by J. L. Drake
“What up, Markie Mark?” Mike took two stairs at a time and slapped Mark on the shoulder. He stopped to pick up a little brown box from the table and tucked it under his arm. What the hell did he keep ordering? “Someone have a visit from Aunt Flo?”
“And it’s time to move on.” Cole shook his head and disappeared downstairs.
Just as I was about to follow, I caught Savannah heading to Cole’s office with a heavy-looking diaper. “I’m going to turn up the heat.” She winked and rushed off.
Oh, Christ!
Later that night, I lay in bed and wondered what Lexi was up to. I knew she wasn’t with Juan, because Clark kept me in the loop from time to time. I had never been able to date anyone without comparing them to her. I willed my eyes closed and hoped morning would come sooner than later.
***
“Knock, knock.” Savannah was in my doorway with a sleepy Olivia, who yawned when she saw me. “We wanted to see you off.”
I reached for my little sidekick, but stopped when she made a red face. My arms dropped, and I took a step back. “Bye.”
“Really, Uncle Keith.” Savannah’s eyes watered as she held her out. “Give her a kiss.”
In spite of the smell that wafted off the kid, I decided to go for it and leaned in and touched my nose to hers.
“Be bad and cause all kinds of trouble for your mommy while I’m gone.” I winked at Savannah, and she rolled her eyes.
Mark popped his head in the door. “Have a safe—” His face scrunched, then he gagged. “Oh, pew! I think my eggs are coming back up.”
“So dramatic.” Savannah pushed Olivia in his arms, mumbling about how it was Cole’s turn to change her.
“Speaking of which, the show should start in ten minutes. Let the mystery smell begin.”
“Get the camera ready.”
“On it.”
Once the little stinker was gone, Savi turned back to me with a curious expression.
“Does this have anything to do with why you went home four years ago?”
I knew she saw me flinch. I wasn’t aware she knew about that.
“Before you get all Keith on me, I overheard Sue and Cole talking. They didn’t know I was there feeding Olivia. I don’t know what happened, I just know something did.”
Walking to the bed, not wanting to talk about this, I hiked my duffle bag over my shoulder. I knew Savannah wouldn’t have brought this up if she wasn’t worried about me. I knew I’d been off over the past year. I was just trying to come to terms with my life.
She stepped in my way and held her hands up. “Look, I know I meddle, but I’m worried about you.”
She bit down on her lower lip. She was nervous of over-stepping with me.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulled her in, and gave her kiss on the top of her head and whispered, “I’ll be in touch, and I’ll see you at the wedding.”
***
Boston
The carousel spun round and round, and its metal surface reflected light in my eyes from the sun pouring in through the airport doors. My flight had arrived fifteen minutes early, so I beat Dad to the luggage pickup.
Leaning down, I hoisted my duffle bag over my shoulder. I was happy to be home. I guessed I was more homesick than I thought.
“Keith!” Dad waved at me from his car across the street. With a hand up, I stopped a cabby from turning me into road kill and raced across the busy street.
He opened his trunk so I could toss in my bag, then gave me a huge hug.
“I swear you get bigger each time I see you, son.”
“Since I joined the new unit, I’ve been working out more.” Dad knew a lot about what I did, but I still had a contract to protect. He understood that and never pushed more than he had to.
Easing into the passenger seat, I rolled my window down and sucked in the crisp air, letting it fill my lungs.
“How was your flight?”
“Smooth.” I grinned as we passed by the familiar places I used to love.
“You planning on staying a while?” I knew he was hoping it wouldn’t be like last time. I only lasted four days here on that visit.
“I’m here until after the wedding.”
Dad gave a small nod before a grin broke out across his face. “That’s really great to hear.”
One of the best parts about coming home was the smell of the familiar. Some things may have changed, but for the most part it was home the way it always was.
We pulled up behind Mom’s car. She still had the ‘My Son Fights For Our Freedom’ sticker on her bumper.
I chuckled at it; she was such a great supporter of anything we did.
Dad grabbed my duffle bag as we headed to the front door. It flew open and Two nearly tackled me.
“Oh my God, I’ve missed you!” she muttered into my shoulder.
“Hey, you!” I squeezed her tight until I heard her gasp.
“Move it!” Three yelled as she and Four both beat their way past Mom and hugged me from both sides.
“Wow, what a greeting.” I patted their backs and waited for One, who was always way too cool to show her emotions as she greeted me.
Her hug was small, until I wrapped her up and kissed her cheek. “I know you missed me, One, don’t deny it.”
She laughed and rubbed my back. “I did.”
After a very long hug with Mom, I was finally allowed to come inside. The wonderful aroma of the barbeque they had going hit my nostrils and made my mouth water. I knew it was going to be all my favorites tonight.
“There he is.” Nan rolled down the ramp and over to me. “Give me some of that Army sugar.” I leaned down and kissed her cheek and gave her a hug. She took my hand and squeezed it as I straightened up. “Sorry I wasn’t at the airport. The car bothers my hip.”
“No need to explain.” Sometimes she forgot she was not twenty again.
“Why don’t you hook a Nan up, hey?”
“Can I come in the door first?” I joked and thanked Two for the beer she handed me.
Nan was such a lush. Oh, it was so good to be home!
Glancing around, I quickly poured some beer into her coffee mug. I didn’t think Nan ever had real coffee in that thing.
“Saw that.” Dad chuckled but kept an eye out for Mom.
“You saw nothing but your sweet son helping your favorite mother-in-law in her time of need.” She snatched the mug out of my hand and took a long swig. “It’s so good to have you back.”
“Yes, I can see that.” I shook my head, and Dad laughed.
“You and I have some catching up to do.” She gave me a wink before she headed over for some food. I followed her out back to where my parents had the barbeque going.
Orange and green lights were strung around the high wooden fence, and the flourishing plants made me feel like I was in the country instead of a subdivision. My mother had a great eye for decorating.
“Well, as I live and breathe,” Clark called out as he came out the patio doors. “Look who’s back in town!”
“Hey.” I shook his hand then gave a slap on the shoulder. “Looking good.”
“Yeah, I clean up nice when I don’t have to wear the uniform.”
Two joined my side, nursing a beer. “Uniforms are hot.”
I glared down at her. “You’re not to find anything hot.”
“I’ve had sex. Wanna talk about that?”
“Oh, Lord.” Clark coughed and downed some more beer. Clark was like another brother to the girls, and we both always kept our eyes on them. Two was not to have sex ever…that was my rule, and she was supposed to stick to it.
I shoved her, but she was ready for it and returned it with force.
“Wanna know with who?”
“Wanna watch me jam a steak knife in my ear? No, so this conversation never happened.”
“You’re cute when you’re mad, big brother.” Her face became serious. “All kidding aside, I do need to talk to you.”
I could tell by th
e creases between her eyes that something was bothering her, so I followed her inside to the living room. Clark came along with us.
“Okay, you have my attention.”
She glanced at Clark, and he gave a slight nod. What was going on?
“I ran into Lexi the other day.”
My heart jumped but I remained calm. The Army had taught me a lot; one thing was to hear all the facts before I said anything.
“She’s not doing too well.”
“How so?”
Two again eyed Clark, who cleared his throat. “I had a call last week that someone was drunk in the alley out by McCullan’s Bar. When I got there to check it out, I found Lexi curled up in between the garbage cans, and she was covered in bruises. When she saw it was me, she let me help her up. I, ah…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I let it slip that we have reason to believe Antonio’s gang had a part in her parents’ murder.”
“Based on what?”
“We had a witness come forward describing the tattoo on the forearm of the shooter.”
“The coiled snake?”
“Yeah.” He held eye contact for a moment, silently conveying they were ninety percent certain it was them. “The look on her face said it all. She’s staying at their clubhouse until she can get some real evidence.”
I felt sick.
“Look, we all know she’s a stubborn woman, but, Keith, she was in pretty rough shape, shaking all over and upset, but she wouldn’t tell me what happened. I was going to take her to the hospital, but then Antonio showed up with some of his guys.” He looked down at his beer. “Something is going on and it’s bad, Keith.” He looked at me, his expression worried. “Things are different since you were home last. The town is…well, the Almas Perdidas are becoming bolder with their killings, and honestly, we can’t keep up with it.”
Shit.
I couldn’t bear to picture Lexi hurt that way, and fury built in my gut. I had to get a grip.
“Look, guys, we all know Lexi wants nothing to do with me. I’m not sure what I can do, but I have to do something!”
“She pushed you away because she feels unworthy,” Two blurted out. Her eyes bulged when she realized what she just said.
Taking a seat on the couch, I tried to beat back my anger at someone hurting Lexi so I could think straight.
“What?” Her comment threw me. “That is based on what, exactly?”
“Based on the fact I saw her last month at the market when she was buying flowers for her parents’ grave. She looked even skinnier and worn out. I asked her to come with me for coffee.” Two tugged at her bracelet the way she always did when she was upset or nervous. “She asked how you were. She wanted to know why you left so quickly when you just got back last time.” Her face changed. “Which, by the way, feel free to share what really happened there.”
“So…Lexi?” I hoped she would leave that topic alone.
“She misses you, Keith. When I told her you were happy, she couldn’t hide her emotions. She started to cry. Then some horrible looking guy—”
“Will Shonner,” Clark added.
“Like, Will from high school?”
“Yeah, he’s part of the gang now.”
Shaking my head, I waited for Two to go on. I hated that guy.
“Anyway, he basically hauled her out of the chair, and her parents didn’t get the flowers because he ripped them out of her hands and chucked them on the ground before he pushed her into the car.”
I wanted to rip Will’s throat out with my bare hands, but I had to keep my cool. I knew enough about this gang to know acting too quickly would only make things worse. I pumped my fists at my sides, trying to think.
Two sat across from me. “I think she wants out, but might be in too deep. Well, now, knowing what she does, I bet she’ll stick it out for her parents. But at what cost?”
I nodded slowly, still casting about, trying to put this all together. I knew how hard it was to get out of a gang once you were in.
“Brandon.” She caught my attention by using my first name. No one ever used it. “I know you love her, so go save her. That is what you do, right?”
Clark nodded. “I’ll help in any way I can. I, ahh…” He paused before he looked back toward the barbeque. “We have a guy in the inside, name’s Gordon. He joined them last year. He’s been leaking us information.”
“Let me get my head around this, okay, guys?” I caught Clark’s eye when Two wasn’t looking to let him know we would need to talk. “Okay, thanks, Two. I love you for caring about Lexi. Now, come on, I need a drink, and I bet you do too.” I stood and headed out to the deck.
The rest of the day I tried to enjoy being home with my family, but my heart wasn’t in it, and my brain was working overtime. Memories from the last time I was home haunted me.
I couldn’t sleep at all that night either. I kept picturing Lexi crying and hurt in that alley. Then I would switch to her conversation with Two. Did she really miss me? And were the Almas Perdidas really behind her parents’ death?
Finally, by 5:00, I changed into my shorts and t-shirt and headed downstairs for a run.
The pavement beat under the soles of my sneakers. The morning was cool, and there was evidence of an early rainfall from the shine on the grass. I loved morning runs. It was the perfect time to let my mind wander and get myself in check for the day ahead.
“Keith?” I heard someone yell. I turned and scanned the houses. “Wow, it’s really you!”
Then I found the voice. “Mimi?”
“Don’t tell me you forgot my face after all these years?”
Laughing, I jogged over and gave her a hug. “Sorry, I was in the zone.”
“Don’t be sorry. I get it. I just fed my son. I think I’m full of apple sauce.” She looked down at her top as she motioned for me to sit on a bench under a tree. “Have you got a sec? I know how hard it is to stop when you’re out for a run. But I’m dying to know how you are and what you’ve been up to.”
I joined her, knowing that as Lexi’s friend in high school, she might have more to say.
“Still with the Army. I’m home for Three’s wedding. That’s about it, really. You?”
“Still with Robert. We have two kids and haven’t left this town.” She let out a little sigh. “Sometimes I wonder what I’m missing out there.” She gave me a small smile, and I could tell this was a sore subject for her.
“It’s pretty amazing, but nothing beats home.”
“So…” She looked up at me, clearly wanting to change the topic. “You run into anyone yet?”
And there it was. I pretended not catch on right away.
“Just Clark, but I only got in yesterday.”
“Ah, yes, Officer Clark.” She chuckled. “Boston Police Department’s finest. Too bad they can’t do more about the Almas Perdidas. That gang is worse than it ever was, and growing too. Everyone is scared of them.”
“Yeah, I heard they were causing trouble.”
“What’s crazy is we went to school with a lot of those guys. My husband says all they see is blood and money.”
I nodded and stared up into the sun as it warmed the ground, drying the dew from the grass. Things in the town I grew up in weren’t so happy and peaceful as they used to be. This gang was obviously a sore that needed to be addressed in more ways than one.
Mimi interrupted my thoughts. “I’m just going to come right out and say this, Keith.”
Here we go.
“Nicole is going to be so excited to see you!”
Wait, what? It had been years since I heard her name.
“I swear that woman has been waiting for you to return for years. She got a boob job, an eye lift, and a neck tuck when she heard you were coming home a few years ago. Wait, are you single?”
Oh, shit.
I forced a smile. Knowing she was still friends with Nicole made this a little harder.
“I’m single, but my life isn’t made for a woman.”
“
Are you telling me big, intense Keith swings for his own team now?”
I shook my head; Mimi had no filter.
“No!” I shook my head. This question always went there. “I mean my job takes me places I can’t even talk about, and having a girlfriend fit into that is next to impossible.”
“Oh, well, she’d be happy even for a quickie with you.” She cupped her mouth. “Don’t tell her I told you that.”
“Secret is safe with me.” I’d be like a damn vault if it would keep Nicole away.
“Mommy!” Mimi’s husband called from the doorway. “We need you.”
Mimi jumped and held up a finger. “Be sure to stop by again at least once before you head back to wherever it is you’ve been hiding. It was really great to see you again.”
“You too.”
I waved at Robert in the doorway and continued on my run. Well, so much for her friendship with Lexi.
***
After a hot shower and a fresh change of clothes, I fired up my old truck, pleased Dad kept it maintained. He used it off and on to haul plants and bags of soil for Mom’s garden. I decided to head into town. I knew Mom’s greenhouse took a beating after the last hurricane, and I wanted to make sure it would hold up over the coming winter.
The keychain Nan gave me knocked against my knee as the truck bumped around the old road. Tuning the radio to the local station, I leaned back and listened to “Gooey” by Glass Animals. I caught my reflection in the mirror and smiled. I looked like I was home again. White t-shirt, jeans, faded Bruins hat, and work boots.
Pulling into Home Hardware, I parked and headed inside. A half hour later, I had everything on my list.
“So, two sheets of plywood, six two by fours, a gallon of green paint, and a carton of nails?” The salesclerk held up the yellow slip, and I walked out to the guys who had loaded up my truck.
“That will be it, thanks.” Someone familiar caught my eye as they crossed the street. I squinted to get a better look.
Holy shit.
I tossed the paperwork at one of the guys, thanking him. I locked my truck and raced across the street into the local market.
I grabbed a basket and weaved through the aisle until I saw her.