After the Rain

by Vanessa Miller

  Jimmy quickly found the keypad. And then shook his head. “It’s legit. We got to get out of here with the quickness.”

  “Cover me,” Bobby-Ray told Jimmy. I’m not leaving here until I get who I came for.” He and Tony, his right hand man, made their way up the stairs, going from room to room, looking for their prey.

  The alarm jolted Donavan out of his sleep. He hopped up and hit the panic button and then went to the walk-in closet to grab his bat. He’d had that alarm for a year and had never once heard it go off in the middle of the night. Donavan was just glad that his wife and kids were at Iona’s house because he was going to get some baseball practice in on whoever tried to come through his door.

  The door opened and Donavan swung like he was Hank Aaron trying to prove that he belonged in the Major League. The guy went down and stayed down. Donavan was feeling good and ready to take on the next guy through the door, but that’s when Donavan noticed the gun in Bobby-Ray’s hand.

  “What are you doing, Bobby-Ray? I thought this was settled between our families a long time ago.”

  Holding the gun square at Donavan’s chest, Bobby-Ray told him, “I don’t have a problem with you. My son likes you a lot. Even told me that he’s planning on becoming a preacher. But now, your father… oh yeah, I’ve got beef with him. And Lou has a beef with your brother. Seems like you are just caught in the middle.”

  “There is no middle when it comes to my family.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way, because we are going to see them in a matter of minutes. Now come on, let’s go.” Bobby-Ray, kicked Tony in the side to see if the man would wake up. When he still didn’t stir, he told Donavan, “I can either shoot you here and you can lay on this floor with Tony, waiting for the police to show up. Or we can get moving for the family reunion. It’s up to you.”

  ~~~~

  “How do you know so much about Candy?” Isaac asked while trying to figure out their next move.

  “She came to see me a few years ago. Asked if I would represent her if she ever got arrested, but I knew that the FBI had her gang under surveillance because Johnny was on the surveillance team. So I told her I wouldn’t be able to represent her, but she knows things, Daddy.”

  “From the looks of her, she’s probably forgotten more than she knows,” Isaac said with a doubtful expression.

  “The drugs might have taken over, but this girl is smart. She’d even tried to give me a key, said she’d put some important papers in a safe deposit box.”

  “No wonder Lou wants her dead. This woman could really bring him down.”

  “Lou Jones doesn’t need Candy’s help, his greed is bringing him down.”

  “What do you mean? Is something else going on that I don’t know about?”

  “I can’t tell you the whole story right now, but just trust me, he won’t be on the streets for long.”

  Isaac was glad to hear it, because he didn’t want to worry about Ikee every time he stepped a foot out of the house. Once Lou was behind bars, he prayed that his influence on the streets wouldn’t be worth anything. If the police seized everything he had and he went in the prison system with nothing to use to barter, nobody was going to listen to his hard luck story and take action. And he could forget about anyone on the streets having his back. No money, meant no friends.

  “Do you mind talking to Candy to see if she’s ready to cooperate with the authorities so that they can put Lou away for good?”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” Iona grinned at her father and then said, “I told you that y’all needed me over here.”

  “We always need you, Iona, you are my heart. But we don’t need you with guns ablazing. We can leave that to Johnny and the police to carry that heavy burden.”

  “Whatever,” Iona said while walking out of the kitchen. “Bet not nobody start nothing, or I’m going to show them what my husband taught me.”

  Isaac shook his head. Saved or not, out of all his children, his daughter was the most like him. He just prayed that nobody was dumb enough to test his daughter tonight… Just a few more hours and this would be over.

  ~~~~

  “Bobby-Ray, you did the thang on this one.” Lou was grinning from ear to ear. “When you first started popping off about a way to get to the old man, I just thought you was blowing smoke. But you done brought me, Donavan.”

  “You don’t like to listen, but I knew where Donavan stayed because my baby-mama has taken our kid to some of the yard parties he’s thrown for the youth group. My son really likes Donavan too.”

  “I hope Isaac likes his son and is willing to make a trade, because they just swooped down and made off with Candy before I could take care of that situation.”

  “I wonder what they wanted with Candy.”

  Lou shook his head. “I have no idea. But we can ask him, once we find him.”

  Pointing toward Donavan, whose hands and feet were tied up, Bobby-Ray said, “I brought you Donavan. We can get the old man’s address from him.”

  A sinister smile crept across his rat-like face. He strutted over to Donavan, like a man who knew he held all power in his hands. “Look what the dog dragged in.” Lou lifted his foot and landed a swift kick against Donavan’s rib cage.

  Donavan didn’t say a word. He just looked at Lou as if to say, Bring it.

  “Don’t think that I’ve forgotten about the money you stole from my dad. Well, tonight you’re going to pay up.”

  “I gave that money back, but your dad was too crazy to accept it. He caused his own demise and you’re about to do the same.”

  Smirking at him, Lou said, “From where I’m standing, it looks like the Walker family is about to finally be demolished. And you can all thank little Ikee for what I’m about to do to each and every one of you.”

  Lou took off his coat and bounced around like he was getting ready for the fight of his life. “Now,” he said as he glanced back at Donavan. “I need your father’s address.”

  Donavan knew what was coming if he didn’t comply, but he was a Walker and he didn’t roll over for nobody. Especially not some slime trying to take his family down. “People in hell want a way of escape, but they ain’t getting it.”

  The first blow almost knocked Donavan unconscious. By the second and third, Donavan wished he would pass out. Then at least Lou wouldn’t get his sick pleasure from the agony he witnessed on Donavan’s face.

  ~~~~

  Iona gave Ikee a hug and then punched him in the chest. “Next time, maybe you’ll listen.”

  Ikee doubled over and coughed, then said, “Why you got to be so violent? I’m dealing with enough already, don’t you think?”

  She ignored him as she sat down across from Candy. Iona looked at the woman and said a quick prayer for her; she looked like she’d smoked so much crack that her heart could explode at any moment. Why people played around with drugs in the first place was a true mystery to Iona. There were so many things to spend money on that were more beneficial, like, food, clothing and paying a mortgage. But Iona suspected that those things didn’t matter when your mind was clouded by drugs.

  “Hi Candy, my name is Iona Walker. Do you remember coming to my office about two years ago?”

  Candy had been nodding off and she struggled to focus her eyes on Iona. It took a minute but then she lifted a finger in Iona’s direction. “You wouldn’t help me.”

  “It wasn’t so much that I wouldn’t help you… I couldn’t help you at that time because there was a conflict of interest.”

  “A conflict of what?” Candy was still trying to come back where the rest of the world lived.

  “I really need you to focus on what I’m saying. Okay?”

  Candy nodded, then said, “I’m just so sleepy.”

  Nina sat down next to Candy and put an arm around the young woman. Nina’s gentle touch seemed to revive her, if only for the moment.

  “The reason it was a conflict of interest was because I knew that my husband was investigating Lou and his o
rganization. I knew that it was only a matter of time before the FBI would close Lou down. I couldn’t tell you that then, but since it has already begun—and now it appears that Lou is trying to kill anyone who might have evidence against him—I figured you might want to tell the police what you know in order to get Lou off the streets.”

  Candy shook her head. “I don’t know nothing about Lou’s business.”

  “That’s not what you said when you came to see me,” Iona reminded her.

  Candy eyed her, and then said, “But wasn’t that . . .,” she popped her fingers, trying to come up with the word “privileged.”

  “You’re not my client, so that wouldn’t apply, but I will not repeat anything you and I talk about unless I’m subpoenaed. But you should tell what you know.”

  Candy shook her head and tightened her lips.

  “Lou just tried to kill you. Don’t you want him off the street?”

  “He loves me,” Candy cried. “Lou wouldn’t kill me.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Isaac felt sorry for Candy. She reminded him of Valerie, a woman he had dated and never intended to do right by, but Valerie remained down for him. She knew more about his organization than any other woman he’d dealt with. Valerie could have brought him down, but instead, she died trying to protect him. Isaac prayed that Candy wouldn’t die a foolish death for a man who had long ago lost interest in her.

  The phone rang as he was pondering how to get Candy to see the truth. At three in the morning, Isaac figured the call must be important so he picked up. “Hello?”

  “Is Mr. or Mrs. Walker in?”

  Isaac stared at the receiver. There was no way he was getting a sales call at this time of night. But who else would be so formal when calling. “This is Isaac. How can I help you?”

  “This is your alarm company. We’re calling to inform you that the alarm went off at…,” the woman read off the address of the home. “The police arrived and the resident was not at home, but they did find the assailant there and unconscious.”

  The address the woman read off was Donavan’s. Isaac paid the monthly fee for the alarm system at both Donavan’s and Iona’s homes so that if anything went down, he would be notified without jumping through a thousand hoops. “And you’re positive that the owner of the home was not there when the police arrived?”

  “That is the information we received back.”

  Fury was growing in Isaac. They had taken his son. He took his anger out on the dispatcher. “I thought you were supposed to call me the moment the police were dispatched to either home listed on my profile.”

  “I’m sorry, sir. This has been an especially busy night. But we contacted the police immediately.”

  Ikee walked into the kitchen as Isaac slammed the phone down on the counter. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

  “They broke into Donavan’s house and took him.”

  “Are you sure, Dad? Maybe Donavan is on his way here.”

  Isaac shook his head. “He’s not… but I’m on my way to find Lou.”

  Ikee grabbed his cell phone off the counter. “Wait Dad. Maybe we don’t have to go looking for Lou. We just might be able to get him to come to us.”

  ~~~~

  “Let up on him, Lou. You’re going to kill him before we can get anything out of him,” Bobby-Ray told him.

  “He won’t talk, what do you want me to do?” Lou was enjoying himself. Donavan had made a fool of his father and now he was getting the ultimate revenge. Actually, Lou didn’t think his revenge would be complete until he extinguished the whole Walker clan. When he was a kid he remembered hearing his daddy tell stories about Isaac Walker. He’d always thought those stories were too big, too fantasy-like to be true. But then one day his dad stopped telling those stories. Something had happened, but Mickey never wanted to talk about it. So, he knew that Isaac had done something unspeakable to his father. Well, tonight was pay back.

  “Are you going to give me that address or not?”

  Donavan’s eye was swollen shut and his jaw felt like lead. He was about to die; he could see it coming. He closed his eyes and prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive me.” And then he blacked out.

  ~~~~

  “Look at God. He knows what he’s doing even when we don’t. I’m so glad I let you keep that cell phone. Now hand it here.”

  Ikee showed Isaac the number that belonged to Lou. Isaac pushed it and waited, praying that Lou would answer.

  On the first ring, he said, “Lord Jesus.” Second ring, “Please, Father God,” third ring, “Bring my son back to me.”

  “Yeah, what?” Lou said.

  “You have something that belongs to me. I want him back tonight.” Isaac’s voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the demand.

  “No problem,” Lou said.

  “Where are you? I’ll come and get him.

  “It’s not going to work like that. You don’t give the orders. My daddy ain’t your runner no more and neither am I. Give me your address. I’m coming there to get what belongs to me.”

  “What do you want?” Isaac asked.

  “You know what I want. I’ll bring Donavan. But I’m exchanging him for Candy and Ikee.”

  Here we go again, Isaac thought as his mind drifted back to the day he had made an enemy of Lou’s father, Mickey Jones.

  Back in the day…

  This was Isaac’s last morning as a federally mandated, underpaid license plate maker. Most would have been elated. But Isaac needed time to think. Time to put together what his new life outside of prison would look like. So as the morning bell shook the prison walls, and hundreds of men stood to be loosed from the cells that held them bound, Isaac continued to rub his chin and ponder. He stretched his well-toned chocolate body and exhaled. Isaac was in an uncomfortable place. He’d given his life to Jesus and meant every word of his declaration. But did he really have what it took to live for the Lord outside the confines of prison?

  Isaac wanted so badly to walk upright before the One who claimed his soul, and to be forgiven by the one who had claimed his heart oh so many years ago. Sweet Nina Lewis, his baby’s mama. He thought he was strong, until she taught him how to withstand the storms of life. Thought he had all the answers, until she taught him how to bow his knee, and wait on God to bring the answer.

  The bell stopped ringing and his cell unlocked. In about an hour, he would be released. Isaac made up his cot, and then got on his knees. Most of the inmates joked about Isaac’s morning routine. But Isaac could find nothing routine about his relationship with Jesus.

  “Oh Father, here I am, the one You cleansed. Thank You for being so faithful. Thank You for loving me in spite of all the things I’ve done. You’re great and mighty, Lord. Help me to walk upright before You—You are a holy God. And You require Your servants to be holy. May my life bring You glory. May I never grieve the Holy Spirit You have placed in me.”

  For some odd reason, he looked at his hands. Hands that had caused mass destruction. Hands that had destroyed not-so-innocent lives. “This is my pledge to You, Lord. I will never use these hands to destroy Your people again. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

  After communing with his Savior, he walked through the morning mechanically. Didn’t even notice the plaster falling from the walls, the scratchy soap as he showered and shaved. He said his final goodbyes without catching a whiff of the mixture of urine, humidity and sweat that clung to the air. “You keep walking with Jesus,” his old cellmate, told him.

  T-bone strutted over to him. “Don’t worry about the prison ministry. I’m in this joint for another year at least. I’ll hold it together.”

  Isaac picked up the Bible and an assortment of workbook materials the chaplain had given him. “You’ll need this stuff.”

  He walked away. No looking back, no regrets. He’d served his time and did God’s will while in prison. Time for a new chapter. He’d received letters from countless preachers over the last year. Many had heard about the revival going on
in this place.

  He was grateful for all that God allowed him to do while in prison. But right now his son, Donavan, and Nina were on his mind. He wasn’t sure if Nina could let go of the past and accept him back into her life. But he would do anything to make that happen. He tried to convince her that he was different every time she brought his son for a visit. But Nina made it clear that she wasn’t interested, and was only there to provide Donavan a ride home.

  He picked up his two-hundred-dollar check for five years of service. Isaac owed a lot of back child support. How was he supposed to pay what he owed with two hundred dollars? His hand tightened around the check. He wanted to ball it up and throw it in the guard’s smug face, but that would go against his pledge to God. The prison doors opened. He felt like Mel Gibson in Braveheart, screaming FREEDOM!

  He put the check in his pocket and walked out. Walking up the street toward the pick-up zone, the brisk March wind swirled around him. He zipped his jacket and stuffed his hands in his pockets, all the while hoping that Keith, his best friend for more than two decades would not be late. Entering the pick-up zone, Isaac spotted a broken down Ford Taurus, a red Lincoln Navigator with spinners and a black and gray Cadillac Seville. Keith was in none of them. The guy in the Navigator got out and headed over to him.

  His smile showed off his gold plated mouth. His jeweled hands seemed out of place with his baggy Nike jogging suit.

  “Isaac, my man. How’s it going?” He offered his hand. “I’ve been out here over an hour waiting on you to pop that spot.”

  Isaac glanced at the outstretched hand, then sucked his teeth while sizing up the hustler in front of him.

  The hustler conceded. He put his hand down, rubbing it on the side of his pants. “You don’t remember me? I’m Mickey.” He put his hands in the air, indicating someone about chest level to where he now stood. “Remember little Mickey Jones? I worked for you on Williams Street.”

  Mickey had gotten taller. At six feet he now stood eye to eye with Isaac. Isaac remembered him, but with recognition came a flood of memories. The Williams Street turf war was the source of Isaac’s nightmares. The whole thing was wicked from the start. Isaac had been losing money on Williams Street. A quick investigation told him that a hustler named Ray-Ray had moved in on his turf. By the time the episode was over, Isaac had been shot, Valerie, one of his girls, and Ray-Ray were dead. The only good memory he had of that night was of Nina birthing his son.