by Aray Brown
Price studied his face.
Maize had a certain look in his eyes: A look of a man who had everything and had it taken away, a man who was still strong and not easily broken.
I miss him. She thought.
Maize didn’t get a lot of visitors, except for his best friend. He hoped that Simeon would visit him but his ex kept him on a short leash.
Price picked up the receiver and managed to get out her first words.
“Hi, how are you?”
“As good as an innocent man can be.”
“I’m sorry for testifying against you.”
“I don’t blame you. It’s not your fault I’m in here.”
“Yes it is.”
“You were just a kid then. You were scared. An experience like that is liable to do that to do.”
“I know who killed her. I remember everything now. He threatened me not to say anything but I can’t keep this inside any longer.”
“Good. Tell the police everything you know.”
He still believes in the system. It’s adorable. There’s some sort of blind ignorance in it. Price smirked, almost chuckled at his proposal.
“The police? What have they done for us? Do you think they care about us?”
“It’s the right thing to do.”
“Keep telling yourself that, maybe you’ll start to believe it.”
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“It would be stupid if I didn’t retaliate. I want him to know what it’s like to lose everything. I want him to suffer.”
“Is it worth going to jail for? It won’t bring her back. What does Isabel have to say about all this?”
“Isabel’s dead.” Price said, retrieved her phone, and shoved it against the glass.
Inside was a recent picture of Isabel. Price captured her suicide beautifully.
Maize was speechless as he eyed every gory detail. He then turned away in disgust.
“Guard.” He called.
The corrections officer came in and escorted him back to the jail cell. Price walked out of the building, she walked with authority and without a care in the world. The change in her was apparent. She couldn’t wait to strike fear in the hearts of her soon to be sufferers; she had waited long enough already. Price got in her car, gave it a little gas, and headed straight for the airport.
Medina set foot in JFK, scoped out the airport, carrying two suitcases marked with clothes and half of her trust fund. Its intended use was for college tuition. Zoe had high hopes for her. Quiet as it’s kept; she didn’t fit the criteria, if Medina was a different person and had a normal childhood things would’ve been different. She used to pretend the universe was playing a cruel joke but the time came when she had to wake up and embrace the chaos around her.
She pre-booked a first class flight to Hawaii, figuring might as well enjoy herself on the way down. Instead of stuck in coach bombarded with people she couldn’t care less about.
26.
Medina glanced out of the window. A small brown envelope occupied her lap, courtesy of Jordyss.
She opened the envelope and extracted four pictures from it.
These weren’t easy to get, but she knew what she was getting into.
“Is this your first time to Hawaii?” A passenger asked.
“Yes.” Medina said, smiling.
“Red suits you.” The passenger said.
“What?” She asked, distracted.
“It’s your hair, not many can pull it off.”
“Uh Thanks.” Medina said, focusing her eyes on the brown packet.
“Are you here on business or pleasure?” The nosy passenger asked.
“A little of both.” Medina said, staring at the pictures.
“Seeing your family?” He asked.
“Something like that. I’m tying up some loose ends.” Medina ended the conversation, looked very closely at the pictures.
They were photographs of the hired gunman, who’s known in Hawaii as Chow, and of his family. His twenty-five year old son named Khi, Chow’s exotic wife, Isis and their bountiful home.
The flight attendant was detected over the loud speaker.
“Ladies and gentleman, the Captain has turned off the Fasten Seatbelt Sign and you may move about the cabin. We recommend keeping your seatbelts fastened. You may now turn on your devices.”
“What would you like to drink?” The stewardess asked.
“Bloody Mary.” Medina said.
“Welcome to Honolulu airport. The local time is 5:30 and the temperature is seventy degrees. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seatbelt sign. This will indicate that we have parked in the gate and it is safe for you to move around.
Please check your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought onboard with you and use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted during the flight. Thank you for flying United. Have a nice day. “
Price locked herself in the lavatory and changed clothes. She looked in the mirror, loosened the ponytail, and removed the scrunchie, freeing her long flowing locks.
The male flight attendant rapped on the door.
“Is somebody in there?” He asked.
Price ignored him, trashed her old clothes in the bin. She then flushed the toilet.
“Miss, is everything alright in there?” He asked, again knocking on the door.
Price reached in her purse and reapplied her lipstick, tracing the curves of her supple lips. She then flushed the lipstick down the toilet. Price walked out of the bathroom
“There’s something wrong with your toilet.” Price said, walking away.
The flight attendant smirked.
All of a sudden the toilet overflowed, causing blue water to spew out in every crevice of the aircraft. Two flight attendants were drenched trying to disengage.
Price left the aircraft.
She noticed a pack of wayward travelers as she exited the airport. A barrage of taxicabs awaited her. She gripped the baggage and hopped in the first one.
“I’m off duty.” The driver didn’t deflect from the newspaper.
“You’ve been reprieved.” Medina planted two hundred in the front seat.
Price checked into the Royal Hawaiian. The owner greeted her as well as a peculiar man in uniform kind enough to take the luggage up to the suite, the Queen Kaahumanu Suite. It had all the amenities she wasn’t accustomed to, which she adorned, Asian screens, Chinese chow tables and Pan- Asian furniture. It had a living/dining area, queen-size bed, richly colored area rugs, HDTV and a breathtaking view overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Not to mention a charm she couldn’t resist.
Price advanced to the window and gawked at the picturesque sight. She was mesmerized.
“Miss? Miss?” The concierge summoned.
“What?” Medina turned around.
“Where should I put your bags?” He asked.
“You can put it anywhere. Thank you. What do you know about the illegal street races?”
Medina gave him a three-hundred dollar tip to help grease the wheels of communication.
“You like to live dangerously?”He asked.
“All the time.” Medina said.
“It’s going down in O’ahu at midnight. I’ll get you the address. Something tells me you can get yourself in. If you need anything else, call the front desk. My name is Kono. Welcome to paradise. Enjoy your stay.” The concierge said, shutting the door.
She hung the Do Not Disturb sign and locked the door. Unzipping the suitcase, Price looked in her bag of tricks to prepare for her chance encounter with Khi, the devil’s spawn.
She knew what she was doing. A good plan is all about strategy. And this required a little finesse.
27.
Price lifted up the sleeve from her faux leather jacket and ogled her watch.
It was thirty minutes past. She strutted to the racetrack and eyed the super cars.
Price moved past the crowd. She couldn’t help overhearing a conversation between two men.
“Double or nothing.” Khi said.
“And what’s in it for me?” a seasoned driver asked.
“What, you don’t like money? You get my car, and the pleasure of me never showing my face in here again. But if I win, I get your rep.” Khi replied.
“No way.” The seasoned driver gritted his teeth showing off his tattoo.
“Scared you’ll lose?” Khi asked.
“Let’s see what you got kid. This should be educational for you. Teach you to stay outta my yard. Princess, come over here and count it off.” He said.
“Not her, you.” Khi searched through the crowd, gestured to Medina.
“Okay kid, I’m feeling generous.” The man said.
Price made her way to the starting line, signaled for them to pull up. They revved up their engines louder and louder and took shots at each other.
Price withdrew a red bandana from her neck as Khi stole a glance.
The crowd was waiting with anticipation. Most of them had bets lined up. They called it a sure thing. Cage knew his way around the racetrack.
Price slowly dropped the bandana. It tumbled to the ground. They were off.
The cars darted passed her.
They were neck and neck, taunting each other all the way. Cage passed him. Khi picked up speed. Most of them said it was no contest. That the man had been racing longer than Khi’s been alive. This was his turf. The strange thing about turf is you never know when it can be taken away from you. She thought.
Cage got along with everyone except Khi. He wrote him off as some fast-talking guy who thought he was better than everybody. They’ve been enemies ever since.
He was so close to the starting line he could taste it. The crowd thought it was over. In a split second, Khi switched gears and left him behind in the dust. A mixture of emotions from the crowd pervaded the air.
Cage pulled up, stormed out of his car, and pushed past the crowd, almost knocking Khi to his feet.
“I won. Pay up. ”Khi said,
Cage counted the money and grabbed the rest of it from his sock.
Khi extracted his hand. Cage held it out, then threw it on the ground.
He hated losing to him and figured it must’ve been rigged.
“That’s mature.” Khi said, bent down to pick it up.
He kicked him in the back.
“You think you can hustle me?! Nobody can beat me! You think you can take my rep?!” He looked disgusted. Two of his men held him up while Cage pulverized him until he looked like mincemeat.
The sound of police sirens emerged. It was deafening.
The sirens were barreling down. One of his men had begun to panic.
“Hear that? We gotta get outta here.”
“Not until I take care of business.” Cage said.
“Later Cage, let’s go. They’re coming for us.” The scrawny man said.
“This fool set us up.” Cage grabbed him by the collar.
“I didn’t. I swear.” Khi said.
They released their grip and hurried to their cars.
“C’mon man.” The scrawny man begged.
Cage followed, leaving Khi on the floor. Bloody and bruised.
Price was hiding in plain sight and spotted the police cars from a distance.
“Let’s go!” Price yelled to no avail.
Khi was still on the ground as the headlights flashed brightly in his face. Price clutched his hand, jerked him up, and dashed off.
28.
They ran down a dark alley, which turned into a narrow street. The police chased them to the end. The cops were puzzled. They patrolled the neighborhood, flashlight in hand while Price and Khi hid in a shrub. She pushed him down as to remain unseen and lied on top of him.
“Don’t move.”Price whispered.
“Shouldn’t you buy me dinner first?” Khi asked.
“Don’t flatter yourself. They’re gone. You’re welcome.” Price said, making sure the coast was clear, and then walked in the opposite direction.
“I could’ve saved myself you know.” Khi yelled.
“Yeah but you didn’t, did you?” Price yelled back.
“I didn’t catch your name.” Khi said.
“And you never will.” Price said.
“How about dinner?” Khi asked.
“I got other plans.” Price lied.
“A drink then? Just one drink, for rescuing me back there and emasculating me at the same time.” Khi replied.
“You did that yaself.” Medina added.
“Just one beer, come on.” Khi pleaded.
Price halted and turned her head. She walked up to him
“Just one drink.”
Khi raised one finger in the air.
“Two Kona Longboard lagers.” The bartender placed the drinks in front of them.
“So what’s your name mystery girl?” Khi said, fiddling with the bottle cap
“Medina.” Price replied.
“Medina. Like the city in Saudi Arabia where Muhammad began his campaign to establish Islam?” Khi asked, swallowing his beer.
Price looked confused.
“The city of the prophet.” Khi finished.
“Something like that.” Price replied.
“I’m--“
“Khi I know.” Price interrupted.
“How do you know?”Khi asked.
“My business is with your father.” Price took a swig of her beer.
“What business?” Khi asked.
He slaughtered my mother and ripped my family apart. Now I want his blood all over me. She thought.
“Tax evasion.” Price took a long pull of the beer.
She was a woman on a mission. It didn’t matter if he was attractive. Nothing mattered except making them pay. It didn’t matter if they knew or not, if they weren’t a part of it or not. Chow started it and Price would finish it. Why should his family be intact while mine fell apart? She thought. Her vengeance grew with every breath and it proved to be deadly.
After what had perceived to be stimulating conversation, Price opted to take him back to the hotel for a nightcap. She extracted two beer bottles from the mini refrigerator and laced one with a sleep induced drug. They talked some more. Khi informed on what a prick his father was. Price filled him in on her pretend life of normalcy. The life she wished for. The life she wished Isabel had. They swallowed the last drop of beer and it was time to make her move. Price straddled him and stuck her tongue down his throat. Khi caressed her brown skin and placed a hand on the small of her back and looked into her eyes. He pulled back. What he saw was something dark and unnatural. Khi saw the whites of her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Price asked.
Again, Khi gawked at her eyes and they had returned to normal.
“Nothing.” Khi replied, shook it off as a figment of his imagination.
“Good.” Price said.
He fondled her hair and kissed her neck. With every touch, he made Price’s skin crawl. The only thing she felt for him was revulsion.
“Khi? Khi?”
The drug had taken effect. He was in a deep sleep, mouth open and eyes closed.
“Finally.” Price uttered.
29.
“Hi.” Khi woke up, looking around.
“Hi yourself.” Price said, tucked hair behind her ear, and tasted his lips.
“What time is it?” Khi asked.
“Ten-thirty.” Price said.
“Did we?” He asked, looking down at his bare chest, her half-open brassiere and G-string panties.
“Fraid so.” Price said, picked up an empty condom wrapper.
“I don’t normally don’t do this sort of thing.”Khi said.
“I noticed. If it helps, you did it very well.” Price flashed a sl
y grin.
Khi pulled her in for a sensual kiss. Even though she hated kissing him, she put up a good front.
“Do you want some breakfast?” Price asked.
“I’m hungry, but not for breakfast.”Khi said.
“Ooh” Price added.
They shared another sensual kiss. Price grabbed his face and devoured his lips. Khi touched her body, was in the process of sliding her underwear off when her cell phone went off. The ringtone was set to the sound of Ellie Driver from “Kill Bill” whistling. It was a haunting tune that fit Price perfectly.
“Hold that thought.” She said, held a finger to his lips.
Price snatched it from the table and went into the other room.
“What do you want?” Price answered, rudely.
“Is that any way to talk to me?” Jordyss replied.
“Sorry. Hi. What do you want?” Price asked.
“Killing them won’t solve anything.” She said.
“You’re losing your touch.” Price smirked.
“I’m warning you. You’re on dangerous ground. I won’t be able to protect you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“They wouldn’t wan--“
“How do you know? You don’t even know them, or me. Love you. Bye.” Price said, noticing Khi walking in wearing that God awful t-shirt like a second skin. Khi wasn’t as macho as the guys she was attracted to. But then that might be a good thing. Medina had a dominant personality. He wasn’t what she expected. He was a mixed breed with Korean and Filipino features, nice looking, somewhat muscular and a good racer.
“Now, where were we?” Price asked, hung up the phone.
“I have to be somewhere, rain check?” He asked.
“Sure.” Price agreed.
“Boyfriend?” Khi asked.
“Father.” Price lied.
“Daddy’s little girl is all grown up but he still manages to check in. That’s cute.” Khi said, smiled.
Price let out a light chuckle, picked up his jacket, and hurled it at his body.
“So are you.” She replied, gave him a goodbye kiss.
“Now get out of here before I tell the cops you’re harassing me.” Price said, playfully, then backed away and walked into the bathroom.
