Small Sensations

by Crystal V. Rhodes

  “He hasn’t raped her.”

  Closing his eyes, Justin expelled a grateful breath. “Thank God.”

  “But…”

  Justin’s eyes flew open.

  “He did touch her inappropriately. She’s scared of him.”

  “He’s a dead man!” With eyes ablaze, he started to get off the stool. Davia managed to stop him.

  “We’ve got him, Justin. All of these years I’ve wanted him to pay for what he did to me, and this is it. He’s going down on child molestation charges.”

  Cursing, Justin leaped from his perch. “Are you kidding? Do you know what they give first-time offenders in child molestation cases? A slap on the wrist! After what he did to you, to Bianca and God knows who else, is that all you think he deserves?”

  Davia’s eyes hardened at the thought of what Money really deserved. “No. You know what I think ought to happen to him, and I’d be the first one in line to do it.”

  The malice in her voice sobered Justin as he remembered that the depth of his feelings toward Cash was nothing compared to Davia’s. Subduing his own pain and anger he went to her. They stood holding each other, each absorbing the other’s pain.

  Dressed in pajamas and a robe, Reba entered the kitchen. “What in the world is all this shouting about? I could hear…” She stopped short as she observed them in their embrace. A grin replaced a stifled yawn. “Oh, excuse me. I see that the matter has been settled.”

  She started to turn and make a hasty retreat until she noticed the couple’s demeanors.

  “What’s wrong?” Concern laced her voice.

  Swiping at her tears, Davia drew away from Justin. “I’ll fill you in later. Meanwhile, we’re going to have an extra guest. Bianca is staying overnight. So go on back to bed. We’re going to have our hands full in the morning.”

  Reba hesitated, her eyes shifting from Davia to Justin. He avoided her eyes as he turned and walked toward the family room. She returned her attention to Davia.

  “Are you sure everything’s all right?”

  Davia nodded and tried to give Reba a reassuring smile. She failed.

  With one last look toward where Justin had disappeared, Reba turned and left. Davia followed Justin into the family room. He was standing at the patio doors, looking out into the star-filled night. A sleeping Bianca was in his arms; her head was nestled in the crook of his neck. He was rocking her slowly, his face buried in her profusion of curls. His shoulders were stooped, heavy with grief.

  As badly as she wanted to go to him Davia kept her distance, allowing him space. She could feel the turmoil of his conflicting emotions. Her fear was that he would act on them with violence. Somehow she had to reach him.

  “Justin, I beg you. If you love me like you say you do, don’t do anything rash. Don’t confront Money. Just leave Bianca here with us. You go home and get a good night’s sleep. We need to talk to Vanessa when she gets back…”

  “Vanessa!” Justin whirled to face her as breath seeped from his body. He spoke in a tortured whisper. “This is going to kill her.”

  Davia went to him, resting a comforting hand on his arm. “No, Justin, it won’t kill her, but it will free Bianca, and that’s what’s important now.”

  * * *

  As Justin drove along the highway, he fought to concentrate on traffic, but he couldn’t. The anger he felt was embedded into his very being. He had promised Davia that he would go home and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow Vanessa would return to town and they planned on telling her what had happened. After that the three of them would go to the authorities. It was a reasonable plan, and he tried to convince himself that Davia was right. He should let the law handle Cash. Yet it didn’t seem to be enough. Every time he thought about that sleazy predator putting his filthy hands on Bianca, he wanted him dead. How had things come to this?

  He thought about Katherine and Cash. His snobbish mother was so cautious about everyone she met. Why not this slime? Hadn’t she had an inkling of the kind of character he was? Katherine Miles claimed that she wasn’t easily fooled by people. She had been quick enough to condemn Davia, but this snake in a man’s clothing she had let slither right into her home! How had Cash managed to dupe her?

  With every thought, every question, Justin’s simmering rage mounted. In one way or the other, Charles Cash had violated every woman that Justin loved. He came to the conclusion that there was no way that he could let him get away with that. Cash had to pay. Promise or no promise, Charles Cash was going down. Tonight!

  * * *

  Davia called Justin at home, but there was no answer. Judging from when he had left her house, she knew that he should be there by now. She called his cell phone. Voice mail answered. It was then that she knew that he had broken his promise. He had gone to confront Money. Justin was out for blood.

  It was fear and concern for Justin that had Davia parked down the street from Charles Cash’s condo at one o’clock in the morning. Nestled in her jacket pocket was a pearl-handled .22 she had purchased for the protection of her household. It had been safely locked away since she bought it and had never been used. But it would be used tonight, if harm came to Justin.

  As Money, Cash had been slick and streetwise. Chances were that he still was. Justin wasn’t. He had never had to live by the game of survival. She had, and so had Money. In his arena Justin would be outmatched.

  Davia hadn’t planned on seeking satisfaction from Money through the barrel of a gun. She was willing to use the law, even though Justin’s words did haunt her. Do you know what they give first-time offenders in child molestation cases? A slap on the wrist! The inkling of doubt, that mistrust of the legal system honed from her past kept Davia wondering if he wasn’t right. Whatever the case, the fight with Money was her fight, not Justin’s. She should be the one to confront Money, not him, and she was armed for protection if it was needed.

  The condos in which Money lived were individual townhouses built of recycled brick. Each townhouse had its own garage, and when Davia found Money’s home, there blocking the driveway leading into his garage was a red Lexus sports car. It belonged to Justin.

  Parking, she got out of her car. Her heart pounded wildly as she approached Money’s place. She prayed silently that Justin hadn’t acted on his emotions. Taking a deep breath, she climbed the stairs to Cash’s front door with the hope that he hadn’t harmed Justin, either. For a second she stood there, frozen in place. Behind the polished oak door was the man who had changed her life forever. He had violated her, threatened her, and affected her every waking hour. She hadn’t come here to kill him, but if he had hurt Justin in any way, tonight Cash would take his last breath.

  Davia closed her eyes, and Stephanie’s face floated across her memory like morning mist. It was replaced by Gabby’s face, then Bianca’s. They were the faces of innocence. They were the faces of trust. Money was trust betrayed. His was the face of evil. She almost wished that Charles “Money” Cash would try to pull something. She would feel justified putting the man’s madness to an end.

  Opening her eyes, she slipped her hand into her pocket and withdrew the gun. Carefully, she released the safety, and then tucked the weapon back into place. Her finger curled around the trigger. She was ready for whatever was to happen. Ringing the doorbell, she waited.

  CHAPTER 21

  The door opened slowly. Davia took a steadying breath and exhaled all in one action as a face appeared in the doorway. But it wasn’t the face of the man that she loathed. It belonged to the man that she loved.

  “Justin!” Her relief was palpable as she removed her finger from the trigger.

  He was stunned. “What are you doing here?”

  Davia couldn’t answer as tears of relief flowed. Unmoved, Justin grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her. His tone was harsh.

  “You have to get out of here! I thought you were the police! You have to go before they come.”

  “The police?” Davia’s eyes widened.

  He ignor
ed the alarm in her voice as he looked hurriedly up and down the dark, deserted street to see if they were being observed. He hustled Davia down the four stairs to the brick sidewalk. “Where’s your car?”

  She motioned toward where she had parked. Spotting it, Justin all but dragged her along the street as she tried to keep up with his rapid stride.

  “W-what’s w-wrong?” she stuttered breathlessly, trying in vain to escape his vise-like grip. “W-where’s Money?”

  “Don’t worry about him.” Justin pulled her along unceremoniously.

  “What do you mean?” She tried to jerk away again. “What’s wrong with you?” His demeanor was totally out of character.

  He didn’t answer as they reached her car. With one hand he opened the unlocked door and with his other one he made an attempt to force her into the vehicle. She resisted.

  “No!” She continued to struggle against his hold. “Stop manhandling me! I’m not leaving here until you tell me what’s going on!”

  “Keep your voice down,” he growled, but he released her arm.

  Davia could see the anxiety on his face as his eyes swept the deserted street. Fear gripped her. Something was wrong. She spoke quietly this time, emphasizing each spoken word.

  “Justin, where’s Money?”

  Their eyes met. “He’s dead.”

  Davia’s body went numb. A cold chill swept through her. She gripped his arm as if her life depended on it.

  “Dead?” Her voice was hollow. He couldn’t be!

  “No! I don’t believe it. I’ve got to see him!” Turning, she headed back down the street toward Money’s house. Justin caught up with her in one swift motion, pulling her back toward him.

  “Let me go!” She was angry, combative. She had to know that what he was telling her was true. Maybe it was a mistake. “You don’t know him. Money is slick. He’s pulling some sort of trick trying to trap you, trying to trap both of us. He’s…”

  “Stop it, Davia.” He shook her roughly. “It’s no trick. It’s no trap. He’s dead.”

  A dry sob caught in Justin’s throat as he crushed her to his chest, stifling her horrified scream. With his mouth pressed against her ear, he whispered desperately, “If you love me as much as I love you, don’t ask questions. Just leave here now.”

  She couldn’t breathe. She shivered with shock. Reality had spun out of control. Money was dead. He was dead!

  Justin forced her trembling body into the car. “Baby, you can’t lose it now. Start the engine.”

  Shakily she retrieved her keys from her pocket. Somehow she managed to put the right key into the ignition and turn it.

  “Drive away,” he ordered, shutting the door firmly.

  She did, watching him in the rearview mirror as he turned and hurried back to the townhouse. In the distance she heard sirens.

  * * *

  She drove blindly, on autopilot. She didn’t get more than a couple of blocks before she had to pull over and empty the contents of her stomach. It seemed that whether he was dead or alive, Money made her physically ill.

  As she sat with her back propped against her car, she tried to comprehend all that had happened. Money was dead. Those words didn’t bring the morbid pleasure she would have expected under different circumstances. Whatever had happened, Justin might be implicated. She had brought this trouble on him. If she hadn’t told him about Charles Cash being Money, none of this would have happened. As she sat propped against her car, she gradually gained some sense of control. She had to know what was going on.

  Gathering herself, she slipped back inside her car, made a U-turn, then backtracked, headed toward the street on which Money lived. This time her driving was steady, her manner resolute. She was determined to find out what had happened and how Justin was involved.

  When Davia reached Money’s neighborhood, the street was blocked off. Finding a parking place a block away, she parked and walked back. The lights from a half-dozen squad cars lit up the night. A small crowd, dressed in nightclothes, had gathered outside the yellow crime scene tape. One policeman guarded the closed townhouse door while two others were busily trying to keep people at bay.

  “What’s happened?” Davia asked as she approached a woman standing at the edge of the taped area.

  “They carried a body out of that house over there.” She pointed toward Money’s place. “The man who lived there is dead.”

  “Oh, my goodness!” Davia didn’t have to disguise the distress in her voice. “Does anybody know what happened?”

  A man standing on the other side of the woman answered. “I overheard the police talking and it sounded like foul play. They took some guy out of the place and put him in a squad car.”

  “I know that I was walking my dog around midnight and there was a woman who left the house…”

  The voice of the female standing next to her faded into the background as Davia’s heart nearly stopped! Justin! The police had arrested Justin! She needed to get to him. She needed to find out where he had been taken. She was turning to leave when the voice of the woman talking to her penetrated her consciousness.

  “I wonder if she might have been involved, too?”

  Davia looked at her bewildered. “She who?”

  “The woman who I said was here earlier when I was walking my dog. I’d better tell the police.”

  Fear gripped Davia. She was talking about her. Would she be arrested, too? As the woman tried to get the attention of an officer nearby and her neighbors lamented the increase in crime, Davia discreetly removed herself from the throng and headed back to her car. She had to talk to Justin, and she had to do so soon.

  * * *

  Justin wasn’t sure whether the police believed his story or not, but he was too tired to care. He told them that he and Cash had gotten into a verbal argument over some borrowed money. The man had turned away angrily, tripped over a rug, fallen, hit his head and died. That was his story and he stuck to it. He had been in the interrogation room at the police station since 2 a.m.; it was now ten in the morning, and he was exhausted. His attorney, Anthony Sharp, an old classmate and fraternity brother, was at the station waiting when he arrived. Justin had called him as soon as he knew that he was going to be taken in for questioning.

  Released under his own recognizance, he was told that further questioning would be in order. He hadn’t been surprised that the authorities let him leave. The Miles family had political clout in Atlanta. Booking Justin Miles without ironclad proof of his guilt could prove disastrous for somebody’s career. As unfair as it might be, that was the reality, and right now he was grateful for the inequity.

  Wearily, Justin trudged through his house, discarding clothing as he moved toward his bedroom. When he got to the spiral staircase, his legs collapsed from under him. He sank to the bottom step. Lately, whenever he climbed this staircase, all he could think of was the pleasure that he had shared with Davia on this twisted piece of metal.

  Davia. When he’d opened Cash’s door and had seen her standing there, panic had been his only emotion. What had possessed her to come to that man’s house?

  She had begged him not to go there, and in hindsight he wished that he had listened. If he had followed her advice, maybe things would have turned out differently. He sighed heavily.

  The death of any human being was difficult, but at least Davia no longer had to concern herself with Charles Cash. He was in hell where he belonged. No one could connect him to her. Not even Katherine knew the connection between the two of them. Justin was sure of that. Davia was finally free.

  She had been calling his cell phone and texting him. He’d give anything to have her in his arms at this moment. He needed her, but it was best that she wasn’t here. There was too much to explain, and right now he couldn’t think clearly. He needed rest. He would call her later.

  Rising, Justin dragged himself up the stairs. With a shower and a few hours of sleep, maybe things would begin to look better. There were matters he had to tend to. They were
ones that he dreaded, but ones that were necessary. Breaking the news to Katherine about the death of Charles Cash was the first thing on his list.

  At the police station he had discovered that the beat reporter for the Atlanta Constitution hadn’t gotten wind of Cash’s death or Justin’s involvement—yet. That was good, but it wouldn’t last. He wanted to break the news to his mother personally before she heard it from other sources.

  Glancing at the clock on the dresser, he was surprised to see that it was almost noon. His mother would be home from church soon. He planned on being at her house when she returned.

  * * *

  When Davia arrived home in the early hours of the morning, everyone at her house was still asleep. Instead of joining them, she called information and got the telephone number of the Atlanta Police Department, and then she called every station and substation in the city. She was relieved to discover that there was no record of Justin having been booked for a crime. Her calls to him on his cell and land phones and her text messages to him had all gone unanswered. Exhausted, she had fallen asleep at the kitchen counter with the telephone in her hand.

  By the time she climbed the stairs, took a shower and changed her clothes, it was noon, and she was about to pick up the telephone to call him again when it rang. She glanced at caller ID and picked it up instantly.

  “Justin!”

  “Hi, sweetheart, how are you doing?”

  Relief shook her. “Oh, baby, talk to me. Tell me what happened. Where are you? I was just about to call.”

  “I’ve been at the police station, but they released me. Now I’m in my car headed over to my mother’s house. I’ve got to break the news to her about Cash.”

  “Please tell me what happened.” She tried to keep her voice even. Calm was needed at the moment.

  “We had a verbal fight, Cash tripped, hit his head on a marble coffee table and died.”

  Davia sucked in her breath. That was it, cut and dried. Money lived. Money died.

  She felt nothing for him, but she did feel for Justin. He was not a violent man. How horrible this must be for him.