Heroin Love

by Hunter, I. M.

  The front lawn of the building was riddled with beer bottles and drug paraphernalia. '64-7' read the door only being able to view the outline of dirt and debris to make out the one. I knock loudly and waited a few seconds, there was no answer.

  Impatiently I knocked again and let out a bellowing "Hello!"

  A few seconds later a man who looked beaten up by life answered the door.

  "Who the hell are you?" He asked angrily with his eyes squinted as if he hasn't seen daylight in weeks.

  “Ah, you must be Rachael's uncle. I am a friend of Rachael's, my name is Kevin. Have you seen Rachael?"

  With a grunt he responds "Yeah, one sec."

  Rachael came to the door and her eyes light up in surprise, "What the fuck?" She asked as she pushed me out of the entry way so she could step out and close the door.

  I looked her over, she was in little booty shorts, with a ripped t-shirt and no bra on. Her hair was still frazzled from sleeping and not a streak of make-up on her, she was gorgeous.

  "You said you were going to call, and I haven't heard from you so I wanted to make sure you were okay," I clarified.

  "You can't just show up at my house and you really need...." She began ranting before I cut her off.

  "I have a surprise for you, want to come and see, please?" I begged.

  "Kev, I still need to get ready and my uncle is going to need more meds soon. I just can't right now." She stood there protesting or just playing hard to get I couldn't figure it out.

  "You can get ready at my house, I got plenty of clothes and we will be back soon to give your Uncle his meds, lets just go."

  Reluctantly she agrees to come, cracking the door she screams into her unit to let David know she will be back later.

  Rachael crossed her legs on the passenger seat sitting indian style with her head back appearing to nod in and out of consciousness.

  "Do you need some coffee or something?" I inquired to see what kind of pick me up she wanted.

  "Nah, I'm fine. I just need a hot shower. What is this surprise you got me?"

  "It's something I really have to show you, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me."

  She gave me a flirty smack on the arm "Come on Kev cut the shit, just tell me."

  "Let's just go get ready and we will go see it." I looked over at her with an excited face.

  "Uh, Fine." She pouted while rolling down her bottom lip to put on one of the sexiest pout faces I have ever seen.

  We entered into the house and I directed her towards my bedroom.

  I motioned towards my wife's closet. "There's plenty of clothes in there. You should be able to find something that fits." I pointed in the direction of the bathroom "There's the bathroom, everything you should need is in there. If you need anything just ask."

  Rachael seemed a little perplexed by the situation. She stood there not sure what to do then rebutted with a typical Rachael comment. "Oh, your not going to come in with me?"

  Chuckling I responded "I have to do a couple things before we leave, we can play later. Now go and get ready." I left the room to let her get ready to go and to get money to purchase the lease on the house.

  I had money stashed all throughout my house. Money management 101 is to always have a secret stash of money, 'fun money' so to speak. There was money behind my air handler, in the air vents, under the carpets, in a safe hidden on the wall by a replica painting of 'Starry Night' by Vincent Van Gogh, and my favorite a safe hidden in the floor underneath the carpet in my office.

  I went into the utility closet in the foyer area of my home which housed my air handler. Stuck my hand back there and pulled out five rolls of money. I rolled hundreds into rolls of ten thousand dollars, it was an easy system to grab money quickly when needed. I threw the money into my black leather briefcase and packed it into my truck.

  Standing in the living room I just watched the water while I impatiently waited for Rachael to be ready. Boats racing by, the water splashing over itself as the waves pushed towards the rocks. The sun sparkling on the blue ocean, birds diving into the water trying to catch their food.

  I heard the door creek open and she stood in the doorway "How do I look?"

  I walked towards her slowly ,her placing my hand romantically on the back of her head "You always look beautiful." As I moved her hair behind her ears I noticed her wearing my wife's golden dolphin earrings, they were the first piece of jewelry I ever bought her. I haven't seen them in years I thought Megan lost them. "Where did you find those?" I asked her being very curious as to where they've been.

  "They were in the pockets of these jeans and I love dolphins so it worked out. Now let's go see my surprise."

  I grabbed her hand and led her to the truck. "I have to make one business stop before I show you. It's right down the street."

  "Jeez Kev, your dragging this out. Way to keep a girl guessing."

  I pulled into the parking lot of the real estate office. "Wait here," I demanded, grabbed my briefcase and ran into the office.

  I asked the receptionist for the listing agent. He came out and greeted me "Hello Mr. Barrick, I have everything prepared just need a couple of signatures."

  "Great, lead the way" I responded with a sense of urgency.

  We entered his office and without sitting down I leaned on the desk and signed were the signature markers laid. Reaching into my briefcase I grabbed the rolls I counted out the thirty-six thousand he needed for the first,last, and security. He seemed astonished by the fact I was paying him in cash but that didn't stop him from taking it.

  "Thank you, Mr. Barrick. Here is two sets of keys, a gate remote, and a welcome package just to show you some of the amenities in the neighborhood." He presented me a folder with all the important information.

  "Thanks, have a good day." And without further adieu I was back in the truck on my way to our new home.

  As we approached the entrance, I pulled over before she could see the signs of the neighborhood.

  "Here put this on." I handed here a makeshift blindfold made from a towel rolled up.

  She smiled at me and laughed "Your joking right?"

  "Come on, just humor me would you?" I implored.

  She tied it around her head and I continued to drive into our neighborhood. Looking anxiously for the house, turning my head back and forth to see the numbers.

  "Oh, there it is." I proclaimed. Pulling into the driveway "Now don't peek." I teased. I grabbed Rachael by her arm and dragged her to the front doorway. "Are you ready?" my hands shook with excitement as I unlocked the door to our new home.

  As we walked in, still guiding Rachael, the echoes of our footsteps filled the empty home. I positioned her in the center of the living room which offered the best views of the beach. As I untied the blindfold from her head, I leaned in to whisper in her ear "Welcome home." The blindfold fell from face, her look was priceless. Rachael's eye's opened wide and jaw dropped in astonishment of the view.

  "I don't understand. What do you mean 'welcome home?'”

  Still excited I told her "I rented this place for you, for us, so you could get out of that place, that horrible place. I thought you would love it."

  "No, no, no. I do love it. I love that we can spend more time together. But what about my uncle? He needs me, and I need him. He's the only family I have left." She let me know of her concerns.

  "Well, hmm, let me think." After a few seconds of silence I said "This place is big enough for all three of us, he can move in as well."

  She smiled at me with those ocean blue eyes "You serious?" She asked in disbelief.

  I quickly nodded.

  "I can't believe it. This is going to be awesome!" She screamed while jumping around the empty living room in excitement. "Oh wait, there is still one big problem." She proclaimed.

  "And what would that be Rachael?" I answered with confusion.

  "What am I suppose to do with an empty house?" She looked towards me and gave me a sarcastic smile.

  "Well t
hat is something that is easily fix. You go shopping of course." I said with excitement. "Let's go to the mall." I grabbed her by the arm and we ran out of the house.

  Chapter Thirteen

  In the furniture store it was pretty obvious to me what kind of upbringing Rachael had. She was looking at all the run of the mill furniture, basic rod iron bed frames, formica tables and particle wood tables. I watched semi amused for a few minutes, and then suggested to go pick out some furniture together.

  "This table would fill in the dining room nice. We should get this." I suggested while pointing out a natural wood table.

  The table top was made out of the stump of an oak tree. The legs made from the same natural looking wood, almost looked like drift wood. And the chairs matched with the appearance of picnic benches. "The rough unfinished natural edges would fit very nicely with the beach theme. And the chairs are perfect as well. What do you think?"

  Rachael looked rather distant or unfocused on the task but mustered up the energy to speak "Yeah, looks nice."

  "What's wrong with you?" I was concerned, she just kind of lost it.

  "I am getting sick." She explained with fear in her eyes.

  "Well let's go get some medicine then. No problem." I placed my hand on her back and started to usher her back towards the exit.

  "Not that kind of sick. I'm getting dope sick." She hung her head in disappointment.

  I stared at her with her head down, not really sure what that meant. "Okay, so what do we do?" I inquired.

  "Kev, I am a heroin addict. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but I didn't want you to run scared. If you can't deal with it just take me back to my house."

  She was giving me a way out, but I really had no judgement on how bad it really could be I agreed to deal with her vice. I mean after all who doesn't have some sort of addiction. "What do you need Rachael?"

  "Just call Pete, tell him it's for me, he'll know what I need. His number is in my phone." She babbled.

  I reached into her purse and did what I was instructed to do. When Pete picked up the phone I told him Rachael told me he would know what to do and where we were.

  A simple "Okay" was said through the phone and he hung up.

  "I don't know, what do we do now? He just said 'Okay'." I was getting flustered, I didn't like confusion and not knowing how to proceed.

  "He will come, I just need to lay down, it's going to get worse." She forecasted.

  "Okay hold on." I rushed towards a sales associate at the store. "Hey, you see that table over there." Motioning towards the wood table I liked. "I need that table, and a whole house to match. Here's my card." I handed my company credit card over to him. "Whatever it is just charge my account I will be back tomorrow to get my card."

  "Sir, that is against company policy." He protested.

  "Look it's an emergency and I don't have the time to come back. You get commission what the fuck do you care? Just pick it out, make sure it's nice, and matches the table. Thanks. Here's my card with my name and number. And I'll write the mailing address on the back. I'll expect it tomorrow afternoon. Have a great day."

  I ran back to Rachael who was lying in the fetal position on a showroom couch. I picked her up and walked back into the truck. I opened the back of the truck and laid her down on the back seat. I hear incessant coughing and gagging as if she was going to throw up.

  "Everything okay back there?" Asking with concern.

  "I am fine, is he here yet?" She grumbled.

  "No not yet." I responded while looking around the parking lot anxiously.

  It gave me a little time to reflect into what I got myself into. Now I am a glorified babysitter waiting for a drug dealer to show up. She's curled up in the back of my truck, sick as shit -- this was not fun. A mysterious looking fellow appeared in my rearview, this has got to be him. He approached my truck and tapped on the window.

  Cracking my window just a hair I asked him "Pete?"

  He nodded and I rolled the window all the way down. He handed me a rolled up mat that was tied together with velcro straps.

  "And here give her this now, it should pep her right back up." He explained while handing me a needle that was filled with a murky substance. "That's twenty-five hundred,bro." He demanded payment from me. Not knowing what drugs cost or how much he gave me I just handed him what he wanted.

  "Here Rachael, Pete said to take this now." I reached my hand out to give her the syringe.

  "You have to do it for me, I can't. I am too sick. Just shoot it in my veins." She instructed as if I knew how to find the veins.

  I took my black leather belt off, tied it around her arm, and started to smack the fold in her arms. I felt like a nurse trying to get blood out of a patient, only it was drugs. After a few seconds of smacking a vein revealed itself in her arm. I leaned in and stuck the needle into the vein and squeezed whatever was in that syringe into Rachael's arm.

  "How is that?" I asked in a concerning manner.

  A couple of seconds went by and she muttered "Much better." I see her eyes roll into the back of her head and she falls into a coma like state.

  A rush of regret came over me.

  ‘What have I done? What did I get myself into?’

  I sat in the driver seat staring into the parking lot and began weighing my options. I could bring her back home to her uncle and just disappear but she she knows where I live. I could try to fix her, put her in a rehab. We shared such a connection, she brings me back to life. I don't want this to end. I looked over to the passenger seat where I laid the bag I bought from Pete.

  Hesitantly I decided to unroll the contents, it rolled out like a surgeon's kit. It contained several needles, a bag of a grayish colored substance which I assumed was heroin, and 3 unmarked pill bottles. These where not normal pill bottles, they where the size of a soda can. I investigated a little further and looked inside the pill bottles, a yellow elliptical pill said 'Percocet', the other was a white bar with cuts through it and said 'Xanax' on one side. The third was not so straight forward it was a circular blood red pill, it just looked dangerous. It simply listed 'OC' on one side and '60' on the other. I opened the bag that contained the grayish colored substance, and when I did, an overwhelming smell of vinegar filled the air around me. Choking from the potent smell I closed it all back up and stuffed it under my seat and rolled my windows down to air the truck out. I looked in the backseat of the truck to still find Rachael knocked out.

  I gave her a few taps on her chest, "Hey," no response. A few more taps, "Rachael," still no response, she was out cold. Lost, I had no idea what to do with her. I decided to drive her home, I was sure David would know what to do with her.

  I knocked on her door while holding her sleeping in my arms.

  David opens the door "What did you do to her?!" He screams at me while ripping her out of my hands, placing her down on the couch next to the door.

  "I didn't do anything. She said she was getting sick and needed heroin. She gave me Pete's number and I did what he said." I responded with a matter of fact tone. "Here take this shit too. I don't even know what to do with this." I handed David the roll of drugs I bought from Pete.

  David opens the roll and I see his eye's light up like he just won the lottery. He throws it onto the couch and directs me out of the door and steps outside with me.

  "Listen buddy." He continued to explain, "She has had a rough childhood and just hasn't found a way out of this life. She found her dad dead with a needle sticking out of his arm, and it has been downhill ever since. You are probably the best thing to happen to her yet, and will be the best thing ever for her."

  I looked at him in a perplex manner, not sure what his game was. "And what's your story?" I curiously asked.

  His smart ass remark was simply "I'm just a drugger."

  Not even entertaining his statement, "Just have her call me when she wakes up." And I walked back into my truck.

  Sitting at home, by myself, this is not how I envisioned my week
to be going. I kept checking my phone anxiously waiting for Rachael to call. It was nearly two in the morning and I have yet to hear from her. As I prepped myself to go to sleep I hear my phone start to ring 'Blocked Number' read across the screen, and I picked it up without further hesitation.

  "Rachael, how are you?"

  A raspy voice came across the speaker "Hey Kev. I just wanted to say sorry. You shouldn't have to deal with that."

  "It's fine, don't worry about it. As long as your okay, everything fine." I reassured her.

  What I heard next really struck my heart chords, she responded with a simple "Love you." and hung up the phone.

  The biggest smile I have ever made covered my face in joy. I look at the disconnected phone and said out loud "Love you too." Giving the phone a peck on the screen.

  The next morning, I rushed out of the house in excitement. It was our big day we were going to start our life together. I knocked continuously on her front door until I got her to answer.

  "Jeez, Kev. You need a hobby." She joked.

  "Come on, get David and lets go home." I answered in a rush.

  "Just hold on. I have to get our stuff."

  "We will just get new stuff. Come on, come on." I started pulling her out of her unit.

  Laughing at me she said "Okay, okay." "Come on Dave," she screamed as I continued to pull her towards the truck. We all piled into the truck and I began racing over to Sand Dollar Shores.

  As we were entering the neighborhood I noticed a semi in the road and rushed down to the house in excitement. The furniture company was there to deliver all of the furniture. I opened the door to the house to let everyone in, the furniture guys started to move in all of our furniture. I looked at Rachael and she was glowing in joy, David on the other hand seemed rather emotionless about the whole situation. It didn't phase me, he was just there as collateral damage so I could have Rachael. I will worry about that later.

  "Come on, let's just go wait on the back porch." I suggested while opening the door to lead the way.