by Emery, Lynn
the man pointing the gun at Denny aimed at him instead.
“I didn’t ask, I’m tellin’ you,” Ty’Rance said in a flat, cold tone. “This is part payment for all the trouble you caused me. Keep deliverin’ the goods and you’ll both keep on livin’.”
“She’s not part of the deal we had, Ty.” Lee’s deep voice thundered with rage.
“Keep on, fool, and I’ll kill you right here, right now. Don’t matter to me,” the man with the gun said.
Ty’Rance crossed to Andrea and grabbed her arm. “C’mon, baby. I got more of what you need than either of these tired-ass punks.”
He yanked her against his body and Andrea recoiled at the scent of sweat, cigarette smoke, and too much cologne. ‘Take your greasy, stinking hands off me.” Ty’Rance laughed and rolled his pelvis suggestively. “You gonna scream for more.”
Lee tackled Ty’Rance low and knocked him to the ground with lightning speed. Andrea went down with them. She struggled to keep both of the heavy men from rolling on her. Ty’Rance held on to her with an iron grip. Andrea bit down with all her might on the meaty hand. Ty’Rance screamed in pain and she bit harder. She rammed her knee in his side for good measure.
“Cut it out or I’ll shoot your ass!” The man with the gun swung it wildly. He held on to Denny, but jumped around as he watched the tangle of arms and legs.
“Oh shit, it’s the sheriff!” Denny pointed at a dark car in the distance. He jerked on the man. “Let’s get outta here. They catch us with those drugs, it’s twenty years.” “Ty’Rance, c’mon, man. It’s the cops,” the man croaked. His eyes were glassy with panic as his gaze darted in every direction.
Denny jerked free and sprinted off into the dark. The man fired a shot at him. Denny stumbled but tried to keep moving. He dragged his left leg. The man fired again. Denny went down and did not get up.
“No, no!” Andrea shrieked at the sight of him crumpled on the pavement.
Another shot rang out behind her. She turned to find Lee and Ty’Rance struggling to control Ty’Rance’s gun. Andrea started toward Denny just as another shot exploded. Suddenly a swirl of red and blue lights washed over the scene.
“Get down, Andrea,” Lee shouted. His fist smashed into Ty’Rance’s chin. The gang leader’s head snapped back and his eyes lost focus.
“Drop that weapon!” A voice ordered.
Crouching on the rough pavement, Andrea turned in the direction of the command. A tall, black sheriff’s deputy aimed his gun at the man who’d shot Denny. Lee continued to pound Ty’Rance. Through a haze, Andrea recognized Sheriff Boudreaux.
“Hey, hey! You made your point, son.” Sheriff Boudreaux and another deputy pried Lee off Ty’Rance. The young deputy handcuffed Ty’Rance.
Lee stood slowly, still panting from exertion. “Had a little change of plans,” he gasped to the sheriff.
“So I see,” Sheriff Boudreaux quipped. He walked over to where Ty’Rance sat on the concrete with his hands bound behind him. “Guess you done figured this out, but you under arrest, son. Read ’em their rights, then get ’em down to the jail.”
Andrea ran toward Denny. “He’s hurt, Lee.”
When she got to him, his blue T-shirt was stained with blood and dirt. His eyes were half-open. Andrea checked his pulse and touched his skin. It was clammy. “He’s going into shock.”
“Paramedics on the way, ma’am,” a deputy told her.
Andrea shouted orders to the men to help her. She located a flesh wound to his thigh and a ragged bullet wound in his right side. While they turned him over, Andrea dashed into the clinic and got latex gloves, a sheet to cover him, and bandages to stop the flow of blood. The wail of sirens was a welcome sound. A female paramedic rushed from the emergency vehicle as Andrea rushed back outside. They worked together to clean and wrap the wounds. Denny was placed on a gurney by a male paramedic with help from two deputies. Seconds later, they drove away. Andrea watched the white and red lights disappear, listening to sirens fade into the distance. Lee was at her side.
“He’ll be okay?” he asked, putting one around her shoulder.
“I don’t know,” she mumbled, and sagged against his hip. “I’m going to dispose of these and lock up.” She held up her gloved hands.
Lee told Sheriff Boudreaux he’d be right back and accompanied her into the clinic. She went to the first examining room, stripped off the gloves, and washed her hands thoroughly in the sink.
“Did you get hurt?” Andrea said over her shoulder.
“Fine time to ask,” Lee teased. He leaned against the exam table.
Andrea tore a paper towel from the dispenser, and then faced him. She smiled tiredly. “You were beating the hell out of the guy. I figured you didn’t need my help.”
Lee rubbed his chin. His face was pinched with fatigue. “God, what a night.”
“You mean morning. Five-fifteen to be exact.” Andrea pointed to a round clock on the wall in the hallway. “I better call Denny’s grandmother,” he said.
Andrea gazed at him. Lee looked as though he would collapse at any moment. He must have gone without much rest for days. “I can do it. You look kinda whipped yourself, Matthews.”
“No, she should hear it from me. Like you said, I got him into this.” He pushed himself away from the table. “I’m going to the hospital after I talk to her.”
“Me, too. And I’ll be with you when you call her.” Andrea enfolded him in her arms. They swayed together for a few seconds, his face buried in her hair. Then they walked out together. Lee waited while she locked the clinic one last time.
***
Two days later, they were all at Andrea’s apartment. Gran had insisted on preparing them a special dinner. Lee and Andrea still moved around gingerly, both bruised from the struggle with Ty’Rance. They sat in the living room after eating Gran’s famous peach crunch for dessert. Gran clucked at them and shook her head. “Y’all young people think you’re indestructible. Look at ya.” She shook her head again.
“It only hurts when we laugh,” Lee joked.
“I told y’all what to do. Tante Rosalie’s salve works wonders.” Gran held up a dark blue glass jar and took off the metal cap. Andrea and Lee gasped at the strong smell.
“Oh Lord! Put that stuff up before we pass out.” Andrea waved a hand in front of her face. “Lord have mercy.”
“Whew!” Lee blinked. “I won’t have a stuffy nose for another ten years.”
“Couple of big babies. Suppose you think modem medicine has all the answers.” Gran put the lid back on the jar. She stuffed it in her huge purse. “All those miracle cures came from herbs. The old folks used ’em years ago. And they didn’t need no prescriptions.”
“Went right into the woods when they needed something,” Andrea and Lee said together, and then laughed. They had heard the speech at least ten times in the past two days.
“All right, smarties. One day you’ll need the Fontenot family remedies.” Gran shook a finger at them. Then she smiled with affection. “I’m just happy you rascals can still clown around. Hope Denny will be all right.”
“Don’t worry, Gran. He’s responding well after the surgery. It will take a while, but he should be okay,” Andrea said.
“At least the bullets didn’t hit any major organs or sever an artery. Man, there was so much blood.” Lee brushed Andrea’s hair with one hand. “You saved him, baby.”
“I had help. He’s going to need physical therapy, but the prognosis is pretty positive.” Andrea sighed.
Denny had emergency surgery that very night. Andrea had been there to explain it all to his frightened grandmother. The doctor had assured them that youth and good health were in his favor. He proved right. It had been touch and go for a while, but Denny had come through.
“And thank goodness that hoodlum is going to jail,” Gran said.
“Ty’Rance won’t be planning crime waves in Lafourche Parish for a good long time.” Lee put a protective arm around Andrea.
&n
bsp; Gran stood. “Well, children, I’m going home.” “Don’t rush off, sweetie.” Andrea stood and nuzzled Gran’s cheek. “We want to hear more stories from the old days.”
“I’m not young and these old bones need rest. Besides, y’all want to be alone. You both got that sparkle in your eyes.” Gran winked at them.
“Give me some sugar before you go.” Lee kissed her forehead. “Thanks, Gran.”
“Pooh-ya! You don’t need to thank family, son.” Gran gave him a big hug. “Now, I got to get plenty of rest before tomorrow night.”
“What’s going on tomorrow night?” Andrea said. She and Lee walked with her to the door.
“Senior citizens dance. Mr. Walter swears we’re gonna boogie all night.” Gran giggled and waved goodbye.
Lee held Andrea against him as they watched Gran drive away. “She was right. I’ve got a sparkle in my eye for you,” he murmured.
Andrea wiggled in his arms. “So prove it.”
Lee pulled her inside the door and closed it. “Can you put up with a guy like me? I’m not always levelheaded or conventional. I know how you hate drama. As for my job, being a private investigator is …”
“Not exactly conventional sometimes,” she finished for him. “And you don’t always tell the truth to do it.” Andrea raised her eyebrows at him.
“Not lies … exactly.” He grinned for a moment, and then became serious. “There’s a lot about me you don’t know. I—”
Andrea pushed him down on the sofa and covered his body with hers. She caressed his thighs as she spoke. “I look forward to probing your secrets,” she whispered huskily. His reply was a moan and a long, passionate kiss.
About the Author
Mix knowledge of voodoo, Louisiana politics and forensic social work with the dedication to write fiction while working each day as a clinical social worker, and you get a snapshot of author Lynn Emery. Lynn has been a contributing consultant to the magazine Today’s Black Woman for three articles about contemporary relationships between black men and women. For more information visit:
www.lynnemery.com
Read the other three Louisiana Love Series: City Girls novels
~~
Tell Me Something Good
*
Soulful Strut
*
Good Woman Blues
~~
