Justice Black: The Game Never Ends

by Gartia Bansah

  She hurriedly took the office key and locked the door and said, “Anyone else who wants to come in here has to ring the doorbell. Between Gwen and that man, there are too many bad vibes walking in here.” She sprayed again.

  Kaitlyn glimpsed in the rearview mirror and saw the mailman flipping a finger at the building. “What a town.” She chuckled.

  Gwen turned her nose up at the mailman but stood in shock seeing Kaitlyn drive off in Justice’s car. “Dr. Joseph, your story is now a priority.”

  chapter

  FORTY-ONE

  The mechanic called her car hopeless. It had broken down again. That made it necessary for her to drive Justice’s car. She definitely didn’t want that to continue. Her car was a landmark of her life, but she was going into debt with repairs. Justice was convinced her mechanic did sloppy work as a push to buy a car from his brother. Today she believed he was right.

  Kaitlyn was exhausted by the time she reached her apartment and was met by Barrett and her “kids.” She didn’t want to be rude, but she’d rather not have company tonight.

  “Adeena, I haven’t seen you in days. Where have you been keeping yourself?”

  “Oh, Barrett, I am so sorry I haven’t been by to see you. Work has kept me busy.”

  “Speaking of busy, Dr. Black wants me to remind you to take the package to Jeri.”

  “Believe me, Barrett, I did it already.” Kaitlyn had chided him for being a worrier.

  “How would you like a cup of tea when you settle down? I’ll let you in on the happenings around here. Genevieve and Aurora want to see you too.”

  “All right.” Barrett was such a kind person she found it difficult to refuse. “I will be up later.”

  She was glad she went. Kaitlyn enjoyed the evening with Barrett, listening to tales of her travels and the people she had met. She was a little worried about Barrett lately. Barrett looked tired and had not felt well for the past week. Since her trip to Dallas was cancelled, she almost regretted she’d agreed to go shopping this weekend with her.

  As promised, Barrett filled her in on the news of the complex. Genevieve winked.

  “Kaitlyn, don’t let Barrett talk your ears off. She’s good for it. Today Barrett talked her way out of a parking ticket when she told the officer she’d dated his grandfather but declined to marry him, as he was too much of a wandering buck. Oh honey,” Genevieve added, “we were something else in our days. Men didn’t have a chance once we set our eyes on them.”

  Barrett hushed her. “You were the wild one, Genevieve, not me.”

  “Yes.” Genevieve smiled. “But who’d believe a woman of my age could have ever been like that?”

  “I would,” Aurora offered. She whispered to Kaitlyn, “Personally, Genevieve was wild in her younger days. She only went out with rich and affluent assholes.”

  “Kaitlyn,” Barrett continued as she gave a knowing smile to Aurora, “a couple came wanting to lease an apartment. The man looked unsavory, and the woman followed as if she were chained to him. She jumped each time the man looked at her. I couldn’t imagine living like that and wouldn’t. The man was no prize—wore a patch over his eye. There’s nothing wrong with that; it was the way he undressed you with that one good eye. Of course Marvin took their application, but it won’t be approved.”

  “That wig the woman wore made her look foolish,” Aurora added.

  “Well, I’ll be,” said Genevieve.

  Kaitlyn wasn’t surprised; Barrett had her hands in everything Marvin did. A tenant had been evicted after his pit bull chased Cassie and nearly bit Calvin.

  “By the way,” Barrett said, “Marvin asked that I give this package to you. It came today.”

  Kaitlyn looked at the nicely wrapped box and, with everyone’s urging, opened it to find another smaller box inside.

  “My, my, someone sure wanted to surprise you,” Genevieve said.

  Inside the smaller box was a black-cat necklace with gold eyes. The card read, “You’re forever mine.”

  chapter

  FORTY-TWO

  Two large dead crows lay in the doorway when Wil and Trenton reached her place.

  “What the hell is this?” Trenton inspected the crows more closely and saw no sign of a nest. “Baby, these crows were placed here.”

  “I’ll get a trash bag.” Wil unlocked her door and rushed inside.

  Trenton took the bags and discarded the birds. Once inside he locked the door and turned on her.

  “All right, what’s going on here? Two days ago all your tires were slashed.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.” Wil walked away, annoyed.

  “Don’t give me that.” He needed answers and followed her to the kitchen. “What are you not telling me?” He stood next to her and waited. “I’m not moving anytime soon. Take all the time you need, but make it fast.”

  “All right,” she relented, “but you have to promise you won’t go ballistic about these incidences.” She’d witnessed him operate on a short fuse before. It was not pretty. Last week he immediately fired one of his staff because during a luncheon, she repeatedly interrupted one of his foreign business associates and stood too close to the man. For two weeks Trenton had had his staff in a cultural training preparing for that meeting. Her actions nearly cost the company the contract.

  “I’m not promising you anything, so don’t ask,” he warned.

  Wil started with the broken water faucet, the flooding two weeks ago, her car being keyed, and while at work, her carburetor was stolen.

  “I didn’t think anything about the other incidences, so there was no need to get uptight until my car.”

  “And you thought that wasn’t worth mentioning to anyone? This makes me mad with you.”

  “Elrod came over. He, like you, wasn’t happy.”

  “That’s it, lady,” Trenton said removing his jacket. “You have three things for tonight. One is not a choice.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “These are not ‘incidences’ as you call them. Someone is targeting you. Make a police report. That’s first, and it is not a choice. Secondly, I’ll upgrade your security system. Thirdly, you sleep with me in the guest room. Fourth, I sleep with you in your room. Take your pick.”

  “Elrod took care of the first, and that’s four options. I’ve never heard of four options, but I like it.” She lazily strolled up to him, placed her arms around his waist, and said, “I think, Mr. Macho, I will choose option four.”

  “Then it’s settled. Are you hungry? I can fix up some mean eggs for you.”

  Wil curtsied and said, “All right, Chef. You go right ahead.”

  Trenton easily maneuvered his way around the kitchen, not asking her where anything was located. He’d only been in her kitchen once, and his memory was remarkable. She laughed at his style of cracking three eggs at a time without making a mess. Her dad was also good at that.

  “So you’re good at breaking eggs, I see.”

  “Among other things.” There was an odd gleam in his eyes. “You like cheese and peppers?”

  “No cheese, not too much pepper.”

  “You’re afraid of a little heat?”

  “No. Are you?”

  Trenton came closer to her and gave her a serious look. “What do you think?”

  She cleared her throat and made her way to the pantry. “I think I’ll get the plates.”

  “Don’t bother.”

  Startled, Wil turned and gave him a curious look. “Why?”

  “Don’t mess up more dishes than we need.” He took one plate from her and placed the eggs on the single dish. She watched him slice an orange. He removed blueberries from the refrigerator and rinsed them and then arranged everything on the plate. “We share. Grab a spoon, fork, or your fingers. I don’t care.” He sat at the corner table and waited for her to join him.
r />   She didn’t immediately move. She was fascinated with everything.

  “Are you going to stand there, or do I have to come get you?”

  She finally made her way to the table, sat in the chair he had pulled out next to him, and carefully placed a napkin in her lap.

  “It’s so good you’ll want to eat the plate.”

  “We’ll see.” After tasting the first bite, she laughed. “Not bad for scrambled eggs.”

  Trenton looked at her for a few seconds and took a bite himself. He laid his fork down. Something else was bothering her, and he had a feeling it was not about the car or dead crows.

  “What’s wrong, Wil?”

  “Trenton, it’s about Steve and Dave. They can make my life hell like a boil on my butt. They are a real pain. I can handle them, but I will not take their remarks insinuating that Desirae and Gabe may have caused the fire. I could have punched both, and you’ll have to excuse my lack of professionalism.”

  “You’re excused. Besides, no one buys that from those two clowns.”

  “I hope not.”

  “Wil, if anything ever happens like those damn ‘incidences,’ you need to tell me. I don’t like that you didn’t consider it.”

  It took her by surprise that he really was worried.

  “I promise I will,” she reassured him.

  This time there was a strained look in his eyes.

  “Now what’s wrong?”

  “Wil, about your drumming—your therapy as you call it. I’m not weird or anything, but having men blow kisses at you—I suppose I can handle that as long as that’s all they did. No touching.”

  “Wow.” She sat back and really looked at him. He’d never before said anything about her drumming. “You saw all that?”

  “Every bit, and if Justice and Rayford hadn’t handled that guy, I would have.”

  Wil pushed the plate away and turned his face toward her.

  “Well, I’ll be sure to let you know when we perform again, all right? Finish those cold eggs if you want,” she teased. “I’m going upstairs.”

  “I don’t want any more eggs.”

  “What’s the matter? Too much for you?”

  “No. Are you messing with me?”

  “No.”

  “Are you trying to drive me nuts, Wil?”

  “No.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m trying to see how long it takes for you to get out of that chair and come with me.”

  With that last challenge, he stood and carried her over his shoulder up the stairs, with her giggling all the way.

  chapter

  FORTY-THREE

  Why was it that every time she reached her apartment, her feet were made of stone and she could barely make it inside? Every place on her body ached. And she missed Justice. He’d been gone far too long. It had been nearly four days since he called. His parrots hadn’t helped the matter at all. She’d nearly forgotten to feed them on schedule, and they’d chattered most of the night. Not only had she let Barrett talk her into keeping Cassie and Calvin while Garland drove her to a medical appointment, she found out the hard way that Justice had lied. That lizard had been in hiding. Mercifully, Garland placed him back in his aquarium. She wasn’t touching it. It got out again after Cassie and Calvin jumped on the aquarium, and she hadn’t seen him since. Hopefully he’d skittered far away.

  “Yes,” she sighed, “far too long.”

  All day she thought she saw familiar faces that were not there, and the necklace really bothered her.

  “When Justice returns, I’ll tell him everything.”

  Marvin practically fell over with excitement when he called out to her in a cheerleader yell.

  “Lord, I don’t have time for this,” she moaned.

  “Dr. Joseph, guess what?” Breathless, he leaned against the railing. “I’m glad I caught up with you,” he wheezed. “I have an upstairs apartment for you. A tenant is demanding a downstairs apartment immediately, and today I received word from our head office to let you know today.” Marvin was so out of breath he practically had to bend over to finish his sentences. “Come by the office as soon as you can.”

  Before Kaitlyn could say anything, Marvin spotted the pool man and made a frantic dash in his direction, shouting the pool was in an unacceptable and unsightly appearance. The pool man pretended he didn’t hear or see Marvin and walked faster, trying to get away.

  “Oh my,” she laughed. “This is the best news I’ve had today.”

  She’d stopped by the drugstore earlier for a few items and hadn’t planned on buying much, but she couldn’t turn down the sale on bath salts and her comfort cereal, Corn Pops. It was getting late, and she hadn’t fed the parrots. To make things easier, and save time, she decided to bathe there, review a few more notes, and then she’d come down to her place and crash for the night. She took her work, clothing, and cereal upstairs to Justice’s place. Although exhausted, she cleaned and dusted. It took her mind off work. A darn fly flew in through the balcony; she swatted at it but missed and locked the door. She settled for a light meal of fruits, cheese, and a glass of Justice’s wine and played smooth jazz music. He had excellent taste in everything.

  It was nearly half past eight, and her body screamed for a complete shutdown. The kitchen now clean, she finally gave in to the beckoning of the hot bath and nearly fell asleep in the tub. It took strength and pure willpower to dress in her usual sleeping attire, and she fought a weak although valiant battle to keep her eyes open to finish the last of her notes. A few moments later, the battle was lost; she turned off the light and lay on the bed in a fetal position. The last sound she heard was the parrots squawking. She was too tired to care.

  In a sleepy daze, she felt something touch her cheeks. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a dark shadow on her cheek. Stupid fly. Too sleepy, she merely waved it away.

  It was back again; its cold, scratchy feet touched her cheek again. This time she saw it and screamed, “A lizard!” The parrots joined her with a high-pitched shriek.

  Seymour ran up the wall, along the ceiling, sat on top of the door, and bobbed its head.

  “I can’t believe this man.” She threw a brush at Seymour as he skittered into the next room; she slammed the door shut and stuffed anything within reach under it before she grabbed a golf club.

  “It’s not getting back in here tonight. What did Justice call that thing? Yes, Seymour. Nasty Seymour, if you come back in here tonight, you will not be seeing anything anymore. I’ll feed you to those parrots.” She would have until she remembered Seymour was to be a pet for Rayford and Gracie’s kids. If she wasn’t so afraid of the front room, she’d run to her place. She checked again to make sure Seymour wasn’t lurking around. Satisfied, she got back in bed with the golf club. She could see the headlines now: Psychologist Held Hostage by a Lizard. Gwen would love that.

  Caldwell couldn’t miss the pinched look on Justice’s face when he picked him up from the airport. It meant sleep would be a long time coming before it chased his shadows away.

  “Everything looked good in Dallas, I see.”

  “Yes, it did.”

  “Elrod is working with the lab. Lucky didn’t remember anything other than a man purposely bumped into her at the soup kitchen. Fred came in that same evening with the same symptoms, convulsions and paralysis, but he’ll be fine too.”

  “Good. Stay on top of it. See that both get whatever they need. Did you remind Jeri?”

  “Yes, I reminded Jeri about the hospital payroll.”

  Caldwell became tense, which was highly unusual; the man always kept it even.

  “Boss, Jeri nearly bit my head off when I reminded her. You know, some of us believe that woman is related to a rottweiler.”

  Justice laughed for the first time tonight. Then he saw how Caldwell nervously shifte
d the gears. “C’mon now. Jeri is tenacious if anything.”

  “Tenacious my ass. Boss, you don’t deal with her like we have to. You know she locks that damn door. Now you have to buzz to get in. Jeri should work for the Pentagon.”

  That was strange. He had a good security system.

  “I’ll call her tomorrow and see what’s going on.” He sure hoped Jeri hadn’t lived up to her threat of locking Gwen out of the office. He moaned. “God Almighty, I don’t have time for that.”

  “Well, you got it now,” Caldwell added. “By the way, she reminded me to tell you she was not some dimwit. She knew payroll had to be delivered and stop bothering her. Where in the hell did you get that woman?”

  “Jeri told you to tell me that?” He was certain Jeri’s message was directed to Caldwell’s ears only. He changed the subject. Jeri and Caldwell could kill each other on their own time. “Everything’s ready to go for Halloween?”

  “Yep. Everything’s a go. No red-tape problems. Even cancelled some of the smaller parades. The mayor refused to cancel the night ones. That’s on your plate too. You should shoot him. We have extra security. It’ll be fine. Before I forget, Jeri said to give you this.” He handed Justice a small plain white envelope. “She said it was left on the front security desk.”

  “What, a greeting card?”

  Caldwell shrugged. “She said you’d want to see it first.”

  Justice opened the white envelope, and his heart dropped. It was two photos of him, one of him and Kaitlyn dancing at Ricky’s, the other of them hugging by her car. The pictures were taken from a distance.

  “Shit.” He showed both to Caldwell.

  “Shit is right,” he agreed.

  Caldwell dropped Justice off at his complex but waited until he cleared the entrance. Justice stood in front of Kaitlyn’s door. It was nearly midnight, and he decided against disturbing her. She probably needed sleep as much as he did.