The Sun Rose over Cairo

by Dana Littlejohn

  “I want to talk about us, about our marriage.”

  Pamela looked up from her pad and Kimberly shooed her out. She waited for her to close the door before responding to him.

  “Rick, how many times have I told you not to call me at work? I don’t need my business spread around here.”

  “I tried your phone, but it went straight to voice mail.”

  “That’s because I’m at work.”

  “Kim we need to talk.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about, Rick. We’re divorced. It’s over. I’m not giving the rings back so you’re just going to have to take me to court.”

  “I can’t believe you’re making me do this. Why can’t you--”

  She picked up the receiver. “Enough. Rick! Don’t call here again. Anything you have to say you can call my lawyer or say it in court!” She slammed down the receiver and picked her pad. The phone rang again and she snatched it out the cradle.

  “Rick! What did I just say? If you make me--”

  “Whoa! Whoa! Time out! This isn’t Rick.”

  She relaxed and her anger began to cool. “Who is this?”

  “It’s Tommy.”

  “Tommy?” Her anger returned with her memory. “Tommy, are you crazy? Why are you calling my office? I told you never to call here. You’re supposed to call my cell phone only.”

  “I did, it went straight to voice mail.”

  “What does that mean? You’re above leaving messages?”

  “We have to meet again. I need to talk to you.”

  She let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. Call me later and we’ll meet, alright?”

  “No, no, it’s not alright. I need to talk to you now. Something terrible has happened and I’m really freaking out, ok? I need to talk to you.”

  “Calm down, Tommy,” she said in a soothing manner, swallowing her anger. “Surely you know I’m the best lawyer in town, nothing has happened that I can’t help you with.”

  “Yes, I know, but I really want to see you.”

  “Fine, but I’ll come to you.”

  “Will you come to my house now?”

  She sighed. “Yes, yes, I’ll come now. I’ll see you soon.” She hung up. “Shit! This is all I need right now.” She pressed the speaker button on her phone. “Pamela!”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Reschedule all my appointments before 11:30. Something has come up and I have to go out.”

  “But you have--”

  “Just do it!”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Kimberley grabbed her purse and headed out the door.

  ***

  Tommy, a tall, slender young man was pacing the floors of his condo nervously. He ran to the door when he heard the knocking and snatched it open.

  “Oh, thank goodness. I didn’t think you would come. Thank you for coming.” He followed her closely as she walked to the couch.

  “Nonsense, Tommy, I said I was coming. What’s the problem?” she asked patiently.

  “I’m so upset, Ms. Davies. I just found out that my Honey Bear is dead.” He wiped his eyes with an already used tissue. “Did you hear? I still can’t believe it.” He leaned on her shoulder, but she scooted away from him.

  “Yes, I heard about that. Tragic.”

  “That witch wife of his must have come last night after I left and done it. He was so upset about those pictures she had. He wouldn’t even let me give him head to distress him. He always wanted me to give him head when he was stressed out,” he said wistfully and blew his nose. “He said he couldn’t leave her now, not with such a scandal unfolding.”

  She nodded. “Mmm…”

  “He wasn’t happy with her, you know. He hadn’t been happy for years. But I made him happy,” he said with a smile then his smile faded. “I made him happy,” he cried. “She just couldn’t stand for him to see him have a shred of happiness inside him.”

  “Yes. Did anyone see you when you went to see him last night?”

  He shook his head. “No, no one saw me.” He wiped his eyes again. “I was very careful. The maintenance men were just leaving when I used my key to get in.”

  “Did he show you the pictures?”

  “Yes, I saw them. They weren’t very discrete either, honey, let me tell you. Those pictures put all our business on the street. They must have had a really good camera because in some of those pictures it looked like they were right in the room with us.”

  “Was that all he had? Pictures of you and he in bed?”

  “No, there were a few of us at the office, too. Sometimes I would meet him at his office when he knew he’d be working late and he was stressed.” He chuckled sadly. “But you know that already.”

  “Yes, well, I think you’ll be ok.” She stood and grabbed her purse. “Maybe you should stay home and lay low for a few days, just in case. I don’t think anyone can link you to Mr. Townsend, but let’s air on the side of caution.” She walked to the door.

  “Thank you for coming, Ms. Davies. I feel so much better having talked to you.” he wiped his eyes again following her. “I’m sorry I acted like a little bitch and called you away from work.”

  “Yes, well, I’ll call you in a few days, Tommy, ok?” She pulled the door closed behind before he could respond and whipped out her one as she left the building.

  “Hello. Yes, this is Kimberly Davies. I’m calling in a favor.”

  Chapter 6

  Another week had come and gone during which the newness of Matthew Townsend’s death had wore off.

  “So how’s everything at the office since you guys found Mr. Townsend? Has there been any word on who’s going to replace the old man or will they just keep the two old men that are left?” Lavita asked munching her nachos.

  “Nothing official. The funeral is tomorrow, I think they might be holding back on making an official comment until after that.”

  “Tomorrow? Are you going?”

  “Well, yeah, he was my boss. I’ll have to go to pay my respects, at the very least.”

  Pumpkin shook her head. “Mmm, mm, mm, old man Townsend…on the down low.”

  “So, Cairo, will you meet up with us at the walk when the funeral is over?” Lavita asked.

  She took one of her nachos. “What walk?”

  Her friends looked around to one another shaking their heads.

  “You know she never remembers anything, Lavita,” Frieda said.

  “Cairo, check your book, honey. We told Keisha to put it on your calendar just in case this conversation came up,” Lavita said.

  “Yes, Cairo, remember I said we were going to do some more things with Lavita’s hospital people so we can meet the cute doctors and nurses? The fund raiser walk is this weekend for the heart wing. We’re Team-Walk-A-Lot.” Pumpkin added excitedly.

  She nodded as she finished her drink. “Oh, yes, I remember now. I remember how stupid that name is. Was that your doing, Lavita? We sound like a lazy Care Bear or something.”

  She chuckled. “That’s what you said when we first told you the name.”

  “Are we meeting for breakfast before the walk?”

  “Frieda, we’re eating lunch and you’re already talking about what we’re having for breakfast?”

  “Look, Pumpkin, I know you’re not shocked. You know I’m always in motion to set up my next meal. We all don’t have job security by doing the boss every now and then.”

  She chuckled. “Whatever. He’s just on stand by. It’s not like he has a definite day of the week. Besides we all can’t be wealthy, schisty type lawyers, you know.”

  Frieda and Cairo looked at each other and Lavita laughed.

  “What does that mean?” Frieda asked shocked.

  “Present company excluded, of course,” she added with a smile.

  Cairo raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh, of course.”

  Lavita finished her drink and stood. “I have to go. I told Jose I’d be back early so I can give him his shirt before he left for the day.”

&
nbsp; “What shirt?” Cairo asked and took a piece of Frieda’s enchilada.

  “The team shirt, Cairo, do try to keep up.”

  “I’ve been busy, you know,” she said defensively.

  “Uh-huh, well, you guys come over tonight and pick yours up.”

  “Oh, yeah, he did mention something about that.”

  “Yup, we needed at least five and he said he’s our fifth person. I heard you guys have been spending a lot of time together.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t say a lot, but, yeah, we’ve been hanging out. He’s sweet…for a friend.”

  “Just a friend, huh?”

  She continued eating and watching her over her glasses. “Yes, Lavita, we’re friends.”

  “Uh-huh, whatever. See you guys tonight.”

  She took a taco off of Pumpkin’s plate. “It’s still a stupid name.”

  Pumpkin chuckled and pushed her plate closer to Cairo. “You know you like him, Cairo. Why not just say you‘re dating?

  “Because we‘re friends, we‘re not dating.”

  Frieda shook her head. “Denial.”

  “Shut up.”

  Pumpkin chuckled. “Yup, denial.”

  “Why do ya‘ll want me to date this man so bad?”

  “He‘s good guy, Cairo. Good ones don‘t come along that often. You’re supposed to jump on them when they do.”

  “We‘re friends,” she repeated trying to convinced them.

  “Really? Well, Lavita said you got all hot and bothered when he took you Salsa dancing.”

  Cairo looked up from Pumpkin’s plate with her mouth too full to talk and they both laughed.

  “Can’t you pay your respects at the wake so you can come to the walk with us? We should do this as a team and all walk together.”

  “Yeah, I guess I could do that. The wake is tonight; I can go right after work then pop over Lavita’s for my shirt.”

  “Great, so what time should we meet over Lavita’s house tonight? You know if we go early enough we can catch her making dinner and she’ll feed us.”

  Pumpkin and Cairo looked at each other and burst into fits of laughter.

  “What?”

  They continued laughing as they gathered their things and led the way out of Acapulco Joe’s.

  ***

  At the end of her day Cairo headed to Flanner and Buchanan on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

  to pay her last respects to her boss. Upon arrival she signed her name in the book and two names above her own was one she recognized.

  “It’s wonderful to see you again, Ms. Ivory. It‘s a shame it‘s under these grave circumstances,” a soft husky voice said from behind her.

  She smiled and turned around. “It’s nice to see you again, too, Detective Campbell.” She looked around. “Where is your partner?”

  “He’s following another lead and has left me to handle this part alone. I’m glad of that now, but I have to remember that I’m still on duty and I must wait until the case is over before I can pursue any other business.” He gave her a knowing look. “You understand, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “I do.”

  He smiled and offered his arm. “Good. Shall we?” He walked her inside and they stood along the back wall giving him the chance to scan the crowd. “Not a bad turn out for a wake. Usually people just come and go at these things. It’s packed in here like he was famous or something.”

  “Mr. Townsend knew a lot of people. He was on lots of committees and did a lot of charity work, too.”

  “Do you recognize anyone here?”

  She looked around. “Yes, a few. Mr. Billings, the old guy with the monopoly mustache. He retired from the firm last year.”

  He pulled out his pen and pad jotting down notes. “Anyone else?”

  “The two young men behind him...”

  He nodded. “Who are they?”

  “They work at the firm one floor underneath us.” She walked to a bench in the middle of the room. “I can’t stay long detective Campbell, I have plans this evening with some friends.”

  “I understand. We can speed this up so you can pay your respects and be on your way.” He scanned the crowd again. A young man entered the room wearing a dark hooded jacket with the hood up. He stopped in the middle of the room taking deep breaths before moving forward to the casket.

  “Who’s that?”

  “Who?”

  “The young man standing at the casket.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know him. He might be a friend of one of Mr. Townsend’s sons. He looks about their age.”

  He watched the young man intently as he removed his shades to wipe his eyes. “He looks very upset.”

  “Mr. Townsend was a mentor through several organizations. He was like a father to lots of young men.”

  “Yes, I’m sure.” He pulled out his cell phone. “Which ones are Townsend’s sons?”

  “The two young men in the front row are his sons.”

  Detective Campbell watched the young man as he attempted to pull himself together. He wiped his face and turned to leave without even a glance in the direction of the Townsend boys and passed them again before putting his shades back on.

  “Hmm, he didn’t say a word,” he mumbled.

  “What?”

  He jumped to his feet as the young man walked out the room. “Thank you Ms. Ivory. You’ve been helpful, I’ll be in touch,” he said hurriedly and rushed out the door.

  Cairo watched the detective all but run out the door and shrugged. She took a deep breath herself and headed for the casket.

  ***

  Tommy left the funeral home and headed back to his condo.

  “This is nice,” a deep accented voice said from behind him.

  Tommy turned putting his key back in his pocket and pulled out his pocket mace. “Who’s that? Show yourself. I don’t have time for bull shit.”

  The man stepped from around the corner into the light.

  “Paco, is that you? Did you follow me? Are you fucking crazy? I almost maced you.”

  “Relax, Tommy. I saw you at the funeral thing, man. I wanted to make sure you were ok. You wouldn’t let me know where you lived so I followed you.”

  “What do you want, Paco?”

  “I told you, man, I just wanted to make sure you were ok. Can I come in?”

  He tapped his foot considering. “Ok, Paco, but don’t start no shit. I’m in mourning, you know.”

  Paco smiled and followed him in. Tommy threw his keys on the table and went to the kitchen grabbing two beers. Handing one to Paco he sat opposite him on the couch.

  “Paco, what do you really want?”

  “Look, Tommy, I know it’s over between us, but I still don’t want to see anything happen to you, man.”

  “Happen to me? What are you talking about?” He took a sip from his bottle.

  “Well, it’s about your old man.”

  “What? What about him,” he asked sitting up.

  “Well the night he was killed I was working. Me and Roberto was cleaning the offices.”

  “The police said when the maintenance people left he was still alive.”

  “Yes, that’s what we told them and that’s true…kinda.” He gulped at his beer.

  “Paco, don’t make me bitch slap you. Spit it out! What the hell are you talking about?” He yelled.

  “You don’t have to talk to me like that, Tommy.” He took another drink from his bottle and put it on the coffee table.

  “Hey! You really are about to be bitch slapped. Use a damn coaster!”

  “Look, here’s the deal. I left one of the carts in the room we were cleaning at went back to lock it up in the utility room. You remember that room, don’t you?”

  “It’s over, Paco, move on with the story or get the hell out.”

  “Damn, you didn’t used to be this mean. Anyway, I go back to the room, I get the stuff and I try to sneak back out because I don’t want disturb the boss and that’s when I hear the arguing.”
r />   “Arguing? Who was arguing?”

  “I didn’t see nobody, but I know it was your old man and a woman.”

  He sat up again and put his bottle in a coaster next to Paco’s. “A woman? What did she look like?”

  “I told you, man, I didn’t see her, I just heard her. I didn’t want to get closer and take a chance at being seen. I wasn’t supposed to be there. She was cussing his ass out about something and that’s when I heard your name and started listening.”

  “What did you hear? Was it an old woman‘s voice?”

  “I told you I didn’t get close enough to make out a lot of stuff. She didn’t sound old. Anyway, I heard your name then she started laughing and it must have pissed the old man off because he started yelling at her. At first she was doing most of the yelling. He called her crazy and then they both were yelling and I really couldn’t catch anything. Then they stopped. Everything got quiet. Dead silence, man. That’s when I got ghost. I got my ass up out of there.”

  “That bitch! She really did kill him.”

  “I don’t know who she was, but she was running up out of there right behind me. I could hear her heels on the steps gaining on me, man and I was moving. It was creepy, man, like right out of the movies.”

  Tommy sat back in thought.

  “Tommy, man, I was thinking, you know since your old man is gone and everything, maybe me and you could--”

  He rubbed his temples. “No, Paco, it’s over.” He pulled him from the couch. “Thanks for the info, Paco. Sorry you can’t stay, sorry to see you go. Bye,” he said pushing him to the door.

  “Ok, ok, but for real, Tommy. I really am sorry for your loss, man. I know you were really into the old man.”

  Tommy hand went to his chest. “Oh, thank you, Paco. That’s sweet,” he said holding the door open.

  He smiled. “Yeah, so since I’m being sweet and all why not let me back in so I can comfort you.”

  Tommy slammed the door and went back to the couch. “That bitch! She’s going to pay for what she’s done.” He snatched up the beer bottles and threw them away then snatched the phone off the wall in the kitchen. “Hello, Ms. Davies, it’s Tommy. We need to talk, I need your help.” He paused. “Yes, I can meet you now. Are you com--” He paused again. “Oh, ok. Sure, I can meet you there. Half an hour? I’ll be there.”