by Margaret Kay
She erased the message and stashed the phone in the fake bottom of her makeup bag, then filled the bag with tubes and small containers of her favorite products. Then she grabbed the overnight bag she used when she went to work and put in only the essentials that she would take with her. She grabbed her cell phone and its charging cord from the nightstand and accessed her text messages, responding to the message from Shawna, agreeing to take her shift. Then she dressed in her black dress pants and the white silk blouse that was her uniform. She ran a brush through her long, black hair and secured it in a ponytail low at the nape of her neck.
Everything was proceeding as planned. She just needed her luck to hold out a little longer. She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves as she gazed at her own reflection in the mirror. She poked her largest diamond stud earrings through her lobes and dropped the diamond crusted heart necklace into place, fastening the clip behind her neck. She slid her most expensive diamond tennis bracelet onto her left wrist. She wore over thirty thousand dollars. That should be enough to get her far enough away.
She grabbed the black suit jacket from its hanger in the closet checking to be sure her name tag was still pinned in place. It was. She then grabbed her purse from the dresser and headed through the house. She slid the keys to Martin’s Mercedes from the hook inside the kitchen cabinet and made her way to the door that led into the garage.
She swung the door wide and gasped, staring down the barrel of a shiny silver gun. Martin’s scowl was behind it. “Where the fuck are you going, Nevaeh?”
“To work,” she gasped. She reached into her back pocket and pulled her cell phone out. “Shawna text messaged me, needs me to cover again.” Her hand trembled as she handed the phone towards him.
He ripped it from her hand and entered her pin number to unlock the phone. He read the text string. Only then did he re-holster his gun. “This is the third time in two months. She needs to get her shit together.”
“She has a child and her mother is going through cancer treatments. She can’t very well watch Shawna’s daughter when she’s getting chemo. Have a heart, Martin. She’s doing the best she can. Please don’t get her fired. I’m happy to help and I’d be home before you are.”
“Then why do you have your bag?”
“You know I always take it with whatever I might need while working.”
“What, you weren’t even going to tell me? You were just going to take my car and go?”
“I was going to call you as soon as I backed out of the garage,” her voice stammered. “And you’ve said I don’t need to ask permission to take the car.”
He eyed her suspiciously for a moment. “I’ll drive you. And I may need you to deal tonight. I’ve just about got a game set up.”
She forced a small smile. “Sure. Just tell me when and where.”
She crossed the garage, noting both his cars were parked there, and she slid into the front passenger seat of his Audi Q7. Goddamned mother-fucking sonofabitch! She watched him drop himself into the driver’s seat. The garage door was open. She wondered if he’d ever left or why it was that he had already returned. Had she’d done something that made him suspicious? Or was this just a horribly fucked up coincidence?
She remained quiet on the drive down the mountain and before she knew it, he pulled up under the canopy and came to a stop in front of the main entrance to the Maui Ocean Club Resort where she worked as a private concierge to the VIP guests.
She forced herself to smile pleasantly as she opened her door. “Thank you for the ride. I’ll check my phone throughout the afternoon for your message.” She moved to get out.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Martin demanded.
She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Sorry. I was deep in thought. I’m sorry you got upset.”
“I just don’t like to think you’re sneaking out on me,” he said, his voice taking a softer tone.
“I should have called you when I got the text from her. I’m sorry I did not. I will next time.”
“That’s better,” he said. He pulled her head to his by grasping the back of her neck. He kissed her ferociously. “I’ll see you later.”
She got out of the car and carried her things in. Shawna sat at the concierge desk in the lobby. Nevaeh felt tears gather in her eyes as she approached. Damn! It had nearly worked. Shawna’s hazel eyes were fixed out the glass door, watching Martin drive away.
“It didn’t work. We have to abort,” Nevaeh whispered.
“I thought he was going to be gone all day?”
“I did too,” Nevaeh answered. “He was in the garage when I opened the door.” She didn’t tell her friend it was with a gun pointed at her. “I don’t know if he suspected. But I have no way of knowing where he’ll be today.”
“Follow me to the locker room,” Shawna said, coming to her feet.
Once behind the lady’s locker room door, Nevaeh broke down and cried. “I was so close.”
Shawna opened her locker and took out her car keys. “Take my car. He’ll never know it’s you behind the wheel. You can still go.”
“And if he sees you leaving later and follows you to the airport to get your car, he could hurt you. I can’t let that happen.”
“You might not get this chance again. You have to try.”
Nevaeh put her things in her locker. “I can’t risk it and I won’t put you in danger. Will you text Michelle and tell her we need to abort?”
“It’ll be another three weeks till she’s back. Are you sure?”
“I don’t know where he is or where he’ll be today. Do you understand? If he sees me, he will kill me.”
Shawna wrapped her arms around her. “We could leave right now in my car and I could still get you to the airport in time.”
“It’s not worth the risk to you.” She pulled away and straightened her suit jacket. Then she squeezed some eyedrops into her eyes that would remove the redness. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror and splashed a handful of cool water onto her face. Her Polynesian skin tone was returning to its normal coloring. Her pale green eyes were just about red-free.
When the two women returned to the concierge desk in the lobby, Martin sat in one of the comfortable high-backed chairs that were scattered throughout the atrium amid the lush trees and flowers that adorned the area. Keeping up the charade, Nevaeh gave Shawna a hug and said goodbye to her. Before she could step away, Martin approached the desk.
Shawna clutched her purse tightly to her body. “Martin, hello.”
“Hello. How is your mother?”
“She’s hanging in there, thank you for asking. I was just telling Nevaeh that I am interviewing a backup babysitter this afternoon. I cannot keep taking work off when my mother has a treatment. And I cannot keep inconveniencing Nevaeh either. She’s been very kind to pick up the extra shifts to help me and I appreciate her kindness.”
“It has been no inconvenience for her, whatsoever,” Martin said.
Both ladies knew he was a lying sack of shit. Shawna gave him a forced smile and then left.
“That was very kind of you, Martin,” Nevaeh acknowledged.
“I don’t know why John keeps her on. She may be good at what she does, but with that horrible red hair she isn’t even attractive, which is important in this position.”
Nevaeh’s stomach clenched. “She is good at it. And as you heard, she is working to resolve her daycare issues which will make her more reliable. If John were to let her go, I’d most likely get scheduled for more shifts.” She knew Martin would not want that.
Later that day, Nevaeh had just finished arranging a whale watching excursion for one of the resort guests when Martin appeared from nowhere and approached the desk. Her immediate reaction was fear, but she schooled her expression and forced a smile. She knew better than to comment on his schedule or ask why he was there. That would earn a sharp reprimand from him. So, she widened her smile. “Hello, Martin,” she greeted as warmly as she could.
>
“I have a high roller coming at the end of next week. Watch for his reservation and upgrade him. I’ll want you to give him special attention,” he said. His gaze was serious.
Nevaeh knew what this meant. Her stomach roiled. “Of course,” she replied. She took the folded piece of paper he handed her. L Johnson, arrival date the fifteenth. “I’ll take care of it.”
As Martin walked towards the main door, Nevaeh brought up the reservations system and searched for L. Johnson. She found two reservations. One for a Leonard Johnson who’d made the reservation over a month ago, a villa for two adults, and one for a Landon Johnson. He had just booked the reservation the day before, a single standard room. That would be Martin’s guest. She clicked on the keyboard upgrading Mr. Johnson to a garden-view villa at his guaranteed check in rate.
She vowed that he would be the last VIP she’d entertain for Martin. She had decided that next time Michele flew in, even if there was not a clear exit available, that she would leave with her. Martin was growing more dangerous. She had to get out before he caught her trying to leave. She didn’t even want to think about what he’d do to her if he got proof.
Oscar
Lambchop first went through a drive thru and got them both a burger. He then followed EJ’s directions. They ended up in front of an apartment building in one of the nicer areas of Pittsburgh. They took the stairs to the third floor, much to EJ’s dislike. He didn’t understand why they wouldn’t just take the elevator.
Lambchop had to chuckle at him. “It’s about physically challenging your body wherever you can. It’s how you stay in great physical shape.”
“Oh, I’m in great shape. I don’t need to climb stairs to prove it to you.” He took off ahead of Lambchop, aggressively mounting the second flight of stairs.
A smile curved across Lambchop’s lips. “Glad to hear that. As a SEAL, I humped an eighty-pound pack through the roughest terrain in all weather conditions, one hundred degrees in the shade, torrential downpours, snow, and ice. A few flights of stairs is nothing.”
EJ rolled his eyes again. Lambchop wanted to backhand him. This kid reminded him so much of Elias. He found it incredible that even though EJ had never met his father, he was just like him. He’d never thought much before if personality traits were genetic, but in this case, it had to be.
“EJ, why the eye roll?”
EJ looked offended to be called out on it. He pushed through the door and stepped into the hallway of the third floor. “I get it, Uncle L, physically challenge yourself, build a strong foundation in your character. Seriously, I feel like all you do is lecture me.”
They reached the door to Lisa’s apartment. Lambchop turned him, so the boy looked him in the eyes. “I don’t mean to lecture you. But I want you to understand what life is really like, away from here. You are in this safe and insulated little world right now. But next year when you graduate and join the Navy, you are going to be thrust into real life. This petty-ante shit going on in your life right now may seem to you to be either stupid or a huge-ass deal. But each moment is a moment that can impact or define the rest of your life. I didn’t understand that when I was your age until your dad died.”
“I know, I get it,” EJ moaned.
No, he really didn’t. Lambchop decided on a different tactic. “I’ve been as involved in your life as much as I could be, given the job I have. I think it’s time I tell you more about that job, so you can really understand where I’m coming from. Later, we’re going to have a real talk.”
He saw something in EJ’s return stare that he couldn’t decipher. Perhaps it was a mixture of emotions, fear as well as curiosity, and excitement.
EJ pulled his phone from his pocket and he texted Lisa that they were outside the door. Lambchop shook his head and knocked, garnering him a disgusted look from EJ. The door opened. An attractive black woman in her late thirties opened the door. Even though she was dressed in workout wear, she looked polished.
“Hello, Ms. Jones,” Elias voiced timidly.
“EJ,” she acknowledged.
Lambchop presented his hand. “Hello. I’m Landon Johnson, EJ’s uncle.”
She smiled and took his hand. “Hi, Jana Jones, Lisa’s mom.” She swung the door wide and stepped back. “Please come in.”
“Thank you,” Lambchop said. EJ walked past her and into the living room. A cute teenaged girl came out of a hallway. She and EJ embraced.
“What are you doing here?” Lambchop heard the young girl ask EJ in a loud whisper. Her tone of voice was demanding.
“My uncle insisted on it.”
“EJ, you had something to say to Ms. Jones,” Lambchop prompted.
EJ stepped back up to Lisa’s mother. “I’m sorry about what happened last night. I’d never knowingly do anything to get Lisa in trouble or put her in danger. Terrance’s mom had the keys to her friend’s house, and no one was home. Terrance invited us all over. It was stupid and I’m sorry I invited Lisa to go there. I’m sorry you had to go down to the police station last night.”
Lambchop was proud of him. He knew that facing Lisa’s mom wasn’t easy.
Jana Jones’ eyes flickered to Lambchop. She thought about her words before she spoke. “Thank you for the apology, EJ. I know you care about Lisa and wouldn’t do anything to get her in trouble or endanger her, and I know at the time, it didn’t seem like a big deal to either one of you, but the problem is, things can get out of hand really fast, so you need to really think out things like this.”
“Yes, ma’am,” EJ said.
“Mom, okay enough already,” Lisa moaned.
“Okay, go on,” Jana said, nodding towards the hallway.
As the two teens stepped towards the hallway, Lambchop spoke. “EJ, aren’t you going to introduce me to Lisa?”
“Yes, sorry. Lisa, this is my Uncle L.”
“Hi,” she said from the mouth of the hallway.
“Nice to meet you, Lisa,” Lambchop said. He watched the two disappear into the hallway. “We’ll be heading home in a few minutes, EJ,” he called after them. He didn’t want EJ to think for a second that he would be staying here.
“Just let me know when you’re ready to go,” EJ called back.
Lambchop shook his head.
Jana motioned to her couch. “Please have a seat.”
“Thank you,” Lambchop said as he sat. “I wanted to talk with you and give you my cell phone number so if there is ever an issue you can call me. EJ told me he’s never introduced Lisa to his mom. That needs to change. He’s a good kid, but I think he’s embarrassed by the neighborhood he lives in when it comes to his friends, an unintended consequence for him attending this school.”
“I assume you’re the uncle who pays for him to attend the academy,” Jana said, sitting herself in the chair across from the couch where Lambchop sat.
“Yes. EJ’s father was my little brother. He died before EJ was born. I’ve always provided financial assistance to his mother and I’ve been as involved in his life as I can be, given my job.”
“EJ said you’re a Navy SEAL?” She said as a question.
Lambchop nodded. He didn’t elaborate or explain anything. “The Navy gave me incredible opportunities. I hope it will do the same for EJ. He just needs to stay out of trouble for another year plus. I know he doesn’t get it; how fast things can go south from simple innocent acts like borrowing a set of keys and using someone’s home for a private party.”
“Kids are stupid. We all were,” Jana said with a smile.
Lambchop chuckled.
“I appreciate that you made EJ come over to apologize to me. But I hold Lisa equally responsible. She should have known better, and I damned well hope she would never invite people over here while I’m away without my permission.”
“Hopefully, the homeowner won’t press charges against all the kids. If she’s good friends with Terrance’s mother, she probably won’t want him to get in more trouble. From what I understand from talking with the police, ther
e was no damage, and no one got hurt.”
Jana nodded. “That’s my understanding, as well. I hope this will be a situation the kids will all learn from. Were you in town or did you come just to help EJ’s mom?”
“No, I wasn’t in town. I took emergency leave when I got the phone call last night. My team was getting ready to head out on a mission today, so I let my team down by coming. I’ll be having a conversation with EJ later when we get back to his house about that.”
“He is a good kid. Go easy on him,” Jana said. “He is always respectful when he is here. He’ll look me in the eye as he talks to me, which not all of them do. Lisa has a few girlfriends who never make eye contact and will rarely talk to me, like EJ does. I don’t trust those girls, but I can’t pick Lisa’s friends or run her life. She’s too old for that.”