Romiette and Julio (19 page)

Terrell spat on the ground. “What cops?” he replied with derision. “What they gonna do to us? Devildogs rule, Tex. And we ’bout to show you how. We tried to warn you, but you got to be taught a lesson.”

“What do you plan to do?” Romi asked, fear making her voice quaver a bit.

Terrell was pleased to hear the fear, and he knew that Julio, although tough, was helpless in the face of a gun. He barked his commands quickly. “Rashad,
Mookie, Iceman—the plan. Do it! Malaka, get in the car.” She obeyed.

Instantly the three young men moved forward. Two grabbed Julio before he could react. He fought and cursed and struggled, then he felt the cold steel of a gun on his neck. He stood very still as they tied his arms. The one called Rashad grabbed Romi and roughly yanked her arms behind her. She screamed, “Get your hands off me! Julio! Help!” Her screams were muffled and silenced suddenly as Terrell tossed a dirty sweatshirt over her head. She gasped in confusion and terror as she felt herself being picked up and carried by two sets of arms.

Julio tried to twist toward her, but the barrel of the gun pushed deeper into his neck. He was frantic and kicked his strong legs at his attackers. Terrell, however, moved behind Julio and struck him just behind his knees. Julio fell forward onto his face, but continued to fight. He butted Mookie with his head and rolled over so that his legs kicked Iceman in the shin. “Romi!” Julio yelled. “I won’t let them—” At that, he felt a sickening thud as the butt of the gun hit the back of his head. Julio faced the sky, but darkness had taken him, and the videotape had recorded it all.

The whole ordeal took less than three minutes. Terrell looked around and saw two figures pushing a car in the distance. “Hurry up!” he yelled at his gang. “Get them in the car before somebody comes! Let’s get out of here!”

—Good evening. It’s six o’clock on Channel Six, and this is the news. I am Cornell Cappelle, and with me is Nannette Norris. Good evening, Nannette.

—Hello, Cornell. In the news tonight, the Reds get a new stadium, the Bengals get a new stadium, and plans are being made to get the Olympics to come to Cincinnati in the year 2016. The Olympics? Gee, what a hassle that would be. All those people, and the traffic!

—Thank you, Nannette. I think we have several years before we have to worry about that reality. Perhaps by then you will have made it to prime-time news and moved to New York.

—Oh, no, Cornell. I couldn’t possibly leave the TV Six news team. What would you do without me?

—I don’t know, Nannette. Life around here certainly would not be the same! Also tonight we will continue our special report on teenage gangs in our cities. TV Six has been investigating this story for some time, and it seems that the threat may be overrated. Although our schools have some problems with guns and teen-related crimes, we have found no real evidence of the existence of established gangs in our city. Our children do not have the same pressures as students in Los Angeles or New
York, for example, and we are fortunate to be able to handle these problems in the schools through normal channels of discipline. We will continue this report as our investigation continues. Back to you, Nannette.

—We’ll be back in a moment with exclusive footage of a deer stuck on I-75. Details in a moment.

—Struck, Nannette, not stuck. A car hit a deer on the road.

—And then the deer stuck to the highway?

—Let’s pause here for a station break. We’ll be right back.

Mrs. Cappelle had had a terrible day. She got to work late, the shipment was wrong and had to be reprocessed, a customer came in and stayed for two hours, trying on dozens of outfits, then ended up buying only a hair clip on sale for fifty cents. She finally eased into her car and headed home. She hoped Romi had cooked something. She was starving. She pulled into the driveway just ahead of her husband, who had come home early too since he didn’t have to do the eleven o’clock broadcast. They pulled both cars into the garage and stood together for a moment looking at the threatening sky. The air smelled of rain. Cornell Cappelle breathed deeply of the fresh night air. He held his wife’s hand and sighed. “You know, Lady B., I love my job, and I’m good at it. But that Nannette is going to drive me to drink! She is a total idiot!”

She loved when he called her Lady B. It had been his pet name for her when they were dating in college. “How much longer can they keep her on?” she asked.

“Who knows?” he replied with consternation. “Her uncle is somebody who works in management upstairs.”

“Ratings down at all?” his wife asked as they opened the front door.

“I think ratings are going up because people are watching the show just to laugh at her. It’s not a comedy show—it’s supposed to be the news!” Cornell responded angrily.

She tried to soothe him a bit and change the subject. “Something’s got to give soon, dear. Are you hungry?”

“Yeah, starving. Let’s order Chinese. Where’s Romi?”

“Sounds good to me. Probably in her room. Romi! We’re going to order Chinese food. Want some?” Mrs. Cappelle called. She heard only silence.

“That’s odd,” remarked Mr. Cappelle. “Maybe she’s out back with the dogs.” He strode through the kitchen and looked out the back door. “ROMI!” he called loudly.

“I don’t think she’s here, Cornell.” Fear edged Mrs. Cappelle’s voice. They checked all the rooms in the house and found only darkness and silence.

“Let’s check the answering machine and see if she’s left a message,” Cornell suggested. They did, but all they heard were messages from salespeople and business associates.

“It’s after dark, and she hasn’t called. This is not like her.” He sat on the sofa, a frown on his face. “Well, where could she be? Destiny’s house?”

“I don’t think so, Cornell. When I left for work, she was studying math with the young man from school she gave the puppy to. His name is Julio—Hispanic kid—nice-looking. I think she likes him. I’ve never seen her grin so much.”

“You left her here with a boy you don’t know?” Mr. Cappelle asked his wife accusingly, worry in his voice.

She responded, “It was bright daylight, and they were doing homework. I trust her. She probably just lost track of the time, Cornell. You know how it is.”

“Well, Miss Romiette and Mr. Julio had better call soon. She is usually a lot more responsible. I don’t like this, and I’m getting really worried.” Cornell Cappelle walked across the living-room floor several times. On the floor next to the coffee table was a small square of paper. He recognized Romi’s handwriting and picked it up quickly. “Lady B.! Here’s a note that Romi left. It must have blown to the floor.” They read it together.

Mom,
I went for a walk with Julio. I’ll be back by seven.
Love, Romi

“Seven?” Mrs. Cappelle said in alarm. “It’s almost ten o’clock, Cornell.”

“Did she leave a number?” Cornell asked. “Do you know his last name?”

“No, he’s new. Just moved here a couple of months
ago. I know she talks to him quite a bit on the phone, and she told me that she first met him on the Internet.”

“Internet? That’s how criminals find innocent young girls and then seduce and attack them. What do you know about this kid?” stormed Cornell.

His wife said calmly, “He certainly didn’t look like a criminal. He was personable, polite, and downright cute. I think he liked her too.”

“Now I’m really worried,” Cornell said. “We did a story on Internet criminals. If he’s so sweet and innocent, where is she?”

“Now, let’s not jump to conclusions. Let me call Destiny’s house.” Romi’s mother picked up the phone and called the familiar number. “Hello, Janell, how are you?”

“Working hard, Brianna, as usual. Are the girls at your house?”

Romi’s mother caught her breath. “No, Janell, that’s why I called. You haven’t seen them?”

“No, not today. Destiny left shortly after she got home from school with a boy named Ben. Cute kid with blue hair. She said they were going to the library to do some research. The library closes at nine, so she should be home soon.”

“Blue hair?” Mrs. Cappelle questioned.

“Yes, bright blue. And pierced ears, and nose, and eyebrow.” Destiny’s mother sighed. “But Destiny says he makes straight A’s. Kids these days.”

“Well, would you call me the instant she comes in? I don’t know where Romiette is, and I’m a little worried. I’m sure it’s nothing, but when they start driving,
and riding with kids with blue hair, I worry.”

“Sure, Brianna. I’ll have her call you. And you let me know if Romi gets there before we call.”

“Thanks, Janell. I’ll talk to you soon.” Mrs. Cappelle hung up the phone and frowned. A heavy feeling of dread slowly crept into her body. Something was not right.

Cornell felt it too. “Who else can we call, Lady?” He was pacing the floor.

“It’s a long shot, but let me call her friend Malaka Grimes. They used to be close, and I know they talked just recently about some activity at school. Let’s see, her number is here on the refrigerator somewhere. Here it is.” She punched the number quickly. Her fingers were beginning to shake. “Hello, Malaka, this is Mrs. Cappelle. Have you seen Romi?”

Malaka was in a hurry, but when she heard Romi’s mother’s voice, her breath caught in her throat. She had only stopped by her house to get some duct tape that Rashad had forgotten. She wished she hadn’t answered the phone. Outside, in front of her house, Terrell and the Devildogs waited impatiently. They had important business tonight, and Romi’s mother was the last person Malaka felt like talking to. She answered quickly, “I don’t talk to her much anymore since she started hanging with that foreigner.”

“Foreigner?”

“Yeah, that new kid. I think he’s trouble.”

“Why?” The chill of dread was spreading quickly through Mrs. Cappelle’s body.

Malaka felt powerful. She added maliciously, “I think he’s got gang connections. That’s why they moved here, I heard.”

“Do you know this for a fact, or are you going by hearsay?”

“I just know what I know,” Malaka replied sullenly. “Hey, I gotta go.”

Romi’s mother could feel Malaka’s negative attitude. She knew she’d get very little further information. “Thanks, Malaka,” she said politely. “If you hear from her, call me, OK? I’m getting really worried.” Mrs. Cappelle could hear a car horn honking furiously in the background, but she thought nothing of it.

“Sure,” Malaka replied shortly. “Bye.” She hung up and grinned.
Terrell would be proud of me,
she told herself as she bounded down the stairs and out to the Devildogs.

Mrs. Cappelle hung the phone up slowly. “That was odd,” she said to her husband. “Malaka said the new kid was trouble.”

Cornell turned and faced his wife with anger and worry. “See, I told you! I’m calling the police!”

His wife handed him the phone. “You’re right,” she said, shaking. “I hope we’re overreacting, but let’s call.” Mr. Cappelle’s mind was numb. He couldn’t believe he was about to call the police about his precious daughter, his Romiette, his princess. Then the doorbell rang, jarring his thoughts.

He walked to the front door and looked out the small glass window. Two police officers in blue stood
on his doorstep. Behind them stood Destiny and a boy he had never seen before, the kid with the blue hair. His heart pounded with dread. He looked back at his wife, whose eyes were wide with fright. “It’s the police,” he said quietly. She gasped. He opened the front door, hoping for a miracle, but fearing the worst.

“Mr. and Mrs. Cappelle?” the officer asked.

“Yes, please come in. Does this have something to do with our daughter? What’s happened?”

Mrs. Cappelle gulped huge breaths of air. She fought back tears. “Oh, my God! Destiny? Why are you with the police? Where’s Romi? What’s going on? Who’s the boy with the blue hair?” She was getting frantic.

The police officer, who had encountered many distraught parents, took control of the situation. He spoke calmly and quietly. “Let’s start at the beginning, ma’am. May I sit down?”

“Yes, please.” She motioned vaguely toward the sofa. She sat on the edge of a chair, every fiber bristling with concern. Cornell did not sit. He continued to pace while he listened.

The police officer continued. “At 7:12
P.M.
this evening a 911 call came into dispatch, apparently from Miss Dodson here and Mr. Olsen. They had called to report that their friends, your daughter, Romiette, and a young man by the name of Julio Montague, were apparently missing.”

“Missing?” Romi’s mother stood up. “What do you mean,
missing?
And why did you say ‘apparently’ missing?”

Destiny went over to Romi’s mother and took her cold and shaking hand. Destiny’s hands were cold as well. “Mrs. C., let me tell you the whole story. I’m so scared. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”

“OK, Destiny, let’s sit down. Now tell me everything. Start at the beginning. Young man, are you part of this?”

“Yes, ma’am. My name is Ben. We had a plan, but then something went wrong, and I’m really sorry. Romi never was sure about this whole idea. And Julio said we ought to tell …” Ben looked down at the floor in shame and confusion.

“Tell what?” Cornell demanded. “Will somebody please explain what’s going on? We don’t know where my daughter is, and I want to get to the bottom of this now! Destiny, you start.”

She took a deep breath. “OK. It all started with the Scientific Soul Mate System.”

“The what?”

“No, wait, that’s stupid. That was just a game. This is real. It all started when Romiette and Julio started talking on the Internet. Most of the time the kids we talk to in the chat rooms live in other cities, other states, but it turned out that Romi and Julio lived right here in Cincinnati, and even went to the same school. Freaky.”