Cold

by Sha Jones

  “Hello?” I asked with hesitation but there was this dead silence.

  When I finally made it to my car, the shadow jumped in front of me and I screamed, dropping my phone, purse and paperwork. Once I realized what it was, I felt silly.

  “Damn cat!” I yelled as I reached down to pick up my things.

  I gathered everything in one pile and unlocked my car door. I immediately started my car up and drove off. As soon as I got home, I sat my purse on the counter and walked upstairs. I walk in my room and something dawned on me. I look down at my phone and noticed that the mystery caller didn’t call today. That was the best feeling of relief that I had today. I smiled to myself and grabbed a towel and walked to the bathroom. After my shower, I decide to call Carl.

  “Hello,” he answered.

  “Hey are you alright? Why are you breathing so heavy?” I asked in a panicky voice.

  Still breathing hard he responded, “Yea, I’m just finished working out.”

  “I really need to vent Carl. Do you have time?” I asked.

  “Of course Tiff. I’ll always make time for you. Now tell me what’s wrong,” he replied.

  “Well the night of our dinner, a man followed me and Michael all the way to the gas station. Michael said it was a client and to make the night even worse, one of my colleagues called him. She’s been having a thing for Michael since law school.”

  I can tell he was a little surprised by what I was telling him.

  “Oh. Do you think it’s something sexual going on between them?” he asked.

  Shaking my head I replied, “You know, I keep getting asked that same question. I honestly don’t know Carl. I don’t have the proof. It was just a damn phone call.”

  Carl paused for a minute as if he was thinking.

  Finally speaking he said, “You know what Tiff, you could just be over thinking. Think about it. Why would Michael answer the phone for another woman late at night right in front of you if he was sleeping with her? He wouldn’t disrespect you like that. We men are dumb but we’re not that dumb,” he said jokingly.

  When I thought about it, he made a lot of sense. With relief I sighed, “Thanks. You always know how to put things in perspective. Well I’m about to try to relax so I will talk to you later.”

  After my phone call with Carl, I got in my bed and laid down. It felt like my eyes were only closed for 5 minutes because when I opened my eyes, the whole room was dark. I checked my phone and it was 10:30. I had slept the whole day. Michael comes into the room. I don’t know what time he got here but at the moment, I didn’t even care to ask. He took off his clothes and headed towards the shower without even speaking to me. I guess he was still upset about the other night. I checked my phone again and had a few missed calls. Draya called but I didn’t feel like talking because the only thing I would talk about is Michael’s strange behavior, and I didn’t want to relive the past few days.

  I noticed that the mystery caller still hasn’t called. Strangely, I was curious to know why. Michael comes out of the bathroom and still doesn’t look at me. He grabs a pillow and I look at him confused.

  “Where are you going?” I asked with my head tilted to the side.

  He looked at me and sighed, “I just want some space tonight, that’s all,” he responded without making eye contact.

  I didn’t say anything else to his ass. I slumped back in the bed and turned my back to him. I didn’t have the energy to argue with him. It was just going to push him further away. Melanie’s words then began to resurface in my thoughts. She could’ve just been saying something to get under my skin. If there was anybody that wanted my husband, I would know. The bitch was just trying to confuse me.

  The next morning at work, I stayed busy. I had Draya going over contracts while I analyzed my cases. When I went down the hall to get some coffee, I couldn’t help but notice that Melanie’s door was closed. I looked through the side window to see if she was at her desk, but there was no trace of her and none of her personal belongings was on her desk. ‘That’s odd,’ I thought to myself. As soon as I got back to my office, I called Draya in.

  With this puzzled look on my face, I looked at her and said, “Melanie’s door is locked and she isn’t in her office.”

  Draya didn’t say anything. She just shrugged her shoulders as if she didn’t care and walked away. Maybe she was sick or something. I really didn’t care, but I found it strange that she called my husband and after I confronted her yesterday, she didn’t show up for work today. I didn’t know what was going on but I was sure as hell going to ask Michael when I got home. I pull into the driveway and seen Michael’s car parked. I walked in the house and Michael is sitting at the table reading over some mail. I look at him and waited to see if he would make eye contact with me.

  “You know Melanie didn’t show up for work today,” I said hoping his body language would tell me something but he didn’t even budge.

  Making sure he heard me I repeated, “Melanie didn’t show up for work.”

  He finally looked at me and shook his head.

  “So what do you expect me to say or do about it Tiff?” he asked with an attitude.

  “I just thought you would like to know that piece of information since y’all talk on the phone,” I said sarcastically.

  He rolled his eyes and dismissed himself from the kitchen table.

  Although I was having trouble sleeping, I decided to go to bed early. Michael was still sleeping on the couch. Maybe if I hadn’t pissed him off earlier, he would’ve slept in the bed with me tonight. As I’m getting ready to close my eyes, my phone buzzed. I grab my phone from the night stand and it says unknown caller. I knew that it would be a matter of time before this shit started happening to me again. I didn’t even answer or reject the call. I figured if I let it ring through, then maybe they’ll think I’m sleep. I put my phone back on the night stand and it buzzed again and I still didn’t answer. I wasn’t going to give this person the satisfaction of hearing my voice anymore. I put my phone on silent and turned over.

  The sun was beaming so loud through my window curtains that it woke me up. I reach for my phone and I had 27 missed calls. ‘You gotta be kidding me,’ I thought to myself. All of those calls were unknown. I took a deep breath and tried not to get pissed off. This shit was ridiculous. Why me? Who the hell would dislike me this much to play on my phone, and who the hell had that much time on their hands I wondered as I got dressed for work. I went downstairs to make coffee and there was no sight of Michael. I grabbed my keys and purse and headed out the door. As I’m walking towards my car, it looks a little different. I get closer and my jaw dropped.

  “OH HELL NO,” I yelled.

  Somebody key my damn Mercedes. I immediately called Draya.

  “Hello Draya. I’m going to be running late for work. I need you to type up a few of my contracts until I get there,” I hung up and jumped in my car and drove to the police station.

  I’m driving full speed, almost running every stop light. My head started pounding and my heart was beating twice as fast. I finally pull into the police station leaving my phone and purse in the car. I walked to the front desk damn near in tears. The Clerk could tell I was distraught.

  She looked at me with concern and asked, “Can I help you ma’am?”

  With a tremble in my voice I responded, “Yes, my name is Tiffany Moore and I would like to file a complaint. Someone keyed my car.”

  She looked at me with no expression and asked, “Well do you know who keyed your car?”

  I was starting to get frustrated all over again.

  “If I knew who keyed my car, they would be in jail already,” I replied sarcastically.

  She looked at me and rolled her eyes.

  “Ma’am it’s not much that can be done. You don’t know who keyed your car and I’m sure you have no witnesses.”

  I was so pissed; I gave her the coldest look and stormed out of the police station. When I got to my car, I sat in the parking lot and b
roke down. It seemed like bad things were happening back to back. ‘Who the fuck could it be,’ I thought to myself. I started thinking about anybody that I’ve ever had any problems with and only one name popped into my head.

  “Melanie,” I mumbled under my breath.

  That bitch had every motive in the book. She wanted my life, my career and my husband. I started my car and swerved so hard that I left tire prints in the road. I walked into work and went straight to Melanie’s office but she wasn’t in it. I found it strange that as soon as she disappears, my car gets keyed. I decide to go back to my car and I see everybody standing around in a huddle. Draya and my other colleagues were standing there like zombies. I walked up to them with caution.

  “What’s going?” I asked.

  Draya looked at me like she saw a ghost. The words that came out of her mouth seemed to blow me back. My heart sank and I could feel the blood from my body getting cold. The words seemed to echo. Melanie was dead.

  Chapter 6

  Melanie’s death came as a shock. I felt terrible. Who would do this to her, I wondered. It was like someone dropped a ton of bricks on me. I could barely speak and it’s like my feet were cemented into the ground. I felt like I was going to be sick. This was the coldest one.

  I turned to Draya and asked, “How did she die? Are you sure it’s Melanie that died?” I asked hoping that she would tell me no.

  Draya put her head down and paused.

  She then looked up at me and said, “They say that someone shot her in the head and slit her throat. It’s strange because they found her car in the parking lot of a hospital.”

  ‘Who the hell had motive to kill Melanie,’ I thought to myself. I didn’t like Melanie but I would never want her dead. This was too much to take in. I decided to go home. The road looked blurry to me. Everything was moving in slow motion and it sounded like voices were echoing in my head. I thought I was going crazy. I reach in my purse and grab my phone to call Michael. He picks up on the first ring.

  “Hello.”

  In a panic I yelled, “Michael please meet me at the house now.”

  I could tell he was clueless and he hadn’t got the news of Melanie’s death yet.

  “Is everything alright?” he asked.

  I was shaking my head as if he could see me.

  “Just get home now Michael,” I sighed.

  As soon as I got home, I dropped my purse on the floor and went to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of wine. I gulped the first glass so fast that the wine was seeping from the corners of my mouth. I started on my second glass right away. Michael walked through the door in a panic.

  “What’s wrong Tiff?” he asked with his eyes wide open.

  I took a deep breath and braced myself.

  “Melanie’s dead,” I replied.

  It’s like Michael was frozen. He just stood there like a statue.

  “I gotta go. I gotta make a phone call!”

  Before I could stop him or say anything to him, he was already out the door. This was a lot to take in and I wasn’t sure what the fuck was going on. It’s like I was in another world. I grabbed my wine and sat on the couch waiting for Michael to return. It was 11:45 p.m. when Michael returned. He was sweaty and he looks like he had been in fight. I walk up to him and demanded answers.

  “Michael what the fuck is going on?”

  There was so much pain in my voice. I felt like my husband wasn’t even standing in front of me. That’s just how distant he was. He put his hand up cutting me off.

  “Tiffany I don’t wanna hear this shit tonight.

  Next thing I knew I was all in his face.

  “What the fuck you mean you don’t wanna hear this shit tonight? Are you serious? You need to tell me what the fuck is going on right now!”

  Michael put his hand up again and walked away like I didn’t mean shit to him. I couldn’t stay in this house with him any longer so I reached for my phone and called Carl.

  “Hello,” he answered in a low tone.

  “Carl me and Michael had an argument. I can’t stay here. Is it okay if I stay in your guest room for a few days until I can clear my head?”

  I was a total wreck.

  “Yes of course, you can come. I’ll have Tangy set things up for you in the guest room so you can be comfortable.”

  After I got off the phone with Carl, I went upstairs and grabbed my suitcase. Michael looked at me and put his hand on his hip.

  “Where the fuck you going?” he asked angrily.

  I ignored him and continued packing my clothes. If he didn’t have to answer to me, I sure as hell wasn’t going to answer to him. He then grabbed me by my arm and just stared at me.

  “Tiff, where are you going?”

  I jerked my arm away from him and looked at him like he was crazy.

  “I’m going to Carl’s for a few days until we can both calm down.”

  Michael released my arm and walked downstairs. Minutes later, and grabbed my hand.

  “I don’t want you going to Carl’s house. I don’t care if he is your friend. He’s still a man.”

  I couldn’t believe he said that.

  “Oh so now you wanna play the overprotective husband role now? Where the fuck was you weeks ago?” I snatched my hand back and grabbed my suitcase and left his ass standing there like a fool.

  As soon as Carl came to the door, I jumped in his arms and cried. He was stroking my hair and trying to console me.

  “Let’s get you in the house,” he advised.

  When we turned to walk in the house, Tangy was staring at me with a cold look on her face.

  “Hey Tangy,”

  She didn’t say anything. She grabbed my suitcase and carried it to the guest room. I silently followed behind her. Tangy was always sweet but she seemed a little off tonight.

  The next morning, I woke up to a horrible headache. It felt like someone took a hammer and hit me in the head. I had no plans of leaving this room today. I needed time to think and clear my thoughts. I couldn’t get over Melanie’s death. It was crazy how she died so suddenly. I and Melanie never got along, but I would never wish death on her. I don’t even know who else would hate her that much that they had to take her life. I also started thinking about my car. I didn’t know who did it, so it wasn’t much that I could do.

  Later that day, Carl came to the door and said, “Knock Knock, can I come in?”

  I smiled and let him in. He was carrying a breakfast tray with eggs, bacon, pancakes and grits.

  “Breakfast?” he asked with a smile.

  “Thank you,” I nodded.

  “How are you feeling today?” Carl asked as he put his hand on my shoulder.

  Shaking my head I responded, “I don’t know. Remember the woman I was telling you that called Michael the other night?”

  He shook his head in a yes motion and looked at me like he was waiting for me to continue talking.

  “Well they found her dead in her car yesterday.”

  Carl’s eyes got big and he begin asking questions.

  “Who did it? How did she die? Why would anyone want to kill her?”

  It was too much all at once. I put my hand over my forehead and hung my head low.

  “I wish I had all the answers to those questions but I don’t and on top of it all, my car ended up getting keyed and I’ve been getting private calls as well.”

  He sighed and put his hand on my lap and with sympathy in his voice he said, “Tiff I hate that you are going through this. I really suggest you change your number and don’t give it to anyone but your family and friends. Your clients can call you on your work phone.”

  I looked at him as if he just asked me to slap my mama.

  “Carl, I don’t know about that.”

  He stood up and he got serious.

  “If you want these private calls to stop, you have to change your number. Do it today. I promise it will give you some peace,” he reassured.

  I thought about what he said and decided to c
hange it. After I changed my number, I sent all of my family and friends a text message giving them my new number. I then called Michael.

  “Hello,” he answered.

  “Hey it’s me, Tiffany. This is my new number. Carl talked me into changing it due to all the private calls.”

  He paused for a minute and then began speaking in a low tone.

  “Tiff, I don’t want you at Carl’s. You have a home to come home to.”

  I can’t believe he was acting jealous. His ass should’ve thought about that before he started treating me any kind of way. Before I could speak, he responded again.

  “Please come home,” he pleaded.

  I rolled my eyes and gave in right on the spot.

  “Okay,” I sighed.

  I grabbed all of my things and kissed Carl and told him I was going back home. I can tell he didn’t really want me to leave so soon, but I did miss my own bed and I missed my husband. When I got home, I made sure to park in the garage. Since my car got keyed, I was thinking about having hidden cameras installed. Since it was nothing the police could do, I was going to do my own damn investigation. When I walked in the house, Michael greeted me with a hug and a kiss. His grip was so tight, I could barely breathe.