Vernon was agitated. He had been pacing in front of the building Traci lived in for the last two hours. It was actually Tracie’s sister Fran’s building. Vernon constant ringing of the bell last night and now out front again had Fran discreetly watching him from her window.
“I don’t know why she doesn’t leave that bum alone,” she uttered and frowning up at him. “He just looks like trouble.”
Fran felt Vernon was a problem from the minute she met him. When Tracie introduced them he just peered at her with a slight nod of the head. It wasn’t long before Fran began to see how controlling Vernon could be. When he wanted to tell Tracie something he would clutch her elbow and pull her to him. Although Fran never saw Vernon strike her sister she was sure he had laid his hands on her. ‘Black eyes don’t just appear out of sky blue’ she told Tracie one day. One more thing that annoyed Fran was how Vernon would suck on toothpicks and then spit them out not caring where they landed.
“Tracie, girl, open the door,” Vernon said looking up at her apartment. He knew she was home because her daughter came to the window when he first called out to Tracie and she was quickly pulled back from it.
Tracie barely slept last night. She couldn’t believe she allowed Vernon to talk her into committing a crime. It didn’t matter that they didn’t force their way into her former boss’s house, their entrance was violent. Tracie knew she was just as guilty if the police found out she was there. The thought of going to jail made her a nervous wreck.
“I don’t know what to do,” she kept saying over and over, her arms wrapped around her waist tight.
Tracie still had on the jeans and red sweater she wore yesterday under her costume. A costume she cut to pieces when she got home and stashed deep into the trash.
“Girl what are you afraid of? Come open the door!” Vernon yelled out and getting frustrated with being ignored. “I just want to talk to you,” he stated and spat the toothpick out and shoved another in he took from behind his ear.
“I’m getting ready to get to the bottom of this,” Fran uttered, and getting madder. “Whatever happened yesterday you will not bring it here,” and she attempted another phone call to her sister after the three last night went unanswered.
Fran a five-foot seven, full figured woman, changed from her pale yellow pajamas into Jeans and a black sweatshirt that read, “Working Toward Success” She put on her gym shoes, grabbed her house keys and headed upstairs for an explanation to the troublemaker hanging around outside.
Fran’s building was a three flat so she wasn’t worried about Vernon seeing her heading upstairs. He would have to gain entrance through the front door. Fran used her spare keys and let herself into the first entry to her sister’s apartment. She then went up the flight of stairs and knocked hard on the door. The rap to the door sent shockwaves through Tracie.
“How did he get in here,” she mumbled and biting at the tips of her fingernails.
Cassidy hearing the solid knocks came galloping out of her bedroom. Her eyes widened after seeing her mommy’s eyes big.
“What’s wrong mommy,” she asked and stopped in front of her mother with a Barbie doll dangling from her hand.
Tracie was about to place her finger to her mouth to hush Cassidy when they heard, “Tracie, open the door,” come from Fran. “I know you’re in there.”
“Mommy its only Auntie Fran,” Cassidy said to her.
Tracie was relieved that Vernon hadn’t made his way into the building and blew out a gush of air.
“You know I have keys, Tracie,” Fran said.
“Go back in your room,” Tracie told her daughter who remained there in her pink footed pajamas.
“I want to see auntie Fran.”
“You can see her in a minute go back in your room. I need to talk to auntie.”
Tracie knowing her sister would use her key still debated letting Fran in because she would have to explain why Vernon was hanging around her building.
“Tracie, I know something is going on. I’m going to give you to the count of three and then I’m coming in.”
Tracie’s eyes grew large at her daughter still standing in front of her, ignoring her demand to go back to her room.
“I said go to your room!” she repeated and began walking to the door to let her sister in.
Cassidy smiled then began walking backwards back to her room. She then disappeared inside it.
Tracie opened the door and then quickly locked it after Fran walked in.
“What is going on and don’t lie to me because I know something is.” Fran placed her hands on her hips for an explanation. “He’s not standing out there just to be.”
Fran ten years older than Tracie moved over to the window and looked out between the blinds. Vernon had calmed down and was sitting on the hood of Tracie’s car.
Tracie went and took a seat near the edge of her brown leather sofa.
“I did something bad Fran,” Tracie said and began rocking with her arms wrapped around her waist.
Fran moved from the window and went over and sat next to Tracie.
“What did you do?” she calmly asked.
“I don’t know why I went along with it.”
“Tell me what happened, Tracie.”
“Nobody was supposed to get hurt,” Tracie desolately expressed.
Fran was getting inpatient. “Tell me what happened, Tracie.”
Tracie sniffled and then leaned her head over onto her sister’s shoulder.
“Vernon had us dress in costumes yesterday. We went to his sister’s house and then two of his friend’s showed up,” Tracie sniffled then said, “He let them rob her house.”
“What?” a confused looking Fran said drawing back some to look at Tracie.
“Vernon said his sister owed him a lot of money and he wanted me to go with him to get it. He then said she wouldn’t know it was me because we’d be in costumes,” and Tracie began bawling.
“Tracie...Tracie you should have known better,” Fran said moving her head from side to side and consoled her sister by rubbing up and down her shoulder.
“When his sister opened the door...he slammed his fist in her face...and she fell to the floor. He knocked her out, Fran.” Tracie sniffled. “He then told me to take food from her refrigerator. You think he killed her? She wasn’t moving after he hit her.”
“I knew he was trouble,” Fran said moving her head from side to side.
“Fran when his friends showed up I was scared because I didn’t know they were going to rob her house. He said they were coming to give us a ride. When I saw what they were getting ready to do I just ran out of her house and down the street. I was really scared Fran. They had on costumes too and it was my former boss house,” and Tracie began bawling into her hands.
Fran jumped up from the sofa. “Tracie!”
“I know, I know, Fran. I just went along with it because she fired me. I didn’t know he was going to hurt her.”
“You lost your job!” and Fran’s mouth hung open. “Why didn’t you tell me? When did you get fired?”
Cassidy heard her mommy crying and peeked at her from her bedroom door.
“It happened a couple months ago.”
Fran sat back down next to her sister. “You need to go to the police,” she said.
Tracie shook her head no, opposing the suggestion.
“I can’t. I don’t want to go to jail.”
“Tracie you really didn’t do anything wrong. He had you going over to his sister house under false pretense. They need to know that. The fact that she fired you and this happening spells conspiracy. It’s going to look like you knew she was going to be robbed, that you were part of their plan.”
“But I didn’t,” Tracie maintained and looked over at her sister, her eyes glazed with new tears.
“What does that mean, conspiracy,” Cassidy said. “Hi auntie Fran,” smiling at her from the bedroom doorway.
“Hey baby,” Fran said to her niece. “Go on back in your
room your mama and I are talking. I’ll explain it to you later.”
“Okay,” Cassidy said and stood and closed the door to her bedroom.
Vernon began to get restless again and moved from the car and back in front of the building stashing his hands in the front pockets of his black jeans.
“Tra…cie,” he slowly called out and then mumbled, “See this girl is going to make me hurt her.”
Fran stood placing her hands on her hips. “That man is a nut. Tracie, listen to me. If you don’t go to the police and even if they don’t find out who robbed and assaulted his sister, he will hold that over your head for the rest of your life. You need to rid yourself of him and going to the police is the only way you’re going to do that. If he assaulted his sister and had her home robbed, what do you think he’ll do to you or will have someone do to you? You are a witness, not only to what he did, but to whoever else is involved.”
“Okay. Do you think they are going to keep me after I tell them what happened?”
“I don’t know they might. This is serious and someone got hurt, Tracie.”
“What about my clients? I have three coming to get their hair done today.”
“I was wondering why all of a sudden you had so many new friends.” Fran then looked as if she was thinking and then said, “You know what. I have a plan. First you need to call and cancel your appointments.”
“Fran I need the money,” a distressing looking Tracie said.
“Money that most of is going to end up coming to me, don’t worry about your rent for this month.”
Tracie rose from the sofa with her arms wrapped around her. She moved over to the window for a peek out and became startled when Vernon called her name again.
“I hate him Fran,” Tracie said peering down at Vernon.
“We’re going to set him up for the police to catch him. What we are going to do is go out of the back and down the alley over to grandpa’s house. We’ll use his car to go to the police. After you explain what happened, if Vernon is still out in front of the house, the police will pick him up.”
“Okay,” Tracie said and she began walking toward her bedroom to get her keys and purse.
Fran said, “I’ll get Cassidy ready,” then thought, God please be with this woman during her confusion. She’s really going to need you.
Minutes later and they were creeping out the back door and down the steps. Cassidy was told to stay very quiet which she obeyed, holding hands with her mother.
After inconspicuously exiting the back gate they began to walk at a rapid pace away from the house down the alley. Cassidy looked as if she had questions for her mother as to why they were sneaking away from home, but remained quiet.
“You got to come out the house sooner or later,” Vernon said waving his hand downward at the building and he turned and walked away. When he turned the corner he quickly stopped. “All snaps,” he uttered. “She done snuck her ass out the back door,” and he walked fast over behind a tree. It was in the nick of time because Tracie, a nervous wreck, turned her head to look behind them.
“Where the hell is she going?” Vernon uttered and moved his head some to look at them scurrying down the street. “I know this broad is not trying to set me up. Girl you must be a fool. You’re in this as much as I am.”
Vernon waited for them to turn the corner before moving in the opposite direction.
“That’s where we’re going,” Cassidy said and beamed as if they were playing a guessing game. “We’re going over to grandpa’s house.”
“Yes, we’re going to see grandpa,” Fran said briefly making eye contact with Tracie.
“What’s so secret about going to see grandpa,” Cassidy wanted to know and she began to skip to keep up with the fast pace. She was now holding both Fran and Tracie’s hand.
Fran said, “We want it to be a surprise. We don’t want grandpa to know we’re coming.”
“Okay,” Cassidy said content with the answer.
When they neared his house Cassidy asked, “Can I ring the bell,” and she broke from their hands and darted a few feet up the four steps to ring the bell.
Grandpa Herman looked out the peep-hole. “Will you look at my family,” he said with a smile and opened the door.
“Hey grandpa,” Fran and Tracie said while Cassidy greeted him with the words, surprise grandpa!
Grandpa Herman was wearing gray tweed pants that were being held up by suspenders and a red checkered shirt.
“Hey little pumpkin,” he said jovial to see Cassidy and patting her atop her head. “You came to surprise your great grandpa. He sure is happy to see you. Y’all just come right on in.”
Cassidy took off to the dining room where a four foot bird cage stood. She quickly wiggled her fingers at the two yellow parakeets and made funny faces at them.
Fran said, “Grandpa, I know this is unexpected, but can you keep an eye on Cassidy for us. Tracie and I have some very important business to take care of” and the seriousness and urgency in Fran’s voice had him looking concerned at them.
“Are you two okay? Nothing done happen has it?”
“We hope not grandpa. There is just something we need to take care of and it’s not a good idea that Cassidy go with us.”
Grandpa Herman looked at Tracie who looked a bit troubled to him and hadn’t said anything since they entered, but hi. “You okay, baby,” he said to her.
Tracie managed a smile. “Yes, grandpa, we just need to take care of some business.”
Fran then said, “Grandpa, I know this is going to sound out of the ordinary too, but we need to use your car if that’s okay.”
“My car,” and a little confused he went over to the window and looked out at his ten-year-old maroon four-door Cadillac parked out front. His eyes then moved to the car in front and in back of his. “What done happened to your cars?”
“Grandpa we’re going to tell you everything when we get back,” Fran said.
“You sure you two aren’t in any trouble, you know I’ll help you out of whatever the situation.”
“Everything is fine for now, but we are in sort of a hurry,” Fran said and glanced over at Tracie.
Grandpa Herman began walking toward the dining room for his keys.
“Well neither one of you has ever led me or your grandmother astray, may she rest in peace. It’s okay, you two can use it,” he said retrieving his keys from the table.
Tracie and Fran were quiet for the first few minutes to the police station. Fran glanced over at Tracie who was still gloomy sitting in the passenger’s seat.
“Tracie I’m here for you,” she said. “But I’m not going inside the police station with you.”
Tracie quickly looked over at her sister, shocked.
“What do you mean you’re not going in with me? Why not, Fran? I don’t want to go in there by myself.”
“I understand, but I don’t want my name tied up in Vernon’s mess. You know that I’m an applicant to be part of the mayor’s office. I don’t want your association with a criminal to raise any eyebrows. Something tells me he was a criminal long before you met him. I walk in there with you and the next thing you know my name will be all over the news and in the papers. I can’t jeopardize my future.”
Tracie nodded. “I just want you to know whatever happens that I appreciate you being by my side. I only ask one thing Fran that if I go to jail you take care of Cassidy,” and a couple tears fell from her eyes. “Don’t tell her where I am, make up something.”
“Oh Tracie that’s without question,” Fran said trying to hold back tears.
Fran released one hand from the steering wheel and moved it over to hold her sister’s hand for a second.
As they approached the police station Fran moved further up the street to let her sister out.
“Now I know you’re not going to like this either, but you’re going to have to walk back to the police station,” Fran said.
“Fran!” Tracie said looking over at her.
Tracie nodded.
“Give it to me.”
“Give it to you. Why do I need to give you my phone? I may need to call you.”
“That’s exactly why. Tracie you can call me paranoid, but when you get in the system nothing is off limits. I don’t want anyone tracing calls to me trying to get Vernon. So, give it here,” and Fran wiggled her fingers for the cell phone. Tracie gave her the phone. “One more thing,” Fran said. “I’m going to sit out here no longer than a half-hour. After that if you’re still inside, I’m going to head back to grandpa and explain to him what’s going on.”
“I’m scared, Fran. I just feel they are going to keep me because I’m involved.”
Fran didn’t respond though she had the same sinking feeling it could happen. How do you walk into a police station and admit that you were part of a home invasion and they let you walk away.
Tracie reached for the handle to open the door.
“Wait Tracie,” Fran said and Tracie moved back into her seat. Fran held out her hand for Tracie’s. She then lowered her head and said a prayer.
“God, I ask you to please walk ahead of my baby sister who is lost at the moment. She has stumbled into bad company. I ask you Lord to rid her of this burden and to give her strength, for only you Lord can see her through trials, in Jesus name, Amen.”
“Amen,” Tracie said softly and exited the car while Fran wiped away a few tears from her eyes.
Tracie walked with great sadness down the street to the police station.
“God, I know I don’t talk to you often, but please see me through this. God whatever happens...please...please...take care of Cassidy.”
Tracie entered the station and the jitters quickly set in. With her small purse hanging from her shoulders she paused and gave a second thought to turning herself in. I can’t do this. I don’t want to be in jail and her sister’s words came to mind. It’s the right thing to do Tracie. “Okay, okay,” Tracie uttered and slowly inhaled then exhaled. She saw an officer speaking with a gentleman a little ways from her and headed his way.
A male officer was watching Tracie from behind the counter. He had seen her come in through a mirror in the ceiling.
Trickery & Envy Page 17