Clickbait

by Evelyn Dar

  “Maddy–”

  “Laylah, I’m fine.”

  Laylah sighed. “If one of them even walks near the hallway, you scream bloody murder, okay?”

  “Why? So we can both get killed?”

  “Yes,” Laylah said.

  Maddy squeezed her hand and opened the door. “Go.”

  Laylah walked in the room, her emotions a chaotic mess.

  Avery sat cross-legged on a twin bed, blindfolded and bound. She looked no worse for the wear, although for the first time, Avery’s well-being was the last thing on Laylah’s mind.

  Laylah shut the door, and Avery tilted her head.

  “Laylah?” she whispered.

  Laylah remained silent.

  “I know it’s you,” Avery said. “I can’t explain, but you just feel different.” She swallowed. “Better.”

  Laylah wasted no time. “You lied to me. You tricked me into bringing you that stupid heart when I was just trying to help you.”

  Avery’s sharp laughter made Laylah jump. “You weren’t trying to help me.”

  “Of course I was.”

  “You were just trying to cover your own tracks. I know”–Avery’s voice wavered–“I know you drugged me at the party.”

  The air whooshed from Laylah’s lungs and she plopped down on the bed. “None of this was supposed to happen. I only wanted justice for my mom.” She clenched her jaw. “She didn’t deserve what happened to her.”

  “And I do?” Avery asked. “Eye for an eye, right?”

  Laylah pulled down Avery’s blindfold, but wasn’t prepared for the furious brown eyes that greeted her. She gritted her teeth, her resentment finally getting the best of her. Maybe she loved Avery. But maybe she hated her, too.

  “Look around,” Laylah said quietly.

  Avery glared at her.

  “No, really look around.” Laylah stomped on the floor. “Shitty, cheap carpet that’s as thin as paper.” She pointed to a window where frost had collected on the inside ledge and was melting onto the floor. “Shitty insulation.” She gestured to the entire room. “This whole place is a shit hole. And I live a mile away.” Her face fell. “This is me. This is because of your father.”

  The animosity in Avery’s eyes vanished.

  “No.” Avery stood and approached Laylah. “I know you and this isn’t you.”

  Laylah stepped back. “A girl like you could never know me.”

  Avery sighed. “How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not my father.”

  “Aren’t you?” Laylah asked. “You knew what he did, but you let him burn my mother as a campaign sacrifice.”

  “I-I know…I should have said something. Principal Carter didn’t deserve that. I’m so sorry, and I will always be sorry.”

  Avery’s apology might as well have been in Greek. The damage had already been done. Their lives were still ruined.

  Heartache and rage filled Laylah. “I don’t know why I expected more from you. If you were smart enough to do the right thing, you wouldn’t have needed help to get into Harvard.”

  Avery gasped, and Laylah knew her words had landed with the damage she’d intended. When Avery opened her eyes, they were shimmering with tears. Wordlessly, she sat on the bed, and stared straight ahead.

  Laylah pulled up the blindfold and opened her mouth, then quickly shut it. It was better this way. It was stupid of her to imagine she and Avery could be…anything.

  She turned around and walked out.

  ****

  Avery tried to keep from trembling as the bed sunk under Reggie’s weight.

  “Aight, rich girl,” Reggie said. “I heard you wanted to talk to me. So talk.”

  Avery swallowed and prayed she was doing the right thing. “He won’t pay.”

  “Welp, I guess yo ass is dead.”

  The bed shifted, and Reggie’s weight lifted.

  “I know you want the money more than you want to kill me,” Avery said quickly. “I’ll make sure he pays.”

  Reggie snorted. “He gone pay.”

  “You don’t know him. Teddy will only pay if you threaten what he cares about most.”

  “No shit,” Reggie said. “That’s why we got you.”

  It was Avery’s turn to laugh. “If you kill me, Teddy and his staff will spin the resulting sympathy vote all the way to the White House. I promise, if you go to the drop, the entire police department will be waiting for you.”

  Silence.

  “How you gone make him pay?” Reggie finally asked.

  “You’re going to send him a text message,” Avery explained. “I’ll tell you exactly what to write and trust me, he won’t go to the police.”

  Reggie sniffled. “Why you trying to help me?”

  An image of Laylah’s accusing eyes and disappointed face popped into Avery’s head. “Because no matter what I do, I will always be a campaign accessory to him. The front-page fire station baby.” She gritted her teeth. “Just a shitty replacement no one wanted.”

  Reggie snorted. “White people crazy.”

  “I agree,” Avery said.

  “Aight,” Reggie agreed. “Let’s do this.”

  “Do you have your phone?” Avery asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Type, 129-43954.”

  “What the fuck is that?”

  “A specimen ID number.”

  “For what?”

  Avery swallowed. “A three-year-old rape kit.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Laylah squinted against the glare of oncoming headlights as she made a left-hand turn into unfamiliar terrain. The rust-covered Nissan SUV groaned heavily, and Laylah wondered if the dilapidated vehicle would make it to their destination.

  She knew nothing of the car’s origin, only that Reggie had instructed Juice to bring him a car with a clean VIN, and thirty minutes later Juice returned with the Nissan.

  Laylah gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove through an impoverished area of the city, she’d never been in. It was only 10 p.m. but the streets were overrun with drug dealers, prostitutes and the wandering homeless. Laylah double-checked the door locks.

  Maddy growled and repositioned her phone. “Damn lens flare. I can’t see anything.”

  “You filming?” Stacy asked from the backseat.

  “We’re probably all going to die tonight,” Maddy replied, “So yes, I want a record of this ridiculous episode of Scandal that has become my life.”

  “Ain’t nobody dying tonight,” Stacy said, an edge to his voice.

  Maddy snapped her fingers. “Oh, that’s right. The attorney general is just going to give you a hundred thousand dollars in unmarked bills and let you and your brother retire to the Poconos, where I’m sure you’ll live happily ever after because your brother’s such a swell guy.”

  Stacy grunted.

  Laylah pulled up to the entrance of a parking garage that looked more like an abandoned demolition site. She gazed at the crumbling four-story building, her apprehension growing tenfold. “It looks like it’s going to collapse on top of us.” She checked the rear-view mirror for the millionth time since leaving Stacy’s apartment. “Are you sure this is the place?”

  “Yeah,” Stacy replied. “This the spot we used to run deals out of before Reggie got locked up. Drive up to the third level.”

  Laylah switched on the Nissan’s high beams and entered the pitch-black garage. After dodging several gaping holes and a few wild animals, she came to a stop on the empty third level.

  Stacy handed Laylah and Maddy ski masks.

  “What now?” Laylah asked.

  Stacy cracked his knuckles and leaned back. “Now…we wait for Reggie.”

  ****

  Avery leaned against the car door in hopes of relieving the pressure on her back. She’d lost count of how long she’d been tied up, but her fingers were beginning to go numb and her back was killing her.

  Thankfully, the car’s plush leather seats lessened her discomfort and although Avery was blindfold
ed and the car reeked of marijuana, she recognized the feel of a high-end luxury vehicle.

  The atmosphere inside the car had been tense since they’d left, with Reggie cursing and screaming at the slightest inconvenience. He even made Juice pull over so he could drive because Juice ‘drove like a little bitch.’ It was obvious Reggie was scared and a scared Reggie was a dangerous Reggie.

  Avery closed her eyes behind her blindfold and held in a sob. She was cold, frightened, and heartbroken. No matter what happened tonight, at least this whole thing would be over. One way or another.

  Someone touched her back, and Avery jumped. Terrified Reggie had stuck her in the back seat with one of his handsy goons, she prepared to headbutt her would-be rapist the moment his hand drifted lower. But that never happened. Instead, the hand patted her upper back and squeezed her shoulder.

  Kendrick.

  Avery was so relieved she could weep. She wanted to lean into him and cry for all she was worth, but the sound of a dial tone snapped her out of her self-pitying state. Kendrick’s hand fell away and Avery held her breath and listened to Reggie’s digitally altered voice.

  “101 N Carson Road.” Reggie.

  “Carson Road?” Teddy.

  “Did I fucking stutter?” Reggie.

  “Carson Road is nothing but prostitutes and addicts.” Teddy.

  “There’s an abandoned parking garage on the corner.” Reggie “And don’t forget…if I see one cop, that text message is going straight to CNN. Understood?”

  “Can I…can I speak with Avery?” Teddy.

  Avery gasped softly. The man on the other end of the line didn’t sound like the self-assured braggart of a man she knew as Teddy. The voice on the line sounded like a man terrified of losing his daughter.

  The duct tape was removed from her mouth and Reggie sighed.

  “Bitch, say something. The phone’s in front of you.”

  Avery swallowed. “D-daddy?”

  “Avery.” A deep sigh. “I’m sorry.”

  Avery’s heart soared. “It’s okay, Daddy. I’m okay.”

  “You shouldn’t have–”

  “Aight, that’s enough.” Reggie. “You got ten minutes.”

  ****

  Laylah stared into the headlights of the nondescript car that had just parked in front of them. It could have been any pedestrian car made for blending in and commuting, but not much else. The type of car a man like Teddy Bradley would never be caught dead in.

  The car cut its headlights.

  Laylah locked eyes with Stacy in the rear-view mirror. “Should I turn off my headlights too?”

  “Not unless you can see in the dark,” he replied.

  “Oh,” Laylah whispered. “Right.”

  Maddy handed Stacy two iPhones.

  “What I need two for?” he asked.

  “One for us to listen and the other for recording,” Maddy replied.

  “What?”

  Maddy sighed. “Just put one in each pocket and don’t touch.” She popped an AirPod in her left ear and handed the other to Laylah. “It’s a righty.”

  Laylah nodded, but her heart was pounding so loudly she could barely hear Maddy. She inserted the AirPod, and a muffled rustling filled her ear. She looked at Maddy, whose eyes mirrored Laylah’s own terror.

  Stacy pulled out his gun and cocked it.

  The sound made Laylah’s stomach hurt.

  “Aight,” Stacy said.

  Maddy stared at him. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Stacy snorted. “Hell, no. But I don’t got a choice. You know that.” He sighed. “But uh, if this shit goes sideways and I don’t make it–”

  “I was joking,” Maddy said. “No one’s going to die.”

  “Just cause it was a joke, don’t make it not true.”

  “That’s a double negative,” Maddy whispered.

  “I don’t know what the fuck that means but uh, I do know you one pretty ass girl.” He looked away. “And uh, before I go out there, I want you to know, I don’t think you weird or nothing. But even if you are, I must be weird too, cause I still like you and shit.”

  “Yeah?” Maddy said, her voice quivering.

  Stacy nodded. “Bet.”

  “I swear to God if you die,” Maddy said. “I’m going to kill you.”

  Stacy chuckled and carefully pulled up the bottom of Maddy’s mask, exposing her mouth and leaned forward. Their lips met in what looked like a fairy tale kiss. But this was as far from a fairy tale as they could get.

  Laylah cringed, hating what she had to do. “Um, you guys?”

  Stacy pulled away first, and for a moment it looked like Maddy was kissing the air.

  He pulled down his mask and gripped the door handle. “Do it.”

  Laylah flashed the Nissan’s headlights twice and waited.

  Thirty seconds later, the driver’s door opened, and Teddy climbed out, a manila envelope in his hand. He walked forward until he was bathed in the Nissan’s headlights. Laylah held her breath, waiting for a hail of gunfire to open behind him or the swat team to drop from the roof and surround them.

  But it was just Teddy and his envelope.

  Stacy climbed out of the SUV and slammed the door behind him

  Maddy held up her phone with shaking hands. “I can’t fucking breathe.”

  “Yes, you can,” Laylah said calmly. “Are you recording?”

  Maddy nodded.

  They watched as Stacy approached Teddy, his gun at his side.

  Teddy thrusted the envelope forward.

  Laylah cupped the AirPod and held her breath.

  “What the fuck is that?” Stacy.

  “Your money.” Teddy.

  “You trying to tell me you fit a hundred K in that lil ass envelope?”

  “It’s twenty thousand dollars.”

  “Where’s the rest?”

  “I told you I needed more time.”

  Stacy raised the run and aimed it at Teddy’s chest. “You think this is a fucking game?”

  Maddy gasped. “Stacy, no.”

  “I can’t create money out of thin air, son,” Teddy said calmly. Too calmly.

  Laylah’s stomach churned.

  “Don’t you get it?” Stacy’s arm shook. “He will kill your daughter. He will put a bullet in her head.”

  “Are you going to take it or not,” Teddy asked nonchalantly. “My arm is getting tired.”

  “Don’t you care, man? She’s your fucking blood.”

  “No, she’s actually not.”

  Stacy glanced back at them, but Laylah knew he could only see the glare of the headlights.

  Teddy shook the envelope in his hand. “Take it, boy.”

  Stacy lowered his gun a few inches, snatched the envelope, then raised it back. “You a piece of shit, man. He’s going to kill her, and you don’t even care.”

  “What can I say?” Teddy shrugged. “I tried.” He turned around, then paused. “Oh, and feel free to forward that salacious text message to CNN. I had that kit destroyed the moment my friends from the police department called me.”

  “Kit?” Stacy asked. “What are you talking about?”

  Teddy squinted. “Jesus, you’re the low man on the totem pole, aren’t you?”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Stacy demanded.

  Teddy sneered. “Tell your boss, or whoever is running this sad excuse of an operation, their pathetic attempt at blackmail didn’t work. Without evidence no reputable news station would publish such slander.”

  “Didn’t you hear me, old man?” Stacy asked. “She’s as good as dead now.”

  Teddy sighed. “Well, I suppose you boys have to do what you have to do. But don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, and tell my selfish, traitorous bitch of a daughter…good luck.” He turned around.

  “Yo, where you going?” Stacy called after him. “We not done here!”

  ++++

  Laylah watched as Teddy climbed into his
car and drove away. Stacy just stood there, gun in one hand, envelope in the other. Laylah looked into Maddy’s disbelieving eyes.

  “What just happened?” Maddy asked.

  “I don’t know.” Laylah closed her eyes. “But I think Teddy Bradley just killed his own daughter.”

  ****

  A car door slammed shut and Avery held her breath. Was it her father? Was it Laylah?

  “Grab her,” Reggie said, and seconds later someone dragged her across the back seat and yanked her out of the car.

  “Where’s the money?” Reggie asked.

  The sound of rustling paper.

  “What the fuck is this?” Reggie screamed.

  Avery froze.

  “He said that’s all he could get.” Stacy.

  “You better not be fucking lying to me, bro,” Reggie said. “Cause I swear to God.”

  “Nah, man I’m not–”

  The unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked.

  “No, don’t!” Maddy.

  Avery turned her head toward Maddy’s voice when something cold and hard was

  pressed against the side of her head.

  “You lying bitch,” Reggie hissed in her ear.

  Avery’s blindfold was ripped off, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

  “Look at me!” Reggie demanded.

  “Please, don’t,” Avery cried, her eyes still closed.

  Reggie laughed so loud it hurt Avery’s ears. “You set me up with that text message bullshit.”

  “I didn’t,” Avery said. “I swear, it should have worked. I-I don’t know why he didn’t–”

  Reggie interrupted her with a high-pitched mocking tone. “I-I don’t know why he didn’t –” He growled. “You gone learn not to fuck with me, rich girl.”

  A tear ran down Avery’s cheek, but she refused to open her eyes. “The t-text…you can still send it.”

  “Shut up!” Reggie yelled. “Bro, pull up the live stream. I want him to watch his baby girl eat it.”

  “You don’t have to do this.” Stacy’s voice sounded close. “She still got her eyes closed. We can take the twenty grand and skate.”