BOMAW 12-14
Page 23
Crystal stood away and turned looking at him through his windshield as his head lamps came on, shining on her, illuminating her up before him. He put it in reverse, turned to look where he was backing out to, and before the car moved, he turned back to look at her, for just a moment, his eyes met hers, he shook his head, turned it back and quickly reversed around her car, which was almost blocking his, and onto the road. Correcting it, he pulled off kicking up dust and gravel.
Crystal stood, her stomach hurting, her heart slamming and tightening from pain.
She had to go home to Victor, he'd be up soon.
"Shawn... I thought we agreed-..."
"Paul, I tried, I did - it's been two months, I can't leave it man, I have to know, or - I have to be doing something towards finding out, I can't just sit and wait, to see what's happening. So listen and give this some thought; we know where his mother lives - if - if he is alive, what are the odds, that she would be the one person who knows?"
"If that is so Shawn, what possible way have we to find that out? She's in Chicago, you're in Wisconsin, I'm in Minnesota."
"Dammit to hell, Paul, there has to be a way!"
"Short of bugging her home, and sitting out front on surveillance, our hands are tied."
"Fuck! Do you know what this is doing to me? I can't sleep at night man, because I'm thinking about that sonofabitch!"
"You know what - he's probably dead. In truth, you're more than likely worked up over nothing."
"Where's David then? Hm? Where is he? From all that I've gathered from family and friends that knew him, he would not be absent for this long. No one has seen him, not his mother, his brother, nor his sister whom he was close to. The last that was heard of him, he was on his way to see about my wife, when she was still married to the Armundo Sr.; who, was in a fatal car accident that burned him beyond recognition, identifiable only by his jewellery. Come on Paul - you know as well as I - that when you wanna disappear, best way - is to die."
Paul sat on the other end of the phone quiet.
"Come on Paul, I have to know - I have to - I can't live like this."
"You're such a fuckin' pain in the ass - do you know that?"
"I said I would pay."
"Have you any idea of what the costs will be for what you're needing to know? I can tell you now Shawn, you don't have enough money."
"We could bug her house, set up a recording device in the area, and then check it every couple of weeks, a month. Digital takes up a whole lot less space than analog."
"And who's going to bug her home?"
"I'll do it."
"You'll do it?"
"You heard."
"Who's going to be checking the recording device."
"Yours truly - after all, like you said, it's not cheap. But if I do it all myself, all I'll have to pay is for the devices; travel and time back and forth."
"You're nuts! You're absolutely out of your mind!"
"I need the bugging devices-..."
"You know what you're suggesting is illegal right?"
"I - don't - give - a fuck! Do you think I fuckin' care? Besides, I'll have to get caught, I'm not about to do that."
"Oh God, why me - why meee Lord, what have I done to deserve this?" Paul whined.
"Pray to the Lord later, not on my time - how much do I need?"
"Is it possible that your wife might some how detect that you've up and spent over fifty thousand dollars? Because at the lowest, that's what it's going to cost you - no - it won't break you - but she'll notice. Especially after putting up a new home - bet it still needs decorating. Shawn, in case you didn't know this, women come up out of their sleep knowing about money you shouldn't have spent, they just do Shawn! How are you going to explain that?"
Shawn sat in his fully furnished den, door closed, rubbing his forehead, thinking. He was right, she'd know. "I'm gonna have to get another credit card - set up a post office box - my credits good, that won't be a problem."
"Do you hear yourself? Could you just for a moment step outside of yourself and look at what you're doing? What you're planning, on a theory based on her brother being missing, which in your mind, automatically means, Armundo Sr. is alive. You're fucking paranoid! Maybe - maybe - her brother is dead Shawn, but maybe - it had nothing to do with her deceased husband. Maybe something - happened to him - and one thing has nothing to do with the other. You need to see that Shawn - before you go out and - and fuck up everything in your life! She finds out about all this shit you're doing and planning and the money you're willing to spend ... you're fucked! Divorce number two - is up!"
Shawn sighed, "Why can't you just fuckin' do what I asked you to do, I don't wanna hear all this other bullshit."
"Fuck it - I did my best! I tried to reason with you, I tried to get you to think before you act. Let me know when you've got the money, I'll get you what you need."
"Thank you. In order to carry this out, I need to know the name of her utilities, phone, electric, gas, water. I need to know does she own the property or is she renting? If renting, who's she renting from? If she owns it, through which bank? If she works, where? What's her schedule? Does she drive? What kind of car is it, you can get me all of that - I need everything you can get me, on her."
"Okay, and Shawn, paying or not - this is it man. After this, don't ask again, not ever. At the conclusion of me providing you with your info and devices, I will be terminating this aspect of our friendship - I mean it! Because - whether you care or not, you're starting to strain it."
"Just get me what I need. After all, I've tried to get you to see my side of it, you won't - so neither of us need not waste any more time." Shawn reached over and dropped his cordless phone on it's base. He went on the Internet, pulled up Google maps and located Armundo's mother's address. With that in hand, he sat a moment thinking, then reached for the cordless again and called Dennis.
"Whassup?" He answered right away, recognizing the number.
"It's Shawn, Dennis, I need a big favor from you."
"Lay it on me."
"You coming up tomorrow correct?"
"Yep."
"Well you can't, your alternator has kicked it, you need me to come and get you."
Dennis chuckled, "Ah shit ... what you up to man?"
"I'll tell you when I get there. Call your wife, I'll be in the room to volunteer."
"It's a done deal - talk to you in a minute."
"Thanks Dennis."
"I can't get over this; every time I come here, it blows my mind. You know damn well, you landed a good one, look at this place, I know you got to be happy now." Sheila was softly saying, sitting at the breakfast bar in the family room, off the big kitchen. The kids were all downstairs in the studio with Mundo messing around, making funny recordings for him. As she sat there, she had to appreciate Sylvia's new home, having been taken on a tour of it the first day she'd arrived. In the design of their home's layout, Shawn had closely copied that of the condo in California; he'd always liked the way it flowed and saw no reason not to incorporate it in his home there; especially since Sylvia had also loved the condo. His den there at home, duplicated the one in California as well - right down to the hall from the main kitchen. While their home was much larger than the condo, with more rooms, and a more complex layout - including a basement with a fully equipped recording studio, for Mundo to use - he couldn't have asked for more. In the entire home, there were 3 rooms he could call his own, two of them, the den and his man room - were exclusively his. While anyone could go in the gym and use it, it was catered to his work out needs; and the other room, the man room. He'd fought for it, it was his, women were not allowed, only to bring the men, more beer or food; once the delivery was made, back out!
In there, the men's room, there was an urinal only, no toilet and a sink; big, masculine, dark wood and rich leather furniture; a big screen TV hooked up to a surround sound system for their sports. A pool table; bar with full size refrigerator-freezer - loaded with beer and every
thing else alcohol and drinking snacks related; ie; peanuts, slim jims, potato chips, pretzels and all other bar condiments - Shawn had gone shopping with Mundo to stock it himself. Also for the men's enjoyment, a dart board and beside it, a 'Go' sign for freedom of speech; and freedom from women! He'd fought hard with his woman for full rights to that room.
"I don't think so! How you gone say, "No women allowed, ever!"
"Well, ever is stretching it, I agree - you'll need to make an occasional beer run; or bring in the odd platter of food now an' again; there will also be that once a week where you'll be allowed in to clean, when - that is, no men are present!"
Sylvia had broken into exuberant, sarcastic laughter and then stopped - glaring at him, "You have lost your mind, you must be crazy! Ain't no room in this house - exclusively mine!" She pointed out.
"The kitchen! That's where women gather anyway - where you cook, and wait to be summoned by your man." He grinned, pushing it - trying to keep a straight face.
Sylvia stood with her hip cocked, hand on it, leg turned out, eyes narrowed, lips tight, on the verge of telling him off when shaking her head, she turned away, "Yeah - you may be grinning, but I ain't stupid, you mean that crazy mess. That room might be just the place for you, in fact, I'm gone put a padlock on it - outside, lock your butt in, you want it so bad."
"I'm just playing-..."
She turned back, "So women are allowed then?"
"Oh no no no no, not playing about that - no - women allowed! I meant the cleaning part, I'll clean it myself."
"You give me one good reason why I - or women in general, can't go in that room?"
"Sylvie! You got the whole house! This entire abode, is yours! Enter any room you want, through-out this entire structure - be my guest! But that room, is my room, and I ain't lettin' you in! That's all the reason you need."
"I know you trippin'!" Sylvia stood with her mouth partially open.
"It's one room! Just one - you can come in my den! You can come in my bedroom!"
"Oh why thank you - for letting me in your gym, that way my fat ass won't stay that way, right?"
Shawn guffawed, with a bark deep from the gut, "Did I say that? When did I say that?" He was still laughing.
"Yeah, uh-huh, ha ha ha," She went on, "And your bedroom, gotta let me in there, can't get a piece otherwise."
"Bullshit, I don't need that bedroom to get a piece - we can fuck anywhere." He corrected her.
For that, he got a dirty look.
"Sorry, we can - make love - anywhere - my bad."
"Yeah, and I'm suddenly seeing a decline in that."
"Hey! Don't start with the threats - we may have our disagreements, but you cannot use sex, as a penalty or fine. As your husband, I have a right to have sex with you when I want it, long as you're not sick or in pain."
"Yeah, believe that if you want - but if I say - no - and mean it, you bes' back up, I know that."
"Is there some reason for this argument we're suddenly in?" He asked clearly exasperated.
"Yeah, there is, I'm not allowed in your men's room!"
"Just one room, Sylvie - just one - mine! Can I have one room?"
"What you gone be doing in there - that requires the exclusion of women? Huh? Something you ain't got no business doing, that's what!"
"So what - it's my room - where we men, can come together, and just be ourselves, say whatever the hell we wanna say-..."
"You do that anyway! Em hm, gone be in there watchin' porn too - I'm sure!" She accused.
"Porn is for amateurs - for those who need ideas, as you know, been there, done that; besides we're all grown men, if we choose to watch porn, we will!"
"Nasty dogs! Yeah, that includes you! I don't like the idea that I can't go into a room in my own house!"
Shawn made a face as if he were heart broken to be a nasty dog; realizing he was not winning points, he cleared his throat and became serious again, "Okay, tell you what, you pick a room, do with it what you will - and make it, no men allowed."
"I don't need - such a room. Because I have nothing - to hide!"
"Neither - do I!" He defended.
"Then why - no women allowed?"
"Because - I want a room, just for me, just for the guys! As for you - this entire house is yours. Let's face it, you rule - this roost!"
"Ha! Since - when? Not since you! Rule the roost, ain't that some nerve; fine, keep ya' lil'room - I don't wanna go in there, anyway."
"Good, there won't be a problem them - glad that's over."
However, the look she flashed back at him, said it wasn't over quite yet - but for now - he would have his way.
Back to the present...
Sylvia smiled, "I must admit, I'm getting used to the fact that this - is now my home. But since you're here, and men will be gathering here over the weekend, if they all disappear from sight, it may be because they've escaped into the, get this - into the "men's room."
"What? Men's room? The bathroom?"
"No, not the bathroom, Shawn's - men's room. You saw it, that room he said, and this is the men's room?"
"Oh yeah, with the bar and all..."
"Exactly, well that room, exclusively his - where there are no women allowed."
Sheila's mouth kicked open, then closed, and suddenly she busted up laughing. "You got to be kidding me? Sho'nuff?"
"Oh yeah, he serious too. Only men are allowed, no females, meaning, no wives - and I do believe, that also means, no children, or at the very least, no female children. We've already had a discussion about it you see - we didn't get to any exact preliminaries."
"A men's room?" Sheila repeated.
"Yep."
"No women allowed?"
"So far, you've got it right."
"What the heck they gone be doing in there, that we can't get in on?"
"Okay? That's what I'm saying."
"Whose idea was that?"
"You know doggone well it wasn't mine."
"I mean, I understand they like to go in a certain room where they can chill, kick back, take they shoes off, watch the game - what have you - for Dennis, that's the basement."
"I don't have a problem with that, but you can go down there, can't you?"
"Doggone right I can, it's my house - besides, my washer and dryer down there, he got to let me down. But you know, if his butt could get away with that, he'd probably try that shit too. So you can't go in there?"
"No, I'm not allowed."
"Wooooeee, girl - your man something else! He must be doing that shit on purpose to rile you up. 'Cause I'on know too many women, who'll let they nigga have a whole goddamn room to they self, where they can't even go in there - shit, that alone make you wanna walk up in there!"
"Okay? See what I'm saying? So, should I be making a fuss about it? Or just let it slide?"
"You asking the wrong person; that shit ain't apart of our culture is it? Shit, we damn near barely afford our own homes; let alone, give up a whole damn room with no access - shit. What you gone do?"
"I don't know. I may just leave him to it. But you know what, curiosity - I can't help but wanna know what they gone be doing in there that he don't want me wondering in on?"
"I suggest - for now, you leave it alone. Let's face it, he ain't one of them white men you can just walk all over and lay out the rules. I tol' you, all the white men in the world you could'ah picked, you find that one. He a trip - and if I didn't love'im so much, because I know he love you so much, I'd tell you find out what the hell he doin' in there - but 'cause it's Shawn - you gone have to leave it alone."
Sylvia sighed, "I know - I may have to. That's why his ass put this home up for me, so he could use it to argue for his own room!" She mumbled, grinning and then laughed shaking her head.
Sheila joined her, calming she asked, "Anyway, what is this Vivian been telling me about Crystal and Ben?" She finally got around to asking, they'd been so busy - with so much to talk about, it had taken this long to get around to her.
"You ain't got to tell me that! I know that already, what I asked, is, what's going on with Ben and Crystal?"
Sylvia had been making them tea, and sitting a steaming cup before Sheila, she answered simply, "They're in love. They thought they were free and clear - not! Victor stood out on that front lawn, acted a damn fool - and within a day or two, she went back to him."
"Did you not just tell me, she was in love with Ben?"
"I did."
"Then - wait? Why go back to him - to Victor? Because I'm gone tell you now, when I heard he was shame to take her before his family, that cut away any hope of me likin'im; hell with that! I'on play that shit! Fuck him, them too! She don't need that shit!?"
"Yeah well, she went back. He found out his mama plotted, forged his signature, and - burnt - his mama's house down, you hear me."
"You lyin'!?"
"I'm tellin' you the truth. That - is what turned me away from it. I could forgive the rest, you know, life and lessons and all that - but no no no no, I fear any man that can do his own mama that way."
"For real! And you let her go back to his ass?!"
"Okay Ms Sheila, everybody damn mama; you tell me please, how the hell was I supposed to stop her?!"
Sheila sat back outdone, "I don't know, shit, lock her ass up! Thought she was in love with Ben?"
"Sheila, it don't matter now, as you know, she may be pregnant. And why in God's name, she did that - if she is - I haven't a clue! Or a clue of what be going through her mind. One moment, she was done with her marriage, and though she denies it, being in love with Ben, I ain't no damn fool; she was in love - and he damn sho' in love with her. But - she went back. So you know what, I'm staying out of it. You saw that apartment Shawn had put up there for her, she ain't got to be back with him, even if she is pregnant again, but - something in her head, tells her she must do it. Besides, they not even married anymore."
"Huh?"
"You heard me - he was gone get their divorce reversed - never did, because he had an accident at work. So basically, they just living together."