Chasing the Dragon

by Tiana Laveen

  Phoenix took a deep breath and considered his words, opting for the direct route. “Because I’m in love with your daughter, Mr. McCall.” The man’s eyes grew big and his wife gasped. “Tiffany and I are in a relationship. How that happened is a very long story that I really don’t have time to get into right now, and I’d much rather she discussed it with you anyway. My reasons for being here are because she requested it, to let you know that she is fine and things are being done but also to tell you that she knows she messed up. She is asking for forgiveness from both of you and wants to earn your trust back. Additionally, I need you two to be careful.”

  “What do you mean?” Mr. McCall questioned, his brows furrowed.

  “I have arranged to have one of my men watch your house. You could be in danger.”

  “Danger?” The mother threw up her hands. “What for? We have nothing to do with what Tiffany has wrapped herself up in! I just buried my sister.” Her voice trembled. “My nephew and my daughter could be doing life in prison! I can’t take this … I can’t take it!” Her husband got to his feet, rounded the table, and comforted her with a tight hug.

  Phoenix took a taste of his tea, giving them a moment of privacy.

  “I know, and I’m certain the pressure of everything is wearing on you. I do need you to understand though that this is a precautionary measure. Tiffany felt it was a good idea, and I’d have to agree with her.”

  Her father nodded and returned to his seat. “You know, that’s our only baby…” he said, a sad smile on his face. “Tiffany was a real bright girl, so full of promise.” He pointed to a framed photo of her across the room, in which she couldn’t have been more than eight. Phoenix couldn’t help but smile. “She had a musical bug.” The man chuckled. “Loved classical music! Now, what little kid you know likes classical concerts?”

  “Not many, I imagine.”

  “She fell in love with jazz right after that. Miles Davis, Coltrane! Then she got into the DJ scene, and she liked hip hop and pop music. She loved it all. But when she’d hear a guitar solo, that was it for her. And she begged to take lessons, didn’t she, Winifred?” Her mother smiled and nodded.

  “So, my wife got her into guitar classes because that’s what she said she wanted. When Tiffany set her mind to somethin’, she’d do it. We don’t accept any quitters around here. Once you start something, you finish it. She never turned back. Not once did she come home asking to stop, complaining it was too hard, or saying she changed her mind about it. She kept right on, determined. She made good grades, she was obedient, went to church and Sunday school regularly … but then, all of that changed.” He seemed to study the taupe tablecloth, or maybe just letting the memories suck him in.

  Phoenix took a deep breath, wishing he could explain their confusion, but he knew that wasn’t his place to do so. It was up to Tiffany.

  “I’m sorry you felt your daughter didn’t live up to her potential. She feels that way now as well. I will leave you my card.” Pulling a card out of his wallet, he handed it to Mrs. McCall and got to his feet. “Thank you for letting me stop by.”

  “Thank you for coming.” They followed his lead and walked him to the front door. “How long is this going to go on?” Mrs. McCall asked, pointing out the door at the black car that pulled up right in front of their house.

  “I’m not sure … but wherever you go, he follows.”

  “It’s Gable, isn’t it?” Tiffany’s mother sneered, her eyes turning to dark slits. “He’s done this! That boy has never been any good! It’s all his fault Tiffany is in this mess!”

  “At this point, Mrs. McCall, it could be a number of people who would wish to cause a problem. Tiffany has made her fair share of enemies, so this is just to err on the cautious side.” He turned and extended his hand, shaking each of theirs. “I’ll keep in touch. Have a good day.”

  He started to leave but the older man stopped him. “Mr. Hale.”

  “Yes?” Phoenix stopped and turned around.

  “Tiffany really is not a bad person. I’m glad you could see that, despite everything she’s done. I don’t know how this happened. We loved ’er; still do. We’ve tried everything to get her to do right, and now she’s…” His eyes glimmered with tears. “That’s my baby girl!” He shook his head as the emotions poured. “I worked hard to make sure she had everything she needed and wanted, but it just was never enough.”

  “Mr. McCall, I’m not a parent, but you can’t take the blame for everything your child does. Tiffany has taken accountability for her actions. She is remorseful. Regardless, sometimes these things happen and there isn’t much anyone could have done to prevent it.”

  The man wiped the tears away. “I just wish I could’ve helped her and maybe we wouldn’t be where we are today. She had some sort of hole inside of ’er, and nothing would fill it up, cover it, make it right. It got to a point where she wouldn’t talk to us, and when she did, she was so fighting mad we didn’t understand where the rage was coming from. I just want to know how someone with such talent, such a sweet, caring, beautiful girl who went to the best schools and never wanted for nothing could turn out like this?! Tiffany was at the top of her class, Mr. Hale. She won spelling bees, had a diverse group of friends, was funny and outgoing. She is considered a musical savant. She has a photographic memory and was in advanced classes all throughout her scholastic years. What, tha hell happened to my baby?!”

  Tears kept streaming down his face, and then, the man turned abruptly away and marched inside the house, slamming the door behind him.

  “Thank you for coming…” Mrs. McCall stated quietly before following him inside, disappearing from view. Phoenix stared at the closed door for a moment, then went to his car which he’d parked in the driveway. He started the engine and backed up, waved to Leon who was on duty, and got on the road.

  Photographic memory? She never told me that. That explains some things. How interesting…

  Just then, his cellphone rang.

  “Rick, yes?”

  “They found the gun.”

  “Yes! Goddamn it!” He hit the steering wheel with his fist. “Where? How?”

  “It washed up on the bank and a fisherman found it and turned it in to the police. The river drag divers have obviously been notified and the search has been cancelled.”

  “Now just to match the bullets that were found by the FBI—how long do they think it will take?”

  “I was told three to four weeks.”

  “Too long. A lot of bad shit can happen in a month. Tell Rodger we need those in one week max. Let him know that Kyle and Dimitri already have search warrants and that there are several gang related hits planned; therefore, we can’t afford to have this drawn out.”

  “Okay, I’ll call him right away. Oh, you had a message. Gable Johnson’s attorney called and stated that you are prohibited from any future contact with his client.”

  Phoenix smirked and laughed as he drove along.

  “No need. His client is a dead man walking. I approached him like a man, told him what was at stake. He would hear nothing of it, but I could tell he was scared. Fear is dangerous, Rick. Fear makes people do stupid things.”

  “You think he’s going to do something stupid behind bars? Seems like he’s unable to get to anyone.”

  “Nah, the jail and prison system are just like little neighborhoods, Rick. You can do a lot of damage behind those bars. You’ve basically got different levels of criminals, bringing all their pain to one another, befriending one another, betraying one another, training one another, destroying one another. They deliver mail to one another, break bread with one another, kill one another. Someone not built for prison would be scared to death in there on a daily basis. And if you’re scared enough, you’ll do just about anything to get out. Hell.” He chuckled. “Fear can turn into a full-fledged phobia, like Lepidopterophobia.”

  “Lepidopterophobia?”

  “Yeah … the fear of pretty little butterflies…”

  C
HAPTER NINETEEN

  Swallowing the last of his pastrami sandwich, he wiped his hands on a napkin. While poring over a document, muted footsteps sounded outside his office door every so often. The White House was quieter today, with not as much coming and going as usual. Rick had left that afternoon and it was just Phoenix and his thoughts, particularly relating to some recently discovered information—like the piece of paper with Tiffany’s iCloud password written on one side, and the name, ‘Dehaven Marcel Simmons – I need his number’ scribbled on the other.

  When he looked up the guy in the database, he found that he was a long-standing member of the Gangster Disciples. His crimes ranged from breaking and entering to attempted homicide and second-degree murder. The man had been recently paroled, and he held a high position in the ranks of the G.D.s, considered a dangerous man by all accounts. Phoenix glanced up at the time on his computer, then picked up his phone. After the third ring, his mother answered with pep in her step.

  “Hi! I was just getting ready to send a search and rescue team out to find my son,” she joked. “Haven’t heard from you in over a week.”

  “I know, things have been hectic. How are you doing?”

  “Ohhh, I’m hanging in there. Some kid spray-painted the word ‘Poop’ in the middle of the street, and of course it was right in front of my house.” She cackled, an infectious laugh that caused him to do the same.

  “What color is it?”

  “Huh? Poop is brown. Well, unless you’ve had too much corn.”

  “Mom…” The woman burst out laughing again.

  “It was black paint. It’s not coming off, either. Little fucker … it was Fred’s grandkid. Anyway, what’s been going on with you?”

  “I have a lot to tell you but it’s too much for one phone call. I don’t want to keep you too long.”

  “You wouldn’t be. I am sitting here looking at a catalog of different ointments I can purchase for my feet, and examining checkbook designs of teddy bears and little ducks and lace table doilies. Why do they send this crap to people on AARP? This bathroom rug looks nice though. Anyway, I hardly think my time is extremely valuable right now so please, be my guest and waste it with a few dozen stories. I welcome it.”

  “All right.” He smiled, so happy to hear her voice and delighted she was in such a good mood. “Well, that case I was working, regarding John—the killer has been apprehended and is in jail awaiting trial.”

  “Good! Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? I’ve been waiting for an update for months.”

  “Because I couldn’t, Mom…”

  “Because you were not supposed to be working that case, mmm hmmmm … What other secrets do you have?”

  He sighed. Rocking his chair back, he closed his eyes for a spell and spilled his guts. Minutes later, he was held hostage to a tirade that only his mother could force him to endure.

  “All right … so let me make sure I’ve got this all summed up correctly. Basically, my highly favored, smart, educated, intelligent, devastatingly handsome, funny and sarcastic son has been hiding a hot girlfriend, who hails from Chicago and used to sell cocaine and heroin with her gang-affiliated cousin. My son kidnapped this young lady and tortured her for work-related purposes, mind you, but not before she tried to slit his throat with a robe hook. He then took her home to Washington and put her away in his house, safe and sound. Sounds like a great match!”

  “Mom—”

  “Wait, I’m not finished with this light-hearted, fun-loving love story! It gets better. My son has had this wanted woman stored away in his house like some Barbie doll since the dawn of time. They’ve been jumping each other’s bones like rabbits and—”

  “Uh…” He interrupted with a chuckle. “that part is not really something I’d like to get into with you and I wouldn’t say it was like rabbits. That’s a bit of an exaggeration.” He hated how his cheeks warmed. He’d never gotten used to his mother saying things like that.

  “It’s not an exaggeration. I saw you on the news a few weeks ago and you had bags under your eyes but still sporting a huge smile. I know that smile. Your dad used to look the same way when it was all said and done.”

  “Mom, please!” He chuckled.

  “Now it all makes sense. Moving right along. So, this guy, my son, hatched a scheme to get her to Canada but the Feds kept running interference and then, lo and behold, her ex-drug smuggling and prostitution ring running aunt gets sick and she asks her head over heels, crazy in love boyfriend to take her back to the scene of the crime so she can say goodbye to her aunt before she passes away. They end up getting shot at by gang members who want her dead.”

  “You make it all sound so beautiful,” he said, rolling his eyes.

  “Oh, it’s quite lovely, isn’t it? I’m not even finished. It gets better! They make it back to D.C., only for the Feds to show up at my son’s doorstep. Phoenix Hale is threatened with obstruction charges, amongst other possible indictments. Luckily for my child, the head kahuna showed mercy on him and didn’t ring the alarm, but back in Chicago, my son’s lady love is in jail. Cue sad violin music … That hasn’t stopped him however from wondering what size ring she wears for their pending engagement. Good God, Phoenix! I thought I was the crazy one of the family. What the hell is going on over there?!”

  At this, all he could do was laugh. Mom had relayed the tragic truth of the situation, and there was nothing he could do about it.

  “What the hell is going on over here? Sounds like you pretty much have the gist of it.”

  Silence stretched between them for a while. After a long exhale, she spoke up.

  “So, even though you’re laughing, all jokes aside, I know you’re quite upset about this, Phoenix. I’m sorry … I wish there was something I could do.”

  “I am upset. I can barely sleep, Mom. I love her, I really do. I’m working day and night trying to make sure she has a fighting chance. She’s a good match for me, despite how you made it sound, and believe it or not, I think you’d like her. You two have a lot in common. It’s one of the reasons why I called you, actually.”

  “Well, I may never get to meet her from the sound of things. What similarities do you think she and I have?”

  “Intelligent, strong, stubborn. Hard working, cunning, blunt. Multi-talented, affectionate, giving, reliable … just to name a few.”

  “We sound wonderful.” She laughed lightly, though he could hear the concern in her tone.

  “You want to know what happened—why she did what she did, right? There are many reasons, but one of them, the start of it all, was something else you have in common … something that haunted you for years.” Another long pause followed.

  “And she never got help for it…”

  “No. And after all this time, her parents, who she loves very much, have no clue about it, either. I had to talk to them about another matter and it really got to me that they were so broken up about the whys and hows. I couldn’t overstep my boundaries though.”

  “You’re right; it’s not your place to tell them, son. But, right now actually may be a great time to discuss it with her because she’s got nothing but time on her hands. Maybe you could encourage her to write a letter to her parents, get all of her feelings out. I find that helpful sometimes.”

  At this, Phoenix grinned wide. “That’s a good idea. She happens to journal a lot.”

  “Encourage her to let this pain out. If she doesn’t, it’ll keep on eating her up inside, turn her into someone she’s not.”

  “It already did…”

  Butterflies go through a metamorphosis, but not all change is good…

  “She can’t run from it. It’s the type of thing that keeps chasing and chasing you until you’re backed into a corner and break.” He nodded in agreement. “I hope she has something she enjoys doing now that her previous exploits are finished, because that’ll help, too.”

  He was thankful for his mother’s words of wisdom at that moment. She’d cast her judgments aside for the
greater good.

  “Actually, she owns a music store. She is an excellent musician, too.”

  “Really? What does she play?”

  “The guitar.”

  “Like you and your father … Well, it’s all making sense now.” She sighed. “She reminds you of the best parts of both of us, doesn’t she?”

  “Yeah … she feels like home. And she’s where I want to be…”

  Tiffany looked over in her cell trashcan multiple times, wondering if she should just discard the last copy she’d written and stop trying. After a ten-minute call with Phoenix, she’d decided to tackle the challenge he’d set before her. What did it have to do with her case or them as a couple? Nothing probably, but she couldn’t deny him. He’d driven out to meet her parents, talk to her father man-to-man, and helped with the first steps of her making amends. Taking with her a blank piece of paper, she slumped on her bed and gripped her pen, her arm shaking ever so lightly.

  Mom and Dad,

  I am writing you this letter because I don’t think I can say it to your face. I don’t know why … I guess I don’t want to make you cry any more, Mama. I know how you both feel about me, the trouble we’ve had over the years. I needed something that neither of you could give me, and that was not your fault. I needed confidence, I needed a strong belief in myself. I had that at one point in time, and then it was yanked from me. I don’t want to make this long and drawn out; you know that’s not my style. But, at the same time, I am procrastinating even in this letter because each second that passes without me telling you this is another second I think you’ll both still be at peace. Once I let you know all of the story, there’ll be no turning back. Sometimes to keep wondering is better than being told the truth, because if the truth is so horrible, it just ends up destroying the little bit of hope one has.

  But, hope didn’t help me, so it doesn’t matter anymore. Mama and Dad, when I was twelve years old, Mr. Sam raped me. I had gone over to his house as I always did after school to play with his daughter, Jasmine. Jasmine wasn’t home but I didn’t know that. She’d gone to visit her grandmother with her mom and brother and sister. He told me I could wait, but I said I’d leave and just come back later. But, he decided that wasn’t what he wanted. I went to walk out and he grabbed me. He attacked me. I will spare you the details. When it was over, he told me not to tell anyone because he loved me, and his wife would be upset. I knew that was a bunch of crap. I was too old at that time to fall for that, but I just nodded and said nothing. I left then, and didn’t eat for three days. I told you, Mama, that my stomach was hurting.