I saved my bedroom for last. Pumpkin seemed to gravitate there. Probably because she knew it unnerved me. Relief enveloped me when I entered my untouched room.
I placed a call to Deonté at the boutique to make sure everything was okay, then called the hospital for an update. No further developments. I decided to rest a little. I would need my strength for when Rory awakened.
Feeling free for the moment, I undressed on the spot, slowly removing my business suit to reveal the results of my workouts. I left my heels on, removing my pants over them. Despite Tanner’s actions, I rarely felt sexy. Maybe I should, but it was as though a part of me were missing. I allowed myself to stay in front of the mirror. Curious. The underwearwas attractive, matching. My skin was flawless. Even my heels weren’t bad.
Way too analytical.
I grimaced, wondering if I were turning into a version of Tanner.
As I swiveled, I found myself appreciating the body that filled out my bra and panties.
I do look nice
, I thought to myself. A smile crept across my weary face.
Maybe a little sexy, too.
I struck one of those “come fuck me” poses from the magazines, igniting a sudden feeling of mischievousness.
Bad Bianca.
Since I was ditching it anyway, I unfastened the clasp on the front of my bra. As each cup released, I covered a breast. Just a tease for a pair of imaginary wanting eyes. It felt good visualizing myself this way.
Seeing the beauty for myself rather than through others’ eyes.
“Trying to be sexy?” Pumpkin asked. I shrieked, grabbing my bra off the floor to cover myself again.
She’d sneaked up on me, emerging from my walk-in closet. The one place I hadn’t checked. Probably trying on my clothes again.
Bitch.
“You know you can never be me,” she teased as she appraised my body, a lollipop dangling from her mouth. When her assessment was finished, she flicked off her shoulders the long black hair atop her head. “Never,” she repeated for emphasis.
27
PUMPKIN
“I’d never want to be you,” Bianca asserted. Such a liar, that one.
“Keep telling yourself. One day you might believe it. Did I scare you?”
“Yes.” She gathered her discarded clothes, quickly grabbing a silk robe off the bed. Her body was nice, but I’d never tell her. “And why are you always in my closet?” she hissed.
“Relax. I was just putting something back. Finally bought some stuff of my own.”
“With what?” Bianca asked. “You have nothing. Oh, that’s right. You stole from me.”
“Don’t you think you owe me? After all I’ve been doing for you?”
“For me? I want you gone, Pumpkin. For good. We just had an incident downstairs with one of your friends. I don’t know what kind of chaos you’re out there causing. It’s scary.”
“Oh. Henry.”
“I knew it! Yes. Henry.”
“I’ll set him straight about coming around here unannounced.”
“Either do it or Tanner will. Did you know he used to work for him?”
“I may have found out later.”
“Did you know he was stealing?”
“Maybe.”
“And that doesn’t bother you? Oh, that’s right. You two are birds of a feather.”
“Keep getting flip with me and I’ll give you a finger, all right. I said I would set him straight.”
“Like you’re capable of handling something without messing it up.” Bianca laughed.
“I really don’t like this new attitude you’re trying to sport. While you’re trying to
medicate
and sleep your problems away, I’m out here taking care of business. I’m really not the bitch to mess with, so choose your words carefully.”
“That’s it,” she yelled. “I’m telling Tanner all about you. He’ll make you leave.”
I smirked. Don’t know what her doctor had her hopped up on, but she was amusing. I was hungry.
Time to break a few eggs
, as they would say. “Tanner knows I’m here, dumb-ass. And after the visit I had with him the other night, I don’t think he’d agree with you.” Omelets, if you will.
“You didn’t.”
“Hey, we’re blood. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t done it before. Now, your friend, on the other hand . . .”
“Who?”
“The great sightless wonder,” I sang. “The over-tanned and oversexed blonde.”
“Rory . . .” She wept.
“Yep. Tanner’s had that. A
bunch
.” I chuckled.
“I don’t believe you. You’re just being evil. Pure evil.”
“Never said I was pure, babe. As far as evil, don’t think I can top having a child with my wife’s best friend. Now . . .
that’s
pretty evil. Or a good episode of
Maury Povich
, at the least.”
“You’re lying.” Her jaw trembled. A woman more used to being on the receiving end, she was ready to inflict pain for a change.
“What do I have to do to make you see, Bianca? Do you just tune out everything?”
“Wait. You called her sightless. . . .”
I nodded, a big smile forming as I reflected on my handiwork. “Just looking out for you. Protecting what’s yours.”
She took a seat on her bed, hands trembling as she clawed at the comforter. She was about to pass out again from the stress of the revelations. Maybe I’d been too harsh. Too much, too soon for such a fragile, delicate mind as hers.
“You are sick. I should call the cops on you,” she spat.
I sat next to her. “Go ahead,” I whispered in her ear. “Do it. I’ll just tell them it was your idea. And who do you think they’ll believe? For all they know, I don’t even exist.”
Bianca lay in the fetal position on the bed, whimpering. A helpless pile of mush. I kissed her on her forehead, telling her it would all work out in the end.
Her phone rang before I had a chance to leave.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get it.”
She didn’t reply. Still weeping and rocking atop the pillow-top, a blank stare affixed.
It was the hospital, giving an update on Rory. She was conscious. I gave them a message to take back to her. The nurse seemed disturbed by its contents, but said she’d deliver it. Like I’d told Bianca, I was just protecting what was hers.
I left in search of something suitable to wear. All this crying was making this a depressing place. Maybe it was time to move out.
28
HENRY
I was already missing this town. In one form or another, I knew I was leaving it.
I’d spent the last few hours nursing my wounds from Coleman’s pit bull of a doorman.
I was on foot, deprived of the car I’d returned to the dealer, albeit a little banged up. “Send me the bill,” I said. An inside joke over their objections and questions.
I strolled, delusional. Almost like I didn’t have a care or concern. Ragged and scruffy, I was ignored by the world that used to cater to me. The rumble and raucousness of midday traffic on Tolliver, the corner deli I liked so much on weekends and my occasional day off, the rib joint where I could never get the smell of sauce off my fingers. The aloof Jamaican girl on the third floor whom I should’ve stepped to.
Instead, I’d rescued Pumpkin on a cold, wet night.
Tanner Coleman’s sister-in-law.
And she’d played me. Manipulated me by her words and actions for her own perverse pleasure. I knew she was somewhat off, but loved the rush I felt in her presence. She was unpredictable. A wild card, she’d given me a second chance, even though I’d squandered it on that stupid game.
But still . . . she’d played me. Bad.
Fucking Tanner Coleman.
She knew the whole time. Listening to me gripe and complain while laughing on the inside. Silly me.
I tried suppressing any feelings of gratitude I had for her, exchanging them for the bitterness of the betrayed. If I’d known what I know now, I would’ve let that car plunge into the river with her in it. I should’ve never left the parking lot that night. Maybe I should’ve put that gun to my head, for I couldn’t feel any more dead than I did now.
My walk took me to my apartment, where I hoped Kash hadn’t left anybody on guard. My intention was to load as much as I could into a suitcase, then leave for parts unknown. I still had my wits and a college degree. Two steps up, as far as I was concerned. As cold as it felt, my heart still beat. I could rebuild.
I was missing my entry key for the front entrance, used to simply driving into the garage. I buzzed, then waited. The manager, a stumpy retiree, shuffled over . . . then paused without opening for me.
I waved at him in his plaid shirt and sweater vest, wondering if his eyes were working. He strained again with his eyes.
“Henry Robinson,” I called out. “I left my card upstairs.”
That was when I knew how far I’d truly fallen. This man had seen me before, usually speaking in cordial, soft utterances. Now I had to hold up my driver’s license to the door to convince him I belonged.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Robinson,” he apologized profusely. “You didn’t look quite yourself. And these days, you never can be too certain.”
“It’s all right,” I said dismissively, my annoyance obvious. “I don’t
feel
quite myself either. Amazing how others see you when you’re not
quite
at your best. Something to think about, I guess.”
Rather than taking the elevator, I figured I’d err on the side of caution. I found the rarely used stairwell and quickly ascended.
Reaching the fourth floor, I bumped into Mr. Reyes as he exited from my floor above. He wore nothing but a robe and slippers. The scholarly voyeur had a lady friend up there whom he fancied. He seemed embarrassed by my catching him, but I didn’t have time for taunts or teasing.
“Good afternoon,” he offered as I shoved past him in the tiny confines.
“Hey.”
“Um . . . I think you should know—”
“I know, I know. I won’t say anything about you and your friend. I’m in a hurry, Mr. Reyes. Talk to you some other time.”
“But, wait. There were so—”
I’d already bounded up the last few steps, reaching my floor. “Another time, Mr. Reyes,” I yelled down to him. Honestly, the man didn’t know when to let it go. He was lucky I didn’t get in his face about watching me and Pumpkin that time.
My door was still locked. No break-in or eviction, which was a good sign. I was about to insert my key when something drew my attention. My ears twitched. I had become acclimated to being prey. On the far end of the hall, they appeared. Kash’s people. Two of them had chased me outside Burger King. Inside my apartment, I heard footsteps.
Leaving my key in the door, I turned and hauled ass toward the stairs. The large men were faster than I figured. I was overtaken, swept off my feet as if I were a toy. They covered my mouth before I could scream, spiriting me into the gaping jaws of my darkened apartment. The door slammed shut.
“Cleveland. Already in the hole with me . . . and this motherfucker bet on Cleveland.” Kash cackled. Against my will, I sat motionless on the floor, my apartment feeling more like a cave in which I was trapped. I’d watched the sun set through my window, unable to enjoy it for even a second. “And with my motherfuckin’ money. You’re a fuckin’ genius, Henry. No wonder you got fired.”
The four men thought it funny. They’d tired of chasing me and were looking to work off their stress upside my head. At least they’d waited until Kash arrived with Lupe. That didn’t make me feel better. Lupe wasn’t smiling tonight. That confirmed that the ride might be over. I imagined a big roll of plastic down in the car that they’d put me on to avoid a mess. I suddenly felt nauseous.