Maid for Martin (40 page)

Charlie went back to her booth and thanked the Lord for the doughnuts. She picked up a jelly filled delight, but looked up as the door flew open. A young woman came rushing in, glancing over her shoulder.

Charlie raised a brow as she scrutinized the woman’s clothes. She wore a red mini skirt that contrasted well with her dark skin, a blue tube top and a white jacket.  As she walked by, she unzipped her purse and locked eyes with Charlie before heading down a back hall.

Seconds later Charlie turned her attention back to the front door. A policeman rushed in, looked around, and then left hurrying on down the street.

Charlie pushed the last bite of the jelly doughnut into her mouth, and glanced up as the young woman slid into her booth. She smiled at Charlie as if she knew some great secret.  The change in the girl was dramatic, but the beauty was still there.

The woman looked better without the blonde wig and the outlandish make-up. How could she change clothes so fast?

“Hey there. Can I buy you breakfast?”   The woman smiled, then turned to the man behind the counter,  “Stan, fix an early-bird special for my new cousin.”

“Sure thing Allie.”

Charlie raised a brow.  “Why do you want to buy me breakfast?”

“Well, you do me the favor of being my cousin, and I’ll do you the favor of buying you something to eat.”
 

As the door flew open once more, and the officer came back in, things began to make sense to Charlie.
   The officer tapped his foot for a moment; let the door close, then moved toward their table.

“What about it?”
  Allie whispered.

Charlie didn’t have much time to make up her mind. She didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t want to sleep on the street either.  She saw the policeman getting closer, and decided to jump at the opportunity.

“Ok, but I need a place to sleep worse than I need something to eat.”

“You got it. Now what’s your name?”

“Charlie Anderson. I’m from South Bend, Indiana.”

“Okay, Charlie, now don’t look so worried. Smile.”

Charlie forced a smile, and then looked toward the policeman as he spoke.

  “Ok, young lady.  You’re under arrest.  I know it was you I chased for three blocks. I think it’s time we go downtown.”

Charlie looked at the woman, and then to the officer.
  She thought it might look better if she spoke first. “Can I help you, Officer?”

“Ma’am, do you know this woman?”  Charlie knew the officer was looking her over. Her jacket was zipped so he couldn’t see the blood, but she’d bet by now there were bruises on her face.

“I sure hope so.  I’m spending the night with her.  I came all the way from South Bend for a visit.”

“From South Bend. I assume you can prove this.”

“I can prove I’m from Indiana.” Charlie reached into her purse, pulling out her ID, as she recalled the gun in her pocket.   “I’m here for a few weeks. I might stay longer, if I find a good job.” 
Or,
if I get put in jail for carrying a handgun.
Charlie hoped the officer didn’t ask to look through her purse. If so, he might find the clip. 

The officer took the ID and looked it over.
  The man’s brow rose and then a scowl appeared.  He didn’t seem to like it much that Charlie’s ID matched her story
.
After a minute he turned and looked toward the owner of the restaurant, as the man spoke.

“They're telling the truth. I know these girls.”

The officer nodded, giving Charlie her identification.  “Well, I guess I made a mistake.”

“Don’t you mean you think all black women look alike?”
  

Charlie moved her hand out to the woman across the table and touched her gently. “I don’t think that’s what he meant.”
 Charlie glanced at the officer and smiled.   “She’s had a bad night. I’m sorry; she didn’t mean anything.”

“I’m sure she didn’t.”
 The officer glared at the two girls. He might have said something else, but the old man behind the counter called to him.

“Officer, would you like a hot cup of coffee before you go back on the street?”

Charlie sighed as the man turned and went to the counter. Once he sat down, she turned her attention back to her new cousin.
  Allie stared at the man with a definite look of irritation on her pretty face.  Charlie didn’t want to offend her new friend because she really did need a place to stay. She spoke, trying to keep her tone soft.

 
“I know we just scammed him, and it’s really none of my business, but . . . did you break the law?”

Allie turned, looked at Charlie and smiled.
  “I know you may not be from a big city like Chicago, but I think you can figure out which law I broke.”

“I have an idea.”

Allie leaned back and smiled,  “I’ll bet it’s the right one.”

“Like I said, it’s none of my business.”

“Well, so you’ll know. I’m not a mass murderer, or anything close.  I don’t even steal,” the girl leaned forward and smiled at Charlie, "unless you call taking money from a man for kissing his feet for an hour stealing.”

Charlie made a face. The girl leaned back laughing, keeping her voice low. “I made him wash ‘em first, and I made eight hundred dollars. It was the easiest money I’ve made in a long time.”

“Not many people I know can say they make eight hundred dollars an hour.”

“You got that right, honey.”

Both girls grew quiet as the old man sat two plates down on the table.  The man winked at Allie.  The officer was gone now, so he spoke freely as he walked back to the bar.

“You got away with it again, Allie.
  You snow em’ every time.”

“I couldn’t do it without you, Stan.”

“Well, if you weren't one of Rico’s best girls, I wouldn’t put up with it.”

“Oh hush, you know you love the excitement.”

“Just eat up and get out of here.  Your cousin looks like she needs some rest.”

Chapter 3

Allie

Around three-fifteen, the two girls walked into Allie’s apartment on Komensky Avenue.
  Charlie would be spending the night only a few blocks from where Aunt Verla lived.  When Allie turned on the lights Charlie looked around. The apartment seemed spotless.  Allie shook her head, and crossed her arms.

“Do you think all working girls live in a rat hole?
  I make good money and I don’t mind spending it on myself.”

“You’ve got a nice place.
 I just didn’t expect it to look like this. As far as working girls go, I only know what I see in movies.”

“Well, some of it’s right and some of it’s
way
off.  I work for a clean guy; but then again as Stan said, I’m one of Rico’s favorite girls.  He gives me more of a cut.  I've been with him a while and he knows he can trust me with the big clients.”

“I guess that’s a good thing.”

“Yeah. It’s a real good thing!  Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t always live like this. I’ve lived, and slept, in the gutter. I don’t want to go back.  Rico got me a deal with the manager, and I buy almost everything second hand.  I just make sure it looks good.”

“Well, you did a great job furnishing your apartment.”

“Thanks.” Allie walked over to look out the window.  “I hate to rush off, but the rain’s quit, and I have a party to go to.  Make yourself at home, and I mean that.  If you get hungry rummage till you find what you want.  There’s a second bedroom down the hall.  I don’t think anyone’s ever slept in there, so things may be dusty, but they're clean.”

“I really appreciate this.
  I ran off from my sister's house; her boyfriend tried to rape me.”

“Wow! That’s a bummer, but it explains the busted-up look.
  Take a load off and kick back.  You can stay a few days, as long as you’re quiet in the mornings.”

“Yes, ma’am.
  I can do that.”

“Call me Allie, or Alice.”

“Ok, Allie.  Call me Charlie.”

Allie walked over and picked up a T-shirt from a basket of clothes on the couch and handed it to Charlie.
  She took Charlie by the chin, looking at her busted lip.  “I don’t think you need stitches, but it’s gonna hurt a while.  Rummage through the meds in the bathroom, find some antibiotic cream, and get some rest.”

“I’ll try. Is this a good neighborhood?”

“Oh, yeah. You don’t have to worry about the crime here.”  Allie stepped to the door laughing; she paused before stepping out the door. “Well, there’s crime, but Rico’s the one in control, and he never lets anyone come near
his
girls.”

Charlie’s body ached as she walked into the bathroom. She found some cream for her lip and changed into the white T-shirt.  She folded her clothes over her arm and went to the extra bedroom. After closing the door and laying her clothes over a chair, she walked around the room.

A full-sized bed rested against the left wall. A dresser with a mirror and two small nightstands gave the room a homey feel. Charlie pulled the covers back and laid the gun under the pillow.
  The room looked clean and unused.  She left her socks on, placed her shoes by the bed and lay down.

Her body ached, but she couldn’t sleep. She sat up, sighed and decided it would be a good time to pray.
  She rose and stepped to the window and looked out.  She could see the skyline in the distance. “What a beautiful sight.” 

Charlie touched her finger to her bruised lip and her mind went to her family.
  Should she call her mom or wait until morning?  After a few moments she decided she’d have to wait.  She couldn’t pay Allie for a long distance call
.
She also didn’t want to call collect and upset her parents at this time of night.

If things went the way she hoped; her parents wouldn’t learn about her trouble with Benny until Tammy came home. Charlie paced while praying. After some time she looked around the room, smiling
 when she found a small radio. 

She carried it to the bed, plugged it in, and set it on the nightstand. She turned the
 dial until she found an all night gospel station. She laid down, and with the sounds of good gospel music, managed to drift off to sleep. 

Charlie sat up, forgetting for a few seconds she’d slept in a strange bed.  When she began to move she felt the effects of Benny’s handy-work. Her back ached, and she could see bruises all over her body. She glanced at her watch to see, six-thirty. She stretched gingerly and moved to peek out the door.  The shirt Allie gave her came above her knees, and she didn’t want anyone but Allie to see her.

She needed to talk to Allie, to see if she could stay longer than a few days. She wanted to get a job and make some money for the trip home. She slipped out of the bedroom and saw Allie sitting on the couch taking off her shoes.

Charlie smelled the
pot
before she saw the smoke.  Benny used it often enough for her to know that odor.  Her nose wrinkled as she walked down the hall.  Charlie stopped in her tracks and thought about backing into the bedroom and avoiding Allie. Why did God lead her here?  Charlie didn’t know people like this girl.  She went to church. She didn’t even curse and now this happens.

She could handle this situation in two ways. Accept Allie and then try to witness to her, or pretend she didn’t notice anything and distance herself from the girl.
  If she ended up staying, would she sink to her level, or would she be able to bring Allie to a higher plain?  Charlie closed her eyes for a moment and said a quick prayer. She knew she needed to get her life back on track, and this situation was a reminder of that fact.  It was time for a definite change.

"Lord, I don’t know why I’m here or what I should do, but please help me. Lead my steps and my words and turn me into a person who can be a great light to Allie and others. Amen."

Charlie walked into the room and sat down in a chair.  After a few moments Allie spoke, but she didn’t open her eyes.  “I know I shouldn’t smoke this stuff, but it's something I do after a rough night.  Don’t think I’m a pot head, ‘cause I’m not.”

“I try not to judge people.”

“Judge . . . that sounds like a church word.”

“Well, I go to church most of the time.”

Allie opened her eyes.  “Really?  You go to church? But you spent the night here with
me
?”

“I needed your help. You didn’t find me in the street, beaten, but you were my Good Samaritan.”

“I know that story.  My aunt goes to church; she read it to me once.  So tell me Charlie, what brings you to my door?”

“I guess God.”

This made Allie laugh and she leaned back and shook her head.  “God gave up on me a long time back.”

“Nah. He’s waiting for you to come back where He can reach you again.”