BOMAW 10-12

by Mercedes Keyes

  They made it to the coast, or rather, La Jolla Cove and the first thing they did was visit Cody's Restaurant there for breakfast. They were quite the sight, unloading the Hummer with the double stroller for the boys, Mundo and Angela racing ahead pushing them. And him there, feeling awkward beside Crystal because he wanted to hold her hand, as Shawn was holding Sylvia's. Ben smiled because he could see, that a lot of Mundo's funny ways had come from her. The things she would say, the way she said them, sent his father into stitches often. He couldn't help smiling to watch them. He glanced at Crystal, even she had a smile on her face watching the two of them together as they approached the restaurant. Right then, she glanced at him, and smiled. Amazing he thought. He hadn't realized that he had been so tense and had been holding his breath, until she smiled at him, so he could release it, and exhaling - he did.

  "You gonna scuba dive?" She asked him.

  "I sure am, you gonna?"

  "I don't know."

  "Yeah, you will - besides, I'll be there to protect you from the sharks!"

  Crystal laughed shaking her head, "And who is going to protect you from them?"

  "Protect me? Me? Ah darlin', don't you know who I am? I'm Superman! Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!"

  "Oh yeah!? Lemme see it then Superman, fly out to that ocean, pluck from the grip of many giant clams a shiny new pearl, string them on an unbreakable strand of gold silk and bring it back to me before we make it to that door! Now, right now!"

  "Can't right now, I'm on vacation!"

  Crystal too laughed, shaking her head, "Your crazy butt!"

  He bit his tongue, he'd almost said, 'Crazy about you.' - but caught himself just in the nick of time. He instead smiled, and pleaded gently, "Please don't stop what we are as friends, please don't. You make me laugh, you make me feel good. I just want us to be, always like this, please? No matter what?"

  She sighed, with a balled fist gave him a love punch to the shoulder as they entered the restaurant, admitting, "I've missed you too, okay. No matter what, always friends."

  He smiled bold and bright.

  Breakfast was wonderful, they all enjoyed what they ordered.

  Sylvia waited for Shawn at the door as the kids had all gone out ahead of them. He was paying the bill, and putting his wallet back into his back pocket when he turned to see his wife standing by the door, her eyes gazing lovingly at him, waiting for him. Walking up to her, he decided that deserved a kiss, and placed one on her lips, as his hand at her back turned her towards the door for them to exit. The day was bright, shinny and growing warm rapidly.

  "Shawn." She called as they began walking to the Hummer.

  "What sweetheart?"

  "I love you so much."

  Surprising him, he glanced down at her wondering, "What brought that on?"

  "I just do, I really really love you. Look at this place. Where we are, where we're going, what we're doing. I've never, ever - thought that my life would come to this. I never sought to do stuff like this because, frankly speaking, we couldn't afford it, and if we could, because I've never done it - I probably still wouldn't think to do it. I wouldn't choose something like this, a place like this, to bring my children to, so that they can see, just how wonderful life can be. And all the places there are, and wonders to find and enjoy." She spoke honestly.

  "So you've changed your mind huh? About scuba diving?"

  "No no no, I'm still firm on that one, but - even so - this is nice. I just want you to know - that you've..." She stopped to think and then she smiled, "... you've broadened my horizons. You've opened up a whole 'nother world, that someone like me, would have never ventured into. It's weird, most people I know, from the city, Chicago, coming from the lower poverty areas we lived, will never, nor can ever - experience this. And it's so sad. And yet, here I am - I can't believe it sometimes. Any extra money they get, will go on clothing, or a trip to the South to visit family. Or, family reunions. Or maybe, to Six Flaggs, or heaven forbid, to play bingo or hit the Dells or the casinos ... but this, I like it. It, makes me feel good inside, to be here, with you, experiencing it. I just wanted you to know that." She finished.

  They were stopped behind the Hummer, Shawn had turned to face her. She was gazing up at him, he down at her. "Funny how you make me, love you more, everyday. Every single day, Sylvia McPherson, you make me feel the way a man likes to feel, you do. And it makes me happy, that sometimes, I get it right and make you happy."

  "You do," She reached up to caress his cheek, "Even when you make me crazy - you still make me feel, glad inside - and I wanna - be with you, forever."

  "Forever?" He asked, kneeling a bit to face her straight on, his arms around her.

  "Yes, forever and ever."

  "Whoooa, imagine that, me, in a happily ever after." He grinned, kissing her lips.

  "Well, we have our bumps and hard times, but - that's life, and if I have to have hard times, I'd just as soon have them with you." She admitted softly her arms over his shoulders.

  "Aaah baby, you got me, 'cause I ain't goin', no where. You stuck with this cracka'!"

  Sylvia threw her head back, laughing and shaking her head, "You are so crazy Shawn."

  "Crazy for you baby, crazy for you." He leaned forward and kissed her long and deep. Right there, in the parking lot, behind the Hummer. With the kids, now loaded in, looking back to see it; all with a smile on their faces.

  * * *

  Elsewhere early L.A....

  People anxiously running forward, yelling out in disbelief, as money fell to the ground within Figueroa st. Plaza outside of the D.A.'s upper offices. The dispenser of the money; senior citizen, Mr Eddie Dane, an older black man with a problem.

  "I DON'T WANT - THIS MONA-A-AY!!! I DON'T WANT - THIS MONA-A-A-AY!!!" He shouted at the top of his lungs from up top the center entry way of the plaza between the two tall buildings the area he stood on connected. Sweating, over heated, hurting, angry and frustrated, the man tossed down money with one hand, while holding up a large blown up picture of his daughter attached to a protest sign board in the other. "I DON'T WANT - THIS MONA-A-AY!!! SOMEBODY - KILL MY DAUGHTER!!! AIN'T NO SUICIDE!! AIN'T NO SUICIDE!!! MY DAUGHTER, AIN'T COMMIT - NO SUICIDE! FIN' OUT - WHO KILL - MY DAUGHTER!!!" He shouted out over and over, tossing hand full after hand full on the gathering crowd of people clamoring to grab as much as they could before he ran out, or officials stepped in. "AIN'T GONE TRY - TELL ME - SHE KILL HERSELF!!! SHE AIN'T KILL - HERSELF! D.A. WON'T INVESTIGATE! POLICE - AIN'T DOIN' NOTHIN'! NOTHIN'!!! SHE AIN'T COMMIT NO SUICIDE!! SOMEBODY - KILL - MY - DAUGHTER! I WANNA KNOW - WHO - WHO KILL MY DAUGHTER!!!"

  Someone must have phoned the news, because news vans rushed into the area, reporters jumping out, followed by the police!

  Jeremiah sat in his office, working at his desk, distracted by the very things that most devoured his attention, researching whatever he could find on Oscar T. Wherrington on the Internet. The police, or rather detectives were moving a bit too slow for his liking. Excuses of having other investigations to deal with as well, interfering with their digging to finding out what was needed surrounding the shooting of Deidre. They were doing the lip service thing, asking all the appropriate questions, but where were the results? It was like they were just going through the motions to keep him satisfied. Who, he wondered was really pressing them, demanding answers? He got a feeling, no one. This was the reason for his own little research so that when he found something, he could take that something in and ask them, did they know? And if they didn't, why not? While he didn't want to think about it, being a black man, he had no choice, he knew first hand, what strings were pulled to, "cover up" - he knew first hand, the people who had special connections, belonging to exclusive clubs, or organizations that worked together to maintain, "cover ups".

  And no one, had more to cover up, than, older, wealthy white men. They were, cover up masters! He knew first hand, every day of thei
r lives, were spent in a masquerade. Belonging to secret societies where the mask was mandatory and the silence be kept. All complied, because most all - had something to hide. And everyone knew it.

  No less would be the case for the Wherringtons, or - Oscar T.

  As he sat searching, reading, his TV was on in the corner - always on the news. It was all he ever watched, the news. If it was going on, whatever it was - he knew. Be the reporting of it on the TV or in the newspaper, he was up on it. Something his mother had planted and cultivated in him long before she died, committed, "suicide" - so they said. So it had been discovered. As the thought went through his mind, he wondered was he going crazy, hearing the word, "suicide" shouted as if his own thinking had been amplified. It took a moment to break into his thoughts and concentration, but finally the source of the word, became startling clear as he turned from his monitor to view a news flash - a red, breaking news ticker, ran across the screen with a reporter standing before a public scene taking place as she reported it.

  Jeremiah lifted his remote, upping the volume so as to get the full details. KLAC News6 was on with a studio reporter who introduced Tanya Hyde with her story, asking, "What's going on?"

  The field reporter stood in pause a moment waiting for the question transmission, and then responding, turned, "Well as you can see, people were shocked to discover money being literally thrown into the streets. And up above, standing on the roof of the entry way to Figueroa Plaza, a lone man, holding up what others have stated from his shouting, what seems to be a picture of a young woman, his daughter. While you may not be able to hear him, what he's yelling, is that he doesn't want the money he's tossing out, but instead wants the police or the D.A. to investigate her death. He's saying, she hasn't committed suicide. That's all we have on it at this moment, we'll keep you informed as the circumstances surrounding this - event - unfolds. I'm Tanya Hyde at KLAC News6!"

  Jeremiah clicked to another news channel to hear more about it. By the time he'd heard similar reports from other channels, watching to see that the police were there to deal with the man, he stood grabbing his suit jacket heading for the door. He wanted to meet, Mr Eddie Dane - something told him, he was going to need a lawyer and more than that, he couldn't shake the goose bumps that raced up his arms when one of the camera men zoomed in on the poster board picture of his daughter - crazy as it may seem. She reminded him, of his mother, Bea Rose. Walking from his office, he alerted his secretary that he'd be back in the office later. On his way to the elevator, his mobile rang, his Perry Mason theme song going off. Answering it, he smiled to hear Deidre on the other end, "Have you been watching the news?"

  "I'm on my way there now in fact!"

  She laughed shaking her head, "I knew that, it was just a valid excuse to call you, hear your voice this morning."

  "You were sleeping when I left, did you not feel my kisses and my soft spoken goodbye when I left you?"

  "Emmm, I thought I might have been dreaming."

  "Oh no, no dream. Gonna meet me for lunch?" He asked.

  "Well actually, I don't know - we're out trying to find my perfect location for my Homeopathy clinic and Health food store, it all depends-..."

  "Hey! We're having lunch! Make reservations, tell me where, I'll meet you there. If, that is, if - we're going somewhere, well - maybe serious here - we don't want to start off, putting things that should be second to us, first, now do we?"

  Deidre smiled into the phone, "No, we don't. Lunch it is, I'll call you with where."

  "That's my lady, talk to you later."

  "Talk to you later." She blushed, smiling so her cheeks ached, clicking her mobile off.

  "Emmm umph! You gave up that booty last night, didn't you?" Charlie started, looking at the expression on her face.

  "Charlie!" Deidre called out, but blushed even deeper, grinning like a fool.

  "Oh hell, yes you did, look at you! Dee-Dee done O'd on the chocolate! Look at you, it's over now! You know what they say, once you go black-..."

  "You never go back! And I ain't girlfriend!" Deidre finished for her, snapping her fingers above her head, for the exclamation.

  Charlie kicked off laughing until tears came to her eyes. "Oh hell no! I ain't gone be able to do nothing with you now! You just losing all your mannerly ways and etiquette! You better straighten yo'end up, stop cheesing like that! Shit! I ain't had me none in I don't know when, and you gettin' some! Oh no my darlin' Dee-Dee - my night off and I still couldn't get no action."

  Samuel looked up in his rear view mirror, just in time to make eye contact with her, which meant, she'd been looking at him for reaction, catching that, made him smile.

  "Keep your eyes on the road pork-pie! Don't know what you smiling about!"

  To Charlie's shock, Deidre leaned back and towards her asking, "When are you going to stop this playing hardball with him, and give him a chance?" Deidre nodded towards Samuel.

  "Never ever! Ain't you something, you done got your goody sack filled and now you want me to have a piece too."

  Grinning Deidre was quick to clarify, "Not a piece of mine! Get your own!"

  "Ain't you something-...."

  {{ CRASH }}}

  The impact to the car was so sudden both women were jarred before Charlie grabbed Deidre slinging her to the floor of the limo screaming, "GET HER OUT OF HERE!!!"

  Samuel was already backing the vehicle up, striking the front end of other cars in the way as he went, turning the limo about with it's dented front end. It was too heavily made to cause any serious damage to it with it's extra tempered steel under frame. The tires burned as he cut off a corner getting it around and off to the nearest direction, speeding off rapidly where the traffic was clear enough for flight. Charlie had her guns out at ready watching as he sped away with them, heart pumping.

  "You all right?! She all right!?" He asked driving with his own gun drawn.

  Charlie glanced down at Deidre, "You okay?"

  She nodded, clear fright washing over her. "Anybody following us?" She asked, warily.

  "I don't see anyone." Samuel answered, continuing to turn down one road after another keeping clear of any heavy traffic so as not to get hemmed in again. "I think maybe, just maybe, it was a legit accident. Someone rushed the light. Poor bastard, his car was wrecked!" He noted in the heat of the moment, his eyes had been everywhere at once looking for the threat to them.

  "Can I get up now?" Deidre asked.

  Charlie was nervous about it, she still wasn't so sure it had been a fluke, an accident. "What do you think?" She asked Samuel, "Think it was, just an accident."

  "They do happen, even to the Wherrington's." He returned.

  Charlie looked down at Deidre, "Come on back up Dee-Dee."

  Deidre rose and moved back into her place where she had been, looking at Charlie. Sadness washed over her as it suddenly occurred to her, "I'll never be free - will I? Not ever."

  Charlie sat staring at her, and for the first time, looking at Deidre, she felt sorry for someone in her position, which was ironic, because everyone poor, thought, they wanted to be like her, with more money than they knew what to do with, and what they didn't realize was, it all came at a price; sometimes - a very high price. She pat her hand stating honestly, "No, you never will be."

  "What if I gave it up, all of it?" Deidre asked.

  "Too late, the greedy, seedy nasty vermin know who you are, what you're worth. Even if you walk away, they'll still go for you thinking that someone will pay for you, because of your name. This is it - you're in this, no matter what, with one consolation."

  "What is that?"

  "Me... I got your back, I got your back." She declared firmly.

  Deidre nodded, smiled and felt that much better knowing that. "Know what Charlie?" She murmured softly.

  "What Dee-Dee?"

  "Almost being killed that night, brought you to me, and that - makes it worth it."

  "Quit that sentimental shit Dee-Dee, I'on like that shit! You know I'on
like that shit!"

  Deidre grinned, "Aaaah Charlene - you love me, don't you?"

  "Leave me alone now! I ain't playin' Dee-Dee - leave me alone!"

  By the time Jeremiah showed up on the scene, the old man, Mr Eddie Dane, had been arrested for creating a public disturbance, disturbing the peace, causing a risk to public safety, and using an official public place for protesting without a license. He went to the police station where he was being held for bonds, showing up there, he asked to see him.

  "Who are you to him?" The officer at the desk asked.

  "I'm his attorney!" He answered straight away. "I wish to see my client."

  Jeremiah looked up from his PDA sitting at the table in the interview room as an officer walked in with his suspicious, "client", he stood right away, smiling at the older man. Holding his hand out, he greeted him, "Mr. Dane, hi, I'm your attorney, Jeremiah Franklin."

  Eddie Dane entered the room, wary, careful, un-trusting.

  The officer closed the door leaving the two men to speak in private.

  "I ain't hired no lawyer, who send you here?" He asked, ignoring Jeremiah's hand. Tired of holding it out to him, he let it drop. "I'm here to offer you my services Mr. Dane. I saw you on the news-..."

  "Seen that money and come runnin' I bet, I ain't got no money, that money all gone now, I toss it out. I'm broke."

  "That's not why I'm here Mr. Dane, if you would please, have a seat."

  Eying him with untrustworthy eyes, Eddie Dane made his way to the chair at the table and took it.

  "Okay, now - as I said, I would like to offer you my services."

  "Why?"

  "Well it's obvious, you need an attorney."