Adriana sat at her kitchen table tapping her foot as the hold music of the day, Gene Pitney’s ‘Town without Pity’, poured through the speakers of the phone.
How can we keep love alive, how can anything survive...
When these little minds tear you in two…What a town without pity can do…
“What a townnn without pityyy can dooo,” Adriana found herself humming on the verge of nodding off.
“Hello!”
Adriana jumped up, unaware that the operator was back on the line.
Did she hear my horrible singing?
“Uh yes, Detective Murphy please.”
There was a slight pause and then a click followed by two long rings.
“Homicide!”
“Detective Murphy?”
“Who the hell is this?”
Adriana, true to her timid form, took a moment to gather her words at his abrasive greeting.
“Uhm…sir, it’s Adriana. Adriana Lin. We spoke a few times. Last time, a few months ago. I just wanted to see if you found anything…with that tape I gave you?”
She could hear the detective’s aggravation in his silence.
“What tape?”
“Oh, uhm…the tape from the tape recorder, of the girl…Penelope Daniels, who was shot. Remember, I’m a nurse at the hospital, I found it. The tape has her and the woman…the woman who shot her… talking.”
There was a brief pause as if he was recollecting, followed by a sound of recognition.
“Ah, yes,” Murphy bellowed. “Nope. Nothing, kid.”
Adriana wrinkled her brow.
“I don’t understand? The tape has her killer on it. She even said her name. It was J-”
“What was the name on the tape again?” The detective questioned peculiarly. For some reason Adriana’s antennas went up. Call it woman’s intuition or her good old gut, but she lied.
“I-I don’t really remember. But it’s on the tape.”
There was another long silence and Adriana listened closely. It sounded as if the detective had closed the door because the previous miniscule noise had completely vanished.
“And you said that was the only copy of the tape you had, correct?”
Adriana swallowed hard and began to fiddle with the objects on her table, one of which was the duplicate copy of the tape she had made.
“Yeah…yes. That was the only one.”
Another pause.
“Well, yeah kid. Like I said, no luck. You can try back in a couple of months. Or better yet, let the girl rest in peace…you didn’t know her anyway.”
Before Adriana could get another word in, the call was disconnected.
Detective Murphy wasted no time dialing the numbers that he knew all too well. He leaned back and put his hand into the tight waistband of his pants as his oversized belly spilled over.
“It’s not the first so what do you want?” She greeted rudely.
“Aw, don’t be like that, Big J. Can’t an old pal just call his chum buddy?”
“What do you want, Murphy?” Jayde inquired restless. She had just wrapped up the meeting with her father and Ree and was tired and hungry.
“Look, just wanted to let you know. That little girl from the hospital is calling about that tape again. She wants to know if we made progress.”
Jayde was annoyed, but not worried. She knew with Murphy on her side, Atlanta’s Police Department better known as APD, was on her side as well. She still couldn’t believe Neli was witty enough to bring a tape recorder to their meeting.
“What’s with this bitch? She out for law abiding citizen of the year award or something?” Jayde spat, thinking about putting this young girl to rest depending on how annoying she continued to be.
Murphy shrugged before responding through heavy breathing.
“Who knows? I think she’s harmless. But I do remember telling you for every phone call that I deter pertaining to your dirt, will be another ten grand. I want it in big bills please. Oh, and throw in some of those Omaha steaks.”
“You’re a fat ass glutton fuck Murphy and I hope your arteries clog up with lard and you die a slow death... You’ll have it by 8 am.”
With no more words to speak, Jayde disconnected the call.
“Everything cool?” Ree questioned, sliding into the car and catching the tail end of her conversation. Jayde was glad that he was making conversation with her.
“Of course, just more pigs wanting more money. But you know I got you covered.”
Jayde smiled and Ree nodded. She had killed two birds with one stone. Covered the true meaning of the call and convinced Ree that the payoff pertained to the work she was doing to clear his fugitive status. Slowly but surely she would win the one thing that mattered to him the most…Respect.
“It’s just food Ms. Lady, not marriage….not yet.”
– Respect, Thicker than Water
-4-
The Next Day
Tatum stood in front of the large oval mirror with her hands on her head in despair.
What was I thinking!
“This is not the measurements that were given to me by my assistant. I’m so sorry Ms. Mosley. She will be fired for a mistake like this.”
“No, no Ms. Lhuillier, it’s not…it’s not her fault. It’s mine.”
Tatum studied the beautiful gown in the mirror, its pearl color contrasting gorgeously with her mocha-esque shade. Monique Lhuillier was a hot new designer hailing from Switzerland who had created some of the most unique and modern wedding dresses, one of which was Reese Witherspoon’s signature blush beauty. Tatum’s dress was gorgeous enough to rival that. The only problem was the busted seams around her midsection.
“What do you mean?” Monique questioned.
“I should’ve known. I should’ve known to give a few inches just in case,” Tatum confessed, letting out a breath of air.
Monique Lhuillier remained silent as she pulled at the threads on Tatum’s gown, but she was secretly wondering what type of binge eating Tatum was doing.
“The wedding has you nervous I see. Are you a comfort eater?”
Sasha busted out laughing at the notion and Tatum had to giggle herself through her despair.
“Actually Ms. Lhuillier she’s a comfort sexer. The wedding has her so nervous she just up and got pregnant in the middle of it.”
Tatum shot Sasha a middle finger knowing that she was tipsy from the complimentary champagne, and Monique looked from Sasha to Tatum for a clue that she was joking. When she realized she was not, she smiled wide.
“Congratulations. This is wonderful! Don’t worry, the dress will be fine, you haven’t gained much.”
Monique’s vibe was so relaxed, so comforting, it reminded Tatum of her mother for some reason. She wished desperately that her mother could be there for moments like this and her father could walk her down the aisle. Both of Tatum’s parents had died years ago in a car accident.
She thought of her brother and couldn’t help but conclude how he would have never been one of Ree’s groomsmen. Him probably showing up at all would have been a heated debate between her and Ree in itself.
It didn’t matter now… he was gone, too. Dead.
“Thank you, Ms. Lhuillier. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience.”
Monique smiled and her olive skin tone glowed with warmth. She was a thin woman with hair that graced her shoulders. She was dressed in a stylish kimono and sipped herbal tea while she provided Tatum and Sasha with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.
“No inconvenience. This is why we do a fitting. To make sure it…fits.” She yanked a thread on her final word with emphasis.
“How far along are you?”
“Um, about eleven weeks,” Tatum confessed nervously on the verge of tears.
Her voice was so shaky.
“What is wrong my love? These are happy times. Marriage, baby… rejoice.”
Tatum didn’t want to reveal her fear of bringing a child into the word with a man
who was about to implement one of the largest criminal structures ever. Not to mention the fact that she had just discovered that he had fathered another woman’s child. Rejoice? Please. If she was rejoicing she wouldn’t be hiding her tiny bump through flowy clothing. She wasn’t really showing, but she knew Ree would catch on soon. She was sure he probably already figured out that she had gained a few pounds.
“Yeah.”
Just then, Monique’s assistant tapped on the door with a wide smile.
“Excuse me ladies, I’d hate to interrupt. But there is an extremely handsome and well-mannered gentleman here and I believe he is the groom to be.”
Tatum’s face lit up without her breaking an expression and Monique smiled naturally. She could see the love written all over Tatum. She recognized love like that.
Tatum started to the door but stopped short when all three ladies shrieked, “No! No! God no! He can’t see the dress!”
Tatum remembered and quickly changed into the fluffy robe Monique provided for her.
Making her way down the marble staircase of the private store, she laid eyes on Ree, who stood at the door on his cell phone. Once he saw her, he deaded the call.
“What are you doing here?” She beamed walking to him. He looked so good in his crisp black shirt and jeans. His facial hair was sharp, his wrist on glare, he was even more handsome than he was when she left him yesterday. “I thought you weren’t coming until Thursday?”
“It’s not Thursday?” He questioned seriously, wrapping his arms around her waist. Tatum giggled.
“Nooo, it’s Tuesday.”
He leaned down and put his lips to her ear, speaking in an alluring whisper.
“Oh, well then I guess I just couldn’t make it ‘til then, Ms. Mosley.”
Tatum blushed as he nestled his face in between her chin and shoulder, tickling her neck with his fuzz. “I got something to tell you,” he added.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” he assured.
“Well I got something to tell you too,” she said, resting her hand below his waist. Pregnancy made Tatum horny as hell.
“Hey, cut that out bad girl,” he ordered sexily. “For real. Let’s have a seat.”
Tatum let him lead her to the peach 1920’s style couch once she saw that he was serious. She sat beside him, looking into his eyes and a million thoughts went through her head in about ten seconds.
He’s not ready. How could a man like him be ready for marriage? He wants to wait? No, he doesn’t want to do it at all.
He’s gonna work it out with Trinity? He saw her and the baby and had second thoughts.
No, I know what it is. He’s not leaving the game, this is no one shot deal. He’s in it for good.
Ree interlocked her fingers with his and stared in her eyes unflinchingly. His expression was neutral and Tatum’s breathing sped up.
“Tatum, first let me say that I know this hasn’t been easy on you. With me putting a foot back into the streets, I know you’re worried. I know I told you I was done before this and you’re probably thinking why you should believe me now, but trust me… this is the last time. I just had to tell you that again.”
Tatum nodded because that was one argument she had beat to death, she didn’t even want to touch it again. He continued.
“Then… with this whole Trinity situation.” Tatum inhaled. “I know I’m asking a lot by expecting you to be okay with all of this. Sit back and watch me raise a child with a woman that’s not you. I appreciate you trying to be understanding through this and I know it’s not easy to deal with. That’s why… I’m glad you won’t have to.”
Tatum wasn’t sure if she had heard him right and the wrinkle in her brow showed that.
“What? Ree, what are you talking about?”
Ree sighed and then he used his thumbs to massage her hands that he was still holding.
“S.J. is not my son, Tatum. He’s not mine.”
Tatum wanted to believe him, but getting her hopes up would be cruel. She had heard the results herself.
“But…the hearing…”
“It was…it was set up. It was a lie,” he summed it up the best he could. “I just had to let you know.”
“She lied?” Tatum questioned, anger now consuming her. How dare that crazy bitch put them through this?
“What, was she working with the judge?” She continued her questioning.
Ree shrugged.
“I don’t know. I doubt it. Maybe someone in the lab, maybe a clerk. Who knows? It doesn’t matter.”
Tatum jumped up, her body trembling in rage.
“Oh yes the hell it does! Wait ‘til I see that bitch! Oh my god, Ree. How could she do this? I’m gonna fuck her up.”
Ree ran his hand over his mouth and maintained an even expression.
“No… no you’re not.”
“Yes the hell I am!” She insisted. Ree had another thing coming.
“Tatum, you can’t do that.”
She thought about the baby that she was carrying and took a deep breath, reconsidering.
“Fine,” she agreed as she held her hand out to him. “Give me your phone then. I’m gonna call that bitch. I’m about to go HAM on her ass!”
Ree stood slowly but did not hand her his phone.
“Tatum, you can’t call her.”
“Why not, Ree? What, you still care about this bitch? After what she did? You feel sorry for her or something?”
Ree chuckled and shook his head.
“No.”
“Then what? Boy, you better give me the phone! I want to know why she would do this! I want to call her, Ree.”
Ree grabbed her by the shoulders gently and looked her in the eyes.
“Tatum. You can’t…call her.” He ran his hand through her hair and shrugged. “You just…can’t.”
The way he said it brought a new awareness to Tatum that she hadn’t considered and a chill went through her body. And the reason she didn’t consider it was beyond her. She was dead. Trinity was dead.
Tatum briefly thought about the way Ree handled disloyalty and deceit. Would he kill her if she was disloyal? Could he kill her? The thought shook her to the bone.
In all actuality, she understood. Trinity had done something so foul. But was it that easy for Ree to just kill a woman whom he had once had a relationship with? The reality hit Tatum like a blow and she had to sit.
“You alright?” He asked with concern.
“…Yeah.”
“You sure?”
“Uh…yeah. Look, Ree…there’s something I need to-”
The buzzing of Ree’s cell in his hand interrupted her statement. Ree held his finger up to her and brought the phone to his ear.
“Hold up, baby…Yo,” he then addressed the caller. “Yeah, I’m here. I need to see you.”
Tatum could hear a deep voice coming through the phone and she was almost positive that it was Chauncey.
“Alright, that’s good news, that’s very good news. I’m on my way.” He disconnected the call and focused back on Tatum.
“So what were you saying?” He brushed his fingers across Tatum’s chin and she smiled up at him.
“Nothing… it’s not important. It-it can wait.”
Ree narrowed his eyes at her but didn’t speak on it.
When the time is right, Tatum figured. They said their goodbyes and parted ways, and Tatum finished her fitting, trying her best not to think about anything else.
TTW 3 ( Thicker Than Water 3 ) Page 8