Until the End of Time (41 page)
Read Until the End of Time Online
Authors: Melanie Schuster
“
Renee, if wishing bad things would happen to people made them come true, people would be dropping in the street like flies,” Yolanda gently pointed out. “Besides, the man betrayed you, violated you and made it impossible for you to pursue your chosen career at the time you were just getting a toehold in the business. Why
wouldn’t
you think bad things about him? What were you supposed to do, hope he wins an Emmy, a Peabody and a Pulitzer?”
Renee, if wishing bad things would happen to people made them come true, people would be dropping in the street like flies,” Yolanda gently pointed out. “Besides, the man betrayed you, violated you and made it impossible for you to pursue your chosen career at the time you were just getting a toehold in the business. Why
wouldn’t
you think bad things about him? What were you supposed to do, hope he wins an Emmy, a Peabody and a Pulitzer?”
Yolanda’s gentle irony was just the medicine Renee needed. Impossible as it would have seemed a few hours before, Renee almost smiled. Then the gravity of the situation returned in full force and she turned a somber face to Yolanda. “It’s not just that, Yolanda. Neurotic as I seem to be lately, even I don’t think that I have that kind of power. What I mean is, thanks to me opening my big mouth about this whole situation there were a lot of people gunning for Donovan Bailey. I mean that literally,
gunning
for the man. When I heard on the news that there was a woman seen, the first person I thought of was my mother. She has a gun, she is apparently
not
afraid to use it, she wanted him dead and she was right here in Detroit when it happened and I have no way of accounting for her whereabouts,” Renee emphasized.
gunning
for the man. When I heard on the news that there was a woman seen, the first person I thought of was my mother. She has a gun, she is apparently
not
afraid to use it, she wanted him dead and she was right here in Detroit when it happened and I have no way of accounting for her whereabouts,” Renee emphasized.
“
And then there’s the matter of Adam and his hand. He says he had an accident at work, which he’s never done in all the time I’ve known him. But remember, Bailey was beaten as well as shot so who’s to say that Andy’s brothers didn’t take a notion to have a good ol’ Detroit style beat down-blanket party and knock the hell out of him?” Renee’s eyes were huge and a dull pewter color from anxiety. “And then, Andrew says his father…” her rapid words were cut off by a wave of Yolanda’s hand.
And then there’s the matter of Adam and his hand. He says he had an accident at work, which he’s never done in all the time I’ve known him. But remember, Bailey was beaten as well as shot so who’s to say that Andy’s brothers didn’t take a notion to have a good ol’ Detroit style beat down-blanket party and knock the hell out of him?” Renee’s eyes were huge and a dull pewter color from anxiety. “And then, Andrew says his father…” her rapid words were cut off by a wave of Yolanda’s hand.
Yolanda put her right hand into her long braids and shook them rapidly as if to clear her head of Renee’s frantic line of reasoning. “Renee, honey, you’ve got to slow down here. Take a breath! You’re about to drive yourself crazy with all kinds of wild suppositions and fears when you have absolutely no basis in fact for any of this! And let’s drop that business about your ‘big mouth’, okay?” Yolanda leaned forward and grabbed both of Rene’s icily cold hands to make a point. “You were
supposed
to tell what that man did. Your family, your fiancé, your friends are
supposed
to care about what happens to you. You have rights here, Renee. You did nothing wrong. You did nothing wrong, and neither did anyone who loves you and wanted to see him punished. Wanting a thing doesn’t make it so, remember that,” she said firmly.
supposed
to tell what that man did. Your family, your fiancé, your friends are
supposed
to care about what happens to you. You have rights here, Renee. You did nothing wrong. You did nothing wrong, and neither did anyone who loves you and wanted to see him punished. Wanting a thing doesn’t make it so, remember that,” she said firmly.
Renee squeezed Yolanda’s hands tightly, grateful for their warmth. She looked around the spacious, airy interior of Yolanda’s living room with its Afrocentric décor and multitudes of plants and wished she could absorb the serenity that was evident around her. She knew Yolanda was right, but still… Before she could give voice to the ‘but’ that was hovering on her lips, Yolanda took control again.
“
Renee, you keep forgetting that like you, Donovan Bailey has a past as well as a present. You also keep forgetting that there is every chance that there was someone out there who hated Donovan Bailey as much, or more than you and your family and friends. Someone who apparently wanted him hurt, someone who might have wanted him dead. Evil doesn’t exist in a vacuum, Renee; what are the chances that you were the only person he ever hurt? I would guess that Donovan Bailey injured a lot of people in his time and that one of them, or some of them, caught up with him at last,” she said wisely, never breaking eye contact with Renee.
Renee, you keep forgetting that like you, Donovan Bailey has a past as well as a present. You also keep forgetting that there is every chance that there was someone out there who hated Donovan Bailey as much, or more than you and your family and friends. Someone who apparently wanted him hurt, someone who might have wanted him dead. Evil doesn’t exist in a vacuum, Renee; what are the chances that you were the only person he ever hurt? I would guess that Donovan Bailey injured a lot of people in his time and that one of them, or some of them, caught up with him at last,” she said wisely, never breaking eye contact with Renee.
At last the ice that had encased Renee’s insides began to thaw a little. Yolanda was another blessing in her life, Renee thought. After seeing that Renee was calmer and more comfortable, Yolanda suggested that she let Andrew know where she was and just stay there for a few hours while Yolanda went out to run a couple of errands. Renee was so wiped out that she agreed immediately. So now she was just rocking quietly, listening to the soft jazz and trying to stay calm. Over the past few hours her mind had mutated into a frantic gerbil on a wheel—she could actually hear the little squeak, squeak, squeak of tiny feet on a wire surface. Renee glanced down at her lap and widened her eyes. She had indeed been in a spin when she left the house; she was wearing her gray sweats that normally never saw the light of day outside the four walls of her house. True, they were DKNY and fashioned of cotton cashmere but they were sweats, no getting around it.
Lord today, worrying about that evil man has made me into a fashion ‘don’t’.
Lord today, worrying about that evil man has made me into a fashion ‘don’t’.
For the first time in a good while, Renee actually laughed. She was laughing at herself to herself which under normal circumstances would not have been indicative of strong mental health, but shoot, she wasn’t retching and she wasn’t sobbing and that was a definite improvement as far as she was concerned. The buzzer by the front door rang to indicate a visitor. Renee made her way downstairs to answer it, feeling less than thrilled about her makeup-less, ultra casual appearance.
“
Who is it?” she asked with more insouciance than she felt.
Who is it?” she asked with more insouciance than she felt.
“
It’s me, honey, Andrew,” he answered. Renee wasted no time in flinging open the door to greet him. Andrew, of course, noticed nothing amiss with her appearance; she always looked good to him. And he was bringing her good news, to boot. After a deep, hot kiss he walked her over to the sofa and sat her down. “Renee, they’ve made an arrest in the Donovan Bailey case. There really was a woman leaving the scene and the eyewitness identified her. It was Dana Pierson.”
It’s me, honey, Andrew,” he answered. Renee wasted no time in flinging open the door to greet him. Andrew, of course, noticed nothing amiss with her appearance; she always looked good to him. And he was bringing her good news, to boot. After a deep, hot kiss he walked her over to the sofa and sat her down. “Renee, they’ve made an arrest in the Donovan Bailey case. There really was a woman leaving the scene and the eyewitness identified her. It was Dana Pierson.”
***
Some hours later, Renee was in a place she couldn’t have conceived of a few hours ago. She was warm and cozy in her own bedroom, recently bathed in a bubbly tub full of Annick Goutal, clad in a feminine, sheerly pink peignoir and completely relaxed while digesting the remains of a fabulous dinner. And she was thoroughly relaxed, both from the excellent wine Andrew had insisted she drink and from the disappearance of the mighty weight she’d been carrying. All she was now was curious, which she freely admitted to Andrew.
“
Okay, but this is the last time we are going over this,” Andrew said amiably. “Dana met Donovan Bailey on several occasions while she was in Europe. He’d offered her a job on the new cable network, on the strength of his alliance with Donnie and Clay. Now once he was back here in the States, they hooked up to finalize the details of what she felt was a new position on the ground floor of this new network.” Andrew paused in his recital to take another sip of wine, which earned him a stern look from Renee. “Okay, okay,” Andrew sighed and resumed speaking, although his eyes were closed now. Renee looked much too tempting in that gown and he wanted to get this over with so he could get on to other things.
Okay, but this is the last time we are going over this,” Andrew said amiably. “Dana met Donovan Bailey on several occasions while she was in Europe. He’d offered her a job on the new cable network, on the strength of his alliance with Donnie and Clay. Now once he was back here in the States, they hooked up to finalize the details of what she felt was a new position on the ground floor of this new network.” Andrew paused in his recital to take another sip of wine, which earned him a stern look from Renee. “Okay, okay,” Andrew sighed and resumed speaking, although his eyes were closed now. Renee looked much too tempting in that gown and he wanted to get this over with so he could get on to other things.
“
Well, Bailey’s family went to Maryland where his wife is from to wait until the final outcome of his supposed lawsuit against us. Bailey stayed here in this apartment that he’d rented during the negotiations, before any of us knew what a crust bucket he is.” Andrew yawned, but rallied on with his tale. “So, our little Dana, who had her own reasons for wanting to be in Detroit, took it upon herself to pay him a visit. That visit led to an encounter like the one you had with him in Pittsburgh, which led to her vowing to light him up, to the extent that she procured a gun, went back to his place and popped a cap in his ass. End of story,” he finished with a hopeful leer on his face.
Well, Bailey’s family went to Maryland where his wife is from to wait until the final outcome of his supposed lawsuit against us. Bailey stayed here in this apartment that he’d rented during the negotiations, before any of us knew what a crust bucket he is.” Andrew yawned, but rallied on with his tale. “So, our little Dana, who had her own reasons for wanting to be in Detroit, took it upon herself to pay him a visit. That visit led to an encounter like the one you had with him in Pittsburgh, which led to her vowing to light him up, to the extent that she procured a gun, went back to his place and popped a cap in his ass. End of story,” he finished with a hopeful leer on his face.
“
Are you satisfied now, baby? Can we discuss some more important issues?” he growled as he pulled her closer to his hot, waiting body. To his utter disappointment, Renee was not quite ready to let go of it.
Are you satisfied now, baby? Can we discuss some more important issues?” he growled as he pulled her closer to his hot, waiting body. To his utter disappointment, Renee was not quite ready to let go of it.
“
But Andy, she couldn’t have beaten him like that! That was the work of some big men or at least one man. Are you saying she arranged for that, too?”
But Andy, she couldn’t have beaten him like that! That was the work of some big men or at least one man. Are you saying she arranged for that, too?”
Andrew ground his teeth in frustration and sat up. Renee wasn’t going to be happy until she had every single detail. “Well, now, that’s where it gets kinda surreal,” he admitted. “The beating was a contract job. Someone who had good reason to punish Bailey severely arranged for some wiseguys to beat him within an inch of his life. Hard as it is to believe, there are people who will maim for hire if you know where to look, and this person knew exactly which rocks to turn over, apparently,” he said ruefully.
Something in his voice made Renee sit bolt upright and stare worriedly at him. “Andy is
this
hat you meant about your father back in the day?” she said breathlessly. Andrew raised his eyebrows comically and then lowered them. “Well, yes and no. It appears that there were two ass-kickings scheduled for Donovan Bailey. One was sanctioned by someone who’s old enough to know better, and the other one was arranged by none other than Miriam Roberson Bailey,” he said slowly, waiting for the name to sink into Renee’s consciousness. “Her team just happened to get to him first.”
this
hat you meant about your father back in the day?” she said breathlessly. Andrew raised his eyebrows comically and then lowered them. “Well, yes and no. It appears that there were two ass-kickings scheduled for Donovan Bailey. One was sanctioned by someone who’s old enough to know better, and the other one was arranged by none other than Miriam Roberson Bailey,” he said slowly, waiting for the name to sink into Renee’s consciousness. “Her team just happened to get to him first.”
“
His
wife
? His wife hired someone to beat up her own husband?” Renee exclaimed incredulously. “Why in the world would she do that? I thought she worshiped the man! And how in the heck did you find out all this, anyway? None of this has come out in the news,” she pointed out.
His
wife
? His wife hired someone to beat up her own husband?” Renee exclaimed incredulously. “Why in the world would she do that? I thought she worshiped the man! And how in the heck did you find out all this, anyway? None of this has come out in the news,” she pointed out.
Andrew looked into Renee’s beloved face. She was relaxed, animated and totally sexy. He sighed. He was completely in love with her and would be until the day he died, but if she did not shut up he was going to have to shut her up the best way he knew. “You remember Titus Argonne, the detective Martin hired? Well, he’s still being retained on the case. He has some friends on the police force here and he called in a few favors. So that’s how I got the dirt. Now, as to his wife, she’s no fool. She knew the way women know these things that Bailey is a dog, player, whatever. What
ever
. What she didn’t know was the lengths to which he would go/had gone to satisfy his need to…well, you know,” Andrew said gesturing broadly with one hand.
ever
. What she didn’t know was the lengths to which he would go/had gone to satisfy his need to…well, you know,” Andrew said gesturing broadly with one hand.
“
She’d laid the law down to him to the extent that if she even heard about him creeping out on her one more time he was going to regret it. And Dana, oh boy, Dana doesn’t miss a trick. In addition to blowing a hole in Bailey, Dana informed his wife just what he’d done to her. And when Miriam Bailey got that news, she went ballistic. Turns out her daddy had some connections from back in the day. He’s a liquor distributor near D.C. and he knows everybody on the east coast no matter which side of the law they’re on. So, she got the hook up, greased a few palms and got pretty boy beat within an inch of his life.
She’d laid the law down to him to the extent that if she even heard about him creeping out on her one more time he was going to regret it. And Dana, oh boy, Dana doesn’t miss a trick. In addition to blowing a hole in Bailey, Dana informed his wife just what he’d done to her. And when Miriam Bailey got that news, she went ballistic. Turns out her daddy had some connections from back in the day. He’s a liquor distributor near D.C. and he knows everybody on the east coast no matter which side of the law they’re on. So, she got the hook up, greased a few palms and got pretty boy beat within an inch of his life.
“
Of course, she had no idea that Dana was going to shoot him, and Dana had no idea that Miriam was going to have him dealt with. So that’s one of the reasons that Miriam just fell to pieces over this thing, she really was scared she was going to lose him as well as scared she was going to get fingered.”
Of course, she had no idea that Dana was going to shoot him, and Dana had no idea that Miriam was going to have him dealt with. So that’s one of the reasons that Miriam just fell to pieces over this thing, she really was scared she was going to lose him as well as scared she was going to get fingered.”
It was all a bit much for Renee to take in. She fell back against the softly patterned pillows piled at the headboard and draped a dark, lissome arm over her head. “Scared she was going to lose him,” she mused. “Well, I guess she wouldn’t want him dead, after all, but why in the world would you want to stay married to a creature like that?”
Andrew lay down on his side and stared at Renee, who had no idea how desirable and desired she was at that moment. “Love makes you do strange things, I guess. It knocked me out flat the first time I laid eyes on you and it continues to lead me around by the nose every day of my life,” he said sweetly. “I know all about love,” he continued as he pulled Renee out of her reverie and into his arms where she belonged. “I know about wanting to be with someone twenty-four hours a day, about wanting to hear their voice, smell their scent, feel their warmth and tenderness, being lonely even if they’re only in the next room. I know about someone having only to smile at you knowing in that instant that you’ll belong to them until the end of time.”
By now, Renee was completely focused on the man she loved, who was making a declaration so sweet and pure that she was afraid to breathe, afraid to break the precious, delicate bond between them. Andrew looked into her sparkling golden eyes and seemed to sense her hesitation; he kissed her until they were both breathless and wild with passion.
“
Sweet Renee, this is the real thing, baby. You can’t lose me, no matter what. I’m never leaving you for any reason. You are everything in the world that I want and I am yours, only yours. Don’t be afraid of this, baby; all those years we waited were just the beginning of the best that could ever be,” he vowed.
Sweet Renee, this is the real thing, baby. You can’t lose me, no matter what. I’m never leaving you for any reason. You are everything in the world that I want and I am yours, only yours. Don’t be afraid of this, baby; all those years we waited were just the beginning of the best that could ever be,” he vowed.
And she didn’t even have time to wonder how her gossamer sheer gown found itself floating across the room, she only had time to sigh with happiness as they found a primitive, erotic passion that surpassed anything they had yet achieved in making love.
“
I love you, Andy, I love you, I love you,” she wept as they loved. When it was finally over, he held her for hours, stroking her and making plans for the most exquisite wedding they could conceive on short notice. At long last, it was time for their real life to begin.
I love you, Andy, I love you, I love you,” she wept as they loved. When it was finally over, he held her for hours, stroking her and making plans for the most exquisite wedding they could conceive on short notice. At long last, it was time for their real life to begin.
***
After a night of lovemaking so hot that the memory of it made Renee periodically stop to fan herself and blush, there was even yet something tickling the back of her mind. She managed to rise before Andrew and make him a huge breakfast, which she was happy to feed him in bed, much to his delight. Throwing caution and cholesterol to the wind, she made him light, delectable scrambled eggs, crisp bacon and his favorite indulgence, chocolate chip pancakes. His beautiful eyes lit up when he saw this unexpected pleasure. Renee disapproved of them heartily because all that sugar could do nothing but cause chaos in the body, she felt, but he adored them. Watching him consume this mammoth repast and topping it off with a big glass of orange juice and a cup of Jamaican coffee, Renee breathed a sigh of pure happiness.
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