“Twelve, final offer. Either that or you bring Daisy back here, and I’ll give you Carl.” The phone cuts off and I foolishly say ‘hello’ before I look down at the blank screen. I don’t want to look at that phone and have Carl’s face popping up when he’s actually dead.
There’s a soft noise behind me, and I turn around to see Daisy standing in the entrance hall to my parent’s home with her hand to her mouth. Her eyes are glittering, and I recognize it for what it is. She’s crying, and I’m not a fool. I know what she heard. Before I can reach out a hand to her and try to comfort her, Daisy turns around and flies up the stairs. I hear the bedroom doors slam shut, and my heart breaks in two. She must think I’m a complete monster.
My mother shows up in the doorway of the kitchen with a confused look on her face. I cannot meet her eyes as I put my phone into my pocket. I back down the steps of the front porch as my mother begins to advance. “Take care of Daisy,” I tell her when she gets to the top of the stairs.
“Caleb!” She calls out to me as I pull the keys to my Mustang out of my pocket. I see tears glistening in her eyes as she reaches out a hand to me, but I don’t stop retreating from my family and the woman I love.
“Take care of her!” I call back to my mother again as I slide in behind the wheel of my vehicle. I’ve been saving money for over a year to purchase myself a home. I have more than enough money to pay off Big Man, and it will be worth it. Daisy will be free, even if that means she is free of me too.
I shift the Mustang into first gear and peel away from my childhood home with a blank face. Nothing runs through my mind as I drive along, just an incessant buzzing. That must be the sound of my conscious warring with itself, but there’s no turning back now. I’ll have to explain when I get back to Daisy, if she’ll hear me out. Even then, she might not understand.
Half way through my trip an idea begins to form within my mind. If this Big Man was in jail, his gang might forget about the fact that Daisy exists. Perhaps they would be a little afraid to mess with me. I narrow my eyes as I fish my phone out of my pocket and search on Google for the number for the precinct. I pull the Mustang over to the side of the road and turn the engine off. A woman answers.
“I need the Chief of Police. I have some information for him.” This could be risky. If Carl is not actually at the shop, then Big Man’s cronies might kill him anyway. Before I can change my mind and hang up, a man gets on the line.
“Captain Greenfield, to whom am I speaking?” I state my name, and get right down to business. By the time we’re done discussing the plan over the phone, Captain Greenfield wants to see me in person at the station.
I roar my Mustang to life and drive with more purpose than before now. There might be a way to save my relationship with Daisy without losing Carl. It takes me another forty five minutes to make it to the police station, where I pull into the back parking lot and head for the back entrance. I’m not sure if Big Man has eyes here, but if he does I don’t want them seeing me now.
A tall, gangly man meets me at the back entrance. He’s wearing an officer’s uniform and his nametag reads Greenfield. I meet his gray, blue eyes and step inside the building without a greeting. The Captain leads me directly into an office and sits me down in a plush, leather chair. I lean forward in the chair and we meet eyes against as he settles into his own leather chair.
“Caleb Jacobs, it seems you have some valid information for me. We have confirmed that Carl’s tattoo shop is closed today, but it appears that there are three people within. If you’re correct, son, this might get ugly.” I nod in understanding as we begin to hash out a plan. As it develops, my heart feels lighter and heavier at the same time. I feel awful that Carl is in danger, and yet my mind is working better knowing that Daisy is safe at my parent’s home.
At the end of our discussion, Captain Greenfield shakes my hand and he calls in reinforcements. I get into the third love of my life. Daisy is the first, and my motorcycle is my second. The car comes in third. I put the key into the ignition and try to breathe normally as I start the car. My eyes close for an instant and I think about Daisy’s long hair and her pretty, brown eyes. I wish I had been able to tell her that I love her before I left.
My fingers grip the steering wheel as I punch the gas pedal, shifting the Mustang as I drive through town towards Carl’s tattoo shop. The cellphone in my pocket buzzes and Carl’s face comes up on the screen. I slide it and answer it immediately, putting the phone up to my ear.
“Caleb here,” I say in a deadpan voice. Just like before, there’s breathing on the other end of the line.
“I just wanted to make sure that you were coming with the money. I’m growing impatient here, Caleb. Do you not care about your friend as much as I thought? Perhaps I should give you some incentive,” Before I can even answer him, the psychopath hangs up the phone. I throw my own phone across the vehicle and roar as I turn the corner to the tattoo shop. My nostrils are flaring as I step out of the vehicle. I can feel my pulse drumming out a quick tempo on my neck, and my hands are balling into fists again.
I have to go in here with a calm, clean head. If I screw my part up, the police will be escorting two bodies to the morgue. My eyes narrow as I start heading up the steps to the tattoo shop. I don’t glance to my left or right as I get to the door, just as Captain Greenfield instructed. The wire on my chest itches, but I don’t scratch it.
In the back of the shop, I can see silhouettes behind the frosted glass. For an instant, I think actually think about turning around and getting back into my Mustang. But I don’t. Instead, I raise my fist up and rap on the glass of the front door. A man I don’t recognize turns the corner from behind the frosted glass, and I can see the gun on his hip. He narrows his eyes and looks down at a phone. Then he looks up at me with recognition.
“Caleb Jacobs,” the man calls out as he opens up the glass doors. He immediately pats down around my waist for a weapon, and I allow him to. My palms grow sweaty as I wait for him to pat around my chest, to feel the wire. But he does nothing of the sort.
“Get out kid! I’m not worth it!” I hear Carl’s voice and feel a knot inside of me loosen. He’s here!
“You’re worth every penny, Carl!” I shout back at him, waiting for the crony to finish feeling me up. I give him an ‘are you done yet’ look. He grasps the leather jacket I’m wearing and tears the duffle bag out of my hands. Then he marches me to the back of the shop like a disobedient dog.
“Caleb,” I recognize the man that says my name. It’s Big Man, the one and only, the one who was in the ring that night when Daisy made her first attempt at getting my attention. He looks nothing like he did that night in the ring.
I study the slicked back black hair and his pale flesh. He lights a cigarette and puffs on it, studying me too in the silence. The suit he’s wearing looks expensive, I wonder if he’ll get it back if he ever gets out of jail. He might get a pair of jeans and a t-shirt in lieu of the suit. When I finally get down to the black, shiny shoes on his feet my face must be contorted into a sneer. Does he really need this money anyway?
“Twelve thousand dollars,” the man who led me to the back states. Carl snorts from his position on one of the tattooing chairs. There’s blood on his face that must be from his broken nose and his split lip. I feel a sudden surge of disgust and rage build up inside of me, but I don’t make a move to act on it. Carl’s life depends on me toeing the line here.
“You’re a smart man, Caleb Jacobs.” I have to get him to say something incriminating before the police will be able to arrest him on more than one charge. Otherwise, he might get off when he goes to trial.
“Wait, tell me, what would it cost to get another one like Daisy from you? I enjoy her company, a lot.” The last of my good side seems to die within me as I ask the question. I need him to admit that he’s selling people like they’re property to bring him up on trafficking charges.
“For a brunette like her, another ten grand kid.” Carl’s mouth drops op
en as he stares at me. I cannot meet his eyes as I nod my head.
“It’s a deal, another ten grand and I’ll purchase a woman from you that’s like Daisy.” I need him to admit to that exact statement. I don’t want there to be any doubt in the courts as to what he’s selling.
“Yeah, another whore for ten grand.” My lip quirks up slightly at the right corner, and I try to stifle the grin on my face. I want to say ‘gotcha’, but Carl and I are not out of danger yet.
“I’ll have to take you up on the offer later, Big Man. Now cut Carl loose and we’ll call it all even.” He sneers at me, but motions for the second crony near the back door to cut Carl loose. I back out into the front of the building with Carl behind me, waiting for them to pounce on me. Just as I’m opening up the door to freedom, one of the police officers bounds up the steps and raises his gun.
I am so glad that I’m not on the other end of that barrel this time.
“Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air!” He yells, sweat on his brow. I shove Carl down the steps and watch in horror as three more officers crowd into the front waiting room. There’s some loud crashing, and a commotion at the back door. I watch them haul two figures out from the back, and then the anxiety that threatens to take over me dissipates when I see another officer dragging a man out from behind the building.
“Caleb,” Carl starts. I put up my hand to stop his words and lead him over to an ambulance at the end of the street. He climbs inside gratefully, and he tries to get me to go with him.
“I can’t, Carl, Daisy’s at my parent’s.” His eyes go wide and he doesn’t have to even tell me once. I had better get home to her. I can just hear Carl telling me to make sure that nothing has been implanted into her brain, and smile.
I pull the wire out from under my shirt and hand it over to Captain Greenfield. He yells after me that he’s going to need a statement later, and he’s also going to need me to testify in court. I ignore him and get into my Mustang. I have a woman to talk to, one that I cannot live without.
Chapter Fifteen
No one is out on the porch when I pull up to my parent’s house exactly an hour and a half later. I’ve broken over fifteen traffic laws getting back to this woman. I sincerely hope she appreciates that. But the best part is, the money in that duffle bag was not my own. I did not pay a dime to have her by my side, and when I do, I plan to have something very beautiful to put on her finger for the amount.
My cellphone is on the floor of the passenger side of my vehicle, and I don’t see the fourteen missed calls on the screen. Instead, I leave the car door open as I jog up the walkway to the porch steps. Just as I’m about to open up the door, my mother opens it for me. She steps aside out of my way and shouts something at me as I make my way up the stairs to my childhood bedroom. I don’t hear what she says.
When I fling open the door, my heart sinks down into Hell itself. She’s not here. I turn around to find my mother standing in front of me with one of her hands up to stop me.
“Where?” I ask her, gripping her shoulders. I’m not gripping them hard, but I need something to ground me before I start screaming out her name.
“She’s in the back yard with your Dad. They’re trying to put together one of his picnic tables.” As she finishes her sentence, I lean down and kiss my mother on her forehead, and then her cheek. I rest my own against hers and take a moment to calm myself.
“I love you, Mom.” I tell her quietly, and then I take the steps two at a time down to the first level. My footfalls are heavy as I make my way to the back of the house, but I pause at the doorway when I come upon the scene in front of me.
My father is handing Daisy a screwdriver. She’s still wearing my shirt, her hair is still up in a bun, and her jeans are dirty as she kneels down in the grass to put the bolt into the bench of the picnic table. The sun is catching her hair in the perfect way, illuminating is so that it looks like it’s on fire. My sister is on the other side of the bench, screwing in her own bolt. I lean against the doorframe leading to the back porch and cross my arms over my chest.
I don’t want to ruin this. The way she is laughing with them, and the way that they are looking at her screams family. I want so bad to be a part of this family. Daisy chooses that moment to look up at the door, as if she finally senses me there. Her smile falters, and I feel guilty that I’ve put that look of pain on her face. My sister follows her gaze, and as soon as she sees me she leaps to her feet. It’s my sister who reaches me first and flings her arms around my waist.
Daisy stands up slowly. She lets the screwdriver slip from her fingers as she starts to walk towards me. It’s cold enough outside to have goose bumps rising on her arms. I peel my sister off me when Daisy gets close enough.
“We need to talk,” the both of us say at the same time. Neither one of us smile at the fact that we’ve spoken the same sentiment. Jessie grabs onto my arm as I turn to walk into the house. She smiles at me tentatively, and I ruffle her hair before I follow Daisy into the kitchen.
“Do you want to go for a ride?” I ask her, feeling my throat starting to close up.
“No, we can talk here.” There is no emotion in her voice. That frightens more than what happened to me today. I sit down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table and rest my forehead on my fist.
“Daisy, what I did earlier was wrong.” I’m not sure that I believe the words, and apparently she doesn’t. She sits down across from me with a frown on her face.
“What happened, Caleb? Did you give them your life savings, did you buy me?” She sounds upset, hurt, devastated. I let my fingers uncurl and run them through my hair before I look up at her.
“No, Daisy. I didn’t buy you.” I decide to go with being blunt. A sigh of relief parts her lips, and she finally gives me a small smile. But it falters when I don’t return it. “I had him arrested and imprisoned. There’s going to be a trial eventually. I’ll have to testify. But Daisy,” I reach across the table and put my fingers on her chin to raise her gaze to mine. She looks afraid. “If I had to pay that bastard my entire life’s savings to keep you safe, I would have. You’re worth more to me than all the money in the world.” It takes a few seconds, but the tears begin to shimmer in her eyes.
“I’m glad you’re safe, and Carl?” Daisy tries to hide the emotions she’s feeling by asking about my boss instead.
“Carl’s fine, a broken nose and a split lip. It’s not the worst I’ve ever seen him.” I smile at her and let my finger drop away from her chin. “Daisy, if you don’t want to be here, then you can leave anytime you like. I’m not holding you hostage. You’re not my property. In fact, if you think of yourself that way then I’d prefer it if you left.” Her eyes go wide at my words, and I stand up leave. Suddenly I’m angry that she would think I’d pay to keep her as if she were a piece of jewelry or a car.
“Caleb!” The way she says my name has me stopping in the doorway to the back porch. I need some air.
“I love you Daisy.” I stare at my sister helping my father building his picnic table. It will sit underneath the trees that line the property, and this summer my mother will have a large feast on it. She’ll invite the neighbors and our extended family for Memorial Day, and she might even invite me this year. I want Daisy to sit at that picnic table with me, but only if she feels like she is on equal footing with me.
It’s a long time before I hear the scraping of her chair as she stands up. I don’t turn around to look at her. But when her arms encircle my waist and her cheek presses against my back without the helmet on, my shoulders relax. I see my father glance up at us, and then he quickly looks away. But before his face is turned from mine, I can see the smile on it.
“I love you, too, Caleb Jacobs.”
***
It’s been seven months since Big Man was imprisoned. I’ve moved out of my small apartment into an actual house, and Daisy insists upon painting the room deep blue. When I argued with her at the store, she told me she wanted it that way becaus
e it reminded her of my dark blue eyes. How can a guy not look like a jerk when he says to that?
It’s a hot, summer day as we break out the fresh paint and start putting on the primer. When we get to the blue paint, I smear a little across her right cheek, and then some across the left. It ends up being a paint fight that ruins the carpeting in the room, but I don’t care. I hated it anyway. I’ll buy some new hardwood flooring instead.
“Caleb, we’re going to be late for your mother’s dinner!” Daisy reminds me of that just as I’m about to pull her shirt over her head. She giggles as I push her towards the bathroom.
“What, you need a shower!” I tell her as I start to pull off her clothes in that room instead. The shower takes over an hour to take, and we end up being about half an hour later to my mother’s dinner. It’s just as I pictured it.
My old and new neighbors are there, my extended family plays Volleyball off to one side, and the tables are heavy with food. I tense when I see Mr. And Mrs. Needle spooning potato salad onto their plates. Daisy doesn’t recognize them, because she’s never meant them. So she introduces herself to them with a sunny smile in her new dress, and I feel a pang of fear when they turn to look at me standing on my parent’s back porch.
Neither one of them smiles at me, and I quickly turn away from them to find something in the house to busy myself with. As I’m pulling a beer out of the refrigerator, Mrs. Needles comes bustling through the doorway with an empty bowl. She sets it down in the sink without a word to me, and then her eyes begin got shimmer. I feel my throat start to close up as I watch her bottom lip trembling.
“Mrs. Needle,” I don’t need to say anymore. Just the sound of her name coming from my mouth has all the apologies in the world wrapped into it. She shakes her head at me, and to my utter shock she pulls me down to her level into a rough hug. The tiny woman knocks the wind out of me!
Trouble Page 12
