Familiar Ground

by Michelle Lynn

  “Leah?” he turns his attention to her, and she nods her head before answering.

  “Yes,” she softly responds, squeezing my hand harder, and I grip it back, praying my weakness in this situation isn’t showing through.

  “I’m Detective Hendrick,” he introduces himself and pulls a chair out to sit on.

  I swallow deep when my eyes meet his. He knows, everything in my gut screams that since he referred to not just me but Leah by first name, we’re done. I’m the one that put us here.

  “Thank you for coming so willingly,” he remarks, staring down at his phone. “Do either of you want anything? Water? Coffee?”

  “No, thank you,” Leah answers, and I nod agreeing with her.

  “Let’s get down to it. I’m sure you’re wondering why you’re here.” His eyes dart back and forth between Leah and me. Not giving us anytime to answer, he continues. “I’ve been watching Jimmy Schmidt for well over a year. So, when your car arrived last week outside his house in correlation with Leah being beaten up the day prior, well, we became suspicious. Digging deeper we found information from both your siblings in relation to drug or paraphernalia possession on their records. What I need for you to do now, is fill me in on the specifics.” He scoots his chair in and clasps his hands together on the table in front of us.

  “Well—,” Leah tries to explain, but I quickly interrupt her.

  “Leah has nothing to do with this Detective Hendrick, can she please go?” I ask, and he glances over to her and then back my way.

  “Sure,” he agrees and shrugs his shoulders. I twist in my chair to ask her to leave, but she narrows her eyes and shakes her head in a firm no.

  “Leah,” I plead.

  “No, Adam,” she says through gritted teeth. “Together, remember?” She takes her hand back in mine, lacing our fingers together while her eyes boor into me. “Family,” she finishes.

  Staring at her for few seconds, I reluctantly turn around to a very annoyed Detective Hendrick. “Should I be calling a lawyer?” I ask him, and he sits back and laughs. What the hell is he laughing about? Then he stands up and opens the door to the hallway and calls another police officer over. They talk for a few seconds and then he comes back and sits down. “You don’t need a lawyer.” He remains relaxed in his chair, even resting his ankle on his knee.

  “Okay,” I accept his honestly, and I begin to talk, but he interrupts me.

  “Wait a second.” He holds his hand up in the air, and I stop talking. The three of us sit there in dead silence for a few more minutes until the door opens slightly.

  “Steve?” Leah questions when my dad walks in. They called my dad? I’m fucking twenty-four—not some juvenile delinquent.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, and Det. Hendrick stands up and shakes his hand.

  “Saving your ass,” the detective remarks, pointing out the empty chair for my dad. “Your dad called me Saturday and informed me of everything going on, and you’re lucky he did. Otherwise, this would have gone down a very different way,” he mentions.

  “Dad,” I sigh, annoyed since I would have handled this. He didn’t need to come in like some damn savior.

  “Adam, I couldn’t let you threaten your future again. You finally have everything you need,” he looks at Leah, “everything you want. I couldn’t stand by and let you put that in jeopardy.”

  My dad’s honesty is admirable, and I’m glad he’s looking out for me, but whatever is expected from me out of this is going to be questionable.

  “So, Adam, we pretty much know everything—the debt—the arrangement,” Detective Hendrick informs me.

  “What do you want me to do? Because I have a feeling it’s going to put my future in more harm’s way than what I’m doing now,” I admit, disgusted by the situation. I had three weeks, and we were off, scot-free.

  “I understand you’re angry, but you don’t really believe Jimmy would have let you free after you paid your sister’s debt. From what I gather from what your dad told me, you and Jimmy have much too involved from the past.” He raises his eyebrows to me in question, and I give him a few short nods back. “We want you to set him up. He runs a tight ship and doesn’t let new people in. We have one guy on the inside, but he can’t even get past the porch. From the information we’ve gathered from him, which is more hearsay than anything, Jimmy’s attempting to up his position in the drug world. He’s organized a big shipment, which is probably why he took you up on your offer. He needs all the money he can get his hands on to pay off this shipment. His reward is being pulled into a top position in Chicago market at least.”

  Go figure, Jimmy always had a great mind for business, too bad he used it for evil. He’s building a damn empire from his parents’ deaths. “What do you want me to do? Wear a wire?” I ask, and he chuckles to himself.

  “Nah, I want you to work the next three weeks, earn his trust back and get us the information we need. We need the when, where, and what. Try to get our guy into his tight circle, and you don’t have to do anything else. But if that fails, then we’ll need to grab a recorded conversation or track any messages.”

  “Jimmy only uses toss phones. He has his personal phone, but I doubt—,”

  “You have that number, correct?” The detective asks.

  “I do, but he’d never incriminate himself to me. Remember, enemies?” I remind him.

  “Okay, well, we definitely will be meeting more than today. From this point forward you only talk to me through your dad. Just keep doing what you’re doing and depending on the information you get and how things go, we may need you more involved.”

  “Isn’t this dangerous? Won’t this put us all in more danger?” Leah unclasps her hand from mine and sits up straighter in her chair. “My brother, Dani—God, Jimmy loves Dani. What happens if Adam does succeed, won’t Jimmy want revenge?” Leah rambles like she usually does when she’s nervous.

  “If all goes well, he won’t know it was Adam that did it.” Det. Hendrick tries to assure her. “Your safety is definitely going to be watched. All of you,” he continues, but Leah just stares over at him.

  “Why should Adam do this? He can continue doing what he’s doing,” Leah starts, but my dad rests his hand on top of hers that’s shaking on the table.

  “Leah, dear,” A tear rolls down her cheek.

  “Adam doesn’t have to do this, but then we’ll book him tonight for assault and search his car. Most likely finding some incriminating—”

  “I’ll do it,” I spit out, and Leah breaks down.

  “Adam,” she mumbles and another tear falls.

  “Hey.” My chair squeaks across the floor when I stand up and pull Leah up to me. “It’s me, I’ll be safe. We’ll be fine,” I tell her, my hands resting on her cheeks. I’m probably as scared as she is but damn if I’ll allow her to witness it.

  “What if,” she continues.

  “No what if’s, remember? Maybe if we do this, one person won’t be affected by addiction.”

  She takes a few deep breaths. Her green eyes staring into mine. All of our love for each other evident. She closes her eyes and nods. Not knowing anything else to do, I pull her into me and allow her release the fear we both feel at the moment.

  It’s been two weeks since we talked with Detective Hendrick. Adam has successfully been able to get some information, but I’ve had to ice his bruised and swollen knuckles more than I’d like. Most of his clothes have bloodstains on them when he returns late at night. Dani hasn’t had a night with him tucking her in since this all started. We’re all missing his interaction in our family, and his sacrifices aren’t going unnoticed.

  Tonight is the big night. Adam got the information for the police. The specifics of the transaction, but Det. Hendrick informed Adam he’s going with Jimmy. Det. Hendrick needs Adam there in case it goes bad. Luckily, though, Adam got the undercover police officer into the circle by pointing out he was Jimmy’s biggest guy, and they needed him in case things got hairy during the tra
nsaction.

  He told me a few nights ago as we laid in bed, Jimmy was getting sloppy around him. That for some reason Jimmy seemed to think it was like it had been back in the day when their friendship was tight. Adam’s overheard conversations, and Pete, the fuckup, is always running his mouth. I have to say, Adam comes home every night and tells me the good and the bad. Maybe how some guy had a really good right hook, or the best nights when the guys don’t fight back but have the money ready to hand over. In some way, we’ve become closer during this ordeal. Me a little stronger, although every time he leaves the house, I fear it will be the last. Him a little more forthcoming, although I fear there are things he’s keeping to himself for my sake.

  I’m staying at his apartment, and Dani’s at his parents with an unmarked police car out front. Adam’s insistent on Marcus coming over and staying with me, which has earned many eye rolls from me.

  “It’s for your own good.” He walks into the living room, interrupting my staring out the front window and thinking about a zillion bad scenarios in my head.

  “How do you know he won’t put the moves on me?” I joke, and he chuckles, pulling his shirt over his head.

  “He may offend you, but he knows I can and will kick his ass.” He puts his phone in his pocket after checking it. The way he can go about his daily getting ready to leave the house ritual, baffles me. My whole body is fighting my clenching stomach to not throw up every minute. “He’ll be here ten minutes after I leave. You remember what he looks like?”

  “Yeah, I can’t forget those glass blue eyes,” I remark, and Adam’s face snaps upright. “I’m kidding,” I quickly take it back.

  Walking over to me, his eyes lock on me before he grabs my one hand and tugs me the rest of the way to him. “These eyes are the only ones you need to remember,” he says.

  “I see them every time I close my eyes, but I better see them back here tonight,” I remind him, and a slow smile creeps across his lips.

  “Good answer,” he comments. “You’ll see them every night until every ounce of strength has left my body.” He bends down, and his lips brush across mine tenderly. His hand rises to cup my face, and my body falls into his a little more. Swinging his arm around my body, he plants it on my hip and holds me firmly against him. Our lips continue to press against one another’s until we open slightly, allowing our tongues to join in. For the few brief moments I’m lip locked with Adam, I forget everything tonight means. If somehow Jimmy catches him. If he never returns home. All those worries vanish, and I enjoy my time with my boyfriend, who cares for everyone else first and foremost. A man I’m lucky to call my own.

  Adam draws the kiss to a close, but his hands remain in place. “I love you, angel,” he says. “I’ll be home soon.” He bends down and kisses my forehead, and his hands begin to leave my body, but I pull him closer.

  “Adam,” I desperately plea. I don’t want to show weakness, I want to be one of those girls that can be all cool and calm on the outside even when they’re crumbling, but it’s not me.

  “Baby,” he softly says. “I’ll be home soon,” he repeats, and I nod my head, pushing back every tear that’s pricking behind my eyes. I will not fall apart until after he leaves.

  “See you then,” I stammer out, barely audible. Placing my hands on either side of his face, I memorize every inch of his face, from his high cheekbones to his defined jawline to his perfectly portioned lips. “I love you,” I tell him, giving him every beat of my heart.

  “I love you,” he repeats, and I rise up on my tippy toes and smack my lips against his one more time.

  I watch him grab his keys from the counter and walk out the door, my feet begging to follow. Thinking if he remains in my line of vision, it somehow makes him safer. After the door shuts, I go back to the window and wait for him to cross the street toward his car. He turns around and doesn’t wave, but the small smile displays his affection.

  Once he’s out of my sight, I sit on the couch and again every aspect of this is agonizing. Anger starts seeding its way through me. Why are we the ones being punished? We didn’t do the drugs. We didn’t tack on the debt. But here we are fixing it. It’s in this moment, I give up all control over Shane. I have Adam, I have Dani, and I want Shane in my life, but there’s no way I’ll put myself or Adam through this again. If an enabler can hit rock bottom, I’ve crashed to mine. Standing up, unable to sit down any longer, I wonder how many steps I’ll pace tonight until Adam returns.

  Before I realize it, a key is being inserted into the door and Marcus walks in, locking it behind him. When he turns around and finds me pacing, a big huff leaves his mouth. “Believe me, sweetheart, there are a lot of things, or shall I say people, I could be doing tonight,” he says, tossing a take-out bag on the counter. “On top of that your damn boyfriend made me a delivery boy as well.” He nods his head toward the brown bag.

  I walk over and open the bag, spotting a note.

  My lips turn up thinking about that night. Although my stomach isn’t up for eating anything, I appreciate the thought. “Hey, he damn well better have bought something for me,” Marcus says, rushing over and digging through the bag. He grabs three hot dogs out takes them back to the couch and turns on the television. “What the hell?” he screams, and I look in the bag and then walk over to hand him the right hot dog.

  He takes it out of my hand and then gives me back the one with just ketchup. “He must really love you. I’d never—,”

  “Yeah, I know. You’d never do that.” I roll my eyes at him, and he chuckles.

  “You have that right. Maybe you should get that whole eye problem checked out,” he offers due my incessant eye rolling, and I want to haul off and hit him.

  I lean against the counter in the kitchen, staring at my phone while my foot taps on the floor.

  “You’re really going to piss off, Mr. Becker. Pretty soon, he’ll take his cane and pound it against the ceiling,” he talks around a mouth full of food.

  I stop my foot. When my phone rings, every knot in my stomach grips tighter. “Hello,” I answer.

  “Goodnight, Aunt Leah,” Dani says, and I wish I was with her tonight. I should have opted for that, having those small arms warm around me.

  “Goodnight, sweetie. Did you have fun?” I ask, and she carries on about what she did with Grandma and Grandpa. “I have something to tell you,” she repeats Jan in the background.

  “Okay,” I laugh.

  “Uncle Adam wants you to know he loves you. That he’s your prince, and you’re his princess.” She waits until Jan tells her what to say before repeating. “He wants you to remember when we went shopping for my room.” Then she carries on to Jan or Steve about the princess decals in her room, and if they can get her some for her room at their house. Pretty soon the conversation slowly fades to a close.

  “Hi, Leah, she’s done,” Jan takes over the conversation. “You’ll let us know,” she asks.

  “Of course,” I assure her..

  “Hang in there. Adam’s smart,” she comments, but her tone doesn’t match her words.

  “Thank you, Jan. I’ll call as soon as he gets home.” We say our good-byes, and I try to do what Adam had Dani call for, letting my mind wonder back to that night. Although the butterflies still flutter when Adam’s near, back then they ran rampant in my stomach.

  “Have you figured it out yet?” Marcus asks from across the room, ignoring some sports program on the television.

  “Figured out what?” I ask.

  “He’s planned your whole night. He actually gave me a damn itinerary.” He shakes his head, finishing his third hot dog. “So, it’s game time. Get that hot ass over here for a game of Monopoly.” He pulls the board out from a cabinet next to the couch and starts positioning the cards and pieces out, counting the money.

  Reluctantly, I follow the instructions and begin to make my way over to Marcus. “Oh before you come over, can you go into that second cabinet, he told me there’s a dessert in there for you,” he
says, and I twist around to walk back to the kitchen.

  I open the cabinet and there are cereal boxes, canned vegetables, and soup. Then I spot the plastic container and pull it off the shelf, reading the small note taped on the top.

  Closing my eyes, a small laugh escapes my lips when I think about his face when he ate those cookies Dani and I made for him.

  “Let’s not hog all the cookies,” Marcus hollers over. “Especially, since you didn’t eat your dinner,” he teases.

  I bring the Tupperware container over and sit opposite Marcus, who now has the game laid out on the coffee table. When I open the container, the sugary sweet smell is too good to pass up. Picking one out and taking a bite, my mouth explodes with how good they taste. Damn it, they’re delicious.

  I wish I felt vindicated with what I’m about to do, but only anger is evident. Anger that I have to leave the woman I love scared out of her mind while I finish what I never started fills my emotions. Cassi’s problems are still becoming mine, even from the grave. Leah and I should be holding each other, enjoying the love we found together, instead of her thinking she just saw me for the last time and me worrying what our future will look like if Jimmy seeks some sort of revenge. That is if he clues in that it was me that ratted him out. Det. Hendrick has promised me, I’ll be arrested just like everyone else and that there’s a chance Jimmy won’t know. I pray he’s right because after these last three weeks of hell, I’m done with this damn life. If Shane fucks up his last chance, I’ll take Dani and Leah out of his life for good.

  Pulling up to Jimmy’s house, I check my phone one more time before exiting the car. As though I pull a mask over my face, my demeanor changes in the short walk to the front steps. I’m not the Adam Leah loves or the Uncle Adam Dani has fun with. I’ve transformed into the curt and cold get the fuck away from me Adam that only these assholes get. Trying not to give extra attention to the now two undercover police officers on the porch. Jimmy is so stupid. I was able to convince him to get more help, and the dumbass asked Brent, the first undercover cop if he knew anyone. At first I thought, he figured it all out, but this big deal has blinded his usual wariness to new people, having tunnel vision to the ultimate prize once this goes down.