by S I Taylor
“I’ll be there with you,” Lori said, shedding tears along with Barbara.
Barbara nodded, unable to say anything, but looked at her friend lovingly in admiration and gratitude.
Barbara’s mother was in the hospital for several months before she was allowed to come home. She was fragile and in constant pain. Barbara had to quit nursing school and devote her time to caring for her mother. She became the breadwinner of the house, paying their mortgage and her mother’s extensive medical bills that the insurance company was barely covering. Barbara provided for her mother just as her mother had provided for her.
She saw her mother wither away from a monster without a cure. Her mother was a fighter but the monster took her away from Barbara a year and a half later.
Although Lori was there by her side, that’s when Barbara slowly started pushing her away. She didn’t want her best friend knowing what she had to do to get money, because the waitressing job she had was not providing her with money fast enough.
She heard rumors of a guy who dealt from his auto body garage, of odd jobs that would get her money quickly.
She paid him a visit and he introduced himself as Iggy Buren. She’d been working as a thief for him ever since. She’d made a name for herself on the streets.
Now it was Barbara’s turn to console her best friend. She held on to Lori’s hand as they approached their destination.
To a beloved son and cousin, Nixon Wright, his tombstone read, engraved in a cursive script.
Barbara was done shedding tears for him. She was there because of the many years they’d been friends, for the years they’d worked together, and for the respect and love she had for Lori.
“I don’t know what my cousin was into and I don’t care to know, but I am sorry for what he put you through,” Lori said. “I loved him and I love you. I always hoped that you both would be together one day, but I guess his obsession with you was unhealthy and instead of being love it grew into something scary and manipulative. That was eating at him every day. I pray that wherever he is, he’s in a peaceful place.”
Barbara nodded. Although she’d said she was done shedding tears, her eyes watered and the swift gush of wind assisted them to flow down her cheeks. “I’m not going to tell you that I hated him. In fact, a piece of me loved him. I just never thought I was worthy of him. I didn’t realize that with my rejections I was pushing him away into this abyss of craziness.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Barbie doll. We didn’t know his true intentions, but I know that he did care for you in his unhealthy way. I don’t want you to think of him as a victim. Although he was my cousin, he did a bad thing. I will always treasure the memory of the person I grew up with and who helped me along the way. I love him, Barbie doll,” Lori said as tears flowed from her eyes.
Barbara hugged her and looked at her as they both wiped tears from their eyes.
“He was my only family besides Reagan. I’m going to miss him. I told Reagan that he died, and she didn’t take it too well. I started taking her to therapy so she could understand the meaning of death, but she’s strong and I know she’ll recover. Just like you.”
She hugged Barbara tight once more.
“Oh, Barbie doll. Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving him a proper burial and for not hating him completely.”
“It’s the least I could do. I did have feelings for him. He was a good friend of mine. I thought we were so different, but at the end we were more alike than I realized.”
“How’s your new home away from Huntersville?” Lori asked, changing the conversation.
“The city life is crowded, but I like it. The skyscrapers and the change of scenery are what I needed. The Sunshine State is exactly where I needed to be.”
“I’m glad for you.”
“You should come visit. Reagan would like the change of scenery.”
“You’re right. How’s your relationship with your dad?”
“It’s good getting stronger. After we moved from Huntersville his health has been better and his spirit has lifted.”
“I’m sure it’s the mere fact that you have him closer and the bonding between the two of you is growing.”
“Yeah, it never left, it was just dormant.”
“I absolutely agree.” Lori nodded.
“I’m going back to school too.”
“That’s such great news Barbie doll. I knew it was your goal to eventually finish. You were such a good study partner.” She hugged Barbara.
“I’ve been working, attending classes, and studying. It’s overwhelming but I’m keeping busy and feeling better about myself and I feel loved by the people around me. It’s nice to have positive encouragement.”
“I know the feeling. I’m glad you’re doing good for yourself.” She placed her head on Barbara’s shoulder as they walked.
“I’m glad that I have you with me to share.” Barbara smiled.
“I feel like all the weight I had has lifted. All the debts I had have been paid and it feels good not to be counting on the last dollar to pay rent or to get food.”
Lori stopped to look at Barbara. “I’m sorry you had to go through that and I was oblivious to your turmoil.”
“You didn’t know, Lori.”
“I know but a good friend would have known or at least seen the signs.” Lori looked down for a brief moment and then back to meet Barbara’s gaze.
“True, but I was avoiding you because I knew you would’ve sensed something. Besides, it’s all behind me and I overcame those obstacles.”
She nodded. “What are you going to do with your childhood house that Nixon left you in his will?”
“I talked to Dad about it and we both agreed that we don’t want it. I’m going to hire a contractor to fix the house and a Realtor to sell it and donate the money to the Battered Women Society.”
“That sounds like a noble thing to do.”
“You know, you should come too.”
“To where?”
“To Miami. The change of scenery would do both you and Reagan some good.”
“I don’t know, I mean that would be a big change for Reagan and right now she needs stability. We moved out of Nixon’s house, then he died, and to move to another state… I’d have to think about it and talk to her about it as well.”
“I’m not asking for a sudden answer now but…”
Barbara’s phone buzzed with a text message interrupting her mid-sentence. She knew who it was from and when it buzzed it meant business. She looked at it.
“I got to go, Lori. But it was nice catching up with you,” Barbara said.
“I agree. But aren’t you on vacation?”
“Yes, but my boss has an emergency that can’t wait.”
“Are we still getting together tonight?”
“I may have to cancel if I don’t resolve this issue by tonight.”
“All right, Barbie doll. But Reagan will miss you if you don’t make it,” she pleaded.
“I’ll try, Lori.”
They gave each other one last hug and Lori stayed by Nixon’s grave as Barbara left.
Chapter 51
Barbara reached her car and raced to the house address that had been texted to her.
Tony and Gianni met her at the entrance. They handed her two guns, one of which she holstered at her side and the other she held tightly in her left hand. Tony knocked on the door and a small thin man opened the door slightly. Toni barged through the door and they all entered, slamming the small man into the wall, crushing him between the wall and the door.
Barbara, Tony, and Gianni searched throughout the house, looking for her target. This was his vacation home and his family were out of the house, which was a great opportunity for her to deliver the message as instructed by Trivaldi.
She was in the home of Congressman Harold Westin. She located him squirming underneath the desk of his home office.
Gianni yanked him out of the desk, draggin
g him like a rag doll across the red carpeted floor, and threw him at her feet.
A loud grunt along with blood gushed and splattered out of his mouth as Barbara collided the back of her gun across his jaw.
“I have a message for you,” she said.
“Who are you and why are you here?” he mumbled, terrified.
“My name is not important, but you fucked up. Trivaldi wants his share and you screwed up the shipment.”
He was scared at the mention of Trivaldi’s name. He looked at her as he trembled on the floor. “I promise, I will fix it. I just need a few days.”
“Bullshit.” She kicked him and he screamed with every kick. “You have until tonight. If you don’t complete your end of the deal”—she snapped her fingers and Gianni handed her a monitor—“then these people”—she shoved a live stream of his family walking and shopping around the strip mall in front of him—“will be the ones to suffer.”
He recognized the people on the screen. They were his family. His wife, his two young sons, and his eldest daughter.
“Please don’t. Okay, okay, I’ll do it. I’ll fix it tonight. But please don’t do anything to them,” he said as he wiped blood from his face.
She grinned. “Good. That should’ve been the response from the day you made a deal with the demon,” she said. “Tonight is your deadline.”
Congressman Westin sat on the floor as blood dripped from his face and watched all three of them walk out of his home.
Barbara had a new role now. She was no longer a thief but a businesswoman who settled Trivaldi’s dirty business. She hated him and would devise a way to get away from his grasp. Soon.
But first she had to get ready for tonight. She had another plan on her agenda and she needed to look the part. She was slowly getting control of her personal life and she liked it.
Chapter 52
McKinley sat in his office at the FCCA Miami headquarters. He stared at his computer and remembered how he’d added the last sentence to the warehouse case back in his San Diego office. That case had taught him a lot about patience, friendship, and loyalty. It had taught him about himself as well. Although he’d known that Claire was not for him, he’d finally realized why he was bored with her. She lacked the fire he saw with Barbara. He smiled when he thought about her. He wondered what she was doing right now. He wanted to call her, but he knew it was not the time.
His office phone rang, bringing him back to the present. He answered on the third ring.
“Agent McKinley speaking.”
“Hey, dude,” Bush said.
“What’s up, man?” McKinley sat back in his soft leather chair in his office.
“How’s the new life in Miami?”
“It’s great, actually. I miss the clean fresh air of San Diego and the mountain hikes, but this is a good change.” The phone cord looped around McKinley’s chest as he swiveled in his seat to look out the floor to ceiling window.
“Good. Glad you like it,” Bush said.
“You know, you could still transfer here. Coolidge and I miss you.”
“Nah, man, the wife is rooted in San Diego and you know my fear of flying. So definitely no. That’s a hard pass for me,” Bush said.
“At least we can still use your expertise if we need it.” McKinley smiled.
“Yeah, whatever. You guys have Six there. He will replace me in no time.”
“Nonsense. No one can replace your quirkiness. No one could get under Coolidge’s skin the way you do.”
Laughter exploded. “You’re mistaken, it was her who got under my skin,” Bush corrected.
McKinley swiveled back around as a knock at the door interrupted his laughter.
“Speak of the devil. Here she is strolling into my office. I’m going to place you on speaker. Say hi to your favorite person, Bush,” McKinley teased.
“Hey, Coolidge. McKinley told me how much you missed me.”
“Ha, believe that if you want to. You know I miss no one. You’re missing the good life here though,” Coolidge said with a smirk.
“Nope, I’m good right here on the ground in San Diego,” Bush said.
“Be that as it may. You’ll regret not coming here,” Coolidge said as she comfortably sat in the green-checkered guest seat in front of McKinley’s desk.
“Just send me postcards. That’ll suffice,” Bush said.
“Anyway. Who are you teamed up with over there, Bush?” McKinley asked.
“Martin Gonzalez, the tall guy, and Kathrine Fillmore, the redhead from the Trivaldi case,” Bush responded.
“Oh, so they got you on the Trivaldi case now?” McKinley asked, surprised.
“Yeah, they need help. You know our chief; he always wants results and right now they are not reporting what he wants. So he brought in the best to help them,” Bush added.
“You mean since they couldn’t have me, they settled for you,” Coolidge said with a smirk.
“You wish. Those were Chief’s words—he brought in the best. So if you don’t believe me you can take it up with him.”
Coolidge had tried to get to him, but Bush held his ground this time.
“Well, guys, I, unlike yourselves, have a lot of work to do. This case is not going to get solved talking about it,” Bush said.
“Oh, so are you going to actually do the legwork this time? Because I should remind you, Trivaldi has assets in Huntersville, in New York, and in Florida, so I see a lot of traveling for you,” Coolidge said triumphantly.
“Damn it, Coolidge. You just can’t let me get the last victory,” Bush said, annoyed.
“What kind of friend would I be if I did?” she said, smiling.
“Whatever,” Bush said.
“Later,” McKinley and Coolidge said.
“Watch your six, guys,” Bush replied and ended the call.
“You were wrong for that,” McKinley said.
“What? He forgot. I was just giving him a friendly reminder.” Coolidge smiled.
“Yeah, I’m sure that was a simple ‘friendly reminder’ and had nothing to do with annoying him.”
“Me, annoy? Nah.” She laughed. “But I am going to miss him.”
“Yeah, I’ll miss him too.”
“But don’t you dare tell him that, otherwise I won’t hear the end of it,” she cautioned McKinley with a deathly stare.
“I won’t, don’t worry.” He laughed.
“Anyway, I just came in here to tell you that I’m going to lunch if you wanted to accompany me,” she said, as she casually changed the subject.
“Nah, I have something that I have to do today. I’m taking off early.”
“Oh, a date?”
“Nothing like that. I hired a detective to find my sister.”
“Good luck. I’m glad you hired a professional instead of trying to do it yourself.”
“Yeah, I figured with the amount of work that we’re going to get I’m going to need someone who will dedicate their time locating her, or at least point me to her whereabouts.”
“That’s a good idea. A private detective can surely give you some sort of clue or…” She trailed off her last word.
“Or what?” he asked warily.
“Or closure,” she said.
He looked down at his desk, running his fingers through a few piles of paper at the mention that Monroe could possibly be dead. A possibility that he didn’t want to face.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s fine. That’s something that I’ve avoided thinking about, but whatever the outcome I want to know. I need answers.”
She smiled weakly at him. “I guess we can catch up some other time.”
“Sure thing. I’ll update you if anything major occurs. In the meantime, this is just a preliminary meeting.”
Coolidge walked over to McKinley, who stood near his desk. She placed a firm grip on his shoulder. “She’s out there somewhere. You’ll find her.”
“Thank you for your encouragement.”
> “I’m being honest and sincere,” she said, looking at him.
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me and I can count on one hand the few times it’s happened.”
Coolidge shoved him playfully. “See, that’s why I don’t say nice shit to you guys.”
McKinley busted into laughter while rubbing his shoulder. “Sometimes I’ve got to tease back. But all jokes aside, thank you. It means a lot coming from my partner and friend.”
“No need to mention it. If you need anything let me know.”
“I will.”
“By the way, who did you hire?”
“North American Private Investigators. They came highly recommended by the research I did and the people I asked around here.”
“I heard of them. They can find a needle in a haystack,” Coolidge said.
“So I’ve heard. Well, that’s who I’m meeting with.” His phone buzzed with an update as he looked at it. “That’s my reminder. My meeting starts in an hour. Which gives me just enough time to grab a sandwich and head over to Coral Gables.”
“Good luck again.”
“Thanks.”
“How’s Rocco adopting to the new life in Miami?” McKinley asked.
“He’s actually loving it. I’m sure he’ll miss the mountain hikes but we can still go hiking. I found several places that has hiking trails for us to venture off into.”
She walked toward the window, looking outside.
“I miss the mountain view though. I miss my parents too. It’s not that I want to go back. I like it here. I like the promotion but… I thought that the thrill of the job would fill a void in my life but I guess...” She sighed as if giving herself a break before she continued speaking. “Sometimes I think that I’m missing something and then it’s like at times I feel as if I’m settling. I… I… just don’t know.”
McKinley walked toward Coolidge and stood next to her, both staring out the window at nothing in particular, but their sights were distant as they spoke.
“Michelle, as a friend I can tell you that family is always important in your life. I never had a stable home until I had Claire and I thought that what we had was normal, since I didn’t know what a healthy relationship was supposed to be like. My parents were not the ideal model to look up to, so I made the assumption through trial and error. I realized that I was looking for someone to fill an empty spot in my life and at the end it was hurting Claire and I.”