by KR Bankston
“Baby, you missed the turn,” Kaitlyn spoke, breaking his thought.
Tariq apologized, making a quick u-turn and heading back to the Grill and the bison steak Kaitlyn said she wanted.
*****
Jalen was trying to watch the game and tune out his girl’s constant complaining. “Why can’t we go out, damn, you’re always broke,” Penny whined as Jalen rolled his eyes at her.
He’d been dating Penny Rhodes for almost a year. Jalen smiled to himself thinking they should have named her dollar the way she was always asking for and spending money. Jalen couldn’t lie and say she wasn’t sexy or fine for that matter. The big, round, bubble butt had him mesmerized the day he met her. He would be the first to admit she wouldn’t win any beauty contests, but she was tolerable and the way she gave head definitely made her a keeper.
“Baby, I’m trying to watch the game,” Jalen tried. “How about we go out after it goes off,” he added trying to sweeten the deal.
Penny came and stood directly in front of the TV, hands on her hips.
“I want to go out now,” she told him as he sighed deeply once more.
“After the game,” he told her, trying to keep his anger in check.
“No! right now!” Penny yelled and Jalen snapped.
“Tell you what bitch,” he threw out before he could stop himself. “How about you take yourself out, right now,” he raged as Penny slapped him hard across the face. “Don’t you ever call me a bitch again,” she yelled back. “I don’t have to deal with your broke ass or your bad ass attitude,” she told him definitely.
“Then fuck, don’t,” Jalen yelled, pushing her roughly from in front of the TV set.
“Did you just push me,” Penny questioned picking up a vase and throwing it at him. Jalen ducked and the glass object shattered harmlessly against the wall.
“See, that’s why I don’t fuck with your stupid ass,” he told her. “We’re done, shit, get out,” he yelled as Penny again put her hands on her hip and spoke, neck rolling as she did.
“Ain’t no great loss Jalen,” she told him haughtily. “You’re broke, you’re a bartender with no future at a broke down club,” she continued to insult him. “Shit, the dick ain’t even good, short and boring,” Penny threw out as Jalen jumped in her face.
“Get the fuck outta my house you tramp,” he told her, spitting on her at the end of his sentence.
Penny swung at him again as he blocked the blow. Turning she grabbed her purse knocking over everything in her path as she stormed out of the door.
Sighing deeply Jalen didn’t even bother to try and pick up after carnage. He settled back onto his couch and continued watching the game. I sure hope Creeper can get me some answers, he thought as the commercial blared into his psyche. He’d tried approaching his mother again, but as usual she told him she had nothing to say. “What do you mean nothing to say,” Jalen flared. “This is my damned life we’re talking about, and I want to know about my brothers.” His mother had given him a look then, like she wanted to say something, but thought better of it. “You have no brothers,” she replied sternly. “How many times do I have to tell you that,” she finished and said nothing more. Fleetingly his thoughts returned to the present and went to Penny and apologizing to her.
“Fuck that,” Jalen said aloud.
He needed a change of pace, a new face to look into. He thought about the crack she made about his lovemaking and frowned deeply. Guess it wouldn’t be good considering all the trains making stops at that station, Jalen thought as he decided he needed to take a trip and grabbed his new laptop from the hiding place under the sofa. Booting it up he began to scout locations, looking for sun, quiet, and easy sex.
******
“Good evening Mr. Marks,” Abigail greeted him. Robert frowned slightly. He hated to be disturbed at home once he left the office.
“Yes, Abigail,” he returned not trying to mask his irritation.
“I apologize for disturbing you, but there was a call for you,” she told him as Robert asked her who it was.
“All right, thank you,” he returned, managing to keep his voice even. “I’ll take care of it,” he added as Abigail told him that was fine and bid him a pleasant rest of the evening.
Robert headed directly to his bar and made himself a drink, pouring a double shot, and throwing it back before heading to his home office.
Robert went behind the large white oak desk and sat down in the oversized desk chair, pulling a set of keys from his file drawer. Opening the drawer and withdrawing what he was searching for, Robert picked up his cell and dialed.
“Hello, this is Robert Marks,” he told the party when they answered.
Sitting and listening intently for the next twenty minutes without comment, he finally disconnected and opened the file in front of him, pulling out the bottle of scotch he kept in the other file drawer and pouring himself yet another double shot.
Robert sighed deeply as he began reading the documentation in front of him as his mind spun and his heart raced. I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the secrets of my client, and will accept no compensation in connection with a client's business except from the client or with the client's knowledge and approval, Robert’s mind threw at him from the oath he took upon becoming an attorney. Sighing deeply yet again, he took one last drink and returned to the task at hand.
*****
Creeper was making one last run by the traps and decided to stop at one of the fried chicken places, wanting to grab something quickly and go home. Standing in line he unintentionally listened in on the conversation of the two women in front of him.
“I don’t know why people find it so hard to believe in God and miracles girl,” the portly woman told her friend who clucked her tongue and agreed with her.
Creeper could tell they were tourists from the dress and mannerisms.
“Right now, at the rehab I work at, we got this man who is sho nuff a miracle,” she continued talking as Creeper sighed lightly.
“I’m telling you girl, who else but God could have saved that man,” she went on. “12 bullets to his body, hitting 2 major organs, and a shot point blank in his head,” she told her friend, tweaking Creeper’s interest now. “And the only thing wrong with him is a slight limp and a bit of impaired speech, honey don’t you tell me Jesus ain’t real,” she added as her friend threw in a hallelujah behind her statement.
Creeper was genuinely intrigued now.
“Excuse me ma’am,” he inquired as she turned her attention to him.
“Yes baby,” she replied sweetly. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” he began as she cut him off.
“Honey, you know God is awesome don’t you,” she threw out as he nodded and continued his sentence.
“Where do you work,” he asked as she told him and he smiled slightly.
“Wow, that is awesome,” he told her continuing to probe for information.
“What’s this guy’s name, this miracle man,” Creeper pried.
“Baby, I’m telling you the Lord is so awesome, with his miraculous healing power,” she went on as Creeper endured. “Are you saved baby, do you know the Lord Jesus,” she questioned looking at him closely.
“Yes ma’am, I do,” Creeper replied honestly.
He hadn’t been to church in ages, but he did believe in God.
“His name is um, um, Lord what is that man’s name,” she was fumbling. “We call him miracle so much, I forget his name sometimes,” she told Creeper chuckling lightly. Deciding he would stop in the rehab center himself, he told her that was okay. The woman smiled graciously; glad to have been let off the hook.
“Thank you for sharing that wonderful story,” he returned, getting his order and leaving the ladies to their business.
He called Pirate as soon as he closed the car door and updated him. The trip to the bayou just got a whole lot more interesting.
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