Marked Souls

by Adrienna Turner

  “Right. You’re a smart one. You a lawyer too?”

  “Junior.”

  “Junior what?”

  “Attorney.”

  “He tatted too. Ex-gang member. He’s working for someone to get that real cash.” She raised her hand and rubbed her finger tips to express a wad of cash.

  Lavonne interrupted, “Wait...wait...slow down. How do you know so much?”

  “First of all, let’s start from the beginning, I came from the streets of Brooklyn. Did a modeling gig in L.A. Met Candace, her,” she said as she tilted her head toward the other woman. Lavonne’s eyes followed. “Ended up stripping. Her stage name is Sweet Candy.”

  “Yep. I’m Candy. Nice to meet you on these terms,” She extended her hand for a shake.

  “What does any of this have to do with me!” Lavonne wondered.

  “We, both, got blood on our hands. Mark Mathis worked the case. Leaked info to him.”

  “Who leaked info to Mark?” Lavonne nose flared.

  Candy tapped her chest and glanced at her friend before speaking to Lavonne.

  “He closed the case by putting those fools behind bars, so I thought, and they broke out the police paddy wagon. They had to know about you—his love, his woman, his future. Am I speaking too fast?” She spoke in a fast-Spanish dialect.

  The words swarmed in Lavonne’s head. She fainted. When she awakened, the beautiful woman handed her water.

  “Where am I?”

  “Not important. Called Mark. Speak to him, let him know you are fine,” she said, as she handed Lavonne a cell phone.

  “Baby, I’m fine if it was not for…” Lavone said, waiting for the woman to say her name.

  “Call me Chi-Chi,” She nodded.

  Mark yelled over the phone repeatedly, “Where are you? What happened?”

  “Mark, I’ll be leaving this place soon. Chi-Chi will help me escape.”

  “Escape! Who got you! I will—” He shouted.

  “These men got me before I could walk on the platform.”

  “I cannot believe your sister continued that wedding while I stirred things up, searching for you.”

  “This is all around some case you had. Ex-gang members are all I know.”

  “This is crazy, babe.”

  “Be careful, they may be looking for you. I love you, Mark. I’ll be home soon.”

  Chi-Chi put the phone back on her waist, where she had a cell phone purse-pocket latched to her hip. She scoped the territory, crossing in front of the detectives so that Lavonne could slip by unnoticed.

  When Lavonne did glance back, one of the private detectives resembled the rapper and actor on Law and Order Criminal Special Unit. She blinked her eyes. She saw a taxi cab parked at the corner, two blocks away, and ran toward it.

  Roya

  Twenty minutes after Lavonne’s sudden disappearance, police officers had asked all the guests questions, searched the pavilion grounds and employees on site, and reviewed all the video tapes on surveillance. They also reviewed the photographer’s pictures on the digital camera, video camera shots of the actual wedding ceremony, and everyone else’s cellphone pictures. Sondrea’s wedding was ruined. Bernard and Sondrea had the paperwork drawn for their marriage certificate. The pastor finished the ceremony after the police officers left.

  Most of the incident was videotaped for television and newscasters on the former singer, Sondrea, and her marriage to Bernard.

  After the wedding ceremony, Roya asked Sondrea, “How could you continue the ceremony without Lavonne?”

  “Not sure I can explain.” Sondrea looked dazed.

  “Are you high?” Roya blurted out.

  “Sis, I cannot believe Lavonne is missing.” Sunny added.

  Jewel stepped into the reception hall. Her eyes caught the women in a glass room. The door was shut. She pulled on the handle, and heard a buzz, then entered.

  “What is going on?” Jewel inquired.

  “Mom. I want to get to the bottom of this. Lavonne is missing. Sondrea preferred to finish her wedding without her.” Roya snapped.

  “I was there, sweetheart. I know,” Jewel said. “I heard the radio clip that Bernard is a secret agent with CIA.”

  “Makes sense why he was still held up in D.C., nearly not making it to his own wedding rehearsal…wedding. This seems like a d— a setup.” Roya blew up. “My suspicions are correct.”

  “What are you saying, Roya?” Sunny asked.

  “Yes, tell me, Roy.” Sondrea yelled. She stormed the room and unstrapped her heels, kicking them off. “You are always suspicious and want to mess up my happiness.”

  “Sweetie. Wake up. Your man is working for them.”

  “Stop this!” Sondrea yelled, flew her hands in the air.

  “Trust me. B had something to do with this—kidnapping Lavonne.”

  “Was you there!” Sondrea barked. “I don’t need you…none of this. I’m out.”

  “I strongly believe that Lavonne was captured. Sondrea is blinded by love or lust, who knows,” Roya said as Sondrea slammed the door behind, carrying her heels, and slapping her feet across the floor.

  “That’s a lot to take in, Roya.” Jewel drew closer. “Where are the boys?”

  “Somewhere out there.” Roya threw her hand up. “We need to contact Joshua Mack. We need to call ACC. We need answers.”

  “You really don’t trust that Bernard, huh, Sis?” Sunny held Roya.

  Roya cried. “No. I pray Lavonne is safe.”

  “I do too, Sis. Love you.”

  “Love you.” Roya leaned in and rested her head on her shoulder.

  Jewel held her daughters, “I hope you know what you are saying, Roya. It took years before you and Sondrea are in a good place.”

  Roya prayed in the spirit that her family would make it safely to their destination. She drowned herself in thoughts about Sondrea’s wedding, going over each memory that stuck in her mind, trying to discern if there was anything that seemed out of place; anything she could have noticed. She couldn’t see anything in her memories.

  She sighed. It has to have something to do with Task Force! Bernard! Does Sondrea really know the man she married? She continued the ceremony as if Lavonne was not missing—who does that?

  CHAPTER 18

  Lavonne Waits

  Joshua Mack

  Joshua moseyed to the living room. He yelled, “Lord Jesus, this cannot be happening!” Once he heard the news about Lavonne’s kidnapping.

  His text message blared a notification alert. He swiped his hand across the phone to open up the message.

  9-1-1. Come to L.A. now. Help us find Lavonne.

  He muttered, “How will I get Roya back safely, her family, and now I have to locate Lavonne?” He only knew of Agent Snoop, and an ex-team of militant men that Isaiah phoned before to bring Roya and family safely to Florida in the past. I may have to give them a ring, or call Izzy for a strategic plan.

  The phone rang. He answered it after two rings.

  “Roya. Wassup.”

  “You saw the news?”

  “Yes. Is it true?”

  “True.” Roya breathed. “I’m at the reception. Can you believe Sondrea went through with the wedding, even though Lavonne disappeared? Which had to happen when all the bridesmaids walked towards the platform. However, I do believe that Lavonne was still in the building after leaving the dressing room.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “Sunny and I started, and we were standing next to where Sondrea was going to be. We looked around after Lavonne’s fiancé stormed away and knocked some lawn chairs down. No one saw her come out of the building onto the platform outdoors.”

  “That’s quite a bit to take in.” Joshua said.

  “You cannot even imagine. Minutes later, the orchestra played the music anyway, and Sondrea walked down the aisle in an elegant dress. All eyes were glued to her. She was absolutely beautiful. I guess she hoped Lavonne would show up eventually.”

  “So, Son
drea was still acting like nothing is happening. Not concerned at all about Lavonne’s sudden disappearance, right?” Joshua inquired.

  “Pretty much. She’s still proceeding with her reception now. I tried to talk to her privately but she stormed out of here with her heels and all. Meanwhile, I’m trying to control my anger, because the news revealed her fiancé to be a CIA agent. Who treats the woman he’s about to marry to a no-show at his rehearsal and nearly a no-show to his wedding?”

  “How’s everyone else?”

  “Concerned. Scared. Worried. But cameras are here, and Sondrea has to live up to her role,” Roya blurted.

  “I’ll get ACC on this.” Joshua exclaimed.

  “I texted Isaiah too. In code.” Roya explained. “I pray that Les has nothing to do with this.”

  “Can’t underestimate him. What’s Sondrea’s husband’s name?”

  “Bernard.” Roya answered.

  “CIA?”

  “That’s what she told me, Josh.”

  “Interesting. Visited D.C. before the wedding, sources say,” Joshua reviewing info on his tablet while talking on the phone with Roya.

  “Sure.”

  “Another name you may want to cross reference, Luke Black, Lisa’s husband, the weirdo that contacted me awhile back.”

  “The one in Florida.”

  “Yes.” Roya said. “He may be tied to this disappearance or arrangement, somehow.”

  “Do you think Sondrea has been drugged? Took the chip and changed her behavior, personality, or just something different about her altogether?” Joshua asked, trying to put the pieces together with her odd behavior.

  “Hard to say.”

  “Explain.”

  “She did mention about Bernard showing her the chip.”

  “Chip!” Joshua’s voice rose.

  “She didn’t take it if that’s what you want to know, according to her, and that is the last time we talked before her wedding ceremony. Things could’ve changed since then. It does seem like she wouldn’t have had time,” Roya said speedily.

  “We need answers.” Joshua blurted.

  “I’ll see. When will we get a break! Jesus, where are you!”

  “He’s omnipresent. He is omniscient,” Joshua added. “I’m working on getting answers and will get you and your family out of there soon.”

  “One love in Christ.”

  “One love in Christ,” Joshua repeated.

  The line went dead.

  Joshua opened the door and slammed it behind him. He felt a draft walk past him. He deeply cared about Roya and her family. He knew something didn’t sit well in his spirit. He had a confused look on his face, but continued to tap on the keys on his keyboard, and called Isaiah.

  The line clicked.

  “You got my text.”

  “Yes. I also got one from Roya.”

  “CNN is giving updates.”

  “I truly sense that Les Blanche is behind this mess.”

  “What can we do!”

  “Josh. We cannot make a scene. Not yet. Sondrea’s wedding is aired live on networks, social media, and internationally.”

  “Really. What the world glorifies.”

  “Exactly. Follow the story. I got agents working on it.”

  “Good to hear, Iz. Out.”

  “Out.”

  He swiped to end the call. His phone buzzed.

  “Hello. Hello.”

  “Hi, Josh. I got Lavonne on three-way. She called me from a payphone. Can you believe one actually works!” She rushed through her words.

  “No.”

  “Track her call,” Roya demanded.

  “Working on it,” Joshua missed his friend, Yosef, the real computer whiz.

  “We can tap her location. Escaped her captors. Ex-gang members, drug-dealers, and oddly are working with the police. Dirty cops. Kidnapped her at the wedding location,” Roya paced her voice for the sake of time.

  “Keep her on the call,” Joshua added.

  “Lavonne,” Roya said.

  “I’m still here sis,” Lavonne sounded terrified.

  “We’re working on it.”

  “I know,” Lavonne said lowly. “I’m not alone. I have Chi-Chi and Candy with me.”

  “They helped you escape, right?”

  “Yes,” Lavonne breathed heavily.

  “Like I shared with Lavonne, I think Bernard, this CIA agent had something to do with it all. He gotta be affiliated with the Special Task Force.”

  “Slow down, Roya,” Joshua’s voice rose. “I have a location.”

  “You’re right. We can worry about B later. I want my sister back.”

  “Working on it. Tracked her in real time. See her on surveillance cam, tracked her phone, and the WI-FI picked up the signal. I’ll send you the location now. Do you need me?”

  “I don’t want to do this alone. I’ll have Mom watch the kids.” Roya spoke abruptly.

  “Listen to you, Roya,” Joshua stated, choosing his words carefully. “They could be tapping that local line she’s calling from. They have cameras on the streets that can locate her. We have to get to her quickly.”

  “Geez. Help us, Jesus!” Roya cried.

  “Is she able to name a cross street?” Joshua explained as he already pinpointed Lavonne’s location. “Hang up! Now!”

  The call was dropped. Joshua stormed out of Roya’s Florida home. He thought of all the sacrifices Roya and even Solomon made for Alliance Crusaders’ members. Joshua felt connected to Roya. He thanked Jesus for the exact location to Lavonne’s whereabouts. He contacted Isaiah’s ex-agents and then his pilot team to get the jet ready for his departure.

  Roya

  Roya refused to wait. “Mom, watch the kids.”

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Jewel shouted.

  “Tavon. Javon. Joy. Stay with your Gran Jewel.” Roya knew they called her “Gran” for grandma for short and because their grandmother was grand royalty.

  “I cannot just sit around and wait,” Roya held her phone with the location on the Google map, ready to go. She held keys in her hand.

  “Hold on sis. Are those my keys?” Sondrea stormed closer.

  “I gotta go! I’ll bring your car and keys back in one piece, God willing,” Roya raced out of the building.

  She couldn’t wait for Joshua. She’d take matters in her own hands. She pressed the unlock button on the keychain. She pressed the ignition, the engine roared. She rested her sweaty hands on the steering wheel and gunned the pedal. Her last sight was Sondrea racing toward the car, followed by her family, and Bernard. She shook her head. She had to get there and rescue her sister, even if her very life depended on it. Her heart raced. She could hardly gulp saliva down her parched throat. She trembled. She feared the worst. She knew what it was like to be captured, caged, and starved. She arrived at the location thirty minutes later. There were no signs of Lavonne in sight. She drove around the corner and neighboring streets, where she identified the payphone on the corner of the local deli-shop. After the fourth time, circling the area, Lavonne dashed towards the car. She pressed the button to unlock the doors as Lavonne jumped in the passenger side. She pressed the automatic lock button. Two armed men ran towards her vehicle, she sped off and ran the red light in the next intersection. Cars honked. She swerved around the moving vehicles. She was blessed no cars ran into her car as she zoomed through the red light. Lavonne closed her eyes until they made it through the busy traffic. Roya got a good look at the two men. The men on foot didn’t want to race through the busy traffic, and stood still at a headlight, watching the car drive down the block.

  Roya wiped the sweat off her forehead as she drove on the ramp, going to highway 15 to Los Angeles.

  “Bless you, Roya. You don’t know what I went through!”

  “I cannot imagine. You are safe now.”

  “Thank you, Sis. Thank you, Lord,” Lavonne said, raised her hands to the air.

  “I love you too much to let anything happen to you, my f
amily, period.” Roya exclaimed, sweat dripping down her sides.

  Lavonne explained to Roya what she endured. Roya pulled over after getting off the ramp to get to her Los Angeles home, and smothered Lavonne in a hug. Tears welled in both of their eyes to see each other face to face again. Lavonne kissed her on the cheek and expressed grateful thanks to Roya for coming to her rescue.

  “I have never been afraid in my life.”

  “Thank the Lord for Joshua. He knew your location.”

  “Now I have an idea what you’ve been through when they captured you and your family.”

  “No, you don’t Sis, not close, even though I was remembering it all on my way here,” Roya fired.

  “I know that I cannot compare myself to your situation, but I’ve never been so scared before.” Lavonne said, hands shaking.

  “I think Bernard has something to do with this! I really believe it in my spirit!” Roya added.

  “I’m not sure. You don’t even know Bernard!”

  “Right. None of us do.”

  “Look, I know that they put me in a police van. I assumed it was the police officers who captured me.”

  “The police could be in on it.”

  “I was in there listening to a woman. She was dressed like an exotic dancer. Scoped it out. We drove off, after I got a view of the wedding, and saw Mark storm out of there as if he was looking for me.”

  “He was! He left, hoping to find you, based on what he shouted when he knocked down the lawn chairs.” Roya admitted.

  “Sis, we didn’t go to a police station. Chi-Chi, said these were bad men, prisoners who escaped, or the two men in the back with us. Or was it the ones in the front.” Lavonne couldn’t get her story straight.

  “Breathe. I don’t want you hyperventilating.”

  “Men were arguing when I woke up in the white Suburban, I think it was.”

  “What else? Anything?”

  “Gun held to my head. I thought I was going to die. Shoot me immediately.” Lavonne voice shook.

  “Jesus, no.”

  “I was then blindfolded. Felt a body climb over me. I realized Chi-Chi picked the handcuffs tied to the seats. When they made a stop, and the van wasn’t moving, she broke us free. Another woman she knew, Candace aka Candy. Sweet Candy.”

  “Strippers? Exotic dancers?”