Defenseless (2 page)

S
onya hung up from Laura after she promised to get there as fast as she could. Her hands shook uncontrollably while she searched through her dresser for something to put on. She jerked on the first pair of pants and shirt she came across. There was no time to do anything to her frizzy hair. It really didn't matter since she was about to run back into the rain, she reasoned. She grabbed her purse from the floor as she ran out of the room. Halfway down the staircase, she realized she didn't have any shoes on and ran back, taking the stairs two at a time.

She flew through her bedroom door and into her walk-in closet where she frantically tore through massive pairs of shoes. She picked a pair of tennis shoes and wiggled her feet into them. She wore no socks but didn't care. Again she ran out of her room and down the stairs.

Sonya dashed to her car, cursing at the hard pelting rain that drenched her instantly. “Damn, where are my keys?” Sonya muttered, fumbling through her small purse. She went through her purse twice before she found them. She jumped into her car and started the engine almost in the same motion. “Calm down, Sonya,” she told herself. But it was easier said than done.
Laura killed Curtis? This has to be some kind of cruel joke. Laura couldn't have hurt anyone.

Sonya sped out of the long driveway and onto the dark road. Laura had said that she was too terrified to call the police and begged Sonya to hurry. Her thoughts were being pulled in a hundred different directions as various scenarios played across her mind—each one worse than the last.

Sonya turned on her high beams. The rain made it impossible to see. However, her foot continued to nail the accelerator to the floor.

Sonya's headlights shadowed something lying in the middle of the road. She swerved to her left, then screamed at seeing an approaching car. She tried to swing back into the right lane. Yet it was too late; her car began to hydroplane across the wet asphalt.

 

Dwayne watched in horror as the sleek Lexus spun out of control, then stopped without flipping over the side of the small road. The Lexus's horn blared as Dwayne saw the driver's body slump over the steering wheel.
Was he dead?

Dwayne hastily turned to park his car in front of the Lexus. He jumped out of his vehicle and ran to the driver's door and tried to open it. It was locked. He tried the other doors. They were all locked, too.
I have to break the glass.
Running back to his car, he scrambled to find his crowbar in the trunk. He smashed the backseat window of the Lexus and reached his hand around to open the driver's door. He then heard moaning sounds coming from the driver.
Good, he wasn't dead.

He jerked open the door just as the driver was coming to. The driver lifted his body off the car's horn, and Dwayne was momentarily shocked to discover the driver was a woman. Even with her wet hair plastered to her head, and the outrageous green and orange attire, Dwayne was spell-bound.

“Ma'am, are you all right?” he asked, leaning into the car to see if there were any bruises. When her eyelids fluttered open, Dwayne swore he was staring at the closest thing to a black Venus. He found himself fascinated by the sandy brown hair, drooping a few inches past her shoulders. Her caramel skin looked soft enough to touch. He glanced at her small nose and inviting lips and felt a surging heat wash over him.

Dwayne looked back into the driver's eyes and took a retreating step at the anger that was reflected there.

“What in the hell did you do to my window?” Sonya demanded as she turned to see the rain soak the back carpet and form tiny puddles on the leather seats.

“I was only trying to help, ma'am,” Dwayne answered, his irritation evident in his voice.

“Help? How? By destroying my car?”

“Now, look here! You were the one who was driving like a bat out of hell. You could've killed us!” Dwayne watched the woman pale even from the dim light given off from his car.

“I have to go,” she said dully and turned back to start her car. It wouldn't start. She pumped the accelerator, hoping the engine would kick in. It didn't work. She tried again.

“Ma'am, you're flooding your engine.”

Sonya stopped and cast angry eyes at him.

“I suppose you're going to blame me for that also,” he accused, his own hostility mounting.

Sonya clenched her mouth shut and reached over to slam her car door.

Dwayne stared at the driver. Her ungratefulness agitated him.
I have better things to do than to stand here in the pouring rain and let this woman treat me like this.

Dwayne stormed back to his car but didn't bother to start it. His conscience wouldn't allow him to leave a woman stranded no matter how upset he got.

Sonya watched as the stranger departed. Was his leaving supposed to scare her? She could care less if he left. She continued to watch him open the door to a beautiful golden luxury car. She wasn't sure what type of car it was from this angle, but it resembled a Lincoln. When he didn't attempt to start his car, Sonya intended on giving him a look of indifference. Yet when their eyes met, they were both held prisoners by something powerful. Sonya felt the intensity of his dark gray eyes. Handsome, she thought. His mature features appeared to have been created by an artist's skilled hands. There was a sense of familiarity about him.

Sonya realized she was gawking at the stranger and jerked her head away, chastising herself for her bold behavior. She reached and turned the ignition. It started. She gave a quick prayer of thanks, and then without a backward glance, drove away from the parked Lincoln.

Thirty minutes later, Sonya arrived at her sister's house. She was blinded by the flashing blue lights that lit up the small subdivision. She parked behind an Atlanta police car and jumped out and ran toward the house. But she was quickly grabbed by one of the officers at the scene.

“Sorry, ma'am. This is a restricted area.”

“This is my sister's house. I have to see my sister!”

“I'm sorry, ma'am. But I can't let you through.”

“Like hell you can't!” Sonya pushed past the officer only to find herself jerked back.

“I understand your situation, ma'am—but if you try to go on this property, I will have to arrest you.”

“Arrest me? You can't arrest me—”

“What seems to be the problem, ma'am?” another officer cut in.

“I want to see my sister,” Sonya answered, lowering her voice.

“Your sister? Are you Sonya Walters, ma'am?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I'm Sergeant Freeman. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”

“Where is my sister?” Sonya ignored the sergeant's question.

“We've already taken her downtown for questioning.”

Sonya turned to run back to her car when Sergeant Freeman grabbed her arm. Sonya turned back and flashed him an angry glare. He released her arm.

“Sorry, ma'am. But I was hoping to ask you a few questions.”

“Are you arresting me?” she asked coldly.

“Well, no, ma'am,” he answered.

“Then I have nothing to say to you.”

Sonya left the crime scene and focused on getting down Peachtree Street where the Atlanta Police Department was located. I was nearly 3:00 a.m. when she arrived. She entered the station and found her way to the front desk, where she rudely interrupted the officer talking on the phone. “I'm here to see my sister, Laura Durden.”

The heavy officer ignored Sonya's interference and continued his conversation.

“Excuse me! I want to see Laura Durden!”

The officer held his hand over the phone and looked at her for the first time. “I'll be with you in just a moment, ma'am.”

Sonya straightened her shoulders and tapped her foot impatiently. By the time the officer hung the phone she was entertaining thoughts of strangling him.

“Now, may I help you?” The officer rolled his eyes up to her.

Sonya clenched her hands into tight fists, trying to control her anger. “Yes, I want to see Laura Durden, please.”

The officer scrolled his plump finger down a list in front of him, then shook his head. “I'm sorry, ma'am. She is being questioned and arraigned in the morning. You won't be able to see her until tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow!” Sonya asked, astonished.

“Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry.”

She turned away, disappointed, but immediately began thinking of different avenues to help her sister. She needed to find a good lawyer. And she knew just the person to see.

 

Sonya arrived at the Valley Apartments at 4:00 a.m. and found her way to Sharon Ellis's apartment. She knew she was asking a lot, showing up at her friend's apartment at this time of night. She pounded on the door and waited a moment. When no answer came, she rang the doorbell a few times.
This will wake her up.
Still there was no answer and Sonya feared that she wasn't home. She banged on the door again.

“I'm coming!” came the irritated voice on the other side.

The door swung open, and Sharon stood glaring at Sonya. “Please say that you drove all the way over here to tell me I have tomorrow off. Or shall I say today?”

“May I come in? I need to talk to you.”

Sharon sighed and stepped back, allowing Sonya entrance.

“I need your help,” Sonya began. “It's Laura.”

Sharon's eyes widened at the sight of water tracking across her Asian rug. “Oh no, Miss Thang. Twitch back over here and take off those wet shoes before you ruin my expensive rug. Let me get you a towel.” Sharon ran down her narrow hallway and returned with a pink towel for Sonya to dry off with.

Sonya quickly dried off and returned the towel. “Now may I talk to you?”

“If it's about your hardheaded sister, I don't think I want to hear it.”

“She's in trouble, Sharon.”

“You woke me for that? What happened now? Did Curtis break her nose or black both her eyes again,” she asked sarcastically.

“She killed Curtis.”

Sharon's honey-colored face paled. “You're joking.”

“No. She called me at my home and told me she thought she had killed Curtis. By the time I made it to her house, the police had arrived and arrested her.”

“My God, Sonya. What are you going to do?”

“I don't know. I need to find her a good lawyer. I remember you said that your brother was a criminal lawyer. Is he any good?”

“He's very good. I'll call him first thing in the morning for you.”

“Can't you call him now?”

“Sonya, it's four in the morning.”

“I'm aware of what time it is, Sharon. Please, will you call him?”

Sharon gave an exasperated sigh. “You're lucky my husband is out of town because I would've had your rude butt thrown out of here by now.”

“Just call, Sharon.”

“I'm calling. I'm calling.”

Sonya rewarded her with a grateful smile as Sharon walked into the kitchen and dialed her brother's number.

“Hello, brother dear, it's me, Sharon. Yes, I know what time it is. I need a favor.”

Sonya turned and walked away, giving Sharon privacy to talk to her brother. She entered Sharon's pearl and peach living room. She twirled the golden coin absently as she studied the various pictures of Sharon and her husband, James.

The pictures reflected a charming couple hopelessly in love, Sonya thought. She picked up one of the many silver picture frames and studied the beautiful couple's wedding pose. Looking at the happy couple didn't calm her any, so she placed the small frame back among the others.

“Okay, kiddo. My brother may never speak to me again, but I got him to hear your case first thing this morning at seven. That was the best I could do.”

Sonya smiled. “Thank you.”

Sharon walked over and hugged her depressed friend. “You want to talk? I can make us a fresh pot of coffee,” she offered.

“No, I don't want to trouble you any more than I have,” Sonya answered with a fading smile.

“It's no trouble. In fact, I don't want you driving back in that rain.”

“Sharon, I—”

Sharon held up her hand, silencing Sonya. “I don't want to hear it. You will sleep in the spare bedroom, and I'll get you something to put on. Anything will be better than what you've got on.”

Sonya looked down and noticed her attire for the first time. She wore a pair of forest-green sweatpants, brown sneakers and an orange T-shirt. “I guess I won't be posing for the cover of
Essence
anytime soon.”

“I guess not. Let me get you something to wear and turn the bed down for you.” Sharon exited the room, and Sonya slumped down on the peach leather sofa. Despair swept through her body, leaving her feeling drained.