Melody (THE LOGAN FAMILY) (9 page)

Melody turned toward Aileen’s street. She remembered when Aileen had been voted “Most Beautiful Senior,” yet hadn’t made prom queen that last year. Of course she didn’t care. Aileen didn’t succumb to society’s traditions. She’d been more interested in creating her own. She had been one of few blacks at their high school.

Melody wasn’t even sure if there had been another black girl there at the time. Melody had been the only Hispanic at Cleveland High herself. Hands down, Aileen had been slapped into the “pretty” group. She’d gained popularity at Cleveland without even trying. Melody had been the complete opposite. Yet they fit together, then as they did now.

A friendship couldn’t get any better than this. Melody grinned when she thought of Aileen’s wedding to Jonovan. Aileen had gotten married straight out of high school. Melody had been the maid of honor. She remembered tripping at the reception and dousing Aileen’s beautiful dress with grape soda. Anyone else would have banned Melody from their life for embarrassing them on such a perfect day.

Aileen hadn’t batted an eye. She simply took Melody by the hand and playfully danced with her. In fact, Melody couldn’t
remember
a time when they argued. She wondered how she could be so connected to Aileen yet struggled to feel closer to her own sister. She wiped a tear. She hadn’t meant to cry, but it sometimes happened while strolling down memory lane.

Her fondest “Aileen” moment had been when Aileen had her daughter, Danielle. Melody had taken her to the hospital on a rainy afternoon. Jonovan drove big rigs from state to state for a living, so he’d been out of town again that week. Aileen didn’t hesitate calling Melody when her water broke. In her own words, Aileen had refused to ride in some “tacky” cab to go to the hospital. Even in labor, Aileen could be a hoot.

Melody had also been the first, besides Aileen, to hold Danielle. In return, she’d been named Danielle’s godmother. Melody cherished the title, and she hoped she could live up to it, if need be.

Melody reached the driveway. She stared at Aileen’s white two-story house. The front door was open. All of the homes in this neighborhood looked the same. To make matters worse, the residents’ addresses weren’t visible on the curbs. Melody always looked for Aileen’s immaculate little garden to make sure she had the right home. A tin watering pail sat lopsided on the porch.

Water dribbled from the garden hose in the yard. Melody didn’t like this scene. Aileen never left the door open, and she never left the garden hose out. She never left her pail on the porch. Aileen always kept everything in order. She always reprimanded Melody for leaving things in disarray. No, something definitely wasn’t right.

Melody eased from her jeep as she looked next door. Even Aileen’s nosy old neighbor wasn’t outside. Melody couldn’t remember a day when the elderly lady hadn’t been on her porch. She crept to Aileen’s door. She felt a chill when she walked inside. She saw the light from the kitchen.

She heard a noise in the back hallway leading toward the bedrooms. Melody took a deep breath. She called out Aileen’s name, yet didn’t receive an answer. She shouted at the top of her lungs. She checked the kitchen, den, living room and master bedroom. She ran to the phone in the den. Before she could dial 911, someone touched her from behind.

“Ahhhhhh!” Melody fell on top of the small desk. Aileen tumbled over her. “Ahhhh!” Melody waved her arms for dear life.

“Mel!” Aileen hollered. Melody’s eyes settled on Aileen’s brown pupils. Aileen shook her head. “I won’t even ask.” She stood. She brushed dust from her denim shorts. Her thin T-shirt fell damply against her dark skin. Her hands were covered in yellow gardening gloves.

“Oh God,” Melody panted. “Oh, Leen.” She stood. “I thought…I thought you…oh God, I’m glad you’re okay.” She hugged her.

“I know what you thought.” Aileen shook her head.

“Oh, Leen, I was so scared! Do you know how I felt coming here and seeing the door open like that? I yelled for you and you didn’t say anything! I was about to call 9-1-1.”

Aileen walled her eyes. “Yeah, well, I don’t think they’ll find a black woman gardening at home that serious, Mel.”

Melody sighed. “Leen, I thought maybe the rapist had…” She looked at the walls. “What’s wrong with me? Why am I so damn scared all the time?”

“Mel, I was in the closet getting some shears.” Aileen pointed to the tools on the floor. “I didn’t answer because I had my headphones on and I didn’t hear you at first. When I heard someone walking around in my house, I ran out to see what the hell was going on.” Aileen’s fluffy ponytail bobbed. “Well, I could use some explanation, Mel.”

“Aileen, how could you leave your door opened like that with that rapist out there?”

“Here we go.” She went into the kitchen. Melody traipsed in behind her. Aileen grabbed a can of grape soda from the refrigerator. “Melody, I don’t want to hear one word about that rapist.”

“But Leen, I…” Melody sat at the table.

“Not one word, Mel. I can’t live like this. If it’s not Jonovan on my back about being careful, it’s my mother, or you. I’m fine. You’re the one who looked like she had a meeting with a train wreck.”

“I just got so scared. Leen, you gotta be more careful. This man is a monster. Did you see what he did to that last lady he raped? He beat her in the eye with a lamp, Leen. You saw her on the news! He practically caved in her eye. This man is not only a rapist, but he’s a sadistic torturer who has some vendetta against black women.”

“I know that, Mel.” Aileen grinned. “I see it on the news. I see it in the paper and I am sick to death of it.”

“Let’s see how sick to death of it you’d be if it happened to you.” Melody squinted. “Aileen, you got to take this seriously. If I were you I’d be shitting bricks.”

“Melody, I’m not gonna live in a box because of some creep! I have to live my life. And what’s the big deal here? There have always been rapists and killers running around this city! What makes this one so different?”

“Because he’s targeting black women, Leen!” Melody hit the table.

“Rapists target all women every day, Melody. You think he’s the only one out there?”

“No, but he’s the only one beating women to a pulp, raping them and leaving them for dead.” Aileen turned toward the sink. “And all of the victims sounded just like you, Leen, thinking he wasn’t gonna get them. Aileen, you’re too smart to be so careless right now. How could you leave your door open like that? Daytime or not, it’s still a bad idea.”

“And I paid the price since you’re here lecturing me.” She sipped soda. Melody rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry, Melody. I’m just so sick of people staring at me like I’m about to be on the six o’clock news. Just because I meet this asshole’s requirements, it doesn’t mean I’m on his list. He can’t rape everyone, Mel.”

She scoffed. “Is that supposed to be comforting?”

“I really don’t want to talk about this again. Jonovan and I had a big fight over it this morning, and I don’t want to repeat the same scenario with you.” She passed Melody a Sprite. Melody loved Sprite like mice loved cheese. They sat down. “Oh, Mel, this marriage thing sure is tough sometimes.”

“What’s up, Leen?”

“Jonovan got on me about going to the store by myself last night. I’m always cautious, but he wasn’t hearing it. Today, he wanted to call his boss and tell him he wasn’t going to do his delivery in Dallas because he didn’t want to leave me here alone.” She sighed. “Well, we got into a big argument about it and he ended up going off to Dallas angry, anyway.”

“Well, how long will he be gone?”

She walled her eyes. “A couple of weeks or more. He has other deliveries to do around Texas, too. Damn, Mel, I tell you that this is not like I thought it would be.”

“Marriage?”

“Yeah. I mean, I know Jonovan needs this job to support us, but I don’t know if I can deal with him being gone all the time for much longer. I knew being a truck driver would cause him to be gone a lot but I had no idea.” She stretched. “Seems like he’s gone way more than he’s here and it’s getting hard for me. I need him, too, Mel.”

“Aileen, you know he’s doing this to better himself. He’s saving up so he can go to college and get a business degree. Leen, everything will fall into place. Once he gets his degree he can quit driving trucks, and with his business mind, he’ll be moving up in the corporate world in no time.” She slapped Aileen’s wrist. “I know you miss him now, but it’s worth it, Leen. Just don’t give up on that.”

“Melody, you’re talking about dealing with things
then
and I don’t know if I can deal with things
now
. I love Jonovan for being a hard worker and he does a damn good job of supporting me and Danielle, but that doesn’t make up for him not being here. We started off talking about this and now we’re arguing about it. Seems like everything’s an argument these days.”

Melody took Aileen’s hand. She felt guilty. She’d run to Aileen’s to sort out her problems, not having any idea what she was going through. It couldn’t be easy raising a child with an almost nonexistent husband. Melody made up her mind not to burden Aileen with her problems, unless Aileen brought them up.

“
S
o, enough about me. How are you, girl?” Aileen grinned. “You haven’t been coming by as much. I miss my girl. Lately, I’ve been thinking of all the crazy shit we used to do. Remember that time we skipped school with Craig and Lucas?” They laughed. “We played chicken on that train, remember?”

Melody grinned. “How could I forget. I can’t believe we did something so stupid and dangerous!”

“Hell, we were teenagers. What do you expect?”

“And I can’t believe you of all people went along with it, Leen. You always seemed to be the one telling us not to do things, like you were our mother or something. What got into you on that day I wouldn’t know.” Melody cackled.

“Remember Lucas slipped and almost fell off?” Aileen shook her head. “Man, it was scary as hell back then, but it’s funny now!”

“Yeah.” Melody sat back. “We’ve been through a lot, Leen. It’s amazing that after all this time, we’re still friends.”

Aileen’s laughter settled into a calm smile. “And we always will be. You’re my sister, Melody. I love you so much.”

“Oh Leen, I love you, too.” They hugged. “That’s why I’m so worried.” Melody moved away. “I know I nag you, but I want you to be safe.”

“And I will be.” Aileen pushed Melody’s hair behind her ears. “So how are you, Mel? I sensed the strange mood the minute we started talking. What’s the deal?”

She chewed her tongue. “I’ll be working at Caper Enterprises.” She braced herself for Aileen’s excitement.

“Caper Enterprises? You’ll be working for Lucas’s father?”

Melody nodded.

“Oh my God! Melody, Caper is one of the most successful advertising firms in the nation! How did you go from not having a job to all this?”

She shrugged. “Sarah and Lucas had been talking about it behind my back, and Lucas presented the idea to me. I need a job and his dad said I was qualified to work as an assistant, so there.”

Aileen grinned. “Uh-huh. So you’ll be working with Lucas, huh? Now that’s gotta cheer you up.”

Melody grinned. “Why do you say that?”

“Come on, Mel. You were in love with Lucas back then, and you’re in love with him now.”

“I am not!” She chuckled. “How can you be in love with someone you haven’t seen in years?”

“You tell me.” Aileen winked. “Be honest, girlfriend. Doesn’t working with Lucas, and the thought of being around him every day excite you?”

Aileen didn’t know the half of it. Lucas had to be the main reason Melody entertained the thought for a second. She must have been in love with him if she were willing to put up with being around Keith Taylor every day. She shivered. Aileen gaped. Melody gripped the table and she took a deep breath.

“Oh goodness, it’s okay, Mel.” Aileen held her. “Panic attack?” Melody nodded. She heaved for a moment, then her breathing returned to normal. “I thought you said you didn’t have these anymore.” Aileen rocked her.

“Well, I haven’t…for a while.” She exhaled. She touched her chest. “Just…when I get…frightened.”

“Mel, what’s the matter?” Aileen pleaded. “You’re shaking like a leaf. You’re splitting in two before my eyes. Look at me, honey.” Melody did. “What’s going on? You know, you can tell me anything. Did something happen to you?”

“Where’s…Dan…Danielle?” Melody wheezed. She glanced around for the adorable two-year-old.

“She’s sleeping.” Aileen got a glass of water. “Here drink this, Mel. Take your time, honey.” Melody sipped the water. She leaned back in the chair. “You’re sweating a river, Mel. You’re burning up.” Aileen felt her forehead. “Maybe you should go to the doctor.”

“No, I’m all right, Leen. It’s just a panic attack.” She sipped more water. “I’m doing fine, now.” At least she thought so before she began thinking of Keith again. “Just so much on my mind, you know?”

“This stuff on your mind…it’s the reason you rushed down here in the middle of the day, isn’t it?”

Melody scoffed. “I didn’t rush.” She finished the water.

“Mel. Talk to me.” Aileen took her hand.

“You’re gonna think it’s silly if you’re anything like Sarah.”

Aileen grimaced. “Please don’t compare me to Sarah.” They grinned. “Seriously, tell me what’s going on. You know you can talk to me, if no one else.”

“Well, Sarah has a new boyfriend and…”

Aileen gaped. “Wait a minute.” She sat up in the chair. “Sarah has
another
boyfriend? Was she born with some radar that attracts every Tom, Dick and Harry in New York?”

“No, but it sure seems like it. Anyway, his name is Keith and he works at Caper. Oh, Leen.” Melody shook her head. “Girl, something is really wrong with this guy. He’s not right in the head and I seem to be the only person who sees it.”

“Well, what’s going on, Mel?” Aileen propped her feet on the table.

“You should see him. The dude looks like he stepped off
Jet Set
magazine or some shit. He wears these posh suits and he drives this fancy car. He looks like he has money coming out of his ass. Worst of all, he acts like he’s God’s gift to women. He’s obnoxious beyond belief.”

“Is he fine?”

Melody shrugged. “I guess, if you like that Wall Street-yuppie look.”

Aileen grinned. “Come on and give it up. He’s got it going on, huh?”

“Okay, he’s one of the most attractive men I’ve ever seen. But I am not attracted to him at all, Leen. I can’t stand him.” Melody walked around the kitchen. “On the surface he seems like the perfect guy. I can see why Sarah would fall for him. I mean, she has no idea how he acts when she’s not around.”

“And…” Aileen turned in her chair to face Melody. “How does he act?”

“He acts one way with her, and another with me.” Melody filled her glass with ice and water. “He just does the craziest things.”

“Like what?” Aileen’s bottom lip hung open.

Melody looked at her. “Like sneaking up to my room to see me undress.”

“Say what?” Aileen grimaced.

“Yeah, and he grabbed me this morning in the kitchen. Sarah was right upstairs getting dressed.”

“Define “grabbed.’”

“He put his hands around my waist, and he wouldn’t let me go.”

“Well, did you tell him to stop?”

“Yeah, I screamed for him to get the hell away from me. He didn’t seem to care what I said, as long as he could get his point across.”

“Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh.” Aileen shook her head. “What kind of shit is he pulling?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that I have never felt this way around someone before. You ever have that feeling that something is out of place, but you don’t have the power to fix it? Like a recurring dream when you’re drowning, and the only person who can throw you a life preserver…
won’t
. Get me?”

“Uh, no. But keep talking.” Aileen cradled her knees to her chest.

“He’s gone way out of bounds with me in more ways than one. But that’s not the most important thing here.” She bit her lip. “Leen, Keith Taylor is no good. He’s hiding something, I can feel it. You should see how he acts with Sarah, too. It’s so sickening, how she coos over him when he seems to think of her as just some object. Every little thing she does now is to suit him.”

“Well, you know Sarah’s one of ‘those’ women who drops everyone else in their lives when they get a new man.” Aileen finished her grape soda. “Unfortunately, she seems to have a new man every week. Can you say, ‘stank’?” She chuckled.

“Hey, watch it.” Melody grinned. “That ‘stank’ is my sister.” They laughed. “Seriously, Sarah is not a stank; she’s just looking for love in all the wrong places. See, Sarah looks at a guy’s material worth and shit like that. She doesn’t know a damn thing about a man’s heart.”

“And you do?” Aileen grinned.

“I know more than she does. If she wasn’t blinded by Keith’s persona, she’d see the kind of man he is.”

“And what kind of man is that?”

“A
dangerous
one.” Melody sighed.

“Have you discussed this with Sarah?”

“If she listened, would I be discussing it with you? Besides, with the way Keith’s acting I’m beyond convincing Sarah. I have a feeling that this is going to really get out of control. It’s just the way he makes me feel. You know how some people make you feel frightened?” Aileen nodded. “And when you feel that way, then something is really wrong.”

Aileen stood. “If Sarah won’t listen, you gotta just handle things yourself. If Keith continues to act this way with you, you gotta be firm, Mel. Let the fucker know that you’re not taking his bullshit. See, he’s doing this because he knows you’re taking it.” Melody nodded. “Seems to me he’s a manipulator, Mel. I bet he’s pulled this shit with tons of people, except they fall for it. But you don’t.”

“That’s right. I think that’s the main reason he’s fucking with me. He knows I can’t stand his ass, and he wants to control me like he does Sarah.” She set her glass in the sink. “I forgot to tell you another thing. This evening, he kissed me.” Aileen gasped. “That’s why I came over here. I really need some advice.”

“So he’s attracted to you?” Melody shrugged. “What did you do when he kissed you?”

“I told him to get the hell out of my house.”

“Didn’t Sarah hear?”

“No, Sarah was at work. Keith had the day off and he was in our house when I got home. Sarah gave him a key.”

“Oh wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.” Aileen rubbed her face. “You mean this guy, with the way he’s acting has the opportunity to go in and out of your house, at will? How long has Sarah known this guy?”

“Probably a couple of months, if that.”

“Oh no, this isn’t right, Melody. There’s no way in hell he should have a key. He shouldn’t be able to just waltz into your home like that. Melody, you gotta take care of this, even if Sarah won’t. Keith is taking control of Sarah’s life, little by little. If you don’t put an end to what he’s doing now, he’ll take control of yours, too. You gotta stand up to him, Melody.”

“And if that doesn’t work?”

“Then go to the police the next time he lays a finger on you.”

Brianna couldn’t believe she loved being a policewoman. She’d started on the police force at twenty-two. She’d outranked many of the officers in the academy. She made detective at thirty. Now, at thirty-five, she felt at ease. She’d had her share of frantic and tragic moments over the last fourteen years. But that hadn’t outweighed her love for the job. In fact, she’d grown more respect because of the danger she’d encountered.

She couldn’t see herself doing anything else on this earth. People were always shocked to find out that she was a detective. She scanned her latest report about the Albany Predator. Maybe people were right. She could have picked a more glamorous lifestyle. She was beautiful, but she liked to think she was sexy. She was inquisitive with tons of potential. Yet catching sexual predators had been the only thing on her mind.

She struggled to block out the sounds of the noisy police station. Despite all of its faults, she wouldn’t have given up her career for anything in the world.

Especially
now
. She flipped through the sketch artist’s drawings of the supposed Albany Predator. Brianna hadn’t wanted to nail someone so much. It hit too close to home. Her desire grew from a place she couldn’t recognize. Even if she hadn’t been black, she’d want the bastard. Steven laughed from across their adjoined desks. Detective Pete Cunningham once again entertained Steven with his regular pastime of telling dirty jokes when he should have been getting the damn phone.

“Cunningham!” A detective waved from eight desks down. “Get your damn phone!”

“Huh?” Cunningham struggled to hear beyond a sea of over fifty detectives walking to and fro. Their chattering voices resembled the sound of a thousand typewriters. Brianna shook her head. How she’d gotten used to this, she’d never know.

“I said answer your phone!” the guy hollered.

“Huh?”

“Answer the fuckin’ phone!” A detective sitting next to Cunningham left for the soda machine. Cunningham scoffed. He took his time answering it. Steven leaned back in his chair, grinning. He noticed the gravity of Brianna’s lovely face.

“Really been working there, huh?” He leaned to see the sketches. “Too bad he looks like your average soap actor. Sure as hell would help us if he didn’t look like he walked off a poster.”

Brianna chuckled. “Yeah, he looks just like you.” She held up the picture.

“Say for real!” Cunningham got off the phone. Another detective stopped to see the sketch. A group began to tease Steven within minutes. “Morris is right, he does look a little like you, Kemp!” Cunningham guffawed.

“He sure does!” A fat middle-aged detective grabbed one of the sketches. “Hey, maybe that’s why you can’t find him!” They laughed. “Been holding out on purpose, huh, Steve?”

“Funny.” Steven looked at Brianna. “See what you started, huh?”

“Shit, it’s not Bree’s fault. Damn.” Cunningham squinted at one of the sketches. “No joke, he looks just like you, Kemp. Where were you last Friday?” They laughed.

“Okay, enough with the teasing, huh? Don’t you guys got something to do?” Steven chuckled. The cops slowly milled back to their desks.