Too Salty: Ain't a Damn Thang Changed (Part 6) (16 page)

“My sister. They killed her. They killed my sister. Tonight
, in the store, I finally saw the nigga. I tried. I tried  ...” He coughed. “I tried to revenge her, but I failed.”

“I’m sorry about your sister, I didn’t know.”

“I am, too. Paris was all I had. She was my little sister who held me down like a big sister. My main reason was to get out and save her. I had been on a hunt to find her best friend, she would be the only one to help me. When I saw Yay tonight.”

“Yay Yay
, Paris?” Pam was confused. JB coughed and nodded his head. Blood came out of his mouth. Pam looked over at him and saw that he was gone. She pulled over and jumped out of the car. She cried as she ran.

It was four 'o clock in the morning when the police kicked Wack’s door down and dragging him out of the house in boxers and a shirt. It didn't take anything for the police to ID Wack from the store camera. Two down and two to go. JB was found dead. The cops were looking for the two unidentified women that were involved. They had a clear view of Yay and was sure that with the reward they had on her head, somebody would turn her in. Pam, they couldn't ID her, but they hoped Yay or Wack would lead them to her.

*****

Mrs. K sat at the foot of her bed. She
had been in a bad mood since her daughter was kidnapped and quit edgy, being that she was out of crack. Calvin, she hadn't heard from him and that pissed her off more. It started to become a pattern that every time she needed him, he was MIA.  Mrs. K turned on the television. She sniffed as she wiped her nose with the back of her hand. She scratched her scalp and stared in disbelief. There was a picture of Detective F and the news reported that he was gunned down. "Wow." she stood from the bed and rubbed her arms together as if she was cold. The unnecessary sniffing, the wiping of the nose, and scratching had been a recent habit she picked up since she had been using drugs.  She walked in her bathroom and took a shower. When she got out, she would call Laurie phone to let them know that she would be having Ken released by ten a.m.

Rosa couldn't wait until Dena left the house. She did want to go with her to make sure that everything was tak
en care of for Laurie's sake, but Mrs. K refused her company. It was ok because she'd have a chance to go in her closet. When Mrs. K was in the bathroom, Rosa snuck the key to her closet off her ring. The week Calvin moved in, she thought it was strange that she all of a sudden put locks on the closets. She never questioned her, but always knew something was fishy. She was about to find out what. She rushed over the closet, and unlocked the top and bottom locks. She slid the closet open and walked inside. Upon seeing Calvin’s things hanging up, she frowned. She hated him that much. Rosa took her time to search each piece of his clothes and bags, she needed something, anything, to find out who he really was and what he was all about.

****

Dena sat inside of
Judge Gramble’s chambers with one leg folded over the other. She became inpatient watching the fat hog take his time eating his bowl of oatmeal and pork links.
He just let himself-go
. She thought of how nice and fit he was back in the day.

Judge Gramble and her husband use
d to be good friends. So was she and his wife until she had to show her the hood side of her one day. It was a night that they all went out of town. Gramble and his wife sat on the beach when Dena and her husband came out to join them. Dena always had a nice body and during the right time, she liked to show it off. Plus, her husband thought it was sexy and felt good when she did. That night, Dena had on a one piece that crossed in the front, the entire midsection was out, and her back was out. She had a sheer wrap tied around her and a nice summer hat. Everyone sat on the beach enjoying their cocktails, laughing, and talking. Dena and her husband began to whisper. He challenged her to a dare and Dena thought it was funny.

"What are you two over there giggling about? Gramble asked.

"Oh, nothing, we’re about to hit the water." Mr. K winked at his wife. Dena stood up and took his hand.

"Go
ddamn, girl, you're hotter than Pamela Anderson," Gramble complimented. His wife was used to her husband being a big flirt.

"She's not all that."
She rolled her eyes. Dena looked at her and laughed. "Well, you're not." She adjusted her boobs in her top. Dena was ready to jump at her throat, but her husband pulled her on to the water.

When they stepped foot into the warm water
, Dena took off her clothes. She then took off running into the water. Her husband dropped his shorts and ran after her. From afar, Gramble and his wife saw what was going on. His wife wasn't too fond of the idea, but she went ahead to please her man. The Gramble’s undressed and headed for the water.

"Nice of you guys to join us
," said Mr. K.

Gramble
’s eyes were so focused on Dena. He hadn't heard anything his friend said. The way he kept staring at Dena, his wife got pissed. She looked just as good, if not better, and hers sat perfect.

"How much did that ass cost you?" Gramble asked Mr. K
. His eyes were glued on Dena.

"You know that's all my baby. Her boobs and all." He pulled Dena into his embrace and squeezed her apple bottom.

"Humph, she needs to get it tightened, and those boobs needs a lift. I'll make sure to give you the number to my surgeon," said Mrs. Gramble.  With a smile on her face, Dena walked over to Mrs. Gramble,

"Let me tell you something
, you fake bitch. While you’re paying for ass, tits, and a bad ass tan, mine comes natural. You, my dear, need to fire your surgeon and try going natural, it looks better because the job they did on you have you looking all fucked up." Mrs. Gramble stood with her mouth agape. Dena continued. “Let me not get started on those lips, who did them? Sue their ass, wasting all that money and still looked messed up." Dena placed her hands on her hips.

"Dena
, baby, that's your friend." Mr. K grabbed her.

"No, I was her friend. The way she just talked to me
, I will never deal with her again,” said Mrs. Gramble as she walked away. "Come on, John," she called out to her husband.

Mr. Gramble shook his head. He knew he wouldn't hear the end of it. That night
, his wife requested he cut all ties with Dena and her husband. He didn't do either, but he did make sure never to mention them around her.  Dena and Gramble did several favors involving legal matters. Her being a big time attorney and he being a well-respected judge, and their secret friendship, they often scratched the other’s back.

*****
 

"Dens," said Gramble. He'd just
finished eating his breakfast. "Do you know why I'm taking my time?"

"No
, I don't, and I don't appreciate it." She stood up. “My fucking…" She stopped mid-sentence. It wasn't his business why she needed the favor, all he needed to do was do it.

"Well
, I don't appreciate you becoming a junky." He jumped up from the chair and walked around the table. "What the hell has driven you to this? Why in the world would go out and get mixed up in some shit like that? Despite your designer clothes and beautiful face, honey, it's written all over you." He shook his head. Besides being a judge, Gramble grew up in poverty with a family full of junkies. He knew one when he saw one.

"Look
, don't preach to me. Just have him released." She stormed out the chamber. Gramble sat back down and hit his fist on the desk.
I will not let you destroy your life
, he thought as he picked up his phone to make a call. He then texted Dena to let her know what he’d done.

Dena
sat in her car at Forest Lawn Memorial Park waiting for Laurie to be dropped off.  She thought about what Gramble said and became annoyed.
Is it that obvious?
She thought as she looked at herself in her Bobby Brown compact. She picked up the Red Bull and took a sip.
I look good. I don't know what the hell he is talking about
. She closed the compact and tossed it in her purse. Dena picked up the Red Bull again and took another sip. Just as she placed the drink in her cup holder, the phone rang. Thinking it was Laurie, she hurriedly answered it.

"I'm here." She was amped up.

"Where? “Calvin sounded angry. She took the phone from her ear, looked at it, and placed it back on her ear.

"Oh
, now you wanna call? I don’t have time for this." She hung up. All of sudden he wanted to call when she hadn't heard from him since she got the room.

Calvin called back
, but Dena didn't answer. Her phone beeped, indicating a text message.

I don't know what the fuck your problem is
, but I know you better calm your ass down. I was in jail. I saw the nigga that robbed me and beat his ass. I just got out. I'm on my way to your house. You better be there
.

She rolled her eyes at the message.
He could have called before now
, was what she thought.

Dena glanced at the area where Diesel and her late husband was put to rest. She thought about going to visit them
, but the shame she carried wouldn't allow her to get out. She didn't want them to see her while she was on drugs.  Maybe when she got Laurie back she would be able to go over there and they all could hangout like they used to. Her lip quivered and she started to cry.

*****

Big Man
cracked and smile and jumped out the truck when he saw his nigga Ken standing in front of the county jail. Ken had his hand up to block the sun, so he didn't see Big Man. Big Man honked the horn and Sandra got out. She called his name a few times before he saw them. He jogged to the car. He gave Sandra a quick hug before hopping in the front seat and giving Big Man a pound.

"Where's G? Take me to my girl
," Ken said all in one breath.

"Hold up
." Big Man pulled his cell from the charger and dialed up G.

"Tell me something good
," Pastor G greeted the caller.

"Where Jazz at?" He heard Ken in the background
, and chuckled.

"Tell him were all going together and to just chill." G hung up the phone. He looked at Laurie. "I like how your mom does business."

"Whatever, just take this off my eyes and uncuff me. I hope it was worth it."

"Was it worth you lying on an innocent man after you knew he beat and raped your best friend? Was that fucking worth it?" Pastor G was pissed.

"He was my brother,” was all she said. That was enough to let him know she had no remorse. “But, I felt bad. I swear.” Laurie thought of the morning she saw her brother with blood all over him after hurting her best friend and his girl.

"Y'all Kenslow
s ain't shit. Watch how Karma fucks up your family." He stepped out the car, slammed the door, and walked around the corner to where he saw Dena parked.

****

I ran out of my white friend, go get me some more.
Dena texted Calvin. She was mad with him, but she needed what she wanted.

Money?
he text back.

Office top drawer
, the pin is 4510.There is an emergency ATM card.

Alright :)

"Get out and come get her." Pastor G startled her
. She jumped, holding her chest. When she realized who it was, she looked around.

"Where is she?"

"I'm glad you did what was told. Follow that path." He pointed in front of him.

"How long do you think that murderer will walk the streets before he runs out of luck?"

"He didn't kill him, but he should've. Now, shut the hell up." They walked to the car in silence. "It was easy for me to get to her ... Don't try nothing stupid and we all will be straight. Karma is a birch and it will pay us back." He handed Dena the key to the cuffs. She ran to the car.

"Omg
, what happened to her head?"

“She ran into a problem.”  He shrug
ged his shoulders. "Go get it checked. It won't stop bleeding."

Laurie scream
ed and cried. While they were reuniting, G ran to the road. He had a smile on his face as he watched Big Man pull up with his boy. No time to chit chat, he jumped in the car. Dena and Laurie turned to look. Dena and Ken stared eye to eye. She was holding Laurie and looked petrified. Ken shook his head, and Big Man leaned over Ken and out the window.

“Next time
, the boogie man won't be so nice.” He laughed a sinister laugh. Sandra rolled her window down and waved bye.

Mrs. K was confused. She didn't know what she wanted to do
with that situation. All she wanted at the moment was to be with her family just one more time. She walked Laurie over to her husband and son’s gravesites the two sat there talking, crying, apologizing, and going back down memory lane.