Consequences (24 page)

“What do you mean?”

“I mean . . . she
expected
him to come by and when he didn't she'd fall apart.”

I was so stunned by her confession that I didn't know what else to say except for the obvious. “What does this have to do with my son?” I didn't mean to sound like I didn't care, but I needed to first deal with finding my son; then I would focus on the source of my husband's pain.

“I think they both were grieving and trying to find a way to cope. Most times he took Aiden over there with him.”

“So you think he left my son with Jackie?” I wanted so desperately to think that Donovan left Aiden with her while he went out to the mental hospital to ask Kenyon about the letter. But if that was the case, why the hell hadn't she brought him home to me yet?

“I've been trying to reach Jackie for days and tonight she finally returned my call. We were discussing my father who had recently been in the hospital, when I heard a child in the background crying. When I questioned her about it, she hung up on me.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Do you think it was Aiden?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “I really don't know.” There was a long moment of silence before she spoke again. “You have to understand, my sister kinda snapped after losing not only her husband, but their baby as well.”

“I don't have to understand shit! That bitch has no right keeping my son.”

Malinda jerked back. “Listen, you don't have to call Jackie a bitch. I'm just here tryna help.”

“And I appreciate it.” I should have known something was up the way she had been holding my husband's hand. Last week Jackie's ass was all up at the hospital smiling in my face while she was hiding my son. “Take me to her. Take me to my son.”

She shook her head. “I don't know where she's at. I drove by her house on the way over to the station, but she wasn't there.”

I suddenly remembered something. “Wait a minute . . . she had said something to me about renovating some old house, that it was therapeutic.”

Malinda was quiet and I could tell she was thinking about what I had just told her before a frown marred her forehead. “They had bought a fixer-upper in Belleville before Smitty was deployed. But I thought she decided to sell that house.”

Obviously she didn't know her sister as well as she thought. “Do you know where it is?”

She nodded. “I'm sure I could find it.”

“Good, then I'll follow you.” I hurried over to Tristan. He was sitting inside his car, with the music playing, waiting. I was shaking so bad I could barely speak.

“What she say?” he asked the second I climbed in on the passenger's side.

“S-She thinks h-her sister has Aiden.”

“Oh my goodness!” he cried and waved his hand. “Hallelujah!”

I pointed in the direction of the white Kia Sorrento. “Just follow her.”

My heart was pounding so hard I had to take several deep breaths just to slow it down. The drive to Belleville would take thirty minutes and I wasn't sure I could sit still that long. I was both nervous and upset as I replayed the conversation with Tristan. The whole time I couldn't help but wonder, what if Malinda was wrong and Jackie didn't have Aiden?

“Hey, you okay over there?” Tristan took his eyes away from the expressway long enough to look my way.

“It depends on how you define okay. I wish this car had wings so we could be there in seconds, but at the same time I'm afraid to get there and find Aiden isn't.”

Tristan reached over and squeezed my hand. “Uh-uh! We're having none of that, girlfriend! You just need to think positive. He's there. I can feel it in my bones.”

I released a long, shaky breath. “I sure hope so.”

There was a long moment of silence before he spoke again. “I went by the shop today,” he said, and I appreciated him changing the subject.

“Really? How did that go?” I couldn't imagine the crew giving him a warm reception.

“I strutted in making sure everyone saw the diva that I am.” He grinned. “I said, ‘Your new boss is in the house!' and, girl, you could have heard a pin drop as quiet as that place became. All eyes were on me . . . just the way I like it.”

“Hell nah! No, you didn't!” It felt so good to laugh.

He nodded his head. “You know I did. Uh-huh. Girl, I'm thinking about bringing in a few stylists and maybe even putting a small boutique in the front. You know women love shopping.”

I had to chuckle. “You know my husband ain't going for that shit, right?”

“That man is stubborn.” He pursed his lips. “Like I told Donovan when he offered to buy me out, we are partners, so he needs to look at the bigger picture. Together we can make the shop a success . . . if he'd just take the time to see my vision. We can add some color to the walls, install new lighting, and knock out a wall or two.... We could have the hottest spot in all of St. Louis!” He did a three-finger snap and I laughed. Although it sounded fantastic, there was no way in hell Donovan was agreeing to something wild and flamboyant. He had offered to buy Tristan's half of the business, but my bestie told him there was no way he was letting go of his final gift from Lorenzo. I had to agree. Obviously Lorenzo wanted him to have it.

I laughed a little longer, then watched as we crossed over the Martin Luther King Bridge and into Illinois. “Do you think I should call the police?”

There was a long pause before Tristan finally shook his head and said, “No, not yet. We don't even know for sure that woman has Aiden.”

He was right. I wasn't sure, yet I was hoping and praying that my gut was right.

Sanders pulled off at the Green Mount exit and as soon as Tristan moved up the ramp, my heart started racing again.

“Please let him be there,” I mumbled under my breath. “And after I have my son safely in my arms, I'm going to be at that ho's ass.”

“I know that's right!” Tristan shouted, and I realized that I had said it out loud.

I gave a shaky laugh and focused on the Kia. It seemed like it had taken forever before Malinda finally turned onto a wide street with homes just like you'd see in the movies with long driveways, large porches, and plenty of curb appeal. It was well after midnight and the street lighting wasn't the best, so when she pulled up in front of a large house, I had to really focus to see the two-story structure hidden behind large oak trees with a balcony coming off the master bedroom overhead.

“Damn, that's a nice house,” Tristan muttered under his breath.

“Wait here. If you hear someone scream, call the police.” Quickly I leaped out of the car and followed Malinda up the walkway to the door. She glanced over her shoulder and frowned when she spotted me.

“Why don't you let me talk to her first?” she suggested.

That wasn't happening. “How about we go and talk to her together.” I didn't even wait for her response and walked up to the door and rung the bell. It seemed like forever before I heard footsteps and the lock turned and swung open.

The second Jackie spotted her sister and me standing at the door, the smile left her lips. “Nikki . . . Malinda . . . what are you doing here at this time of the night?” I didn't see what difference it made. It wasn't like she had been asleep. In fact, she was dressed comfortably in sweatpants, a hoodie, and running shoes, like she was about to go somewhere. I also noticed how she kept glancing nervously over her shoulder.

“Because you hung up on me. Why are you all the way out here?” Malinda asked.

Before Jackie could even speak, I blurted out, “Do you have my son?” I mean, really, why waste time with idle talk.

She gave me a confused look. “Your son? Why would I have your son?”

I placed a hand on my hip and stared straight at her. “Because Donovan left him with you.” I didn't know that for sure, but it sounded convincing enough. Malinda turned to look at me, brow bunched. Goodness! Why couldn't she just play along?

“I have no idea what you're talking about. The last time Donovan came to my house was when he asked for Smitty's gun.”

I still couldn't understand why that chick gave another man her husband's gun. Did she not realize his state of mind? “I think you're lying.”

“What I need to lie about?” she retorted.

I was ready to drag that chick out of her house. I took a step forward and she took a step back and immediately Malinda moved in between.

“Hold up . . . we didn't come here for this.” She rolled her eyes at me and I rolled mine back at her. I didn't care what she said, Jackie was lying.

“Look, sis . . . when I called you yesterday I heard a child in the background.”

She gave her a blank stare. “Child? Girl, that was the television!” she said and then had the nerve to laugh.

“Jackie . . . I didn't drive out here in the middle of the night to play games. Aiden is missing, so if you have any idea where he is, please tell me!” She might have been my last hope.

She looked at me for a long moment, eyes getting all misty, and for a second I thought she was going to cry before the stupid smirk returned to her lips. “Nobody cared about me when I lost my child.”

“You miscarried . . . my child is missing. Big fucking difference!”

She disagreed. “What's the difference? Losing a child is losing a child.”

I was seconds away from wrapping my fingers around that crazy chick's neck. “Look, either you know where Aiden is or you don't?” I asked and brought a hand to my hip again.

Malinda stood there also waiting for Jackie to answer. I was sure she was hoping she had been wrong about her sister.

“Sorry, but as much as I wish I could tell you where your son is, I can't help you.”

I don't know why her words hit me hard, but they did. I clearly thought she had Aiden or knew who did. “Well . . . thanks.”

I turned and was heading down the steps to climb back into the car with Tristan when from inside I heard a heart-wrenching scream.

“Mommy!”

I swung around and noticed Jackie's eyes had grown large and wild.

Aiden!

38

Nikki

I raced back up the steps, anxious to get inside, but Jackie managed to step back into the house and slam the door in my face. “Open the door!” I screamed and looked at Malinda. “Did you hear that? Jackie has my son!”

Her eyes got large like she wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't heard it herself. “We don't know that for sure.”

“Okay, then, who was that crying,‘Mommy'? It sure in the hell wasn't Casper the Fucking Friendly Ghost!” I barked. That chick was working my last nerve. “I know my son's voice.” I rolled my eyes and screamed across the yard. “Tristan! Tristan . . . Call the police!”

There was no way in the world I was leaving there without my son. Even if I had to peel back every piece of aluminum siding, my baby was going home with me. I started banging on the door and ringing the doorbell like a lunatic.

“Jackie, dammit! Open this door!” I screamed.

Malinda removed her cell phone from her purse and started dialing. “Let me try calling her,” she suggested. After a brief moment I heard her say. “Jackie, sweetie, you need to open the door and give Nikki her son. Jackie . . . listen . . . Jackie . . . that's not true. I'm not trying to hurt you.”

All that baby talk was getting on my damn nerves. I snatched the phone from her hand and barked. “Listen, you crazy bitch. I want my son!”

“He's my son!” she screamed. “He's mine. Donovan took my baby away and brought me another one.”

I didn't know what sick game was running through her mind, but that's my son. “I'm not playing with you!” It wasn't a threat; it was a promise. “The police are on their way.”

“Well, then . . . if I can't have him, then no one can,” she said, then hung up the phone.

“What the hell did she mean by that?” I muttered, then tossed Malinda her phone. “Your sister is a freaking nutcase.” I ran up to the door and kicked it with my heel. “Ow!” That shit hurt. “Get your sister to open that damn door!” I turned on the heel of my sore foot, limped out to the curb, and climbed back into the car long enough to warm my hands.

“Did you call the police?” My teeth were chattering.

“Yes. What happened?”

I slammed the car door shut harder than I had intended. “That bitch won't let me inside so I can get my son.”

Tristan clapped his hands. “So he is in there?”

I nodded and forced a smile despite how pissed off I was. “Yes, Aiden's in there. He cried, ‘Mommy,' and I know my son's voice anywhere.” My eyes flooded with tears, but at least they were happy tears. The police would be there soon and I would be able to get my baby and finally go home.

“Oh, lawd! Thank goodness. I was so afraid we might have been wrong.”

I shook my head. “No, you were right. I just don't understand why Don left Aiden with that lunatic.” I glanced over at the house and watched as Malinda knocked on the door. She obviously had no influence over her sister's behavior. I leaned back onto the seat and told Tristan about what transpired on the porch with that crazy woman.

Tristan was shaking his head. “I still can't believe she gave him her husband's gun.”

“She probably wanted him to kill himself.” There was clearly no way to know what had been going through her sick mind. I've heard of women snapping, but that shit was crazy as hell.

I reached down inside my purse and retrieved my cell phone, getting ready to call the police and see where the hell they were, when I noticed I had a missed called. One look down at the phone number caused my heart to bounce against my chest. “Tristan, the hospital called.” I could barely get the words out as I redialed the number.

He swung around on the seat. “They must have news about Donovan.”

I just prayed it was good news. The hospital wouldn't have called unless there had been some change with my husband's condition. The phone rang forever before I had someone at the front desk transfer me up to the ICU. I was practically hyperventilating by the time his nurse came onto the phone.

“Mrs. Truth, I've been trying to reach you for the last half hour,” she scolded like she was my mother.

“I . . . was unavailable.” I don't know why I even felt like I had to explain. Where I was or what I had been doing was none of her business. “Is something wrong with Donovan?” In other words, get to the point.

“Your husband is awake.”

“What?” I gasped and met the worried look on Tristan's face. “He's really awake?”

“Yes, he's up and been mumbling something. We were hoping you could come to the hospital and tell us who he's talking about.”

“What's he saying?” The least she could do was give me some kinda idea. For all I knew Donovan was still tripping about Kenyon.

“He's talking about someone named Aiden.”

“Aiden's our son!” I blurted in a rush of words.

“Okay, then that helps. He also mumbled something about going to Jackie's house.”

I was laughing and crying at the same time. My husband was trying to tell me where to find Aiden even though I had already found him on my own. But his confirmation made me feel so much better. Of all the things he could have said when he had come out of the coma, he wanted me to know where to find Aiden.

We talked a few more minutes and I promised to be at the hospital as soon as possible; then I ended the call.

“I'm so glad Donovan's okay.” Tristan was grinning and rubbing my arm, showing me comfort. What would I have done without his friendship?

“Yes, he's awake and talking. At least that's a start, hopefully to a full recovery,” I managed between sniffles.

Malinda was shouting and pounding hard on the door. I looked out the window, between the trees toward the front of the house, and what I saw made my heart stall. Jackie was standing out on the balcony with Aiden in her arms. “What in the world is that woman doing?” I said aloud; then it hit me.

If I can't have him, then no one can
.

I sprung out of the car and hurried up the sidewalk where Malinda was still banging on the door. “She's out on the balcony with Aiden! Jackie! Jackie, what the hell are you doing?” I screamed as I hurried up the driveway.

Malinda swung around with tears streaming down her face. “I don't know what's gotten into my sister. I'm so sorry.”

“What the hell you mean
you're
sorry? Help me! We gotta get inside!” I scrambled around the yard until I spotted a large brick. Quickly, I raced over, picked it up, and flung it through the front window.

“What's going on?” Tristan said; then he drew closer and gasped. “Why is she holding Aiden over her head?”

Sure enough, Jackie was standing near the rail, holding Aiden high above her head.

“Stay back! If you try to come in here, I swear I'll throw him!”

My heart was pounding so hard I was seconds away from passing out. “Please . . . Jackie, please, just give me my baby back!” I pleaded, hoping she would show some compassion.

“He's mine! Stay back!”

“I'm calling the police!” Malinda yelled. She was standing on the bottom step crying while dialing numbers.

“Please, just don't hurt him,” I begged.

Tristan rushed over and stood beside me. “Nikki, what are we going to do?” he asked with this worried look on his face.

“I don't know.” It was cold and a shiver skipped down my spine while I stared up at the balcony that beamed with floodlights. Jackie was no longer holding Aiden over her head and I was at least grateful for that.

“Jackie, it's cold outside. Will you please take Aiden inside where it's warm?” I asked. He was in pajamas and his feet were bare.

“What kind of fool do you take me for? The second I walk back into the house you're going to try and take my baby from me!” That fool then leaned forward holding Aiden over the railing.

I held up my hands in surrender. “O-o-okay. I'll s-stay back, just, please, don't drop my baby.”

The moment Aiden spotted me standing in the front yard he started crying and holding out his arms toward me.

“Mommy! I want my mommy!”

I wanted so desperately to rescue my son and hold him in my arms again. Twelve days was a long time.

Jackie finally clutched him to her chest. “There, there . . . nobody's gonna hurt you,” she cooed while Aiden struggled to be released.

Malinda started pacing around the yard. “Would you go sit down somewhere?” I hissed, because the last thing I needed was for Jackie to become agitated again.

“Jackie, please, just give me my son back.”

She wildly shook her head. “He's mine now. Donovan asked me to keep him. When he came over to the house that day, he was upset about some letter he'd received and wanted to know if I would watch Aiden until he got back. I told him sure, no problem, and then he shot himself and didn't come back to get him. It was a sign that Aiden was supposed to be with me.”

I was right. Donovan had stopped by her house on his way to see Kenyon. “Jackie . . . please! Aiden has a mother. My son is supposed to be with me.”

She gazed down at me with this sick smile on her lips. “See, that's where you are wrong. When Donovan told me he thought you had messed around on him while he was in Iraq, I gave him the gun hoping he would use it.”

“What?”

I heard Tristan gasp, then mumble, “No she didn't,” under his breath.

“Why would you do that?” I asked, hoping that if I kept her talking long enough the police would show up.

“Why?
Why?
Because it's Donovan's fault my husband and son are gone!” she boomed. What right do you have to have a perfect life when all the people I have loved the most are gone. I wanted the two of you to feel my pain.” She then climbed up onto one of the chairs on the balcony, holding Aiden over her shoulder as he struggled to be freed.

“No! Lemme go!” he cried.

“Jackie, please,” I began with a sob in my throat. “My heart goes out to you, but your child is gone and nothing is going to bring him back. But my son is alive and he's scared and wants his mommy. You gotta let him go.”

“Get over losing my baby?” she shrilled and held Aiden over the edge again, his little legs dangling wildly in the air while he cried. “
That
baby was the only thing I had left of my husband. And they're both gone. All because of your husband and his stupid, stupid mistake. How could he miss that IED? It was his job to secure the area; instead, he was careless. Then the army had the nerve to rule it as an oversight.
Oversight?
You should be the one grieving over a dead husband . . . not me!”

She was getting agitated again and I allowed my eyes to shift to the far right of the balcony just as Malinda stepped through the French doors.

“How the hell she get up there?” Tristan shrieked.

“I have no idea.” My eyes shifted down to the window I had thrown the rock through. A patio chair had been dragged directly underneath. While I was focused on the balcony, Malinda had gone inside.

A police car pulled to a stop in front of the house and a fire truck could be heard not far away. Nosy neighbors had come out of their homes and were gathering in the street, watching and whispering.

Malinda took a step out onto the balcony and Jackie swung around so fast, Aiden slipped from her grasp. I screamed and then breathed a sigh of relief when she quickly snatched him close to her chest again.

“Ohmygoodness!” Tristan cried.

“Stay back, Malinda! ” Jackie bellowed. “You take one more step and I'm tossing him. I swear to you!”

“Malinda, dammit . . . Stay back!” I shouted.

Malinda held up her hands in surrender. “Jackie . . . sis. I just came up here to talk to you,” she assured her.

Out of the corners of my eyes, I spotted two officers moving across the lawn toward the house.

“Stay back!” Jackie screamed. “If one person comes near this house, I swear I'm going to jump.”

One of the officers tried to ask me questions, but I shooed him like a bug. There was no way I was taking my eyes off what was going on on that balcony.

While Tristan explained everything to the police, a fire truck pulled up at the house. Within seconds there were bright lights pointed at the balcony and they were removing their equipment.

All I could do was stare up at my baby boy, who was still crying for his mommy. Jackie and Malinda were going back and forth at it. I could barely catch a word they were saying, but I noticed that with every comment Malinda crept closer to where Jackie was standing. Everything was happening at once. Firemen, cops, and EMTs were everywhere while I listened as a negotiator tried to talk Jackie down from the balcony.

“Stay back!” she yelled. “I said for everyone to stay the fuck back!”

Next thing I knew, Malinda raced over to where her sister was standing and tried to wrestle Aiden away. I screamed and heard Malinda shout, “No!” Then Jackie was throwing herself over the balcony with my baby in her arms.