Ineffable (29 page)

She smiled gently.

George shivered at the icy intent he saw in her eyes, his eyes bugged comically as she raised the gun to his face and cocked the trigger. Tears fell from his eyes, one after the other, rolling steadily. She nodded as he began pleading from behind his gag.

She pulled back. He sagged in relief.

“I had the misfortune to be born black and a woman, but I’ve managed to overcome those natural obstacles,” she said, winking at George. “And that shit was not easy. Some might disagree I’ve even conquered them, since people, not unlike you actually, weak, trifling ass people who prey on others, occasionally still try and test me. But I say I’ve conquered because I no longer care what strangers say or do.

“I live free. Confident, doing exactly as I please. And unlike you, I don’t hurt anyone, or hurt myself. I even found a good man, and he found me. And he’s handsome and smart and fucking amazing in the sack. He’s also filthy rich, and he thinks the sun rises and sets out of my skinny, black ass.

“I’ve conquered you too, George. If I haven’t, well. I think you know what happens next.” And she knocked him out with one blow to the head.

“I hope you didn’t dent my favorite gun.”

Margot looked at Steele and burst out laughing.

They untied his hands and feet, removed the gag, but left him there in the dirt with pissy pants and a knot on his head as big as an egg. It would be a long walk home for George, but a very short trip back, if need be.

“Where’ve you been?” Nori asked the second she walked in the door. He walked toward her, scanning for injuries. “I’ve called your cell a dozen times. I’ve called Reiko and Steele, Tommy. All she knew was the three of you were together.”

Margot’s purse hit the coffee table with a thud, and she landed on the couch with an even bigger thud.

“I was talking to George.” Silence. She looked up and smiled. “No comment, love?”

He sat beside her. “What do you mean you talked to George?”

“I talked to George,” she repeated. “I think I got through to him. You know, explained in a way he can understand why he’s got to go away.” She laughed softly.

Nori stared at her.

She raised her brows as she waited for him to speak. “Well?” she asked, when his silence continued. “Aren’t you happy?”

“Happy? Margot, what the hell have you done?”

Her smile faded, and her eyes cooled. She left the room. He didn’t follow immediately. He had a sick feeling in his belly, and he was praying the reason why wouldn’t change them both forever.

She was pouring wine into goblets when he tracked her to the kitchen. “Tell me what you’ve done, Margot.”

She pushed his glass toward him, took a sip from hers. “I don’t know you mean.”

“I’ve met that man, Margot. Nothing short of a bullet would –” he paused, watching as she drained her glass, and since he made no effort to pick up his, she did, and began to drain it too.

“Margot, please tell me that you and those hoodlums you call girlfriends did not hurt that man.”

“Nori, me and my hoodlum friends did not kill George.”

“Kill? I said hurt! So you did hurt him?”

She shrugged. “Maybe a little. Nothing permanent. What’s the deal? He’s out of our lives. Why the sudden concern for his safety?”

“I’m concerned for your fucking safety! When my wife comes home after being out of touch all day, looking like,” he paused.

“Looking like what?”

He took the glass from her hand and finished it off. “Looking like she’s done some shit that I won’t like.”

Another shrug.

“Jesus Christ.”

She refilled their glasses.

“Did anyone see you?”

“No.”

“Were guns fired?”

“No.”

“Were laws broken?”

Kidnapping and illegal transport across state lines could be construed as theoretical if there was no one to catch you or to press charges.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

Margot laughed softly. “Darling, really. What do you think I’ve done? I’m not a criminal.”

He stared at her uncertainly. “No, you’re not. But your friends are.”

No fool, her man. “Damned by association, am I?”

“This isn’t funny, Margot.”

“No, Nori. It’s not. None of this has been funny. Not your father, not the press, not my bullshit ex-fucking husband driving me fucking crazy along with every other prick with a hard on I don’t wanna yank.” She made a visible effort to get herself under control. “It’s been a lot of things. Funny, not so much.” She turned to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“To hang with the criminals. Apparently, my husband is no longer interested.”

He grabbed her hand when she moved to walk past.

“Stop.”

She did.

“Look at me.”

After a lengthy pause she did. “What?”

“You swear on our love he’s whole?”

She looked him right in the eye. “I swear it.”

He eyed her narrowly. “You’ve never lied to me. Not once.”

“And I’m not lying now, Nori. I didn’t harm George.” Not permanently anyway. “That loser’s fine. I swear.”

Nori pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, darling. I just, I missed you today. I was worried. And Steele gives me the willies.”

She chuckled softly, relaxing for the first time since she’d left his arms this morning. “Hey. Take it easy on my old friend. She’s good people. And she likes you.”

“Good thing.”

Margot nodded. “Yeah. I missed you too, you know.”

“Did you? Out doing God’s knows what. I’m not so sure.”

“Why?” she laughed. “Because I didn’t call? Is that all it takes?”

“Well, it’s a reasonable assumption isn’t it?”

“Under reasonable circumstances, yes. It would be. Take me to bed. I’m weary. I need my personal vitamin shot.”

He rolled his eyes, but he was smiling, and the light was back in his eye. He nuzzled her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Darling,” he whispered, catching a tear with his finger. “Why are you crying?”

She shook her head. “Because I’m happy.” Because for the first time in a long time, she felt hope for the future.

But hope is a fleeting thing. All it takes is one angry soul to kill it stone cold dead.

Chapter twenty

“Are you coming or what? Margot’s holding dinner for you.”

“I’m coming,” Steele answered. “I’m making money for both of us, bitch. You, I may remind, are enjoying a night off, on my tit.”

“Bullshit. You know Buddy hates my fuckin’ ass. He wouldn’t give you a plug nickel if he knew I was within sniffing distance of this deal, and you know it.”

Steele snorted. “I gotta go. Don’t hold dinner for me, but I should be there in a few, Buddy’s not far from Goti’s.”

“Alright. See you when you get here.”

“She’s not coming?”

Reiko grinned at Margot. “Yeah! But you know if there’s money to be made –”

“Steele’s going to make it and to hell with everything else,” Margot finished. “So what shall we do with your hair? Air dry, rollers?”

Reiko shrugged.

“You don’t seem very happy for someone who has the night off.”

Reiko snorted. “You shoulda seen Natty’s face when I told him I needed a break. He damn near turned puce he was so upset.”

“He’s such a slave driver. If he wasn’t a genius, someone would’ve probably killed his ass by now.”

Reiko laughed and got up to fiddle with the stereo.

“How’s he doing with that new secretary you found for him?”

Reiko winked. “Any day now, my love. He can barely keep his hands off her. “Every time he sleeps with me he looks so guilty. He probably feels like he’s cheating on her.”

“I can’t believe you found your boyfriend a wife. Who does that? Natty’s wonderful. I don’t understand why you don’t want him for yourself.”

“He deserves a family. You know that.”

And thanks to an illness from her misspent youth, it would be very difficult for Reiko to give him children.

“He’d take you without them.”

Reiko shrugged again. “Well, he won’t have to, will he?”

Margot laughed and shook her head. “Nope, I s’pose not. I still can’t believe you found him a virgin! In this day and age. I don’t know how you managed it.”

“She sort of fell in my lap, actually. You rolling, or what? This is my night off for good behavior, remember?”

“Yes, chimney, but I’m practically out. Nori’s been gettin’ into my stash.”

“You are a bad influence. That boy used to be as straight as an arrow.”

“Sadly, yes. Where are you going?”

“To my car to get us a joint, fool.”

“I’ll go, ding bat. Did you forget your hair’s wet?”

Reiko held up her hands.

“Margot, I think we should – where are you going?” Nori asked.

She showed him the inside of her bud box. It held one lonely joint. “To Reiko’s car. You’ve just about smoked up all our smoke.”

“Let me go. It’s late.”

“You’re wearing shorts, she has wet hair, I’m out the door. Back in a flash!”

“Margot! Will you wait a bloody minute?”

She just laughed, skipping down the stairs. “No! Stop being such a fusspot. Reiko’s parked in front of the door.”

“Is she? How the hell did that happen?”

“Blind luck,” said Margot, and tripped on her slipper just as a shot rang out.

For a second she couldn’t figure out what happened. Her ear was ringing terribly. She shook her head, thumped her ear with her palm as she pushed to her feet. Dimly she heard a shout, looked up, and there was George, standing across the street pointing a gun right at her.

Jesus Christ, she thought. This nigga’s gonna kill me.

A second shot spun him around. He looked really surprised. The anger faded from his face. He seemed confused when he looked down and saw the red blooming across the front of his shirt.

“Nori!” Margot screamed, rushing across the street.

“Bloody hell.”

Then he was there, at her side, his big hands running all over her.

“Darling. Call an ambulance!” He yelled to Reiko who disappeared back into the house.

“Let me go.”

Her hands were shaking as she reached for his neck. She could tell he was dead. George had never looked that peaceful in life.

There was movement up the street, the faint sound of footsteps running away.

“Steele,” Margot whispered.

“She was protecting you.”

Margot sobbed, nodding. “I know.”

Reiko appeared. “You can’t.”

“I won’t,” she shook her head frantically, scrubbing at failing tears. “You know better. Go. You can’t be involved with this. Your album, the publicity. They may try and - go,” she told Reiko. “Go, God damn it!”

Reiko looked at Nori. He nodded. “We got this.”

“If you need me, call.”

“We’ll be fine,” Nori said. “Go.”

Hands shaking, Margot closed George’s eyes.

“Darling. Let’s wait for the police in the house. Someone could be taking pictures.”

“Yes,” she whispered, letting Nori lead her away from the body.

He let her have a few puffs off their last joint out the kitchen window before the cops came. It wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but watching her horribly shaking fingers and red rimmed eyes he thought she’d need all the help she could get to stay on her feet.

When they knocked she went to wash up, and he remained glued to her side while the police questioned them.

Lado arrived. Margot tried to smile when he touched her shoulder. She couldn’t manage anything else. She didn’t know what to think, how to feel. There was no relief that George was gone for good, no anger that he’d tried to kill her, just numbness.

She began to worry when the police spoke of canvassing the neighborhood to look for the mystery shooter. What if someone had seen Steele? Or Reiko?

Hours passed. Gradually, people filtered out, and the drama in the street diminished and finally faded away as the police, coroner and assorted other officials packed up and went on their way.

Nori handed her a glass of water. She took it, then had to set it down abruptly. Her hand was shaking so badly, she wet her lap and the couch.

“Shock,” said one of the policeman sympathetically. He could see how worried Nori looked. “You’ll have to come down to the station and make a statement.”

“Tomorrow morning,” Lado said, with authority. “They’ve been through enough tonight.”

He rose, giving the detective no choice but to do the same.

“Here’s my card if you remember anything else.”

“Thank you, Detective,” Nori said, shaking the man’s hand before Lado showed him out.

Margot could hear the men talking, but she couldn’t quite make out what they were saying. She touched her right ear and winced. It felt tender, hot. The bullet had come very close, but the policeman seemed confident her muddled hearing was temporary. It hadn’t grazed her, just come uncomfortably close.

Nori wanted her to go to the hospital, but she refused. She watched as he talked to Lado, nodded at him when the lawyer came over to kiss her cheek goodnight, to squeeze her hands and whisper that she’d feel better after a good sleep.

“You’re exhausted, poor old thing. Take care of her. I’ll come with you in the morning.”

“Thanks, old man,” Nori said, shaking his hand and showing him out.

Margot walked around, turning off all the lights. For a moment Nori watched, then he helped, saying nothing when she put the chain on the door.

“Don’t know why I did that,” she whispered.

“Can’t hurt,” he said, holding out a hand.

She took it, letting him lead her to bed. She let him undress her, tuck her in. She lay docile when he appeared with a warm face towel and washed her up. He took her in his arms when she started to cry.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I just don’t know what this is gonna do to her.”

Nori stiffened, and Margot pushed him away.

“You thought I was crying over George.”

He hesitated, then nodded.

She snorted. “God forgive me for saying this, but I wouldn’t waste the salt on that prick. I’m just glad he can’t cause anymore fuckin’ trouble. Oh, my Steele,” she whispered, eyes welling again.

“She’s a tough girl, Margot. We’ll get her through this.”

“Yeah, but what shape will she be in? She is tough, and I know how she must appear to you, but she’s not a psychopath, Nori. She doesn’t go around killin’ motherfuckas, even if they deserve it. You don’t know her like I do. This isn’t gonna be easy on her soul. And what if somebody saw her? She could go down hard for this. Lord Jesus.”

“Call her.”

“No. No. We gotta leave her alone. Her and Reiko, until we see what shakes loose. I can’t take a chance and bring any more attention to them if I can help it. They need to lay low.”

“Of course, you’re right.”

She stroked his cheek tenderly. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. This isn’t your fault. None of it,” he insisted. “I’m just glad you’re alright, darling. I swear my heart stopped when I heard the shots.”

“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t even think of that. I’m alright.”

“How’s your ear? Any better?”

She nodded. “It’s fading. If it’s not completely okay in a coupla’ days I’ll get it checked out.”

“Good. I think I need a drink,” he laughed. “Want one? We never got to drink the wine from dinner.”

“Or eat dinner at all. You need to eat. Go and fix yourself a plate and come back here and eat with me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he teased, his grin growing when she smiled back. “You’ll eat something.”

“I’ll try.” There was no way.

“Good,” he repeated, running his thumb over her bottom lip. “It’s not trembling anymore,” he said quietly. “That’s good.”

“I can’t find her,” Reiko said the next day. “I’ve looked every fuckin’ where. And if I don’t go in the studio today Natty’s gonna shit bricks.”

“It’s okay, girl. She’ll turn up. I think we may be okay. Lado said the police canvas of the neighborhood turned up nothing. Most of my neighbors were either drunk, asleep, both, or out of town. No one mentioned you at all, so we may have caught a break. We’ll just be cool for a few weeks. Just to be safe.”

“Alright. Look I gotta go. Don’t, fuckin’, beat yourself up. This ain’t your fault. She’ll be okay.”

“Promise?”

“It’s Steele. She’ll be okay. We’ll watch out for her. I got Esai on the hunt. He’ll track her down.”

“You didn’t tell him anything.”

“Hell no. The fewer people who know about this shit the better. What about Lado, Nori’s lawyer.”

“He won’t say anything. He’s Nori’s boy from way back. Plus there’s attorney client privilege, I think.”

“Okay. I’ll call you later, sooner if I hear anything.”

“Alright. Knock ‘em dead, and give Natty a kiss for me, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you making plans to kiss another man?”

“You’re home.”

Nori came over to claim his I’m back, did you miss me? kiss. “Yeah. I wanted to check on you. Any word on Steele?”

“Nothing.”

“I’m sure she’s just being cautious, darling.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re probably right. I’m just worried. I’d feel better if I could talk to her.”

“How’s the ear?”

“Fine. Far as I can tell my hearing’s back to normal.”

“Thank, God. I was researching ear specialists at work.”

Margot laughed softly. “Always be prepared, huh?”

“Yes, actually. It’s a philosophy that has served me well over the years.”

“I bet,” she whispered, smoothing the lapels of his jacket. “You look nice. You left before I got to see you this morning.” He’d left a tea tray ready for her.

“I had to meet with the builder again this morning.”

“Problems?”

“No, actually. The office should be ready ahead of schedule.”

“Well, that’s good news.”

“We have to start recruiting talent soon.”

“Yeah. I know. I was talking to Tommy about it, and she thinks we should do it city by city. At least to start. Build the momentum regionally. She has a strategy she thinks will enable us to penetrate a substantial global audience within two years.”

“Yeah? That sounds promising. I’ll set up a meeting. Did you eat?”

She nodded.

“I don’t mean the biscuits on your tea tray, Margot.”

She sighed, lit a joint. He raised a brow. “Emergency stash.”

Someone knocked on the back door.

“Hello?”

“It’s me.”

Margot ran, yanked open the door and pulled Steele inside.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah.”

Steele pushed back the hood of her jacket, but Margot didn’t let go of her arms. She looked into her friend’s eyes, wanting to say something, anything to convey her thanks, but what can you say to a lifelong friend who just saved your life? Thanks seem so – insufficient.