It had been a sacrifice. Melissa thought about the time she spent working as a secretary for the district attorney’s office. She was taking college courses and was going to pursue her law degree when the accident happened. Her whole world changed, and one look into her niece and nephews’ eyes and she knew she was their only hope. She grew up practically on the streets, and she and her sister got out together and succeeded. It fucking sucked that her sister and husband died. There wasn’t enough money for their house, for their bills, or for the funeral. Then Aunt Peggy got sick and was diagnosed with cancer on top of it all. Melissa felt the tears sting her eyes. Things were better now. She was forced to make some unethical choices, but so far she was in the clear, and at least she didn’t have to whore out her body for money. She had contemplated doing that and came close, but something stopped her.
Turning the water off, she stepped out of the shower, towel dried her hair, and then wrapped a towel around her waist.
Glancing in the mirror, she swallowed hard.
That was a close one tonight. I nearly lost it all. She walked into the bedroom.
She turned on the television, making sure the volume was low so she wouldn’t wake the kids. Staring at the screen, she saw the reporters talking about the hit on the drug dealers. The media was having a ball with this.
The near-death experience had shined some reality on her nighttime excursions. When the drug dealer shot the semiautomatic gun around the air, causing the bullets to come too close for comfort to her, she was relieved that she wasn’t hit. She got the gun away, held them at gunpoint, and took the eighty grand. A big “thank-you” to Chu for teaching her some amazing moves in self-defense. Too bad she couldn’t call him. He was Bret’s personal bodyguard.
Melissa needed to stop pondering over the what-ifs and be grateful she had the money. It had to be done. Aunt Peggy wouldn’t be released until the bills were partially paid. The longer she stayed there, the higher the bill. The financial secretary appeared shocked when Melissa handed over thirty thousand in cash and to her and asked for a receipt.
People had no heart anymore. They didn’t empathize with the needy at all. It was sad. The drug dealers were killing kids and ruining society while the good, innocent people suffered and lived in shelters, afraid to sleep. Not that she was contemplating becoming some sort of vigilante. She wasn’t committing murder or anything like that. She was just stealing money from thieves who stole money from other thieves and junkies who needed to support their addictions. She wasn’t stealing from the needy, the working class, or anyone just trying to make ends meet. She was improvising, overcoming, and adapting to the environment she lived with the cards she was dealt. If she led a straight and narrow life, she would be working the corner, her niece and nephews would be separated and in foster care, and her aunt would be dead. It was a no-brainer as far as she was concerned. Plus there were other people in this building who needed help and were struggling to survive just like Melissa and her own family. Someone had to do something. The neighbors didn’t ask questions. They just thanked her and thanked her over and over again every time she delivered groceries, baby formula, clothing, or cash for rents.
But tonight had been a close call. Perhaps this would be her last hit on the bad guys.
* * * *
Melissa spoke to Charlie on her cell phone as she waited for the nurse to finish getting her aunt ready to leave. Charlie had become more than a boss over the past year. She considered him a close friend.
“I’m so happy your aunt is getting better. It’s great that she can go back home with you and the kids. Call me if you need anything,” Charlie stated.
“I will, Charlie. Thanks a bunch,” she replied then said goodbye before closing up the phone.
Melissa helped her Aunt Peggy into the wheelchair. She looked amazing, considering she had surgery only a week before. The preliminary tests showed that the doctors had gotten all the cancer. They would run more tests and have her come back for blood work in a week or so.
“Oh, Aunt Peggy, we’re so glad that you’re coming back home,” Lea stated as she hugged her aunt. Melissa thought that Lea, her sister’s twelve-year-old daughter, looked just like Sarah. She had long, thick brown hair and green eyes just like her mother. She was very smart in school, and she loved playing sports. Melissa would ensure that Lea had a chance at success in life. She loved her as if she were her own child. Lea’s brothers Brandon and Tommy gave Aunt Peggy hugs next. They were great kids. Brandon was adorable with big, bright brown eyes and dimples in his cheeks. A typical eight-year-old, he talked nonstop and was always making some sort of noise whether it was gunfire or racecar driving. Even his baby brother Tommy tried to make the noises, too. Melissa took Tommy’s hand and smiled at the scene. They would all be home, there were no more hospital bills to pay, and they could work on getting back into a normal routine again.
They all gathered around Aunt Peggy and made their way down the hallway. As they approached the nurses’ station, they saw shocked expressions and what Melissa could only describe as sadness on their faces.
“What’s going on?” Brandon asked. For an eight-year-old he was very mature. He was handsome like Sarah’s husband and very smart in school.
Some older nurse Melissa recognized placed her hand on his shoulder as she spoke.
“It seems that the fundraiser set up to help financially support the children’s burn unit outreach program has been robbed.”
“What?” Brandon and Lea both asked. They explained to Melissa that the program started a month ago and they raised over ten thousand dollars. It was a program to help children and their families who were victims of burns from fires or chemicals. She remembered them talking about it and how both Lea and Brandon took money from their piggy banks and added it to the donation box.
A few feet away, some children from the burn unit sat crying as nurses and adults tried consoling them. It was very disheartening to witness.
“That’s terrible,” Aunt Peggy added then shook her head.
“There’s no way we can make back that money. I guess we can hope that people hear this latest, televised broadcast and donate again,” the nurse stated then walked away.
* * * *
The kids were sad on the way home to the apartment. Even Aunt Peggy was bummed about the robbery. It gave Melissa an idea as she got everyone inside.
When they arrived home, their neighbor Alice talked with Peggy and promised to help out watching her and checking on her throughout the day. Alice offered to help put the kids on the bus and get Tommy to the preschool program he attended, but Melissa declined. That’s why she had been thrilled with the bartending job. It kept her mornings and afternoons free so she could make the kids breakfast, get them on the bus, go to their school functions, and also take care of Tommy. He was just a baby really, and it had been tough to explain to him why Mommy and Daddy never came back home.
Melissa walked into the children’s bedroom to tuck them in for the night. She saw Brandon emptying out his piggy bank and counting money.
He looked rather upset.
“What’s wrong, Brandon?” she whispered as she took a seat beside him on the rug.
“I only have three dollars and twenty-five cents. That’s not going to make a difference for the kids at the hospital.” He looked so sad her heart ached. He was such a kind soul. He was always worried about everyone else. It had been tough getting him to talk about his loss and his emotions. But somehow he finally warmed up to Melissa and had been in better spirits.
Melissa placed her arm over his shoulder. “It will all work out, Brandon. You’ll see.”
“But how, Aunt Melissa? How can you be sure when someone so bad, so evil took all that money from those sick kids?”
“I just have a feeling, Brandon.”
Brandon stood up and plopped down on his bed with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
Melissa stood up and joined him.
“There are more bad peopl
e out there than good people.”
Melissa felt his upset and tried to encourage him.
“There are more good people out there than you think, Brandon. As a matter of fact, I bet right now, someone is gathering up that ten thousand dollars and preparing to give it to the hospital for those children,” she stated as she helped him to lie down then covered his body with the sheets and comforter.
“Really?” he asked, sounding hopeful.
“Really. Now, go to sleep. You have school tomorrow, and I have to run out for a little bit. Lea knows I’ll be gone for a bit, but Alice is home next door in case there’s an emergency, okay.”
“Okay,” he stated then reached out and hugged Melissa’s neck.
“I love you, Aunt Mel.”
“I love you, too, squirt. Now get to sleep,” she whispered as she left the room with tears in her eyes.
It was a peaceful night, and once everyone settled down and was fast asleep, Melissa headed out to the hospital.
* * * *
The following day Melissa got up early and made homemade pancakes and lots of bacon for breakfast. Her aunt had a great night’s sleep now that she was back in her own bed. In a few weeks she would be as good as new.
“So, how is the job going?” her aunt asked as Melissa piled the pancakes onto the ceramic dish.
“It’s going well.”
“And the studying for the exam?”
“Ahhh…not so well. I’ve been real busy.”
“Well, in a few weeks you can totally focus on your studies, and I will be well enough to care for the kids.”
“Don’t rush it, Aunt Peggy. We’ll be okay.”
“Don’t be silly. You need time to study for the bar exam and work on achieving your dream. Being a bartender won’t look good on your résumé,” she added, showing her disapproval of Melissa’s line of work. Thank God she didn’t know that Melissa contemplated stripping, never mind the hits.
Lea woke up and was watching TV with Brandon as she helped baby Tommy get dressed for the day.
“Hey, Aunt Peggy, Aunt Mel, check this out,” Lea yelled.
“Oh my God, that is awesome!” Brandon screamed and then started dancing around the room.
Melissa and her aunt looked at the TV from the kitchen and heard the news report. Brandon raised the volume so they could hear the reporter.
“It appears that a miracle has taken place here at St. Mary’s Presbyterian Hospital. Yesterday we reported the sad and shocking news that ten thousand dollars had been stolen from the children’s burn unit fundraiser. It was appalling and upsetting, but it seems that the children’s prayers were answered. This morning Dr. Monogy found an envelope of money inside of the donation box. It was labeled to be used for the burn unit fund.”
“Dr. Monogy, what did you think when you found this envelope?” the reporter asked the doctor he was interviewing.
“I was so excited and shocked that there was someone out there, a Good Samaritan ready to help our children.”
“I understand that ten thousand dollars was stolen. How much did the envelope contain?”
“Twenty thousand!” he exclaimed.
“Twenty thousand dollars? That is double of what you had to begin with. Who do you think did this?” the reporter asked.
“I have my theories, and so does some of the hospital staff,” he stated with a wink.
Melissa felt her heart pound in her chest.
“And what theory is that?” the female reporter asked.
“I think we’ll keep it to ourselves. But if you’re out there and listening to this report, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The children and their families thank you, too,” the doctor stated into the camera.
* * * *
The children were all wired with excitement as Brandon grabbed Melissa’s hands and started dancing around the living room. Melissa was feeling a bit nervous about what the doctor said about his suspicions, but there was no way he knew it was her. As she danced with Brandon, Lea, and Tommy, enjoying their happiness and smiling faces, she knew it had been worth the risk. Plus, the money she had gotten off the drug dealers was more than she had thought. After paying off some of the tenants’ rents for the next six months and getting gift cards for groceries for them, she was still in decent shape with twenty thousand dollars left over. Today she would add money to the kids’ savings accounts.
She made them settle down to eat breakfast, and afterwards they were all still excited, even as they got ready for school. She got them on the bus outside of the apartment then headed upstairs to help her aunt and take care of Tommy.
Melissa settled her aunt down on the couch before listening to her messages on the answering machine. Tommy remained watching children’s shows and drawing on his drawing pad.
More bad news. The babysitter was sick and couldn’t watch the kids Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Melissa had to work. There was a big party Friday night and she had to bartend. Just then her cell phone rang. Celine.
“Hey, how did everything work out? Is Aunt Peggy settled back in yet?” Celine asked. Her chipper mood could be felt through the phone. Melissa laughed.
“Yes, she’s doing great.”
“You sound funny. Is everything all right?”
“My babysitter just bailed on me for this whole weekend. I have a party to do Friday, and I’m scheduled to work Saturday and Sunday.”
“I can come over if your aunt won’t mind another three kids. Plus they adore Lea. She is so mature and such a good babysitter. She may be able to do that for money in a couple of years.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“Nope. I worked all week. Carl gave me off this weekend. I figured I would clean the apartment and maybe take the kids to the park with Brandon and Tommy if that was okay with you.”
“Carl, huh? Since when did you start calling Mr. Baker Carl?”
“Since he took me out for coffee and dessert after work Monday night.” Celine giggled.
“Oh no. You’d better be careful. If things don’t work out, you’ll lose that job.”
“Charlie didn’t fire you after you broke things off with Bret.”
“Bret’s a complete asshole, and Charlie knows it. Jobs aren’t coming around easy these days. I would hate for you to lose it when you’re catching up with all the bills.”
“He owns the club with him. Isn’t he like a partner or something?”
Melissa laughed to herself. Celine knew how to run a conversation and steer it in her direction.
“Like, not even a quarter of a partner.”
“Oh well, I’ll be careful. What time do you need me Friday?”
“Five o’clock okay?”
“Sure. Warn Aunt Peggy about my babies. They have been a handful lately. I pass out the second my head hits the pillow at night.”
“No worries, Celine. Besides, Lea will be here to help. She loves Zack, Kelly, and Zoey.”
“Great. I will see you on Friday. Oh, I almost forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
“I was thinking.”
“Oh, shit! Not a good thing at all.”
“Cut it out, Mel, and hear what I have to say. I know this guy Paul.”
“Oh no! You are not trying to set me up with someone are you?”
“No, Mel. I was just going to tell you that this guy Paul said that he knows you. Apparently he worked with your brother-in-law for a few years in the narcotics division. He and I got to talking at the party I hosted last night, at the gig you got me. Anyway, he said he was in desperate need of a bartender for this new restaurant. It has a private room for meetings or something and they have their own bar there. His friend opened it about a year ago. I told him I don’t know how to tend bar but that my best friend bartends. He said that the position requires confidentiality. Apparently some heavy stuff is discussed in this bar.”
“Sounds illegal to me,” Melissa replied as she looked over the bowl of fresh fruit and debated about having a banana
.
“He said there’s all cops involved and in tips alone you could make a few grand a night. Man, I wish I knew how to bartend.”
“A few grand! What the hell kind of outfit do I have to wear, and do I have to take it off in front of the patrons or something?”
“No! Paul said that the outfit is skimpy. All the waitstaff and bartenders wear them. Besides, you’ve worked the bar at Stiletto’s, and that’s a strip club.”
“Oh, great! Throw that in my face, too. I have never stripped before just bartended private parties. I’ll have you know that the only reason I did those few private parties in the back room was because of Marcy and her kids, Joyce and her three kids, as well as Turner, Margaret, and Barbara. If I hadn’t made that twenty grand, working my rear off for that entire weekend, they would have been tossed out onto the streets and their kids would be in foster care, separated from their families. No freaking way would I have let that happen.”
“I know, I know, I wasn’t throwing it in your face. You’ve helped so many people in this neighborhood, Mel. I know you have your own nieces and nephews to worry about and your sick aunt. This job could bring some big money, and you wouldn’t have to show off that fabulous body of yours in some too tight T-shirt for a bunch of perverted men. It would be better, that’s all I’m saying. Then when you take the bar exam and pass, you could get a regular job and maybe defend people like me in court who get ripped off by the scumbags of society.”
Dwyer, Dixie Lynn - SWAT Team Two and Miss Robin Hood [The Men of Five-0 #2] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 3