The Aftermath

by Shelia M. Goss

  “I’m fine. You concentrate on taking care of yourself. I’m all right,” she assured me.

  She gave me a tight hug and kiss on the cheek and left.

  I looked out the window and watched her pull off. I picked up the phone and made a call. “May I speak to Detective Omar Underwood,” I asked the receptionist.

  After a few clicks and some silence, I heard, “This is Detective Underwood; how may I help you?”

  “This is Charity. What time do you get off?”

  “Hi, baby. I’m headed out now. I can swing by there, if you need to talk.”

  “Please do. There’s something I want to discuss with you, but not over the phone.”

  Less than an hour later, Omar and I were greeting each other with a hug and long sensuous kiss in the living room. Having his muscular arms wrapped around my small waist made me feel safe and secure. He’d recently gotten a promotion to detective so he no longer wore a police uniform but instead wore slacks, shirts and jackets.

  “Baby, if you don’t stop that, you’re going to get me in trouble,” Omar said. “I’m still on duty.”

  I licked my lips. “That’s never stopped you before.”

  “You’re right. It hasn’t.” He began to ravish my lips.

  I pulled away. “Hold up. That’s not why I called you here.”

  “You’re such a tease,” he joked.

  I grabbed his hand and led him to the couch. “You’re working homicide, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. But before you ask, I’m not working your father’s case.”

  I curled up next to him. “But if I needed some information, you would be able to tell me, now, wouldn’t you?”

  “It depends. Some things are confidential and I wouldn’t be able to share them with you.”

  I pulled back and looked at him. “So even if it’s information that could possibly help free my father, you wouldn’t share it with me?”

  “No, I’m not saying that. Some things are only supposed to be accessed by the detectives working on the case. I’m not working on his situation so I might not have access to everything.”

  I sighed. I took his hand in my hand. “I’ve got a dilemma.”

  “Please don’t ask,” Omar said before I could finish.

  “I need you. If you do this for me, I promise you I will never ask you for anything else.”

  Omar shook his head. “Charity. Don’t.” He placed his hands over his ears.

  “Omar, I need you to get me the information in my father’s files. I need to know what the police have on him so my family can work on proving that they’re wrong.”

  I used my hands and removed his hands from over his ears. “Will you or won’t you help me?” I batted my eyes.

  Omar bit his bottom lip. “Charity.”

  “Pleassee.” I pouted.

  “Fine. Okay. I’m not supposed to, but for you. Only for you. But you have to promise me one thing.”

  “What? Anything,” I responded.

  “Do not share the information with anyone outside of your family. I mean it. It’s for your eyes only.”

  “I promise you have nothing to worry about. When we finish it, we’ll shred it.”

  “I can’t believe you’ve got me risking my job like this. But for you, girl, I’ll do anything,” Omar said.

  “And I appreciate it. I really do,” I said, right before pushing him back on the couch and straddling him.

  CHAPTER 4

  Hope

  It would’ve been nice to arrive home and not find Omar’s car there. He’d practically moved in. If I said anything to Charity about it, she would’ve sworn I was “hating” on her. After the ordeal with Tyler, I couldn’t have cared less about having a steady man.

  Tyler was a thorn in my side. When I met him, I had no idea he was also dating my sister Charity. People always said that Charity and I could pass for twins with our cocoa brown complexion and high cheekbones, but we weren’t twins. At twenty-two, I was two years younger than her and we wore our hair in different styles and colors. I dyed my hair from the original jet-black color to auburn.

  I fell in lust with Tyler immediately. In the end, he’d had a secret vendetta against my father and had set out to destroy my, and Charity’s, lives in the process. Charity saw through his charade, but I had fallen for him.

  Tyler had me hoodwinked. When things escalated beyond Tyler’s control, he’d held me hostage, confronted Dad with a gun and during a struggle for the gun, it had gone off resulting in Tyler’s death. That tragic incident lingered in the back of my mind.

  After all of that and also having to deal with everything going on with our dad, a relationship was the furthest thing on my mind. Right now I was simply trying to remain sane in the insanity going on around me.

  “Charity,” I called out. That was my signal to warn her that I was home.

  I guess I was a little too late. I saw Charity topless on top of Omar on the couch.

  “Hope, what are you doing here? I thought you would be gone for at least another hour.”

  I held up the shopping bags. “It didn’t take as long as I thought. But I’m going to let you two finish doing what you were doing.”

  I had to laugh out loud because merely a year ago, Charity would’ve been on me about my sexual escapades, but at least I confined mine to the bedroom. I’d caught her screwing her man on our couch. I would never be able to look at that couch the same without thinking of it.

  I went to the room we used for our home office and unpacked all of the office supplies I’d purchased.

  To keep my mind off our troubles, I’d poured myself into Charity’s event planning business. I’d purchased items so we could make the invitations for several of her clients’ upcoming events.

  I thought she was formatting the information so all we would have to do was print when I got back, but she had been preoccupied doing other things.

  I was about to start typing when she burst through the door. I looked at her. “Is your company still here?”

  “No, he’s gone. Sorry you had to see that.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “No biggie. You’ve seen me in some awkward positions.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “Whatever,” I said.

  “I’m about to take a quick shower and then we can put the invitations together.”

  “You mean after I type and design them.”

  She walked in front of the computer. She moved the keyboard and did a few clicks. “Already done.”

  I looked on the computer screen and saw the designs. “Cool. I thought you hadn’t.”

  “You should know it’s business before pleasure for me. Now get those printed while I go shower.”

  By the time I was done halfway printing, Charity had returned. She was now wearing a pair of blue jeans and a pink t-shirt.

  While stuffing envelopes, she said, “Mom stopped by earlier.”

  “How’s she doing?” I asked.

  “She pretends to be okay, but you know Mom.”

  “She’s all about appearances,” I added. I loved our mother, but sometimes she took being a Jones too far.

  “She wants us to meet her at the house around seven. She wants to discuss how we’re going to help free Dad.”

  “What do you mean? I thought he had a team of lawyers working on that.”

  “Hope, unfortunately, they are wanting him to plea bargain.”

  “For what? He didn’t do anything. He’s innocent.”

  “We know that, but they apparently feel like they have evidence to prove otherwise.”

  “Oh my God. If Dad goes to jail, what will happen to us?” I stopped stuffing envelopes.

  “Hope, can you forget about yourself for one moment and think about what this is doing to Dad. Imagine what he’s going thro
ugh.”

  “I am thinking about Dad. He doesn’t deserve to be locked up for something he didn’t do.”

  “You’re right and that’s why tonight we’re going to all come together and figure out a way to prove his innocence.”

  “How are we supposed to do that?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, but I’m sure Mom has it all figured out. I did ask Omar to help.”

  “He’s part of the problem.”

  “Excuse me?” Charity got an attitude.

  “Mr. Detective should be doing his job but he’s not, and now Dad’s in jail because of him.”

  “For your information, Omar has agreed to help me.”

  “How’s that? He’s going to give you the key to free Dad?” I asked.

  “Possibly. He’s going to get me the information in his file.”

  “I don’t know how that’s supposed to help.”

  I listened to Charity go on and on about her boyfriend Omar and what he was doing to help. I didn’t like Omar. Never had and never would. I probably was a little biased because right now, all men were dogs except my dad and my brother, Lovie. Well, Lovie was a player, but he was my brother so he didn’t get put in the same category as other men.

  “Lighten up. Things are going to get better,” Charity assured me.

  I’m glad she had a positive attitude about our dad’s situation, because I sure didn’t. All I knew was that life as we knew it had changed forever the day the cops came to our house and arrested him.

  I went to my room and pulled out some of the letters I’d received from him. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I read them. His words were meant to ease my mind about his situation, but they only reminded me of how selfish I’d been over the years. I’d taken so much for granted. I’d taken for granted that Dad would always be there for me, but now he wasn’t.

  He was behind bars and there weren’t enough tears to get him out. I hoped Charity was right. I hoped the information Omar was supposed to give her would help us figure out a way to free Dad.

  I didn’t want to see him locked up for the rest of his life. I wanted Jason dead. I wished now that I hadn’t wished it. If he were alive, we wouldn’t have been going through this. Even in his death, Jason had wreaked havoc in all of our lives.

  CHAPTER 5

  Lovie

  Mom’s phone call about Dad left me feeling a little emotional. I felt it was my duty to make sure RJ Jones Funeral Home ran smoothly. I didn’t want him to be concerned about the family business. He had enough on his mind; like his freedom.

  I hated that in the past I’d given Dad a hard time about almost everything. I now realized he was only trying to leave a family legacy to me so I too could pass it down to my son. Fortunately, one of my uncles and Shannon, one of my cousins, were around to help make sure things ran smoothly in Dad’s absence.

  Shannon said over the intercom, “Slim’s here.”

  Slim was the last person I wanted to see right at that moment. Before I could come up with an excuse not to see him, I was hearing a knock on the door. I was seated in Dad’s office behind his desk.

  “Come in,” I spoke loudly.

  The door opened and standing before me was Slim, who looked like the deceased rapper Big Pun’s twin. He was minus his normal entourage of people. I stood and we shook hands.

  “Have a seat,” I said as I sat back down.

  “Lovie, we miss you down at Bottom’s Up,” Slim said.

  Bottom’s Up was a popular club in the area. I used to be a regular, but with taking over the funeral homes, I didn’t have much time to hang out. I had my father’s business to run plus my own.

  “Man, you know I’ve been busy. I’m still keeping the books straight, right? Any problems?” I asked.

  “All is well. I wanted to check on you. How’s your Pop doing?”

  “He’s hanging in there. I’m trying to maintain it out here so he’ll have something to come back home to.”

  Slim looked around. “Looks like you got everything covered.”

  I knew Slim. We grew up together. He normally didn’t come around unless he wanted something. I let him shoot the breeze for a minute before asking, “So what’s up with you?”

  “I came to offer my services.”

  I laughed. “I think you’ve been providing enough business.”

  Slim laughed. “Naw, man. People paying on time so I’ve cut down on the violence.”

  “What kind of services are you trying to offer?”

  “My help, man. We both know your dad didn’t kill your uncle Jason.”

  “You’re right. He didn’t. But how can you help me unless you know who did it?”

  I had to tread lightly. Although Slim and I had grown up together, he was the last person you wanted to cross. His pockets ran deep and he was ruthless on the streets.

  “Your dad’s always been good to me. He knows what I do, but yet, he gave me respect. I want to help out any way I can.”

  “Thanks, Slim. I really appreciate the love. What’s the word on the streets?”

  “It’s been quiet. Ain’t heard nobody talking, but I can shake things up a little.” Slim pulled out a roll of money. “Money talks.”

  “If you hear anything, let me know.”

  “I got your back.” Slim stood up. “I got a few more stops to make, but you know the number if you need me.”

  Slim left out. Actually, I thought Slim was behind Jason’s death. Maybe he was. Maybe he only showed up to see what I knew. Then again, Slim might have actually been sincere. He was really concerned and wanted to help me. So many questions went back and forth in my head.

  Two hours later, I was sitting on the sofa at my parents’ house. Mom appeared stressed. No amount of makeup could hide the stress lines all over her face. My two sisters looked okay under the circumstances. Charity kept texting someone. Probably Omar, her boyfriend, a man I still didn’t like or trust. Hope pretended to be strong, but out of all of us, she was the most vulnerable.

  Her ex-boyfriend Tyler did a number on her. If he wasn’t already dead, I would’ve killed him. I had to pull myself together. I had to be strong. My family needed me.

  “Mom, we’re all here. We’re ready to hear what you have to say,” I said.

  Charity placed her phone down. Hope looked in Mom’s direction.

  Mom stopped pacing back and forth and took a seat in what was normally my father’s seat.

  She looked each one of us in the eye before saying, “I’ve been trying to give the police the opportunity to clear up this situation, but after talking to Royce and our attorney, I realize I put faith in a system that’s not working.”

  “The system’s never been fair to the black man,” I said.

  “Lovie, that’s true, but that’s a conversation for another day. For now, I want to specifically concentrate on how we’re going to help Royce.”

  Charity said, “I’ve asked Omar to help.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” I said.

  “Why not? He’s on the inside. He can find out stuff that we can’t,” she stated.

  Mom said, “Charity. That’s great. But we can’t depend on outsiders to do what we will have to do ourselves.”

  “I agree,” Hope said.

  “What’s your grand plan?” Charity asked Mom.

  “We need to run our own investigation. We need to figure out who had reasons to kill Jason other than us.”

  “I could name a few people. A few people he’s cheated,” I declared.

  “Then that’s where we need to start. Find out where these people were around the time Jason was killed,” she said.

  “Mom, maybe we should hire a private investigator. Whoever killed Uncle...I mean, Jason is still out there. We don’t know who did it and I don’t want to worry about your safety,” I said.


  “I thought of that, but that’s where I need your help. I need you to find someone.”

  “Consider it done,” I said.

  Charity said, “No need to. I already found us someone.”

  “Your boyfriend is not who I had in mind,” I replied.

  “But...” Charity said.

  “Lovie, maybe Charity is right. We’ll see what Omar has to say and see what happens.”

  I disagreed with Mom’s decision. “Fine. Charity, call Omar. Tell him to get here ASAP.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Omar

  Before meeting Charity, I didn’t believe in love at first sight. From the moment I saw her, I realized I had to make her mine. When the opportunity presented itself for me to introduce myself, I took it.

  My feelings for her were the reason why I was now sitting there across the table from her family. Her mom, Lexi, could intimidate the strongest of men so I was doing my best not to be unnerved by her strength. She was a force not to be reckoned with.

  “Omar, we do appreciate you coming here tonight.”

  “Mrs. Jones, as I was telling Charity earlier, I’m really not supposed to be looking at Mr. Jones’ file. But I could not sit back and do nothing; especially after Charity asked me to.”

  Lovie said, “Spill it. What did you find out?”

  I pulled my iPhone from my pocket and opened up a file. “There was a witness identifying Royce’s car.”

  “Dad and Uncle Jason were friends. That’s not unusual for them to visit one another,” Lovie said as he leaned back in his chair.

  I cleared my throat. “The witness also stated they saw Royce speeding away out of the driveway the night before Jason’s body was discovered. The roaring of the engine is what got his attention and the reason why he looked out of his window in the first place.”

  “Which neighbor is this?” Lexi asked.

  I debated on whether to divulge the information. “It’s not relevant.”

  Lexi insisted, “It is. I may need to question this so-called witness.”

  “Mrs. Jones. Why don’t you let me do the questioning?”