Between Friends

by D. L. Sparks

  She was sporting twists she didn’t have the last time I’d seen her. They were in their beginning stages but I knew if she followed in her brother’s footsteps her locs would be long and beautiful in no time.

  When she smiled, her cheeks smiled back with matching dimples.

  “Wow, Idalis, you look great.”

  “Thank you, so do you. You’re hair is cute!”

  “Thank you,” she said, playing with her twists. “How’s India?”

  “She’s doing well. Talking about moving to California.”

  Trinity dropped her head a little and laughed. “That’s India.”

  We sat down on the couch as her mother placed two glasses of lemonade in front of us and disappeared down the hall.

  “So what’s going on?” she asked. “Trip told me you came by the other night. I hate I wasn’t here.”

  “I know. He said I had just missed you,” I said. “Have you talked to him today? I’m trying to get in touch with him. I called but I got voice mail and he didn’t respond to my text.”

  She looked confused. “That’s odd. He must be busy. But he’s been coming by here a lot before he goes to his hotel in the evening sometimes.”

  I let out a sigh.

  She gave a worried look. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I just really need to talk to him that’s all. And I think he’s mad and avoiding me.”

  Her eyes got big. “Why?”

  I filled her in real quick on what happened at Dugans and when he came by my mother’s. I tried my best not to sound as pathetic as I really was. But the more I talked and listened to myself I couldn’t help but feel a little childish.

  She waved her hand, dismissing what I had just said.

  “Girl please, he I’m sure he ain’t mad at you. And whoever she was she was just something to do.”

  “I know, I just been dealing with a lot. My grandmother isn’t doing so well and planning this wedding is taking its toll on me.” I stared at the glass of yellow liquid sitting in front of me, but I had no desire to drink it.

  “I know. Mama told me about your grandmother. I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks.” I stood up and grabbed my purse. “Do you know where Trip is staying?”

  “At the W on Peachtree.”

  Her phone chimed with the sound of a text message. She read it and put the phone back down.

  “Okay, maybe I’ll try to catch him down there.”

  She stood up and walked me to the door. “I really hope you two can work through this. I know he misses you a lot.”

  “So much time has passed and things are just ... complicated now, Trin.”

  “I know. But it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. Y’all been through too much. You’re family, Idalis.” Her phone rang and she checked the display. “It’s work. I gotta take this.”

  After a quick hug I stepped out onto the porch.

  I stood there for a second, trying to figure out what I was doing, or, for that matter, what I was trying to do. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Lincoln would carry through with his threat of setting me up. But after the way I acted, I wasn’t even sure if Trip would want to help me.

  But at this point I had to do something. My son’s life depended on it.

  I checked my watch, then my phone. I had two missed calls from India and a text.

  You need to come home.

  I guess Trip would have to wait.

  I jumped into my car and sped across town to my mother’s house.

  When I pulled into the driveway, my body went numb when I saw an ambulance in the driveway. My mind went to my grandmother and I couldn’t breathe. I jumped out without turning the car off and ran through the front door. My mother was standing in the foyer, talking to a medic; she saw the frantic look on my face and immediately came to me.

  “Mama, what’s going on?”

  “It’s your grandmother.”

  “Is she—”

  “No, no,” she reassured. “She’s being transported to the hospital.”

  “For what?” I asked, looking toward the steps.

  “Her doctor wants to do some tests on her. She’s in a lot of pain,” she said. “The ambulance is just a precaution, just transportation.”

  India came rushing through the front door. When I saw her, my eyes filled with tears. Her face was soaking wet, covered with panic.

  Standing there, I felt like we were thirteen years old again and my father had just had his second heart attack. The first one merely scared all of us, giving us a cold dose of reality; the second one played for keeps, taking my father one afternoon while we were unknowingly playing at school. I remember us standing on the same porch, watching my grandmother drive off to the funeral home to make arrangements with my mother.

  Moments later two medics appeared on the steps carrying my small grandmother on a stretcher and the present flooded back to me, slamming into my body like a huge tidal wave.

  She appeared to be asleep, undoubtedly induced, but she looked so peaceful. I walked over and touched her hand, wishing I could rewind time for her. I felt my mother’s hand on my shoulder and I turned around.

  “I am going to ride with them. Cameron is taking a nap on the couch.”

  I nodded and stepped aside, letting them pass. My mother put her purse on her shoulder and followed them out the door and down the steps. My heart wrenched and a lump formed in my throat.

  “God, please. Not now. I need her,” I whispered. “Not now.”

  I cried into India’s shoulder and she did the same into mine.

  “It’s gonna be okay, Twin. She’s a fighter, right?”

  My sister, younger by mere minutes, was looking to me for strength. Right now, though, I had nothing to give her but promises and reassurances—and I wasn’t sure about any of these anymore.

  “Yes, she is, India.”

  She broke our hug and placed my car keys in my hand. She must’ve turned my car off for me. “I need to make some calls.”

  I wiped my face with my hand. “Okay. I’m gonna check on my baby.”

  Tears flowed as I made my way to the living-room, where Cameron was sleeping, oblivious to what was happening around him—the way a child’s life should be.

  I pulled out my cell and dialed Lincoln.

  It went to voice mail, so I left him a message.

  India and I sat at the kitchen table for hours, mostly in silence, waiting for the phone to ring. She made us something to eat; afterward, she munched on the salad she had in front of her, while I pushed mine around my plate.

  “You need to eat, Idalis.”

  “You’re not the boss of me.”

  I looked at her and we shared identical weak smiles.

  India gravitated toward my mother after our father died, and I found comfort in my grandmother. I didn’t feel that the love was any less or any different, but I found solace in the long talks that I had with my grandmother.

  I got up and found myself pacing the kitchen floor.

  Restless energy propelled me upstairs where I found some Motrin in the medicine cabinet. My side was aching worse than a toothache. I swallowed the tablets dry as I made my way back downstairs. I looked in the kitchen and India was texting someone.

  I ended up in the living-room looking out the window, then back in the kitchen again.

  I couldn’t sit still.

  She put her phone down. “You want me to go to your house and get y’all some clothes?”

  I stopped in my tracks and processed what she had just said.

  “No, I need some air. Can you stay here with Cameron?”

  She nodded.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Trip

  “So that’s what you came up with?”

  “This might be our best chance,” Lenny argued.

  I sank back on my chair. “You know this is gonna blow up in our faces, right? I grew up here. What makes you think that I can just blend in and throw some cuffs on somebody without somebody recognizing me
?”

  Commander Harris spoke. “Agent Spencer, Atlanta has changed in ways you can only imagine.”

  I mean-mugged him. “So what is that supposed to mean? They gon’ spot me a mile away and won’t hesitate to put a bullet in my head just for bragging rights.” I jumped up and got in his face. “And as sloppy as APD is, y’all punk asses prepared to make that trip to my mother’s house and explain to her how y’all fucked up?”

  Phil stepped in between us. “Man, calm down.”

  I turned and walked toward the window situated on the other side of the conference room. My blood was on fire. When this meeting was called tonight, I knew that it was gonna be a bullshit session. We hadn’t gotten any further with this case than we were a week ago. They were grasping at straws, and it was getting us nowhere.

  “Come on, Lenny, let’s be real. You can’t seriously want me to put my life in their hands? After the way these clowns been fucking up?”

  Commander spoke again, “This is the best option we have.”

  I shot him a look. “Man, was I talking to you? I’m talking to my motherfuckin’ boss!”

  Phil finally spoke up. It was about time because I was starting to think his ass had lost the ability to speak. “Look, I’ll do it. I didn’t grow up here so it makes better sense but we hand-picking backup on this one Lenny, no bullshit,” Phil pointed out. “We ain’t trusting nobody.”

  Lenny nodded in agreement. “Make it happen,” he instructed, the commander.

  “The fact that we even have to do this shit is what’s pissing me off,” I barked. “They should’ve been on top of this from the beginning.”

  Lenny scratched the crown of his head. “It’s too late for that now. Let’s figure out the best way to handle this and get it done.”

  I knew from Lenny’s tone that was the end of the discussion. He wanted it to happen so we had to make it do just that.

  Commander Harris picked up a stack of manila folders, which were on the table. “We’ll be in touch.” He turned and headed out the door.

  “Yo, y’all got anything on that round that was found at the last scene, or y’all fucked that up too?”

  He shot me a look but rather than respond, he just kept walking.

  “Why do you always have to piss them off?” Lenny asked, heaving out a deep sigh.

  I walked toward the door. “’Cause I don’t like them.”

  “Well, maybe they don’t like you either,” he called to my back.

  “Good,” I responded.

  Phil and I stood in the hallway, waiting for the elevators. “Man, you love getting under his skin.” He laughed, shaking his head.

  I shrugged. “Hey, it’s what I do best.” The doors to the elevator hissed open and we stepped on. “So where you off to?” I asked.

  He pulled a Hershey’s bar out of his pocket. “Still chasing that asshole, Darius. Got a lead on him over near Bowen Homes.”

  “You need me to ride?”

  “Nah, I’m good. I’m just gonna slide through and see if I can get a lock on him and try to get some things in motion for this bust. Then I’m headed out to meet up with this female CO for dinner.”

  “You loving Atlanta I see.”

  He smiled. “And Atlanta’s loving me. What you about to get into?”

  “My bed. May swing by my mom’s for a second.”

  “I can make a call. I’ll see if she got a friend, if you trying to hang out.”

  I laughed. “Nah, man, I’m good.”

  The door opened and we headed toward the front lobby.

  “I’ma let you have that. I’m out. Call me if you need me,” I said.

  “Will do, partner.”

  I slid behind the wheel of the Tahoe and stuck the key in the ignition, but I didn’t crank the engine. I leaned back and let out a heavy sigh. I closed my eyes for a moment, tried to clear my head; then I remembered where I was, and snapped them back open. I chuckled a little and shook my head as I looked across the street at the jail.

  I cranked the engine, pulled out onto Peachtree, and headed toward my rented castle. I would have to catch up with my mom tomorrow. I was in desperate need of a hot shower and a good night’s sleep.

  I hoped the concierge at the hotel could find some Tylenol or Goody’s Powder to squash the tension, which was now riding my neck, preparing to settle in my head. I sent Trinity a text earlier and asked if she’d tighten up my locs for me, but she didn’t hit me back.

  I checked my dash: 9:36.

  Yeah, it was too late to stop by my mom’s, anyway.

  I settled in behind the tinted windows of my truck and rolled up Peachtree. I hit the button on the radio. I flipped through the stations until I heard the smooth voice of Si-Man Baby coming through my speakers. I smiled and thought about how much play his Blue Lights in the Basement radio show had gotten me back in high school.

  Once I reached the hotel, I grabbed my bag out of the passenger seat, hopped out and gave the keys to the valet, along with a ten-dollar bill.

  I tossed the bag over my shoulder and headed into the building maneuvering around people rushing out, just getting their nights started. They couldn’t wait to hit the streets and all I could think about was a hot shower and climbing into bed.

  In the dimly lit corridor, my eyes focused on the lobby situated at the end. The upscale hotel’s lobby was more like a living-room on steroids, expensive steroids at that. It was a little too uptight for my taste, but it was the department’s dime, so I wasn’t complaining too loud. But it wasn’t the relaxed atmosphere, or even the music coming from the lobby, that had my attention. Hell it wasn’t even the drunk ass White chick giggling and kissing all over another chick in the hall that had my attention.

  It was the figure sitting on the couch.

  For a minute I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, causing my stride to slow just a little. But the closer I got, the more in focus the image became—especially when she spotted me and stood up.

  Idalis.

  She moved in my direction, meeting me at the end of the corridor. I could tell she was nervous. I hoped she didn’t know that my stomach was doing all kinds of somersaults too.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  She looked at me and didn’t say anything for a moment. Finally she said, “I don’t know.”

  “How long have you been here?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “An hour maybe.”

  We rode the elevator to my floor in silence. And once we made it to my door, I slid the key into the slot and unlocked my suite. I stepped aside and let her into the room.

  I followed behind her, making sure the door was locked, and tossed my bag onto the couch. It was full of workout gear that I had planned on using if I couldn’t wind down for the night.

  Guess that plan just went out the window.

  The bag hit the couch with a thud, causing her to flinch and finally turn and face me. We stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, not saying anything.

  I spoke first, “You didn’t answer me, Idalis. What are you doing here?”

  She sank down on the edge of the bed; the bed barely giving under her small five foot four frame. “I just needed my best friend. Is that okay?”

  I sat on the edge of the coffee table and leaned forward, resting my arms on my legs. “That’s always okay. What’s going on?”

  She sighed deeply and looked at me. Her eyes were rimmed red, she’d been crying. “It’s my grandmother.”

  I searched her face for answers. “Is she okay?”

  She blinked causing tears to stream down her face.

  I reached up and wiped one away with my thumb.

  “An ambulance took her to the hospital today. She’s not doing as good as we all thought.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She stood up, shaking her head slowly. “This is too much. So much is going on. I don’t know if I can handle all of this.”

  “What else is wrong?”

 
I watched her move from the bed to the oversized window. She pushed back the heavy curtain and stared out into the darkness. She stood there for a moment, not saying a word and I just watched her. I didn’t want to force her or upset her more by making her talk.

  She started speaking; her soft voice was barely above a whisper.

  “I think India really is gonna leave and go to California,” she said, her voice wavering even more. “And my mother is okay with it, can you believe that? My grandmother is in the hospital,” she said, keeping her eyes on the street below. “Everyone is changing. Everyone is leaving me. I don’t know what to do,” she said, finally looking at me.

  “What do you want to do?” I asked. The question was open-ended but we both knew who and what I was referring to, but she sidestepped my question.

  Her expression softened. “Do you have anything to eat in here?”

  I shook my head and motioned to the desk. “There’s a menu for room service over there.”

  I watched her for another moment as she picked up the plastic bound menu and started to flip through it. Slowly I stood up and tried to regain some control and comfort in my own space.

  I pulled off my Kevlar vest and tossed it onto the couch, next to my gym bag. I took my SIG-Sauer P226 .9 mm out of its holster and locked it away in the table next to the bed, along with my day.

  She looked up at me. “Split a burger and fries with me?”

  I smiled, becoming aware that she had given to me all of the information she wanted to share for now. Right now, we were just Idalis and Trip, and nothing else existed for her.

  Considering everything she was going through, I’d take what I could get.

  “Yeah, I’ll split one with you. But can I shower first?”

  She nodded. “Just be quick about it. I’m hungry.”

  For some reason I didn’t want to leave her alone. I watched her for a moment, sitting with her legs crossed in the middle of the bed, her eyes scanning the laminated pages of the menu.

  In that moment she was twelve years old again, with two Pocahontas braids draped over her shoulders, trying to help me with my math homework while I played video games across the room. She always ended up doing it for me rather than deal with my complaining about how I would never use it in life.