Still the Best Woman for the Job

by Sharon C. Cooper

  Craig clenched and unclenched his fist, his heartbeat pounded hard against his chest as Toni walked away. He understood she was angry about seeing him with another woman, but he couldn’t believe she was going to leave with a stranger.

  “Craig, do something!” Peyton pulled on his shirtsleeve. “Arrest her or something! Just don’t let her leave with him.”

  Heat flushed through his body, and he barely maintained his control. “I can’t.” He bent forward, his hands on his knees and he sucked in several gulps of air before speaking again. “It’s not safe for me to go after her. With what I’m feeling right now, there’s no telling what I’d do to Muscle Head.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Toni sat quietly in the passenger seat of Anthony’s beat-up Cadillac as they traveled out of downtown and headed north toward Avondale. She would never be able to forget the anger and disappointment she saw on Craig’s face tonight. Granted she was mad at him and wanted to get back at him for being with another woman, but he didn’t deserve the way she treated him. If the last couple of months with him proved anything, it was that he loved her. So then, why was she in a car with a man she didn’t know, going to a party at God-knows-where?

  I’m a stubborn idiot.

  “You know what, Anthony?” She glanced sideways at him, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible. “I’m not going to be much fun tonight. Can you just drop me off at my place?”

  Toni tensed when he reached over and placed his large muscled hand on her thigh. Alarm bells blared in her head as she thought of all of the things that could happen to her.

  “The party will do you good, take your mind off the fight you had with your man.”

  My man. She had probably ruined everything between her and Craig. She glanced down at the thick hand Anthony had placed on her thigh and realized the decision to leave with him would rank high on the list of the most asinine decisions she’d made to date.

  Character is built by the choices we make. Her grandfather’s words rattled around in her mind. Though she had tried to use those words to help her stay on a positive course in life, now all they reminded her of was all the stupid choices she’d been making lately.

  “I’ll tell you what. We go to the party and if at any point you’re not having a good time, we can leave and I’ll take you home.” He lifted an eyebrow and smiled a beautiful smile. “Deal?”

  She returned his smile thinking that maybe going to a party, dancing the night away was what she needed. Besides, Anthony seemed harmless enough. “Deal.”

  Twenty minutes later, Toni stepped out of the car, glad to be on her own two feet and glanced up and down the street. She thought her truck rode horribly, but her clunker was nothing compared to the loud rattling of his car’s engine, and the pain radiating through her butt cheeks from hitting every pothole was proof that he needed new shocks.

  “Come on, let’s go in.”

  He wrapped one of his meat-hook-hands around her small hand and guided her up the crack-ridden walkway. Part of her wanted to pull away from his sweaty grasp, but the other part of her was scared to death of the neighborhood. She decided to hold on tight.

  The cool night air wrapped around Toni, and she shivered thinking the temperature felt more like March than May. She shoved her free hand in her pocket and hunched her shoulders forward as a sense of foreboding snaked up her spine. As they drew closer to the brick home, covered with bars on every window and a cast-iron outer door, fear settled into her bones. If she had the ability to turn time back and start the entire evening again, she would do things very differently.

  Oh God, please keep me safe.

  She couldn’t remember the last time she prayed, but she found herself mumbling every prayer she’d ever learned as a child.

  The only thing that made her feel a little more comfortable was the tune of Beyoncé’s latest hit pouring out into the streets. At least there was an actual party going on.

  “We’ll go around to the back,” Anthony said, guiding her around the house until she put on the brakes and pulled her hand from his grasp.

  “You go ahead. I prefer to go through the front.” She already didn’t feel comfortable being with him, but there was no way in hell she was going to anybody’s back yard with some stranger. She left him standing in the middle of the walkway as she trudged up the five concrete stairs. She knocked on the door and hoped someone inside had a cell phone she could use.

  Anthony came up behind her just as a tall, scary-looking guy opened the door.

  “Ant, man, why you comin’ through the front? You know I said er’body have to use the back.”

  Anthony placed his arm around Toni’s shoulder and said, “Look at my girl, dude.” He pointed at Toni. “She got too much class to be usin’ the back door. So move your ass out the way so we can get our party on.”

  It had been a long time since Toni had smoked a joint and the smell of weed hit her like a Mack Truck the moment she stepped across the threshold. I should have known it was this type of party. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

  Anthony held her hand and pulled her through the crowded house. They skirted around small groups of people and then a makeshift dance floor. She couldn’t tell if people were dancing or having sex considering all the bumping, grinding and moans floating through the air.

  She needed to find a phone. When she asked Anthony to use his, he claimed he didn’t have one, which she was sure was a lie. There was no way she was staying at this party, especially seeing what she saw when they walked into the semi-dark kitchen.

  “Oh, yeah,” Anthony sang, his hands waved in the air and he bounced to the groove of the music flowing in from the front room. “This is where the party’s at!”

  Toni’s hand cupped her mouth as disgust rumbled around in her stomach. Drugs. Not only were a couple of people passing a joint around, but at the kitchen table, if you could call it a table, a woman snorted a line of cocaine and then another.

  “Move out the way,” an old man hunched over a walking cane pushed through the pack, “it’s my turn.”

  Just then, a tall, skinny woman clad in a black and blue corset, garter belt and fishnet stockings bound down the stairs, a lipstick stained cigarette dangling from her mouth. “All right, who’s next? And don’t even bother comin’ up here if you ain’t got no money. This,” she posed, pointy fire-red nails squeezed her breast and then slid down her body and aimed at her crouch, “ain’t free.”

  “I got you, baby.” The tall man who had answered the door for Toni and Anthony earlier pulled out a wad of money. “I hope you got some energy, ‘cause I plan to go all night long.”

  Oh hell no! I have to get out of here. Toni’s gaze darted around the room seeking a cell phone, and then she realized Anthony had abandoned her. She walked back to the front room and saw a woman curled up in the corner of the sofa talking on a cell phone. Weed, drugs, prostitution - what next? It was time to admit her stupidity and call someone to come and get her.

  “Excuse me. Can I use your phone?”

  The woman’s eyes perused Toni from head to toe and back again. “What I look like, Ma Bell. Go get yo own damn phone.” She dismissed Toni and returned to her conversation as if Toni was not still rooted in place less than a foot away.

  Next Toni spotted a man bobbing his head, talking on his cell phone near the make-shift dance floor. She approached the guy the way she knew her cousin Jada would have, more swing in her hips, batting her lashes and her chest poked out.

  “Hi, may I use your phone?” Toni twirled a lock of her hair.

  His gaze raked over her body similar to the way the woman had, but instead of distaste in his eyes, she saw interest. He smiled. “Sure, baby, let me finish giving the directions to this place to my guy, and then it’s all yours.”

  Toni squeezed her thighs together and bounced from one foot to the other while she waited. She’d had a couple of beers before leaving the pub, and of course her bladder chose that moment to rebel.


  “I’ll be right back,” Toni told the cell phone guy and then went in search of a bathroom.

  Upstairs in the bathroom, Toni took care of her business, hurrying to make sure the man with the cell phone didn’t disappear. She flushed the toilet and quickly washed her hands, not surprised that there wasn’t anything to dry them on. She swiped her hands up and down her jean-clad pant leg and did a quick check of herself in the cracked mirror. Screams and the sound of furniture being tossed around interrupted her calm.

  “What the heck is going on down there?”

  She turned from the sink and the door to the bathroom burst open. “Police! Hands in the air! Now!”

  Toni stood frozen to the creaky floorboards as she stared up at the barrel of a gun aimed at her. A shiver of panic lodged in her chest and fear like she’d never known before gripped her brain.

  “I said hands in the air!” The female cop’s voice raised an octave.

  Toni’s body trembled, and she lifted jittery hands. “Wha … what’s going on? I … I did … didn’t do anything.”

  “You have the right to remain silent …”

  Tears welled in her eyes. The brutish female police officer slammed her flat against the peeling wallpaper and patted her body down. Toni cried out when her arms were jerked behind her back and cuffs slapped on. What’s going on? Tears spilled down her cheeks. Did Craig have anything to do with this? Was he trying to scare her by having some of his cop friends hunt her down and then arrest her? If so, his scare tactic worked, but how could he be that cruel? She knew he was angry, but this was going overboard.

  “I didn’t do anything,” Toni cried. The officer grabbed her cuffed wrists and shoved her out of the bathroom. “If Craig sent you to scare me, it worked. Please, just take the cuffs off. They’re too tight and they’re cutting off my circulation.”

  The officer escorted her through the second level of the house, and Toni couldn’t believe her eyes. Cops everywhere. They herded partygoers out of the house and into police vans, and realization dawned on her. This has nothing to do with Craig. Fear settled into her bones. Bright lights flashed in her eyes as she stumbled toward the waiting police van. Oh my God, the media is here.

  She didn’t know what was happening, but she’d never felt as alone and afraid as she did at that moment.

  ***

  Craig paced the length of the family room his anger mounted with each step. Where in the hell is she? After taking Patricia back to her hotel, he had driven by Toni’s house only to find it dark and no Toni. He then called to see if Peyton or Jada had talked with her. Neither had seen or heard from her. He didn’t know what he would do if anything happened to her. He responded to hundreds of domestic violence calls a year and knew that all it took was for one guy, to think she was a tease, and things could go horribly wrong for her.

  He growled and swiped his arm across the fireplace mantle. Frustration engulfed his body as he watched an expensive vase and framed photos hit a nearby wall, shards of glass scattered across his carpeted floor.

  “Where are you, dammit?”

  He didn’t know what else to do. He’d driven to a few of her favorite spots, hoping to find her, preferably alone, but most importantly safe. He thought about calling in a favor and having her located via her cell phone, but Peyton had her purse with her, meaning if Toni were in trouble, she wouldn’t be able to contact anyone.

  He glanced at his watch again, at least the thirtieth time in the past hour, only to find that it was two minutes past the last time he checked. Two-fifteen in the morning. Peyton had called him an hour ago asking if he’d heard from Toni yet. She and Jada had gone to Toni’s house after leaving the pub and found out what he’d already found out. Toni wasn’t home.

  The sound of his cell phone pierced through the quietness of the room and Craig practically slid across the table to answer it.

  Glancing at the screen, he recognized the number. “Yeah, this is Logan.”

  “Craig man, you might want to get down to the station,” Paul, a fellow cop, said. “Your ex, Toni, was arrested a few hours ago, in a drug raid. She was cleared of all charges, but she’s still here. I think …”

  Craig snatched his keys from the entryway table and headed to the garage, barely hearing anything else Paul said. All he knew was that he needed to get to her.

  Fifteen minutes later, Craig rushed through the door of the police station acknowledging a few cops but focusing on finding Toni. He spotted Paul, who nodded his head toward the lone body sitting in a hardwood chair, her head rested against the wall. Craig studied Toni from a distance, and her eyes didn’t blink as she stared straight ahead.

  His gaze traveled over her, and though she appeared to be fine, something was definitely wrong. He slowly moved across the room, not taking his eyes off her. He claimed the seat to her left and sat without speaking. All he wanted was to pull her into his arms and hold her, but instead he sat in silence.

  “I didn’t call you,” she said, her whisper choked by tears. She turned to him and a tear slid down her cheek. First one, and then more followed. “Why are you here?”

  “Oh, baby,” he said, his heart breaking at the anguish he saw on her face. “I’m here to take you home.”

  She fell into his welcoming arms, her loud sobs smothered by his chest and Craig didn’t think he would ever let her go. Relief like he’d never known before flooded his body as he kissed the top of her head and rocked her body. Tonight he’d experienced what she probably experienced whenever he left for work. A helpless fear of not knowing if the person you loved, were safe.

  Craig held her for what seemed like forever until her tears subsided.

  “You shouldn’t be nice to me,” she said against his now damp shirt. He handed her a tissue from a nearby Kleenex box. She lifted her head, tears hanging on her long eyelashes. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that.” He pulled her back to him and kissed the top of her head again. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  Craig walked with her, holding her close to his body. When she stumbled a second time, he lifted her into his arms and proceeded out of the station. It wasn’t enough to have her wrapped in his arms. He wanted to take her home and never let her out of his sight again. He also wanted to know everything that happened tonight, but he wouldn’t push. He’d let her tell him in her own time and if she didn’t, he could always read the report.

  Silence filled the car until she realized he was heading to her house.

  “I don’t want to go home,” she stole a glance at him and then dropped her gaze.

  Craig slowed the car. “Where do you want me to take you? To Peyton’s? Your parents? Your grandparents? I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

  She covered her face with her hands and her shoulders shook violently as her sobs filled the car’s interior. Craig had never felt so helpless in all of his life. Checking his mirrors, he pulled over to the side of the road, fearing that something else happened tonight.

  “Toni, talk to me.” He gathered her in his arms as close as the center console would allow and held her. “Baby, I know I said I’ll always have a shoulder for you to cry on, but you’re killing me here. What can I do? Tell me what you need from me. Anything.”

  She lifted her head, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t go home.”

  Craig stiffened. Unease crawled up his spine and the worse possible scenarios of what happened tonight filled his mind. “Why not? What happened? Did someone hurt you?” His tone rougher than he intended. “Because if someone laid a hand on you I will—”

  “No. No, nothing happened.” She shook her head and held onto his arm. “No one did anything to me. I just can’t go home. I don’t want to be alone. I can’t go to any of my family because I can’t bear to see the disappointment in their eyes.”

  Craig released the breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Honey, they love you. Even if they are disappointed, they’re more worried than anyt
hing.”

  “I know, but I can’t face them right now.”

  He wiped her tears with the pad of his thumb then replaced his finger with his lips, kissing her cheeks. “All right, just stop crying. Everything is going to be fine.”

  He released her and steered back into traffic. Making a u-turn, he headed for his house and dialed Peyton.

  ***

  Toni followed Craig upstairs and was surprised when he turned left toward the guest room instead of heading to his bedroom. She didn’t want to be alone. Even if he were only a few doors away, it would be still too far. She wanted to be in his arms, but she didn’t have the right. Thinking about the way she’d treated him hours ago made her sick. She knew the type of man he was: honorable, dependable and loyal. When he told her the woman he was with earlier was just a friend, she knew he was telling the truth, but at the time, she wanted to hurt him.

  “The bathroom should have everything you need.” He flicked the light on. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to find something for you to sleep in.”

  How could she tell him she wanted to be with him tonight, that she needed to be with him tonight? It was past time for her to talk to him, to be honest about their breakup and her behavior over the past few months.

  Craig walked back into the room, and she hadn’t moved from the spot near the door.

  “Here’s a T-shirt and some socks. I know how much you hate walking around barefoot.” His voice was as gentle as the love shimmering in his eyes.

  Toni almost cried all over again at his thoughtfulness. She accepted the socks, but only stared at the shirt that he held in his other hand.

  Craig glanced down at the T-shirt and then back at her. “It’s okay, it’s clean.”

  She swallowed and tears popped into her eyes. “I don’t want that one,” she said just above a whisper.

  Craig dropped his hand to his side and lifted an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  “I want the burgundy one.” She stared into his confused eyes. “The one that says ‘I do my best work undercover’. The one I use to sleep in when … after you were shot and when you worked late.”