“Yes, ma’am.”
“What did you two talk about?”
“I called Dave on Monday morning to let him know I was on my way to pick him up.”
“Why would you pick him up? He was going to his grandmother’s house?”
“Dave was in the basketball league with me. I always called before I picked him up in the morning. You didn’t know about it?”
“No,” I say with confusion. “He never told me. Davian didn’t like sports.”
“For someone who didn’t like sports, he sure played basketball pretty good. I mean, he wasn’t the best, but he could hold his own on the court.”
All that time when I was at the clubhouse working with Charli, Davian has had his own little life. Going out with this guy and playing basketball. How could I have not known? Why didn’t he tell me? I ask, “How long has he been playing with the basketball league?”
“About a week. I’d pick him up at his aunt’s house, and then we’d go to the Courts. Funny thing is, he never stayed the whole time. He’d do warmups with us, played for about twenty minutes to an hour, and then he bounced.”
“Where did he go?”
Phoenix shrugs his shoulders and says, “He never said.”
“Did he leave with anyone?”
“Yep, guy name is O.C.”
“Owen Cooper?” I ask anxiously.
“I don’t know the dude’s real name.”
“Does he have dreadlocks?”
“Now that I think about it, he used to,” Phoenix answers. “I saw him yesterday, but he didn’t have any then. Cut it all off into a fade.”
“You saw him yesterday? Was Davian with him?”
“No, ma’am, he wasn’t. He was picking up his brother.”
My heart is racing. “Do you know where O.C. lives?”
“No, ma’am. I just know he’s bad news, and I stay very far away from him. Now, his brother is pretty cool.”
“His brother?” I repeat. “How often do you see his brother?”
“Almost every day, except Sundays. He’s in the basketball league, too.”
“What’s his brother’s name?”
“Big Boy.”
I can’t believe Phoenix keeps a straight face when he says that name, but then again I have to consider the boy is wearing lime green.
“That’s all you know is Big Boy? You don’t even know his real name?”
“Sorry, Mrs. M. Most of the kids I know go by nicknames, and the ones who I don’t hang with, I couldn’t tell you what their real names are. I mean, I do speak to Big Boy, but we ain’t close.”
I exhale, not too happy with the information he’s giving me. “Phoenix, do you know an Allison James?”
He thinks about it for a moment and shakes his head. “No, ma’am, I don’t think so.”
“Have you been watching the news at all? I know you’re aware that Davian is missing, and Allison James is responsible for taking Davian.”
“I haven’t been watching it. I don’t have time, and I don’t care for it. My mom was the one that told me Dave was missing.”
Just like these young people. Think they know everything but is completely unaware of the world around them. “Did you know she died in a car accident on the Fourth of July?”
He shakes his head with a lift of his shoulders.
I’m not getting the answers I want, and I’m not sure at this point what to ask. Perhaps, it’s pointless, but I’m not going to give up. What else can I ask? What else am I missing? O.C.’s brother, Big Boy. That’s it.
“Do you have basketball practice tomorrow at the Courts?” I ask.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Will Big Boy be there?”
“Should be.”
“What time does he show up?” I ask.
“Around ten.”
“I’ll be stopping by but don’t tell him I’m coming. Okay?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks, and tell your mom when you see her that I said hello.”
“I sure will.” Phoenix goes back inside.
I actually have a lead! Owen Cooper’s brother name is Big Boy, and he’ll be going to the Courts in the morning for basketball practice. I can tell Detective Sawyer and Detective Richardson, and they can place him under arrest, make him tell them where his brother is located. But then if I do that, I might be getting Davian in trouble.
What am I supposed to do? Should I tell the detectives or not?
Chapter Thirty-Nine
I’m watching Harlan sleep. He’s gorgeous, still a looker after all this time. I take his hand and kiss it. He wakes up, smiles, knowing I’m there with him. My tears crest. I see all of my life in my husband. But both of us are hurting, our world on the verge of crumbling.
“Joslyn,” he whispers. He sits up in bed, and we embrace each other.
“I’m scared,” I say into his warm, soft neck.
“Baby, it’s going to be alright.”
“I love you so much, Harlan.”
“Love you, too.”
I want us to have this moment together because tomorrow I’ll be doing something crazy; something that I know without a doubt the police should be handling instead of me, but I can’t help what I’m about to do. First and foremost, I must protect Davian. I must ensure that he’s okay and that I can shield him from being arrested if in fact he’s responsible for his own kidnapping.
“Do you remember when we lost Dave when he was five years old?” Harlan asks.
I chuckle lightly and sit up. “I do remember. We were out of our minds. Thought someone took him.”
“He was in the ladies room.”
“We searched the entire store.”
“The manager found him,” Harlan says. “He had that whole bathroom stinking.”
“How many times did he say he had to use the bathroom?”
“He wouldn’t stop asking to go, remember? He kept saying it and saying it. He taught us a valuable lesson that day.”
“Yes,” I answer with a nod, “he did. I was so glad to have him back, so relieved.”
“He’ll come back to us, Joslyn. You have to believe that.”
I smile and nod. I’m not so sure. All of my belief is almost purged, but what little is left keeps me going.
I’m not going to tell Harlan what I plan on doing tomorrow. I was going to when I first arrived, but he’ll stop me. Harlan will want to contact the police, and explaining the reason not to call will not deter him. My husband believes in following the rules, while I believe in going against the grain and doing whatever’s necessary.
Another hour goes by before I leave him once again. I go home. Very few reporters are parked outside the front gates of Tudor Estates. They know my car by now, and they instantly swarm it when I pull up. The guard waves me in quickly. I’m glad they’re no longer allowed into Tudor Estates. Charli probably thinks I’m going to cry about it. Little does she know, she’s doing me a favor. My kids will not be bothered with their constant camera flashes and bombardment every time they leave.
When I get into the house, I check on the kids. They’re all in bed asleep, including Kristina. The dirty sheets are outside of Davian’s room, and his clothes are on the floor. I pick up everything and set them inside the laundry room. They’ll get done eventually, but I rather go to bed. I have a busy and a scary day ahead of me tomorrow.
Chapter Forty
My cell phone is ringing off the hook so much that I have to turn it off. Harlan was calling. Jackie was calling. Sarah. Terrence. Even my mom called, but I didn’t answer them because I would have to lie. I don’t want to do that, and I don’t want to tell them the truth, either. What I’m doing is not a matter of choice. It’s a matter of necessity. I’m at the Courts now, waiting and watching. How did I get away from the family? I told Jackie at that house I have to run to the store and not wait up for me. I asked her to take the kids to the hospital so they can be with their dad when he’s released. Thank goodness she was able to get today
off. Another lawyer is sitting in on her case.
The basketball game is in full swing across the street. Phoenix is among them. I don’t know which one is Big Boy. The kids are different heights, weight, and races. Some are quicker than others.
The games go on for a couple of hours. I wanted to go out there several times and ask Phoenix which kid is Big Boy. But I stay away, patiently waiting, until the games started breaking up. Phoenix with his lime green Mohawk and matching tennis shoes is at his gym bag, searching through it and eventually bringing out a water bottle. I get out of the car and head over to where he is. I just don’t want Big Boy to leave, and I’ve missed my chance at finding out who he is.
I wave at Phoenix. He jogs over to where I’m standing.
“You made it,” he says breathlessly.
“Is he here?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He points to a tall guy sitting on the blenchers.
The kid is a big boy, and he has dreadlocks, too. But I remember Phoenix saying that Owen Cooper cut off his dreads. Perhaps, Big Boy is the actual person that took Davian, and I was wrong to assume that it was Owen Cooper. But I don’t remember the guy at the scene being that big. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t.
“Thank you, Phoenix.”
“No problem, Mrs. M.” He runs back to the bench.
I’m trying to remember what dreadlocks from the scene looks like, but I can’t recall. No matter. When Big Boy leaves, I’ll be right on him.
Unfortunately for me, this kid spends another hour playing basketball. He’s throwing his weight around and having a good time. How could he just live his life knowing a child has been kidnapped? Pisses me off just watching him.
By one in the afternoon, the games stop. Some boys hang around. Others begin leaving. Big Boy does the latter. He packs his gym bag, says good-bye to his friends with fist-bumps, high-fives, and shoulder hugs. The kid squeezes himself into a small yellow car. I’m surprised he can fit into the two door hatchback, but he does. I follow him, making sure to keep a good distance away from him. I’m glad my car isn’t a bright color and doesn’t stick out. If the boy is smart, I’m sure he’ll spot me and then my plan would be ruined.
Big Boy stops at a convenience store, and he stays in there for all of five minutes. He comes out with a case of beer and a plastic bag of what looks to be snacks. Before getting into his car, someone driving by honks their horn at him. Big Boy waves with two fingers and a huge grin. He gets into his car and takes off.
Now, I’m really getting anxious. Is he going home? Will Owen Cooper be there? Another six minutes into his drive, Big Boy stops again at the side of a curb. A shirtless guy with blue jeans hanging off his butt comes out of a building and gets into the passenger seat. The guy is nearly baldheaded and tall. Big Boy takes off before the man is all the way in the car, but he manages to get the door close. Big Boy almost hits another car getting out into traffic. One of them yelps like a cowboy, and they run the red light. That’s not good for me. All lanes are blocked except the left turning lane in the center of the road. I take that lane and stop in the crosswalk, making sure there aren’t pedestrians. Two cars are coming fast, but I gun it and get across. Car horns sound off. I look back in the rearview mirror, wondering if I missed seeing a cop. No sirens, no black and white in sight. I’m relieved.
The yellow car is two intersections ahead at another stop light. Their right blinker is on. I get to the intersection before the one they’re at. Both of our lights are red. They turn green at the same time. I get to the intersection where they made the turn. I see them once again, not even half a mile up the road. Their car makes another left, turning onto a street I’ve never been on before. I stop at the corner to see where they go. It’s a dead-end road. They park in the third driveway.
Quickly, I drive up to the house where the yellow car is parked. I’m out and heading for the front door like a freight train. I start banging on the door and twisting the knob at the same time.
“OPEN THIS DOOR! DAVIAN! ARE YOU IN THERE? DAVIAN!”
I hear whispering and rustling inside, and I begin knocking and kicking harder. The sounds from within is getting louder. Are they arguing? I can’t really tell, but I start yelling more. My fists are sore by the time the door opens. I’m greeted with a handgun pointed directly at me. My hands go up, and someone pulls me inside by my shirt. It’s Big Boy. The guy with the gun is the guy with no shirt and blue jeans. The door is kicked closed and locked.
Across the room is Davian. He has a black eye and a busted lip. Even though my son is beaten and bruised, I’m relieved to see that he’s alive. Thank God he’s breathing. I want to go to him, hug him, and get him out of here. But I can’t. I know if I take one foot, I’m dead. I remain where I stand, shaking.
“O.C., please don’t shoot my mom,” Davian begs him.
“Shut up!” He cocks the gun. “How you find us? Where the fuck you come from, huh?”
I can’t even speak. I only focus on Davian, who is itching closer. His face looks so bad.
“Bitch, you hear me talking to you! I said how did you find us?” O.C. demands.
“I followed…followed you and your brother,” I sob.
“What?” Big Boy says, getting closer to me. “From where?”
“The…the Courts.”
“Shit,” Big Boy says with a jerk of his head. “We got to get out of here. If this woman found us, you know the cops ain’t too far behind.”
“Check outside!”
Big Boy rushes over to the window and peeks out the curtains. “There’s no cops. Man, let’s go while we have a chance.”
“Naw, man, I’m doing this bitch!” His finger is close to the trigger. “We wouldn’t be in this shit if it wasn’t for him.”
“O.C., just let her go. We need to get the hell out of Georgia.”
“Naw, dude, we need to kill both of these assholes, and when Terrence fuckin’ ass gets here, we need to cap him, too.”
“What did you say?” I ask, utterly stunned.
Both totally ignore my question. Big Boy steps to O.C. and says, “We need to go, man. We need to go.”
“Terrence embarrassed me in front of my girl, man. Nasty mutherfucker raped her, and she left because she was scared of him. She wouldn’t be gone if I killed him the first time he tried that shit. Naw, fuck Terrence and fuck these two!”
My head is swimming. They can’t be talking about Terrence Montgomery? My husband’s brother? My children’s uncle? God, my brother-in-law?
“O.C.,” Big Boy says, close to tears. “There isn’t anything we can do about your girl. She’s gone, bro, but we got a chance. We ain’t never killed nobody. Hell, it was fuckin’ Terrence’s idea to take that kid. We can run and get away free, man. We got to get out of this shit with no blood on our hands.”
It’s hard to hear those things about Terrence. He raped Allison James? He stole my son from me? What else is he capable of?
“Fuck Terrence, man! He thinks he be runnin’ shit in here, but I’m about to show him. What goes around, comes around, and I’m about to fuck him up starting with these two bitches here!” O.C. moves his finger over the trigger.
Davian steps in front. “O.C., don’t! Please.”
I grab my son’s arm. He elbows me back.
“Let us go,” I beg, but O.C.’s aim has not faltered, even with Davian in front of him.
“Man, you can’t do this.” Big Boy is sweating. “We gonna die for sure if you kill ‘em.”
O.C. is unwavering. I try to push Davian out the way, but he won’t budge. There’s yelling, and all three are tussling. I get hit in the chest, ended up right on the floor. I see three sets of shoes. Then the gun goes off. I get hit in the head. With what? I don’t know. Everything goes blurry. There is shuffling of feet and an unusual noise. Then there’s quiet, and I lose consciousness.
Chapter Forty-One
As I wake up, there’s shooting pain in my head. I grab my forehead but soon realize an IV is attached to my
hand. The insertion point hurts more than anything else, and I squirm trying to scratch it off. Jackie grabs my hand, and her soothing voice makes me stop. I’m confused as to why I would have an IV in my hand, and I’m farther confused as to where I am.
The ceiling above my head is white. There is a window to the left, and it’s raining outside. The curtains are white, and the walls are cream colored. There is a monitor, beeping away, keeping pace with my racing heartbeat.
Then I focus on the faces. Jackie is to my right. My mom is beside her. Both are relieved and smiling. But where is Harlan? Where is Kale and Janae? Where is Kristina? Davian! He was kidnapped! I found him! Where is he?
“Davian,” I remark, trying to get out of bed.
“Slow your roll!” my mom says.
Jackie blocks me from getting up. She doesn’t have to work hard to do it because my head is pounding so bad that my eyes are beginning to water.
“You suffered a concussion,” my mom reveals. “You can’t be moving around.”
I start sobbing. I can’t help it. “Where is Davian? Is he hurt?”
“He’s fine,” Jackie says.
“Are you sure he’s alright? Are you-”
“Yes, Joslyn, he’s fine,” my mom says. “He’s on his way here with Harlan.”
“He didn’t get shot, did he?”
“No, Sis, he wasn’t shot,” Jackie answers.
I’m trying to stop crying because it hurts, but I can’t. I’m so happy and relieved that Davian is safe that I can’t control my emotions.
“You’re a hero,” Jackie remarks. “A damn fool but a hero.”
“I’m a what?” I reply as I wipe my tears.
“You’re a hero.”
“No, I’m not. When will he be here?”
“He’ll be here soon,” my mom remarks. “Just settle down.”
“Can I ask you a question?” Jackie says.
I already know what she’s going to say. “No.”
“Why didn’t you call the police when you found that house? What the hell is wrong with you? Why do you like going into places you got no business going?”
Joslyn (Women of Privilege Book 3) Page 18