BOMAW 12-14

by Mercedes Keyes

  'R.I.Hell bastard!',

  He already knew there was no way he could let it go, so he was forced to go to Deidre because Sylvia knew their finances inside and out, to get a loan meant adding secretly to their debts. Wisconsin's laws were strict, he would have to get her signature. No way that should would - she was already reluctant to shop and fill their new home, just getting the basics in that was needed. It didn't matter that Deidre basically built their home - she knew it was up to him to carry it. That was easier said than done. Maintenance on just the security aspect in alarms, insurance, windows, doors, vehicles, all cost-up-there to keep-up. Then throw in normal expenses, like taxes, utilities, medical expenses, fuel, food and family maintenance - Sylvia knew that he was stretched already and they had a baby on the way.

  Part of him almost regretted not sticking to just adding on to their home because he really needed the money now. Thus, he had to bite down on his pride, open wide for his slice of humble pie and go to Deidre for the money. He hadn't picked up the phone yet and already his face was burning with embarrassment.

  All through their marriage, he had hated her money. Now, to save thismarriage, he needed that money.

  Once the deed was done, as exhausting as it would be to set up, once done - what would he do if he and Dennis were right? If, David Martin was in that hole, instead of Armundo Payne? He knew what he would do, it was just a matter of getting to that point, first things first.

  In his office, he took a few deep breaths, accepted what had to be done and dialled Charlie's number. She answered third ring. "What's up? Havin' problems?" She knew who she was talking to.

  "I need to speak to Deidre, it's important, please?"

  "I'll have her call you back."

  "Thanks."

  "No problem." Charlie returned ending the call.

  Shawn sat waiting, twiddling his thumbs, his mind on his next move. He kept thinking about Armundo's grave, he took out all the info he'd gathered on it, where he was buried, who owned the graveyard - the man's name and he prayed that this man had his price. His phone rang, he glanced at the caller id - it was blank, that would be Deidre, he picked it up immediately.

  "Thanks for calling me right back."

  "Shawn, what's going on? Angela okay?"

  "Yeah-yeah, she's fine - Sylvia's taken her shopping, bodyguard and Hummer included."

  "Okay... what was so urgent?"

  "Look, this phone call, it's uh... it's about me, something I need. It's also, strictly between you and I. I have a situation, a desperate one, or I would've never been forced to this, I - I need your help - there is no other way."

  Deidre sat stunned, Shawn had never asked her for anything, other than to take care of their daughter when they'd been married and she'd been off doing everything, but - taking care of Angela - leaving her for him to see to because he'd done it so much better. So this, was out of left field.

  "What kind of help are you needing Shawn?" She heard him exhaling through the phone, she could hear his struggle, so she knew this was something serious. "Shawn?" She had to repeat his name to get him moving on it again.

  "The kind that requires money, and I can't be certain of exactly how much. Not only that, I can't tell you why I need it or what I'll be doing with it an-n-nd - as for me paying it back to you, I can't even tell you how I will or how long that will take."

  "I'd never loan you money Shawn. If you need it that badly, I'll give it to you. I just hope you know what you're doing. Don't do anything you may come to regret, you've got Sylvia, Angela and a baby on the way."

  "Excuse me, since when haven't I put my family first? Even with you?"

  "I'm sorry, I know... it's fine... whatever you need Shawn."

  "Trust me Deidre, this need - is about family, that's all I can tell you."

  "So, Sylvia doesn't know?"

  "No, not at all - and I don't want you telling her either - I repeat, nothing at all about this conversation is she to know."

  "Come on, that's not a good idea, keeping things from her, she-..."

  "Look..." Shawn cut her off, rubbing the bridge of his brow, "... I know you mean well - but leave it alone, okay? Leave it alone and trust me that I'm dealing with it in the way that's best."

  "Okay, whatever you say Shawn. How much?"

  "I don't know - but - what I need you to do is be ready on a moments notice to provide whatever amount I'll ask."

  "How about I get you an open cashiers check, all you have to do is fill in the amount. Will that do?"

  "I don't want a paper trail...cash."

  "How in the world am I to get you cash in a moments notice without a paper trail?"

  Shawn sat a moment thinking about it, "Okay... I'm going to open a secret bank account, I'll send you the details of it, and then when I need-..."

  "Get that to me right away, and I'll have a couple of million transferred into it immediately - will that be enough."

  Shawn felt heat rush through him. A couple of million - just like that! As if he'd asked for 20 bucks! She had that kind of money - he'd always known it, but to hear it confirmed rubbed him wrong, gave him the same bitter taste in his mouth that it always did. Rushing through his mind was all the arguments he'd once thrown at her. The injustice that there were those who had millions in the same world where there were millions who had nothing! Starving to death! He hated the imbalance of this world, but he was powerless to do anything about it. Simply living in his own world and trying to keep a balance was more than he could handle sometimes but it didn't stop him from seeing the truth about the world he lived in.

  "Will it - Shawn?" Deidre asked again, wondering about his pause.

  "Yeah, that's plenty, whatever is left, you'll get back."

  "One way is fine with me Shawn, it doesn't have to come back, any of it."

  "Well of course not, let's face it - you'll have made that back by tomorrow lunchtime in interest alone." He grumbled feeling mean.

  "Huh?" Deidre muttered, "This is bugging you, isn't it? You really do hate having to ask me for my wicked, dirty money, don't you? I assure you, it came to me honestly."

  "Bullshit! All you had to do was be pushed from the right loins. Everything you needed was there pre-you - as for those who made it, honestly? Yeah right!"

  "Listen at you Shawn?! Do you hear yourself!? If you don't want my help, don't ask for it - but if you do, don't get mad at me because I can deliver - uh - the MONEY!" She snapped at him, livid, "... Stop punishing me for being who I am!You're crazy, do you know that! CRAZY - ASS - HELL! I don't know WHY - I put up with it from you! You're never going to like me, are you Shawn?! No matter what I do to make up for my wrongs, I'll never be forgiven will I?! Because I'm part of the problem, right? - UGH! Leave me alone Shawn, leave me alone!" She was breathing hard, trying to collect herself after going off on him.

  Shawn sat quiet, taking it because he was wrong and knew it. If she hung up on him it would serve him right, she had been trying.

  "Now, do you want the money or not? Yes, or no?"

  "Yes." He answered humbly.

  "Then do what you have to do. Call me when you're ready." She hung up.

  He slowly lowered the phone to the charger base, murmuring to himself, "You're one stupid asshole." Leaning with both elbows on the desk, his fingers combed through his hair, head lowered feeling alone in his misery. The doorbell rang, with everyone gone but Mundo, who was in the basement, on the phone as usual nowadays, that left him to get the door. Lifting his tired body out of his chair from behind his desk, he sauntered out to do that just as Mundo shouted up the stairs, "Can somebody get the do'!"

  "Yeah-yeah-yeah, I'll get the do'!" Shawn grumbled in dad mode, going straight to the intercom camera. It was a girl, there to see Mundo. Things were changing a bit for him since his trial and judgment against the police department. To everyone's shock, he was awarded half a million, thanks to Jeremiah setting him up with a strong civils rights attorney. The beating and injustice they did to him with all
of the family standing witness as well the female officer who was put on the stand - did it! It would cost the local tax payers plenty. Now, the house phone was off the hook, constantly.

  Not only was it off the hook, so was Mundo's confidence from being Mr. Popular. Mundo wasn't stupid, he knew exactly why his being Mr. Popular all of a sudden intensified, so he was using his current status quo to play that to his advantage.

  Shawn pressed the speaker button, calling out, "Hi Lette, hang on a moment, I'll let you in."

  She smiled brightly into the camera, waving until the gate opened wide enough to let her drive through and around the circular driveway to the guest parking. Out of her car, she minced her steps like a dainty teenage girl with too much energy who knows when a man is watching - right up to the door where Shawn stood waiting for her to enter. He knew why she was there, "You know your way down, right?" He asked, referring to, (Mundo's basement layout) smiling.

  "Yep, I know, his lazy butt up yet?"

  "He better be, because if he isn't, you'll be back up these stairs won't you?" He informed her firmly.

  Lette giggled, "Yessir, I would be, I'm not like that Mr McPherson. Besides, I know his mama don't play."

  "Neither do I, but I know you're a good girl." Shawn smiled and winked, closing the door behind her as she went down. They'd had the talk with him, he and Sylvia - their home was not to be disrespected with activity he knew they wouldn't approve of. While Mundo had to know that already, they were leaving nothing to chance, but that didn't stop the girls from showing up for him, currently - there were two strong contenders for his devotion besides the others who had joined in the hunt.

  The young Mexican girl, Lette and the young white girl, Kayla - both friends of Crystal. Kayla had always shown her affection for Mundo, whereas Lette had kept her feelings for him to herself, unless he did or said something that she felt she had to tell him off about, then - her feelings for him came out, otherwise, they stayed safely hidden. But since his beating and win in court, she thought she'd better be a bit more open about her feelings, especially considering that Kayla was now aggressively after him.

  "Aaah man - girl you trippin'! I'on know who at the do' - I'm on the phone with you, ain't I? If you ain't callin' you textin' me." Mundo was speaking with Kayla, walking around in his loungers, wife beater on, in no hurry to make up his mind what his day would be like since that evening he'd be with family celebrating Mama Jojo being with them. Everything was pretty much easy sailing now days, easy all except for keeping the ladies in order and off of him. He was enjoying himself too much to be bothered by it - everybody likes getting attention now and then, and right now, he was getting that and then some.

  "Doesn't matter, I'm in my car on the way there anyway." She announced.

  "For what? I ain't even dressed yet." He exclaimed hearing his bedroom door open, turning to see who was entering.

  "Who are you on the phone with?" Lette asked, hearing a bit of his conversation on the other-side of the door.

  Mundo's eyes went round, and before he could answer, "Who is that? In your room? Is that Lette? I know her voice when I hear it, I'm almost there, bye!"

  "Aaaah man, ya'll trippin' for real!" He clicked his phone off glaring at Lette, "What you want, just gone walk all in my room! You ever hear of the word, privacy? More to the point, mine?!"

  Ignoring all of that, she cocked her hip, "Was that Kayla on the phone? You need to stop playing these games and make up your mind - you know doggone well you don't want that white girl. Please tell her like it is so she can back up out of our space."

  "Yeah, right - how you know I'on want'ha? Maybe I do." He teased, going to his closet to pick out his ensemble for the day. She joined him there, looking in, "You want me to pick-out something for you to wear?"

  "No! Hell naw! Step away from this here negroes shit! I dress myself, thank you! Ain't even tryin' t'get no shit like that started, mus' be out yo'mind - back-up!"

  Lette pouted with her lower lip hanging out and flounced over to his bed sitting down, leaning back with her arms straight behind her, crossing her legs with the one foot air dancing. "What, you don't trust me to pick out your clothes?"

  "My mama picked out my clothes until I could do it myself, been just fine at it ever since."

  "You need to learn to be more romantic!"

  "Romantic for who? I ain' into romance yet, who I'm supposed to be romancin'?"

  "Who you think? You know you want me!"

  Mundo did a Denzel Washington sarcastically amused laugh, "Heh-heh-heh... yeah."

  "What, you tryin' to say you don't?"

  Doorbell rang - Lette rolled her eyes, "That girl needs to give you some space, she all over you, I mean really!"

  He turned and eyeballed her incredulously, "Lil'Mexican what you talkin'?"

  "Truth! You want me, and you need to tell her that so she can leave us in peace!"

  Just then the door came open and to their surprise Shawn's head poked in, eyes went first to Mundo, and then to Lette, with a smile he pointed at her, "You - beautiful young lady - come to me a moment."

  With a look of wonder and a big question mark on her face, Lette stood and walked to the door with Shawn opening it wide for her to step out into the area of the basement that was for all the family to gather, right out of Mundo's bedroom door, Kayla was present and looking from Lette to Mundo, who'd come to the door.

  "Now hear this, now hear this... do you two young ladies see this room where we're standing?" He paused looking from one to the other, they both sighed and nodded already with a clue of what he was about to say. "My wife went through great expense to make this room, comfy, fun and enjoyable to be in, so much so - that when you two come visiting, or any other young ladies..." Again he paused, this time his eyes on Mundo, "...this is where we - wife and I - want to find you. That door and beyond, that's his place, and he can do anything he wants in there, but - entertain you two. Have I made myself clear?" His smile was wide, pleasant and filled with authority.

  "Yes, Mr. McPherson." They both murmured at the same time.

  Mundo, grinned, backed up into the room and winked at Shawn out of the girls sight, where he closed his door and proceeded to get dressed.

  Shawn went on to further emphasize things they had already seen, but he thought maybe they didn't know they could enjoy them while waiting. "Look here at this finger, follow where it points." And pointing things out gave them direction, "There's a pool table there, and a ping-pong table over there, video game set up on both of those monitors against that wall, stereo their for music, we get radio on that," He winked smiling, "...and before you, this rather nice large screen TV, we have cable by the way, all the music channels, I know how you love your music videos," he then walked to the table which held the remotes, picked up one and clicked the wide-screen TV on and handed the remote first to Kayla who waved it on and with a shrug he passed it to Lette. She took it and then a seat, resigned to wait for Mundo. Kayla did likewise.

  "I'm heading back up to my office. Oh and one more thing, right off of that little hall to the right, you'll find a little kitchen - refrigerator is full of whatever you might wish, make yourselves comfortable while you wait."

  "Thanks." Kayla murmured coming to her feet, walking that direction to find something to drink. Shawn made his exit, she returned with a soda for each of them.

  Lette accepted it, "Thanks..." popped the tab and started, "...when are you going to get over this infatuation you have with him? Everyone knows, that Mundo wants me." She cut to the chase.

  "What proof do you have of that? Has he asked you out? Has he ever even kissed you yet?"

  "Has he asked you out? Or kissed you yet? No! Is he going to? No... but you amuse him."

  "And you don't... amuse him?" Kayla returned, sipping from her drink.

  "You mean, is he laughing when I'm out of sight, the way he laughs when you turn your back? No, not like that."

  Kayla's eyes grew wide at her implication, and asked
right out, "When? When did he laugh behind my back?"

  Lette shifted one shoulder, looking smug, "Kayla, you throw yourself at him, what do you expect? I don't. You know playing hard to get, still works."

  "Whatever! You're not playing so hard now, are you? Now that you how much he's financially worth, you're all over him like a cheap suit! I wanted him before the money, and I'll still want him even if he never gets the check. Will you?"

  Lette's lips grew tight and sitting towards her 'Friend' said just loud enough for her to hear, "White girl, why don't you head out and find yourself a whiteboy?"

  "Oh, you're one to talk, you're not black either..."

  "I am more of what he is than you are, he's part Hispanic."

  "He's part Puerto Rican! You're a Mexican, half the time Puerto Ricans and Mexicans don't even like each other and if it suits you, both of you deny your black heritage, don't want anything to do with it, until it suits you. Like now! You wet-back!"

  "Who the hell you callin' wet-back!?" Lette shot to her feet growling, "Fuckin' Polock! My people were born on this land, I have more right to be here than you do! Don't piss me off!"

  Dressed, Mundo could hear them from his room, getting loud, snatching his door open, glaring at them as he made his entrance, "What the heck!? I know ya'll not trippin' up in here?" He questioned, noticing Lette's stance was just short of attack, and so made his way to stand between them.

  Lette let rip in Spanish for Mundo's ears only of course. Because of his father often speaking to them in Spanish and their grandmother who refused to speak English to them, and then both of them polishing it up by taking Spanish in school, he and his sister spoke it fluidly.