"How dare you. I want your boss and I want them here now," said my grandmother.
The way she talked to the nurse made my stomach turn. It brought back memories of the day that she went off on me when I told her how I wished my father was dead instead of my mom, and how it was his fault that my mother had AIDS. That day, she put me out of her house and that was the last time we talked. But she was there.
"No problem. You can speak to the doctor, but remember, what goes around comes around." The nurse stormed off.
"Where's Ken?" I spoke as loud as I could. My throat was very dry and it sounded ashy. My grandmother walked closer up on me.
"Ken is the reason why you’re paralyzed. Instead of worrying about that murderer, you need to be worried about getting better." Instantly, tears swelled in my eyes.
"Where is he?" I asked. I needed to speak to him. Find out exactly what happened.
"Ken is in prison for murder," she said as if she was announcing one of her proudest moments.
“Noooooooo!” I screamed. “Noooooo...” This couldn't be happening to me.
Chapter 5 – Four Days Later
Detective F
Detective F pulled his key from his pocket. Before entering the house, he knocked two times, and then announced his presence. “Pam, it’s Detective F, I’m coming in.” He put his key in the door, turned the knob, and slowly walked into the house. “Pam, it’s Detective F.” He shut the door behind him. He looked around the small living room and when he realized that Pam wasn’t there, he got pissed. “Dammit!” he yelled and kicked the wall. Detective F walked into the bathroom to make sure that she wasn’t there. He then went in each of the closets, still no Pam. As he made his way back out of the apartment, he pulled his cell from his hip and called the station. He needed a favor. Pam was starting to be a headache and he was beginning to think that he would be better off locking her up and going after Calvin himself. Detective F jumped in the car. As he pulled from the curb, his tires left rubber marks in the street. He knew she was at the hospital, she had to be. He wished that he would have done like he was supposed to and block all outside communication, but no, Pam had been so cooperative the last two years, he thought that he could trust her having a television. He may have been able to, but when she saw on the news what went down at J&K Studio, she had a fit. She refused to corporate any longer if Detective F didn’t find out what happened.
Three weeks ago…
“I need you over here now,” she cried over the phone.
Detective F was just leaving the prescient. He looked at his watch. “Pam, it’s after one in the morning, what is it that you want?” He thought she was just having one of her moments.
Every now and again since she had been in his custody, she would have an outburst about missing Jazz and getting her life back. And, he would tell her over and over that they were close to cracking the case, and that she needed to hold on a little longer. To make her feel better, he would send her pictures of Jazz and Ken to show that she was happy. He kept good tabs on Jazz because she was another person close to helping him bring Calvin down. When Detective F found out that Jazz was raped, he kept it from her because he knew that she would blow the case trying to get to Jazz.
“I just saw on the news that the studio Jazz and Ken opened, there was a shootout. They said several are dead and one female is fighting for her life. I need to know if that female is Jazz.” She paced back and forth. She was a nervous wreck.
“What?” F had no idea.
“You’re the fucking police you don’t know?” she barked.
Detective F thought about it. He did recall talk in the station about a shootout in Watts, but he paid it no mind. There was always something going on in Watts. “I am on the way, Pam,” said F. He then grabbed his coat and rushed to Pam’s. Before he got there, he found out everything that went down. “It looks like Jazz’s boyfriend was doing some type of illegal deal and it went bad. His friend, Peter, is dead, and a few others that I don’t think you know. Ken was shot and it looks like they have him in custody until future notice.”
“What about Jazz, what about my daughter?” She began to shake. She held her head because of the instant headache that came about.
“Jazz was shot three times, she is fighting for her life.”
Pam passed out. F waited until she was alert and had her dressed in her disguise, which was her nun outfit. He, along with two uniformed cops, followed them to the hospital. Ever since that day, she had been stressing him to allow her to see Jazz on the regular, and to hurry and bring the case to an end.
*****
Detective F pulled into the parking lot of Harbor General. He parked in emergency parking and jumped out the car. "Excuse me, watch out," he said to and older couple walking into the hospital. He pulled out his badge, showed security, and went on up to Jazz’s room. When he got to the ICU, Pam was standing right there talking to a male nurse. "Excuse me, sister, but I need to talk to you,” he said sarcastically.
Pam heard his voice. She looked up with tears in her eyes and ran into his arms. "You have to find her. She's gone," Pam cried. It had been a few days since Pam had seen Jazz. In fact, she hadn't seen her since the fight with Calvin and Pastor G, but she wouldn’t mention it. When she asked the nurse were Jazz had gone, she was told that Jazz was transferred to a private hospital. “Detective, you have to help me find her, please. I just need to make sure that she is alright.”
Detective F sighed. "Come on, we need to get out of here. I'll help you find her," he spoke with sincerity. But, that didn't mean that she would get off with sneaking out. From there on out, Pam would have twenty-four hour watch.
Chapter 6- Jazz
"Why did you move me? What is this I hear that you have me going by Jane Doe?” Jazz fussed.
Mrs. Lewis looked at her granddaughter. "I'm sick of dealing with this. Your father should be up here soon. You can ask him." She walked out of the hospital room and out of the hospital. Just as Mrs. Lewis left, the nurse walked in.
“Can you help me place a call?" She looked to the side at the nurse standing next to her. "And, when will I be able to lay on my back?" She was tired of lying like that. Not only was it uncomfortable, but she felt like she was hurting the baby. Fortunately for Jazz, due to her being coherent, she was able to speak up for herself and let the doctor know that she wasn't getting rid of her baby.
"What's the number?" the nurse asked Jazz. Jazz gave the nurse Mrs. Brown number. Before handing her the phone, she said, "Your doctor will be here to see you later tonight. He will let you know when you can change positions.” With that said, she walked out to give Jazz some privacy.
*****
Mrs. Brown looked out of her window at Calvin leaving Jazz’s house. He had two portable file cabinets that he loaded in the back of his truck. What the devil does he has going on? she thought. Upon hearing her phone ring, she moved away from the window to answer it.
"Mrs. Brown speaking." She looked at the clock, it was noon.
"Hi, it's me, Jazz.” Her voice was shaky. “Please, come get me. I want to go home. I want Ken.”
"Oh, baby." Mrs. Brown covered her mouth. She had to sit down. She was happy, but at the same time in shock. She didn't think she would here from her anytime soon. "We've been so worried about you. Where are you and how have you been?"
"I'm paralyzed, but its temporary. I need Ken.” She began to cry.
"Baby, he is in jail. They are working to get him out. He is going to be so happy to know that you're alright." She wiped a tear from her eye. “What hospital are you at? I am coming for you."
"I don't know." She put the phone down. “Nurse, nurse!" she screamed. "What hospital am I at?"
"What are you doing on this phone?" It was a different nurse that walked in. She took the phone from Jazz and hung it up. "You are not to have contact with anyone on the outside. People are out to kill you." She then grabbed the remote, turned the volume up on Jazz’s T.V., and walked out, closing th
e door behind her. The nurse rushed down the hall and into the restroom. She dialed Calvin. "Jane Doe is alert and she was on the phone. She wanted to know what hospital was she at."
"How did she get a phone?"
"The other nurse gave it her."
"Call your mom and let her know what happened." The nurse and her mother was one of Calvin’s boys daughter and wife.
"Alright, and the bitch that gave her the phone will be fired," she assured him.
"Make that happen," Calvin told her before hanging up. He then picked up the last box that contained Ken’s paperwork and headed to his truck. He opened the front door to leave. “Whoa!” He jumped back. He didn’t expect to see Mrs. Brown standing there.
"I just got a call from Jazz, where is she?" She put her hands on her hips. She knew he was the only person that had something to do with her being hidden.
"Watch out, old lady." He brushed passed her.
"Why are you hiding her?" she yelled as he walked off the steps.
"Mind your business!" he hollered over his shoulder. He then placed the box in his truck. Mrs. Brown watched as he opened the driver door. He looked at her. "Mind your own, you’ll live long." He chuckled as he pulled off.
Chapter 7-Pam
She couldn't sleep, she wouldn't eat, and she was all out if tears, but that didn't mean she wasn't crying from the inside. She couldn't take it any longer. She had to find a way to get out of there. She was her mother for Christ sake, and her job was to protect her offspring, but all it seemed like she had done was throw her to the wolves.
Forget it, if it means risking my freedom, then so be it. Jazz’s happiness and peace comes first. She sat there thinking about how she was going to handle the situation.
‘If you blow this case, your ass is going to jail. Pam, you're going down for a very long time. If you do what we agreed on, you'll get off with time served and five years’ probation, if that. I can assure you. Now, Pam, you and I both know that Jazz needs you. Look at everything she's been through since you've been gone.’
She thought about what Detective F told her. Pam took a pull from get cigarette and blew out the smoke. How much fucking longer? She thought in response. Detective F had been saying the same shit for the last couple of years. She was tired of it. "You know what, let me speak to your boss or maybe even the mayor," she challenged.
"What the fuck you wanna talk to them about?” He placed both hands on his hips. "You know what, it don't even fucking matter. You," he pointed his finger at her, “do as the fuck I say. Do you have that? I run this shit. Now, you're going to sit your ass down and wait until I give you instructions to do otherwise." Detective F was furious. Not just because Pam was trying to go over his head, but because he still hadn't figured out how he would make Calvin confess. What he had in mind, he seriously doubted that it would work and would Pam agree. He had to think of something and fast. If Pam got fed up and disappeared, his chancing in becoming lead detective would be thrown out the window and if his boss found out what was going on, his ass would be in hot water. Detective F left stressed and Pam sat there trying to come up with a plan.
That was a few days ago and suddenly, she felt she may have one. Pam stood up from the chair she sat in. She looked up to the heavens. "Lord, I gotta do what I gotta do to protect my own. Please, forgive me in advance." She left out of the room to go shower. She had to do what she needed to do to get to Jazz to at least make sure that she was ok.
Pam stepped out the shower fresh and clean. She went into the bedroom and applied cocoa butter gel all over her body. She slid on a pair of stretch pants and a tank top. To give her lips a shine, she applied lip balm. "Ok." She took a deep breath, opened the bedroom door, and walked out. Pam went into the kitchen, grabbed a bag of popcorn, and tossed it in the microwave. She put the microwave on two minutes and while it popped, she grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge. She sure in the hell wished that F would have gotten her something stronger, but wine was the only alcoholic drink she was allowed to have besides beer, and she didn't drink that. Pam got the cork screw from the kitchen drawer. Let me feel him out, she thought as she grabbed the bottle and walked out of the kitchen to the front door. Pam, you still got it, don't trip, she coached herself right before she opened the front door. And, there stood officer Michaels, a rookie on the force. When he turned around and looked at Pam from toe to head, Pam thought to herself, Handsome. She never really paid attention to him before, but now that she looked at the 6"3, two hundred and fifty pound, muscle bound cop dressed in uniform, she had to give credit where credit was due. Oh boy, she thought as she stared into his bedroom eyes.
"Is everything alright?" Michaels asked Pam for the second time.
"Um yes, can you open this?" She handed him the bottle, and then the cork.
"Sure." He took the items from Pam.
"Thank you.” She stood there trying to read him while he opened the bottle. There's nothing to think about, you had plenty of dudes that were willing to pay to lay, and he don't even have to pay. Not with money, anyway. Girl, you got him. Her alter ego was all ready for the games. Pam smiled as Officer Michaels handed her the opened bottle of wine and the cork.
"Are you cooking popcorn? Cheddar, right?"
Pam smiled. "Right. I'm about up watch a horror movie. I think it'll help me get away from my reality. Thanks again.” She switched as she walked away. She knew he was watching and when she turned around, it was confirmed when she caught him staring right at her ass. "Do you mind keeping the door cracked? I may get scared." She winked.
*****
Two little girls sat in their window watching the kids trick or treat. It was gloomy outside. The wind blew so hard that it looked as if the trees were about to fall. "Trick a treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat.” Tee Tee and Le Le listened as the kids chanted. They wished their mother wasn't sick so she could take them to get candy. They heard the door open and knew it was their daddy.
"Daddy ... Daddy... They both jumped up and ran to the door." Lil’ Mack embraced them in his arms, picking them up in the process. He kissed each one of their cheeks. "Daddy, we wanna go trick or treating,” Le, the oldest of the twins asked.
"Naw, daddy can't be out there like that. It's dangerous," he explained.
"But, the other daddies are out there with their daughters, and you're much bigger and stronger than them," Te replied.
Lil’ Mack wasn't that tall. He stood at 5’9 and he weighed over two hundred pounds. Just like slanging dope, he was faithful to working out. His nice arms and big chest proved it to be a fact. Lil’ Mack was a gangster nigga who didn't fear none, but the life he lived, he wasn't trying to have his girls caught up in his shit. Where he was from, niggas was known to get killed on Halloween. It was easy.
"How about I go buy you all the candy at the store?" he tried to compromise.
"Noooooo," they both whined, and then began to cry. “We wanna go trick or treating.”
He stared at their little faces and gave in. "Come on, let's go," he told the girls.
"Put us down, daddy,”Le said, "we gotta go put on our costume.
He let the girls down and the both took off running to their rooms. Lil’ Mack thought he better check on his sick wife, make sure she didn't need anything. He ran up the stairs and walked to her room. “Baby.” He walked beside her. The covers were over her head. He pulled them from her head and jumped back. Paula’s face was pale and she was sweating. "Baby, are you ok?" She nodded her head yes. "I'm taking the kids trick or treating. You need soup or juice?" She shook her head no.
"We’re ready, daddy," the girls screamed as the ran into the room.
Paula smiled. She looked up at her husband, and whispered, "Be careful." She knew Halloween wasn't his thang.
"I would kiss you, but I ain't trying to catch that." He laughed. "Love you, be back soon." The girls told their mom they loved her and pulled their daddy by the arm.
As the girls and Lil’ Mack walked up the b
lock, he watched every car that drove pass and everybody with a scary ass mask. He just wasn't feeling that Halloween shit. "Alright were only hitting this block and then the next one, and were going home," he told the girls. Damn, it hot, he thought as he took off his jacket. I know Paula ain't got me sick. The trees were still blowing as well as the cold wind. He touched his forehead and wiped the sweat from it. "Hurry up, girls." They ran past him to another house. He was hot and ready to go home, but seeing the smiles on their faces, he tried to tough it out.
Ten minutes later, the girls had hit five houses and were preparing to cross the street to hit another block. "Daddy, can we go to that house?" They pointed at two story shake that looked as if it could be hunted.
Lil’ Mack didn't say a word. He felt really weak. He took off his shirt. People that were walking by looked at him as if he was crazy. He didn't care, he was hot. "Hurry up, let’s go," he told the girls. They stood in front of the house they just got candy from looking in their bags. He walked their way.
"Daddy, why you got your shirt off?" Te laughed.
Te’s smile turned into her mouth being agape and her looking surprised. Le grabbed her sisters’ arm. Both girls screamed. When Mack looked to the right, he saw someone dressed in a white nightgown with long, blond hair and a Chucky mask on their face. The person pulled out a gun and aimed. Mack dived on top of his girls and the shots rang out. Boca, boca, boca. The person continued to let off. He then walked up on Mack and fired more bullets. Mack’s caramel complexion was now dark red. Boc, boc, he shot more bullets into Mack's body. The shooter then dropped his gun and turned Mack over. He looked at the girls. They were lying on their back with their eyes closed.
"Come home to daddy. Come to daddy," the shooter called out to Mack. He then laughed a sinister laughed that was so vicious and scary sounding, Le Le opened her eyes. They almost popped out of her head when she saw the shooter busting out of his costume, all the while, turning to a seven foot giant with horns coming out of his skull, and about one hundred teeth from his mouth.
Too Salty: Ain't a Damn Thang Changed (Part 6) Page 3
