by Eric Pete
“Damn. This is his house? Is he seeing someone?”
“Uh . . . yeah.”
Not seeing Akhet’s whip by the water fountain, I had Renika park there. Three white guys in green jumpsuits were having a powwow at the back of a nearby van.
“They look like the FBI.”
“I know you’ve gotta run,” I said as I tried to curb her curiosity while undoing my seatbelt. “I’ll get a ride home. Do you know your way out?”
“Yeah, I’ll go. But I wanna holler at Akhet first.”
Sighing, I spoke. “Suit yourself.”
By the time we’d reached the front door, I figured out what was going on. The work crew was checking for bugging equipment all over his house.
“Can I help you?” Kyne said as she came around from the open garage. “Oh. Hey, Lance!” she said as she noticed me in front of Renika.
“You’re Coin, right?” Renika asked as if recalling a mention of her by Val, which couldn’t have been a good one. She was still technically friends with Val, so that put Kyne in the enemy’s camp.
“It’s Kyne. K-Y-N-E.”
She chuckled, “I was close.”
“And you would be?”
“Renika.”
“Renika. Renika. Hmmm. Oh. I’ve heard of you,” she laughed. “You fucked up my boy Lance’s wedding. Of course, that was probably one of the best things to happen to him.”
“Now I see what Val was talking about,” Renika said as she squinted. “And for the record, I didn’t fuck up anybody’s wedding.”
“Yeah, you did,” Kyne laughed wickedly. She was in her element and having fun now. “Hell, you probably wanted Lance for yourself. Sister, I don’t blame you though. Lance is quite the stud. Ain’tcha, Lance?”
Renika became uncomfortable with Kyne’s turning up the heat. “What are you doing here?” she asked indignantly.
“Honey, I live here. What are you doing here?”
“Kyne, stop. She gave me a ride here.”
“Oooh,” she said playfully as she smirked at Renika. “In her little red car?”
“You got a problem with my car?”
“No. It’s cute,” Kyne answered with a raised eyebrow. “It’s just the plate on the front that I have a problem with.”
“Oh, you must be one of them.”
“Sho you right,” Kyne confirmed as she threw up the rival sorority’s hand sign with glee. It came as a surprise as I didn’t think Kyne had the temperament to have pledged anything.
“Just one more reason for me not to stand your ass,” Renika sighed with a roll of her eyes.
“Well, you can just count those reasons as you drive the fuck outta here.”
The two of them got in each other’s face, and hands were starting to wave every which way with each stressed word. Neither one was going to back down and this was one of those rare occasions when Kyne’s mother’s heritage was about to show through and she would start cursing in Spanglish, so I put the brakes on all the mess.
“Stop it, both of you!” I said, stepping in between the two of them. “I didn’t come here for any foolishness. Kyne, where’s Akhet?”
Realizing how childish she looked at a time like this, I saw the seriousness creep back into her eyes. She apologetically answered, “He’s in the backyard. The door’s open. Just step on through.”
“Thanks,” I said as I went inside. Kyne didn’t budge, instead making Renika go around her after I motioned for Renika to follow.
Akhet smiled and gave me a nod as he was wrapping up a conversation on his cell. Renika was still lagging behind as she was taking in the sights inside.
“Bruh, sorry about the mess. I had to find these guys from out of state to sweep the crib. They just found a hidden camera by the toilet. Bruh, that’s sick. The guard said you weren’t in your car. Came with Val? Kyne told me she bailed you out.”
“No, I got a ride with Renika. Somebody took a bat to my shit.”
“I got ya covered. It’s the least I can do. Just call this shop,” he insisted as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a business card. “They went easy on ya,” he laughed. “Mine’s at the shop now. My windows are gone and I had a dead nutria on the front seat,” he said, referring to the big ratlike rodents that lived all over the area. “I can’t drive anywhere with that smell. Think they tryin’ to send me a message?”
“What are you doing to protect yourself?”
“Some security people are coming by later . . . for Kyne. I don’t need that kinda shit for myself, ya dig. I’m a grown ass man.”
“Whatever,” I said sarcastically.
“I got me a new attorney to deal with the charges, but the club’s talking about suing me for damages. The Birdman just left here. Did you see him? Check this out . . . He said if I can get outta my contract, then Cash Money would step up.”
“That’s good, but I don’t think On-Phire’s going away that easy.”
“I know. I know. I’ve got dirt on them with this home invasion they’re pulling outta my walls now.”
We talked some more as we looked out onto the waterway that flowed past Akhet’s backyard. He danced around the subject of how he was going to handle the secret On-Phire held over his head, but there was no denying it bothered him. Renika, having probably given herself a tour of Akhet’s crib, had decided to join us.
“Bruh, why you with her?” he asked quietly before Renika got within earshot.
“Relax. Things blew up with Val for good and I needed a ride. That’s all.”
“Akhet,” Renika shouted across the lawn. “How’s my big celebrity doing?”
“I’m chillin’,” he replied as he gave her a quick, friendly hug. He did not want to be on Kyne’s bad side as she was surely watching from nearby.
41
I rapped on the bars again with my key ring. “Come on in, baby. It’s open.”
I don’t know how she heard me over the sounds of Mahalia Jackson as she took it to church. I could hear the scratches in the LP that had been worn by the record player needle for at least twenty years. Her back was turned to me as she rocked back and forth.
“You shouldn’t leave your door unlocked. The neighborhood’s changed.”
“Long as I haven’t changed . . . that’s what’s important, baby,” Mrs. Dumas said as she briefly stopped her rocking. “Come give me a hug.”
Leaving the door unlocked was not like her, nor was calling me. Mrs. Dumas never called anybody, even when she needed help. She was very independent and claimed she didn’t want anybody to go out of his or her way. That’s why I rushed over when I recognized her voice on my answering machine.
“You like Mahalia?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I answered with the obedience of a choirboy although I never listened to much gospel.
“Yes, indeed. She’s got me through a lot over the years. I remember listening to her the night my baby Kevin died. Have a seat, child.”
“Your call . . . I got your message,” I said, sitting on the loveseat to the side of her. She had begun rocking again—a steady sway that would let out a slight creak on the floorboards just as she went back. “Something wrong?”
“You know he comes visit me at least once a week?” No answer to my question.
Thinking she may have slipped into senility, I nervously asked, “Who?”
“Akhet.”
“He really loves you. I do too.”
“You were always the stronger one, Lance. Akhet looks to you like a brother he never had. He tells me this.”
I watched her rock. Her eyes were closed now, but she wasn’t falling asleep. . . . Just doing that thing that old folks do. “Did you hear about the other night?
“Baby, I don’t watch much TV, but word gets around here. This old neighborhood speaks to me even when some people won’t. I only listen for the truth though—the Lord’s truth. You can’t go wrong with that.”
She wasn’t judging, but I felt compelled to tell her more. “Akhet’s o
kay. We’re both okay. Things are just getting out of hand with some people.”
“This world needs happiness. People need to put their egos aside. That would solve a lot of this heartache. What makes you happy, baby?”
“I don’t know, ma’am,” I said as I scratched my head. “I’m not sure these days.”
“Remember what I said about the truth,” she said, opening her eyes. She stared at me deep and hard through her eyeglasses before closing them again. “Remember what I said.”
I sat and watched Mrs. Dumas rock back and forth, never fully knowing why she called me. I knew Akhet was at the root of it and that she was worried about him, but she seemed to have many messages in the few sentences she spoke. It was getting late and I had to make my way back across the river. When the needle reached the end of her album, I gave her a big hug and kiss and took my leave.
Once I was certain she had locked her burglar bars, I reached for the keys to my rental. In the dead of night, the shadows on Desire Street seemed to take on a life of their own. Before stepping off the porch, I cautiously looked toward both sides of Mrs. Dumas’ house and at the empty lots across the street. You never knew when someone might try to run up on you.
With doubts erased, I left and was just getting in the car. I was thinking about stopping by the Chicken Box again, when a pair of huge hands snatched me up.
“What’s up, Lance? Still comin’ around the old neighborhood, huh?” Hands moved rapidly over me as if searching for a piece, then relaxed their grip when they found nothing.
I wrestled free and pushed my attacker away. I then spat at him. “What!” I shouted with anger. “You’re gonna try to shoot me now too, Melvin?”
“If I wanted to, you’d be dead already. One in the back of the head. Poof. You know that, boy,” he smiled as if gloating over prior deeds. As he stood wrapped in the partial darkness under the busted streetlight, all I saw were his teeth and eyes. There was no one with him, at least that I could see. Dudes like Melvin did a lot of dirt all by their lonely and the way he was dressed led me to believe he didn’t want to be recognized. “You saved your boy the other night, but that kind of luck runs out.”
Trying my hand at diplomat, I spoke carefully. “Look, why don’t you let this beef go? AK hates you and you hate him. Just let him go on his way, bruh.”
“Fuck that. He tried to punk me in the club. That’s bad for business on these streets and not just this record shit. AK signed a contract and he’s going to live it out or it’s gonna outlive him. I make my money either way. Yo bitch-ass friend tried to give me a message. But you know what? I think I need to give yo friend one right back. You hurt my wrist, but it got better.” Melvin laughed, which caused the hairs on the back of my neck to rise up. As he reached for his gun, the porch light of Mrs. Dumas’ house came on. I could hear her key as she tried to unlock the burglar bars on her door quickly.
“Momma D still lookin’ out, huh?” he said as he quickly stashed his gun away. “Stupid old lady. If only she knew.” His eyes glared at me.
Back on the porch, Mrs. Dumas was coming out, big Radio Shack flashlight in hand. “Lance, that you?” she asked as the beam of light shone on my face. “Why you still out here, baby? Who you talkin’ to?”
Just that fast, Melvin was back in the shadows. I had been lucky, but doubted that was the end of it.
42
Lance,
COME QUICK!
Something’s happened to Val at Oakdale Park!
THIS ISN’T A JOKE!
The handwritten note was taped to my apartment door. I could tell the handwriting was a woman’s even though it was unsigned. After my run-in with Melvin outside Mrs. Dumas’ place, I had called Akhet and warned him. Was this note some kind of joke? Had Melvin gone after Val in my stead? I didn’t know, but frankly the thought made me sick to my stomach. I snatched the note and ran back down the stairs.
The park wasn’t far away from my place, so I made it there in no time. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary as I drove past the park to make my U-turn. I hurriedly looked down at the note again to make sure I had the right park. Yep, this was it. This was the park that held many memories for Val and me. I remembered pushing her on the swing on our last visit and hated the thought of some disaster tainting the place.
Leaving the car running, I parked almost on the grass and jumped out. I ran around the recreation center first, looking for someone in charge. The place was sealed tighter than a coffin. If she had been taken away in an ambulance, I had no way of knowing.
A few people were on the walking track and the playground was empty. Finding a bench nearby, I took a seat and pulled out my cell. Val’s number was still on speed dial although I knew it by heart.
“Mrs. Lewis, it’s Lance. Where’s Valerie?”
“She got your message and is on her way.”
“My message?”
“You’re at the park, right?”
“Yes, but . . . never mind.” I watched Valerie speed into the parking lot and stop right next to my car. She saw me and we ran toward one another.
“What’s wrong?”
“Are you okay? What happened to you?”
“I got the message.”
“I got yours!”
“What message?” we asked in unison. I was holding her in my arms out of relief that she was okay, but we both began realizing that something wasn’t right.
“I got a message that something happened to you. Someone left it on my door.”
Val looked at me as if I were crazy. “I got a message too . . . but it said you were in trouble. What’s going on?”
“Don’t look at me. Someone’s screwing around with both of us.”
We turned at the sound of a honking horn. Renika drove up and stopped just inches from us. I could see her broad smile as if she were the only one in on a private joke. She got out to join us.
“Is this your idea of a joke?” Val asked, walking over to Renika.
“Don’t front now,” she chuckled. Ignoring her girlfriend’s hostile posture, she bopped along and took her stand between the two of us. “I was watching y’all. Oooh, it was priceless. Lance, you already drive like a madman, but Val . . . I’ve never seen you drive that fast.”
“That’s because I thought—” she blurted out before catching herself.
“Thought what? Hmm? Girl, you need to come clean. You were concerned about this man here.”
I held back a laugh.
“And you!”
“What about me?” I asked as the attention was shifted my way.
“I saw you running around the park looking for your woman here.”
“Hey, I get a message like that shit you left on my door and I don’t care who it is.”
“That’s just it, Lance baby,” she said pinching my cheek. Renika was having too much fun with this. “You do care. You always care.”
“I shouldn’t be talking to you anyway,” Val barked. “Then you pull something like this?”
“And why don’t you want to talk to me? Because I told Lance the truth? Because I was his friend? Val . . . I’m both y’all’s friend! And I’ve been stuck in the middle for way too long.”
“I’m gone.” Looking at me, Val continued, “You made it apparent last time how you felt.”
“Wait! Wait!” Renika shouted in an attempt to stop Val. She kept walking. “Lance, do you really want her to go? Will that make you happy?”
“What makes you happy?” I whispered aloud to myself, hearing Mrs. Dumas’ question in my head.
“Huh? What did you say? Lance, she’s leaving! Do you want Val to leave?”
“No.”
It was barely audible, but Renika picked it up.
“Your man said he doesn’t want you to leave. Did you hear that?”
“He’s not my man,” Val replied bitterly. She hadn’t gotten in her car yet, which spoke volumes.
“Yeah. But he wants to be.” Renika smiled. “For better or worse. And I
think we’ve already seen the worse.”
“Renika, stop. It’s not going to work.”
“Why not? Lance, you know if it doesn’t work with Val then it never will. Hell, you even rejected me and my red dress and I know my shit’s the bomb,” she laughed. Val took offense to the comment, but Renika blew her off. “Come on, y’all. Work with me here! Both of you have whined, complained, and boo-hooed over each other and I’ve had to hear it again and again and again. Can’t you at least give it one last try for me?”
Ever since I had lashed out at Val to pay her back, I’d been dying to take it back. Renika, God bless her with her goofy scheme, had given me that chance. “I’d like to give it a try. . . . If it’s okay with you.” Stepping to Val, I continued, “I apologize for what I’ve said . . . or done. And I’m sorry for the whole ‘Robert thing’ at your house. He pushed my buttons, but I should’ve been the bigger man.”
“See. That’s what I’m talking about!” Renika yelled. “Girlfriend, your turn.”
“This . . . this isn’t so easy for me. You’re making it look like a game.”
“No, it’s not a game. I just couldn’t think of any better way of getting you and Lance together. You gotta admit it worked,” she said gleefully. “The real game has been all of this frontin’ both of y’all are doing. I’ll go walk off if you want, but you need to get things off your chest, Val.”
“No, you don’t have to leave. I was able to talk to you about things before. Now shouldn’t be any different.”
The three of us stood together in the park as if at different ends of a triangle. Now I really understood how difficult things had been for Renika, being such a close friend to both of us. We all exchanged glances, then Val spoke to me.
“I’m sorry for doing what I did, Lance. And I’m sorry for not telling you all this time. I didn’t call the wedding off to punish you. I needed to punish myself for what I had done. I don’t deserve you.” Val broke down in tears. I held her to comfort her . . . and to comfort myself.