The Fourth of July

by Erica Hale

  I turned the flash drive around in my hands. “What’s on it?”

  “Justice.”

  Chapter 8

  “I’m not sure about this. I mean, do you really think this is going to work? There are probably a million things that can go wrong. I’m thinking that maybe we should do this another time, what do you think?”

  I wanted to laugh at my son’s anxiety. He was doing that hop from one foot to another thing that he did. He was gnawing a hole in his bottom lip. Anthony ran a hand through his blonde hair and half smiled at me. “Everything is going to be fine. I promise.”

  “But what if...”

  “What if what? What if she doesn’t like you? She is going to love you just like every person in the world that meets you.”

  Anthony and I had only been back in Washington for a month before I took it upon myself to call his mom. I thought it was about time that the two of them met.

  “Mom, I think that she might not be coming.”

  I looked at the wall clock. “Boy, if you don’t take a seat. It’s only one and she said that she would be here at one thirty. You need to calm down. Go brush your teeth again or something. You are starting to get on my nerves, now go.” Honestly, he was making me nervous with the clock watching, question asking and pacing. “How about you go up to your room and I will call you when she comes.”

  Anthony just stood there, twisting his lips from side to side. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us? I mean, Applebee’s has enough chairs for all of us.”

  He put his hands in his pockets then took them out to wring them.

  I knew he was on level ten with the situation and me being there would probably help. “Like I told you, no. You and your mom need to play catch up and I don’t need to be there.”

  “But, you’re my mom,” he said under his breath.

  I pushed myself off the couch and wrapped my arms around him. “You will always be my son. But the woman that gave birth to you would love to get to know you, too.” Truth was the burden of the lie was killing me. If those hicks did anything right, they yanked that cat out of the bag. “Right now, she has probably put on a million outfits looking at herself in the mirror.” I took my son’s hand and lead him to the couch. “Ant, she is probably a nervous wreck right now. Thinking of things to say to you, she is going to ask you so many questions there won’t be any sort of lull in the conversation.”

  He put his head down and pulled at this thumb. “I just don’t want this to be awkward, you know?”

  “As much as the both of you run your mouths, it won’t be. Just give her a chance, don’t beat her up about anything in the past. We’ve all done some stupid things in our past. You haven’t lived long enough to have a bag full, but one day, you will. So be gentle with her. Listen to her and show some compassion.”

  “I will, just like you taught me.” He smiled and stood. “Do I look too formal? I mean we are just meeting up for lunch,” he said, looking down at his pressed black slacks and tie.

  “You look like you’re running for mayor.”

  “Mom, for real. Should I change?”

  “No, I think you look nice. Hell, I’d vote for you.” I giggled.

  “Dang, I look that bad, huh?” he teased, yanking at his tie and going up the stairs.

  “Go make lunch great again.”

  I couldn’t quite hear what he mumbled, but I knew it was something to the effect that he didn’t appreciate my comments.

  Sitting back on my couch, I started to plan out my day. Anthony would be gone for a few hours. The internal battle began to rage, go catch some super hero flick at the multiplex or take a nap. My options volleyed back in forth in my head, then my cell phone rang.

  I smirked at the caller ID.

  “Are you calling me to tell me how much you love me or are you calling to ask would I rather take a cruise now or later on in the year, all expenses paid?” I asked.

  “When I say no one, I mean no one is thinking about you.” Erron laughed. “But I have to admit the new information that you gave the prosecution is putting me on the ropes.”

  What my dear friend meant was the flash drive that Leland gave me had enough evidence to put Clay in a cell for a long time. Besides running a meth lab out in the sticks and making trips up and down the west coast distributing the poison, Clay had bragged about the killing to Ernest Senior on a recorded line. Clay had funneled receipts to Planters of so much illegal activity, indictments were falling from the sky. From the shady trucking company that he worked for all the way down to the Planters Police Department.

  “I’ve never heard a lawyer that was so happy at the thought of losing a case. I’ve always knew you were slow, but this has put you at a standstill.” I laughed.

  “Lauren, you have to tell me how did you get the information so fast? One second, you are planted there to get info, the next, you are here to seal up this case with a bow.” He dropped his voice. “Tell me how you did it?”

  “I’m a reporter and I will never give up my sources,” I pointed. “Besides, what you and I did was unethical. If anyone found out, I could cost you your career. So, that secret will forever be safe with me.”

  Erron huffed over the phone. “Well, be all secretive if you want to. All I can say is thank you, Lauren.” From the long pause in the conversation, I knew he was about to get serious. “I was this close to quitting. Thought about hanging the job up. Hell, I’m a damn good lawyer, but using it to get the piece of trash out of jail wasn’t what I signed up for. It was just the knowing that I had a hand in putting a monster like Clay back on the streets. I couldn’t live with myself.”

  “Again, if a cruise is too much for you, I do take cashier’s checks. Credit or debit cards or good old cash. Whatever suits you.”

  “You know, if I didn’t love you so much, I would hate you.”

  I put my hand on my chest. “Well, Mr. Erron, I am flattered. I thought the only thing that you loved were your Marc Jacob suits and Gucci shoes,” I said with a southern belle accent. “Confessing your undying love for little old me.” I gasped. “I think I just might burst with excitement.”

  “I take it back; I do hate you.”

  Before I could go full blown Blanche Dervereux, there was a knock at my door.

  “Hold on.”

  Then the thunder of footsteps followed.

  “Is it her?” Anthony asked, colliding into me at the front door.

  “I don’t know. I’m on the other side of the door with you. Now go and get the flowers for her.”

  I shooed him away and opened the door.

  There was a part of me that wanted to tell Erron that I would call him back, but I told him, “Hey I have a surprise for you.”

  I put the cell phone to my chest as I opened the door.

  “Madison,” I said.

  My best friend from school, the woman that had dropped her newborn baby off with me to care for, and the woman that I hadn’t seen in years looked exactly the same. Long blonde hair held high in a messy ponytail. Blue eyes that made oceans recede in jealousy.

  “Look at you.”

  She pulled at the corner of her blouse. “Lolo,” She fell into my arms and at five nine frame hung on me. “I miss you.”

  Before I knew it, the both of us were standing in my doorway crying. “You look so good,” which she did.

  She took me by my shoulders and pushed me back to look at me. “No, you are the one. I didn’t think anyone could look better. But by God you did it, girl.”

  Muffled noise came from my chest.

  “Shit, I almost forgot. Someone wants to talk to you.”

  I gave her the phone.

  “Hello?” Madison answered, clearly confused. She listened for a second and busted out laughing. “Erron. Fool, stop calling me that. You know I don’t look anything like Christina Aguilera.” More tears started to fall while she was talking to Erron. “Yes, I know.” She paused to listen. “Yeah, I’ve been in Arizona. I have an art studio o
ut there. I would love for all of you to come down there.” She listened and waited. “I’ll be here for a week, I just got in this morning. And yes, we all need to hang out.” Madison sniffed and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “I miss you too.” She huffed and rolled her eyes. “I love you to, E. I’ll have Lolo make the arrangements. I promise we are going to hang out. Love you, big stupid.”

  Hanging up the phone and handing it over to me, I said, “Just tell me when you leave and I will set up something.”

  “No problem.” Madison didn’t have to try hard to look over my head. He stood at almost five ten. “Where is he?” she whispered.

  No more than a beat later, Anthony came around the corner with a boutique of flowers. “Hi,” he said, strangling the poor flowers in his hands. “I’m Anthony.”

  “I know who you are young man, don’t forget I named you.” He put the flowers in her hands. Madison closed her eyes and sniffed. “Nice flowers kid, who died?”

  She smiled and he didn’t.

  “Anthony, you have to get used to your mom’s sense of humor.”

  “I’m sorry.” Both of them looked at me. “I was just joking.” Madison put her head down. “Not used to the mom thing.”

  I eyeballed my kid and nudged him.

  “It’s okay. We are going to have to try together then, right?” he said and that simple gesture made Madison light up.

  “Um, Lo, you sure you don’t want to go with us.”

  Madison took my hand.

  I shook my head. “No, I wanted the two of you to get to know each other,” I said, wiggling my hand out of hers. “And not use me as a life line. It’s going to be awkward and it’s going to be hard, but the both of you will have to make the steps together…without me. Now, go.”

  Anthony rushed to open the front door for Madison. “You are raising him to be a fine young man.”

  I shrugged. “It’s easy. He’s a good kid. Now, go and have fun. And Anthony,” My son turned. “Don’t let Madison convince you to rob a bank, or take pennies from a well. That woman can sell space heaters in hell.”

  I winked at him and they both got in her rental and drove out of my driveway, and down the street. I couldn’t tell how long I stood there watching until I could no longer see the car.

  I repeated over and over to myself that I wasn’t losing him. That he needed to know who she was. And it would be wrong to keep him away from his birth mother, but I felt like I was in last place.

  I began to wander around the house going from room to room. The quiet was a bit too much for me to handle. The television wasn’t holding my interest and the romance novel was making me feel worse that I didn’t have anyone to share a moonlight kiss with.

  I tossed the book and let it slide off the coffee table onto the floor.

  My cell phone rang and I dug for it in my back jean pocket. “Hello.”

  “Hello, may I speak to Ms. Lauren, please.”

  The voice nor the number were familiar.

  “Yes. This is she, how can I help you?”

  There was a long pause and the moment before I hung up, he spoke. “Ms. Lauren. I see that the information that I gave you was used for good. I thank you for that.” Another pause. “I just wanted to check on you and make sure that you and your son were alright.”

  “Leland? Is this you?” My head started to hurt just thinking about him and that town. “Why are you calling me?”

  I could hear him inhale and exhale. “Like I said, I wanted to make sure you and your son were okay. I’m sorry; I won’t bother you again.”

  “Wait!” I shouted. “Where are my manners? I’m sorry, look, I’m trying to forget that place, and you calling just--”

  “Just brought it all back to you. I just keep screwing this up, don’t I? I’m in no position to ask you anything. But I want to see you, maybe sit down and explain everything to you. Please.”

  “You couldn’t pay me to go back there.”

  He started to laugh and I realized that I never heard it before. It wasn’t the gruff chuckle that I expected. It was softer and sincere.

  “I wouldn’t ask you to come out there. Just come to the front door.”

  I jumped off the couch and almost broke a toe to get to my door. Flinging it open, there he stood. With a pair of relaxed fit jeans that were actually clean and a designer shirt that cost more than my dining room set. His hair was cut. I could see his ears with a close shave.

  “Lauren, I wanted to say this to you face to face.” He looked down at his boots. “The person that you met in Planters wasn’t me.”

  I folded my arms and leaned in my doorway. “I figured. Who do you work for, the FBI?” I smirked. “I know. It was the local police.”

  He rocked back on his heels. “How did you know?”

  “What you gave me on the flash drive was evidence, not just a get out of jail free card. We were stacking a case against them.” I stepped out onto the porch, leading him to a set of rocking chairs. “Plus, you weren’t all the way in with those guys. If you were, Anthony and I would have never made it out of there.” He nodded. “How long had you been working on the case?”

  “Close to two years. The bureau sent me in to investigate the manufacturing and distribution of meth, but things got complicated.”

  He folded his hands in his lap.

  “Like how?”

  He smirked. “For starters, the whole no minorities in the area. Ernest was below sea level in an organization and--”

  “The White Collar, huh?”

  “Damn you should be in the FBI with everything that you know.” He smiled at me and continued, “Yeah, the White Collar was taking root in Planters and seen Ernest, his brother and Forrest had their fingers in every single illegal activity, so they joined in with them. They were already bigots anyway, so it wasn’t like they had to put down their morals. We already had Ernest’s phone tapped, hence the conversation with Clay. So, we got roped into drug smuggling, murder and a white supremacist group. Then, you moved across the damn street.”

  Putting my hand on my chest, I dropped my jaw in mock shock. “Don’t put all of this on me. It's not my fault my realtor put me in the neighborhood of a crime lord.”

  Leland threw his head back and laughed. “Ernest was a lot of things, but a crime lord he was not. The guy couldn’t find his ass if his hands were in his back pocket. Here’s a bit of history. Ernest and Forrest’s families have been long time residents of Planters. Ernest’s father had his hands in with the Klan and drugs.”

  “Dang, like father like son,” I said.

  “Exactly. His father and Forrest’s dad ran Planters. I mean in a mafia type of way. No one crossed either of their families. One day, Ernest’s dad was beating the hell out of some unlucky son of a bitch and he had a heart attack and dies right there.”

  “Whoa. That’s crazy.”

  “Forrest’s dad is in Lakeview Retirement home. His mind is half gone. Old guy couldn’t even grasp that his son was killed. I’m a firm believer that if you do wrong, you get wrong.” He hunched his shoulders.

  I had run out of town so fast the day at the carnival that I didn’t stop and ask questions. Days later, I happened to look at the news and they were still talking about the deaths of Ernest and Forrest. How the little town was still trying to hold it together after the two murders and suicide?

  “I’ve worked with informants and undercover agents in the past. I don’t know how deep you were, but I’m sure that you didn’t want to see any of it go down the way that it did.”

  Leland pushed back slowly on the rocking chair and stared out into the street. “I wanted them to go to prison for the rest of their lives. Feel the pain that they had inflicted on their victims. Being around them made my skin crawl. But the kid didn’t deserve that.” Leland shook his head. “No child should have to try to survive in their own home. I failed that kid by getting close but not close enough to save him.”

  “From what I heard and read from the news, that was years
of abuse. I hate to say it like this, but he was probably too far gone. That kid would have needed help that you couldn't give him. You start digging around and your cover may have been shot. Besides, there was no way of you knowing.”

  Rubbing at his nose and still looking at my quiet street, he said, “Believe me, I’ve had a month to think of what I could’ve done differently, and I still come up with nothing.”

  “Beating yourself up won’t change a thing,” I tried to reassure him while I watched him battle. “I really hate that you came all the way here. You didn’t have to do that,” I said, trying to change the subject. “You could have just called and told me.”

  “You hate it when a man does anything for you, don’t you?”

  The way he asked me wasn’t rude or in an angry tone. It was as if he were stating some sort of fact.

  “No. I don’t hate it. Just don’t like it when people make an unnecessary fuss over something. That’s all.”

  He shook his head. “There were so many times I wanted to tie you up and put a postage stamp on your forehead and ship you back here. Then, there was the times that I wanted to put a bullet in Ernest for saying some of the things he said about you. I had to balance in keeping myself undercover or blowing it all because of you.”

  Now my mouth dropped for real, but I recovered quickly. “I’m glad you did your job. You probably saved a lot of lives on the fourth. Mine included. You do go work, Agent--?”

  “Markley. Agent Markley. But for now, I think I’m going to go home, take some time off and decompress.”

  I smiled. “You deserve it. By the way, where is home for you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Boston.”

  “I knew!” I shouted and slapped my hands together. “Whenever you said car, I could hear it just a little bit.”

  “Hell, I felt like an Englishmen who grew up in Ireland that had to play a southern character in a play. Getting down that down south accent was a chore.”