Outcast (25 page)

“You want Rivera. I want a deal.”

“All right, I'll make a call.”

“And I want to be moved out of this cell—tonight. I don't feel safe here.”

“Fine.”

Within the hour Alex was transported from the jail and moved to a windowless underground federal facility in downtown Atlanta, where she was joined by her mother. Despite the guarded security of the location she still feared for her safety. Xavier Rivera's influence was much too wily. There would be no rest until he was brought to justice.

Pat was finishing up the dishes when Kevin walked in. He slid his arms around her waist and rested his head on the back of hers.

“I'm so tired I could just sleep right here,” he said. “Where's Micah?”

“I put him to bed a little bit ago. He tried to stay up as long as he could and wait on you. He wanted to make sure you got home okay. He keeps asking if the same thing that happened to Miss Betty is gonna happen to you.”

“Damn.” Kevin went to the refrigerator for a beer.

Pat grabbed a towel to dry her hands. “I convinced him that nothing was going to happen to you and that everything was going to be all right. Everything is going to be all right, isn't it? Kevin?”

“I went by the hospital on my way home.” He showed Pat the chip in his hand.

“What is this?”

“It's something you get from Narcotics Anonymous. I found it in Noonie's bed. I think Tirrell left it there.”

“Narcotics Anonymous?”

“I had a visit from this guy today who works at The Mission downtown. He told me Tirrell was staying there.”

“Tirrell's on drugs?”

Kevin slumped down in a chair at the kitchen table. “It would explain a lot.”

“What about the file he sent you? How does that woman fit into all of this?”

“Tirrell's mixed up with some bad people, baby.”

“What kind of danger is he in?”

“The less you know the better.” The telephone rang. Kevin got up and answered. “Hello . . . Hey, Mama. I'm good. You? No, Noonie hasn't come around yet. Micah's fine. To tell you truth there's been so much going on, Thanksgiving is the last thing on my mind. No, I don't think coming out to California right now would be a good idea. I want to be here just in case . . . No, I don't think she's going to die. Why would you say something like that? I'm sorry; it's been a long day. Look, I just got home and I'm beat. I'll call you later, all right?” Kevin hung up the phone, rubbed his eyes, and sighed.

“Are you gonna tell Gloria what's happening?”

“Absolutely not. I don't want her to know any more than she already does. In fact, I don't want you and Micah to be here if anything else should go down.”

“What are you talkin' about?”

“I think you should take Micah and go to New Orleans and stay with your sister for a couple of weeks until this all blows over.”

“No. I'm not leaving you here.”

“It's not up for discussion. If Noonie was shot because of Tirrell, there's no telling who else might be in the line of fire, and I can't lose you, or Micah.”

“I don't want to lose you either.”

“I can take care of myself. But, I can't do my job if I'm worried about the two of you.”

“Kevin.”

He took her face in his hands and kissed her. “I don't want to argue about this, baby. You have to go.”

“What about my job?”

“Take tomorrow off. In fact, take some vacation time. Tell them you have a family emergency and you need to go out of town for a few weeks. Do this for me, all right?”

She knew he wasn't backing down. “All right, I'll go.”

He kissed her again.

She responded in kind. “I thought you were tired.” She smiled.

“I just need to be close to you right now, is that all right?”

Kevin took Pat by the hand and led her out of the kitchen and up the stairs. He kicked off his shoes, loosened his tie, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. He took her in his arms from behind and pulled her blouse over her head. His fingers tugged at the fasteners and undid her bra. Her breasts fell free as he slipped the straps over her shoulders and ran his hands slowly down her body.

She tossed her head back and he kissed and nibbled her neck. His beard tickled and aroused as did the hair on his chest brushing against her back. She moaned when he unzipped her skirt and pushed it away from her hips. He turned her around, palmed her thighs, hoisted her up to his waist, and laid her on the bed. Shucking his pants and underwear, he gently climbed on top of her.

“I love you so much,” he whispered, removing her panties. “I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you.”

“Nothing will.”

Her back arched upward and she gasped as he entered, slowly, purposefully. Their bodies found a familiar rhythm. The strength of his love for her made its own music.

Kevin woke early the next morning, sat up on the side of the bed, and watched Pat sleep. He'd done this before when he was worried about a case, or there was something weighing heavy on his mind. Thoughts of his grandmother's recovery and Tirrell's problems made it hard for him to rest. The peaceful look on his wife's face and the soft purring noise she made reminded him that no matter how bad things got, she would be there to support him.

Pat's eyes fluttered and she woke up. “What are you doin'?”

“Watching you.”

“I can see that. What time is it?”

“Time for you and Micah to get on the road.”

Pat pulled herself up. “Kevin, I don't think we should go.”

“I told you it's not up for discussion. You already agreed.”

“I changed my mind.”

“C'mon, Pat. Don't give me a hard time about this, please. You'll just be gone long enough for all of this to blow over.”

“But you don't know when that's going to be.”

Kevin shook his head. “No, I don't. But I want you safe.” He started to the door.

“Where are you goin'?”

“I'm going to get Micah up and packed. You should do the same.”

Pat rolled out of bed and scurried around the room, picking up clothes that had been thrown about the previous night, and then she went to the bathroom to get ready.

The telephone rang as they ate breakfast together. It was the hospital calling to report that Betty was conscious. It would be one less thing for them to fret about. After seeing Pat and Micah off safely, Kevin headed to the hospital.

He entered the room with a huge arrangement of multicolored tulips and Betty's face lit up. He kissed her and then found a space to set them among the other flowers, cards, and get-well wishes.

Betty cleared the hoarseness in her throat. “Lord, it looks like somebody died in here. I guess I almost did, didn't I?”

“Don't even joke like that. You had us all scared that we were going to lose you.”

“I'm a tough old bird. God ain't quite ready for me yet.”

Kevin frowned. “How're you feeling?”

“Like I've been asleep for a hundred years. I know my hair must look a sight.”

“You look fine.”

“I know better than that.” She pursed her lips. “Where's the rest of the family?”

“Pat and Micah went to visit her sister in New Orleans. Mama called. She and Jacqui wanted to come, but I told her it would be best for her to stay in California for now, considering there wasn't anything they could do here. Miss Anne and Pastor Eason have been out here almost every day.”

“Micah's all right?”

“Yes, he's fine.”

“What about Tirrell? Is he all right?”

“Noonie, do you remember anything about how you got here?”

“The doctor told me I was shot in the stomach. Last thing I remember was watchin' TV and the next thing I know I'm wakin' up in here. Who would do such a thing?”

Kevin looked down at his hands. He wanted to tell her everything, but he wasn't sure she was strong enough to handle it, or that she would believe it happened because of Tirrell. Fortunately, a nurse came in to check Betty's vitals and granted him a reprieve. He used the opportunity to step out and call Pat.

“Where are you?”

“We just got into Alabama. Is everything okay? How's Miss Betty?”

“She looks good. She's going to be all right.”

“Thank God. Did you tell her anything about Tirrell?”

“No.”

“Are you still going to see him?”

“I think I have to.”

“Kevin, be careful.”

“I will. I'll call you later. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The nurse came out and informed Kevin that he could go back inside. In order to keep Betty from getting overly excited he knew he had to tell her something.

“I want to call Tirrell,” she said. “I need to check on him.”

“You can't,” Kevin followed. “His cell phone is disconnected.”

“How much does he owe?”

“Noonie, that's nothing for you to be concerned about right now. Tirrell is fine. In fact, he's been here to see you.”

“Where is he now?”

“He's staying with friends.”

“Is it Marquis?”

“No.”

“Then who? Lord, it's not that woman, is it?”

“No. Not her—someone else.”

“I want to see him. Would you please go by wherever he's stayin' and bring him here?”

“Yeah, I can do that.”

“And, Kevin, promise me—no more fighting. Not now.”

“I promise, Noonie.”

Balancing slightly to the left of full disclosure wasn't going to do her as much harm as knowing what her beloved Tirrell had gotten himself into.

Kevin headed to The Mission as he promised, where he found Tirrell sweeping the floor.

“Wow, look who's here,” Tirrell sneered. “How'd you find me?”

“Charlie Preston came to see me.”

Tirrell looked around and saw Mr. Preston talking to a couple of the guys in the adjoining room. Mr. Preston glanced up and acknowledged him.

“I need to talk to you, Tirrell.”

“I don't know, Kev. My calendar's pretty full, sweepin' and moppin' and shit. Maybe I can fit you in next Tuesday.”

“Cut the crap, Tirrell.”

“Why do you wanna talk to me all of a sudden?”

“It's about Alex Solomon.”

“You got the e-mail I sent you, right? You locked her ass up, right?”

“Look, Tirrell, we need to go somewhere private.”

“Yeah, a'ight.” Tirrell laid his broom against the wall. “Yo, Mr. P, I need to go have a talk with my brother. I'll be back in a few, a'ight?”

Mr. Preston nodded and Tirrell grabbed a jacket from the front closet and followed Kevin out. He chuckled when he got into the Explorer.

“What's so funny?”

“I was just thinkin' about the last time I was in here. You're not gonna hit me again, are you?”

“Don't tempt me.”

They drove off.

“So, how'd you end up in this place, Tirrell?”

“'Cause I didn't have the money to get a room at the Marriott. How do you think?”

“Still sarcastic as hell, I see.”

“And you're still a pain in the ass.”

They pulled into a drive-thru, ordered two coffees, and found a parking space off Spring Street.

“How'd you get your hands on that file you sent me?”

“I saw Alex workin' on somethin' on her computer. She told me it was somethin' about some event. I knew her cousin Bobby was into some shady shit, so I figured it was about more than she told me. I found this jump drive she hid and the first chance I got I forwarded it to my e-mail. If you hadn't been such a dick and tossed that CD I left for you, you would've had the info a lot sooner. What did you think it was anyway, love songs?”

Kevin sighed and pressed on. “You know Xavier Rivera.”

“Yeah, I met him.”

“You've been to his place in Miami?”

“Yeah, and I know about this place over on Hardy Avenue. I went there with Bobby more than a few times.”

“You know he's dead right?”

Tirrell's jaws tightened. “What happened?”

“We think one of Rivera's people got to him. I want you to come down to the police station with me and give a full statement.”

“I gave you the file.”

“That's not enough. We need every detail you can remember. Anything you saw or heard that could help put your girlfriend and Rivera away.”

“And me. I get arrested too, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was with Bobby Williams when he transported cocaine over state lines.”

“Do you want the same thing that happened to Noonie to happen to the rest of us?”

“None of y'all ain't never gave a damn about me except Noonie.”

“What about your nephew, huh? Don't you care about what happens to him?”