Devilish Details (26 page)

“You want me to be noble. I should agree to
step aside so him and sweet Nyla can ride into the sunset. Last
time I checked, Don was a grown ass man who didn’t need a
nursemaid.” Jazz raised an eyebrow at him. “Now if you’ll excuse
me, I need a nap.”

“If this latest incident ties into the
murder, I’ll find out. If your gang banging ex-boyfriend, Filipe
Perez, is helping you, I’ll know about it. Soon.” Miller fixed a
laser stare on Jazz.

Jazz twisted around in the bed so that her
backside was to him. She was sure he got the message to kiss her
butt. “Goodbye, Chief of whatever.”

“I’ll be talking to you,” Miller shot
back.

“Not without my lawyer,” Jazz said.

She listened to the clip-clip of his shoes
on the polished linoleum floor and the whisk of the door opening.
She turned onto her back once Miller was gone. Her sister walked in
alone, a brittle smile in place.

“You okay?”

Jazz sighed as she arranged the sheets.
“Yeah.”

“He didn’t just want to interview you as a
victim I’m guessing.” Willa took over smoothing the sheets until
they were perfect. “The nerve of the man.”

“He’s doing his job.” Jazz laughed. “I can’t
believe I just said that. I’ve been hanging around Don too
much.”

“Speaking of the detective...”

“No, we’re not speaking of Don. I don’t care
what MiMi had to say,” Jazz cut her off firmly.

Willa sat on the edge of the bed. “Sure
you’re not dizzy or nauseous? The nurse said those might be signs
you have more serious injuries.”

“I’m sore, but that’s it. Well except for
Miller grinding his heel on my last damn nerve.” Jazz leaned
against the pillows.

Willa gave a brief laugh and then cleared
her throat. “At least Detective Addison protected you from being
beaten. So far you don’t have any signs of internal injury.”

“No thanks to those punk ass thugs.” Jazz
closed her eyes.

“Since you’re here, you could talk to the
doctor about that surgery,” Willa said softly. She stared down at
her hands clenched together. “Maybe since you met Don, I mean, I
can tell you care about him.”

Jazz opened her eyes and sat up. “Stop it
right there. Even if a doctor says I could have kids, I don’t want
any.”

“At least let a doctor look. I’ve seen the
way you look at Mikayla and Anthony, at little Sage when you think
no one notices.” Willa moved closer to Jazz. She reached for Jazz’s
hand, but Jazz pulled back. “I’m just saying.”

“Look, I got over being raped by that sick
bastard. The damn social workers forced me to go to counseling. I’m
cured. Right as rain.” Jazz looked away from Willa.

Jazz became preoccupied with sex, attracting
male attention and being seductive. The social worker made her go
back to the same therapist who’d treated when she’d become
aggressive toward other children. The soft spoken woman had gently
helped her understand the effects of being raped. From then on Jazz
decided to be in complete charge of her body and her life as a
whole. Doctors had explained the internal scarring might make her
infertile later in life. Jazz didn’t care. She told everyone. Kids
were a pain that slowed a woman down. Men never stuck around to
help anyway.

“I know, I know. You live on your own terms.
Blah, blah, blah. But think about having a family,” Willa pressed
on.

“The world does not need another selfish,
triflin’ mother who can’t or won’t take care of her kids,” Jazz
retorted.

“You’re not Vivienne.”

“I’m not the bake cupcakes and attend PTA
meetings type either.”

“You think I am? Mama Ruby does my baking.
I’ve gotten awards for NOT volunteering on PTA committees.” Willa
grinned at Jazz.

Jazz grinned back. “Don’t think I didn’t
notice.”

“Seriously, Jazz,” Willa started but stopped
when Jazz stopped smiling. “Fine. Subject closed.”

Silence stretched between them. Jazz and
Willa avoided looking at each other. Willa straightened the room.
She put a fresh box of tissues on the table next to Jazz’s hospital
bed. Then she got a blanket and put it within easy reach in case
Jazz got chilly. When she sat down gingerly on the bed again, Jazz
grabbed her hand.

“Stop trying to fix things and forget that
guilt trip Vivienne put on you. Protecting us was her, not yours.
Jazz let her hand go. “Yeah. Mostly I know. I mean...” Willa’s
voice trailed off as she twisted her hands together.

When Willa sniffed a couple of times, Jazz
reached for the box of tissues and handed them to her. They’d never
discussed the, not in such direct terms. Jazz knew Willa felt
guilty for years. At some point, in anger, Jazz had let her. More
proof that Jazz had inherited more of Vivienne than she wanted. Yet
distance and maturity helped Jazz grow past such bitterness.

“I wanted out of foster care and to live
with Vivienne again. You wanted Miss Ruby and Mr. Elton to adopt
you.” Jazz could have added that unlike Willa, she’d held onto the
fantasy that Vivienne would be a caring mother. “What we went
through affected us in different ways. Let it go at that.
Okay?”

“Yeah,” Willa said, her voice muffled by a
wad of tissues. She looked at Jazz as she dabbed her eyes.

“You want a big sloppy hug, don’t you?”

Willa’s bottom lip trembled. “Uh-huh.”

“Let’s get this outta your system.” Jazz
opened her arms.

Willa sniffed once and then wrapped Jazz in
a tight embrace. She rocked Jazz from side to side. “Every time you
get hurt, I hurt.”

“Yeah, I know.” The love radiating from
Willa comforted Jazz despite her rough exterior

Willa’s parents peeped around the door. Both
made cooing noises as they came in and joined in the hugging.
Seconds later, MiMi came in to put her arms around as many of them
all as possible.

“This is so wonderful,” MiMi said in weepy
voice.

After a while, Jazz extricated herself from
the human clump of emotion. “I need some air y’all.”

“Sorry, right. You’re hurt.” Willa stepped
away along with the others.

“I’m so happy to see you girls getting
along,” Mama Ruby said between snuffles. She took a deep breath and
let it out, one hand over her heart.

Papa Elton beamed at MiMi, Willa, and Jazz.
“Yes, real nice. Don’t give me that look, Jazzmonetta. Family is
the most important thing any of us got.”

“Yes sir,” Jazz mumbled. She darted a
warning glance at her when Willa started to smirk at her obedient
response.

Godfrey Higgins pushed through the door. He
paused when he saw Jazz wasn’t alone. “Hello everyone. Sorry to
intrude on family time. Jazz, I mean Ms. Vaughn, I need to discuss
some business with you.”

“Can’t it wait? My sister has been through a
bad few hours,” Willa said ice in her voice.

“I think we should discuss it now. But if it
might affect your health...” “If whatever you want to talk about
brought you across town to my sick room, you better come in and
spill it,” Jazz said.

“Ahem, of course, if I didn’t think it was
important... By the way, I’m sorry you were hurt. Keith called me
about this latest, um, incident.” Higgins strode in, his leather
portfolio under one arm.

“Ruby, we better get back to check on Jazz’s
club and our place,” Papa Elton said. He gave his wife a silent
message with a slight nod.

Mama Ruby gazed steadily at the lawyer.
“What?”

“I think we should be going now,” Papa Elton
said, putting more emphasis in his tone.

“Right, yeah.” Mama Ruby blinked as though
being pulled away didn’t sit too well. Still she smiled at Jazz.
“I’m going to check in with your employees this afternoon. I’m
honored you trust me to handle your business.”

“Hey, you’ve got a couple years more
experience than me running a restaurant and lounge,” Jazz replied.
“Thanks for offering to help.”

“Anytime, baby. Now if you need us, just
holler,” Mama Ruby answered. She shot a sharp glance at
Higgins.

“Nice meeting you folks.” Higgins tugged at
his silk tie.

“Uh-huh,” Mama Ruby said.

Papa Elton opened the door and caught his
wife by the arm. His booming voice still carried even as he tried
to whisper. “What was that about?”

Willa crossed her arms and waited. MiMi went
around the bed to sit on the small sofa. Both women gazed at the
lawyer with interest. Higgins adjusted his tie a second time and
cleared his throat.

“This is about your night club, so maybe we
should discuss this in private.” Higgins spoke to Jazz, but glanced
at Willa twice as he spoke.

“They know about the contract with Ames for
investment money. Well mostly to get my ass out of jail. So what’s
goin’ on?” Jazz said.

“Ames is concerned about the latest series
of events. He’s seeing a pattern that might affect the, er, value
of his investment.” Higgins stopped to let his words settle in.

“Yeah, but he signed on the line just like I
did. So he’s got to wear his big boy pants and deal with it,” Jazz
retorted.

“Of course the area is still very desirable.
But he’s not sure your name associated with the business isn’t a
liability. Ames has other business partners to consider, and they
might get skittish given the media coverage of your exploits.”
Higgins sat straight.

“Skip the big build up and get to why you’re
here,” Willa broke in.

Higgins didn’t look at her, but focused on
Jazz. “There are two relevant clauses in the contract about the
current owner not harming the business. One includes putting Candy
Girls at risk for civil liability. The other refers to criminal
activity.”

“Morality clauses in a contract with a
strip? You got to be freaking kidding,” Willa sputtered. She turned
to Jazz. “I told you not to sign that damn thing.”

“Let me freaking remind you, this is my damn
business. I didn’t plan to be accused of murder and I needed the
money.” Jazz slapped the bed sheet to get Higgins’ nervous
attention away from Willa and back to her. “What civil
liability?”

Higgins pulled papers from his portfolio.
“Ms. Lorraine Taylor is has filed a lawsuit because she was injured
on your property and another one saying you defamed her. And a
third one as well, a wrongful death action on behalf of the minor
children of Ms. Kyeisha Lathers.”

“I could strangle that...”

MiMi sprang up at light speed and clamped a
hand over Jazz’s mouth. “We’re in enough trouble.”

Chapter 15

Four hours later, Jazz, under much protest,
had been installed in Willa’s guest bedroom. She’d tried to fight
back, but fatigue and muscle relaxers made Jazz less of a fighter.
Plus the news Higgins had brought contributed to an overwhelming
sense of defeat. Although Jazz felt she’d draw strength from being
on her home turf, Willa’s steel will won. MiMi sided with her big
sister. When the nurse came in with the discharge instructions,
Willa had taken them with smooth efficiency. MiMi packed up the few
items Jazz had, her torn clothes from the night at Grown Folks.
Dressed in comfortable sweat pants and a sweat shirt, Jazz was
whisked into Willa’s SUV and to her home. Jazz glanced around. The
cool shades of green and pale yellow did sooth her nerves. But
mostly, it was the drugs. Willa paced around setting an already
perfect room in order.

“He knew. The slimy snake set you up so he
and his buddy could get their greasy hands on your property,” Willa
fumed. She placed a basket of healthy snacks and bottled water in
easy reach for Jazz.

“You need to calm down. Have some of my
shit.” Jazz grinned as she held up her bottle of pills.

“You sound like a drug dealer,” Willa
scolded. She took the bottle from Jazz and put them back on the
night stand. “It wasn’t a coincidence Ames took an interest in your
business. Higgins watched the news and pounced.” Willa slapped her
hands causing Jazz to start.

“Standard clause, girl. Chill. Trying to
protect his investment. Isn’t that what your high powered attorney
friend said?” Jazz reminded her. Brad had been Willa’s employer
before she left to take over Crown Protection.

Mikayla burst into the room without warning.
She threw her back pack onto a chair and bounced on the bed next to
Jazz. “Auntie Jazz, it’s awesome having you down the hall from
me.”

Seconds later, Anthony strode in and gave
Jazz a kiss on the forehead. “Glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks big man.” Jazz patted her nephew’s
face before he stood straight again.

Mikayla wiggled closer to Jazz. “Are you
going to live with us?”

“H... I mean, no sweetie. I’ll just be here
overnight
,” Jazz said and cut a glance at her sister.

“Aw, I was hoping you’d stay. You’re fun
even if you don’t like kids.” Mikayla giggled when Jazz tickled her
in response to their inside joke.

“Lawd have mercy, but you’re such a pain in
the butt.” Jazz pretended to scowl at her as they tussled.

“Little girl, get yourself off that bed.
Jazz is still bruised up.” Willa waved a hand motioning Mikayla to
move.

“I’m fine. Besides, hugs from a favorite
niece are better than any old medicine a doctor could give.” Jazz
smiled at Mikayla and took Anthony’s large hand.

“Uh-huh. Don’t think you’ll get out of doing
your homework, Mikayla. Go put your things away. I have snacks set
out. In thirty minutes, you should have cleaned up, eaten, and have
your head in a book,” Willa ordered.

“But Mama, I’m in honors class. I’m always
doing extra work and...” Mikayla stopped talking under the scrutiny
of her mother.

“I have the list of your assignments,” Willa
said. She pointed to the door. “We’ll see you at dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mikayla slid from the bed and
grabbed her backpack. She left with a dejected end of the world
expression.