by Rachel Rae
"Mother.... Mother??? Moooottthhheeerrr!!!!"
Mother Wallace:
All I heard was the clacking of my heels as I walked down the hallway towards the waiting area to where I met my other son Mike and grandkids coming from out of the elevator.
"Let's go," I said walking past them.
"Well mama, what did he say? What happened?" he whispered walking up to me fast leaving the kids behind.
"Where's the check?" I said stopping looking behind him making sure the kids weren't in earshot.
"In the glove compartment of the truck, why mama? I'm going to say bye to my fucking brother."
“Watch your got damn mouth when you speak to me, Michael. He's pretty pissed at me right now and your brother has gotten himself back in some shit and he needs us, now we could sit here and talk but I rather take action so while I'm thinking of the next got damn move, you go put that money in that account your dad thought I knew nothing about tomorrow and meet me at my house for lunch at 2:30 you got that?" I whispered.
"Yes, ma'am. Kids let's go," he said walking back towards them.
When I got home I checked on my grandchildren that were already tucking into their beds kissed them then walked out of the room and shut the door. I couldn't believe what I had done to my own child but it needed to happen or else things would have turned sour. I walked upstairs and climbed in the bed waiting on the house phone to ring but it never came until the next morning.
"Mrs. Wallace?" the voice asked.
"Speaking...” I said wiping my eyes rolling over.
"I don't know if you remember me but this is Detective Brown."
"Oh yes I remember you very well Detective but why are you calling so early this morning? Oh no! Is there something wrong?" I pretended.
"Well yes there is, the doctors went into Sebastian hospital room and they found him unresponsive early this morning, they've tried all they could but they were too late there was nothing they could do."
"Oh no not my baby!!" I said sounding sad but smiling on the other end of the phone, "Isn't there anything they could do??"
"Everything they tried isn't working Mrs. Wallace, they've given up."
"Let me call Mike and someone to watch the babies and I'm on my way and umm Detective may I ask, why are you calling me instead of the doctors??"
I heard him take a breath then an exhale before speaking, "Because Mrs. Wallace, the hospital does not believe that his death is from his injuries from that evening."
"What are you saying, Detective??" I asked now a bit nervous.
"They believe your son was murdered..."
Chapter FOURTEEN
Detective Brown:
"You see what I was telling you?? That girl was speaking from the grave!!! That woman is no good for real, she killed her own son, but why??" Paige asked pacing around my office.
"We don't know that yet," I said speaking calmly rocking back and forward in my office chair.
"Open up yo eyes Chadwick!!! You're a detective I need you to see shit when it's in your face!! That man knew much more than what we thought and the mama is nothing but the ringleader, but now he's dead and what the fuck do we have?? If I can see that you should too!"
"Whatever happened to we shouldn't assume someone is guilty without a judge and a jury????"
"When there is specific shit in your face do you really need one??? It's evident to see what is going on here and if you're just that damn blind to it then yo damn name should be Stevie Wonder!! But you're right it's either the mother or the brother, we just have to figure out which one because it can't be the wife she's also in the hospital." she yelled slamming her fist against the desk.
"I'm not blind to anything Paige, let's just try to put things into perspective, at least for now.
"Your case, do whatever you want but I have a gut feeling I'm right and you know it, my gut is always right."
"Who are you Olivia Pope now?" I asked laughing.
Instead of responding she just sucked her teeth at me snapped her neck and walked out my office door. I hadn't even got comfortable in my chair before someone else barged into my office without knocking.
"Say mayne I need to talk to you, it's an emergency."
"Mr. St. John you cannot just walk into my office like that!!"
"This is more like a closet but hey whatever you want to call it is fine with me, yo ab-la es-span-yo," he said taking a seat crossing one leg over the other.
"What??" I asked.
"There you go with the questions again, look at this shit." he said tossing me a handwritten letter by Stacey Wallace.
"It's six pages long."
"Mr. St. John, I never invited you to sit down," I said extending my hand.
"Look, if Rosa Parks could sit in the back of the bus why I can't sit right here??"
"The front of the bus Mr. St. John."
"Huh?? Mayne, I don't ride public transportation," he said with a sigh.
"Elijah man I'm trying to put things together I don't have time for your foolishness."
"Look, I don't know what I did mayne, but my job was to help the innocent and from that letter, ol boy was not the innocent, so I got me a lawyer myself." He said looking back at my office door. "Sayyyy!!!!" he yelled out.
Before I could stop Elijah from whatever he was doing in walked a man neatly dressed in a suit.
"Detective Brown I'm assuming?" he asked walking in sticking out his hand for a greeting.
"And you are??" I asked standing adjusting my suit shaking his awaiting hand.
"I'm sorry, my name is Bryce Farris, legal counsel to Mr. St John."
"Thee Bryce Farris???"
"Yes sir, may I sit please?"
I agreed by extending my hand out and watch him as he took a seat, "Mr. St. John there was no need for you to seek to counsel with a lawyer". I said sticking my left hand out towards Bryce Farris.
"Understandable but you see I am now speaking on behalf of the deceased Mrs. Stacey Wallace which she asked in the six-page letter you have before you and whatever I have to do to keep my clients safe and their names clear in all aspects I need to be here. Now, detective, will you be reopening this case?" Bryce asked me.
"If anything happens Mr. Farris you will be the second to know the minute I know," I said responding quickly.
"I see, second and why is that Mr. Brown why second?"
"Mr. Farris I am not obligated to say or do anything because of your suggestion, I will keep in touch with you and if there is anything that needs to be discussed with or about your clients I will be sure to let you know."
"Look, sir, all I want honestly is justice... And one of my clients is now deceased because of your poor judgment but you know what???" He began but stopped short because Elijah cleared his throat.
"Annddd???" Elijah asked uncrossing his legs then recrossing them in the other direction.
"And making sure that Elijah is completely ok."
"That's what the fuck I'm talkin about!!!!! We don't want any trouble just some got damn help, we'll be in contact." Elijah said standing up taking a card out his pocket then placing it on my desk.
"Yes, we will. Oh and you can keep that letter, we have other copies." Bryce said following behind him standing then walking towards the door.
"Paige sweet thing!! You've missed me haven't you?" Elijah said blocking her entrance into my office.
"Elijah please, hey Bryce, when did you get back in town?" she asked.
"Not too long ago, you look good." He smiled.
"Shit I know, Reese know you here?"
"Not yet but I'm goin to call her as soon as I get in the car." he said trying to walk past her out the door but Elijah was still blocking it.
"Don't come back down here with no drama Bryce."
He just shook his head while pushing Elijah out the door, "You know drama follows me everywhere I go."
"Well if MS DRAMA shows her face in Houston we will arrest her crazy ass, we've been looking for her since she esca
ped and killed all those people."
"Well, I haven't heard anything, so as far as her bothering Reese or anyone else I think we straight, I hope y'all lock her crazy ass up though. Y'all be safe we'll be in touch."
"I thought you had a case to do," I said dryly sitting back down in my seat picking up the letter Bryce and Elijah left behind.
"You're right, I do have a case and it's this one," Paige said slamming a piece of paper on my desk.
"I said I would think about it Paige, you won't ever get this approved."
"Your thinking was taking too long Chad and is that what you think?? It's already approved and I'm taking over!" she said slamming another piece of paper on my desk.
"You went over my head??"
"You damn right!!! You either with me or against me Chad, now are you in this with me or not??"
I looked at her in disbelief then sat back in my chair, "I guess I have no choice now do I?"
"No you really don't." she said reaching over on the desk picking back up the paper, so who do you want to bring in first the mother or the brother?"
"The brother, if she said that the mother is the ringleader maybe with some heavy persuasion he'll talk."
Chapter FIFTEEN
MOTHER WALLACE:
"Ma!!! Ma!!!" I heard Mike scream as he walked in my house slamming the front door. "Ma where you at?? I know you here!!! We got a fucking problem!!"
I tied up my bathrobe and walked swiftly to the living room where I saw him sitting on my good furniture. "You shut the hell up and lower your voice the kids are taking a got damn nap, what is your problem?"
"I know you know, stop playin’ games!! I know you know!! Sebastian!!! My brother... he's... he's... deeeeaa....
I rushed towards his side and kneeled knowing exactly what he was about to say but pretended like I didn't, "He's what son? He's what?"
"He's dead, they tried to help him but they... They couldn't help him he was already gone." Mike sobbed.
"Sebastian?? He's what?? Oh no!!" I said sitting up a bit from my knees pulling Mike close to my chest, "You know he loved us, that bitch is going to get everything she deserves I promise you." I said patting the back of his head rocking him from side to side."
He pulled back from me sat back and wiped his face with both hands, "So you didn't know Ma?"
"This is the first I've heard about it yes Michael but it's okay we're going to get through this with God's help, just like we did with your dad's death you understand me?" I said grabbing his face with my left head.
"Yeah well Ma, I gotta go. I can't be here right now. I just gotta go." He said standing up sniffing and adjusting his clothes.
"But I fixed you lunch so we could talk before this happened we had a plan and it doesn't change, this only makes us stronger and make Mary's ass pay for what she did to your brother. I know it was her." I said standing looking off.
"I can't think about that right now I don't want no food I just wanna go, I just need some time Ma that's all." he said walking away from me towards the door.
I had to think fast because I knew he was adding things us, "Mike STOP!!! What are you about to do?" I asked walking up to him.
"Ma!! I have to go!"
I grabbed his arms and looked up at him, "Baby look at me okay, look at me, I know how you are feeling believe me I know but whatever are you are planning on doing don't, I can't lose all my boys you're the only one I have left and I can't... I won't lose you!! Do you hear me, Michael!!! I can't. Play your got damn part and be what I raised you, you know the game!" I said grabbing his face again looking him in the eyes.
"Yeah, I know the game and I know my part." He said snatching his face from my grasp walking out the house slamming the door.
As soon as I heard his car pull off I ran to each individual room where the kids were sleeping then ran towards my room and pulled the family picture off the wall exposing the wall safe. I punched in the code opened it and pulled out a key, closing it I sprinted towards the garage, when I finally got there I shut the door and leaned my back against it locking the door without looking.
"So is this how you wanted to go, Alton?? Turn my boys against me?? Huh??" I said walking up to the freezer slowly twirling the keys with my index finger. "You've always tried to do that, you always wanted my kids to hate me! Now you've got your wish Sebastian's dead and Mike won't be too far from it because of you!" I said snatching the tarp and fitted sheet away from the locked freezer.
"I hate you, Alton!!! You see what I've become??" I said now unlocking it and opening it in a hurry then looking at him, "To what you made me." I said huffing out of breath.
I could remember that day very vividly, the last day Alton and I spent together before he met the woman he thought I wasn't.
*************************
"What are you doing?" I yelled at Alton.
"You think I'm playing with yo ass, Bernice?? Huh?? You gone get yo shit and get the fuck out of here!!! You gone cheat on me with Oscar?" he said throwing my clothes out the bedroom door.
"Just calm down!" I said picking up the clothes he threw out, "it wasn't what it seemed!!!"I yelled.
"I saw you bitch, in my office on top of MY DESK!!" He said walking up to me quickly grabbing my neck holding me against the wall.
"Alton stop!!" I said grabbing his wrist trying to take breaths in between his squeezes.
"You think I'm stupid don't you bitch?? I gave you everything and this is what you do? Ever since I got sick..." he said shaking his head.
I felt my body start to numb trying to hold onto his wrist, "Alton please let me explain." I gasped trying to get air.
"Explain what????" he asked squeezing his hand tighter around my neck.
"Everythings... Not... what... It... Seems..." I said trying to catch my breath.
"Guess what, I made the basketball-" Sebastian said walking down the hallway with his backpack, as soon as he seen our son he let go of my neck while I fell down on the floor gasping for air.
Alton walked passed me then right up to Sebastian like nothing was going on, "So you made the team huh?"
"Yes, sir."
"What? You did a good job son, your mom and I are proud of you, where's Mike?"
"It's Friday Pop."
"Oh yeah, he's staying at his friend's house tonight isn't he?"
"Yeah" I heard Sebastian sigh as they were walking off.
I made up my mind then that I was tired of this shit, besides he was taking too long to die I was going to let him meet his maker sooner than he thought.
That night I watched as Alton slept peacefully like nothing happened earlier. The more I watched him sleep the angrier I got, I wasted no time getting on top of him straddling his arms with my legs. He wasn't a huge guy as he once was, the stomach cancer made sure of that. As I sat there I began staring at him until he finally tried to move but couldn't because of how I had him pinned down. He opened his eyes and blinked about 6 times in a row before speaking.
"What the hell are you doing?? Get off of me Bernice! What's going on??" he said moving his body like a fish out of water.
"Oh... now you want to ask me questions? You didn't care about anything I had to say earlier, did you? DID YOU???" I asked pushing my knees down harder making it even more difficult for him to move.
"Whatever you're planning you won't get away with I can promise you that." he said sitting his head up then spitting in my face.
Wiping my face with the back of my hand I let out a laugh, one that honestly made me surprised myself, "You may be right, then again..." I said getting the pillow from my side of the bed pressing my knees even harder on his arms "who will ever know?"
"You are crazy as hell!!! Sebastian!!" he called out.
Again I laughed looking down on him like the dying shit he was and said, "Baby just remember who's the beneficiary."
Same as I did Sebastian years later I took the soft plush pillow and held it against his face until he stopped moving and when he finally stoppe
d I took a sigh of relief looked up and to my right where I saw Sebastian standing in the doorway.
"Son!" I shouted out climbing off of my husband's dead body.
"You saw what he did to me today!!! You saw it with own eyes!!"
"Pops?" he said attempting to walk towards the bed before I grabbed his arm.
"Sebastian don't, look at me, do you love your mom??"
He looked over at his dad laying lifeless on the bed we shared then back at me.
"Do you love me, Sebastian?? Huh?? Do you??" I asked again making him look me in the eyes, he nodded yes but kept looking at his dad.
"Then you know I would never do anything that would make you feel indifferent, I'm sorry about what you saw. Now I need you more than ever son do you understand??"
*************************
He never asked me any questions just nodded his head as I told him what I needed from him to help me hide what I did. He promised to keep this secret until yesterday and I couldn't allow him to say anything to anyone especially since I tried so hard for all these years.
I snapped back from my memory and took 3 steps back but then walked back up to his cold cemetery and put my hands on the outside of it looking directly at his face. "We could have been so much more Alton don't you know that?? But because of you, I have nothing!!!! You made me kill our son yesterday!! I hope you're happy!!!" I said slamming the freezer top down then turning around to see my oldest granddaughter standing inside the garage.
"You scared me, girl!!!" I said picking the lockup off the cement floor putting it back on the freezer locking it. "How long have you been standing there Sidney?"
"Not long," she said looking off scratching her right shoulder. “So how often do you come out here and talk to your freezer?"
I sighed ignored her question and walked to the side of my husband’s tomb picking up the sheet and tarp, "well little girl are you going to help me or just stand there?"
She walked to my side picked up one side of the fitted sheet then walked to the other side of the freezer.
"What made you get up?" I asked dryly.