Night of Seduction (37 page)

“Ty, will do. I
believe in loyalty and trust from my employees. Clean up your act.
Investigation is a career based on intelligence and dignity. The
next time our path
’
s cross I want to be
able to say:
“
That
’
s a good man. I trust
him with my life.
”

Roy held out
his hand,
“
Thank you for the
opportunity to work with you.
”
Ty shook his hand
and stepped out of the van. The towers followed him.
“
Hey you guys not staying with me?
”

“You
’
re going to miss us
aren
’
t you?
”
Tower number two smiled.

“Hell no. Both
of you are intimidating as hell.
”

“Good, then we
did our job.
”
Number one replied.
“
Listen if I were you I would use that money to close up
shop and change your phone numbers.
”

“Yeah,
”
tower number one added.
“
When girlfriend finds out you gave her a dummy DVD,
she
’
s going to be looking for you.
”

“Thanks for the
advice,
”
Roy stepped out of the van and shook both of
their hands.
“
Take
care.
”

Ty and the towers pulled off. The off duty
officer drove away in the van and Roy climbed into his 1991 Ford,
pulled off and drove straight to a car dealership.

When Ty placed
the disc in Eric
’
s hand, a profound
sense of relief washed over his body. Taking a moment, he said a
silent prayer thanking God this was no longer an issue. Now he had
a personal dilemma
—
keep the disc as a
reminder of that night or destroy it
—
guaranteeing
Siri
’
s protection. Normally the answer would be
clear
—
destroy the disc. But what would happen if Siri never
gave him another chance.
“
Are you sure this is
the only copy?
”
he asked Ty.

“Yes. Latoya
attempted to make a copy at the exchange, but Roy caught it, before
it really got started.
”

Jason shook
Ty
’
s hand.
“
Man, you never cease
to amaze me. You actually pulled this off.
”

“This part
worked. When Latoya plays the DVD that she has, it will look like
the real thing for the first five minutes. If she does the search
thing, well, we
’
re screwed on the
next step. But if she doesn
’
t and I
don
’
t think she will, then Eric you take center stage. No
matter what she says, you can
’
t lose your cool.
You
’
ve got to play it through.
”

“I
’
ll make Ossie Davis
proud. How do I destroy this?
”

Ty looked at
Eric,
“
Are you sure you want to? There is nothing wrong
with keeping the video of you and the woman you
love.
”

“That night is
etched in my mind. I don
’
t need
this.
”

Ty looked at
Jason, who looked at Eric.
“
You could put it in
your computer, select all and hit delete,
”
Jason
offered.

“No. That
works, but it
’
s no guarantee. To
ensure the information is never restored, put it in the
microwave.
”
Eric and Jason looked at him with
doubtful eyes. He laughed.
“
I
’
m telling
you. Put it in the microwave for ten seconds, let it cool off, and
then shred it. No information will be recovered from the
disc.
”
Still seeing doubt in their eyes, Ty took the
disc from Eric,
“
You are sure about
this?
”
Eric nodded.
“
Okay,
”
Ty put the disc inside the microwave
in the studio for ten seconds, and then opened the door.
“
Let it cool off and then we
’
ll put it in the
shredder. That disc will never be viewed again.
”

Eric smiled and
nodded his appreciation.
“
Will you admit I
kicked your butt the other day?
”

“Never,
”
Ty said as he sat down and laid his
head back against the chair.
“
You two have taken
five years off my life in just four days
—
all over women.
How can you do this to a brother? Haven
’
t I been good to
you? Haven
’
t I had your back no
matter what? Why you got to take a brother through all of this
over
—
women.?
”

Jason who was
sitting next to Eric at the console just shook his head.
“
He don
’
t know. He has no
idea what is in store for him. Now, we can sit here and try to
explain it
—
but he
won
’
t get it until it happens to him.
”

“We should try.
Here listen to this.
”
Eric pulled a CD out and put it in
the stereo. Luther Vandross
’
smooth voice came
through the speakers singing, If This World Were Mine. Jason smiled
and gave Eric a pound.
“
Just listen to the
lyrics,
”
Eric began singing.

From the
doorway, Miriam and Gabby stood with Sierra in tow. Miriam walked
in and began singing Cheryl Lynn
’
s verse. Eric reached
over and pushed the record button. Sierra quietly walked into her
father
’
s arms. Gabby took a seat near the
door.

After the song
was over, Sierra looked at her father and he nodded his head. She
began clapping.
“
Thank you
baby,
”
Miriam smiled.
“
Why are men in here
listening to Luther?
”

“We were
attempting to explain to Ty why he has spent the last four days
dealing with us and our women.
”

“You are
playing the wrong song and wrong duo.
”
Gabby said as she
crossed her legs.

Eric looked at
her.
“
Who is better than Luther and
Cheryl?
”

“The
original
—
Marvin and Tammi
—
Your Precious
Love.
”

Jason sat
Sierra in Gabby
’
s lap.
“
I got this one.
”
He began singing
Marvin
’
s part as Miriam did Tammi
’
s
verse.

When they
finished, Ty stood, walked over to the CD collection, and pulled
out a disc. He handed it over to Eric, who just looked up at him
and shook his head. Ty removed his jacket and began singing and
dancing to The Commodores, Brick House. Everyone laughed, but
eventually got up and started dancing with him, including Sierra.
Afterwards, they all sat down and began talking.
“
It doesn
’
t matter what you use
to explain it, he will not understand until it
happens,
”
Miriam stated.

“That
’
s exactly what I just
said.
”
Jason laughed.
“
When you find the
right woman, you will know. There is no amount of money, no bond
with your boys, or love for your family that will keep you
away.
”

“You should
know, you just paid out a healthy sum,
”
Ty
joked.

“And would do
it again to have TeKaya in my life.
”

Eric
smiled.
“
If anyone came to me and offered Siri for every
dime I have, I would gladly hand it over without a second thought.
For I know my life will be richer with her in it, than
without.
”

No one said
anything for a few minutes.
“
What can I do to
help?
”
Ty asked.

Eric shrugged
his shoulders.
“
No one can do
anything at this time. Siri has to come to the realization that she
is running from her destiny.
”

Jason
sighed,
“
You could do something for me.
”

“You got
TeKaya, what more do you want?
”
Ty
laughed.

“I want you to
be at the wedding on Saturday
—
you too,
Gabby.
”

Ty shook his
head.
“
I don
’
t do
weddings.
”

“Well
you
’
re doing this one,
”
Miriam said with a
tone that left no room for debates.

“Yes
ma
’
am.
”
Ty replied as Jason and Eric
laughed.

♫

The house
seemed big and empty now that most of Jason
’
s things had
been moved out. Latoya
’
s telephone calls
were not being returned as quickly as before from friends. The
calls for interviews from the media were none existent now. Adrian
had not retuned her calls, and for the first time in three years,
her hairstylist cancelled her appointment. She had to use a C line
stylist to get her hair done. Of course, she had her come to the
house, there was no way she was going to be seen in that part of
town.

This could all
be her imagination, after all, it was just Wednesday, five days
after the world was placed at her feet. Suddenly
Ty
’
s words came back at her. Do you think they will
welcome you with open arms? Shaking it off, she said,
“
Maybe it
’
s time to find
out.
”

Going into her
room, she opened the closet and walked through.
“
What do
you wear to demand notice and respect at the same
time?
”
She pulled out a black, jewel neckline, straight
skirt, satin dress, which fell right above her knees with black,
three-inch pumps. She smiled, quite pleased with her find.
“
This should do it.
”

Deciding to
make her debut at one of Jason
’
s favorite spots, she
pulled into valet parking. The valet was immediately opening the
door to her, straight off the showroom floor, Mercedes convertible.
Of course, it was September, but the weather had not taken a
drastic change. So the top being down with her hair blowing in the
wind was not too dramatic. She thought as she walked over to the
VIP door where she always entered and was immediately allowed
access. She looked over her shoulder at the line of people waiting
to enter and smirked.

The
traditional,
“
yes
I
’
m here,
”
walk around was in order. So, she
took her clutch bag from under her arms and took a leisurely stroll
around the club. Yes, the men were looking, women were
glaring
—
they were jealous. She waived at one or two
people she recognized, but they were busy talking. After taking her
stroll, Latoya walked over to the bar.

“Good evening.
What can I get for you?
”
The bartender
asked.

“Bacardi
Cocktail
—
top shelf.
”

“Coming
up.
”

Latoya
smiled.
“
Thank you.
”
She replied then
turned her back to the bar and checked out who was in the place. A
well dressed, well built man came from the far end of the bar and
stood next to her.