Betrayed (18 page)

“I'll take it,” Mimi said without hesitation.

“I haven't told you all about it yet. Have you ever fired a gun?”

“No,” Mimi said, giving it some thought.

“I can point you in the direction of a good practice range—indoor, outdoor facility. I'll give you the address so you can check it out. May I see some ID?”

Mimi gave him her driver's license and paid with a credit card.

“You won't be able to take the gun with you today. There's a waiting period. That's the law. But I'm sure that I'll be calling you in no time. In the meantime, check out the practice facility.”

“Okay then. Thanks for everything, and I hope to hear from you real soon.”

“You will. I hope you won't need the gun before we get clearance.”

“We both hope so,” Mimi said, grinning. “Bye now.”

Mimi walked out of the store and headed for her car. As soon as she settled behind the wheel her cell phone rang. She looked at the number and answered it right away.

“Hey, Brenda, what's up? Did you tell, Victor?”

“He didn't come home last night. Now I've lost the venom I had to confront him.”

“The right moment will come. It may not be now. Just don't let on that we've met. You may need to formulate some kind of plan in the event he goes ballistic.”

“Maybe you can help me.”

“You're the psychologist.”

“I know, but I need my best friend's help.”

“I'm sorry that I had to lay that in your lap yesterday, Brenda. But I feel better that you and I have no secrets. Why don't we get together on Monday, when Victor goes to work? It's too risky, our being together on the weekend.”

“Let me check my calendar. I'll get back with you.”

“Sounds good. I'll wait for your return call.”

“Thanks, Mimi. Thanks for everything.”

“You're welcome, Brenda. Thank you.”

Mimi terminated the call. Within seconds she pulled up John Carroll's name from her call log and dialed. She felt good about her immediate accomplishments—sharing her secret with Brenda and having enough nerve to enter a gun shop and purchase one. She collected her thoughts when she heard John's voice on the line.

“Mimi, you all right? Don't tell me that fool had the nerve to contact you again?”

“Nothing like that, John. I'm feeling pretty good right now. I finally talked with Brenda. She knows everything.”

“What did she say? How did she react?”

“She wanted to be angry with me for waiting all these years to tell her. She even pointed an accusing finger my way. Those were natural reactions. I didn't expect any more or less. Well, maybe I wasn't quite ready for her to admit that she wanted a divorce from Victor.”

“Why wouldn't you? You laid the worst kind of news on her… about her husband no doubt, and that the young lady who befriended her daughter is actually her sister.”

“It seems she's been in a miserable marriage for longer than I could even imagine. It was almost as if this was the final nail in the coffin…the one thing she needed, explosive enough to give her the ammunition to walk away. I felt so sorry for her.”

“What is she going to do?”

“Ask Victor for a divorce.”

“From all I've seen and heard about Victor, that might not be an easy feat. I don't believe he's going to let Brenda walk out of his life. She's the person who's carried him. Sure, he makes good money as a director, but she's the real powerhouse in that family.”

“That's true, but I believe Brenda will find a way out. But I've got another surprise.”

“Don't make me wait. Maybe that wasn't a good statement, considering our past.”

“You're crazy, John. Remember that is our past. Anyway, I purchased a gun.”

“For what?”

“Do you really have to ask that question?”

“Yes. Mimi, I hope you aren't going to do anything foolish. Even Victor's sorry ass isn't worth a trip to prison.”

“I didn't purchase it so that I can put a cap in Victor's ass. It's more to scare him in the event he decides to continue to harass me. Now if push comes to shove, he just might find himself in the morgue.”

“Do you have the gun on you?”

“No, they have to check me out first. I hope to hear something in a few days to a week.”

John was silent. “Mimi, think about all you stand to lose going up against Victor—your husband, your daughter, your family, and my friendship.”

“Thanks for including yourself in that scenario.”

“Mimi, I'm concerned and you're scared. If it means that I have to spend a few days at your place to make you feel at-ease, I'm there.”

“If I need you, I'll call. I've got a couple of more errands to run. Take care.”

“You don't like what I'm saying, Mimi, but I'm concerned. I'm only a phone call away.” A pause. “Why don't you meet me for lunch after you finish your errands?”

“Thanks, John. I'd better not. I feel guilty taking up all of your time.”

“Let me be the judge.”

“Besides, I told Afrika I couldn't come see her cheer today because I had so much to do.”

“Excuses. Call me when you finish your errands; you make the decision as to where we're going to eat.”

“You make it hard to say no, John Carroll.”

“I wish I was as on top of things years ago.”

“Well, it's a little too late. I'll call you.”

“I'll be waiting.”

Mimi smiled as she put her BlackBerry in her purse. She was happy John had turned up in her life at a moment she could use a good friend.

Mimi turned on the ignition and sped away from the gun shop. Was she only getting the gun for protection or did she really want to see Victor dead? The gun was not in her possession at the moment. Yet, it was in Victor's best interest to be on his best behavior because she hated him, and nothing at this moment would keep her from blowing that imbecile away if it came to that.

B
renda put food in Beyonce's bowl. Beyonce was Persian—the outline of her face a dusty brown color that matched the color of her tail, while the rest of her body was white. She stood in full cat stance with her fluffy tail waving in the air, waiting for Brenda to move away so she could take advantage of the food and milk that had been set out for her. Brenda stooped down and rubbed Beyonce's back. The friendly purr came on cue.

“What's up, Mom?” Trevor asked, dashing into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and took out a carton of juice. He got a tumbler and poured juice until the glass was filled.

“What's up with you, Trevor? Looks like you're in a hurry.”

“Yeah, I'm going to Central's game. Going to watch Asia and Nikki cheer.”

“You mean Afrika?”

“Nikki, Afrika, all the same person.”

The mention of Nikki's name made Mimi's reveal rush back to her. She wasn't sure how she felt now that she knew that Nikki… Afrika, was Victor's child as well as that of her best friend. She wanted to accept the situation as Mimi presented it, but the reality of it all made it a bitter pill to swallow. She jumped when the phone rang.

Brenda snatched the phone off the hook before Trevor was able to get it. She looked at the phone as if it was a foreign object and brought it slowly to her ear, sure it was Victor on the other end
getting to offer up a string of lies as to why he didn't come home. She sighed and then answered.

“Hello.”

“Mrs. Bailey?” said the gentleman on the other end.

“Yes, it is. May I ask who's calling?”

“Yes, this is Sgt. Lewis from the Durham Police Department. We've apprehended a suspect in your hit and run…a twenty-year-old man without a driver's license. We have witnesses that put him at the scene, and he's confessed. I know that you are recovering, and we'll drop by sometime this week and give you all the particulars for filing your insurance claim. We're glad to have him off of the street.”

“Thank you for the good news,” Brenda said. “Thank you again for calling.”

“You're welcome,” Sgt. Lewis said and hung up the phone.

Brenda put the phone down and stared off into space.

“Earth to Mother,” Trevor hollered.

“I was far away. Good news, though. They found the person in my hit-and-run accident.”

“That's good news, Mom. Where is Dad?”

“I don't know,” Brenda said matter-of-factly. “He didn't come home last night.”

Trevor frowned. “He's still up to his same old stuff.”

“What are you talking about, Trevor?”

“Mom, I'm not blind. Please. Everyone knows that your husband ain't a saint.”

“Enough. He's also your father.”

“Whatever. Don't take up for him, Ma. He's a snake in the grass. I didn't ask to be his son, but I am. I hear what people say about him, and for sure, I see how he treats you when he doesn't think anyone is looking. Please. I thought you would've dumped his ass a long time ago.”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Mom, you've got to stop covering for him. It's his dirt; let him climb out of the mud all by himself.”

“How long have you felt like this, Trevor? You've never said anything. You know that you can talk to me anytime.”

“I know, Mom, but what's the use? Look, you want to hang out with me? I was going to hang out with a friend of mine from school, but I can hook up with him later.”

“You mean that, Trevor? You don't mind being seen with your mother?”

“Mom, you've still got it going on. You look better than some of those twenty-year-olds.”

Brenda grinned. “So I'm still fine, baby?”

“Mom, you're all that and a big bag of chips.”

“Okay, let me get my coat. I'm looking forward to hanging out with my son.”

“Great.” Trevor poured himself another glass of juice and held it in midair when he heard the door that led into the garage open.

“Trevor, what's up, man? Where are you on your way to? Your mother here?”

“You've got a lot of questions for somebody who didn't make it home last night.”

“And you better watch your mouth, boy, or you won't be able to talk out of it. Who do you think you are, to talk to me like that? Ain't none of your business where I've been, you got that?”

“Trevor…” Brenda began but stopped short when she saw Victor.

“Where's everyone going?” Victor asked again.

“Trevor and I are going to Central's football game.”

“Well, have fun.” Victor smirked, giving Trevor a beefy glance. “And Trevor, when you come home, I have some chores I need done.”

Trevor sneered. “I've already done my chores.”

“Good, but I have some other things I need you to do. Make sure you come home right after the game.”

“What's up with you, Victor?” Brenda asked. “No one has seen you since yesterday morning, and now you come home trying to tell everybody what to do.”

“I'm talking to Trevor, Brenda. A father and his son. Telling my son to do a little work doesn't have anything to do with you. Taking out the garbage and cleaning his room isn't going to make him a man.”

Brenda pushed her hand in Victor's face. “And I guess staying out all night without making a phone call to let me know that you were all right makes you a man? You need to take a bath because you reek of that ho you've been with. Come on, Trevor.”

Trevor moved past Victor and followed Brenda into the garage. Victor's gaze burned into Brenda's back.

“Your momma won't be there to take up for you next time,” Victor said to the air. “No kid of mine is going to disrespect me.”

Hearing the car pull out of the garage, Victor pulled the gun from his coat pocket and laid it on the kitchen counter with a thud. Beyonce jumped, nearly spilling the remnants of her milk on the floor. Victor traced the pistol with his finger, picked it up, and held it in his hand. He held a pose, holding the gun to the side with his arm outstretched like he had seen on one of the gangster movies he had taken to watching.

“Pow, pow, pow,” Victor said out loud. “You didn't listen to me, Mimi, and now you've got to pay the cost. My threats didn't mean much, but this gun sitting upside your temple is going to do the talking. Don't make me use it, bitch.”

Victor put the gun back into his pocket and went to his room.

I
t felt good stumping on the grounds of her alma mater. As she and Trevor walked to the football field, Brenda closed her eyes for a moment, remembering a time many years ago when she and Mimi had attended their first football game. She could hear the band playing some jazzy tune that made them sway with the beat and Mimi making up her own lyrics to the song. It was the first time she had heard one of the cute guys she had been admiring ask another who she was, pointing his finger directly at her like she was a prize he'd just won. It was Victor; and she had fallen hard.

Brenda followed Trevor to the stands. The game was already underway, and Central had seven points on the scoreboard. Before she could sit down, Central scored another touchdown, and the fans were up on their feet screaming. The cheerleaders engaged the crowd, chanting loud and stomping their feet, while their bodies twisted and gyrated with the beat of their words. Then Brenda spotted them—Asia and Afrika, her eyes lingering on Afrika much longer, trying to make sense of the news Mimi had dropped in her lap—the news that pierced her heart like she'd been hit with a stun gun. She wondered how many of Victor's features Afrika had. Thank God she was too far away to get a good look.

Brenda and Trevor found seats and stood until the crowd died
down. Brenda continued to watch the girls, consumed with their every movement, processing similarities—how they jerked their heads, tossed their hair, and stomped their feet. Even though there were thirteen other girls on the field, Asia and Afrika seemed to do everything in tandem, almost as if Brenda saw them in double vision.