The Improbable

by Tiara James

  “Eva, you are my sky full of stars that I’m always staring at; whenever I look at you, I just sit and wonder how God made someone so perfect and stunning. Someone that has enough energy to shine even at the darkest of times. I wonder how you put up with everything you do and continue to be filled with love that stretches on so long that even the universe is jealous. These stars are wonders of the world and you’re the wonder of mine.”

  My hand came over my heart and I leaned down to kiss him gently. “Thank you,” I whispered against his lips.

  He put his hand on the back of my neck and pulled my forehead to his, smiling. “Even if it’s us against the world…it’ll be forever you and me.”

  A grin swept across my face. I nodded and gave him another peck on the lips. “Forever. You and me.”

  This.

  Was.

  Love.

  22. Conflicted

  The sun was shining bright while the city of Chicago bustled busily underneath.

  Sounds from the street below streamed into the open window in my office, joining in with the lovely French song I’d been playing nonstop to get me through the day. As I sat and gazed aimlessly out the window, I realized that there had been no days of rain in the summer so far. In a way, it reflected my life since I’d been with Eva-Marie – no bad days. I smiled as I thought of how comfortable she appeared when she slept and how her sweet scent enveloped me whenever she was around. My heart ached for her every time we were apart. Everything with her just felt so…right.

  However, there was one small thing nagging me in the back of my mind and that nagging grew more and more everyday – who I was to her was a lie! I didn’t want to admit to the fact that I’d been lying to her ever since I told her my name was David Finley and not David O’Neil. How would she react when she found out who I really was? Would she be able to trust me the same? I couldn’t help but feel as if she’d think I’d let her down by lying to her. My body went cold at the thought of her tearing me out of her life. It couldn’t hurt to tell her the truth, right? She would understand it was part of my job, wouldn’t she? That was it! I would tell her. I had to tell her.

  A knock at the door broke me away from my reverie. “Oh it’s good to catch you in here, son.” Warren said as he entered my office.

  I turned from the window and leaned forward on my desk. “Pop, how are you?”

  He sat in the seat in front of my desk and crossed his ankle over his knee. “All is well. How has your progress been coming along ever since you let that negro girl go?”

  My stomach twisted. “Fine,” I said curtly, not wanting to elaborate on that subject.

  “Good,” he nodded, “I would presume you’ve been getting more work done.”

  “Yes sir.” I stood and headed to the board behind my desk. There, I had all of the information Clayton and I had gathered sorted and ready to be figured out. “We believe that Mr. Nicholas Brandy is the main producer, however, we’re lacking the evidence we need to convict him.”

  “This case is going to have to pick up speed. It’s been two and a half months and it’s only getting worse. Two more bodies were found over the weekend.” My father sighed and shook his head. “This drug is running rampant.”

  “I agree,” I nodded. “That’s why I met with the coroner to get more information on anything that would help us. He pointed out that since the bodies have been discovered, there’s been a rising level of a certain component of the drug called Dexonine. It essentially sends the body into an overdrive that it can’t come down from, causing the recent bodies to die with eyes wide open.”

  He had his hand on his chin nodding, listening intently – the only time I had his full attention. “Mhmm.”

  “Now since Nicholas admitted to adding an extra high to sell at a higher price, we know that if the substance he uses to add a high to his product matches the substance the coroner has tracked in the bodies then we have him for good and the case is closed.” I explained. Even though we had our differences, I still wanted to make him proud. Our complicated father-son relationship…

  My father clapped and stood, a smile on his face. A genuine smile. He held his hand out to me to shake. “Great work, son! This is coming to an end, I can feel it!”

  Clayton entered my office next. “Good day Chief, how ya doin’?”

  Pop nodded at him, still smiling. “Even better, now that I hear you two are on the way to closing this case in the near future!” He patted Clayton on the back.

  Clayton nodded in agreement, “I’d give it a few days to get a positive test on the substance. Since I been in cahoots with our good friend Mr. Brandy, I seen that he only produces this stuff once every so often. I know that within the next two weeks he’ll be gettin’ some more ready to go, it’ll be tough but I’ll get a sample straight from the source – you can bet on it.”

  My father chuckled, “I have faith in you both. I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud in my years.” He turned and winked at me.

  Pride welled up inside of me; for once in a long time I had done something right in my father’s eyes! The feeling made me feel as if I was on top of the world, I couldn’t wait to actually finish the case and show him that I could handle whatever was thrown at me!

  “Well I just came to let ya know that we’ve got block watch, son.” Clayton looked over at me.

  I nodded and began to gather my things.

  “Oh! Then I’d better let you two get going. Keep up the good work boys, we’re on to something!” My father called as he exited my office.

  When Clayton and I exited the station to make our way to the car, a black man standing at the end of the block caught my eye. He was staring with his eyes squinted and his hands in his pockets, a camera hanging from around his neck. I didn’t have time to be paranoid about every little thing, I had more important things to worry about at the moment.

  “Can you believe all of this is almost over, boy?” Clayton asked as he was parking the car once we reached the southern side of the city.

  I sighed. “Thank God Almighty.”

  Clayton chuckled. “What you don’t like workin’ with a rowdy southerner like myself?”

  “No, this ended up working better than I saw it going. You’re not so bad I guess.” I shrugged, biting a finger nail and looking out the window at the surroundings.

  “Well, alright!” Clayton pumped his fist in the air. “So what’re you gonna do when I’m the new chief? Are you plannin’ on bowin’ down or kneelin’?” He teased.

  “Neither,” I said laughing lightly through my nose. “I’ll stick to clapping. But on to more important subjects, where is everyone there’s only three people out here.” I desperately wanted to change the subject. Over the months I’d become a more soft-hearted and understanding person and not such an ice cold asshole as I was before Eva brought me back to life. As a result, I wanted to do something…nice for someone. I had decided that I would tell my father I wanted him to pass the position down to Clayton because I knew that he deserved it over me any day.

  Clayton looked around as well. “Maybe everyone stopped buying.” He shrugged. “That negro down there looks a tad suspicious whaddya think?” Clayton pointed to the corner of the block.

  I squinted at the man he was speaking of and my eyebrows furrowed. It was the same man from outside the station! As soon as I made eye contact with him he turned and walked away. Was I seeing things? I couldn’t have been if Clayton saw him too! I was growing suspicious but didn’t let Clayton know. “Looks like he’s just walking through the neighborhood.” I shrugged.

  “Are you kidding me? The –”

  I cut him off, “Wait! Look, right up there!” I pointed to a car driving up the block, away from us.

  Clayton leaned forward for a better look. “That ain’t Brandy’s vehicle…”

  The car crept slowly down the block and stopped at one dealer. The dealer appeared as if he was listening intently to whomever he was speaking with. A nervous smile cross the man’s
face before he took the hand of the person, which was covered with a white glove, and planted a light kiss on the back of the hand. The person in the car handed him a brief case and he backed away to let the car drive off. Most of the time we’d just witnessed Nicholas regularly drop off his product to the dealer. Where was Brandy?

  “You think it’s someone that works for Brandy?” I asked.

  Clayton’s eyebrows were furrowed and he was shaking his head. “I can’t tell…why would he…? I can’t see him having a female working for him.” He appeared entirely perplexed.

  “Well there’s only one way to find out,” I opened my door.

  Clayton’s eyes doubled in size. “What’re you doin’?”

  “I’m going to ask the man who that was and where Brandy is, this has got to end!” I hissed before exiting the car. I could hear Clayton’s footsteps behind me as I approached the man.

  “Just relax, David. Don’t wanna scare ‘em off, now.” Clayton grabbed my shoulder.

  I stopped and sighed. “I know how to handle myself.”

  Clayton stared at me for a long while, most likely remembering all the times I’d lost my temper, and then continued walking.

  “What’s up buddy, you sellin’?” I asked the man coolly.

  He turned and looked at us. “It’s your lucky day, just got some fresh new Trio straight from the boss.” The man beamed with pride as he opened the brief case and revealed his new supplies.

  I pulled out a wad of money from my pocket and began counting as if I was actually considering buying that shit. “Ah, you mean Brandy?”

  The dealer snorted. “Yeah that guy wishes. That there,” he pointed in the direction the car had gone, “was thee boss that sits at the top. That one is untouchable. If they figured out what Brandy’s doing to get more profit…he’d be dead in no more than five seconds.” He shook his head. “So what’ll you get today?”

  I stopped counting the money and shoved it back in my pocket. “I’ve got what I need. Thanks.” I swiftly turned to walk back toward the car.

  “Well I’ll be damned!” Clayton exclaimed once we were alone.

  “I knew it! I knew he wasn’t the main supplier! Gah!” I punched the dashboard in frustration. It made me angry that we’d been on the wrong path for the last few months and in the back of my head I knew something was wrong!

  Clayton shook his head slowly. “I can’t believe this…how did I not know?”

  “I knew it,” I mumbled, staring straight ahead. After a few moments of silence, I couldn’t take sitting in my frustration anymore. “Take me back to the station.” I knew that Eva and I had planned to meet in the train yard before the sun set and didn’t want to be late. Not to mention, she could always relieve my stress… I didn’t want to deal with the case anymore.

  “Eva!” I called when I arrived to the train yard later on that evening. There was no answer, only silence and the gravel crunching beneath my feet. I shielded my face from the evening sun as I walked, searching for my beautiful girl.

  “Up here David,” I heard her sweet voice from above me.

  I stopped and looked up. There on top of the train was my stress reliever, the love of my life, my Eva-Marie. She looked breathtaking with the sunset illuminating her from behind. I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled weakly up at her. “There you are.”

  “How was work today?” She asked, smiling.

  “How did you get up there?” I questioned, looking around.

  “The ladder, silly. Right on the other side.” She giggled.

  “I don’t know if it’s safe for you to be up there,” I noted as I found the ladder and started climbing.

  Eva placed her hands on her hips and scowled playfully. “Oh is that so? Then may I ask why you’re making your way up here?”

  “To save,” I hoisted myself up and picked her up, “the one I love from any harm.”

  She pressed her nose to my own lightly. “My knight in shining armor.” Eva giggled and kissed my cheek. She pulled back and grabbed my face in her hands. “You look so…stressed.” She pouted with her bottom lip. Eva leaned closer and whispered into my ear, “What’s wrong with my love?”

  The way Eva had whispered the words into my ear had been so sweet and caring that I wanted to break down right then and there and reveal to her everything I had been going through with the case in the recent months! I wanted to tell her my real name and my real profession and exactly why I had lied about it to her before! I felt so overwhelmed.

  “Talk to me,” she hummed quietly.

  I studied her face; noticing how her furrowed brow indicated that she was truly confused, how the corners of her lips were turned down giving away that she was honestly concerned, and how her head was cocked to the side just simply trying to understand me. All of these signs showing that she cared about me, that she loved me.

  I opened my mouth to speak. “Eva-Marie, there’s something I need you to know…”

  She looked at me expectantly.

  I thought about how to word my explanation and sighed, giving up. “I need you.” I set her down.

  Eva still looked confused. “What? I don’t get what you’re trying to say. I mean, I need you too but is that –”

  I grabbed her hands and bore my eyes into hers to make sure she understood what I was saying and the importance of the message. “I love you, I trust you, and I need you. I never want you to leave me, no matter what, okay?”

  Eva nodded quickly. “Okay. No matter what, I understand.” Her eyebrows were still coming together above her dark eyes but she didn’t ask me anything else.

  I kissed her fiercely, wanting to drown out the stress and pain from everything I’d been dealing with. I knew I was wrong for not telling her, but I would get to it. I knew she had questions that I wasn’t letting her ask, but I also knew that she didn’t question the one she loved…and for that I was thankful.

  23. Rifts

  September 1950

  My parents and I sat at the dining room table sorting and counting what seemed like endless amounts of money.

  While they were extremely cautious and concentrated, my mind was elsewhere. I finished counting my portion and glanced out the window to see that it was nearing the evening time – meaning David had gotten off of work not too long ago. A mixture of anxiety and butterflies tickled at my stomach as I imagined his lips on mine and his strong arms around me. I could almost feel the tension in his muscles loosening as they always did when coming in contact with me after a long day. Oh, how I adored the love of my life.

  “How much did you count, dear?” My mother’s voice broke into my daydream.

  “Ten thousand,” I answered, coming back to reality.

  “I counted seven,” Mama nearly whispered to my father.

  “Five.” Daddy shook his head and sighed. “How is it that we’re three thousand dollars short? Where are we getting cheated?”

  I sighed and shrugged hopelessly, feeling bad seeing the amount of stress on my parents’ faces.

  “Untrustworthy dealers, that’s who I think could be stealing the money.” Mama suggested with her arms crossed across her chest staring down at the table with a straight face.

  “For the past six months they’ve been doing this and we haven’t figured out who it is?” Daddy questioned, irritation in his voice.

  “It’s a risky business with risky people, Percy.” Mama said in a calm voice.

  “Why don’t we just stop now and keep the cigar company?” I blurted, my eyes bouncing back and forth between them. It took a great amount of courage to jump into their conversation about business but it was my life too, dammit!

  They both shifted their eyes to me, appearing shocked that I’d spoken up.

  I took a deep breath and continued. “Well…if we stop now, we’d be fine financially. The cigar company will support us…it brings in just as much money if not, more.” I eyed my father who had returned to angrily staring at the money on the table.

  “She h
as a point,” Mama told him after a few moments of ice cold silence.

  “I won’t do it.” Daddy shook his head without looking at either of us. “I’ve worked too hard.”

  “Your work has paid off Daddy, look at all you’ve done. Stop it before it ruins our family. More than it already has…” I trailed off in a soft voice looking down into my lap.

  I could tell Daddy was going to be hardheaded about the situation. The burden of our business was weighing down heavier and heavier each day – on me at least. It caused my parents to monitor me like a hawk all the time, ultimately causing me to revolt without them even noticing what was truly happening. To my parents, my rebelling was just a stage but in reality I was slowly and silently going insane in my own home.

  They controlled who I could be friends with, where I could go, and even at the age of nineteen who I could date or marry for that matter, all to ensure that the secret didn’t get out! Not to mention it was tough hiding my double life from David, though he never asked I always felt guilty. I didn’t want to live like that anymore nor did I want to continue to stray away from my parents because I loved them both so much. I never wanted the life but I couldn’t help that I was born into it and couldn’t get out.

  A knock on the door broke the silence between the three of us. “Did you invite someone over, dear?” Mama looked at me questioningly.

  “Not today,” I answered.

  “Nor did we have anyone scheduled to come over, Percy.” Mama said as she slowly rose from the table.

  Immediately my heartbeat began to quicken, a thousand thoughts running through my mind, wondering if it was finally the end of my family as I knew it. I exchanged nervous glances between my mother and the door and finally to my father.

  Daddy rose from the table. “Clean this up.” He motioned toward the money on the table.

  I did as I was told, slowly and quietly so I could hear what was going on at the front door.

  “Oh, hello. How can I help you this evening?” My father greeted the guest.