again.

  “What do you want,” he replied, jaw clenched, still angry.

  Sighing deeply Allison shrugged and sat on the sofa, enjoying the feel of the black Italian leather against her skin. “How long have you been screwing Delia Southby,” she asked calmly as Elijah immediately tensed.

  Allison being here wasn’t a good sign as it were, but her knowing about his sexual activity with Delia was even worse. “Elijah, I came here as a friend,” Allison began again, garnering his attention once more. “I don’t know what you’re up too, but I know you well enough to know its business and not pleasure,” she added, never taking her eyes from his. Elijah held his tongue, admitting nothing. Allison sighed once again and sat back on the couch, her blazer falling open as Elijah frowned deeply.

  “I’m sorry,” she told him, immediately covering the gun and badge attached to her hip.

  Allison Register was an FBI agent and she had broken Elijah’s heart in unimaginable ways when she left him almost three years ago.

  “Are you investigating her,” Elijah finally asked.

  He took her in again as she spoke. Allison was still absolutely beautiful to him. She kept herself in excellent shape, her curvaceous hips and butt turning him on, even now. Her hair was naturally curly and swept back from her face today, showcasing the beautiful soft brown eyes and pouty lips. Reeling his mind in, Elijah returned his attention to her words. He vowed he would never again allow Allison into the inner sanctum of his heart and he meant it. The small fact that she could put him in prison for the rest of his life played no small role in his decision.

  “You know I can’t answer that,” Allison told him calmly. “But please Elijah, whatever the assignment, pass on this one,” she added giving him yet another look.

  She’d answered his question in that simple sentence. Elijah frowned slightly thinking how complicated things had become. “Please Elijah, for me,” Allison tried, giving him a pleading look. As hard as she tried she just couldn’t seem to rid her system of Elijah. He was like a recurring hit of acid. Every time she thought she was over him, her mind would take her on a new trip.

  “Why would you care anyway,” he returned petulantly.

  “That’s not fair,” Allison returned softly, the hurt apparent.

  Elijah grunted but said nothing else. He understood, at least in theory, why they couldn’t be together, but that didn’t stop the hurt he felt. The abandonment or betrayal when she walked out of his life and told him they couldn’t see each other anymore. Elijah wanted to marry her, to have a future and children with her. All Allison wanted was to climb to the top of the FBI ladder and become director.

  “OK, so you’ve done your civic duty,” Elijah told her rising, giving her the cue.

  Allison sighed deeply and rose also, following him to the door. “Elijah please, don’t do this,” she pleaded once again praying he was hearing her.

  The things she couldn’t disclose to him were things that went far wider and deeper than any contract he’d been offered.

  “Thanks for coming by Allison,” he replied simply, opening the door and waiting for her to leave.

  Allison shook her head in defeat and left, hearing the lock engage behind her.

  Chapter Six

  Jaheem sighed softly looking at the remaining flyers lying on the table in front of him. He’d been out most of the morning trying to talk to the residents at The Gardens. He was trying to warn them that the bill of goods they were being sold was all a huge illusion and there were serious dangers present.

  “Would you like a refill,” Jasmine asked coming over to his table.

  Jaheem smiled at the young woman and told her yes as she smiled back and refilled his tea, leaving him alone once more. He liked coming to Morning Perk. The cafe always served delicious food and the service was excellent. He watched Jasmine wordlessly thinking what an attractive woman she was. Jaheem was glad to see she was still working. He’d been coming to the establishment for a while and they had a high turnover rate, especially with the African American wait staff. Too busy doing nothing with their lives, he thought disappointed. The young woman also took his mind back to his earlier outing and the flyers.

  Jaheem saw them coming and immediately put the flyers by his side. He wasn’t going to try and give them one, already knowing the response. “What you doing now, Jah,” Tazzy inquired, hand on her hip. Her friend Quita was eyeing him equally as distastefully at the moment. Both women were young, extremely young, and already had three children a piece from three different fathers. “I’m just talking to people, Tazzy,” Jaheem replied calmly. Truthfully he wanted to shake some sense into both of them to open their eyes and do something more with their lives than to chase every dope boy and pipe dream they offered. They weren’t stupid by a long shot, both women knew very well how to milk the system and survive. They were lazy and didn’t want to work hard to accomplish their goals, preferring to let everyone else take care of them. “You need to stop trying to block everyone from getting this new housing,” she threw out once again as Jaheem sighed deeply. “We living in these rat infested, raggedy ass apartments and you think we ain’t gonna jump at the chance to get a fresh new place,” she accused as Quita grunted her agreement, rolling her eyes and neck as well.

  “Tazzy, I’m just saying that what Alderman Southby is offering is not what he’s trying to tell you it its,” Jaheem began. “”I don’t want to hear no more of your activist bullshit, Jah, for real, let it rest,” Tazzy cut him off rudely. Without another word she and Quita turned and walked away leaving him shaking his head. Jasmine came and gingerly placed his check on the table, shaking his thoughts and bringing Jaheem back to the present.

  He sipped his tea and finished his meal checking out the patrons as he sat. His glance fell on Eddie, the supposed lawyer, who held court in the back booth of the restaurant. Jaheem considered the man nothing more than an ambulance chaser. He was sure at one time or other Eddie was probably quite the legal eagle. The man was obviously intelligent, having gone through law school and passed the bar exam, but somewhere along the line he had given up. At least that was Jaheem’s estimation of the situation from the things he saw. As he thought, Jaheem saw another man join Eddie as the two began to converse. Wonder what fraudulent lawsuit he’s cooking up with this guy, he continued to brood. He sighed deeply thinking of all the people in the housing projects Eddie could help if he just put his talents to good use for a change.

  “Not unless there’s a dollar in it for him,” Jaheem murmured, wiping his hands and seeing the waitress as she passed his table once again.

  “Jasmine,” he called out as she turned and came back to his table. “Can I get the number six to go please,” he asked as she smiled and assured him he could.

  Walking away once more Jaheem regarded her wishing he were 10 years younger. Glancing out of
the window he saw the car pass with Clayton Tyler’s picture, pitching his re-election. Time to visit a certain Alderman, Jaheem thought darkly as Jasmine brought his to go order and he paid her, smiling and telling her to have a nice day.

  *****

  “Where’s your husband,” Elijah asked calmly as he and Delia relaxed in the master bedroom.

  “No worries darling,” she purred softly, stroking his chiseled chest. “He won’t be home any time soon to disturb us.” Elijah grunted slightly but said nothing else. He’d accomplished what he set out to do, and that was to get inside the main house and learn the layout. Unfortunately sleeping with Delia was part of that package, but he sucked it up and dealt with it. Elijah was going to charm the alarm system information out of her before he left today. Then he would return in the next few days and fulfill his contract. I should kill her ass too, just as a bonus, he thought as the woman began kissing his neck again. Elijah was still repulsed every time she touched him, but again, he had to play his role. His mind wandered and he thought back to Allison’s visit a day ago. He was still furious that she had shown up at his place; even angrier that she knew about him and Delia. What the hell is the FBI up too, Elijah wondered as Delia began sucking his member.

  He reeled his mind in and instead turned his thoughts to Jasmine and their date tonight. He was going to show her a really good time. Elijah had much more than an extremely strong attraction to the woman. She was, he decided at that moment, the one for eternalness. He thought of the perfect spot to take her and asked her if she’d ever been to a Latin club before. He smiled slightly thinking of her answer when he asked if she could salsa. She’s sweet, he thought of Jasmine before picturing her sexy body devoid of clothing. His manhood immediately took on life and was standing at full attention.