Trickery & Envy

by Johnson, D. C.

  Vivian becoming irked by Tracy’s pleading moved in to her desk to get her point across.

  Patricia was standing on the outside of her office door scrolling though her I-phone just in case it got ugly inside. I would fire your behind too the way you’ve been coming and going.

  Vivian was then blown away after Tracie’s cell phone rang and Tracie reached inside her shoulder bag for her phone and began to respond by text.

  The incoming text read, WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU ON YOUR WAY HOME?

  Vivian just stared at her. You’ve got some nerve. If I was sitting here begging for my job, do you think I’m going to have the audacity to respond to a text message.

  Tracie as if the call she received was more important than what was taking place texted, NO, I’M STILL AT WORK TALKING TO MY BOSS.

  The next text read, THAT’S EVEN BETTER. KEEP TALKING TO HER. I TOLD YOU SHE OWES ME.

  Tracie responded, KEEP HER TALKING WHAT ARE YOU DOING VERNON. SHE IS ABOUT TO FIRE ME.

  The incoming text said, SO LET HER. AND YOU BETTER NOT TELL HER WE KICKING IT.

  Vivian was totally shocked by Tracie actions. Not only did she respond to the text she was holding a conversation with whomever texted her.

  “Look I know you saw the sign in the window and it’s your booth that’s for rent. I’m going to give you an option. You can quit or as of now, you are fired. Furthermore, you can keep your booth rent for this month and gather your belongings. Goodbye, Tracie,” and Vivian moved back into her seat to observe Tracie’s response to her firing her.

  Despite the fact that Tracie was an excellent stylist and mainly kept to herself, Vivian knew when it came to firing people that the person you thought you knew could become unpredictable. Vernon was evidence of that.

  A few tears fell from Tracie’s eyes as she folded up her cell phone and looked up at her boss. Tracie rose from her seat and commenced to walk out of Vivian’s office and over to what used to be her booth. She began gathering her belongings. Now mad about being fired she snatched two curling irons from the outlet and with them still hot, stuck them into her blue cotton bag she lifted from the floor. Patricia watched in silence as Tracie grabbed her styling combs and brushes and shoved them into the bag, too, while Vivian observed her from her office doorway. Tracie anger had her snatch open a drawer with more force than needed causing it to disengage from the base. She sighed loudly at the items, her hair pins, head wraps and rollers that scattered to the floor.

  “I’m not picking this shit up,” Tracie mumbled. “You can have it, firing me.”

  Tracie then looked over at Patricia and slightly rolled her eyes at her. Tracie liked Patricia, but disliked she had witnessed her getting fired.

  Patricia kept with her watching.

  Tracie after gathering her things picked up her bag and left.

  While Vivian was firing her stylist Vernon was rummaging through her house after breaking in. Darling approached him and he kicked her violently across the floor. Her backside slammed into one of the cast iron living room chairs. Her cries echoed from the living room walls. The impact was enough to break one of Darling’s back legs. She stuck her tail between her legs and made wailing sounds as she limped helplessly away to seek a hiding place. Vernon then spotted Darren peeking from behind the sofa. “Bring your little ass here,” he said moving over to the sofa. He moved the sofa some, grabbed Darren by the head and then went and threw him hard against the wall. Darren too cried out in pain and was dizzy looking for shelter.

  “I know you got some money around here somewhere,” Vernon uttered and went in Vivian’s bedroom. He lifted her king sized top mattress and flipped it over to the other side of the bed. “Umm, so what do we have here,” he said and lifted a gun atop the box-spring with his gloved hand. “Sis not playing...got herself some protection.” He ran his gloved hand across a thirty-two steel plated pistol. “Leave it to daddy he probably taught you how to use it. Well you won’t be shooting me or anyone with this one. Just what I need and Tracie better not had run her mouth.”

  Vernon unloaded the pistol and put the bullets into the front pocket of the shabby blue jeans he was wearing. He placed the gun in the other pocket then pulled his dingy white t-shirt from inside his jeans to conceal the weapon. He then continued on his hunt for money.

  “I ought to spray this,” Vernon said referring to peeing on her King size bed. He then turned his attention to the walk-in closet looking around at the items inside with a jealous, knotted face. “Now I know damn well you don’t wear all these clothes. And what do you need with all these shoes?” He picked up a dark colored shoe off a five tier rack and tossed it over his shoulder. He repeated this routine with the first row of about eight shoes before smiling in delight at the last shoe he was about to toss. “Oh snaps. Looks like I hit the jackpot,” spotting what looked like a hundred dollar bill sticking out from under the padding of her lavender-colored high heel shoe.

  Vernon ripped the padding out and tossed it over his shoulder. “Bingo,” he said smiling again, removing a small stack of hundred dollar bills. He then tossed the shoe over his shoulder, licked his thumb, and commenced to counting his findings. “A grand, a hundred ninety-nine more thousand and I’ll be straight. You can go on about your merry life.”

  Vernon stashed the bills into the pocket the bullets were in and then headed a few feet over to a small rack with Vivian’s purses. He stood in front of the rack shaking his head at the many different purses. He scanned for one that didn’t look used often thinking it was where she may hide some big bucks. Vernon picked up a red purse with thin, cheap looking straps. “I know damn well you too classy to be seen with this ugly purse. Let’s see what my prize is this time,” and he shook the purse then grinned, licking his lips. “I’m about to get paid again,” he said and opened the purse like you would a bag of potato chips. He reached inside and pulled out a large rubber band stack of bills. He let the purse fall to the floor. “This has got to be at least ten grand,” he said smiling and then he put the money into his back pants pockets. “Man I didn’t think you’d keep this amount of cash around,” and he then headed for the garage where he had came in.

  ***

  It was close to midnight when Vivian, who invited Toni back to her house from an evening out arrived back home. She couldn’t understand why her remote to her garage wasn’t working. She hit the open button again to no avail.

  “It was working this morning,” she uttered.

  Toni in his black SUV behind her got out and walked up to her car. “Is everything okay,” he asked.

  “My remote to the garage isn’t working,” she said and pushed the open button on the remote again.

  “Maybe it needs a new battery,” Toni suggested.

  “Umm, I didn’t think about that,” and Vivian smiled up at him. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to go in through the front door,” and she exited her car.

  Vivian walking the few steps over to her front door with Toni trailing heard Jennifer calling out to her.

  “Excuse me a minute, Toni,” she said and backed up some to see Jennifer sticking her head out her front door.

  “Call me when you get a minute,” Jennifer said, cupping one hand to her ear.

  Toni was looking down the street at the other homes and didn’t see Vivian when she pointed in his direction as if to say, do you see what I have here.

  “Okay,” Vivian said and smiled as she walked past Toni and up the step to her front door.

  They went inside and Vivian went over and flicked on the light switch by the sofa. She then headed to turn off the alarm.

  “What,” she said looking perplexed at the unlit alarm system on a wall near the kitchen.

  “Is everything okay,” Toni asked sliding his hands into his front pants pockets and walking over to Vivian.

  Vivian with her black purse clutched under her arm was still looking peculiar at her alarm system.

  “Umm, I hope the battery isn’t gone in my alarm system too,
” she uttered and quickly dismissed her strange look about the alarm. She was puzzled about something else. “Where are Darling and Darren? They always greet me at the door,” Vivian said looking around. “Uh umm Toni something isn’t right.”

  “You want me to check the rest of the house for you, stay right here,” Toni said without waiting for an answer moved in the direction of the kitchen.

  “Where are my babies?” Vivian said again and now with the feeling something had happened to them. “Darling, Darren,” she called out. They slowly emerged from behind the sofa and with soft cries slowly limped toward her.

  Vivian stood looking shocked. She let her purse drop to the floor as she hurried over to the sofa to meet her limping poodles. She kneeled and with extreme care scooped up Darling who squealed from the pain in her broken leg.

  “My babies, somebody hurt my babies,” Vivian said tearing up and sat where she was, carefully laying Darling in her lap. She gently rubbed the broken leg then the top of her precious poodle’s head while Darling gave little cries of pain. “Come here Darren,” she said looking sadly over at him.

  Darren like a puppy that’s been reprimanded lowered his head and moved slowly toward her. He stopped next to Vivian and rested on his belly panting rapidly. Vivian tried to console Darren rubbing him on his backside.

  “What happened to my babies,” she said and as Toni walked back into the living room from checking the rest of the house out.

  “Baby,” he said walking over to where she was. “Someone broke in.” He glanced back in the direction from which he came, her bedroom, and then looked back at Vivian. “It looks like they entered through the side door of your garage. Your bedroom is in disarray.”

  “Why would they hurt my babies,” Vivian softly cried. “They didn’t have to hurt my babies.”

  Toni kneeled down beside Vivian and removed his cell phone from his shirt pocket and then dialed 911.

  “My girlfriend’s home has been burglarized. Can you send the police? The address is...”

  Vivian quietly wailed about her poodles being hurt.

  “I have to get them to a vet,” she said and laid her hand gently against the side of Toni’s soft face as he disconnected the call to the police. “Why would anyone want to hurt poodles? They’re so precious.”

  Toni wrapped his hands around hers. “I don’t know baby,” and he kissed the palm of her hand. “I don’t know.”

  Minutes later Toni was opening the door for the police.

  “Come in,” he said to the two officers. “This is my girlfriend’s home. We arrived here a short time ago and found that it’s been burglarized.”

  “Are you the homeowner?” one of the officers walking over to Vivian asked.

  “Yes,” she replied with a few bobs of the head.

  The officer removed a small notepad and pen from his breast pocket.

  “I’m Officer Barlow and my partner, Officer James. What is your name?”

  “Vivian Fowler,” she stated and carefully moved Darling in the crease of her left arm then raised herself up from the floor and over to the sofa where she gently laid Darling.

  Officer James headed toward the kitchen to investigate.

  “Approximately what time did you and what is your name sir?” Officer Barlow said looking over at Toni.

  “Toni Gentry.”

  “Mr. Gentry arrive home.”

  Vivian went for Darren cautiously scooping him up. She sat him next to Darling on the sofa.

  “About a half hour ago, she responded and crossed her arms. “Officer, I need to get my poodles to a vet. They’ve been injured,” Vivian informed him.

  “Are the injuries related to the break in?”

  “Yes,” Vivian answered and then began moving in the direction of her bedroom.

  Officer Barlow stopped her. “Ms. Fowler, if you can wait until we’re done investigating. You don’t want to move any evidence. How injured are your dogs?”

  “One of Darling’s, she’s the girl poodle, legs is broken. I’m not sure what is wrong with Darren but he’s panting heavy.”

  Vivian moved back over to her poodles.

  Toni walked over to Vivian and placed his arm around her shoulder. “Baby,” he said. “Why don’t I take them to the vet and you take care of things here?”

  Vivian turned and wrapped her arms around Toni’s waist. “You would do that for me,” she said and a few tears fell. “There’s a veterinarian right off Kedzie and 175th street. Darling and Darren records are there.”

  Toni kissed Vivian softly on the forehead.

  The doorbell rang and Vivian walked over to see who it was. She was surprised to see that it was Vernon at her door. He was dressed like he was on his way to an interview. He had on a black suit with a light gray silk dress shirt and black tie. There was a dark gray belt around his waist and he was wearing a new pair of dress shoes. The lining around his forehead spoke a fresh haircut.

  Vivian not caring about his attire and angry, spat, “Officer arrest him! He did it I know he did!”

  The officer radioed for his partner. “James we have what could be the intruder at the door.”

  Vernon looked behind himself like the officer was speaking about someone else.

  “10-4,” Officer James said and headed upstairs.

  Vernon pointed his thumb toward himself. “Intruder, are you referring to me?” he said. “Girl what are you talking about? I came over here to see how you were doing.”

  Vivian charged at Vernon clawing him in the face and drawing blood. “You did this!” she screamed at him. “You hurt my babies.”

  Officer Barlow grabbed Vivian with one hand bringing her to him and in the same motion extended his other to keep the situation under control. Toni had swiftly moved in Vivian’s direction.

  “I got this,” the officer said.

  Vernon straightened his tie and then said, “What is wrong with you attacking me...girl I’m your brother.” He then placed his hand to his face and on the spot his sister tried to take a plug out of. “Are you trying to disfigure me? I just wanted to know why the police are at your home. I was walking by heading to a friend’s house when I saw the police car out front...just wanted to make sure you’re okay in here.” Vernon then did a quick evaluation of Toni then looked back at Vivian as if he was innocent.

  Vivian eyes were sharp looking at Vernon. She tried to get a positive read that he was responsible for breaking into her home, which never came. His coolness began to irritate her as her eyes deepened at his poise.

  “You can’t fool me, Vernon! I know you did this. You have the nerve to show up here just like you did when my salon was broken into. A bum doesn’t turn into success overnight,” Vivian said fuming.

  Officer James arrived from the basement. “What’s going on? Who is this gentleman?” he asked, observing Vernon from head to toe.

  “He’s my half brother. His name is Vernon...arrest him!” Vivian demanded. “How dare you act like you had nothing to do with this...Officer he threatened me?” Vivian cut her eyes at Vernon, ready to physically go to battle with him. She felt he was taking his threatening her, too far.

  “Ms. Fowler do you have any proof he’s responsible for the break-in. We can’t arrest anyone on suspicions,” the officer replied. “I’m going to turn you lose. However, I advise you not to attack Mr., what is your last name sir?”

  “Fowler, Vernon Fowler Jr.,” he said.

  “Mr. Fowler could press assault charges against you,” Officer Barlow warned and he released Vivian.

  Vernon straightened his tie again, lining it in the middle of his shirt. He then popped both flaps on his suit jacket and gave Vivian a hard look as if to say, I meant what I said. You’re going to give me what’s mine.

  “I have proof! He was here a few weeks ago and he threatened me.”

  “Is that true?” Officer James said and looking Vernon over again.

  Vernon twisted his lips. “I came over here to see how she was doing, the same
thing I did the last time I was here. I’m worried about her living alone.”

  “Vernon you need to stop with your lying! Trust me; it will catch up with you.”

  “I’m sorry, but we can’t arrest him without proof he’s responsible for your break-in,” Officer Barlow said. “Hopefully, forensic will lift his prints. Furthermore, Mr. Fowler as you can see your sister is accusing you of breaking into her home as well as threatening her. I suggest you stay clear of this house.”

  Vernon on the inside was enjoying seeing Vivian upset. “Like I said, I just came by to see how she was doing and to see if she needed any help around her house.”

  Officer Barlow gave Vernon a skeptical look. “I’ll say it again. It would be in your best interest to stay clear of your sister and her home.”

  ***

  About an hour later Vernon arrived on Tracie’s block. Tracie was still upset that she had been fired and felt it was all Vernon’s fault. He called her on a cell phone he purchased with money he had stolen from Vivian.

  “I’m on the corner, come down. I have something for you,” Vernon said.

  “What is it Vernon. I hope it’s another job because I don’t have one now.”

  “Girl, quit your whining and come see what I got you.”

  “Bye,” Tracie said and then went to her daughter’s bedroom, opened the door and poked her head inside.

  “Cassidy, don’t come out of your bedroom. I’m going downstairs to talk to Mr. Vernon, okay.”

  “Okay, mommy,” Cassidy said and resumed looking at television.

  The only time Vernon got to visit Tracie in her apartment was when Tracie sister Fran wasn’t home. Fran disliked Vernon from the time she met him and told Tracie she didn’t want him in her building.

  Tracie would sneak Vernon in sometimes after Fran left her apartment to go to work. Things started changing when Vernon wouldn’t leave when it was time for Tracie to go to work. He would say to her, ‘I guess you’re not leaving today either then, because I’m not going anywhere.’ That’s when Tracie would be forced to call the salon stating she won’t be in or was going to be late.