Caroline, on the other hand, was thrilled. Stan’s business was strapped for cash after his heart attack. Though she didn’t care for Charmaine, her family’s money would come in handy.
She told Big Sam not to worry, get in his truck, drive to Charmaine’s parents’ house, propose on bended knee, and she would handle all the wedding plans, which needed to happen within a month before the girl started showing. Though she detested the idea of doing so, there was no time or money to purchase a ring. Caroline slipped off her engagement ring and gave it to Big Sam. For the next thirty-plus years, every time she looked at Charmee’s finger, she cringed.
Big Sam left that night, heading to the southern part of the state to get engaged, yet made a little side trip to see his old high school flame, Maria, who worked as a waitress at the country club.
The image of the day Maria showed up on her doorstep, crying, scared and very pregnant, made Caroline shudder. She had always liked the girl, yet Big Sam and Charmee were married, the Hawthorne clan’s embarrassed nerves settled, and the promise of investing into the business a given. No way would she let a stupid, one-night stand ruin their lives.
Thinking about the choices she made next forced her to take another shot. “Stop wallowing in the past. Deal with the present. Protect the family—at all costs—which is what I did all those years ago. I didn’t finish the job.”
Resolve back, Caroline shut the photo album, returning it to the place of prominence on the coffee table. After walking to the kitchen, she prepared a fresh batch of stout tea. While brewing, she went to the master bathroom.
Opening the medicine cabinet, she smiled while staring at the full bottles of sleeping pills and anxiety medication. Taking both, she returned to the kitchen.
It took longer than she anticipated crushing over sixty pills yet finally, she had a good-sized pile. Dumping out half the sugar in the ceramic bowl down the sink, she scooped up all the white powder, mixing it into the container. Once finished, she stuffed the empty bottles inside her purse before cleaning the counter with bleach.
Grabbing her purse, she headed to the front door. The backup plan was in the safe in case she had an attack of cold feet. If she pushed on past the moral dilemma, the cash would remain hidden. What she was about to do was cold, calculated murder, yet it would end her suffering, as well as Maria’s, and would save her family from an untold amount of shame and embarrassment.
“Time for tea, Maria. Today is a nice afternoon to discuss your troubles over several steaming cups of oolong. Just two old gals hashing out the past. How much I give you depends upon your reactions. One way or another, this cat-and-mouse game ends. Today.”
Once inside the Navigator, Caroline broke her rule about smoking and lit a cigar. Puffing away while guiding the SUV down the long driveway, she slid on a pair of sunglasses, heading toward downtown to the halfway house where Maria resided.
IT WAS WEIRD being back in Hot Springs after so many years in Memphis. A lot had changed. Kathy got turned around twice while driving down Central after leaving the run-down motel she stayed the night in.
On a whim, she cruised by Samantha’s new office. She would never admit it to anyone, but the old Halstead place looked wonderful. It had been a huge eyesore for years. Kathy knew several friends who claimed to have seen ghosts when they snuck inside the place to party. Even when younger, she didn’t believe the hype.
She knew real, live monsters inflicted more damage than some ghostly apparition ever could. Pushing away the buried memories of the nasty, vile things her step-father did to her, she slowed for a red light.
Her heart skipped a beat when Kip’s truck pulled into the parking lot. “You better not screw up, idiot. A better future for Grayson is riding on this!”
Glancing down at her phone to check the time, she grimaced. The damn thing had 2% power left. She left in such a hurry from Memphis the day before she neglected to bring a charger.
When the light turned green, she headed toward Best Buy, which she passed on her drive over. About a block away, she stopped to refuel and buy smokes and stronger coffee. What she needed was some coke, but she didn’t dare risk riding dirty on Interstate 40.
Coffee and smokes purchased, gas tank topped off, Kathy pulled into Best Buy’s parking lot, intending to grab a car charger before heading over to the historic district downtown where all the halfway houses were located to search for Maria. Once she found her, she wanted the ability to record their conversation on her phone…
Kathy’s heartrate spiked. On instinct, she crouched down in the seat while peering out the window. For a few seconds, she was confused why Grayson was in the parking lot. Where the hell was Kip?
Then, she saw Samantha—all full of smiles—dark red hair blowing in the breeze. When Grayson gave her a hug and she returned it, patting him on the back as they crossed the blacktop, Kathy’s maternal instincts erupted. Angry, hot tears filled her eyes while watching the look of excitement on her son’s face after he grabbed Samantha’s hand, tugging her toward an SUV parked three rows over.
Get away from him, you bitch! Grayson’s my son. My son! Isn’t it enough you and your family stole everything else from me? Your sister’s fucking my husband and now you’re trying to take my son?
Fuming, Kathy’s vision blurred as she imagined leaping from the car and beating Samantha’s ass until unconscious, wrapping her fingers through the bitch’s hair while slamming her head over and over against the hard ground, right in the middle of Town Square Plaza. Instead of acting on the thoughts, she started the car and left before losing control.
Infuriated to the point of hysteria, she drove around aimlessly for several minutes until she found an empty parking lot of what used to be a Saver’s grocery store in her youth.
Pulling around to the back, she slammed on the brakes then threw the car into park.
“No! No! No!” Kathy pounded her fists on the dash with each outburst. “I’m gonna make you all pay—in cash and in blood! He’s my son, dammit! My son! He’s the only good thing in my life. You can’t have him!”
A knock on the window made her jump. A young punk, maybe twenty, stood at the driver’s window. “You okay, lady?”
“Oh, you so picked the wrong bitch to fuck with today.” Kathy grabbed the tire iron from under the front seat.
“Whoa—ain’t no call for all that. Ain’t nobody come back here unless they in need of some help.”
Sizing the kid up, Kathy blew out an irritated huff of air. He was barely old enough to be out of high school yet looked like a grizzled street dealer. She rolled down the window. “Can’t be too careful these days, right?”
“No doubt.”
“What kind of help you got?”
The kid grinned, exposing a mouthful of broken and missing teeth. “What you need to get straight, baby?”
“I’m a fan of foo-foo dust.”
“Gotcha covered. Fifty for a nickel.”
Though cheaper than what she usually paid in Memphis, Kathy’s funds were tight. She flashed the cash yet didn’t offer it. “Forty.”
“Fine, chica.”
The exchange was so fast a passerby would have trouble deciphering what went down unless they were an undercover cop.
Tapping out some powder on the back of her hand, Kathy snorted. Relishing the burn, she let a grin form. “Are you from around here?”
The kid backed away from the window.
“Oh, keep your boxers fresh, junior. I need directions and thought you might know.”
“Directions to?”
“My sister just got out from long stint in prison. She’s living in a halfway house around here, but my phone’s dead. I can’t recall what street she said.”
“What makes you think I know?”
Kathy did another bump then laughed. “Good grief, Pedro—you’re edgy.”
“My name’s not Pedro.”
Kathy rolled her eyes. “No shit. You should probably switch from cheap chalk to foo-foo dust. It�
��ll save your teeth.”
“Why you lying? You’re here to work a pole. I see your shoes and clothes in the back seat. The French Quarter’s been looking for fresh meat. You’ll make good money, for an old mama.”
“Oh, ouch.” Kathy snorted again, relishing the rush. The euphoria speeding through her veins kept her from getting out of the car with the tire iron to show the little fucker how good she was for an old mama. “Guess we both got the other’s number. Never mind. I’ll find out where the halfway houses are on my own.”
Taking a step forward, the kid held out his hand. “Give me the dime and I’ll tell you.”
“Tell me, and if it’s the truth, I guarantee you I’ll buy more while I’m here. Deal?”
The kid’s dark, dead eyes took in every inch of Kathy’s face. She returned the stare. She knew how to interact with the dregs of society—how to play the game.
“Fine. Go down Central, turn left onto Quapaw. Sixth house on the left. White. Old. Looks like the roof will cave in any second”
“Thanks. I’ll see you around, Pedro. Is this your spot?”
“Yeah. Name’s Eduardo.”
The coke was good quality—Kathy was flying high, which was sort of a shock. She gave him a seductive grin while licking her lips. “See you soon, Pedro.”
“Eduardo!”
“Whatever!”
Giving the car some gas, Kathy shot out of the parking lot. She knew where the kid meant. The older, historic district of downtown Hot Springs was full of aged homes, like Sam’s, bought for cheap prices and barely kept to code.
Gripping the wheel as the rush of chemicals took over her mind, Kathy kept her focus on the road. The heavens finally opened up and gave her a break after shitting on her for years.
While stuck at a red light at the intersection of Central and Quapaw, Kathy’s fingers drummed on the steering wheel. She reached for her cigarettes and promptly dropped them on the floorboard. “Sonofabitch!”
The light turned green, so Kathy headed straight for an empty parking lot across from the destination. Bending down, she felt around for the smokes, giggling when she touched the pack. Cigarette lit and lungs filled with nicotine, she scanned the building in front of her for any signs of life.
She didn’t notice a vehicle pull into the parking area or an elderly woman step out until damn near inches away from her car. Blinking twice, Kathy peered at the woman as she passed by, never moving a muscle or even gasping. Like a quiet little church mouse, she stared, smiling the entire time.
She recognized the old broad from the front-page picture of Samantha’s big night. Though she couldn’t recall her name, she knew, without a doubt, the woman walking with slow determination and a slight wobble, head held high and clothes immaculate, was Samantha’s grandmother.
Stubbing out the smoke in the ashtray, Kathy thought, Well, well, well. What do we have here?
Slumping down in the seat, heart racing and mind spinning, Kathy couldn’t believe it when the old bitch walked straight up the steps of the building and knocked on the door.
She damn-near fainted when Maria appeared.
“Damn, I wish I could hear that conversation!”
Maria disappeared back inside and in seconds, reappeared with purse in hand. The duo headed back her direction. Kathy noticed neither woman looked happy.
Afraid one of them might see her, she bent her head down, pretending to rummage through her purse until they passed. Breathing hard as blood whooshed in her ears, she strained to listen for the sounds of the vehicle leaving.
Sure enough, a bright red Lincoln passed by, turned left onto Quapaw then disappeared out of sight.
Wasting no time, Kathy put the Camry into drive and followed, mind spinning with a thousand different scenarios of why the two women were talking, much less taking a ride together.
“This is getting interesting!” Kathy burst out laughing then lit another smoke.
The ding of an incoming text caught her attention. Glancing over at the phone, she noticed it was from Kip. Picking it up, she read All set then smiled.
“All set indeed, dickhead.”
CHAPTER TEN
Saturday, November 26, 2016
CAROLINE PULLED INTO the garage then shut the engine off. Glancing over at Maria, whose fingers gripped the door handle with such force the knuckles were white, she smiled. “Will you please stop acting like I kidnapped you? I brought you here to talk, not kill you. If I planned on offing you, I wouldn’t be so foolish to do so in my own home. I would’ve run you over on the street and blamed poor eyesight.”
Letting go of the handle, Maria sighed. “Doubtful. I smell booze on your breath. I believe crushing someone under the tires is called vehicular manslaughter when alcohol is a factor. Of course, with your connections, you would walk away scot free.”
“Aren’t you perceptive? Is my driving what’s got you all riled up? Riding shotgun with a slightly intoxicated driver? Given your past addiction issues, I find that rather amusing.”
Maria shot the bitch a dirty glance. “No. You’re not stupid enough to take me out in broad daylight. Your driving is what terrified me. Thank God we stopped.”
Caroline burst out laughing while opening the door. “I’m an old woman. I’m supposed to be a bad driver. Why do you think I bought this beast? I never feel a curb or bump when running over them.”
Despite her concerns of the old hag’s plans, Maria chuckled. “Judging by all the dings I noticed earlier, you aren’t kidding. It must be nice to have clout in this town. Keeps you from getting pulled over and hauled off to jail, right?”
“Enough bantering, Maria. Let’s go fix some tea then head out to the back deck. There’s business to attend to, and the sun’s shining bright. According to the weatherman’s forecast earlier, a storm is on the way, so let’s not waste any time.”
Maria followed without saying another word while admiring the house. Though it was an older home, it still had lovely lines and had been well-maintained. Hidden from the road up a steep incline behind a large cropping of magnolia trees, the place would be the perfect backdrop for a movie or television show about the old south—a gothic saga full of secrets, lies, and heartache.
Caroline had impeccable taste. Memories of all the prior times she’d been inside the place in her youth roared back. Though closing in on thirty-six years since she wandered around the halls, she knew the layout by heart. Caroline had updated the wall colors and added new decorations, yet the smell was as she remembered from years past.
The hallway was dotted with numerous family pictures. An overwhelming surge of sadness made Maria’s heart clench after passing several photos of the Chapman men. What made her almost laugh was the one of Big Sam in his blue and yellow football uniform, face stoic while posing on bended knee—right next to their high school prom picture.
Of course, the picture of the two of them was small; insignificant compared to the other, enormous family photos on the wall. Maria thought it odd the old bitch kept one of her pictures.
Maria remembered the day Caroline took her shopping, helping pick out the pink dress and paying for the expensive gown and a fancy lunch at the country club. Maria’s father died the month before prom, and her mother’s health was fading fast, so Caroline offered to help.
All those years ago, Maria loved not only Big Sam, but also Caroline and Stan Chapman. They treated her like family. Of course, things changed less than two years later.
Shaking away the painful memories, Maria stopped at the entryway to the kitchen, watching Caroline prepare a tray to take outside.
“Would you mind?” Caroline motioned to the sliding glass door leading to the deck, hands occupied with the tray and her purse.
Maria nodded while stepping outside. The crisp air helped cool her unsettled nerves. A rush of memories hit her of all the times she made love in the woods behind the house, the action hidden by the trees and the cover of darkness. The closest neighbor was over a football field away, and
the dense forest and shrubbery separating them still thick.
“Join me?” Caroline asked once seated at the table, holding out a slender cigar after extracting it from the purse at her feet.
“I prefer these.” Maria pulled a pack of cigarettes from her tattered bag.
Caroline poured two steaming cups of tea. “Sugar?”
“Is there any other way to drink tea in the south?”
“Nope.”
“One’ll do.”
Smiling, Caroline dumped in a spoonful, stirred, and then took several puffs while staring at Maria’s face, waiting for her to take a sip. Maria’s gaze never left her own. Her tea sat, untouched, in front of her.
Maria blew out a large plume of smoke. “Why did you bring me here?”
“I believe the better questions are why did you return to Hot Springs and what do you want?”
“This is how you’re going to play this, Caroline? Am I supposed to believe your memory is on the fritz because of your age? You and I both damn well know why I’m here and what I want.”
“There’s no need for the attitude, dear. This is a friendly conversation, nothing more. Think of it as a chance for us to hash things out, get all the dirty cards onto the table and play a fair, clean game.”
Maria took several deep drags from the cigarette. “Friendly? We are not friends. There was a time when I thought we were years ago. Of course, my perception about our relationship changed the night you whisked me away to Dr. Halstead’s basement to give birth. I didn’t think you would make me go through with it. I held fleeting hope up until delivery you would raise the child.”
“Again, like today, I didn’t force you to go anywhere. You came willingly today and back in the day, and both times you appeared to me first. What happened between us was not a personal affront against you, Maria. You knew, and agreed, the choice was the best for everyone, including the baby.”
Fatal Agreements Page 13