Sugar

by S. L. Jennings

  Summer arrived at her two-story east lake Tudor home in a quiet DeKalb County neighborhood. The nearby golf course added to the serenity. She wanted nothing more than to take a hot bath and relax, so after finishing her meal, she allowed the soothing water to lull her into an unsettled sleep. Her cell phone rang in the middle of her torrid dream, interrupting Devon holding and loving her, right at the point he was to thrust inside her. She jolted awake and grabbed the phone. “Hello.”

  After a long pause, she heard a familiar voice. How could a dead woman be on the other end of the line?

  Chapter 5

  “Hello, Summer.”

  Summer was shaken. Karen Reynolds had been her best friend since middle school. They were as tight as sisters in high school and could pass for twins. They shared everything, until one day Karen took it too far and thought sharing extended to Summer’s man. She was the reason Summer hated commitment.

  “Karen?” she asked, as she stepped out of the tub and wrapped the towel around her.

  “I need to see you right away,” Karen whispered. “I know I’m the last person you want to hear from but know that I’m sorry for everything. You need to know why I disappeared.”

  “But you’re dead, how are you on my phone?” Summer asked.

  “I will explain everything when I see you.”

  Summer had checked her calendar before leaving and was sure Karen’s name was not on the list. Only a Charity was penciled in. “Is this personal or business?”

  “It’s personal and business,” Karen replied before disconnecting the call.

  Summer dropped the phone onto the duvet and was still a bit rattled. She hadn’t spoken to Karen since their first year of college, when she suddenly disappeared after a phone call concerning Summer’s dad. Summer immediately called her mother to verify Karen’s story, only to find out her mom had been found dead that same day. Nothing or no one was important to her at that point. She buried her mom and her past all in the same day.

  Summer walked downstairs, opened her laptop, and after a few clicks and searches, brought up the article about Karen’s car crash. Now she had to wonder who was in the car, because Karen was somehow on this side of the grave.

  Her cell started ringing and Summer tightened her towel and bolted upstairs to her bed, unable to catch her phone before it stopped ringing. She was settled and ready for sleep when the phone rang again.

  “Hello,” she answered, unable to keep the annoyance out of her tone.

  “Hi, can I come and explain things to you?” Devon asked.

  “What’s there to explain? You’re engaged and going to be a father. Did I miss something?”

  “Summmmerrr, come on. After all we’ve been through, you can’t give me a few minutes to explain?”

  “Fine, explain.”

  “I’d rather do this in person. The phone is so impersonal.”

  “Devon, just come by the office tomorrow because I can’t do this tonight,” she said. “My earlier phone call has left me disconcerted. I need time to process that and the fact that any chances of us being together in the future are non-existent. Give me some time and then we can talk.”

  She disconnected the call without waiting for his response. Unchecked tears rolled down her face, a much-needed release for her. She never shed a tear when they split because she always assumed it would be short.

  Back in her bedroom, Summer placed her cell on the nightstand. First Karen. Now Devon. She had a feeling that her boring little life was about to become more interesting.

  Chapter 6

  Devon ignored Summer’s request to wait. Maybe he was being selfish, but he thought she’d have more of a peaceful night’s sleep if he cleared her conscience tonight. He drove the forty minutes to her home in less than thirty.

  Her bedroom light was still on when he pulled into the driveway. Hopefully, this unexpected visit wouldn’t cost him his life. Last he remembered she carried a Smith and Wesson and had served a burglar a side order of lead in his ass when he tried to break in while she slept.

  He knocked until his knuckles turned red. He placed his ear to the door even, though it wasn’t the safest move. She could be standing on the other side with her Smith and Wesson cocked and ready to fire.

  “Summer, it’s Devon. Open the door please,” he pleaded when he heard movement. After a few moments, he backed away when he heard the chain slide across the door.

  The door opened, and sure enough, there was Summer in all her glory with that 9mm pointed at his head.

  “What part of come by my office did you not understand?” she asked, engaging the safety on the gun. She walked back to the couch and placed the cold steel on the coffee table.

  “I understood it all,” he said, chuckling inwardly. She hadn’t changed. He took a seat in the brown armchair close to the sofa. “I came to apologize for rushing you to make a decision you weren’t ready to make. I was bitter at the world over losing you. Charity was there for me, but I never thought that it would end up with a baby and a marriage to her. It bothered me that you thought what happened between us was all your fault, and I couldn’t let you believe a lie.”

  After a few minutes, he stood and walked to the door, acutely aware of her silence. “That’s what I wanted to say. I’m leaving.”

  “Wait, did you say Charity?”

  “Why?” Devon turned back to face her.

  She moved past the coffee table and ottoman until she was directly in his face, “I have an appointment with a woman who has that same name. She said something about protecting her child.”

  "From whom or what?”

  “I’m not sure,” Summer replied.

  “Didn’t you find out anything about this woman before you proposed? “I guess I didn’t ask the appropriate questions to learn her entire life story,” Devon replied.

  She was close enough to count all the new hair growth on his face. “I find that interesting because you will drill the hell out of someone in the courtroom, but not even vet your fiancée.”

  “I wasn’t in my right frame of mind when we met,” he said, wondering if Charity’s jealousy had taken a different turn.

  “I accept your apology.” She moved further away. “I wish things could be different too, but it’s too late for that. I should’ve been honest with you long before we became involved. I practically pushed you into that woman’s arms with my refusal to commit to you.”

  As the first tear found its way down her face, followed by another and others, Devon crossed the room to curl her into his arms. He held her for a while, then pressed a kiss to her temple and walked out of her life again.

  Chapter 7

  Devon walked into his four-bedroom penthouse suite. After winning his first case, he’d purchased the building to help African American small business owners have a chance at the American dream. His own law firm was housed here along with other small businesses.

  “Derrick, man, what’s happening?” he greeted the husky security guard and slapped him on the shoulder before taking a seat beside him.

  “Nothing much, man. What brings you down?”

  “I need to take a look at surveillance for the last month and I need a little privacy, please.”

  Derrick put all six cameras on auto, stood from his custom office chair, walked to the cabinet and removed a CD binder. “Here’s the CDs for the last year. Take your time. I’m going to check the building.

  “Alright, thanks.” He waited for Derrick to leave and close the door. He opened the CD case and was amazed at the level of organization his head of security had. Every CD was labeled, and time stamped. He deserved a promotion of some kind.

  On the drive from Summer’s house, Devon had become increasingly suspicious of his fiancée and figured he should swing by security to take a peek at the surveillance footage. He chose to start at the beginning of the year. This would be a long boring task, other than the fun some people had in the elevators and garage. He’d have Derrick draft a letter to the tenants
about being discreet about where they share intimate moments.

  On January 31st, before they became engaged, a red Mustang convertible pulled into the garage, driven by none other than his fiancée. What was she doing here? He started the video back at when she entered the garage, this time noticing a black Mercedes coupe with tinted windows pull in just behind her. The two burly men wearing designer suits and hats who stepped out didn’t belong there either.

  The biggest one was definitely packing a piece. Why were they searching Charity’s car? The shorter one put something under her car, and after another glance, they left. She returned to her car and just drove off. The rest of the videos showed she’d returned at least twice in February and once in March when she moved in. The same men followed her on each trip. He retrieved their license number from the video, so he could have a friend trace it.

  After three hours, Devon put the CD’s back in their place and closed the door as he left. He went up to his suite and scanned the bedrooms, looking for her. From the door of the last room, he watched her folding baby clothes and putting them away.

  “Hey, there you are,” he greeted. He walked further into the room, paying careful attention to every detail.

  Charity placed the clothes down and kissed his cheek. “Where else would I be?

  She left the room. He followed her. He didn’t want to freak her out, but he needed to know who this woman was. What he saw on the video wasn’t enough to end a relationship or abandon his child. He needed more to go on, and he planned to get it.

  Chapter 8

  Summer sifted through documents for an upcoming case. The volunteer’s notes weren’t adding up to what the social worker said was going on with the child. These kinds of issues could either signal deeper problems, or the volunteer wasn’t doing her job. She would check into it tomorrow.

  Summer glanced at her calendar, anticipating meeting the woman who got Devon to put a ring on it. Finding a tactical way to approach this was going to be a challenge. She had also spent hours this morning trying to piece together how Karen was alive.

  Daryl knocked on the door exactly at ten. “She’s here.”

  “Okay, can you give me five minutes, then send her in, please?”

  “Will do.” Daryl left the office, leaving the faint scent of Gucci Gold behind. A gift from Summer on her birthday. She was certain that Daryl was itching to listen in on the particulars of this meeting. Summer sometimes had her take notes to document and transcribe for a later time; However, as this might turn personal, that might not be an option. She’d tackle it on her own.

  A few moments later Daryl was sending her in. There was some resemblance, but she was a much prettier version of the Karen who once had been like a sister to her in a world where she had no friends., Summer almost fainted when she laid eyes on the woman who stood in the waiting area. This lady had more curves than Karen, more than the girl she remembered doing whatever it took to be cheerleader slim when they attended Central High School in Tennessee. Her hair was styled in an asymmetrical design that enhanced the contour of her face. It wasn’t Karen.

  “Charity, please come in,” Summer said, trying not to stare at the woman’s baby bump.

  “I appreciate you seeing me on such short notice.” She swept across the threshold, bringing along a subtle smell of flowers and baby powder.

  “No problem. I’m glad my schedule could accommodate you,” Summer said. “After you tell me why you’re here, I’ll have Daryl come in and take notes, so we can have everything documented.”

  Summer took in Charity’s springy curls and long eyelashes, trying to clear her mind that this wasn’t her friend after all. Evidently, her first impression was mistaken.

  “I need an attorney to make sure that my child is taken care of in the event something happens to me. The baby must never…,” Charity began.

  “Without being too forward, you sound as if your life is in danger,” Summer said with suspicion in her eyes.

  “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe that to be the case.”

  “Very well, then we need to ensure the rest of this conversation is documented.” Summer pressed the button for Daryl.

  Charity watched the women get situated. Summer settled into her chair as Daryl sat beside Charity to prepare for whatever would come from this session. “Okay, let’s begin,” Summer stated.

  Charity sighed, “For the last five years, I’ve been on the run from a sex trafficking cartel. I was kidnapped after high school because they thought I was someone else.”

  She paused. Summer’s expression remained neutral “They’ve taken girls, some of them as young as three, and sold them as sex slaves to the highest bidder.”

  Daryl’s mouth trembled, a silent attempt to control her emotions as Charity continued her purge.

  “Once they age out, they kill them unless a buyer wants to keep them to train other girls.”

  Daryl’s hand covered her mouth, but not before the gasp echoed in the quiet office.

  “How did you end up here?” Summer asked.

  “I escaped because I was bought by someone who let me go. He wanted me to find his daughter. Over the past few months, I’ve been followed by members of the cartel,” Charity explained. “They believe that the daughter has information on them. Now, will you help protect my child?”

  “Have you located the girl?” Summer leaned forward until her arms pressed on the desk.

  “Woman. She’s a woman now.”

  “Where’s this woman they’re looking for?” Summer asked.

  “I’m not at liberty to divulge that information as of yet,” Charity’s poker face gave nothing away.

  Summer remained silent as she considered Charity’s words. “Are you sure you can’t tell me who this daughter, or her father, is?”

  “Trust me, the less you know, the better off you are.”

  “Let me decide that. I don’t have any ties to anyone,” Summer said, gesturing for Daryl to leave the room.

  She slid a notepad across the desk in Charity’s direction. “I’ll take care of everything.”

  Chapter 9

  Charity left Summer’s office, secure in the fact that her child would be protected. A familiar black Mercedes pulled into a spot at the corner when she left the building. She unlocked her doors and slid into the driver’s seat. A note was attached to the steering wheel.

  “THE MINUTE YOU DROP THAT LITTLE BASTARD, YOU’LL HAVE TO PAY THE PIPER-CALL 555-561-7111.”

  She was surprised Juan Carlos had waited that long. He had a thing for children, which was why Summer’s mother had testified against him and the members of the Los Rechazados del Diablo Cartel. She was aware that he wanted her child for himself. Turning it over to Summer and Devon would mean Juan Carlos was less likely to get his paws on the kid.

  Charity dialed the number. “Why are you following me?”

  “Because we should. You ran once, what’s to keep you from doing it again?” the voice on the other side said.

  Charity gritted her teeth. “There’s no way in hell you’re getting my kid.”

  “We shall see.” His bloodcurdling laughter echoed long after the call ended.

  Her next call was to the person she should have contacted before. “Hi, Baby,”

  “Hi, Lady. Pickles or peanut butter this time?” he asked.

  Charity pulled away from her parking space snickering. “Can’t I call you just because?”

  “You can, anytime you want. But it’s usually followed by a request for some unusual food.”

  “Baby are you coming home early today?”

  Though she hated to admit it, she was frightened by these guys following her. They had the balls to walk up in their home, kill her, and everyone else in the process. The only thing holding them back was that they only had a few more weeks before this baby arrived. She planned to leave it in the safety of Devon’s arms and disappear from the hospital.

  “I think I can accommodate that wish today,” he said.
I’ll be home within the hour.”

  Charity felt relieved, then punched on the brakes. She barely missed the car pulling out in front of her. The driver honked, winked, and drove away.

  Chapter 10

  Devon crept to his block, still about five houses away. Police cars were parked everywhere in the street. He’d barely parked the car before jumping out and running to see Derrick, his head of security, sprawled on the ground. The powder burns on his white shirt signaled that whomever put a bullet in him was up close and personal.

  Protect her child.

  “Charity,” came out of his mouth, catching the attention of everyone around him as he made his way through the crowd. Ladies stood around with their hands over their mouths, and the men scratched their heads. He had one bullet in his head and another through the heart.

  “Sir, you can’t go in the building yet,” one of the officers said, blocking his path.

  “The hell I can’t,” Devon shot back. “I’m looking for my fiancée.”

  He pressed on between two huge cops. “Did you check the surveillance cameras?”

  “We tried, but they destroyed them all,” another cop said. “I’m Captain Whittaker of the bomb squad.”

  “I own the place, Devon Connor.”

  “There is a bomb threat. We evacuated the building. There’s no one in there,” Captain Whitaker stated.

  “Devon,” a woman’s voice said from behind him.

  “Charity, what happened?” He pulled her into his arms.

  “I never made it inside. I got here and saw people running out of the building.”

  “Mr. Connor, the building is all clear. We swept everywhere and found nothing,” Whittaker said. “We’ll be in touch about the security guard once we have some answers.”

  “Thanks, Officer,” Devon said scanning the building and parking lot. “I hired him to keep him out of trouble. I hope you find whoever’s responsible.”