Daddy's House (21 page)

“
Yeah it is. The connect cut your mother off, never dealt with her again, just you. So when your Columbian lover got caught, it was time to snitch, huh? The Feds thought it was Big V who had been making all the money from him. But it was you. Sly little whore.”

“
Daddy, please believe me,” I begged.

“
This is why I can’t get serious about women. And just think…I took you outta here like you were my woman. And look at this bullshit you pulled with your own fam. You’d probably do the same shit to me.”

“
No, I wouldn’t!” I jumped up hoping to plead my case.

“
So, I guess in your mind your mother is dead.” He shook his head at me with disgust. “You had me go to some white muthufucka’s grave, didn’t you!” he yelled, then paced the floor again. “I went to that funeral hoping to find your mother. J-Cee knows what she looks like, but she wasn’t there. I would’a brought her back here so she could kill you slowly.”

I had nothing to say. Shame was all I thought as I held my head low. Then, I thought about how the real Daddy was beginning to surface. The Daddy who would tell me to my face, he would allow someone to kill me.

“
How could you allow your own mother to take the weight for you? And your uncles, and other family members? That’s the worst betrayal there is,” he added. “How long will it take for you to betray me?”

I shook my head back and forth. “I would never betray you.” I cried a few tears, even though he made it clear he wasn’t interested.

“
You thought she wouldn’t find out, stupid. That’s what the Feds do…they turn every defendant involved in a case against one another. They told Big V you snitched on her, then they told the Columbian connec it was you who would testify against him too.”

“
I never snitched on anybody!” I shouted.

Daddy smiled. “The truth came out…and it all comes back to you,” he said, headed toward the door. “Ummmph….ummmph…umph. So fine on the outside, yet so untrue on the inside.” His head shook in disgust. “Now gear up!” His voice resonated throughout the room. “While I been away from the house being tricked by your ass, my business is going under. You gotta make good on our previous deal.”

“
What deal is that?” I asked sadly. The energy level in the room had gone down, and Daddy’s disposition had changed completely. The smirk he wore wasn’t a good sign.

“
You got Cat’s bill to pay, remember?”

Every muscle in my body ached.
How could he
, I wondered. Didn’t our relationship mean anything to him? When Daddy opened the door to leave, I followed behind, hoping he’d change his mind. However, there was a strange man standing outside my door dressed in a work jumpsuit with a tool belt strapped around his waist. He grinned like he was ready to put in work. I figured Ms. Dottie was playing me dirty, wanting me to get back to work so soon. But revenge seemed to be her style.

Instead, Daddy shut the door. The moment it closed, I heard loud drilling sounds. The screws went in quickly, and the new dead bolts, even quicker. I flung my body against the door, and screamed in agony. “Let me outta here!” I yelled. “Let me out!”

Chapter Twenty-Two

The heavy rain beating against my window-pane added dreariness to my already gloomy feeling. I leaned against the headboard, wondering how I’d gotten myself in such a crazy situation. I was supposed to work in the house for four months top, then be free, with enough money to make my way out west. But things didn’t seem to be working in my favor. And to top it all off, being locked in my room was the furthest thing from my plan.

When I thought about how this all happened,
men
came to mind. They were the culprit. It seemed like every
bad aspect of my life started from complications with a
man. Me and my mom fell out because I started fucking
with her male connection. Me and Rich weren’t together
‘cause he’d found out. And now I’d fucked up a good gig by catching feelings for the owner of a hoe house, who’d locked my ass up in my bedroom.
So much for escaping
prison time.

I hit myself in the forehead a few times thinking why, why, why? I’d be twenty-four years old in six months, so this craziness was getting old. I needed to grow up, make more mature decisions.

I hopped off the bed, trying to keep myself from going insane. It was already noon, and no one had showed up to let me out. The day before, Ms. Dottie told me that she was finally gonna let me out. I hadn’t been called down to the showroom, the office...nothing. I wasn’t about to let it get me down, so for the next hour, I dropped down to the floor and had my gym time. I had to keep myself looking good, ‘cause at some point, Daddy would come to his senses and understand that I’d never do anything to hurt him. Then we’d be together, for sure. That mess he was upset about was between me and my moms.
Not him
.

Time seemed to fly, and before I knew it, my work-out was done. I was extremely sweaty, so a quick shower and change of clothes was desperately needed. I’d gotten up extra early that morning, showered, and dressed like I was going to a party. I figured I could earn a few brownie points if I spruced things up a bit. Not to mention I had on Daddy’s favorite outfit, a tight pair of True Religion jeans and a sheer cream shirt. Unfortunately for me, no one came by to see me looking good.

After my second long shower, and solo fashion show, four o’clock came and went. And so did more boredom. I needed another means of entertainment. Figuring out what to do next was mind boggling. Eating sounded good to me, but I guess Ms. Dottie’s plan was to starve my ass to death, ‘cause I hadn’t eaten in two days. The only thing she’d managed to give me was water.
Even people on
death row are treated better than this shit.
Luckily, the mints in my purse had provided some nutrients.

I made my way to the window, only to realize there were several cars in the driveway. I saw someone leaving the house, and I tried to get his attention by banging on the window. The gentleman just looked up, placed his hands in his pockets, and sped up his pace. I waved like a school-girl, but the client just nodded and hopped into his ride.

At that moment, I realized no locks were on the windows. I could really break free if I wanted to. But where would I go? The situation confused me even more. I held my head down low, knowing the client wouldn’t be coming back for me. Then I thought of Tracey. If she were alive, I’d have a place to go. I just knew in my heart, my mother killed her. I couldn’t prove it, but I’d bet my life on it.

Loud rumbling sounds outside my door startled me. My reflexes made me reach for the window. I guess I immediately thought about my break-in back in Jersey. As the noises grew louder, I became more frightened. As soon as I heard the locks being unlatched, my brain told me to hurry to the opposite side of the room, in search of a weapon. Unsure of who was on the other side, or what they had in store for me, I jetted across the room, and grabbed the small lamp from the coffee table.

When the door swung open, Ms. Dottie stood there a few seconds in silence, swinging her key ring. Her facial expression seemed to have pity on me. I geared up for a smart remark to come from her mouth.

“
It’s your phone time,” she said, “C’mon down.”

She turned away leaving the door wide open. I expected her to say, “I’m sorry, we forgot you were in here.” Or, hell, what about breakfast, lunch, or even a fucking snack!”

These people are fucking crazy
I thought, walking out of my room. Even though I’d finally been let out of my room, my pace was slow, and cautious.
Obviously anything
goes around here
.

Ms. Dottie reappeared and scared the shit outta of me. “Go eat first, you got some food waiting in the kitchen.”

Okay…so maybe she did forget. She seemed to be off her game, which was different from the Ms. Dottie I was used to.

“
Thanks,” I mumbled. I didn’t want to act like I was mad, but I didn’t want her to think it was cool to have me locked up like an animal either.

After eating the old turkey and cheese with withered lettuce, I sluggishly headed toward the office for my phone time. When I approached the showroom, there were no familiar faces except School Teacher’s. I waved, but she didn’t wave back. I wondered if she knew I’d been locked up, or if she even cared. For that matter, did anybody care?

I kept it moving, hoping to run into Sushi. She had computer time right before me, so I hoped to see her. When I entered the office, to my surprise Ms. Dottie was right behind me. I thought she was gonna follow me inside, until she turned slightly and opened the front door.

A tall gentleman entered. Ms. Dottie questioned him a bit, then ushered him into the showroom. From where I was sitting, I couldn’t see his face that good, nor could I tell if he appeared to have money. His shoes were the only visible clues I had to say he was wack. The brown penny loafers were worn, and looked like the pair I wore in high school, literally.

I left the door to the office open, and logged in to my account on MySpace. After being locked in my room for all that time, the last thing I wanted was to be in a closed space. I really didn’t know what my interest with MySpace was anymore since Tracey wasn’t around for me to send messages to. I knew the messages and comments would’ve strictly come from people I didn’t know. But, what the hell, there was nothing else for me to do.

My fingers starting typing fast, like I’d found some new-found energy. Once I logged in, I thought it was strange how there were a few messages from somebody named So-So- Special. There wasn’t a picture, so I didn’t have a clue as to who it was. I clicked the first message, then fell back in my chair. I took a few breaths and read the second message.

Oh, my God! It couldn’t be.
I gazed deeper into the screen. It was him. The love of my life.

The only man who ever loved me.

Candice.

Hope you get this. I’m out, Ma. Been out for a couple of weeks. Your mother is out too.

So be careful, watcha self. That bitch- BIG V, turned on me, wants to kill my mothufuckin ass now. I got your back though. Call me at same phone #.

Rich

Just about the same time, my heart pounded from reading Rich’s message, someone knocked on the front door. After Ms. Dottie opened the door and let the gentlemen in, I listened, hoping she would tell me the client wanted my services, but ironically the voice was familiar. An odd voice that I couldn’t pin-point. At first Ms. Dottie talked to him about the policies of the house, then her conversation abruptly changed. She became defensive, so I scooted my chair closer to the door, still away from their view.

I peeked my head out the office door slightly to get a glance, and to see if I wanted to be bothered with the client’s drama. Quickly, I snatched my head back. His face hadn’t changed. Agent Barnes still looked like a lil’ boy in his late teens instead of a grown man. Vomit built up in my stomach quicker than I could blink. Ms. Dottie got drilled with one question after another.

My whole face changed colors, wondering what the fuck Agent Barnes was doing at the house? I wanted to reach out and shut the office door slowly, but that move would’ve caused too much suspicion. Instead, I leaned back in the chair, trying to calm my nerves enough to listen in. I looked over at the screen where Rich’s message stared me in the face. I was so distraught from Agent Barnes presence. I couldn’t focus on anything else.

“
I’m looking for Candice Holmes,” he said firmly.

“
No one here by that name,” Ms. Dottie replied.

“
She called me from a number here at this house,” he said to Ms. Dottie.

“
Must be some mistake,” Ms. Dottie shot back.

“
No, I’m confident. She left a message, and we tracked the phone number to this location.”

I watched as Agent Barnes stepped a few more feet into the foyer, straining to get a glimpse of the place. I swung my chair back even further, hoping he wouldn’t see me.

“
Besides, we don’t make mistakes,” he said, flashing his badge.

Uh-oh
, I thought.

Ms. Dottie played it cool. He must’ve disguised himself as a John to get past the gate originally. So now that he was in, she asked bluntly, “So what is it that you want, Agent? There’s no Candice here.”

“
What about a Danielle Crouch?” he asked, looking around both sides of her shoulders.

“
Nope,” she said, without hesitation. Strangely, she wasn’t as firm as usual.

“
Well, what about the owner, James Woodruff aka Daddy? Or should I say whoever runs this place. They’re gonna be in a lot of trouble if you don’t wanna cooperate, so just point me in the right direction.”

Ms. Dottie paused. “Yes, James Woodruff does own the place.”

She turned to see if anybody was listening from behind. I’m not really sure if she remembered I was in the office. “What else do you need?” she asked, holding her hand toward the door. “I have nothing more to say.”