Unforgettable Heroes Boxed Set

by James, Maddie

  “Paula, there’s a guy out there.”

  Paula huffed, marched straight to the door, opened it and went out to the young man. I stood inside the door to see what would happen. Now, Paula wasn’t a big woman, but her demeanor made me hope I never got on her bad side. I had no doubt she could whip my butt with one hand tied behind her back.

  I couldn’t hear what she said, but saw that guy glare at her and spit on the ground near where she stood. Instead of backing up, Paula got closer to him. Could the teen be her son? Yes, he was African American, but I knew she’d raised several foster children. He was getting a dressing-down, no doubt about it. Now, she pointed emphatically toward the street. As if it had been his plan all along, the young man pushed off from the building and strolled away in the direction that Paula had pointed. She watched him leave until he was out of sight. Then, with ramrod straight back, she walked back into the kitchen, closed and locked the door behind her.

  Back in the kitchen, she slammed a bowl into the sink. “Standing there looking at me like that. I work for a living—two jobs, plus this one.”

  “Umm, Paula?”

  She scrubbed the bowl and threw it into the drying rack. “I don’t live off the filth of the earth…and don’t you think I’m going to put up with your stink comin’ ‘round here.” She picked up a pan, knocked it down in the sink, and turned on the faucet.

  “Paula?”

  “I’ll knock you three times around this building and not think twice about it… Looking at me like you have any, any business around here, except devilment.”

  “I’ll just go get Mr. Harvey.” I made for the door before she worked herself up into a full frenzy. I could still hear her as I walked down the hall.

  “Spit on my shoe. I’ll chew you up and spit you out like day old snuff.”

  Mr. Harvey sat at his desk bent over a thick sheaf of papers. I knocked on his open door, and he looked up.

  “I think you better come in the kitchen. Paula had a...conversation with a guy in the alley, and she’s pretty worked up about it.”

  Mr. Harvey nodded and went full steam ahead toward the kitchen. I sprinted to keep up with him. By the time we arrived in the room, Paula had finished with the dishes and was attacking the counter tops with a sponge, her entire body vibrated with the movement of her cleaning.

  “Paula.” Mr. Harvey barked. “What’s got into you?”

  “A Night lounging outside like he owns the place.”

  “A knight?” I questioned.

  “A gang banger,” Mr. Harvey supplied. “The rival gangs around here are the Nights and Morte.”

  Paula tossed the sponge into the sink and leaned against the counter facing us. “And they stir things up between the races. They’re nothing but pure filth. What’s that piece of trash doing here?”

  “Recruiting maybe, or selling drugs. Was he alone?”

  “Yeah.”

  Mr. Harvey reached in his pocket, pulled out a packet of antacids and popped a couple in his mouth. “Did you know him?”

  “No. I’ve never seen him.” The fear in Paula’s eyes scared me. She was one of the toughest women I’d ever met. Most of the kids sat up straight and faced forward when she walked in the room.

  “What do we do?” I glanced back and forth between them. “Can’t we call the police or something?”

  “The police can’t do anything until....” Mr. Harvey finished his sentence with a hefty sigh.

  “Until it’s too late.” Paula supplied.

  Days passed, and the Shoe Spitter didn’t make another appearance. I guessed Paula had scared him away. I hadn’t seen Eli either. Mr. Harvey asked me to let him know the next time Eli showed up. Although he spent most of his time pushing the broom along the pavement, Eli provided a little security to the center which Mr. Harvey seemed to appreciate. I thought this was because amidst all of the female volunteers, Eli was the only other male adult around on most days. And who knew when you needed a guy around to break up a fight, nitpick convicts, or tell a blonde joke to?

  Leaving the community center I spotted Eli going into a house over on Fourteenth. The sun was setting as I circled the block and parked on the curb thinking I’d pass on the message that Mr. Harvey was looking for him.

  For a moment, I studied the dilapidated house. Good grief was this where Eli lived? The droopy roof crowning the bricked structure and several broken windows testified to its neglect.

  How sad. How very, very sad.

  I pocketed my keys and clutched my pepper spray. Ever since Eli had told me about Harold, I’d started carrying it with me. I’d forgotten it when I’d met the Shoe Spitter in the alley. Lesson learned. If any rapists or gang bangers threatened me, they’d be crying habanero tears.

  At the front porch of the house, I knocked, and the door creaked open.

  Huh. I thought I had seen a movie like this once. As I recall, it didn’t turn out too well for the heroine.

  I peeked in the cluttered room.

  “Eli?”

  I knew I had seen him come in here. “Eli, it’s Abigail. Abigail Benton.” Did he know my last name?

  I stepped inside wrinkling my nose at the disgusting mess. What was this about? He swept every speck of dirt outside of the center, but lived in a garbage can? A bare mattress leaned against the wall, broken bottles and pop cans littered the floor.

  I pushed the door open as far as the hinges would let me. From somewhere inside the building, I heard the pulsing of music. He was here and obviously a fan of very loud rap music. I crossed the floor to the dining room clucking my tongue at the burnt wood in the middle of the floor and wooden crates decorated with fast food bags.

  Still no Eli.

  “Eli, it’s Abigail, your mop buddy.” Saved-me-from-a-rapist buddy. Combed-through-my-hair buddy.

  The music stopped. I continued forward to an archway leading to a hall. The kitchen was to the right and the other way ended with a set of narrow stairs. Very dark up there.

  “Eli?” I called up the passage.

  The hair on the back of my neck prickled. Okay. Time to go. This place was creepy, and Mr. Harvey could just come down here himself if he needed to see Eli. I turned to leave.

  “What are you doing here?” Eli asked from the stairs.

  I jumped a foot. He was only a shadow, but there was enough light that I could see him. I knew he hadn’t been there a second ago.

  “Would you stop sneaking up on me like that? You scared the life out of me.”

  “You better get out of here. Now.” He descended one stair then another.

  “I just wanted to tell you Mr. Harvey’s looking for you.”

  “You walk right out of here, and don’t you ever come back.”

  “I’m…sorry. I’m really sorry, Eli.” I turned to the door.

  A shout echoed from somewhere else in the house, and I heard the thunder of Eli’s shoes pounding down rest of the stairs.

  I had to get out of here.

  I ran but only got as far as the archway when I stumbled. I sensed and heard something like the wind behind me. Eli’s arm wrapped around my waist and lifted me off the floor, his other arm snaked around my shoulder with a hand pressed firmly over my mouth before I could scream or even bite. Eli, what are you doing? You’re supposed to be a good guy, aren’t you? No, no! He ran with me into the kitchen straight to a door which I could see was boarded up.

  Holding me to the side, Eli kicked hard, but the wood wouldn’t budge. He kicked again, but it was ineffective. I twisted attempting to escape, but he held me too tightly.

  Another door was open, the pantry. His arm loosened, and my feet touched the floor again. Shoved into the small space, Eli crowded in behind me, and with a slam we were in complete, confined darkness.

  So, this was where it was going to happen. But not if I could help it.

  I filled my lungs with as much breath as I could from my nostrils. Eli still had his hand closed over my mouth. But I could make some noise, couldn’t I?<
br />
  I screamed.

  His hand tightened. “I swear I won’t hurt you, but you’ve got to be quiet. In about ten seconds, we’re going to have some gang bangers in the house. If they find us, it won’t be good.” He removed his hand from my face.

  “You’re lying,” I whispered.

  “If I wanted to assault you, wouldn’t I already be doing it?”

  I rotated my shoulders and pushed against him trying to reach the door. Enfolding my arms in one of his, Eli’s other hand circled my hip and brought me back flush against him. His hold was so tight I could hardly breathe.

  “Let go of me.”

  “I will, but not until we’re safe.”

  I lunged against him until noises from outside stilled my struggles. Shouts. Loud male voices. The door slammed. He was telling the truth. A gang was in the house.

  I must have said his name because his mouth, so close to my ear that the hair from his beard tickled my neck, murmured to me.

  “Not a word, sweetheart.” He loosened his hold. “Don’t talk. Don’t move, and we may get out of here alive.”

  I hadn’t moved since I’d heard them in the house. I squeezed shut my eyes. Were they open or closed? It was so dark I couldn’t tell. My knees buckled, and Eli held me so I wouldn’t fall and give away our hiding place, get us killed.

  “Breathe, breathe. Only breathe,” his lips moved against my ear.

  I realized I had been holding my breath. I sucked in some air.

  What Eli did was to save us both. I realized this. I did. But when he wrapped his other arm around me, and I felt all of the contours of his hard body against mine. Well, all I could think was those loose, dirty clothes of his must have been hiding quite a specimen. What was I thinking? He’s a guy. Of course, he’s a guy.

  Please don’t let us die today. I don’t want to die.

  Muffled sounds came from outside the closet. Footsteps, voices, laughter. Men were in the room.

  “What the hell is this?” someone asked.

  “Pepper spray? Yo, Loose, this yours?”

  I gasped. I must have dropped it when Eli grabbed me.

  “Bite me, man, I want to hurt somebody, I use this.”

  “On your food.” Someone guffawed.

  “Naw, man. Anywhere I please.”

  Eli pressed my head back against him, wrapping himself around me. I was surrounded by his arms, his warmth. His lips touched the shell of my ear.

  “No sound if they shoot,” he breathed.

  I nodded my head, barely a movement, but he got the message. The way he was holding me made me feel safe, protected. I closed my eyes anticipating the sound, and it happened, a quick sharp pop, and wood splintering.

  I didn’t scream, didn’t even flinch, but I tasted blood where I had bitten down on my lip. Eli was tense, waiting.

  A string of profanities reached our ears, then, “Put yo’ piece up. Do it again, I’m shooting you with it.”

  Silence. Oh, please don’t let someone get killed.

  Footsteps and movement. “Where you been?”

  “Nowhere, man. I’m starving. Y’all want to get something to eat?”

  “We just got here.”

  “I’m in. Loose?”

  “Sure.”

  “Giddyap, y’all.”

  Feet shuffled, the sound growing softer as they left. But were they all leaving, or were some staying behind? How would we know when it was safe?

  “Eli?” I whispered.

  “Not yet,” he whispered back, his breath in my ear sending tingles all the way to my toe nails.

  I waited. It seemed like hours. How long had it been? And, of course, I had to go to the bathroom. That’s why I had always lost at Hide-and-Seek when I was a kid. Even if I had a good hiding spot, I had to pee once I got there. I never could wait to be found to go, so I had to come out and get caught.

  I heard and felt something move against my backside, like a cell phone vibrating.

  Eli opened the door and stepped away from me.

  “Is it safe? Was that a cell phone I felt?”

  “Come on. We need to get out of here.” He pulled my arm.

  “But what if they’re still here?”

  “They’re gone.”

  “How do you know?” I wrung my hands, still scared out of my mind. A guy had just shot his gun for no good reason.

  “You want to wait around to see?” Eli’s hooded eyes glanced at me before he stalked from the room. “They’ll come back here to sleep, most likely. I, for one, do not plan on being here.”

  I ran to catch up with him, and stumbled again. Trying not to fall, I plowed into his back. He reached toward me and grasped my hand.

  “Who are they? The Nights? Morte?”

  He didn’t answer me, just went for the door. Before he exited, he pulled it back a fraction, peered out, moving his head to the left and to the right. Satisfied the men were gone, he pulled me by the elbow from the house. I ran to keep up with him as he made a beeline for my car.

  Without hesitation, he opened the passenger door and stepped aside for me to enter. What?

  “I’ll drive. Get in.”

  “Do you have a license?” I stood there waiting. My insurance would go through the roof if I let somebody with no license drive my car.

  “I have a license. Get in.”

  I entered the car, pondering this bit of news. What does his license say where his address is supposed to go? And, really, why does he need a license when he doesn’t even have a car he can live in?

  He slammed my door and walked over to the other side of the car. Getting in, he glared out the windshield.

  “Keys.”

  When I didn’t move, he held out his hand, palm up to me. I took a shuttering breath, feeling like I was in a bubble. He saved my life, but did I want him driving my car? Why did it matter? I could be dead by now.

  I put the keys on his leg.

  ****

  I waited for my heart to slow down to a normal pace as Eli drove. Under lowered lashes I studied him. He drove like a pro. Perhaps he could get a job as a cab or bus driver? Being city employees, I bet bus drivers have great benefits. And it would get Eli off the street. I could help him get a job. I owed him that, at least. The sensation of him against my back lingered. What if we had been facing each in the closet? His beard would have been next to my face. What was it like to kiss someone with a beard? What was wrong with me? Was I lonely enough that I was willing to fall for a homeless guy just because he had saved my life? Did I not learn anything from my ex?

  My dad’s voice echoed in my head. Why are you attracted to any bum which crosses your path? I swear you must be part raccoon the way you go after trash.

  I contemplated all of these things as Eli drove. When he stopped the car, I snapped out of my reverie, and realized we were at my apartment. The engine cut off, and Eli deposited my keys on my lap. Without a word, he opened the car and stepped out. I opened my door and stood watching him trudging toward the road. “Eli, wait.” I hurried after him. “Please, come inside for a little while,” I said when I caught up to him.

  “No.”

  “Yes. You have to. You saved my life. At least, let me fix you something to eat.” I took Eli’s elbow and tried to guide him back to my apartment building. He stood stock still, his face set. I pulled.

  “Why? Why were you in that house?” he groused.

  “I told you. Mr. Harvey’s been looking for you. What were you doing there? Didn’t you know those men would come back?” I returned.

  “You had no business there.” His expression was blank, not matching the intensity of his words.

  “And you did have business there? What kind?” I pressed. What was he into? Surely, he didn’t rub elbows with those criminals. And, if so, why would he care that they would find me?

  He didn’t answer me. Of course he didn’t.

  I ran my fingers along the crook of his arm and felt him stiffen. “Just for a few minutes,” I murmured. “
I’m sure you’re hungry. I know you weren’t at the kitchen tonight.”

  I had started to notice when he was and wasn’t at the shelter or in the parking lot at the community center. I was developing a crush, or at the least gratitude. Which was it? He’d saved my life. I wanted him in my apartment. I wasn’t going to jump his bones or anything, but I did want to get some food in him. I owed him that much. I probably owed him the jumping the bones part, too, but I was trying really hard not to get into another stupid, bad-for-me relationship.

  I tugged again. He relented.

  Without a sound, he allowed me to turn us around and walk us to my abode. When he stepped inside the threshold, I invited him to sit down while I bustled into the kitchenette. In record time, I made him two whopping ham sandwiches and set them on a plate at the table. I had snitched the ham from work. They were going to toss it anyway.

  When I peeked in the living room, he was still standing up, staring at my blank wall. What? Weren’t my framed photos on the other wall worth looking at? What was wrong with him that he’d rather glare at nothing, than admire me and my girlfriends in our prom dresses?

  “Eli?” I called.

  He turned his head aside, waiting for what I would say next.

  “I fixed you a couple of sandwiches. Come over here and sit down.”

  Obediently, he did. Picking up a sandwich, he bit into it, and picked up the glass of water I’d set next to the plate. I sat across from him and studied him. I’m sure he was hungry, but he didn’t scarf down his food. Leisurely, he chewed. He drank the water as if it were a fine wine to be savored.

  “How did you know those men were gang members?” I studied him looking for some hint as to what he was doing in that house.

  He shrugged.

  “Do you live there? Somebody shouted and warned you they were coming in. Who was there with you?”

  “Mind your own business, and stay out of the neighborhoods. All of them.”

  “I want to help you, if I can.”

  “You just don’t get it, do you?” Eli’s eyes had been roving all over the room. His question surprised me because I wasn’t even sure he had been listening to what I was saying.

  “I don’t get what?”

  “That this isn’t Kansas, Abigail. And you don’t have any ruby slippers to protect you. Those men will cut you. They’ll do things to you I don’t even want to think about. If you have to go to the center, fine. If you have to work at the shelter, do it. But don’t stop anywhere on the way and don’t linger in your duties, or you could end up in a bad way. A very bad way.” Eli had yet to make eye contact with me. He finished off the first sandwich, took the napkin from the table and wrapped it around the second one.