The Best Possible Angle

by Lloyd Johnson

  Sabathany’s body lay awry on the perfectly made king-size bed when a sharp and grating chirp woke her up. She squinted at the caller ID and saw Tammy Boone calling.

  “Hello?”

  “A couple of detectives came by here looking for you.”

  “What?” Sabathany sat upright on the bed. “What did they want?”

  “They’re investigating the murder of your mother and they had some questions for you. Then they asked if I was picking you up from the airport.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I told them I didn’t know you’d left town.”

  “Good, good. That’s great thinking, Tammy. Thank you.”

  “When does your flight get in tonight?”

  Sabathany closed her eyes to concentrate. “I’m going to stick around Minneapolis for a few more days. But I need you to do me a favor…actually two.”

  Tammy huffed, annoyed at having become more involved than she wanted to be.

  But Sabathany was her best friend, and unlike most of the posers in Los Angeles, Sabathany was actually making something of herself. And if her friend did well, then she stood to benefit from Sabathany’s generosity. In fact, Tammy enjoyed riding Sabathany’s coattails, but she had not expected the ride to include murder. She was beginning to question whether her best friend was all she presented herself to be.

  “Tammy, do you hear me talking to you?” Sabathany’s words yanked Tammy back into the moment.

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “Come on, girl, I need you to do two favors for me,” Sabathany repeated.

  “What do you need?”

  “I’m going to need you to go by Kenny’s house and pick up some things he’s packed up for me because he’ll throw them out if nobody comes for them.”

  “Okay, and what’s the other favor?”

  Sabathany giggled innocently. “How do you feel about going on a little road trip?”

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  Kendrick nor Brenda intended to make love. However, their powerful energy pulled them in that direction. They could only surrender to it. The sex was blissful—void any unnecessary acrobatics. It was simple and honest, comfortable and unpretentious, as though this first time was one of many. That was how well they fit together.

  Brenda relished being made love to by a movie star, and Kendrick delighted in making her feel like his leading lady—the way he imagined Diana Ross responded to Billy Dee Williams.

  There was no need for idle chatter afterward. Rather, they welcomed the quietude. Brenda remained in Kendrick’s embrace. Both stared into the tray ceiling. Neither had any idea what the other was thinking, but they shared the question of what now?

  “I could lay here with you all day,” Kendrick breathed into Brenda’s temple.

  “You can lay here if you want to, but unfortunately I have a meeting to get to.”

  “I dunno, I kind of like the meeting we’ve got going on right here.” He followed those words with a gentle kiss.

  Brenda could bend to his will if she allowed it. Spending this time with Kendrick Black, the man, restored her sense of desirability as a woman. She longed to stay in bed with him and lavish upon him her gratitude for the restoration, but if she did not get up at that moment she would never leave.

  Kendrick watched her jump up from the bed and gather her undergarments.

  “Can I use your shower?” Brenda asked, disappearing into the en suite. She already expected a yes answer.

  Kendrick got out of bed as well. Pausing in the entranceway of the bathroom he asked, “Need any help?”

  His hard, naked physique caused Brenda’s breath to quicken. “No, I think I can handle it on my own.”

  “Are you sure? I’m really good with my hands.”

  “So I’ve noticed. But I won’t be in here too long. I’ll be in and out.”

  “Aw, come on.”

  “Mr. Black, if I let you in this shower with me, we’re gonna wind up back in that bed, and I’ll miss my meeting.”

  “Well, we can’t have that happen.”

  The doorbell interrupted them before Kendrick’s words changed Brenda’s mind. He tossed Brenda a wink before crossing the room to the walk-in to grab a white robe. After making sure it was securely hiding his personal business, he answered the front door. He was surprised to find Sabathany’s plain looking friend Tammy standing there.

  “Hi there.” Kendrick offered a mildly confused grin.

  “Hello! Sabathany asked me to stop by and pick up some things you packed for her.”

  “Sure, give me just a minute. Why don’t you come on in and wait in the kitchen?”

  “Thank you.” Tammy entered. “I never had the chance to tell you the last time I was here, but you have a really pretty house.”

  “Thanks. So, you must’ve just talked to Sabathany.”

  Tammy smiled. “I had no idea she’d left L.A.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, she called me to say she was going to be in Minnesota a little longer than she’d planned.”

  Kendrick’s eyebrows raised. “Did she tell you the reason she’s staying on longer?”

  “No, why?” Her tone was defensive.

  A few more minutes and her defensiveness would turn into an inferno of hostility, Kendrick guessed. He eased back a bit, and changed direction. He fixed his eyes into her, deciding to disarm her with his best Kendrick Black charm.

  “You know, I can see why Sabathany is so jealous of you. You’re way prettier than she is.” Kendrick moved in for a seemingly closer inspection.

  Tammy frowned. “She said that?”

  “She laughed about it.”

  “That bitch!”

  Kendrick casually licked his lips. “And I have a feeling that I owe you an apology. I wasn’t very nice to you the first time we met. But if you’ll let me, I can explain what that was all about.” He happily refocused Tammy’s anger. As far as he was concerned, Sabathany had this coming. “First of all, I couldn’t act like I was too happy to meet you because then I’d have to hear her mouth. I’m sure you can imagine what that’s like. And also, I was a little pissed off about some things she’d already done up to that point. But what really made me mad was that she’d managed to pull yet another poor, unsuspecting person into her lies.”

  Tammy crossed her arms, tempted to leave Sabathany’s precious labels to be thrown in the garbage. “Oh yeah? What else did she say?”

  “Just that she thinks you’re stupid and that getting you to do things is as easy as shooting fish into a barrel.”

  “She can go straight to hell. Forget I even came by to pick up her crap.”

  “I think you’re finally seeing her for what she is.”

  Tammy’s head dropped feebly. “I guess so.”

  Kendrick put a supportive arm around Tammy. His eyes, once smoldering and seductive, chilled to a compassionate friendliness; his embrace was meant to take Tammy back to that first day when she first laid star-struck eyes on him. But he still sensed her hesitation, as though whatever remaining loyalty she had to Sabathany implored her to remain true. His hand fell to the mid-section of her back, just to put Tammy more at ease with the betrayal he intended for her to commit.

  “Did she tell you when she was coming back to L.A?” He was certain he had Tammy on his side.

  She nodded.

  “When?”

  “She has no intention of coming back to L.A.”

  Kendrick faced her, once again cranking up the seduction in his gaze. He placed both hands on her shoulders, hoping to lock in his effect on her. “She’s going to be sorry for ever thinking she could play you. Where is she going?”

  Tammy’s shoulders straighten under his touch. A sudden anger flashed in her eyes. “I was supposed to rent a car and drive to Minneapolis to pick her up. Then, I would take her to LaJolla.”

  “She wants to go to San Diego?”

  Tammy nodded again.

  “Is she paying you?”

  “Five thousand,
but she can forget that now.”

  “No, no. I say you give Sabathany what she’s asking for, except I’ll pay you twenty thousand to let me know when the two of you get to San Diego.”

  “You’re going to surprise her by showing up?”

  Kendrick nonchalantly brushed his hand against her cheek. “Oh, she’s definitely in for a surprise. Do we have a deal?”

  Tammy was mesmerized again, despite knowing what he was doing at the beginning and fighting against being drawn in by him. But there in a kitchen, she stood in Kendrick Black’s super nova-like star power. She could not say no.

  When her lips parted to say yes, a full-figured woman appeared in her peripheral view. The woman came from the rear of the house, adjusting her green and white printed wrap dress. The only blemish on her otherwise pretty face was embarrassment. By contrast, a frown wound its way back to Tammy’s face. She stepped away from Kendrick’s grasp, breaking his spell on her.

  “I didn’t realize you already had company,” Tammy said, still looking at the woman.

  “Brenda is my agent. She just stopped by for a sec, right, Brenda?”

  Brenda managed to keep the disappointment from showing on her face. Was she supposed to be another one of Kendrick’s best-kept secrets? Swallowing what felt like her pride, she stopped fidgeting with her dress and forced a thin smile. “Yes, that’s right. Thanks again for letting me use your bathroom.”

  Tammy rolled her eyes. “The bathroom…right.”

  After an uncomfortable moment, Kendrick spoke up. “I guess I’ll go get Sabathany’s things.” He left the two women alone, hoping they would be on their best behavior in his absence.

  “His agent?” Tammy asked with disbelief.

  “Yeah, his agent,” Brenda replied sharply, but kept smiling to soften the tone.

  “You ought to tell your client that if he expects the ole leading man seduction routine to work, it helps if the woman he just got done smashing doesn’t come out of the bedroom.”

  “I don’t really see how that is any of your business.”

  “Oh, honey, he made it my business by offering me money to double-cross my friend.” Tammy looked sad. “Former friend.”

  It took Kendrick six trips to the bedroom to bring out all of Sabathany’s clothes, shoes, perfumes and cosmetics. By the sixth time, Kendrick had changed into a pair of sweat pants, a navy wife-beater and flip-flops. Between the three of them, they filled up Tammy’s rented SUV.

  Brenda went back into the house, desperate to talk to Kendrick about something. Kendrick wrote down his cell number.

  “Look, I don’t know how much you know, but Sabathany is dangerous. And I don’t think you want to be anywhere near her when things start catching up with her.” He handed Tammy the piece of paper, but did not let it go. “Like I said before, twenty grand, and all you have to do is let me know when you’ve made it to San Diego and the exact location.” He finally released the paper when the distrust thawed from Tammy’s face. He remained hopeful that she would take him up on his offer.

  “You ain’t gonna try and kill her, are you?”

  “Hell no, I’m not going to try and kill her.”

  “So, you’ll make sure I’m long gone before you do whatever it is you’re gonna do?” Tammy asked, folding the already small paper into a smaller half, then tucking it into a compartment of her purse.

  “You have nothing to worry about.”

  Satisfied with his answer, Tammy got into the vehicle and started the ignition. Kendrick ran around to the passenger window and knocked on it. He watched it glide down. “So, do we have a deal?”

  Tammy’s once dead eyes now twinkled. “We’ll be in touch.”

  When Kendrick went back inside his house, Brenda awaited him with folded arms, tapping her high heel against the floor.

  “Your agent? That’s all I am to you?”

  “Don’t be silly, you’re more than that.”

  “Oh, my bad. I’m an agent who’ll give out her pussy when you ask for it, right?”

  “I think I made a mistake telling Sabathany that I knew about her mom. That’s’ why she isn’t coming back to L.A. I was trying to convince her friend to help lure her to me.”

  “And you thought flirting with her would get her to do it?”

  “It helps.”

  “And if it came down to it, were you prepared to sleep with her to sweeten the deal?”

  “I was playing her, and doing a good job of it until you came out of the bedroom. Thanks a lot.”

  “So, now it’s my fault? Or were you just embarrassed that your ole fatty-fat side piece came out the room and killed the perception that you only sleep with skinny girls?”

  “Is this what being with you is going to be like?” Kendrick huffed.

  “See that? You’re already looking for a way out!”

  “No, I’m thinking that you’re too old to be this insecure. Look, Brenda, I like you a lot…as you are. But if you’re going to be one of those people who expects me to boost your busted self-esteem every chance I get, then you’re going to be disappointed. Now, I’m not saying there’s anything physically wrong with you, but you clearly have issues with how you look. If you don’t like it, then change it. It’s as simple as that.”

  “I’m going to be late for my meeting.”

  Kendrick forced an embrace that left her stiff in his arms. He remained quiet during the escort to Brenda’s car. He hoped their parting kiss would say the things that words could not.

  TWENTY-NINE

  Tammy Boone exited Interstate 105 on to Crenshaw Boulevard when she called Sabathany.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, girl. I’m on my way home from getting your stuff.”

  “Really? And what condition is it in? I bet he threw it all in a couple of trash bags,”

  “No, actually, I was impressed. Looked like they put everything nicely into your luggage. Now, all of your makeup, perfume and shoes they put in some plastic grocery bags.”

  “Great, my Louboutins are most likely all bent out of shape. Wait a minute…you said ‘they.’”

  “Oh, yeah,” Tammy laughed. “He had some thick chick over there. My guess is she was helping him and he humped her as a thank you. Told me the lady was his agent.”

  “Ah, so Kenny’s humping his agent now? How original. How did they treat you?”

  “He was decent. She acted like I was cutting in on her action, though.”

  Sabathany giggled.

  “Okay, here’s the deal. I’m going to leave L.A. the day after Thanksgiving. If I keep it moving and don’t stop too much, I should be in Minnesota in a few days.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “When will I get my money?”

  “Didn’t I tell you that I got you? We’re best friends, remember?”

  “That’s all fine and good, but with me taking off work to come get you, I’m going to need to make that money up somehow. I need to know that you’re going to have it for me like you say you are.”

  “I would never screw you over like that.”

  Tammy pondered for a moment. “Okay, as long as we’re on the same page.”

  “We are. Now, I’ve got something I need to take care of, so I’ll see you when you get here, okay?”

  “Okay. See you in a few days.”

  Sabathany was about to hang up but said, “Look, I know I can be a bit much to deal with sometimes, but I do appreciate everything you’re doing. You know that, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. So, don’t take any of this personally, okay? I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “We’re good. See you in a few days.”

  Sabathany hung up the phone, satisfied she managed to allay Tammy’s worry. And Tammy was more than happy to let Sabathany have that impression.

  THIRTY

  November 28, 2013

  Thanksgiving Day,

  Lenox woke up to suicidal thoughts. The day would be difficult to get through without
Ashley and the kids. On a day meant for giving thanks, there was little to be thankful for.

  Lenox looked soggy from the all-night whiskey guzzling. He sat at the window, watching the world callously continue as snow quilted the ground.

  Sabathany noticed, but chose to leave him alone. She had things to do, plans worth looking forward to, as long as Tammy kept up her end of the deal.

  Sabathany googled the travel time from Los Angeles to Minneapolis. Knowing Tammy as she did, and factoring in the number of predicted stops she would make, it would take her a day and a half to two days to make the drive. It gave Tammy a buffer, and Sabathany plenty of time to get things set up.

  Later, Sabathany changed into a black cashmere sweater, black pants, and a winter white coat with an exaggerated, floppy lapel.

  “I really wish you’d get cleaned up and come with me to Kenny’s family’s house,” she said, closing the clasp of her coat.

  Lenox refused to look at her. “You know good and well he don’t want us over there.”

  “Yeah, but he’s in L.A. Not much he can do from there, is there?”

  “Why do you wanna go and make things worse between you two?” Lenox shifted just enough to raise the whiskey to his lips.

  “It’s Thanksgiving and I’m hungry. Besides, his mama won’t turn me away.” Sabathany shook her head. “You’re gonna just sit here all day and kill your liver?”

  Sweat-faced, Lenox squinted his eyes to better focus. “My choice if I do.”

  “Have it your way. Will you at least write down the address, please?”

  Lenox scribbled the address onto a piece of paper, handed it to her, and settled back into his gloom. “And don’t think we’re done talking about what you were really doing over at Paris’s,” he said just as the penthouse elevator doors closed behind Sabathany.

  A young Latino doorman Sabathany had never seen before was startled when she emerged from the building. Embarrassed, he quickly extinguished his cigarette.

  “Oh, you didn’t have to put that out on my account.”

  “It’s all right. Anything I can do for you, Miss?”

  “I don’t suppose you could get me a cab, could you?” Sabathany asked with a dash of helplessness.