Brooklyn Secrets (19 page)

He gripped my arm and continued in a stage whisper, darting his eyes around to make sure no one was watching us. “Stay away from where we are working, near Min's, and stay away from the whole freakin' subject. I'll know what you're doing. And you will be sorry if you don't stop. I promise that.”

He punctuated his tirade with a painful punch to my arm and walked away. In no time he had disappeared again into a crowd of tourists and I was too stunned to try to follow. And punch him back. Or at least, yell at him.

I didn't know if my arm hurt more, or my brain, because most of what he said made no sense. I didn't believe there was a treasure. And I didn't care if there was. And I was no threat to him. Or anybody.

Breathe, I told myself. Breathe. And then find coffee and gulp a few ibuprofen for what I was sure would soon be a dramatic bruise on my upper arm. And go back to finding some lunch.

Or maybe sit here for a bit. Breathe, and enjoy the normal spring sunshine and the normal tulips; the normal people walking around taking photos in front of quaint old City Hall; even the normal pigeons softly cooing and the normal garlic smell from the hot dog truck.

My phone rang. Oh, crap. Which pocket? Jacket or pack? I thought, oh, crap again when I saw it was my dad. And then I saw it was a text. My dad knows how to text?

It said: Downtown too meet me?

I called him back.

“Hi, Dad. What's up?'

“I am near City Hall today, taking care of some business, and heard you were in the same neighborhood?”

“What?” This was not making sense. Or maybe my mind was still on the previous encounter. “You heard about me?”

“Chris, honey. Chris. I do talk to my grandkid from time to time.”

“Oh.”

“So where are you? Thought I'd take you to lunch if we're nearby.”

“Ah. City Hall Park. On a bench. Getting ready to head home.”

“Eat yet?”

“No.”

“I'll be there in two minutes. Don't move.”

And there he was, all smiles, before I'd even had time to see what the market offered.

“Chris said you'd be at the Municipal Archives, so I thought I'd surprise you. I walked right in, but you already left.”

I just looked at him, questioning. “You learned that…how?”

“Cause I recognized your old friend Jennifer, of course. We had a nice visit. She said I hadn't changed a bit.”

“Come on. She didn't.”

“Sure she did. She was at our house plenty of times when you were in school together.”

I had two people stalking me today? But this one was buying lunch.

“You all right? You look a little weird.” He quickly added, “Not weird. Fine. Pretty. But…”

“I'll tell you all about it. But lunch first.” I pointed to the market and we wandered over.

It was too early in the season for much produce, but there was a booth with hand pies of different flavors, bland but hearty Cornish and spicy West Indian. A truck making waffles with a choice of sweet or savory toppings. The bakery booth had giant cookies and pie by the slice and tarts with vegetables and cheese. Lunch for me. Dad came back with two waffles in a box, one with maple syrup and one with thick, dark Dutch chocolate sauce.

“I see you went straight to dessert.”

“Yeah. Life is short.”

He had some struggles with his delicious but messy meal. I know it was delicious because he encouraged me to have a few bites.

So it took us awhile before I could tell him about my way beyond strange encounter.

“He threatened you?” I didn't like Dad's tone of voice. Even his body stance changed. The former Brooklyn scrapper was ready to go again.

“No, not really, dad.” I wasn't encouraging that, not at his age. “He told me to stop following him around. Which I wasn't doing anyway.”

“Or else.” He sounded grim.

“Dad! Try to follow along here. One, I. Am. Not. Following. Him. Around. He is, um, somewhat delusional, I think. And two, if I don't show up where he is he will think I have stopped.”

“Stopped what?”

“Following him and spying. Which I am not doing anyway. I am working on something completely different.”

“And you are going to stop?”

“Hell, no. Are you kidding?” I saw his expression and quickly added, “Don't say one word. It's research I need to do. I don't care about his grandfather. And his legendary lost millions. As if.”

His eyes lit up. “Liv Nathan, he said? There were stories. Let me rephrase. More like rumors than stories. He was big.” He stopped. “Big locally. Not as big as the real big guys. But there should have been money and there wasn't. His girl friend found a new sugar daddy pretty fast but his widow was on welfare for a while. That's the way I heard it, anyway.”

“Details, Dad. I need more.”

He shrugged. “It was, like, a legend when I was a kid. Ya know? Liv's lost fortune. Way before my time. And I can tell you truthfully, I haven't thought of it in maybe fifty years.” He was busy mopping up the last of the syrup. “Seems like there might have been a public screaming fight between his widow and his floozy about the money. Too bad your grandparents aren't around. They might have remembered more.” He stopped and considered. “If they would talk about it. Which I'm pretty sure they wouldn't, ever.”

It wasn't until we were walking to Dad's car that I thought to ask him about what he was doing there, far from his usual turf. I suddenly remembered that the marriage license office was around here. Had he gotten back with that woman? Heart beating hard and mouth dry, I asked him what his business was today.

“I went in to the Taxi Commission to see about reactivating my license.”

“What? Why? I don't think that's a great idea, Dad. You were sick…”

“I'm better. I feel fine. I'm bored. I could use the money.”

“You're not serious. You're not.” Would saying it make it true?

“I am. Why not?” I gave him the parental look he gives me. “And you can simmer down. I have to have health clearance before. So there's that.”

“Okay.” Of course he would do what he wanted no matter what I said. He has, from time to time, had the same complaint about me. Pretty often, actually.

At his car, I quickly created a reason I was not going home yet. I knew if I rode with him we would get into an argument about his going back to work. I knew that because there was a lot I wanted to say about it. Or we would fight about something else, as a proxy for that one. Idiotic but true. But not today.

The truth, the real truth, was that it felt awfully good to have my dad watching my back today.

Chapter Twenty-one

That night, I went back to the information my little home-grown spy had found for me. I needed to send the films and pictures to Zora, or at the very least, tell her about them. Phone, text, e-mail? Her blog? Facebook? Do I feel over-connected? Sometimes.

I went old school and e-mailed her. If she was catching a nap, I did not want to wake her. A few hours of rest are hard to come by in a hospital room, and this was too complicated to put in a text. At least it was for me.

My phone was ringing almost instantly.

“I don't sleep much. Yes, send them to me. You should have known I'd want them.”

“And good evening to you, too. And how is everyone?”

She didn't take offense. In fact she made a sound that was halfway to laughter.

“Yes, I'm so excited I forgot my manners. Savanna is maybe—maybe!—having an improvement. Maybe. Something to take my mind off while I'm waiting to see would be a miracle. And how are you this fine night?”

“Okay, okay. I'll send it right out. I don't know if you will be disappointed.” Suddenly I was unsure. “The little videos are fascinating to watch, yes, but they aren't very clear and the sound is bad. I don't know. Maybe you'll recognize people that I don't?”

“I have a better idea. How about we meet up tomorrow and watch them together? You bring your computer here or maybe I come over to you? I mean…” Her voice dropped a little. “I don't like to leave Savvie but they tell me, the doctors and nurses tell me, I need a change of scene once in a while.”

“I have a crazier idea. Do you want to do this right now?” I was wide-awake and didn't know who that was, that wimp nodding out on the sofa a few minutes ago. “I'm just a few minutes from the hospital.”

“I'll come to you. Like I said, change of scene.”

Quickly, I picked up random papers in the living room, stacked books, folded the afghan on the sofa. I scrambled for the makings of a snack

She was at the door in no time. Long legs will do that.

“Would you like anything? Bad wine? Sorry, it's all I have. Or good coffee? I scrounged up some cookies.”

“Don't be silly. I am not here for a party.”

We settled the laptop on the kitchen table and we looked, together, at everything Chris had done.

“Lord, lord, lord. I know some of those kids. Oh, that one there? I know him all right. But I never allow Savvie to spend time with that bunch.” She turned to me. “I don't want you to think she never had fun. She had some very nice girls from the 'hood, ones she grew up with, and some decent boys too. And a ton of friends from school. She is on debate team and track and chorus. All those kids.”

She stopped the tiny movie. “Wait, I missed something.” She ran it again. It included a few seconds on a group of girls. “Ha. I know that one there. I do.” She pointed to a girl who was gesturing fiercely. “She and Savvie were little girl friends, playing with dolls, but then they drifted, Savvie being all into school, and this one not at all. She dropped out entirely somewhere along the way.” She sighed. “Damn. Can't quite get her name. Used to see her hanging around outside with some of those lay-about boys. That name will come to me in a minute.” She shook her head hard. “Now, let me see that boy Jackie's messages again.”

“Here it is. He is related to the boxer after all, I believe.”

She stared at the screen. “Then, liar and stupid, both. I'm not making a mistake here, am I? He's as much as said he was involved somehow, right? Oh! If only I had him here, right now.” Her fingers clenched. If Jackie were here, I wouldn't bet ten cents on him leaving in one piece. And I won't lie. I'd be tempted to help.

“Tammy! I got it. That girl's name.”

“Tammy? But that's Tyler's ex? He said that, didn't he? She likes to be called Starr but she's really Tammy.”

“Believe so. I didn't make the connection before.” Her attention was elsewhere. She clicked back to the little films of Tyler and watched them several times.

“I want to hate him. I do. Him and Savanna together. She lied to me because of him. And now…and now…all those hopes stuck in a hospital room…maybe forever.”

I didn't know what to say. There were no right words.

“Sorry, my mouth is running away. I meant to say, I intended to say, ah, crap.” She swore a few times, fluently. That was not her usual style. “I get the attraction. He seems nice.” She swore again. “Nice! He's a boy from the ‘hood who beats people up for a living. How nice could he be?”

I smiled a little, I hope sympathetically. “You sound kind of…”

She jumped in. “Confused? Conflicted??” She rubbed her temples as if she could smooth out the conflicts in her head. “That's me these days. And it's not like the usual me, that is for sure.” She looked up and gave me a tiny, wry smile. “There are folks who think I am a pushy attention whore. Imagine that!”

I wasn't sure if I should agree or say it wasn't true.

“Aw, come on, Little E! You can see I am joking. I don't care what folks think of me. All that matters to me is my baby getting better.”

She turned her eyes back to the screen, looked at some things again, kept tapping the keys.

“Well, it seems obvious to me I need to talk to a few folks. Possibly including a slaps upside their heads. Want to come?”

“What, now?”

“No! Have you lost your mind? Even I am not tough enough to roam around the projects at…what time is it?…midnight. Let's not be stupid. We'd go tomorrow.”

“You really want me along?” What did I have to bring to this plan?

“Well, I dunno. It was an impulse, but I'm liking it. You'll help me remember everything. And it will surprise people. You know what I mean? Throw them off a little. And you're not a cop so maybe they won't freeze up.”

“I'm in.” How could I not be? I had been pulled into this by a series of accidents but now I wanted to know. I wanted to know about Savanna and I wanted to know about Deandra's murder. I wanted that. It wouldn't contribute anything to my job life, or my academic life, and there are those who would say it wasn't safe. That would be, realistically, almost everyone in my life. But Zora was more than street smart. She was street brilliant. This was her home turf.

Besides, I was pretty sure no one picked on her, ever, from grade school on. Yes, I was in, most definitely.

In the morning, Chris was too busy herself to have any interest in my day. It was a relief, as I don't like lying to her. Today I would have.

Zora came by after breakfast and checked me out.

“You left a farewell letter behind? In case you don't come back from the Get-Toe?”

“Now you're needling me. I've been there before, you know.”

“Sorry. Just goofing on you. Let's roll.”

In my car, she explained her plan. It wasn't much of a plan. We would go to the project where she lived, look for people coming and going, and ask about Jackie.

And keep an eye out for Tammy, Tyler's ex-girlfriend, Savanna's ex-playmate. I had a moment of sympathy for her, everyone's ex. Was that why she was so bitchy in her digital world?

Zora sighed, a huge, heartfelt sigh. “I'm gonna have to accept him, right? If Savanna gets better? No, no, no.
When
she gets better. I'm going to have to give in on this, aren't I?”

“If she gets better, isn't there going to be a long recovery? Would you do anything to upset her? You wouldn't!”

“That's a given. Anything she wants. Even if it means some boy is always under foot, holding her hand and whatnot.”

“Probably you are most worried about the whatnot.”

“Ain't that the truth! Why did we do it? Go and have babies?”

I didn't respond. The reason for Chris was not the same as the reason for Savanna. She went on, “You know I don't mean it. You know that, right?”

I knew.

We were there. Time to park and get started.

“Is this a good idea?” I wasn't unlocking the car yet. “Seriously. Are we out of our minds?”

Her face hardened. “There is a possibility I am out of my mind, between grief and worry and exhaustion. That doesn't mean it is not worth a shot. I want to find the animals who did that and help their sorry asses go to jail forever. You can come with me, or not.”

She hustled off, spotting someone she knew, an old man nicely dressed in a too-big topcoat. He put his shopping bags down, they hugged, they talked, all before I caught up. Zora took his bags and carried them to the door of his building, chatting the whole time.

“This is my friend Erica who came along to help me remember every detail. This is my neighbor Brother James, who knows lots of people.”

“Please to make your acquaintance.” He turned back to Zora. “Now that Jackie boy, I don't know a-tall, but that girl? That girl you asking about? Tammy? I do know her, but I haven't seen her lately. Doesn't her grandma live where you do? Maybe someone over there might know more.” He put his hands on Zora. “And you tell your Savanna we are all saying our prayers for her.” Then he patted her arm. “Savanna will hear what you say to her. Don't you doubt it.” Zora helped him get the bags into the building and then motioned to me that we should walk.

“Now what?”

“Now we practice some more of the fine art of hanging around.” She saw my expression. “Feeling just the same. We are the go get'em types, not the hanging around types. But we wait for someone to go in or out and then I pounce. But in a nice way, so they will be relieved when they see I just want to talk. Then maybe I can get them to tell me something useful. Maybe not. It's a fine line between gossip and giving it up to the wrong person.”

A mother came out with two little girls in tow, rushing and yelling at them. Zora didn't even try to stop her. A couple of young men said “Good morning, Ms. Z,” but insisted they knew nothing. An elderly lady came along. She had a cane and walked with great caution.

“I know her,” she whispered. “Can't hardly see to get her door key in the lock and won't take any help. No point in asking her anything.”

People came and went, people she did not know, and Zora tried to approach them with questions. Brush-offs were immediate. Some stopped to listen for a moment, some hurried away without even hearing her out.

Growing bored, I wandered around. Tall brick buildings. Open front doors, an obvious security issue. Grassy areas with no grass. Graffiti here and there, dark sprays of paint on the beige brick.

And then I spotted Jackie.

I was so surprised that I didn't react, and then I realized I shouldn't react. I very casually stepped back to Zora.

“Be cool. Jackie is right there, around that building corner. I think he might be watching us.”

She nodded, pretended to look around, held her phone up for pictures, and slowly turned so she could use it to view him.

We moved around a building that hid us, and approached him from behind. Those tall, unfriendly project buildings had their good points.

“Good morning, Jackie.”

He swiveled to see us, and then stepped back, ready to turn and run.

Zora grabbed his jacket by the collar.

“Don't you even think it.” She was a big woman and now she had his arm bent behind his back. He looked scared. He should. I would have been.

“No running, you lying little worm. You Tyler's brother? You said no relation. You hanging around my daughter's room. Spit it out, what you know, before I turn you right over to him.”

She moved his arm a little, and he gasped.

“I do believe I could break your arm right now if I felt like it. You are a scrawny little thing.”

She sounded perfectly in control and cold as ice. He couldn't see her face but I could, sweat on her forehead and mouth a grim line.

“Little E.”

“Right here.”

“Paying attention?”

“Of course.” I was all eyes and ears, holding my breath.

“Get a snap to show he was here today. Okay? Wait! Not showing me manhandling him.” She yanked him upright and faked a friendly pose. I snapped away.

With her free hand, she shook him.

“What do you know about Savanna? Now!”

“Her…her and Tyler…they all deep into each other…love, love, love. Sickening.”

“So what's it to you?”

“He's my big bro, my man. Big future. She a distraction. Bossy little bitch.”

She jerked his arm, hard, and he cried out.

“My baby you talking about. Don't do it again.”

“She talking to him about going back to school. Putting dumb dreams in his head. I'm right about this. We already got a good dream for him. People counting on it. We always said…rich and famous…and I go right along with him, taking care of things, heading up his posse.”

“I know you didn't beat up my girl. You a shrimp compared to her.” She shook him again. “So what do you know?”

“Nothing. Nothing worth knowing. They said…they said…just scare her. Come on. Let me go.” He was crying now. “Praying for her every day.”

“Really?” She used her free hand to pin him to the building. “You praying? Sure you are. For the girl you this minute called a bossy bitch?”

“Ahh, that just talking trash. I didn't mean nothing by it. You got to believe it!”

She looked about to bang his head against the brick, and he looked terrified.

I had no role here, but I was rooted to the sidewalk. I would not have left for a million bucks. I watched while my mind also raced, thinking about what Jackie said. They wanted to scare her? Who did? After him, who else would be most unhappy about distracting Tyler from his career? Maybe I knew who to ask about that. But not now. Now I could not tear my eyes from the drama right in front of me.

Then Tyler showed up.

“Yo, Jackie.” He was confident, almost casual. “Why you been hiding from me?” As he approached, he turned to Zora. “Thank you, Miz Lafayette. I got it from here.” He peered into the boy's face. “You ain't answer my question yet, little brother.”