by K. M. Hodge
“Is this really gonna work?” Sally asked.
“I hope so.”
Jude took out another key and the ruler and forced grooves into the soda can metal, flattening it into a V. He continued to form the thin metal until it looked accurate enough. He repeated the process until he had two keys pressed together, making sure the teeth didn’t slant in the wrong direction. “I’ll have to use a tension wrench. The metal won’t be strong enough, but this should do it,” Jude said, tossing all of his supplies into her purse. “I’m hoping we won’t need to break into his house though.”
“I should go and check on him. Give him his keys. I drove his car here.”
“You okay, Sal?”
“Right as rain,” Sally said as she got up from her chair.
“All right. We can play it that way. I’ll wait here to take you home.”
“I won’t be long.”
Sally walked up to the desk and was escorted back through the secured doors of the ER by a nurse. Jude tried not to worry about her, but it came naturally at this point. I’ve got to get her out of this mess for good.
Chapter 8
Dickland Field
Ocean Pines, Maryland
November 26, 2005
7:00 PM
~~~
Sally zoned in and out as the football game lagged on. Her son’s team—the Green Hornets—were number one in the league that year, but she would rather watch paint dry than sit for hours watching the boys chase each other up and down the field. At least the weather had warmed up a little so she wasn’t shivering through the whole game this time. The boys in the neighborhood had given her flack for putting her son in a non-Syndicate team. While the long drives taxed her, being free of the watchful eye of the criminals in her neighborhood made it all worthwhile.
At the top of the fourth quarter, the flood-lights on the field came on and she stretched her arms wide, then turned her body until her back popped like a twisted bit of bubble wrap. She checked her watch. Ugh…still another twenty minutes at least until they could be done and eating ice cream.
A familiar shape leaning against the tree by the opposing team's bleachers caught her eye. The figure stepped into a pool of light and her breath caught in her throat. Alex.
For a moment their eyes met and he tipped his cap at her in greeting. Her heart hammered in response. No one at the game appeared to be from Ocean City, but she could never be too sure. Despite her concerns, she stood up and started making her way down the bleachers. She walked across the back of the field by the concessions stand and he met her halfway.
“Buy you a Coke or something?”
She glanced away, avoiding his searching gaze. His wide toothy grin made her heart flutter like some dumb teenage girl.
“Sure. A Coke’s fine.”
He got in line, while she stood off to the side in the shadows, chewing on her thumbnail. Alex returned a few minutes later with two drinks and some candy. He held out the choices before her. “Twizzlers or Mike and Ikes?”
Sally released her nail from her teeth and took the Coke and the Twizzlers. They walked off into the shadows to the fence that lined the field—away from the crowds, but not so far away that they might draw attention to themselves. She sank down onto a patch of grass and sipped her drink. He sat down beside her with his back against the chain-link fence that lined the park. An uncomfortable silence fell between them. She racked her brain for something to say, but the close proximity of his body to hers left her speechless. She continued to sip drink and nibble on the waxy candy, which kept her from biting her nails. Billy never went to Zane’s games, but his real father—the one who didn't even know the boy was his—sat here watching him play.
Alex opened the box of Mike and Ike’s and squinted at the field. Did he need glasses? Would their son one day?
“Oh, before I forget.” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out her phone. “You left this behind the other night.”
“Thanks.” She took it from his hand and shoved it into her purse with the candy, not daring to look at him.
“I thought only drug dealers used burners.”
Sally rolled her eyes at him. “And poor people who can’t afford real phones.”
“Touché’.”
Zane got the ball and took off down the field like a shot towards the end zone. Sally put down her cup so she could clap and cheer.
“He's really good for such a little kid,” Alex said, not taking his eyes off the boy. “I played football and baseball a little in high school and even college, but I was never all that good.”
He continued to eat his candy and watch the game. She tried not to think of what he might have looked like in tight baseball pants. “Zane’s a pretty talented kid. He started kindergarten a year early and is in the first grade this year. He's smart. Smarter than I'll ever be.”
He glanced away from the boy and looked at her. “Oh…?”
She bit her tongue. Alex had skipped grades too and had gotten exceptional grades.
“Where’s his dad?” His full lips pursed and he glanced around the dimly lit bleachers. “He didn't come to see the boy play?”
Sally balled up her fist and looked away from him. “He works a lot, so he doesn't make the games much.”
Or at all….
Alex wet his lips and tugged a fistful of grass. The blades fell from his grasp back onto the manicured lawn. “What's he do, your old man?”
Sally cleared her throat. “He’s a mechanic at my brother’s shop.”
Alex finished off the candy and tossed the empty box into the trash. “Do you think you'll have more kids?”
Sally choked back a sob. “I...I don't think so.”
“Sally….” He swallowed hard, making his Adam’s apple bob up and down. The light by the concessions stand cast shadows on his pained features. “I looked up his birth certificate.” He returned his gaze to Zane—his perfect facsimile. “He was born a year after I left. I don't know. I guess, for a moment, I hoped he was mine.”
Sally’s chest tightened and her cheeks grew hot. She sipped her soda to keep from blabbing the truth to him. Or begging him to take her and the boy with her new identity and run away together.
“I…uh....” Alex cleared his throat. “When I was overseas, I got a girl pregnant.” He sucked in a trembling breath. “And…uh….”
The thought of him with another woman made her stomach roil. Did Zane have a brother or sister now? She needed to know, even if the answer killed her a little.
Sally cupped her hand over his and he intertwined their fingers. “What happened?”
“They both died.” He sniffed and wiped at his nose with his free hand. “My therapist said I just wanted your boy to be mine to make up for the…. Anyways. Not that you want to hear any of this.”
Alex reached into his pants’ pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. He used his free hand to put one in his mouth and light it. “She also said I need to stop seeing you.”
Sally swept her legs underneath her and snatched the cigarette from his hand. She almost never smoked. That's what Billy did—not her. This situation seemed to call for it though. She took a short puff and blew the smoke back out.
Alex smirked and took back his cigarette. A lingering look passed between them. Her heart pounded against her chest in anticipation. She wanted him, and the look in his eye told her that he wanted her too. The threat of being caught didn't stop her. Sally leaned in to kiss him and he met her halfway, his full lips enveloping hers in a slow dance. He let go of her hand and touched her cheek, his thumb stroking her jaw. The smoke from his cigarette burned her nose.
“I want you.” His words muffled against her mouth.
“I know,” she said.
He laughed a little, but his eyes remained dead and lifeless. She pulled away from him and sat back on the heels of her feet. “Why does your therapist want you to stop seeing me?”
Alex’s half smile slid off his face. “Because I'm a sex
addict and you’re like cocaine to me.”
His words hit her hard. Sally sat there with her mouth half open, unsure of what to say to that. “Oh….”
He took a quick puff of his cigarette and blew the smoke off to the side, away from her and the wind. “I'm kinda fucked up.”
She let out a bitter laugh. “Aren't we all?”
He shrugged. “Touché.”
His gaze left her for the moment but his hand gripped her bare thigh and held onto it like it belonged to him. “Do you love his pop?”
His out-of-left-field question took her by surprise. She knew he meant Billy, but….
“I don't know that I believe in love,” she said at last.
He smiled and squeezed her leg, inching further up her thigh.
“What about you?” she asked. “Do you believe in love?”
The corner of his lip curled up into a sad smile that broke her heart. “I want to believe.”
His gaze rose at last to meet hers and her breath left her throat. “You have the bluest eyes I've ever seen. I can't stop thinking about them.”
For a moment, she questioned whether or not to take him behind the stone building at the end of the park. But no, there were a billion different reasons why that was a terrible idea. His gaze bore into hers and he licked his lips. “Alex, we shouldn't be doing this.” She trembled from the sheer force of holding back. Her words bounced off him without having any effect.
He leaned in and inhaled her like a line of cocaine. “You smell so good.” He adjusted his pants and leaned in even closer so that his breath tickled her upturned face. “You're bad for my sobriety, Sal.”
She placed her hand on his chest, halting him from getting any closer. Something about the way he spoke frightened her. It reminded her of how Billy acted after one too many at the bar.
“What's going on, Alex?”
He put out his cigarette on the end of his boot and then pressed in closer, overpowering her. “Can't we just fuck now and ask questions later?”
Sally shoved him hard. “No, we can't.”
Alex narrowed his eyes and pulled away from her. “I should go.” He stood and dusted off his pants. “Before I do something stupid.”
Everything in Sally told her not to let him go, to tell him the truth about their son and her situation. “Alex, wait!”
She reached for his arm but he dodged out of her reach. “Go away, Sal. Get as far away from me as you can.” He scowled at her and stalked off towards the dark and deserted parking lot.
“Wait.” She stood and went after him, but his long legs were no match for her. “Stop!”
Alex whirled around and charged towards her—shoving her against the wire fence that lined the lot. He used his height to her disadvantage—pinning her in place.
His breathing became ragged and the muscles in his jaw twitched. It quickly became apparent that he could easily take her without her consent.
He rammed his pelvis against her belly, making her gasp for air. She tried to break free but he grabbed her by the wrists. “Is this what you want?”
Sally twisted her body—trying to break free. “No, you asshole.”
“I don't want to be this man anymore. I don't want to hurt people I care about.” A wildness danced across his face. “And…and I care about you.” His voice shook and his expression softened a little. “Which is why you need to let me walk away.”
A sob escaped her throat and his expression changed. A charged silence passed between them. At last, he bent to kiss her. His grip on her loosened and her body molded to his.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he whispered against her lips.
Despite everything that had passed between them, she kissed him back. His brokenness, so like her own, drew her to him. She feared it would for the rest of her life.
He slipped his hand underneath her hair and tilted her head up to him to deepen the kiss. His shoulders relaxed and his hold on her became tender, almost reverent. Her heart ached with love for this man, who was all wrong for her in so many ways.
“Mama,” a small voice called out to her from the darkness.
She broke the kiss and whirled around to face her son.
“Baby!” She went to him, sweeping him up into her arms.
“Who is that?” Zane pointed in the direction of Alex, who had inched backwards into the shadows.
“No one, baby.”
“What were you doing? I couldn't find you and I got scared.”
“I was just talking with a friend, baby. Don't worry about it.” She kissed her boy on the cheek and ruffled his hair. “You did such a great job!”
Zane lit up at her praise. “Did you see me get that touchdown? They didn't stand a chance. I smoked ‘em.”
Sally glanced behind her and saw that Alex had walked away. Her chest tightened. In a perfect world, they would be together—praising their son together, treating him to ice cream after the game, and making love after putting him to bed for the night.
“Mom!”
She turned her attention back to the boy, the one good thing the universe had gifted her. “I'm sorry. What did you say, sweetheart?”
“Can we get some ice cream?”
“Of course! Let's go.”
***
Dickland Field
Ocean Pines, Maryland
November 26, 2005
7:30 PM
~~~
Henry tossed the rest of his hotdog into the trash as he watched Sally and her son walk off towards the parking lot. He hated getting involved in other people’s business. Especially since he liked Sally and knew what would happen if she told her husband what he’d seen. But he also knew what would happen if Billy found out that Henry knew and hadn’t said anything.
“Henry?”
He turned to face his wife. “Yes, dear?”
“What are you doing?” His wife followed his gaze and she frowned. “What’s going on, Henry?”
“Nothing. Let’s go before we get stuck in this parking lot.”
When he agreed to go to his nephew’s out-of-town game, he’d looked forward to the idea of getting out of Ocean City and the drama that surrounded it. He liked Billy well enough. Especially when Henry would clean him out at poker.
Henry walked side-by-side with his wife back to their car and chewed over in his mind whether or not to get himself involved. If it were him, he would want to know his wife was stepping out. What happened next would be out of his hands.
“Meet me in the car, Mary. I’ve got a call to make first.”
Mary took the keys from his hand and, because she knew better, didn’t ask questions.
At the corner of the lot was a pay phone. He fished the quarters out of his pocket and dialed Billy’s number at the shop.
“Mac’s. This is Billy speaking.”
“Billy, it’s Henry.”
***
Sally & Billy’s Trailer
Ocean City, Maryland
November 26, 2005
9:00 PM
~~~
The screen door creaked as she opened it and Sally crept into the trailer with a passed-out Zane slung over her shoulder. The boy stirred at the noise, but didn’t wake. She let out a sigh of relief and thanked Mother Mary for small mercies. As she stepped over the threshold, the light from the kitchen blinded her and she froze mid-step. The acrid smell of her husband’s cigarettes burned her nose. She tightened her hold on her boy and squeezed her eyes shut just in time for her husband’s fist to connect with the side of her cheek.
She stumbled, losing her footing. Zane awoke and tightened his hold around her neck. The boy didn’t cry. He knew better. They both did.
Her husband’s belt made a hissing sound as it snaked out of his pant loops. His thick frame filled the room as he hovered over her with the looped-over strip of cowhide in hand. The light in the kitchen shone behind him, making him look even more menacing. She realized he didn’t smell like the bar and his stance was steady and strong. So
ber. The few times he’d hit her while sober, he’d put her in the hospital. She quickly yanked the boy’s arms off her neck and pushed him to the ground, away from Billy and his rage.
Billy cracked the belt like a whip across her side. It bit her flesh and left a sting that lingered. “Where you been, whore?” He snapped the belt against her again and she took it without a sound. “Where’s your take, bitch? Hand over the money. Ya better have money because you sure as shit better not be fucking for free.”
The impact of the beating sent her to the ground. She scurried across the floor to get away from him. He whipped the belt across her back and face and her breath left her. She reached up for the stove to get back on her feet because surely he would kill her if she stayed on the floor. She gripped the edge of the stove to hold herself up and her fingers brushed the cast iron pot behind her. She clutched the handle. With a guttural yell, she whipped the heavy pan at Billy, catching him on the side of the neck. He swayed a moment, but recovered quickly. She almost never fought back. And now, as she looked in his eyes, she remembered why. It’s one thing to fight a drunk man, it’s a whole other to fight a sober one.
“Oh, you’re gonna pay for that.”
He yanked the weapon from her and, in the blink of an eye, thundered it down upon her like a reckoning. The reverberations of the blow rattled through her, making her sway. Despite the frequent abuse, she’d never felt pain like that before. I’m gonna die. Her legs gave way and she slid to the floor. Blood dripped from the pan onto the floor, pooling beside her.
From her spot on the floor, she could see Zane crouched down in the corner, hugging his knees. She held still and closed her eyes. Her only hope of survival would be through submission. Her last conscious thought was that she would find a way to take Billy down once and for all. Even if it meant killing him with her two bare hands.
