Pretty Dangerous (27 page)

Edselle squinted against the sunshine for a
few seconds. He nodded to a couple, who said hello and scurried by.
Then he carefully removed his own designer sunglasses from an
inside jacket pocket. He gestured for them to walk along farther
from the entrance instead of answering right away. They reached the
edge of the shade before going into the full blast of hot late
spring day.

“The police like cases to be simple. We just
complicated their jobs. But at the end of the day, following all
leads is their job.”

“Excuse me if I don’t feel bad for them. The
easy way meant arresting me. No thanks. Let them be frustrated as
hell for a little bit.” MiMi slung the strap of her purse over one
shoulder.

“They’ll get over it, trust me. Those two
love tracking down clues. I have no guarantees, but I don’t think
you have to worry about being a murder suspect. They’ll probably
tell the DA pretty much what I just told them. They’re back to the
starting line instead of closing their case.” Edselle took out the
keys to his BMW sedan.

“I’ll be sobbing into my pillow all night
about how hard I made their jobs,” MiMi retorted.

Edselle laughed as he walked MiMi to her
Lexus SUV.

****

That evening MiMi was stunned to find her
father standing at her front door. He’d been the last person she
expected to see when the chimes sounded and she peeked outside.
Even in early May the light lingered until after seven o’clock in
the evening. Drexel James Landry, Jr. stood looking quite handsome
for man closing in on sixty-two. He wore his expensive tan cotton
knit shirt and slacks well. Only a slight bulge at the waist hinted
that he was getting the typical older man gut. He played golf and
tennis to keep fit.

“This is a surprise. How are you?” MiMi said
and waved him inside with her free hand. Sage perched on her
opposite hip.

Her father pecked the toddler on one velvet
cheek as he passed by. “My baby girl is pretty as spring day.”
Without waiting he headed into the kitchen.

“Yeah, make yourself at home,” MiMi whispered
softly as she followed him. Sage replied with baby chatter,
reminding MiMi that she’d be talking soon. She’d have to get in the
habit of watching what she said.

“You’ve redecorated. The place looks
wonderful.” He sat down on a comfortable stool at the breakfast
bar. He smoothed a hand over the granite counter surface. Then he
looked across the open floor plan at the den. “Very tasteful. Did
Adrienne help you decorate?”

“Believe it or not I was able to create my
own interior without Adrienne. In fact I live day to day without
asking anyone to hold my hand.”

“Don’t be so touchy, I only meant your sister
has a knack for decorating. That’s all.” Drexel spread his hand
out.

“Yes, she’s sheer perfection. Did you come
over to sing her praises, or is there another point to this visit?”
MiMi made sure Sage’s favorite toys were within her easy reach
before she faced him.

“I came to see how you’re holding up, and
check on my grandchild. I fail to see why that’s such a surprise,”
her father replied in a mild tone. “Yes, a cup of coffee would be
great. Thanks.”

MiMi bit back another tart comment as guilt
pricked her. “Sorry. Fixing a pot won’t take long.”

Neither of them spoke for a few minutes as
MiMi poured filtered water into the well of the fancy coffee maker.
Her father picked up the remote and turned on the television across
the room on the wall. He watched with the sound low while MiMi
finished. Seconds later the smell of a gourmet Louisiana blend
floated around them. The faint scent of cinnamon, the remains of
dinner, and coffee brewing created a feeling of warmth. Sage
continued baby speak across the room as she played. Drexel crossed
over and patted her head. His granddaughter looked up at him
briefly, and continued to play.

“I think she has my mother’s eyes. At least I
think so,” he said with satisfaction and sat down again. He muted
the television. “So the police have other leads. I’m glad you won’t
have to deal with their questions.”

“How do you... Right, never mind.” MiMi
didn’t need to ask since her father ‘knew people’. “Of course you
have the latest on the investigation.”

“Nothing the police won’t release if
reporters ask. You’ve had excellent legal advice obviously.” Drexel
fingered the television remote.

MiMi set up the creamer, sugar and a cup on
the counter. “Yes, and help from my friends.”

“Hmm. Though I wish you’d consulted me before
talking to those detectives. I’m sure Roderick’s business dealings
had nothing to do with his murder. I could have told you as much.”
Drexel looked at MiMi.

“Then the police will find out when they
investigate. In the meantime they’re not warming up a cell for me,”
MiMi replied evenly.

“Of course I’m happy you’ve been eliminated
as a suspect. I’m just concerned about how they’ll treat our
colleagues in the DR. Business culture is different in other
countries. What we might think of as... out of the ordinary is just
a different way of doing things. You see what I mean?” Drexel
rested his elbows on the counter.

“No, I don’t. You’re going to have to be a
tiny bit more direct, Daddy.” MiMi poured coffee for him.

Her father fastidiously poured cream until
the coffee turned a rich mocha color. He stirred once with a spoon,
sipped and put the cup down. “Quentin and I are working with them
on a deal that could be very lucrative.”

“Roddy’s father is still willing to cut deals
with them? These people are suspects in his death. Unless you
haven’t told him,” MiMi added.

“Roderick may have made a mistake in that
mineral import arrangement. And believe me his father let him know
it.” Drexel shook a forefinger in the air. “I put it down to being
rash, not thinking in the long term. Black business owners are shut
out of the competition in subtle ways. I’ve always told you
that.”

“Yes.” MiMi hoped he wasn’t about to go off
on one of his favorite rants again. She knew it well. “I don’t see
what that has to do with Roddy’s murder.”

“Black entrepreneurs with foresight, the ones
who’ve done their homework, are thinking global. We’re leveraging
overseas partnerships with people who look like us. We’re on the
verge of making a break through to leverage international
partnerships. We’ve built solid relationships and established
credibility as serious contenders with the right resources.”

“So Mr. Jefferson agrees with you,” MiMi
said, pressing the point.

He picked up his cup again. “He’ll come
around. Naturally he’s grieving now. The point is, before you make
another move, check with me.”

“You come into my house for the first time
and...”

Drexel glanced around and then looked at
MiMi. “You moved in here like a kept woman. At least your sister
found her own husband. You ran around with Jack Crown of all
people. His father is a fool. Another Black politician who got
caught red handed. Your mother can’t stand the wife either.”

“Jack was good to me. By the way, the Landry
family can’t throw stones, Daddy,” MiMi clipped.

“At least he had more brains than his father.
Humph, must have skipped a generation. You didn’t even wait until
the man was actually divorced. Use your head next time,” Drexel
replied.

“Like with Roddy? As I recall you and Mother
thought he was the perfect catch.” MiMi gave a snort.

“He had his faults, but he knew his family
business well. More importantly, Roderick was willing to overlook
your past.”

“You... I can’t believe this.” MiMi bit off
the stream of cuss words that almost came out. “Roddy is the reason
I ended up in prison.”

Her father seemed to ignore the truth.
“Roderick would have talked you both out of the situation, but as
usual you acted on impulse.” Drexel heaved a sigh. “I don’t want to
fight with you, MiMi. What we built, the effort we made for over a
year has the potential to make our company a lot of money, not just
in the immediate future. I’m looking ahead. These men have access
to more mining firms, imports goods. No more begging for minority
set asides or taking insults that the only reason we have business
is because of affirmative action. Damn bigots.”

“You, you, you. Adrienne didn’t fall far from
the tree. You probably could care less if I end up in prison. Just
like you don’t care that Adrienne is trying to destroy my family.”
MiMi’s voice trembled despite her efforts to not get emotional.

“You benefit very much from what I worked to
provide young lady. As for Adrienne, your sister is trying to give
your child a good life. You keep getting into scandals and sketchy
situations with those so-called friends of yours. I mean Jack
Crown’s estranged wife and her jailbird stripper sister.” Drexel
pushed the coffee cup away as he gave a grunt of disgust.

MiMi came around the counter. “Get out of my
house. Now.”

“Think carefully before you burn this bridge.
I helped maintain this house, make life very comfortable for you.
Your friends can’t bankroll a fancy lifestyle ,” Drexel
rumbled.

“I’ll work three minimum wage jobs before I
take another dirty dime from you,” MiMi said, shaking with the
effort not to scream and frighten Sage. “I mean it. Get the hell
out of my house.”

Drexel stood slowly. “I won’t easily forgive
you speaking to me like this, MiMi. I’m your father and I demand
respect.”

“You haven’t earned it, not with money. Oh,
and I’ll tell the police anything they want to know. Goodbye.” MiMi
glared at him.

“Okay then. As of right now you’re on your
own.”

Drexel went to Sage and patted her on the
head. He frowned at MiMi once more before he strolled from the
kitchen. MiMi followed him to the front door, fists balled tight at
her side. Her father turned as if to say something, but stopped.
Something in her eyes must have changed his mind. He undid the
locks, pulled open the door and went to his shiny black Mercedes GL
SUV. Once the door slammed shut, MiMi shook with the strength it
took not to fall apart. Somehow she managed to play with Sage, give
her a bath and put her to bed. Yet the toddler became fretful as
though she’d picked up on the tension. When she finally tucked Sage
in for the night, MiMi stumbled to her bedroom. She spent the night
crying into her pillow.

MiMi and Jazz sat on Willa’s patio, the only
space she’d let Jazz smoke. All three friends were dressed in
T-shirts, Capri slacks and sandals. The kids were busily working
off the hot dogs and chips they’d wolfed down. Sage romped around
with Mikayla on the back lawn. After a time they settled on the
grass to make a flower necklace. In a rare concession to family
time for a teenager, Anthony was at home. He was playing a pick-up
basketball game with a couple of friends on the wide driveway. No
doubt generous helpings of food had played a part in his decision.
The sounds of the bouncing ball could be heard on the other side of
the wooden fence. Willa returned from the kitchen with refills of
her special strawberry lemonade. The lovely spring Saturday
afternoon should have been a happy time.

Jazz sucked on her cigarillo and blew smoke
above her head. “I still say you should let me whip Adrienne’s ass.
Add your daddy to the list.”

“Nah. Besides, daddy might be old, but he’s
tough as a pitbull.” MiMi tried to make a joke of it and failed.
Miserably. She wanted to cry because after all those years he could
still hurt her.

“Nobody is whipping anybody’s,” Willa
snapped. Still holding the tray with tall glasses, she stared down
at Jazz. “Especially not anybody’s daddy.”

“I’m just kiddin’ around.” Jazz shrugged.

“Uh-huh, make sure you keep it that way.”
Willa put the tray on the round table and sat down.

“Your family is bat shit crazy,” Jazz
muttered.

“Watch your language. The kids might hear
you,” Willa said as if by reflex.

“Not way over there. Relax your butt
muscles.”

“They reached a new level of low down,” MiMi
said, for once not noticing Jazz’s language. “Crazy is only half of
it.”

“The best thing we can do is make sure our
kids don’t go through the same kind of craziness,” Willa said.

“I’ll drink to that,” MiMi replied.

The three women raised their glass, tapped
them in a toast, and drank in unison. For a few moments they sat in
silence watching and listening to the children at play. The cool
morning had given way to warm weather in the upper seventies. The
birds flew against the clear blue skies and a few white clouds.
Giggling, Sage jumped up to run around holding a long string of
flowers with Mikayla in hot pursuit.

“I won’t let my parents make Sage feel like a
second hand dress. And Adrienne? She mostly wants to take something
from me. Having a pretty little girl to create her ‘picture
perfect’ family is a bonus.” MiMi picked up her lemonade glass,
suddenly wishing she could swig something a lot stronger.

“Hey, you’ve pulled the teeth out of her
custody case. You’re not a suspect for Roderick’s murder, well not
their best one anyway,” Jazz said.

MiMi sighed. “Adrienne has plenty of
ammunition left. I’m still connected to two murders. As for my job?
Let’s just say I’m hanging onto it by a thin thread. Kelly would
love nothing more than to cut me loose.”

Willa shook her head. “Hey, you have to look
at the positives. Edselle says mud slinging won’t hold up in court.
He’s got the transcripts from the Dominican court, which shows you
didn’t even know about the drug deal. You fully cooperated with the
Baton Rouge detectives, which resulted in a promising lead to real
suspects.”

“Now if we could just take some shine off
your sister’s solid citizen, loving wife and mama image...” Jazz
squinted as if coming up with ideas.