No Justice No Peace

by Brenda Hampton

  “Yes, I really want to know.”

  I hesitated. “Na, you really don’t want to know. It might hurt your feelings.”

  “It won’t be the first time you’ve hurt my feelings and I’m sure it won’t be the last. However, if you want to sit there and deny that you didn’t just enjoy what went down between us, then I don’t want to hear it. You’re a damn liar if—

  “Aw, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. No doubt, baby-girl, that coochie you working with is off the chain. I know better than your husband how it can make a nigga clown. Remember, I’ve been there before.”

  “Then what’s your gripe about?”

  “Who said I had a gripe? You just asked what I was thinking about and I said that I didn’t want to tell you.”

  She folded her arms. “What’s on your mind, Kiley? I can all ready tell whatever it is, it ain’t good.”

  “Aw, it’s good. Maybe too good.”

  Jada pushed my shoulder as I drove. “Let it out. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

  I sped up to make it to Desmon’s school, since I was already five minutes late. “If you must know, I’m thinking about this young lady I’ve been seeing.”

  “Please. After I just gave you what I did, you have the audacity to be thinking about another bitch?”

  “She ain’t no bitch. But if you really want to know, I was thinking about her the whole time I was fucking you.”

  Jada bit her bottom lip. “Kiley, don’t play with me.”

  “I’m not playing. I…I was thinking about how I wish she had the capabilities of fucking and sucking me like you do, but I guess I can’t have it all, huh?”

  “So, you messing with an inexperienced ho that can’t even satisfy your manly needs?”

  “She’s far from being a ho. Actually, she’s a beautiful woman that don’t deserve to have a man like me in her life. As me and you did our thing, that became more apparent to me. It was kind of like a wake up call, you know?”

  “No, I don’t know. However, I do know that if she can’t keep up then she’s bound to be replaced. Her replacement is sitting right next to you and I ain’t going nowhere anytime soon.”

  I ignored Jada’s comment, and before I knew it we were at Desmon’s school. He stood by the steps, talking to this chick who sat on the steps next to him. When he saw my car, both of them headed my way.

  Jada stared at him. “He is so cute, Kiley. Damn! I can’t believe how much he looks like Kareem. That shit is scary.”

  “Do you think he look that much like Kareem?”

  “Hell, yeah! He look like you, too, but the color of his eyes make him look more like Kareem.”

  No doubt, I was glad to hear that. Desmon opened the back door and leaned his head down.

  “Do you mind if she come to the crib and help me with my homework?”

  “Who is she?” I asked, as I knew homework wasn’t on his agenda.

  “Lamyah. Lamyah Melrose. I need some help with my math and—

  “Just get in the car,” I said.

  Desmon got in and she scooted in next to him. As we drove off, Jada turned around and spoke to him.

  “Hey, what’s up?” he said.

  “I’m Jada. A long time friend of your daddy’s.”

  “I didn’t think my daddy had any friends. But, you learn something new everyday. Ain’t that right, Kiley?”

  “No doubt,” I said, looking in my rearview mirror at him.

  He looked out the window at the car waiting at the stoplight next to us. It was Gabrielle, the cheerleader he’d been seeing off and on, in the car with another brotha. I could already see the brotha, but being in the backseat, Desmon couldn’t get a good look at his face.

  “Hey, man, edge up a lil bit,” he said.

  “For what?” I said, as if I didn’t know why.

  “I need to see something.”

  Before I could edge up, the light turned green. Trying to spare his feelings, I waited until the car made a left and took off before I moved.

  “Did you hear what I said?” he asked.

  “I heard you, but I was thinking about something and got side tracked.”

  He sat back on the seat in deep thought. He mumbled something to himself and I asked him to speak up.

  “I was just saying that I know whose car that was.”

  “What car?”

  He caught my eyes in the rearview mirror and just stared at me.

  Jada gave me directions to her cousin’s place where she was staying. When we got there, she leaned in for a kiss before she got out. I didn’t want to kiss her because I knew it would bring about many questions between Desmon and me. Jada noticed my hesitance and took my face in her hands. She gave me a smack on the lips and asked when we would see each other again.

  “I’on know,” I said.

  “What you mean, you don’t know?”

  “I mean, I don’t know.”

  “How about the weekend?”

  “I got plans.”

  “With who?”

  “None of your business. Now, go handle your business and I’ll call you later.”

  “You’d better. And if you don’t, I know where to find you,” she said. She opened the door and got out.

  Desmon got out of the back seat and sat in the front with me. I waited until Jada got inside of her cousin’s house, and after she did, I drove off.

  I knew Desmon couldn’t wait to question me. “What’s up with big booty?” he asked. “She kind of got an attitude problem, don’t she?”

  “She ain’t the only one with an attitude—is she?”

  “Na, but…but things didn’t work out with you and Anna?”

  “Yeah, they working out. And before you get started, Jada and me are just friends.”

  “Friends, huh? Friends that…you know, get down every chance they get?”

  “Na, we don’t get down like that. She had some issues and needed somebody to talk to.”

  “So, basically, y’all ain’t fucking?”

  “Man, why you all up in my business?” I said, getting irritated. “I don’t need to discuss who I’m laying the pipe to with my son, do I?”

  “Hey, look, Mr. Attitude, I thought we were cool like that. I guess I was wrong.”

  “We are cool, but some things I don’t care to discuss with you.”

  “Then, tell me now. Things like what? That way, you don’t get all bent out of shape when I bring certain things to your attention.”

  I took a deep breath. “Desmon, not now. We’ll discuss all of this a lil later on, au-ight?”

  He didn’t say another word, but I knew he was trying to put the guilt trip on me about Anna. He didn’t have to because I was already starting to feel bad about my decision not to see her again. I knew she was looking forward to spending time with me this weekend, and unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen.

  THE BEAT DOWN

  Chapter Thirteen

  I was tired as fuck. After I took Desmon’s tutor home the other night, I thought I was going to come back home and get some rest. That didn’t happen because he stayed up all night arguing on the phone with Gabrielle about who the hell she’d been seeing. Evidentially, she hooked up with another one of the football players on the team and Desmon was irate. He’d called Antonio up and told him about it, and I had to listen to him go on and on about how she played him. That totally fucked me up because he was definitely the one playing her. He’d had his share of females and had even taken another chick to homecoming with him.

  Now, his so called tutor did help him with his homework, but it wasn’t until I heard the music blasting that I realized what was actually going down. When I walked up to the door to ask him to turn in down, I could hear the moans and groans coming through the door. I didn’t want to be nosy, so I stepped away from the door and went back into my room to watch TV. That night, when I dropped her off at home, my suspicions were confirmed. Her hair was a mess and all of the make-up she had on was cleared from her face. Desmon
gave his goodbyes with a kiss and I was so sure I’d probably never see her face again.

  When Saturday rolled around, Desmon asked me to drop him off at Ginger’s place so he could drop in to say hello and later go to the mall with Antonio. When I asked if he’d make his way back home, he said he didn’t know and promised to call me later. Since his hoop-tee wasn’t working, he asked me if I’d take a look at it to see what was wrong. I didn’t want to work on his car in front of Ginger’s place, so I called Al’s to see if he’d have it towed back to my place for me. He came within the hour and towed it to my house. He also told me the police were looking for me and had paid him a visit several times. When I asked if there was a warrant out for my arrest, he assured me that there was.

  I wanted to tell the police what really happened, but I was going to wait until they caught up with me. I’m sure Dwayne’s story was full of shit, but I was also sure they didn’t have no sympathy for an abusive drug dealer either.

  Either way, I didn’t trip. It was too beautiful outside, so I put my old jeans on and a white wife-beater. I searched for my tools and went outside to work on Desmon’s car.

  As usual, time had gotten away from me. By now, my hands were oily and so was my face since I’d rubbed it a few times to wipe the sweat from my forehead. Realizing that Desmon needed a whole new engine, I called it a day and headed back into the house. As I was about to step in the shower, the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and it was Jada. I didn’t answer because she’d been bugging the hell out of me since we’d last got together. Thing is, she didn’t want shit. Her messages were clear that all she wanted to do was fuck again, and for the moment, I wasn’t interested.

  I hopped in the shower to wash all the grime and dirt off my face, body and hands. When I finished, I dried off and wrapped a towel around my waist. Since this was the perfect opportunity for me to get some rest, after I made a sandwich, I fell backwards on my bed. I looked up at the ceiling, taking large bites into my sandwich. It was gone in four bites and I was still hungry. Trying to decide on sleep or more food, I continued to lye back on the bed and stare at the ceiling. I started to think more about Desmon, so I reached for Marissa’s number on my nightstand to call her. She answered, but I could barely hear her from the noisy background.

  “Who is this?” she asked.

  “Kiley,” I responded.

  “Hey, Kiley. Give me your number so I can call you right back.”

  I gave her my number and waited for her to call back. Within ten minutes she did.

  “Hello there,” she said.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “You know I gotta ask you this, but, what happened to you last Sunday night? I looked all over for you but you were gone.”

  “I left after that incident. Somebody got killed, didn’t they?”

  “Yeah. My friends and me got the heck out of there too. I did look around for you, but I figured you’d left as well.”

  “I looked around for you too,” I lied. “But there was so many people that I couldn’t find you no matter how hard I tried.”

  “You could have called me. It’s evident you still have my phone number.”

  “No doubt. I’ve been kind of busy with Desmon. His leg still trying to heal, so I’ve been taking care of him on that end.”

  “I see. Since I know you’ve been busy, no need to apologize.”

  I didn’t respond because my intentions weren’t to apologize. Marissa cleared her throat. “So, what you got up for the evening?”

  “Nothing. I just called to see if we could finish the conversation we started at the game about Desmon.”

  “Oh, that. Well, along with that, I was hoping you’d let me take you to dinner or something.”

  My stomach growled from the sandwich I’d eaten, but I really wasn’t up for dinner. “Thanks, but I’m not in the mood to go out anywhere.”

  “So, basically, the only thing you want from me is information about Desmon?”

  “That’s only if you got vital information.”

  “Kiley, like I told you at the game…Ginger was the one who said Myles was Desmon’s father. I dated him for years, so I know how much him and Desmon look alike. After you see the picture, you be the judge.”

  “Would you say that Myles looks more like Desmon than I do?”

  “I really can’t say. You have to be the judge of that. All I can do is give you his picture, then you decide.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “By the Halls Ferry Circle. But, since you won’t have dinner with me, I’m going to step out for the night. Why don’t you let me bring the picture to you.”

  I was skeptical, but I gave Marissa the address to my place. She said that after she picked one of her lady friends up, she’d drop the picture off for me to see it.

  A bit nervous about seeing the picture, I poured myself a glass of Vodka and rolled up a Bahama-of-a-mama joint. I was fucked up by the time Marissa made it to my place, and when I opened the door, the looks of an unstable man was written all over my face.

  “Kiley, are you okay,” she said, walking in.

  “I’m cool,” I said standing in the foyer. “Where the picture at?”

  Marissa looked out at her friend in the car and dug into her purse. “She’s been rushing me, so I hope you appreciate me bringing this picture to you.”

  “I do. I very much do,” I said, leaning against the door.

  Marissa handed the picture over to me and I looked at it. The picture looked a lot like me, but Myles’ eyes and eyebrows were quite different.

  “See,” Marissa said, pointing to the picture. “Desmon’s got his features all up in here.”

  “I don’t see all that, but thanks for bringing this over. Do you mind if I keep it?”

  “Sure. Just let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you. If you’re that worried about it, Kiley, then why not have a blood test? That will determine everything.”

  “Maybe I will. In the meantime, if there’s anything else you can do, I have your number.”

  “And I have yours too,” she said, on her way out.

  I thanked Marissa again and she jetted.

  By midnight I was tow-up from the flo-up. I’d gazed at Myles’ picture at least a million times. It seemed as if the more I looked, the more Desmon looked like him. I’d even put their pictures side by side, and still there were some resemblances. When I got my picture and placed it next to Desmon’s, he was all me. I was confused, but I knew there was only one way to get to the bottom of this.

  The phone awakened me, as I lay naked on the couch in a deep sleep. I glanced at the clock on the wall and it showed a little after midnight. When I answered, it was Desmon.

  “Wake up,” he said. “You ain’t sleep already, are you?”

  “Yeah, I was,” I mumbled, as my head was banging hard. I sat up and rubbed my hand down my face.

  “Kiley,” Desmon said.

  “What!”

  “Why you yelling? You the one who told me to call if I was gon stay out.”

  I took a deep breath. “Yeah, I know. So you not coming home tonight?”

  “Naw, I’m gon stay at Antonio’s girlfriend’s crib. I just got into a fight at the mall a few hours ago.”

  “A fight? With who,” I said, discouraged.

  “With Gabrielle.”

  “Man, why you fighting girls? You know better than to be fighting girls.”

  “Okay, Pops, when I show you how badly she scratched my face, you gon want to fight her your damn self. You should see these scratches she put on my face.”

  “First of all, what are you doing out at the mall with an injured leg? You need to stay off that leg and let it heal.”

  “I be bored, man. I just wanted to get out for a while.”

  “Are you coming back tomorrow? I need to talk to you about something important.”

  “I might. If so, it’ll be late.”

  “Don’t make it too late. Until then, stay out of tr
ouble and…I love you.”

  He hesitated. “Um…uh, Antonio wants to speak to you. Hold on.” He passed the phone to Antonio.

  “Hey, Mr. Abrams, I don’t mean to be up in yo bitness or nothing, but what’s up with you and Anna?”

  By Antonio’s tone, I could tell he was high. “Nothing, why? We cool.”

  “She don’t seem to think so. I ain’t liking to see hu upset all the time. I’on know what’s up, but you told me you’d take care of hu.”

  “Antonio, please don’t get in the middle of this. I’m digging Anna, but I got so much shit on my mind right now. It has nothing to do with her.”

  “Then, why don’t you just tell hu?”

  “I have. I told her to be patient with me, but I don’t know what else to say.”

  “Well, whatever you’ve been saying to hu ain’t working. She be tearing up all the time and you got to know how much it hurt me to see hu like that.”

  “Anna is very emotional. I will deal with her when I can. Again, don’t you take this personal and please don’t come between us.”

  “I’m not. Just do the right thing, okay?”

  “If I knew what that was I would.”

  He gave the phone back to Desmon. “Are you in the dog house,” he laughed. “I got a feeling Jada, the baby-girl with lots and lots of back, got you in trouble.”

  “Did you tell Antonio about Jada? Man, tell me you didn’t.”

  “See, it slipped. I—

  I hung up on Desmon. That’s why I didn’t want his punk ass in my business. I knew he’d run his mouth and I hoped Antonio wasn’t stupid enough to hurt Anna’s feelings even more by telling her.

  Curious to find out, and even though I said I wouldn’t, I picked up the phone and dialed Anna’s number. I could tell she was asleep by the way she answered.

  “If I woke you, I can always call you back later,” I said.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “I don’t know. Antonio said you were upset about something.”

  “I don’t know what Antonio is talking about.”

  “So, you’re not upset with me about not calling—

  “Look, Kiley, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but this shit is not working out for me.”