Where There's Smoke (15 page)

He leaned against a wall and lit a joint, needing the comfort of the herb. This was the last of his stash. He’d need to find a new supplier soon. Damned if he’d be stuck inside sober. Blowing the smoke from his lips, he didn’t notice the heavily tattooed man walk up to him.

Eyes closed, he enjoyed the familiar buzz, a chuckle escaped his lips. His mama would be a grandmama soon. Any day she'd be calling and yelling at him when Nikita tracked her down looking for him. Two women fighting, both claiming to have his baby. Shit, it was too hot on campus anyway. He'd wait until Nikita got her shit together, got a place, then he'd head back and stay with her. His brother was loaded and acted as though he was doing him a favor by letting him hang out with him a few weeks.

“Asshole,” he murmured.

“If you’re talking about your lover, you’re right.”

Winston jumped. His joint fell from his fingers as he stared at the heavily tattooed man who stood in front of him. For a moment, they stared at each other. The man wasn’t taller than his five ten, but he was much wider and muscular, light beard with no hair on his scalp. He wore a small gold hoop earring in each one, which reminded him of Aladdin’s genie. Certain he was hallucinating; he extended his fingertip to the man’s face. It hovered over the bump on the large nose.

“Don’t,” the man growled.

Winston blinked rapidly, dropped his finger and stared. “Damn, that’s some strong shit. I’m seeing all kinds of bullshit,” he murmured.

The man laughed and pulled him close in a bear hug. It took him a minute to understand what’d happened. What was happening as he felt a bulge against his thigh.

“What the fuck?” he said, trying to break free. “What’s up with you, man?” Clumsily he pushed, as a sense of urgency penetrated his high. A strange man was hugging him?
What the fuck
?

The man kissed his cheek. “Nothing’s wrong with me. Haven’t you heard convicts like fresh, tender, new meat?” He palmed Winston’s ass. “And I think you’re pretty tender, hot-stuff. I got plenty of money and I’ll take good care of you. I promise.”

Shocked at the lips on his face, and hands on his ass, Winston’s mind blanked for a second. The words sunk through his inebriated mind and confusion.
Convict? New meat? Hot-stuff
. Oh hell, no. He lost it. With renewed energy, he pushed against the hard chest, and kicked out.

“Let me go, asshole,” Winston screamed as the man tried to pick him up and carry him away. “Cut this shit out, motherfucker.” He kicked and rocked. One arm came loose and Winston fell to the ground. The tattooed man ground his teeth, holding his shin as he limped toward him. Winston's hand landed on a rock or stone, he picked it up and threw, watching in surprise as blood spurted from above the man’s eye. Roaring the man leapt at him. Winston rolled to the side, stood and ran back to the office.

Winston ran into the building and didn’t stop until he reached the water fountain in the back. Grabbing a cup full of water he took a giant gulp and spit it out, trying to rinse his mouth. “Off, off,” he screamed, scrubbing his face and gargling. Vianca and Denise ran to the back watching horrified as he stripped off his shirt and rubbed his tongue and his cheek.

Denise stepped closer, but didn’t touch him. “Winston? What’s wrong?”

He bent over the garbage bin and retched until there was nothing left. Tears ran down his face. He babbled repeatedly. Smoke and Ross ran in from the back. Smoke watched him for a moment and then looked at Vianca. She shrugged. No one moved closer until he was done. Head down, Winston turned in Smoke’s direction, took a step and collapsed in his brother’s arms. Smoke picked him up and carried him to his office. Ross looked at Denise and Vianca.

“What happened?” Ross asked.

Denise shrugged. “He ran inside and headed to the back in a panic. I called his name, but he didn’t answer.” Vianca watched Denise fight back tears. Walking over, she placed her arms around the smaller woman. Denise cried as she held her. Everyone’s nerves were frayed. This situation needed closure quick. Vianca and Ross’s eyes met. He nodded and left the area.

“Come on Denise, let me get you something to drink.” The women walked down the hall to the front desk. They’d only known each other a few days, but something about life and death situations brought people closer in a hurry. Vianca hadn't had a close female friend since Anna in college. She'd spurned all overtures of friendship rather than take the chance of getting burned again. Despite the brave facade she'd put on, Anna's defection had hurt deeply. Without trying, Cherise and Denise had gotten under her skin, and she'd do whatever it took to keep them safe. The thought of someone hurting them like they'd hurt Barbara McDonald chilled her to the marrow of her bones. Not on her watch, she silently vowed.

Smoke looked at his younger sibling sobbing in the chair, and was stumped. He had no idea what was wrong. Winston was supposed to be in the back helping sort inventory. He hadn’t realized Winston had left. Guilt rode him. He wasn’t doing a very good job watching out for his brother. Hell, he’d thought they were ten years apart when it was more like twelve. At any rate, Winston was young.

“Winston,” he called. The young man ignored him and continued crying like his world had ended. Smoke placed his hand on his shoulder and Winston jumped up screaming.

“Take your hands off me, pervert.”

Smoke stood shocked. “What the hell happened?” he whispered, fear rose in his throat as Winston stared at him, his throat working. “Talk to me. Did somebody touch you?” The thought of someone accosting his brother was so horrible he whispered it into the atmosphere, afraid to give the words real sound.

Winston wrapped his arms around his waist and turned his back on him. Smoke’s heart dropped. “Somebody touched you?” he shouted, moving in front of Winston. “Look at me, damn it,” he shouted. Winston glanced up. Smoke swore his teeth would break they were ground so tight. “Did. Some. Muthafucker. Touch. You?” he asked, still in disbelief.

Winston nodded. Smoke turned and hit the door, the sound so loud Ross ran in the office and stared as Smoke heaved taking in air.

“What?” Ross shut the door.

“Somebody touched him.” Ross tilted his head questioningly. It took a moment for understanding to hit. His face tightened.

“Describe the dead motherfucker.” Smoke turned at the low steel underlying Ross’s tone and looked at Winston. His partner stood still as stone, his jaw tight, lips thinned.

“What did that bitch look like?” Smoke asked.

Winston inhaled shivering and closed his eyes. “My height, wider in the chest, tattoos, lots of tattoos. Bald with beard, gold hoop earring, crooked front teeth.”

“What’d he do?’ Smoke asked, his heart raced as he prayed his brother hadn't been violated on the street.

“Where was he?” Ross asked at the same time.

“I went around the building to grab a smoke.” He glanced at Smoke whose jaw clenched. “ I looked up and he was in my face. He started talking shit, grabbed my ass pulled me close and kissed me.” Disgust dripped from his words. “Bastard had a hard-on and rubbed up on me before trying to take me to his truck. I kicked and pushed his ass ‘til he dropped me, hit him with a rock and ran back here.”

Smoke and Ross stared, lips tight.

“Did you say he was on our property?” Ross’s voice was silky smooth. Winston swallowed hard and nodded. Ross spun out the room, slamming the door so hard it bounced open. Smoke closed it gently and motioned for Winston to sit down. He sat in the chair in front of his brother.

“I’m sorry you went through that. No man or woman should ever be touched against his or her will. There’s a prison not far from here and a lot of ex-cons live between Lapeer and Flint. Well, since most of the prisons are in southern Michigan, there’s a lot of ex-cons in this area.” He inhaled. “A lot of men become involved with men in prison. Some want it, others are raped.”

Winston closed his eyes.

“I should’a been watching out for you better than that and I'm sorry. You’re blood and this bullshit has to stop. That was a low blow, but I’ll take care of it.” He placed his hand on Winston’s shoulder. “I promise I’ll get that bitch.”

Winston nodded.

“Now tell me in detail everything that happened and don’t leave anything out.” Winston looked at Smoke and sighed.

Chapter 15

“Yeah, I meant to remind you that I have a meeting with my old Advisor today.” Cherise sounded excited. Ross’s stomach plummeted. “Lenore will be at daycare and Denise will pick her up when she picks up her girls if I'm running late.” Ross stared at Cherise as she put the finishing touches to her makeup.

He'd forgotten about her luncheon. So many things had been happening with the business, and Smoke's disappearance. A knot of fear took root in his stomach. He didn't want her to travel that far without him, but guilt weighed on him already. She'd graduated with her Masters in Education not too long ago and the only child she worked with was his. This was a temporary arrangement, just until Lenore, his four-year-old daughter, adjusted to living with him. He'd gained custody of her this year after her mother was murdered. Cherise never complained, he wanted to believe she was happy, content not working in her chosen field right now. But the happiness radiating off her in anticipation of this meeting made him wonder how selfish he'd been. He swallowed the lump in his throat, knowing he wouldn't overtly object despite his reservations.

***

“Hi Ms. Adams, it’s good to see you” Cherise spoke to her Advisor and nodded at her former classmates who also sat at the table. The moment after she had accepted this invitation, she regretted it. In truth, she had little interest in keeping in touch with the small-minded people she had gone to school with. Her immediate thought had been a free day from the house with intelligent adult conversation. Boy, had she been wrong. Talking with Lenore had more substance than the “my-job’s-better-than-yours” prattle at the table. The choice was simple, either she excused herself, or she’d lapse into a screaming babble that would put a room full of cranky toddlers to shame.

Her dry lips hurt from forcing the corners to tilt upward into what she hoped were a smile. “Excuse me, please.” In her haste, the cloth napkin flew upward from her lap in a cloud of surrender and hit the ground. She streaked, without a backward glance, to the bathroom. Once inside, she leaned against the door and breathed deeply. Big mistake. Someone had been sick or something had died. Opening the door, she stuck her head out and inhaled. The sound of male laughter came toward her, she pulled back. With the door cracked, she leaned against the wall, waiting for them to pass so she could breathe fresh air.

“I assure you, Mr. Birch, we will have that addition taken care of within eight weeks at the latest. You know we offer a guarantee, so you don’t have to worry,” the deep voice said in a confident manner.

“Yes, I have heard a lot of good things about your company from both building inspectors and a few people you’ve built homes for. I like what I’ve seen and as soon as my attorney is finished looking over the contract, I’ll sign it and send it overnight to your office.”

“Great, sounds good. You have my card with all the mailing information, right?”

“Yes, I have it right here, somewhere. Here it is, Three X Construction …”

After a moment of stunned silence, Cherise tore out of the restroom searching for the owner of the voice. The one who stole from Ross’s company. “Son of bitch,” she muttered, surprising a server.

The woman moved speedily away, frowning the entire time. For a brief second, Cherise toyed with the idea of apologizing, but trashed it the moment she saw an older man stick a card into his pocket. The younger man clapped him on his shoulder, escorting him out the door. She stopped and turned her back, when the young man glanced backwards.

“Cherise, Cherise…” her Advisor called, waving in her direction. A quick glance told her the men had left the building. Holding up a finger to the woman, she walked towards one of the windows facing the parking lot. She needed to be able to describe this guy to Ross. A spurt of energy shot through her. Ross! She dug through her purse and let loose a curse while gazing at her phone and the caller ID panel.

“Shit! I missed his call.” She punched a button, waited and watched the parking lot while it dialed. The two men stood talking in the parking lot for a minute. “Get a description, girl,” she murmured, moving to another window for a better look.

“Ross! Thank goodness. Listen, I’m still at the restaurant and guess what happened?”

“No guessing, Cherise, just tell me.” His dry tone reminded her of all the bullshit going on at the office. Well this would definitely make his day. She inhaled.

“I heard a man making a deal for Three X Construction. In fact, they are standing in the parking lot talking right now. No, wait a minute….” She changed windows for a better look. “The older guy is getting into his car–a Mercedes, I think. And the younger one, the one who made the deal, he’s headed…oh shit, he’s coming back into the restaurant! Hold on, let me get to my table before he sees me!”

“Cherise, Cherise…”

She could hear Ross calling her name, but needed to be seated at the table first. One of the women picked up her purse and briefcase. “You’re not leaving, are you?” Cherise asked, shoving her hand with the opened phone underneath the table.

“Yes, I wanted to get home before it got dark. I’m headed for Detroit. It’s a long drive.”

“That’s why I called out to you earlier, Cherise,” her Advisor said, picking up a slip of paper and handing it to her. “Here’s your bill, everyone is ready to leave, if you can take care of it, we will be on our way.”

Cherise took the paper and pretended to be studying it as she peripherally watched the man pass the table. She felt, more than saw, him glance in her direction. “Where is your tab?” she asked the older woman. “I want to pay for your lunch, my way of saying thanks for taking the time to get us all together today.” As stall tactics went, Cherise thought it to be fair.