by Azarel
Damn, I can’t even get a hug, I thought. And he smelled good as hell too. It had taken two days for Daddy to come get me. But yes, he was right. The house had been unusually slow, but it wasn’t our fault. I didn’t even like Ms. Dottie, but didn’t think she deserved all the slack he was giving her. Maybe it was slow because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Hell, dicks needed holidays too.
I looked at Ms. Dottie thinking about how she’d changed over the last few days. She definitely wasn’t putting the full court press on us about our schedules like she normally did, and even forgot to call me down for a customer who was interested in me last night. She’d even turned a few customers away the day before. It was very unlike her.
Daddy shot me a mean look. So, I switched back up the stairs hoping he would take a look at my backside. I wanted him to want me. Instead, he kept chewing Ms. Dottie a new asshole. I rushed to my room, and packed my bags as quickly as possible. I threw my stuff into the two new Gucci duffel bags I’d gotten in Connecticut. What didn’t fit, stayed. I figured, leave it for charity. Whoever the new girl was, who’d occupy this room, could have it, compliments of Candy. Sweeet Candy. I laughed thinking about Senator Marion.
I glanced around the room momentarily as I prepared myself to leave. A new chapter in my life would be good. Suddenly, Daddy appeared at the door; his face twisted up like he had a beef to settle.
“Just saying goobye,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
He never smiled.
“Sit down,” he ordered. He shut the door, and locked it, then rushed toward me. “You got something to tell me,” he asked.
I frowned. “No,” I responded hesitantly.
“Well, I went by Tracey’s funeral today. Surprisingly, you weren’t there.”
I could’ve shit bricks.
“I told Ms. Dottie if you asked to go, allow it. But you never tried. I wonder why?”
He pulled the obituary with a picture of Tracey from his pocket, and tossed it on the bed next to me. Visions of Tracey’s face made me cry instantly. The first real tears I’d shed in days.
“Enough of that,” he said harshly. “Why weren’t you there?” he drilled. Your Aunt Vicki was there. A lot of your family was there.”
My heart pounded. I waited for him to say my mother’s name. He just looked down at me, while he paced the floor.
“I’ll explain it all later. Let’s just go,” I pleaded.
“Go where? There’s money to be made around here. You see my nephew, J-Cee, hipped me to how you ruin lives. How you love money. Well, I love money too.”
My heart felt like it fell in the bottom of my stomach. “What are you talking about?”
“He told me about how you ended up going on a run for your mother once, and ended up sleeping with her Columbian connection. You good at seducing the big men in charge aren’t you?”
I wanted to scream nooooooo, and defend myself, but Daddy moved toward me with speed, managing to gain a tight grip on the back of my neck.
He continued like it was a strain to speak. “You fucked the connection, and started getting product from him real cheap.” He moved closer to my face, tightening his grip. “How much were you getting? Three, four, kilos, at a time?”
I was too scared to lie. I was too scared to speak.
“You had a good thing going, making a lot of money, and hiding it from your mother. You knew she’d kill you if she found out you betrayed her. Didn’t you?” he badgered.
“That’s not what happened,” I lied.
“Yeah it is. The connect cut your mother off, never dealt with her again, just you. So when your Columbian lover got caught, it was time to snitch, huh? The Feds thought it was Big V who had been making all the money from him. But it was you. Sly little whore.”
“Daddy, please believe me,” I begged.
“This is why I can’t get serious about women. And just think…I took you outta here like you were my woman. And look at this bullshit you pulled with your own fam. You’d probably do the same shit to me.”
“No, I wouldn’t!” I jumped up hoping to plead my case.
“So, I guess in your mind your mother is dead.” He shook his head at me with disgust. “You had me go to some white muthufucka’s grave, didn’t you!” he yelled, then paced the floor again. “I went to that funeral hoping to find your mother. J-Cee knows what she looks like, but she wasn’t there. I would’a brought her back here so she could kill you slowly.”
I had nothing to say. Shame was all I thought as I held my head low. Then, I thought about how the real Daddy was beginning to surface. The Daddy who would tell me to my face, he would allow someone to kill me.
“How could you allow your own mother to take the weight for you? And your uncles, and other family members? That’s the worst betrayal there is,” he added. “How long will it take for you to betray me?”
I shook my head back and forth. “I would never betray you.” I cried a few tears, even though he made it clear he wasn’t interested.
“You thought she wouldn’t find out, stupid. That’s what the Feds do…they turn every defendant involved in a case against one another. They told Big V you snitched on her, then they told the Columbian connec it was you who would testify against him too.”
“I never snitched on anybody!” I shouted.
Daddy smiled. “The truth came out…and it all comes back to you,” he said, headed toward the door. “Ummmph….ummmph…umph. So fine on the outside, yet so untrue on the inside.” His head shook in disgust. “Now gear up!” His voice resonated throughout the room. “While I been away from the house being tricked by your ass, my business is going under. You gotta make good on our previous deal.”
“What deal is that?” I asked sadly. The energy level in the room had gone down, and Daddy’s disposition had changed completely. The smirk he wore wasn’t a good sign.
“You got Cat’s bill to pay, remember?”
Every muscle in my body ached. How could he, I wondered. Didn’t our relationship mean anything to him? When Daddy opened the door to leave, I followed behind, hoping he’d change his mind. However, there was a strange man standing outside my door dressed in a work jumpsuit with a tool belt strapped around his waist. He grinned like he was ready to put in work. I figured Ms. Dottie was playing me dirty, wanting me to get back to work so soon. But revenge seemed to be her style.
Instead, Daddy shut the door. The moment it closed, I heard loud drilling sounds. The screws went in quickly, and the new dead bolts, even quicker. I flung my body against the door, and screamed in agony. “Let me outta here!” I yelled. “Let me out!”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The heavy rain beating against my window-pane added dreariness to my already gloomy feeling. I leaned against the headboard, wondering how I’d gotten myself in such a crazy situation. I was supposed to work in the house for four months top, then be free, with enough money to make my way out west. But things didn’t seem to be working in my favor. And to top it all off, being locked in my room was the furthest thing from my plan.
When I thought about how this all happened, men came to mind. They were the culprit. It seemed like every bad aspect of my life started from complications with a man. Me and my mom fell out because I started fucking with her male connection. Me and Rich weren’t together ‘cause he’d found out. And now I’d fucked up a good gig by catching feelings for the owner of a hoe house, who’d locked my ass up in my bedroom. So much for escaping prison time.
I hit myself in the forehead a few times thinking why, why, why? I’d be twenty-four years old in six months, so this craziness was getting old. I needed to grow up, make more mature decisions.
I hopped off the bed, trying to keep myself from going insane. It was already noon, and no one had showed up to let me out. The day before, Ms. Dottie told me that she was finally gonna let me out. I hadn’t been called down to the showroom, the office...nothing. I wasn’t about to let it get me down, so for the next hour, I dropped down to t
he floor and had my gym time. I had to keep myself looking good, ‘cause at some point, Daddy would come to his senses and understand that I’d never do anything to hurt him. Then we’d be together, for sure. That mess he was upset about was between me and my moms. Not him.
Time seemed to fly, and before I knew it, my work-out was done. I was extremely sweaty, so a quick shower and change of clothes was desperately needed. I’d gotten up extra early that morning, showered, and dressed like I was going to a party. I figured I could earn a few brownie points if I spruced things up a bit. Not to mention I had on Daddy’s favorite outfit, a tight pair of True Religion jeans and a sheer cream shirt. Unfortunately for me, no one came by to see me looking good.
After my second long shower, and solo fashion show, four o’clock came and went. And so did more boredom. I needed another means of entertainment. Figuring out what to do next was mind boggling. Eating sounded good to me, but I guess Ms. Dottie’s plan was to starve my ass to death, ‘cause I hadn’t eaten in two days. The only thing she’d managed to give me was water. Even people on death row are treated better than this shit. Luckily, the mints in my purse had provided some nutrients.
I made my way to the window, only to realize there were several cars in the driveway. I saw someone leaving the house, and I tried to get his attention by banging on the window. The gentleman just looked up, placed his hands in his pockets, and sped up his pace. I waved like a school-girl, but the client just nodded and hopped into his ride.
At that moment, I realized no locks were on the windows. I could really break free if I wanted to. But where would I go? The situation confused me even more. I held my head down low, knowing the client wouldn’t be coming back for me. Then I thought of Tracey. If she were alive, I’d have a place to go. I just knew in my heart, my mother killed her. I couldn’t prove it, but I’d bet my life on it.
Loud rumbling sounds outside my door startled me. My reflexes made me reach for the window. I guess I immediately thought about my break-in back in Jersey. As the noises grew louder, I became more frightened. As soon as I heard the locks being unlatched, my brain told me to hurry to the opposite side of the room, in search of a weapon. Unsure of who was on the other side, or what they had in store for me, I jetted across the room, and grabbed the small lamp from the coffee table.
When the door swung open, Ms. Dottie stood there a few seconds in silence, swinging her key ring. Her facial expression seemed to have pity on me. I geared up for a smart remark to come from her mouth.
“It’s your phone time,” she said, “C’mon down.”
She turned away leaving the door wide open. I expected her to say, “I’m sorry, we forgot you were in here.” Or, hell, what about breakfast, lunch, or even a fucking snack!”
These people are fucking crazy I thought, walking out of my room. Even though I’d finally been let out of my room, my pace was slow, and cautious. Obviously anything goes around here.
Ms. Dottie reappeared and scared the shit outta of me. “Go eat first, you got some food waiting in the kitchen.”
Okay…so maybe she did forget. She seemed to be off her game, which was different from the Ms. Dottie I was used to.
“Thanks,” I mumbled. I didn’t want to act like I was mad, but I didn’t want her to think it was cool to have me locked up like an animal either.
After eating the old turkey and cheese with withered lettuce, I sluggishly headed toward the office for my phone time. When I approached the showroom, there were no familiar faces except School Teacher’s. I waved, but she didn’t wave back. I wondered if she knew I’d been locked up, or if she even cared. For that matter, did anybody care?
I kept it moving, hoping to run into Sushi. She had computer time right before me, so I hoped to see her. When I entered the office, to my surprise Ms. Dottie was right behind me. I thought she was gonna follow me inside, until she turned slightly and opened the front door.
A tall gentleman entered. Ms. Dottie questioned him a bit, then ushered him into the showroom. From where I was sitting, I couldn’t see his face that good, nor could I tell if he appeared to have money. His shoes were the only visible clues I had to say he was wack. The brown penny loafers were worn, and looked like the pair I wore in high school, literally.
I left the door to the office open, and logged in to my account on MySpace. After being locked in my room for all that time, the last thing I wanted was to be in a closed space. I really didn’t know what my interest with MySpace was anymore since Tracey wasn’t around for me to send messages to. I knew the messages and comments would’ve strictly come from people I didn’t know. But, what the hell, there was nothing else for me to do.
My fingers starting typing fast, like I’d found some new-found energy. Once I logged in, I thought it was strange how there were a few messages from somebody named So-So- Special. There wasn’t a picture, so I didn’t have a clue as to who it was. I clicked the first message, then fell back in my chair. I took a few breaths and read the second message.
Oh, my God! It couldn’t be. I gazed deeper into the screen. It was him. The love of my life.
The only man who ever loved me.
Candice.
Hope you get this. I’m out, Ma. Been out for a couple of weeks. Your mother is out too.
So be careful, watcha self. That bitch- BIG V, turned on me, wants to kill my mothufuckin ass now. I got your back though. Call me at same phone #.
Rich
Just about the same time, my heart pounded from reading Rich’s message, someone knocked on the front door. After Ms. Dottie opened the door and let the gentlemen in, I listened, hoping she would tell me the client wanted my services, but ironically the voice was familiar. An odd voice that I couldn’t pin-point. At first Ms. Dottie talked to him about the policies of the house, then her conversation abruptly changed. She became defensive, so I scooted my chair closer to the door, still away from their view.
I peeked my head out the office door slightly to get a glance, and to see if I wanted to be bothered with the client’s drama. Quickly, I snatched my head back. His face hadn’t changed. Agent Barnes still looked like a lil’ boy in his late teens instead of a grown man. Vomit built up in my stomach quicker than I could blink. Ms. Dottie got drilled with one question after another.
My whole face changed colors, wondering what the fuck Agent Barnes was doing at the house? I wanted to reach out and shut the office door slowly, but that move would’ve caused too much suspicion. Instead, I leaned back in the chair, trying to calm my nerves enough to listen in. I looked over at the screen where Rich’s message stared me in the face. I was so distraught from Agent Barnes presence. I couldn’t focus on anything else.
“I’m looking for Candice Holmes,” he said firmly.
“No one here by that name,” Ms. Dottie replied.
“She called me from a number here at this house,” he said to Ms. Dottie.
“Must be some mistake,” Ms. Dottie shot back.
“No, I’m confident. She left a message, and we tracked the phone number to this location.”
I watched as Agent Barnes stepped a few more feet into the foyer, straining to get a glimpse of the place. I swung my chair back even further, hoping he wouldn’t see me.
“Besides, we don’t make mistakes,” he said, flashing his badge.
Uh-oh, I thought.
Ms. Dottie played it cool. He must’ve disguised himself as a John to get past the gate originally. So now that he was in, she asked bluntly, “So what is it that you want, Agent? There’s no Candice here.”
“What about a Danielle Crouch?” he asked, looking around both sides of her shoulders.
“Nope,” she said, without hesitation. Strangely, she wasn’t as firm as usual.
“Well, what about the owner, James Woodruff aka Daddy? Or should I say whoever runs this place. They’re gonna be in a lot of trouble if you don’t wanna cooperate, so just point me in the right direction.”
Ms. Dottie paused. “Yes, James Woodr
uff does own the place.”
She turned to see if anybody was listening from behind. I’m not really sure if she remembered I was in the office. “What else do you need?” she asked, holding her hand toward the door. “I have nothing more to say.”
“What kind of place is this exactly?” he asked. His focus was fixed on the chandelier.
“It’s a group home for troubled girls,” she replied, with confidence. “Check the city records. That’s how we’re listed. Licensed and all.”
He laughed hysterically. Agent Barnes obviously wasn’t buying it. I could feel it in my soul. I wondered if he had, or would just flash the search warrant I hoped he’d already obtained. I took in a quiet deep breath, waiting for his next move.
In a matter of seconds, he did an about face, and walked to the door. “I’ll be back,” he said, with a smirk.
As soon as the door closed, Ms. Dottie quickly walked into the office. She snatched the phone from the receiver and dialed. “Yeah, tell Daddy to get here as soon as he can.”
“I swear, Ms. Dottie I didn’t tell that man to come! I swear,” I pleaded, as soon as she hung up.
“Meet me in your room,” she ordered.
I wanted to respond to Rich’s message, giving him the address to the house, so he could come save my ass. Instead, I followed Ms. Dottie’s instructions like a fool. My intuition said head straight out the front door. But by the time I got up to my room, I’d gained enough heart to make a run for it. I moved with speed toward the closet to grab my purse. I checked over my shoulder to make sure the bedroom door was still open. Then gathered what I could, ready to roll. When I turned back around, Ms. Dottie scared the shit outta me. She was standing in the doorway like Jason from Friday the 13th. All her ass needed was a fucking hockey mask. My eyes followed the length of her arm down to the huge chain she held. All I could think about was the time Daddy spoke of how he’d shackled a girl once. Damn, how am I gonna get out of this shit?
Chapter Twenty-Three
I stood out front of the address where my new connection said we’d meet. My instructions were to wait across the street away from the bowling alley on 118th Street in Harlem. That nigga sounded real sweet on the phone. I wondered how my daughter always found a way to get the good catch of the sea. Then I laughed. She got that shit from me. It was a skill we in the Holmes family was blessed wit. We not only had the ability to get the ones we wanted, but also the ability to connive them dumb mufucka’s outta anything our pretty little hearts desired.