Betrayed (23 page)

Sheila placed her hands on top of Victor's. “I don't feel good, Victor. My stomach is rumbling and if I don't get up, I might throw up.” Sheila grabbed her stomach. “I've got to go to the bathroom.”

Victor looked at her. “Damn, girl, I was almost there. Now, I've got to find some other way to get rid of this hard-on. You arouse me to no end, Sheila, with that fine body of yours.”

“I've got to go to the bathroom.”

Victor rolled his body to the side and let Sheila up as she fled to the bathroom. On her way in, she reached for her cell phone. Once in the bathroom, she sent a text and heaved a sigh of relief when she received a reply. She made an awful noise like she was throwing up, flushed the toilet, washed her hands, and went back to the living room to face Victor.

“Baby, let's call it a night,” Sheila said, using every bit of tact to get rid of him.

“I know you don't feel good. Why don't you let me lie with you for a while? I won't try anything.”

Sheila sighed. “Victor, all I want to do is go to sleep.”

“Just a few minutes,” Victor begged.

Victor laced his arms around Sheila's belly as he held her close, bunched up on the sofa. Sheila's face was twisted in a nasty scowl. She lay like a limp doll in Victor's arms, but sat up at the abrupt ringing of the phone.

Victor pulled out his BlackBerry and saw that Trevor was calling. He started to ignore it but pushed the green icon and spoke into the phone. “What is it, Trevor?”

“Dad, some guys…detectives, came to the house looking for you.”

Victor pushed Sheila aside and brought both feet to the floor. “What did they want?”

“They wanted to talk to you. They wouldn't say what it was about. They asked if they could sit until you returned, but I told them no.”

“Good. Did you get their names? Maybe I'll try and contact them.”

“The black dude's name was Ernest Marshall and the white dude's name was Bryan Samuels.”

“Thanks.”

Victor ended the call. “Look, Sheila. I've got to run. My son called. Some old friends of mine got into town and are trying to catch up with me. Another day. I hope you feel better.”

“You do care.”

“Yeah.” Victor paused, reached in his pocket, and pulled out the gun. “Look, you can put this away. I don't need it. I've changed my mind about what I was going to do with it.”

Sheila looked at him strange. “A few days ago you acted like your world was about to cave in and you had to teach somebody a lesson. Give it here; I'll put it away. Thanks for understanding, Victor. I'm going to crawl in bed as soon as I close the door.”

“Yeah.” He reached down and kissed Sheila lightly on the lips. “I'm out.”

“We interrupt this program for a breaking news story,” the announcer said.

Trevor pulled his feet off the coffee table and sat up straight on the leather couch.

“Good evening. We have an update on the breaking news story we brought to you earlier this evening. There has been a new lead in the shooting of student Afrika Nicole Bailey this afternoon on the campus of North Carolina Central University. Ms. Bailey, who is a cheerleader at NC Central, was preparing to leave the stadium after the Eagles' win today. As the crowd dispersed, a shot rang out and a stray bullet hit Ms. Bailey in the back, narrowly missing her heart. We understand that Ms. Bailey is now in recovery after a four-and-a-half-hour surgery at Duke University Medical Center.

“An unlikely source provided information that has led this investigation to someone of possible interest along with a possible motive. The local sheriff's office has declined to provide the media with the identity of this person of special interest at this time.

“Tune into WTVD eleven o'clock news for more of this story. I'm Charlotte Wilson, reporting to you live for WTVD News.”

“I wonder who the person of interest is?” Trevor said out loud to no one. He picked up his cell phone and dialed.

“Hey, Trevor,” Brenda said in a low voice.

“Hey, Mom. I hear Afrika is in recovery.”

“Yes, they've stabilized her, but she's a long way from being out of the woods. Poor Mimi.”

“Mom, the news reporter said a few minutes ago that they have a lead as to who may have shot Afrika.”

Silence. Then Brenda spoke. “What did they say exactly?”

“That a source tipped the police off but they're not saying who it is.”

“I pray that whomever did this will turn themselves in.”

“Mom…”

“What is it, Trevor?”

“Some detectives came to the house looking for Dad. Said they needed to talk to him. They missed him by fifteen minutes, and that was about two hours ago. Dad told me to tell you he'd be back shortly.”

“Does your dad know that these detectives came by?”

“Yes. I finally caught up with him on his cell phone.”

“Thanks for sharing with me. Only your father can tell us what that's all about. I'll be home soon. I didn't want Mimi to be alone.”

“Is Asia coming with you?”

“No, she and the other girls went back to the dorm. The cheerleading coach is going to stay with them for the rest of the weekend. The university is probably more secure than it has ever been. Let me get off of the phone; Mimi is calling me.”

“Okay, Mom. I'll see you later.”

Brenda walked to where Mimi and John were sitting.

“Have they found Victor?” Mimi asked.

“Not yet,” Brenda said with tears in her eyes. “Not yet.”

“My baby is lying in that room helpless. Why did this have to happen to her?” Mimi wailed. “Why, God? Why my baby?”

“She's going to be all right, Mimi,” John said assuredly, as he
rubbed her back. “I'll be back. I'm going to get you and Brenda some coffee.”

“Okay,” was all Mimi could say.

When John was out of earshot, Brenda sat next to Mimi and rubbed her arm. “That was Trevor on the phone. He said that detectives had been to the house looking for Victor, but he wasn't home. Maybe we can get some answers soon.”

Through her tears, Mimi faced Brenda. “Thank you, friend. I know it was difficult for you to give up Victor's name like that. I'd do it for you. But if Victor did do this…tried to kill Afrika, he has to be punished.”

Brenda looked away, not wanting Mimi to see the tears that were falling for her family. Yes, it was somewhat dysfunctional, but it was a home—four people cohabitating under the same roof. It was a proud moment when Asia had graduated from high school and then set foot on a college campus, preparing for life beyond Victor and her. Now there wasn't any sunshine, only dark clouds, and she wanted to see the sun again.

“You're right, Mimi. That's why I had to tell you.”

H
aze clouded the afternoon sky, but there was a sign that the sun would break through at any moment. Mimi pulled back from the window and crossed over to where Afrika lay sleeping and brushed her hair with her hand. Like a person examining a beautiful piece of art, Mimi moved from Afrika's hair and gently rubbed the hand that held the needle that supported the IV drip—the tube running from the needle to the clear plastic bag that contained an assortment of medicines.

Drip, drip, drip, drip. Mimi watched the IV as if it contained healing power. Afrika looked like a sleeping princess in the small steel-framed bed, lying on her side. Mimi wanted to scoop Afrika up and place her in her old room that was bright, alive, and painted in bold pink and red colors; full of posters of her favorite actor and singing groups; filled with her teen drama books that had become real popular; filled to capacity with overstuffed pink and red pillows that matched her comforter…to get her away from the pain the hospital represented. Dr. Daniels said the surgery was successful, but Afrika was still in a critical zone. The bullet deflected off a bone in the vertebrae and that most likely kept it from going into her heart. The possibility of infection or pneumonia could set in, but Afrika was young and otherwise healthy, and the doctors counted on that scenario to help in her fight for survival.

Mimi walked to the chair that sat next to the wall, got on her
knees, and began to pray. She prayed for a miracle. She prayed that God would make her daughter well. She prayed for Brenda who'd been with her through the night but had finally conceded to go home at Mimi's urging so that she could get some rest. Brenda was afraid to go home, but it was where she needed to be. Mimi thanked God for reuniting her friendship with John who had been a great support during the past week. Finally, she prayed for her husband, Raphael, that he would have safe passage to her and Afrika and that she would see him soon.

She felt something. Mimi flinched and realized she'd fallen asleep while on her knees. She turned and looked up into familiar eyes with Dr. Daniels standing directly behind. His rugged good looks, still dressed in his Army dress greens, were a sight for sore eyes. Mimi's surprise turned to joy as she got up from her knees and fell into Raphael's waiting arms, nearly knocking him down along with his suitcase. He looked worn but Mimi knew the smile was all for her. She planted kisses on his lips.

“Hey, baby,” Raphael said, pointing his eyes in the direction of the doctor standing behind him. “Fell asleep on your knees, huh?”

“I was not only praying for Afrika but for this moment. Thank God you're here.”

“Why don't I give you a few minutes to catch up and then come back?” Dr. Daniels said.

“No, no,” Raphael said. “We need you. You're going to help our daughter get well. We'll move out of the way.”

Everyone managed a light laugh.

Dr. Daniels went to Afrika's bedside after lifting her chart from its holder at the foot of the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted Afrika's eyelids. She began to stir. A smile crossed Dr. Daniels face as Afrika tried to focus, opening one eyelid at a time.

“Hello, Afrika,” Dr. Daniels said.

Mimi and Raphael rushed to Afrika's bedside. Smiles of joy and happiness pushed to the north and south of their faces.

“Hey, baby,” Mimi said, as she and Raphael stood on the other side of the bed.

“Hey, sweetie,” Raphael said and gave her a big wink.

Afrika looked at everyone and tried to smile. She was groggy but managed to say, “Hey.”

Dr. Daniels checked Afrika's vitals again and took a look at her wound site. Mimi turned her head; she couldn't stand to see the place where the savage assault had taken place.

“We took out a nine millimeter bullet from her back that was lodged in her vertebrae. Our hope is that she's only temporarily paralyzed,” Dr. Daniels said, turning around to look at a frightened Mimi.

Mimi's hands went to her face. “Does that mean she won't be able to walk again?” Mimi asked with alarm in her voice.

“We hope that isn't the case, Mrs. Bailey. As I told you last evening, we're fortunate that the bone was the shield that kept the bullet from hitting her internal organs. She wouldn't be with us now.”

“I'm hungry,” Afrika whispered.

All attention was directed back to Afrika. Mimi smiled but internally she was a broken down mess.

“We're going to see if we can't get you some food now,” Dr. Daniels said. “You slept through breakfast and lunch.”

“Mommy, Daddy,” Afrika said, her voice hardly audible. Afrika tried to lift her arm. “It hurts.”

Raphael sat down on the bed as Dr. Daniels got up. He gave Afrika a kiss on the cheek. “Don't worry about trying to do everything all at once.”

Afrika smiled.

That's what Mimi loved about Raf. He could make you laugh
when you were sad. He could turn a total disaster into a thing of beauty. Yes, she loved this man. She was glad he was home.

“Mommy.”

“Yes, baby, I'm here.” Mimi leaned down and kissed Afrika on the other cheek. “My baby's going to be all right.”

“I will when I get some food.”

They laughed.

“Someone should be up with some food for Afrika in a few minutes,” Dr. Daniels said. “I think they were about to make the evening rounds anyway. I'll be back before I leave the hospital to check on her.”

“Thanks, Dr. Daniels,” Mimi said.

Mimi and Raphael joined hands and rubbed Afrika's face with their free hand.

“Tell me what happened,” Afrika whispered. “I was getting my things to leave the stadium and now I'm all bandaged up in a hospital.”

“It's a long story, Afrika,” Mimi said. “A stray bullet hit you in the back. The police haven't apprehended anyone yet, but I'm sure they'll catch someone soon.”

“But why…oohhhh…me,” Afrika managed to say.

“Enough talking,” Raphael said. “Lie still for awhile. You need to rest.”

“Okay. I'm a little tired.”

“We aren't going anywhere,” Mimi said.

Afrika lay still and, within a few minutes, dozed off to sleep. Mimi and Raf left the room and stood in front of the door.

“I'm going to get the son-of-a-bitch who did this. They've been walking around free a minute too long.”

“We all feel that way, baby, but you've got to calm down.”

Raphael paced the floor. “Did you see my baby in there, Mimi?
The doctor said she may be paralyzed. For how long…two weeks, two months, two years? I can't stand idly by knowing that some human animal is loose on the streets who guns down innocent children. Lord give me strength.”

“The police have a person of interest they'd like to find and interview.”

“A person of interest? Who is it? They should've caught the son-of-a-gun by now. I've watched grown men gunned down in the heat of war, but an innocent child. My God, Mimi, what has this world come to?”

“I know, Raf. I'm scared, too. Let's go back in the room. Everyone is looking at us.”