I lay in the darkness, waiting for the car to start up. When it starts moving again, the country music is turned up. I grope inside my boot for the phone. I had made my mind up that I was not talking to Edge anymore. I could not trust him. Miss C called him Dallas. I hadn’t had time to process this information. The only Dallas I knew of was William’s son, because his name was Dallas Dupré. It was written on the document from that creepy lawyer.
They couldn’t be the same person?
Could they?
It might explain why I think he shot me.
Like father, like son.
The man I had incredible sex with was quite possibly a murderer like his father, out to make my life hell. I can’t afford to think about all this at the moment. I need to think about myself.
This all needs to be boxed up for now.
Miss Catherine is my rock, and until Boxer or Lincoln, the only other people I trusted in my small world, can help me, then Edge wasn’t gonna be my contact. This way, I also knew Miss C was well and unharmed if she was spokesperson.
In my head, I have this all worked out. Boxer is going to move Heaven and Earth to find me soon, and I’m going to be taken to safety because I’m being tracked. I’m not lost to them. Miss C is going to get through to Boxer or Lincoln and give them the information. It’s the only good thing Edge has done for me. I can’t even think about the sex we had together.
I close my eyes and go to one of my places in my head I haven’t visited in a long time, and try to block out Edge and the mixture of blood and the vomit stench that is filling the trunk, and find my courage because I know I am going to need it.
Boxer will save me.
He has to.
MISS CATHERINE
He be out my door before I can be catchin’ up to him, and then he be goin’ down like a drunk bear.
The man be out cold, and I can’t be movin’ him back inside by myself. He be needin’ a doctor. I take back my phone from his jacket and call the only person I know I can be trustin’, Dr. Evelyn Castille. She be wantin’ to know Boxer out of communication anyways. I know she be sweet on him, but not be allowin’ herself that courtesy.
I look at the man makin’ a bed in my dirt just when he thinkin’ he be set to take off on that bike of his. Tough man’s body be givin’ out on him, and now I gots nobody to save the chile.
This night keep gettin’ longer and harder.
I dial Evelyn’s number, and she be pickin’ up on the third ring. “Evelyn, I be needin’ your immediate help, and you best be bringin’ a strong man with you, one that can be trusted to be keepin’ his mouth hush. I have a bleedin’ man lyin’ in my dirt with blood spillin’ from him. Boxer would be wantin’ you to assist, because he has up and gone out of communication for me, and dem bones of mine are tellin’ me he be in danger.”
Evelyn disconnects. I know she be on her way, and I just have to wait out a good hour until she be arrivin’.
I take another look at the man lyin’ on his side all messy like, and retreat back up my stairs to get him a warm blanket. He was willin’ to go after Whisper in the current state he be in, all beat up and shot, so I be willin’ to get him the aid he be needin’ because dem bones of mine are tellin’ me Boxer and Lincoln ain’t comin’ home anytime soon. Truth be told, I be fearin’ for them.
I fetch two blankets and the laptop and do my best to be coverin’ him up with one of them. I sit down on the porch steps, folded inside my own warm blanket, and be preparin’ to wait it out with the laptop by my side, the blue circle on the screen tellin’ me Whisper is still movin’.
It’s cold out, and I be watchin’ the stars sprinklin’ the night until my head slides to the side and I rest it on the handrailin’.
I’m roused to consciousness by my phone ringin’. I’d claimed it back. Shoot! I must have dozed off. I don’t be knowin’ the number on the screen. “Whisper? Is that you, honeychile?” I run an eye over the prone man waitin’ to hear her voice.
“Miss Catherine, are you all right? I needed to hear your voice. Edge hasn’t hurt you?” The relief in her voice at hearin’ mine is palpable.
“Don’t you be worryin’ about me, chile. We be good.” She be breakin’ my heart fearin’ for me when she be the one in trouble. “I know he shot you,” I say softly.
“He admitted it?” She sounds shocked.
“He be wishin’ he hadn’t done that to you, but that can’t be changed. We need to be gettin’ you home safe. He be payin’ for his wrongs later. How bad you be hurtin’, chile?”
“I could be better, but I’m okay for now. I’ve been shot in the shoulder,” she quietly admits to me. I hiss in a breath as my hand covers my mouth. No good me lettin’ on my anguish. My eyes roam over the unconscious man.
“Please listen carefully.” Her voice clear and low. “They transferred me from one car to another in a vacant warehouse lot, and I think I made out part of the license plate number. It started with NQ. Please tell Boxer.” Her voice breaks. “I can’t remember his phone number.”
“Don’t you be worryin’ about anythin’. You just be stayin’ strong, honeychile.” I move the mouse, and the blue circle is back up on the screen. “You’ve just crossed over into Mississippi.” Edge can’t be helpin’ me now. “I be needin’ to call the police. They can find you quicker than—”
“No! No police. Boxer promised me… you promised me my life would stay a secret. We did everything to keep it that way. Boxer has too much to lose now. He did illegal things, gave me an identity and hid things. You must promise me the police will stay out of this. Boxer can find me. I know he can, and he will.”
Her voice is so desperate. I don’t want to be leavin’ her like this alone and in the hands of two dangerous men. “Promise. Me. Miss C.” Those last words are said with such steel in them.
Ahhh, this be the hardest thing I be doin’ in a long time. Boxer be mad at me if I leave her alone to be fendin’ for herself.
“Promise me!” Her voice rises.
I bite down on my nails. Dallas/Edge told me she be needed to pay a debt, and she be more valuable alive than dead. I had to hope he be right.
“Pleeease.” That one cried word nearly knocked me off the step.
“I promise,” I concede. I pull the blanket tighter around me. I hope I be doin’ the right thing by this chile and keepin’ this promise. Trust and loyalty are so precious to her. “I be seein’ your whereabouts on the computer screen right now. I be trackin’ you along the bottom of Mississippi. We will be rescuin’ you. You gots to be believin’ this.” It’s all the comfort I can be givin’ her, and I know it not be enough, but it is all I have. She be a survivor. I know she will stay strong.
“My abductors told me the man with you has been shot?” She sounds concerned for him. She don’t be knowin’ men enough to be knowin’ the good stock from the bad. This man before me is not altogether bad, but he ain’t altogether good neither.
“Don’t you be thinkin’ on him. He will recover.” I be so afraid for her. Boxer won’t be comin’ for her straight away. I can’t be tellin’ her this. She be needin’ as much hope as she can hold inside her. This man has to wake up, and then he be comin’ for her.
“Whisper, anythin’ you can tell me that be of value, now is the time.”
“The battery is low, I…”
The line disconnects.
My hand flies up to my mouth as I try to stifle dem fears of mine, and then I hear a car comin’ down my driveway.
A hopeful noise be escapin’ me until I see the doctor’s car approachin’ and not Boxer or Lincoln, but at least Evelyn is here.