Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
More static rushed through the line.
“Who?” I asked.
And then the call ended.
“Fuck.” I shut the phone off.
Sophia’s words came out harsh with no chaser. “Who was that?”
“Why?”
Her words sliced in the air and made my skin shiver. “I don’t like questions for my answers. Don’t do that again. Who was that?”
I’m starting to get tired of people treating me like I’m the one that doesn’t give out the orders.
“Who was it?” Sophia asked again.
Benny had somehow kidnapped Troy and Vivian. I don’t even understand what that meant. Kidnapped them how? Was he locking them up in a house or just keeping a close eye on them? Was he taking Jasmine to them? Would she be surrounded by their love and safety until I got there?
I’m going to kill you, Benny. I wasn’t born to be a murderer, but I’ll die one, just for you. I shot Wendy out of sorrow. I don’t count that. But for you ... for you, I’ll take on the guilt of your death. I’ll dance in your blood.
“Who was on the phone?” Sophia snapped her fingers in front of me, a move that I did a lot. A move that I’d done with Jasmine several months ago, when she sat in my office in shock that I’d been asking her the most intrusive interview questions known to the job process. I’d thought I was in control that day, figured I could command Jasmine just because she trembled in her chair, in front of me.
In the end, she trapped me.
Caged my heart and wouldn’t let it go.
Had me bobbing around like a puppet with dangling legs.
How I miss my little puppet master. Damn you, tesoro.
“Chase, do you hear me?” Sophia asked again, and anger boiled inside of my chest.
Leave me alone. I’m thinking about her.
I swallowed some of the cognac I’d brought with me. “Don’t make me do this, Sophia. Let’s just pretend there wasn’t a phone call. I’m a bit on edge, and getting rather drunk. My manners left on the second glass. Don’t make me do this.”
“Do what?”
“Put you in your place.”
“Excuse me?” She raised her arched eyebrows.
“You don’t ask me questions. I ask you. I have several bills that I pay that prove that sad fact. I’m looking for Jasmine. You can help me. My phone calls are not something I’m going to discuss. So far, my childhood friend died while in the care of your family. I’m not sure who to trust outside of Jasmine.”
“Put me in my place?”
I finished the glass.
“I’m Jasmine’s mother. I’m just as nervous about her future.”
I didn’t buy it. I couldn’t point to the reason. Maybe, she lacked that thing that made mothers appear mournful. She’d lived a hard life. Most ghettos carved out hollow tunnels in people’s hearts. Perhaps, she just didn’t understand how to show a mother’s love, but it still could have lived inside of her, growing with each second that Jasmine remained with Benny.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“Sorry isn’t important to me. You pay my bills. That’s fine. But you mentioned me on that phone call. Who was it?”
She’s even more determined to get her way than Jasmine.
“Not many people would understand the things I heard you say. Only a small list. It wasn’t Jasmine.” She twisted her lips in annoyance. “Must’ve been Troy. What did my sweet boy say about me?”
No wonder Jasmine said hell no to a big family Thanksgiving party this year.
I decided to change the subject. “Why are we going to Benny’s garden?”
“It’s where all of his notes and journals are. He writes everything down there. It’s not actually a garden. He just calls it that.”
“Why?”
“Because he grows things there.”
“What?”
“You’ll see.”
“I’m thinking it’s not flowers.”
“No, much worse.” She crossed her legs. “Did you get ownership of the building like I asked?”
“Yes. The whole project development is owned by me.”
“That was quick. It barely took us ten minutes to leave your house and get in the car.”
“Anything is possible with money. Sometimes it’s just a phone call.”
“Ain’t that the damned truth.” She snorted. “So we’ll be walking into your building, huh?”
“Pretty much. The manager will meet us there with the keys to his apartment.”
“It’s the penthouse. We all say that as a joke. Benny’s the only white man that would rent out a whole floor in the hood and then sit up in there like he’s living in luxury.”
“I didn’t know he lived there.”
“Just one of his many places. He’s got a bunch of safe spots. Apartments, condos, and homes all over the world. Something is in each of them. I’ve been to a few in the US. He’s got at least ten passports. Several ID cards. Those will be in the penthouse. If not the actual documents, then you’ll find a list with the names. That will help us get a hold of where he is going. We get the names he’s using with Jasmine, then we’ll have his movements through his credit cards.”