by Lolah Lace
Tami angled her face up and her lips brushed against Mike’s ear.
She whispered. “I do love you back.”
A quiet smile crept up on Mike’s upturned face.
CHAPTER 18
Popular rock music played loudly in the small town sports bar and grill. The pub was pretty dead. There were only a few people at the bar and a few at the tables. Crystal leaned over the bar to gather empty glasses and wet napkins. She had long ash blonde, curly hair and grayish blue eyes.
A male bar patron stared at the Two Rivers name and logo across the young bartender’s skin tight T-shirt. His eyes bulged as he noticed the imprint of Crystal’s nipple. He realized she wasn’t wearing a bra and smiled to himself.
Crystal laid two empty glasses in the sink behind the bar. The older female bartender, Holly, rang up a customer a few feet away.
“Hey Crystal.” She responded to the sound of her name.
“What do you need?” Crystal asked Holly.
The bartender gave the waiting customer change and walked over to Crystal.
“Could you please clear the corner table in the back for me?”
“Why? Is your ex-husband here again?”
“Very funny.” Holly smirked. “I got a drunk kid over there. Maybe he’ll be nicer to you. I’m too old for this shit.”
Crystal took a glance at the table in the back, across the room. Marcus Dixon was sitting alone in a dark corner surrounded by vacant tables. She pointed when he wasn’t looking.
“You mean that guy over there?”
“That is the guy. He’s had around four too many, and I don’t want to be the one to tell him he’s cut off. He may take it better from a pretty young lady like you.”
“Four too many? Why did you keep serving him?”
“I lost count.”
“Okay, I got you covered.”
“You are the sweetest. I wish I could trade you in for my kids.”
“There’s no need for that. Just write me into your will.”
“Ha, I’ll give you half my estate.” Holly laughed. She noticed a bar patron needed a refill. She left Crystal and walked to the opposite end of the bar.
Crystal grabbed a dishtowel and walked out from behind the bar. She walked over to the table being occupied by Marcus Dixon.
“Hey.” Crystal noticed as Marcus looked her up and down. She was used to it.
“Did that old lady send you over here?”
“No sir. She’s just busy with another customer.”
“Damn girl! You got some big ass titties to be a White girl. They can’t be real. You bought them shits?”
Crystal ignored Marcus’ racist comment. She started clearing away empty glasses and beer bottles off his table. She knew he was completely inebriated. Why did Holly continue to serve him? She wondered.
“Oh okay, you gonna act like you don’t hear me. What’s up? You too cute to talk to a brother?”
Crystal reached across the table for an iced-filled glass. Marcus surprised her by grabbing ahold of her wrist.
Her eyes shot down to his unwanted, firm grip. “Please let me go.”
“You, go get me another drink!”
“Sorry sir. I can’t get you another drink. Let me go.” Marcus threw the remainder of his last drink at Crystal’s chest.
“Wet T-shirt contest, you win.”
Crystal was appalled. This had never happened to her. She leaned in close toward Marcus. Her eyes grew wild, and her nostrils flared.
“Listen here; you broke ass dragon breath muthafucker! You had better let me go, or I will buss yo’ drunk ass in the head with this muthafuckin’ beer bottle!”
Dumbfounded, Marcus looked down at the table and realized that Crystal was holding a brown glass beer bottle in her hand. Marcus looked Crystal directly in her eyes before he released her wrist.
“White bitch!”
“I’m not even White. You blind bastard.”
A stocky, muscular, bouncer rushed over to the table after seeing the commotion Marcus had caused.
“Hey punk. Did you touch her?”
“Man, I didn’t do shit to that girl.” Marcus lied.
Crystal took in a breath to regain her composure. She wanted to claw Marcus’ eyes out of his head. She didn’t get paid enough for this type of bullshit. But this wasn’t the first or the last time she would have an asshole as a customer.
“It’s okay, Jeff. He’s just had a few too many.” She tried to explain away Marcus’ inexcusable behavior.
“You act civilized, or I’ll kick you right outta here.”
“He’s cut off. It’s cool.” Crystal added.
“You just chill out and let some of that booze wear off.”
“Would y’all stop harassing me? Go fuck with some of these White people up in here.”
“Look dude. Chill out.”
“ ‘Look dude. You chill out.’ ” Marcus properly mocked Jeff.
Jeff shook his head in disgust. “Did he throw a drink on you?”
Crystal tilted her head to let him know that was exactly what he did. She picked up the dish tub of empty glasses and walked away. She had enough for one night.
Jeff soon followed her over to the bar after warning Marcus once again.
“Crystal just say the word, and I will kick his ass right out of here.” Jeff offered, eager to flex his muscle.
“I’m sure that asshole can’t drive. Let him sit there for a while. I don’t want you to wrestle him for his car keys.”
“I can take that dude.”
“I’m sure you can, but why bother.”
“Look who’s here?” Jeff grinned and looked over to the bars entrance. Crystal’s eyes followed his lead.
Two White male Hinsdale police officers walked into the bar. They were uniformed in head to toe black. The officers looked more like trained military assassins than local police.
“I think Officer Russell has a crush on you.” Jeff surmised. “He never comes in here on your off days.”
Crystal and Jeff walked to the edge of the bar.
“He may have a crush on you.” She joked.
Jeff didn’t think it was funny. “You need me to get Officer Russell to throw that guy outta here.”
Officer Russell walked toward the bar wearing a smile directed solely at Crystal. She thought about it; tonight just seemed to be a night when the police were around when you needed them.
*****
Later that evening a large, dark blue sports utility vehicle pulled into a vacant parking space in front of the Studio Pictures video store. The passenger door opened and Tami stepped out. Mike sat in the driver’s seat. Tami closed her door and walked into the video store leaving Mike in the truck.
A young woman smiled and greeted Tami from behind the counter of the store. Tami returned her smile.
Tami spotted Misty right away cataloging movies in the drama section. It was nice to see Misty back at work. She needed to probably keep her mind off her twin’s death. Tami would never forget how devastated Misty was when she received the news of her sister’s death. It was eerie how much they resembled each other.
Tami walked down the center aisle and right toward Misty.
“Misty.”
The jumpy girl turned toward the unfamiliar voice. “Hi.”
“Hey, how have you been?” Tami didn’t have to pretend to be concerned. She genuinely was.
“I’m getting better. I came back to work.” She shrugged off her emotional progress. “I feel better not being at home. I’m sorry I don’t remember your name. I kind of blocked all that stuff out.”
“Detective Tami Johnson. I saw you, and I thought I recognized you. How are your mom and dad?”
“My mom’s okay, but my dad is not so good. He’s a recovering alcoholic. He’s back drinking again.”
“I’m sorry to hear that Misty. I just want you to know I’m doing everything I can to find who did this to your sister. I’m going to find this person. Are you seeing s
omeone, a therapist or a counselor?”
“No.” Misty slightly rolled her eyes at the prospect of professional help.
Jason stood in the action movie section staring at Tami and Misty from afar. The cops always made him nervous, and those feelings were kicked up a notch when they questioned him about Kelly White’s murder
Tami tried to appeal to Misty from a place of total sincerity. “If you ever need to talk to someone, I’m available. I know exactly what you’re going through. I know how it feels to lose a sister. I’ll give you my home number and the number at the station.”
Tami rummaged through her purse for her business card and a pen. She scribbled her home number on the back of the card. “You can call me anytime.” She handed the card to Misty.
Mike sat in his truck waiting for Tami. He knew Tami well enough to know she had more on her mind than picking a movie up from the video store when she requested this late night video run. He looked out his front truck window and saw Tami engaged in a conversation with Misty.
He wondered what they could be talking about. He knew he wouldn’t ask. He would wait for her to share. Tami had a huge problem with openness. He had pushed her in the past only to be shunned for an entire month. Mike’s cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He removed it from his belt case and answered.
“Hello. Hey Russ, I’m off the clock.” Mike stated bluntly.
Police Officer Russell stood next to a black squad car with dark tinted windows. He was parked right outside the entrance of the bar. His sturdy frame stood directly under the sign of the Bar & Grill. He held his cell phone to his ear.
“I know you’re off the clock. I thought you’d be interested to know that Marcus Dixon is over here at Two Rivers. He’s inebriated. He had a small altercation with a female bartender. Do you want us to take him in on a drunk and disorderly?”
“No, no don’t arrest him. His lawyer would just get him out.” Mike warned through the cell. He was exasperated by Marcus’ nerve.
“I can’t let him drive, so I’ll just give him a ride home.”
“That sounds good. Keep an eye on him. He has a temper, and he’s looking for trouble.”
“Will do.”
Mike looked through his truck window into the video store and noticed Jason Kramer leering in Tami’s direction, while she paid for a video at the checkout counter.
“Hey Russ, I’m just around the corner. I’ll drive by if you need some assistance.”
“No Mike, we’re cool over here. I just thought you should know one of your suspects is boozing it up.”
“Thanks Russ. Later.”
Mike had a thought that never occurred to him before. He only just realized how difficult it must be for Tami to be a detective. Officer Russell wasn’t even in the same jurisdiction as Mike. Somehow he called him instead of Tami.
Marcus Dixon was really Tami’s suspect, not his at all. Maybe the job was what made her apprehensive about their future. Maybe she didn’t want to marry a cop, or worse maybe she didn’t think he was a good man or future husband. Mike hated how Tami made him doubt so many things he never thought about with any other woman.
Mike hadn’t come from much. His father was a cop and his mother was a social worker. His upbringing was normal. At least, he believed so.
Mike sat there quietly waiting. The passenger door finally opened. Tami climbed in closing the door behind her. He backed out the parking space and waited to tell Tami about Officer Russell’s call.
He drove the speed limit and contemplated his next move. Mike was curious by nature, one of the many reasons he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. He made a right turn down a darkened side street. He looked up and saw the bright sign that read Two Rivers Sports Bar & Grill.
Mike slowly approached the front entrance of the bar. Tami’s eyes were glued to the passenger window. She noticed the police vehicle parked in the lot.
Officer Russell stood at the rear of the squad car with the rear passenger door open and Marcus Dixon sitting handcuffed in the backseat. Mike blew his horn. Officer Russell turned toward the sound. He waved at the same moment Tami waved to him from Mike’s open truck window.
Things must have gone haywire. Marcus was being taken in. Mike knew that if the young man went to the drunk-tank overnight he wouldn’t harm anyone or himself. Mike thought about stopping to talk to Officer Russell, but he knew he would be briefed tomorrow at the police station. Once Mike’s truck cleared the bar he resumed his speed.
CHAPTER 19
Mike now had an open invitation to Tami’s place. The engagement ring softened her up or at least he hoped so. He wanted her in his life. He preferred it that way. Whatever it took he was willing to do. He had fallen for her right away. The first time he laid eyes on her he was smitten. He wasn’t the type to clamor over any woman, but Tami was different.
He remembered how he wished she wasn’t in law enforcement. He cared about her safety. He thought of how he pretended not to see her at first. He couldn’t deny that after the initial perusal of her body he checked her finger for a wedding ring. Something he had never done before.
He held his thoughts close. Scaring her away was the last thing he wanted to do. He would pack all his stuff and move into her townhouse if she said the word. He had practically lived there off and on for the past two years.
Mike had resumed his place on Tami’s couch when they returned. He got up to see what Tami was doing in the kitchen. He wanted her next to him. He missed the closeness they shared when they were in a committed relationship. He was trying to make up for lost time.
Mike went in search of Tami found her in the kitchen. She was standing near the microwave. There was a rapid popping sound then a series of three beeps. She reached in the microwave and retrieved a hot bag of microwavable popcorn with the very tip of her fingers.
“Popcorn ready?” Mike sensed that he had said the wrong thing.
Tami flashed a harsh look in Mike’s direction. “Yeah, it’s ready.” Tami shook the bag. “Get a bowl.”
Mike opened the cupboard. He grabbed a large red plastic bowl from the top shelf. He passed the bowl over to Tami.
“You’re in a foul mood. What happened?”
Tami opened the popcorn bag. The heat escaped the bag slightly burning her fingertips. “Shit, it’s hot.” She stopped to glance at him. “Nothing has happened. I’m just tired and a little frustrated.”
“It’s not me, is it?”
“No, it’s not you. It’s this case. That young girl Misty, she breaks my heart.”
“Does this case bring back memories from your father’s death?”
“No, my dad died when I was five. I don’t even remember anything bad or sad about him. I only remember the good times me and my dad had together.”
“What about your mother?”
“What about yours?” She smarted as she poured the popcorn into the bowl.
“My mother?” Mike thought about proceeding with caution, but that wasn’t how he was built. “Do you mean my mother, the mother that wants to know why you refuse to come to dinner every time she invites us over?”
“Why are you trying to push your mother on me?”
“Push, that’s the natural progression of any adult relationship.”
“What relationship?”
Her words hurt him, but he was used to her random fits of defensiveness.
“What relationship? You can say that after I gave you a ring? Just because your mother ran off and left you doesn’t mean—” Mike abruptly stopped speaking. He did it. He pissed her off. There would be no sex for him tonight.
Tami walked up to Mike’s face.
“For your information, as far as I’m concerned, you don’t get it. You don’t understand shit!”
“True. I don’t, Tami. Christ, make me understand!”
“My mother, she abandoned me. She said to hell with you. She has a new life with her new husband and new kids.”
“You have brothers and sisters?
” This was news to Mike. He didn’t know much about Tami’s past. She was very secretive. Although they had been together two years, she’d never opened up to him. This revelation into her past was a shocker.
“Please, to hell with them. They are no siblings to me.” Tears began to stagnate at the corners of her eyes.
“Listen. Not everyone is like your mother.”
“I know that.”
“My mother is not like that. I’m not either. I want to marry you. I would never, ever abandon you.”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that.”
“Tell me.”
“You’re not hearing me. She left me. She was like ‘fuck you kid.’ She has a new life with her White husband and her White kids. She never even came back to get me. She’s living her White life, and it’s like ‘fuck that Black baby I had.’ ”
“Christ Tami, I didn’t know it was like that.”
“What kind of shit is that? Tell me. What makes you so different? What happens when one day you wake up and it’s like I’m tired of people staring at me because of my brown wife and brown babies? You will just think ‘I’ll get me a blonde wife and start another White family.’ Do you think I’m going to marry you, so you can leave when you realize an interracial relationship is hard? Well, I know it’s hard. I’ve been living being mixed my whole life. I just straight up do not trust you to be there for me.”
“Why, just because I’m White?”
“You said it, not me.”
“I’m not a moron. I’ve thought about all these things. Our kids, our life, what kind of wife and mother you would be. How can you say you don’t trust me?”
“I trust you with my life but not with my heart. I’ve been hurt too many times before.”
“You have never been hurt by me, and you never will.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
Mike reached out to Tami and forcibly pulled her close. “I’ve never lied to you. Let’s just talk about this later. I wasn’t trying to upset you. I’m sorry.” He wanted to diffuse the situation before it blew up in his face.