Unlikely Praise

by Carla Rossi

  Max stumbled as she pushed him toward the door. “Do you hear the words coming out of your mouth? Shade’s mad but he’s not unreasonable. He’ll be back. Besides, we don’t know where he is.”

  “We can figure it out on your fancy phone. GPS, Yellow Pages, whatever. My dad mentioned the street.”

  “It’s a needle in a haystack situation.”

  “Don’t you have an app for that? Get in the car.”

  Candi maneuvered each busy road as Max yelled out directions. She cut it close with a couple yellow lights and there was a distinct possibility they’d taken a short trip the wrong way down a one-way street.

  “Hang a left, hang a left,” Max shouted. “It’s gotta be right here on this block somewhere.”

  “I don’t see anything. Wait! I’m not going down that street. There are police lights flashing.

  Max waved his phone in her face. “But that’s the location.”

  “What am I supposed to do?”

  “Drive on by. It’s probably disorderly conduct or public intoxication or something. What does your dad drive?”

  “I don’t know. Before he went to jail, he had a white Toyota. Camry or Corolla or something like that. Who knows what he’s driving now? My phone’s in the cup holder. Try to call him.”

  “Slow down.” He dropped her phone. “I think I see them.”

  “Where?”

  “Uh...right there.”

  Candi glanced at the front of the club as she drove. Her father and Shade sat together on the curb. They were handcuffed. A man stood above them. They both stared up at him with their eyes wide. Spider Monkey, Tom, and one other man stood handcuffed along the wall.

  Her gasp was so violent she choked on her own saliva. She slammed on her brakes.

  Max flew forward and jerked back. “Whoa, woman! Did you even look behind you?”

  “I’m getting out.”

  He yanked on her arm. “No! We’re in the middle of the street and you can’t walk up to a bunch of cops during an arrest, or you’ll be wearing fancy bracelets too.”

  “What do I do?”

  “Go around again. Go around again!”

  “Are you kidding me? They’ve been arrested. I need to see what’s going on.”

  “No. We can’t get out. Just go around again and we’ll park and watch what happens.”

  “We’re going to have a stake out and watch the police?”

  “What else are we gonna do?”

  She crept around the police car and circled the block. Her heart thumped hard and fast in her chest. It hurt like the night at the music festival, and the one person who could calm her down had been arrested. Arrested!

  She parked at the end of the street and shut off her lights.

  Max opened his window and stuck out his head. “What do you think happened?” he whispered.

  “I don’t know. My dad and Shade weren’t together. Whatever it was happened fast.”

  “I guess it could be a fight, or something. Someone could have started something with them.” He leaned further out the window. “It’s dark, but they don’t look busted up, and I don’t think Shade has a hot temper, do you?”

  “Ha! I saw him punch a truck once, and today during our heated discussion he pulled out his knife.”

  Max jerked his head back in the window. “What?”

  “Long story.” She scooted forward to better see out the windshield. “Spider Monkey and Tom look as guilty as homemade sin. I don’t know who that other guy is, but he looks guilty, too. If they’ve hurt Shade or my father or have done anything to jeopardize Shade’s progress, I’ll have to beat the devil right out of them with my bare hands.”

  Max shook his head as though disappointed. “Now Candi. What would Jesus do?”

  “You do not want to mess with me right now, Max.”

  “You gonna beat the devil outta me, too?”

  She glared at him. “You have no idea how bad I want to pull your hair right now.”

  “Back at ya, sister. Back at ya.”

  Candi saw movement. “Shhhhh! What’s going on?”

  “They’re letting them stand up.”

  “Maybe they’re going to let them go.”

  “Nope.”

  It was like a slow motion nightmare as both of them disappeared into the back of the police car. “They’re hauling them. Why are they hauling them? They didn’t do anything. I know they didn’t.”

  “I hate to point out the obvious, Candi, but five men just don’t accidentally get arrested. Something happened.”

  “I know...”

  “Follow them,” Max ordered. “Otherwise we’ll have to wait for a phone call. We can find out what happened if we go straight to the station.”

  “Or, as you pointed out earlier, we could be arrested, too.”

  “Would you rather go back to the hotel and sit on your hands?”

  “I don’t know what to do. I usually don’t spend my Friday nights this way, do you?”

  “No,” he said as he helped her look both ways before she pulled out behind the police car. “Stay back.”

  “I’m trying. Do you think they’re bringing the other guys?”

  “Yeah, I think I saw another police car coming this way.”

  They tailed the car until it drove into a parking garage and disappeared to the lower level.

  “Should I park in there?”

  “No. Go around front and park on the street. It’s late. There’ll be a spot. I have a feeling visitors and civilians don’t get to use that entrance.”

  Candi did as he said and killed the engine. She downed the rest of a warm diet soda she found in the back seat cup holder. “That was nasty, but I’m dying of thirst. Let’s go.”

  “Hang on a minute.”

  “Why?”

  “They’re probably not out of the car yet. Let’s sit here and think about what we’re gonna do.”

  “What’s to think about? We’re gonna go in there and get them.”

  “No we’re not, Candi. This isn’t T.V. You can’t go in there with guns a-blazin’ and get your man.”

  “All right.” She pulled out her compact and slapped on a fresh coat of powder and then applied lipstick.

  Max’s expression was sardonic as he waited for her to complete her touch-up. “I’m sorry, did you misunderstand me and think I just invited you to brunch?”

  “No, smarty pants, but you’re right. We’re going to be calm and confident and see if anyone will talk to us. Then, I’m gonna get my man. But first,” she said and took his hand, “we’re going to pray.”

  ****

  Shade flexed the fingers of his right hand. They were all numb and tingling. Being handcuffed for that amount of time had seriously irritated his old injury.

  Don stretched and sat on one of the chairs in the small stark room where they’d been placed. It wasn’t even a cell. More like they’d been locked in a closet. The men had said nothing during their arrest and consequent chauffeured drive to the station. Shade didn’t know where to start.

  “Be careful what you say in here,” Don said. “They’re probably listening. That’s why they put us in here together.”

  “That would be an issue only if I had something to hide.”

  Don turned his head from side to side until something cracked, and then he crossed his arms and studied Shade as though trying to figure something out. “Something’s different. You got a haircut.”

  “Not exactly.”

  “What do you think this is about?”

  Shade continued to pace and rub his hand. “Near as I can tell, I was walking up the street and you were walking across the street. I guess that’s illegal.” He paused in front of the older man. “Unless you know something else.”

  “I know what you know. I heard the word arrest and something about distributing a controlled substance...but look at me, Shade. I’ve got enough trouble. Do I look like a drug dealer?”

  “What were you doing there?”

 
“Candi sent me to find you.”

  “Seriously? She called you. To find me.”

  “Yes. She was hysterical. She said I had to find you and bring you back to her.”

  Shade collapsed in the other chair. She was desperate to find him. So desperate she called her father. He didn’t know whether to be thrilled or annoyed. Stripped of everything in his pockets, he couldn’t even call her to let her know they were OK.

  “What were you doing there, Shade? I thought you were done with this scene.”

  “I am. We’re in town for a worship conference. I was trying to touch base with Remy about that project, but he’s in Dallas. Spider Monkey and Tom said they had more information. I thought I might do it because I need the money for a new truck, but obviously those guys have some extracurricular activities I want no part of.” He left the chair and started his pacing line again. “I can’t believe those two. I know they always lived a little on the wild side, but buying and selling drugs on the street?”

  “People do strange and desperate things for money, Shade. You were about to do it with a new band. I did it.”

  That ticked him off. “Let’s get one thing straight, Don. Hitting the studio with Remy is not illegal. Extortion and fraud is. Don’t compare my near mistake with your white-collar crime spree.”

  “Fair enough. I’m just saying desperate times call for desperate measures. Trying to keep someone alive when they’re dying of cancer is expensive. I’m not trying to make excuses or justify my actions. I’m just saying it is what it is.”

  “Does Candi know that’s where the money went?”

  “No, and I doubt it would make any difference.”

  Shade went back to the chair. “Not in that black and white mind of hers. She would say it wasn’t your money to take for any reason.”

  Don shrugged. “She’d be right.”

  “For what it’s worth,” Shade offered, “I think she’s coming around about you. She did call you tonight.”

  “That’s only because she wanted you.”

  “Yeah, but there was a time she wouldn’t have reached out to you at all. She’d have been out there tearing up the city on her own.”

  “That’s what worries me,” her father replied. “She likely still is, because she hasn’t heard from me since my last text.”

  Shade scrubbed his hands across his face. “Look, they can’t keep us here forever. They found nothing on us, and we didn’t confess to anything because we haven’t done anything. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’ll be out of here in no time.”

  “You’ll be out of here in no time.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My parole, Shade. Stips say I can’t be in a bar or get arrested. I’m sure they’ve already called my parole officer. I’m on my way back to prison.”

  “But you weren’t in the bar, and you may have been picked up, but they can’t charge you with anything because you didn’t do anything.”

  “Details.”

  “Wait a minute, how are you scouting bands if you’re not allowed in clubs?”

  “Music festivals, county fairs, fundraisers. I’ve also attended Bar Mitzvahs and weddings.”

  “Why on earth did you go there tonight if you knew what could happen?”

  “My daughter needed me.”

  Panic rose in Shade’s chest. “Candi will never forgive herself if she thinks you went back to prison because she called you.”

  “Then make sure she doesn’t find out. Make something up. I don’t care what it is.”

  “No, Don, I don’t lie to the woman I love. There’s gotta be a way out of this.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Shade leaned forward and buried his face in his hands.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m praying.”

  “Praying? Now?” Don shook his head. “Well, if that don’t beat all. People were right about you. You really have hopped the Jesus Freak Express and are ridin’ it all the way to the station.”

  “Is that necessary? I would think it would be in your best interest to start praying, too.”

  Don cackled like a hyena. “I’m just messin’ with you. So you love my daughter?”

  “Yes.”

  “She could do a lot worse, I guess.”

  Shade met the older man’s skeptical gaze and made an instant decision. He would lead Don Canaberry in the sinner’s prayer if it was the last thing he did.

  Don scooted forward. “Keep praying. I won’t interrupt anymore.”

  The door opened and hit his chair with a thud. “That won’t be necessary. I can’t listen to any more of this completely useless information. It’s been entertaining,” the woman said with a smile, “but it doesn’t help my investigation.”

  She extended her hand. “I’m Detective Ramirez.”

  The men glanced at each other as they exchanged polite introductions.

  “Mr. Blackledge, you can go. Officer Jenkins is right outside the door. He’ll get you released and return your belongings.”

  Everything inside him said to shut up and run. He couldn’t. “Can you at least tell us why we were arrested?”

  “Like you said, wrong place, wrong time.”

  She had heard everything.

  She closed the door. “We’ve been watching that area for quite some time, but, given all the circumstances, it’s obvious the two of you were not involved in the purchase of a controlled substance. That’s all I can say about this ongoing investigation.”

  She reopened the door for Shade. When Don tried to follow, she stopped him. “Not so fast, Mr. Canaberry.”

  Shade didn’t look back. What would he say to Candi?

  ****

  After an hour and twenty-eight minutes, Candi returned to the counter. “Is there any news?”

  The burly cop behind the desk looked up at her over the top of his crooked glasses. “No more than the last couple dozen times you asked me.”

  Max took her by the arm and led her away. She dropped back in her chair and gazed at the streetlights through the front glass doors of the station. Lord, where is he?

  As though in a dream, he appeared on the sidewalk through the mist of the sprinkler system as it watered the trees along the street.

  “Max! He’s outside. Hold my purse. Give me a minute with him alone, will you?”

  She charged out the front doors and jumped into his arms. The fact he didn’t see her coming did not deter her in the least.

  “Oh, Shade, thank God.” She smashed her lips against his. “Are you OK? What happened? Where’s my father? Forget everything I said earlier.” She kissed him again. And again. “I love you, and that’s all you need to know.”

  Her feet dangled in the air for a second before he set her on the ground. She didn’t let go. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a pain, and I promise I’ll check the box “yes” every single time, no matter what. Do you understand? I love you.”

  He looked confused, so she kissed him again.

  He peeled her arms from around him. “I love you too, baby, but I have to tell you something. Come out of the sprinklers. We’re getting wet.”

  “I don’t care. What are you doing out here? We’ve been waiting in there forever.”

  “I got turned around downstairs and came out the wrong door. How did you know we were here?”

  “My dad sent a text when he found you. The rest is just...weird. Why were you arrested?”

  “Wrong place, wrong time. They didn’t want us. They wanted Spider Monkey and Tom and their drug dealer.”

  “Oh, no.”

  “Yep. Didn’t see that one coming.”

  “Where is my father?”

  “About your father...”

  Max came out the doors, clutching her purse against his chest. Her father was right behind him. “Dude! Where’s your ponytail?”

  “It’s back at the hotel.”

  “Whoa...”

  She rushed into her father’s arms. This time
it wasn’t hard to hug him. This time it was just about a girl and her dad. This time it was about her hero. “Thanks, Daddy.”

  “Anything for you, sweetheart.”

  She stepped back and met his hopeful gaze. If the bitterness still remained, it was only a fleeting twinge as she pushed out a deep breath and let God take it, once and for all. Her knees trembled at the thought of her miracle.

  Guess that’s it, Lord. Consider me pruned.

  Shade came forward. “What happened in there, Don? Are you free to go?”

  “Yes. Detective Ramirez and I have an understanding. She’ll forget about this arrest if I pass along any information I might stumble across in my dealings with other bands.”

  “She made you a snitch?”

  “I think the less we know about this the better,” Candi said.

  “That’s true,” he agreed, “but I don’t plan on having too much to say. I think I’ve run my course in the music business.”

  “Ya think?”

  “What will you do?” Max asked.

  “I have a friend in Dallas who’s in the car business. He said I’d have to start out in the pre-owned division, but I think I’ll give it a try.”

  “Used cars?” Candi shrugged. “Well, you are a salesman.”

  “What about you, Shade? You said you needed a truck. Maybe we can work something out.”

  Candi laughed as Shade squeezed her hand. “We’re not buying a used truck from you, Don.”

  “Let’s go,” Candi said. “I’m sure you two are starving, and I’ve got to present my first workshop in about five hours.”

  Shade wrapped his arm around her. “Thanks for coming to get me out of jail.”

  “I love you, Shade. Wild horses couldn’t have kept me away.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “I’m confused,” Max said. “How exactly is your ponytail back at the hotel?”

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