From Riches to Rags (22 page)

“Yes, they asked her to come in for the lunch shift. It’s the first time in two weeks that we haven’t worked together at the restaurant. I hope she’s okay on her own.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she is. She’s very capable when she wants to be.”

“Oh yes, she is, isn’t she?” Chris replied.

I was not trying to compliment her, but Chrissie took it as one.
I guess I’ll let her have that one.

“So, how’s your little experiment coming along with Blackie? Have you tried to kill her yet?”
And when is she moving out?

“Almost, but we made up.”

“Oh? Care to share with your adopted big sister, Chrissie?”

She laughed and said, “It was nothing major. We were just wiped out from working twelve hours on the busiest day of the year, and we got a little testy. I mean, who wouldn’t, right?”

“Well, that’s understandable, living in such a cramp little apartment like that.”

“That’s funny, I don’t remember telling you about my apartment.”

Oh shit! Think fast!
“You didn’t, but you gave me your address, remember? I know that area and have been in some of those apartments while investigating someone for a client.”

“Oh, tell me about your work, Meg. Why did you decide to become a detective?”

“Well, I caught the bug when I was searching for Bonnie’s killer. Up until then, I was… are you ready for this… an accountant.”

“I can’t imagine you as an accountant.”

“Well, let’s just say it paid the bills. I’m much better as a private detective, plus I get to carry a gun.”

“Now
that
I can imagine. Have you ever shot anyone?”

“Not yet. Although there’s one or two that could use the benefit of my bullet.”

“Oh, Meg, I’ve missed that dry sense of humor of yours.”

“So what happens after this big test is over? What do you see happening after she moves back to her mansion?”

“Oh… I haven’t thought about that. The whole reason for the test was because she wanted to better herself, to be someone who helps out others, instead of getting drunk and buying another car. I think she’s going to achieve that.”

“You didn’t answer my question, Chrissie.”

“Didn’t I?” She said with smirk, but I gave her a look of disbelieve, and she told me the truth, “Oh, all right, I see us working as a team, helping people less fortunate than we are, or should I say, than I am.”

“You’d spend her money for her?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“Chrissie, you can’t seriously think that Blackie will give up all that money and all those expensive toys of hers, to come live with you in that tin box you’re in, and keep working at the restaurant?”

“Um, no… no, I would never ask her to do that.”

“No, you wouldn’t ask her, but you’d hope she would, you wish that she would.”

Chrissie looked down at her plate and scooted her fork around it, and I had my answer. But I pushed her to say it out loud, so it would be real for her.

“Chrissie?”

She looked up at me and finally relented, “Yes, I want for things to continue as they are now. There, I said it. Is that so bad?”

I couldn’t answer her without giving myself away. I believed that what her parents were doing, setting her adrift on her own, hoping she would recover and come to them as the child they loved, not the drunk they created, was right. I believed it was working, until Blackie walked into the picture.

“Why do you hate her so much, Meg? She’s really trying to change her life around and you should give her the benefit of the doubt. She hasn’t had a drink in almost three weeks now, only has the money she earns at work, and rides the bus to work with me. I can’t believe that she would go to that kind of extreme measure if she wasn’t sincere about changing her life.”

“Chrissie, be realistic. People like Blackie go through stages where they try to change, even succeed in getting out of that life for a time. She’s just too damn rich to give it all up for good. Her money won’t let her.”

“I will support her, no matter what her decision is. We’re best friends now and that’s what you do for your friends.”

“And what will she do for you, Chrissie? Will you let her drag you down, if she falls off the wagon?”

“No! I will never go back to that— oh, um…”

She looked at me so terrified that I wanted to tell her that I knew her secret already. That I knew she almost killed a man when she was drunk. But again, she had come too far for me to ruin it for her parents.

“Oh, sorry, I must have choked on some cornbread or something. Anyway, what I was going to say was that Melinda knows that drinking is a deal breaker for us. She knows how much I don’t like alcohol and she respects that. She won’t even touch a glass of wine now. But that’s not what you asked, is it?” She didn’t wait for my answer; she said in a pragmatic tone, “Okay, no, if she falls off the wagon, she will fall by herself and she knows it. But I can’t stop being her friend.”

“You love her that much?”

“Yes… what? No, I mean as my friend. As my friend, yes, I love her that much.”

“Chrissie, there’s something I have to tell you.”

Midpoint — Melinda
aka
Blackie Blackstone
and
George Kirk

I looked up from taking an order at table fifteen, and saw George walk in the door. I couldn’t imagine why he would be back again so soon, unless he needed more pictures for his book. I knew that was why he was taking them the last time. Luckily I have final approval before anything goes into print, so I wasn’t too worried. I turned in the order to the cook and went over to George.

“Back again, I see.”

“Yes, I just can’t stay away after the wonderful service you gave me last time.”

“George, I didn’t wait on you last time.”

“I know that, but I doubt your boss does.”

“Don’t worry; he’s in the kitchen, so I have a minute to talk. What’s up?”

“I bring you news from home, and a present.”

“Okay, what’s the news and where’s the present?”

“Here’s the present.” He handed me a fairly heavy flat box, wrapped in Christmas paper, and when I started to shake it, he threw up his hands to stop me. “Don’t, there’s glass in there. It’s for you and Chris, and not to be opened until Christmas day. A gift from me to the both of you.”

I thought that was kind of cool, “Thanks, I’ll put it under our tree. So what’s the news from home?”

“Um… the news is that your parents are coming to see you, uh, sorry to rush, but I have to go now.”

He was halfway out the door before I found my voice again, “Hold on just a damn minute!” I grabbed his elbow and pulled him back in, through the seating area and out the back door, into the alley. “My parents are coming to visit? How can they, they have no idea where I’m at.”

“Well, they sort of do.”

“Son of a bitch! How could you tell them, George? I thought you were my friend? Damn it, you’ve got some fucking nerve.”

“Now hold on just a damn minute. I am your friend and I did not tell them. That detective’s wife did.”

“Meg? Why would she do that?”
Because she hates me, vindictive bitch.

“You’ll have to ask her. Maybe she was bragging on you, because your parents are coming to see for themselves. In a way, it’s a good thing for them to see how far you’ve come.”

“It sure as hell isn’t a good thing for me. Not when I’m so close to getting past some of my issues. I already feel the need for a drink, thanks to your news.”

“No, don’t do that, Blackie. Don’t throw it all away now, just because of them. Show them what you’re made of, make them proud.”

“George, you are so full of bullshit.”

“Yes, but mine smells good.”

I laughed and asked how long he would be in town. He said he was flying back out this evening, so I suggested he stay and have lunch with me. I got someone to cover my tables, and soon we were eating barbeque and talking about my parents. Since George was paying, I ordered extra of everything, and told him to leave a nice size tip for my co-worker.

“Okay, so why are they really coming here and when?”

George swallowed his bite of food first and then said, “Day after tomorrow.”

“Shit! That’s too soon. Can’t they wait until after Christmas? I could be ready for them by then.”

“Your father has business in town that day, so no, he wouldn’t want to wait. Not when he’s already here.”

“What’s he buying this time?”

“Your friend’s apartment building.”

I literally spat out my drink all over poor George. “Please, please, I’m begging you; tell me that was a joke, George. I promise not to hurt you too bad.”

“I’m sorry, it’s not a joke. The Blackstone Corporation is buying up everything on that block so they can tear them down and build a resort.”

“A resort? Why the hell would they want to do that?”

“It’s strategically located between Beale Street, Graceland, the airport, the river boat gambling and the Liberty Bowl. Quite honestly, I’m surprised no one has thought of that already.”

“Yeah, it makes good business sense. But what about the people who live there? What about Norma?”

“Who’s Norma?”

“She’s my friend, my very dear friend.”

“Well, you know the way these things work. She’ll have to move.”

“Damn it, George, that’s not going to happen. She’s lived there over thirty years, it’s not right to kick her out now, at her age.”

“Well, I’m no lawyer but if she doesn’t own her apartment, she doesn’t have a say so in the matter. Look, I’m just the middle man here, you should tell your father, not me.”

“Damn straight I will.”

Second Argument — Melinda Blackstone
and
Christine Livingston

As soon as Chris walked in the door and clocked in, I grabbed her and pulled her into the break room.

“I have to tell you something!” we both screamed at the same time.

“You’re not going to believe my news.” I said with tongue in cheek.

“But I think you’ll want to hear mine immediately.”

“Okay, let’s both say it at the same time and see which one is the most earth-shattering.”

I held up three fingers and counted them down one by one, and like the racehorse at the gate, we shifted our feet and held our breath until finally we both shouted at the same time, “Your parents – My parents – are coming to town!” And again in unison, “You knew?”

“Yes, George found me at work today and told me. You?”

“Meg told me at lunch today.”

Hot steam puffed out of my ears, “Why the hell did she tell my parents about this?”

“Now, don’t get upset, she was only trying to help you.”

“Help me, my ass. She deliberately sabotaged me.”

“No, she didn’t. Do you want to know why or just keeping thinking bad about her?”

“The latter works for me.” I was so incensed that I couldn’t see straight and then to have Chris take her side just made me more furious.

“Fine then just forget it. I have to get to work.” Chris stormed out of the room before I could say a word, not that I knew what I was going to say.

We didn’t speak again until much later. I finished my shift and clocked out.  But instead of going home, I waited for Chris to take her break.

“I thought you would have gone home by now?”

“No, I wanted to talk with you first.”

She sighed and sat down on the bench by our lockers. “Okay, so talk, I’ve only got ten minutes.”

I had thought about what I wanted to say to her but then when she was right in front of me, I couldn’t speak. The truth of the matter was that I was afraid that I had been wrong and afraid that she would hate me because of it. I’m not sure when I suddenly became so insecure, but I was sure it was only when it had to do with her.

“Well, if you’re not going to say anything then let me. You are stubborn and mule headed, and you think you are always right. But you’re not, and you’d know that if you’d just listen before you bark.”

I found my words, but they weren’t the ones I had rehearsed, “Well you are too naïve and believe everything
certain
people tell you, regardless.”

Chris was pissed, and fired her words at me like they were bullets, “Meg told me that your father called her from Florida, offering her a contract to research historical property holdings on our building here in Memphis. She turned him down. When he asked why, because you know, no one says no to a Blackstone, she said that you were living in one of those buildings, and it would be too much of a conflict of interest for her.”

“She said that?”

“Yes, she did. She told me that it would make things worse between the two of you, if she suddenly became involved in whatever it is your father is after.”

“Well, then… I’m sorry I misjudged her.”

“You misjudged me too don’t forget.”

I looked at Chris and smiled, “I’m even sorrier that I misjudged you. I really am sorry, Chris.”

“Apology accepted. So what does your father want with our building? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?”

“It’s a very bad thing. He’s buying up the block so he can tear down the buildings and build a resort.”

“Oh, no! Can he do that? Can he just push us out of our home?”

“I wish I could say no, but yes, he can do that. My concern is for Norma. She’s not going to like this at all.”

Chris’s eyes glisten as if she were about to cry, “Oh no, poor Norma. We can’t let this happen, Melinda. There’s got to be something we can do?”

“My parents will be here day after tomorrow, to inspect the building and me as well. I want you to meet them and maybe we can talk to them about it. I’ve already asked for the day off. Can you see if you can switch with someone and take off too?”

“Yes, of course. One of the girls owes me a day, I’m sure she’ll switch with me.”

“Good, because in all honesty I need you to be there with me.”

“Oh, do you mean in case you misjudge the situation and need a swift kick in the ass to set you straight again?”

I grinned at her, “Uh, sure, that’s it exactly.”