In The Shadows (21 page)

 Chapter Forty-One

Morning came before Brandon was prepared for it. He found himself still up at 2:30 a.m., still reviewing the cases. That morning was their last morning together as a family. Brandon had to wake up, and fast. He entered the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee to get his blood pumping. Before he could get started on breakfast, Katy and his father entered the kitchen about the same time.

When Brandon walked past the guest room where his father was staying, he noticed his bags were packed and positioned by the door. Brandon had really enjoyed his time with his father and sister and found it hard to believe it was time for him to return to Selma. Brandon longed for more occasions such as this one.

He went to his room to get his clothes together for the game that morning. Brandon struggled to wake his tired body under the steady stream of hot water as he tried to push thoughts of the case away. He wanted to be mentally present during the breakfast he would soon share with his family.

After he’d gotten dressed, he heard Katy call for him from the kitchen, telling him breakfast was ready. As he walked past his phone on the dresser, he checked to see if he had any missed calls. Carlos had not called him back, and the thought that Carlos was avoiding him suddenly entered Brandon’s mind. He would make it his business to call him again before the end of the day.

Tonya woke up at 9:00 a.m. and knew she had stayed in bed as long as she possibly could. When she opened her eyes, she smelled the aroma from the sausage and pancakes emitting from the kitchen. Callie knew Tonya was up late and had decided to prepare enough breakfast for her too. Tonya heard the shower running as she took her seat at the table. Had she gone to bed any later, she wouldn’t have been able to get her eight hours of sleep in.

She was glad her body felt good that morning. The team they were facing was from Bessemer, and they always had a good squad and was known for their speed. Tonya’s team hadn’t faced them since last year’s tournament, and Tonya was looking forward to the challenge and testing their speed. Tonya had been one of the fastest, if not the fastest, guard in the district when she played high school ball.

Tonya picked up the phone to call Brandon but immediately put the phone back on the table. Although she missed him and wanted to hear his voice, Tonya knew she needed to focus on the game. Being extremely disciplined and focused on her game was one of the things she’d prided herself on for years. That day would not be any different.

When she and Callie arrived at the gym, the parking lot was already overflowing, and there was a line of people waiting to get inside. Tonya and Callie entered the parking garage and walked through the side lined by security. The girls were shocked to see so many law enforcement officers there but relieved at the same time. There had been a melee at the last tournament after the officials made a bad call.

As they made their way to the locker room, Tonya scanned the crowd for Brandon and the girls. It was halftime when Callie and Tonya emerged from the back to watch the last half of the game. Tonya was getting hyped. Basketball had been her love since she was a little girl.

There was no erotic foreplay like hearing the comforting sound of a basketball rhythmically bouncing off the gym floor. Hearing the squeaks from the gym shoes as they ran back and forth on the basketball court absolutely gave Tonya the most seductive chills all over her body.

Being in the gym felt like home to Tonya. There was no other feeling in the world that could ever come close to the peacefulness she experienced when on the court. The game had started back and was well into play when Tonya was suddenly jilted out of her daydream by the screaming fans. She took a deep breath and took in the game.

* * *

Brandon and Katy stood outside while they watched their father put his items in the passenger seat. Katy had been crocheting since she was ten, and in her spare time she would crochet since visiting Alabama. Once she realized her father would be coming for a visit, she began working on a scarf for him. Brandon told her their father’s favorite color was blue, so Katy crocheted a blue and grey scarf. When she presented it to her father, she put it around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

“Daddy, I made this especially for you. I want you to think of me whenever you wear this.”

Her father couldn’t believe Katy made the scarf. It was just as well made as a store-bought scarf. “Honey, you made this for me? This is beautiful, and it’s my favorite color. Thank you so much. You might wanna consider selling these things in the winter. You’d make a lot of money.”

After hugging both his children, Sheriff Masterson got into his car and pulled away, waving until he was out of their sight.

* * *

Brandon, Katy, and Claire arrived at the gym just as the other game ended. The roads were extremely crowded, and the parking lot was packed. After riding around about ten minutes, waiting for a parking space to open up, Brandon was lucky enough to get a parking space not far from the front door. He and the girls were so excited and would be terribly disappointed if they missed one second of Tonya’s game.

Since a game had just ended, the teams’ visitors were clearing out of the gym. Brandon and the girls quickly found good seats that put them near the home team’s bench.

When Tonya was introduced as the starting point guard, Brandon and the girls’ cheers were drowned out by the roaring cheers of the crowd, who obviously enjoyed watching Tonya play as much as Brandon and the girls loved her. They spotted Natalie and Janelle sitting on the other side of the gym as they all cheered for Tonya.

* * *

Brandon and the girls were still cheering well after the buzzer sounded. Tonya hit the game-winning shot, and everyone was still standing on their feet; some were even stomping as they cheered.

Brandon exchanged high fives with those around him and couldn’t get over the amazing shot carried out by Tonya. Her game was flawless through each quarter; and when the forward who was double-teamed found Tonya well above the top of the key, with a full four seconds on the clock, she hurled the ball to Tonya.

Without hesitation and without looking at the clock, Tonya did what she did best. With the ball in her hands less than a second, the moment it reached her fingertips, she fired off a shot with the defenders heading her way too late.

* * *

When the ball left her fingertips, Tonya knew it was a solid shot, and she’d gotten a good look at the goal even before the pass was made. What happened next caused the crowd to erupt as she stood there, still holding her form and waiting for the ball to tell the story. Once the ball went through the nets like something out of the movies, Tonya was mobbed by her teammates as the cheering from the crowd became deafening. Still in a celebratory mode, the girls, with Callie leading the way, had to tone their cheering down for a moment to show team spirit and shake the opposing team’s hands.

When the girls entered the locker room, the celebrating started all over again. The coach was in rare form as she high-fived some and hugged the others. Tonya had been involved in other celebrations before, but this one was more exciting than the last big one. She was taking in all the dancing and singing as each team member celebrated in their own way.

After ten minutes had passed, things were beginning to calm down, and the coach was able to make her victory speech, followed by a prayer. No matter if the girls won or lost, the coach always ended her speech with a prayer.
Just
like
a
good
ol
’
Southern
Baptist
, Tonya could hear her Grandmother Pearl say.

Grandmother Pearl would always remind the children that God was the Almighty and made no mistakes, and everything happened for a reason. She would always tell people that there was power in prayer, and her favorite saying was to pray for all things, the big things as well as the little things. One should pray always and not just when things were going bad but especially when things were good. Grandmother Pearl was a smart and wise old woman, and she loved sharing her stories of wisdom with others.

* * *

As Tonya dried off, she noticed the locker room had cleared out for the most part. She searched for her phone and sent Brandon a text message. She’d spoken to him before the game, and he said he would stick around until she was done.

When she reentered the gym, she saw Brandon waiting patiently. It was early afternoon, and Tonya had to return at 8:00 p.m. to play in the championship game. The girls were gone, and Brandon was sitting down watching the next game. The boys’ team had lost their game earlier that morning and would be there later to support the girls at their big game that night.

As Tonya approached Brandon who was standing just inside the door by the concession stand, she started having regrets because her game tonight would keep her from spending time with Brandon. His father was gone, and they could’ve had the rest of the evening together.

Brandon had mentioned that Katy was going over to Claire’s later, which left him with nothing to do. Tonya thought that was a hint to come over, but then with her having to be back within five hours, their plans would have to be put on hold once again.

As she walked past the crowded gym floor, small bursts of cheers erupted. Taking Tonya by surprise, she lifted her fist up in victory in response to the cheers. Tonya had played her heart out and was beginning to stiffen up from the game. When she saw Brandon’s face light up as she approached, she was no longer tired. Her body felt renewed as she fell into his arms. She was welcomed by his warm hug that seemed to last forever.

“Hey, baby! You were fantastic out on that court today. I mean, from the time the game started until you put the perfectly crafted finishing touches on it, you took no prisoners. I’m so proud of you. I guess this means you’ll have another game tonight, huh?”

“Yeah, we play in the finals at 8:00 p.m. We’ve not played this team before, but I don’t think we’ll have to fight as hard as we did today,” Tonya said, smiling as she watched Brandon study her face.

“Well, can I take you out for a late lunch?” Before Tonya could answer, she heard Katy and Claire screaming as they headed her way. The girls hugged Tonya and congratulated her on her performance.

“Okay, girls, what are your plans?” Brandon asked, wanting to change the scenery.

“I was going to ask if I could sleepover at Claire’s since this is my last night. We’re planning on going back to the park to run today.”

“Oh I see. Well, as much as I would love for you to spend time with Claire, I think it would be best if you spent your last night at home because we’ll have to be up extra early to head to the airport.” Katy started pouting as she looked at Claire then back at Brandon with puppy-dog eyes. “Okay, here’s what we can do. If you girls are hungry, come go to lunch with me and Tonya. Then we can drop Tonya off on our way back to the house. You can get your run in, and I’ll drop you both off at Claire’s on my way back to the finals tonight.”

Katy was excited about the plan. She knew she would have more time to spend with Claire, and this made her happy. Unfortunately Claire wasn’t able to go out to eat with them. She and Katy made plans to run later after lunch. Katy needed to go home and finish packing while Claire did her chores.

Claire knew her mom wouldn’t allow her to have company unless she’d done the chores she had been assigned to do. She’d left so early that morning that she promised her mom she would do them as soon as she returned. As much as she wanted to go to lunch with them, she was relieved she would see Katy later that day.

The three enjoyed burgers from Braum’s, and Tonya kicked herself for letting Brandon talk her into eating burgers. The burgers were huge, and they were delicious. She was glad she had plenty of time to allow her food to digest before the next game.

Katy’s burger was so big, she only ate half of it before she decided she’d had enough. She would save the rest for later; besides, she couldn’t very well run on a full stomach.

Tonya said good-bye to Katy because she knew it would be her last time seeing her before Katy returned to Ohio. Seeing them embrace brought a smile to Brandon’s face. Brandon was so happy the two of them were taken in by each other. He never thought Katy would have any issues with him dating Tonya, but he was still relieved the two really hit it off. Brandon found himself joining in the hugging session with his two best girls.

Then allowing Katy to escape their circle of love, Tonya said, “I’m going to miss having you around, Katy Mae.”

“I know, I’m going to miss you too.” Katy said as she got in the front seat and closed the door.

Tonya walked Brandon to his door and gave him another gentle hug. “Glad you were able to come today. I’ll see you tonight,” she said as she kissed Brandon gently on his lips while Katy watched and began to blush.

 Chapter Forty-Two

When Brandon and Katy got home, Katy wasted no time packing her things up. He knew she was excited about going home to see their mother. Brandon secretly longed to see her too. It was almost 4:00 p.m. when Katy told Brandon she was going to the park to run with Claire.

Claire had finished her chores and was free the rest of the afternoon to hang out with Katy. Mrs. Johnson had agreed to pick Katy up after Claire made it back home. Brandon wasn’t sure he wanted Pam to go through the trouble when he could easily drop her off himself.

Katy told Claire she needed to wash her workout clothes once she got home, so everything she packed was clean. She wouldn’t wait for them to dry completely because she knew it would take too long. Brandon told her he would finish her clothes for her and not to worry.

When Katy left for the park, Brandon got on the phone to call Carlos. He needed to speak with him urgently. Brandon had pushed the case to the back of his mind for Tonya and Katy’s sake. He knew he wouldn’t be able to hide what was on his mind from either of them had he been focusing on the case all day.

He’d done a lot of brainstorming and had a few things he needed to research when he returned to the office on Monday. Because he stayed up so late the night before, Brandon decided against going into the office before Tonya’s game. The first order of business would be to review Danielle’s personal effects inventory sheet. He knew the ring would become a big part of this case, and he couldn’t wait to get started.

It was almost 4:30 p.m. when Carlos called back. He mentioned Tamara had taken the car, and he didn’t have transportation. Brandon needed to be home when Katy got back but agreed to drive over to see Carlos. He had to make him comfortable enough to talk. Brandon knew he was withholding information but felt Carlos was questioning his sanity.

Carlos was waiting out on the porch when Brandon pulled up in his truck. He wasted no time getting in the truck with Brandon. Brandon wasn’t sure what to make of his actions, so he slowly started driving away from the house. Carlos seemed okay with leaving the neighborhood, so Brandon kept driving, trying to give Carlos a chance to gather his thoughts. Carlos’s head was laid back against the headrest as he rubbed his forehead in an attempt to push thoughts away.

“Carlos, are you ready to talk to me?” Brandon asked without looking in his cousin’s direction. “I asked you earlier if you recognized those earrings? Are you certain you’ve never seen them before? Carlos, I can’t tell you how important this is,” Brandon said, trying to reason with his cousin.

“Look, when I saw your dad there today, I just froze. I know he has a reputation for going after the guys on the wrong side of the law or in my case, the person that was supposed to meet Andrea that night. All they have to do is pull my phone records, and they’ll see that I was in contact with Andrea that night and had been for months. I don’t need your dad riding my back, and I can’t let Tamara know what’s going on.”

Understanding his trepidation, Brandon said, “Look, don’t worry about my father. He’s well aware this is my case, and what I’ve shared with him thus far will remain confidential. I’m not sure how you’re going to deal with Tamara, but she won’t hear any of this from me. Now talk to me, man,” Brandon said while discreetly looking at the clock on the dash. Brandon wasn’t sure what Carlos had to say, but he knew it would be helpful with the case.

Carlos started slowly, “I think the earrings you showed me earlier may have been the ones Andrea wore when we went out. Do you still have the picture?” Brandon reached down in his bag and pulled out the folder. Once he showed Carlos the picture of the earrings again, he began to nod his head, confirming those were the earrings Andrea was wearing.

Carlos was near tears when he got choked on his words. Brandon was stunned by his behavior, but his tears seemed more like those of guilt rather than mourning. Brandon then began to wonder if Carlos was somehow involved in Andrea’s disappearance. He was blown away by his cousin’s demeanor. Carlos was now sobbing, and Brandon had to consider the fact that he may be intoxicated.

It was a good thing he picked him up after all. He would hate to see him behind the wheel in his condition. Brandon looked down at the clock. It was 5:00 p.m., and he knew Katy would be home soon. Carlos and his wife were scheduled to leave for Birmingham later that evening so they would be home at a decent hour.

Brandon knew Carlos was in no shape to drive anywhere. He would probably be asleep, leaving Tamara to care for the baby and drive too. Brandon knew he couldn’t return Carlos in this condition. He pulled over at the next 7-Eleven and got Carlos a large double latte coffee.

When he made it back to the truck, Carlos was sound asleep in the passenger seat. Brandon knew then he would be late getting home, and it was already dark. He called home to let Katy know he would be late but was on his way. Brandon was thankful Pam agreed to pick her up. Brandon planned to leave home by 6:30 p.m. so he could make it to the gym in plenty of time to get good parking and seating.

As Brandon drove down the dark road, he looked at Carlos as he now snored in the passenger seat. The unopened coffee sat in the cup holder and filled the car with the rich aroma. It would be at least 6:00 p.m. before he could leave Carlos. Just then he smelled the rancid smell of vomit. Carlos had not woken up, but Brandon recognized the unmistakable smell and pulled over at the next gas station.

When he made it around to the passenger side of the truck, he saw Carlos’s face and clothes covered in vomit. Brandon shook Carlos gently to wake him up and handed him some damp paper towels to wipe his mouth while Brandon worked on ridding his clothes of the filth.

Carlos was still intoxicated, but at least he was coming around. Throwing up all that liquor he’d consumed would certainly allow him to get sober faster. Carlos was the type to get drunk and become quiet. Brandon didn’t mind this type as much. But the type that got loud and more boastful with each drink was the type Brandon wished he could arrest without hesitation.

As Brandon watched Carlos from inside the store, he took out his cell phone again and called Katy. The phone continued to ring until the answering machine picked up. Brandon looked at his watch again, and it was almost 6:10 p.m. Just then he noticed a new message and knew it was from Katy as he began to smile while entering his password.

He was shocked to hear Pam’s voice on the voice mail, letting him know she was going to pick Katy up. After Brandon got back on the road, he dialed Katy again. This time when she didn’t answer, he left a message on her voice mail, telling her it was okay for Mrs. Johnson to pick her up and that he would be over after the game.

Having her picked up was a relief because there was no way he was going to be able to get Carlos home safe and sound, make it home to pick Katy up, and make it to the game on time. Carlos was still sipping the coffee and was beginning to feel better. When Brandon got him inside to the couch, he told Carlos he would like to finish their conversation when he felt better.

By the time Brandon got back on the road, it was 7:00 p.m. When he entered the house, there was no sign of Katy. The kitchen light was the only light on in the house as Brandon made his way to the shower. Although he didn’t think he smelled like vomit and alcohol, he felt he needed to freshen up as he stepped into the hot shower.

Brandon checked the messages on the house phone as he grabbed an apple from the fruit dish. His father had called and said he’d made it home safely that afternoon. He seemed to linger on the phone, wanting to say more but chose not to before he hung up. Brandon smiled at the thought of his father being back in their lives after many years of absence.

* * *

Brandon circled the parking lot a few times waiting for the perfect parking space. He checked his phone again for any missed calls or messages because he noticed earlier his reception was low in the gymnasium. When Brandon entered the gym, Tonya’s team was already on the floor warming up. Tonya acknowledged him with a smile just before firing off another three-pointer.

Brandon took a seat at center court a couple of rows up from the floor. He wanted to take everything in as this was the championship game. He knew he had to be there to support Tonya and hated that Katy couldn’t come with him, but he understood she wanted to spend her last day with her friends. This would surely give him some more time with Tonya after the game. He’d mentioned to Katy earlier that he would pick her up between eleven o’clock and midnight, giving the girls even more time to hang out.

All that would be left to do once he arrived home was help Katy finish packing. Just then Brandon remembered he’d forgotten to put Katy’s clothes in the dryer, if they were finished washing. He was sure they were finished because he didn’t hear the washer running the whole time he was home. That would just mean he’d be up later than normal getting her things ready and packed up.

Now getting settled, Brandon removed his jacket and got ready for tip-off. Tonya was handling the ball with such skill, he knew she would have a good night. Even if she didn’t score the game-winning shot, it was evident that she was a sound player. Brandon lost himself in the game as he watched both teams put on what appeared to be their best performances.

Tonya’s team was leading by six points at the half. Brandon returned to his seat and patiently awaited the start of the next period. The routine the cheerleaders performed was lively and entertaining, and he wondered if Tonya had ever been a cheerleader. She certainly had the legs and the looks for it.

Before Brandon could get too far into that thought, the girls were coming out on the court, and for the next hour he watched both teams fight for the championship title. Tonya’s team held their lead well into the fourth quarter and ultimately won by three points. Brandon remained in the gym after the interviews and the awarding of the trophies.

After the game, Tonya was so excited and exhausted at the same time. This was the biggest game of the year, and she was so glad she was a part of it. The losing team was definitely a worthy opponent. They had a lot of height and speed combined, but the chemistry and ball movement of her squad tonight was what put them in the winning seat. That was exactly what she would be quoted as saying in tomorrow’s paper.

Tonya knew her game wasn’t as good as earlier that day; but when she felt her offensive game was off, she made up for it in her defensive game, which she loved as much as offense. The girls played with heart because the coach knew they were tired; but somehow knowing they were in the top two positions, they seemed to play harder, and it paid off. Tonya was still thinking about the interview, hoping she didn’t leave anything important out when she walked out onto the floor.

Brandon was making small talk with some of the guys and stopped to excuse himself when he saw Tonya. Brandon met her at midcourt and picked her up and spun her around as they embraced. The games were over, the gym was clearing out, but they didn’t care who was around.

It was 10:30 p.m., and Brandon walked Tonya to his truck. Although her dorm was within walking distance, Brandon drove her over. Tonya was still high from the game but knew she would be no good tomorrow as she now functioned on fumes.

It was getting late and Brandon knew it was time to say good-bye. He hadn’t been alone with Tonya for so long that his feelings were beginning to take over his thoughts. He led her up to the steps and just inside the front door. He knew males were only allowed in some areas, and he would honor that.

As he leaned down and gently kissed Tonya’s soft lips, she pulled him in a little closer for a longer kiss. When their lips parted, nothing was said by either. The silence wasn’t awkward because the two minds had a collage of their own thoughts running through as they stood there staring at each other.

Then thinking about Katy, Brandon said, “I’d better be going. Let me know if you want to come by the house tomorrow after I get Katy to the airport.”

“Yeah, I think that would be best. Sure, I’d love to come over,” Tonya said without hesitation. “Call me when you get home.”

Brandon smiled at the reminder because he was so accustomed to reminding her of the very same thing. “Okay, I’ll do that. Congratulations again. You were great!”

Watching him walk away, Tonya said thanks as she watched Brandon get into his truck. She walked to the elevator still floating on cloud nine. The kiss, the embrace, the closeness, and the gentleness of it all were too much to handle. The softness of his lips against hers gave her instant chills, and each time their lips met, it pleasantly surprised her.

Tonya was immediately brought out of her thoughts of Brandon by the ringing of her cell phone. She’d not checked it for messages, missed calls, low battery, or anything because she was with whom she wanted to be with. Brandon was incredible in so many ways and knew how to cater to her needs without identifying them. That was what she loved so much about him.

Tonya was still on the phone with Tara when she made it to her room. Tara had called to see if they’d won the game, and Tonya had to give her a blow-by-blow account of the exciting game. They were on the phone for thirty minutes when Brandon called. Tonya put Tara on hold, but when she clicked over he wasn’t there.

She figured he’d gotten distracted and would either leave a message or call back later. She and Tara talked until midnight before Tonya’s multiple yawns prompted her sister to let her end their conversation.