Soulful Strut (8 page)

“Mandatory sentences mean certain federal and
state drug charges leave the judge no choice. If a defendant is
convicted, the law mandates certain very harsh sentences. This is
an example of a good intent that has had very negative results. The
problem is plea deals are routinely offered to some of the worst
offenders, who then lie in order to get less jail time. The result
is they point the finger at others who may not have committed the
crime at all. That’s what happened in Monette’s case.” Jim scowled
as though he were back in court arguing before judges.

“Okay, so that brings us back to our topic.
What’s the answer? We don’t want innocent folks in prison, but the
drug problem is ripping apart families and communities. Our callers
have been very patient. Let’s hit the phones.” Monette pressed one
of the phone buttons. “Caller, what have you got to say?”

For the next few minutes Monette and Jim
answered questions from the audience. To Monette’s great relief a
lot of people called to voice opinions or ask questions. A few of
them even talked about relatives serving time and wanted Jim to
take their cases. Monette reluctantly took another commercial
break. She was actually beginning to enjoy herself. Based on this
start, Monette began to see her show as more than just a PR gimmick
to sell her books. Hot Topic could make a difference, maybe even
change lives. When Irvin pointed to the large digital clock on the
wall, Monette hated to stop.

“Well, y’all, my producer is telling me I
have to go. I want to thank my guest, Jim Rand, of The Justice
Project And thanks to the listeners. You made my first day on the
job a real pleasure. Time in to Hot Topic every Monday at nine a.m.
Make it a great day.” Monette talked very fast to keep on schedule
for the next show. Nikki and Irvin had stressed how important that
was, especially if she didn’t want the other on-air personalities
to complain.

“Wow. I’m impressed. Anyone would think
you’ve been doing this for a long time,” Jim said when she turned
off the microphones. He stood and smoothed down his tie.

“Please. There’s gotta be a puddle of sweat
under this chair. My nerves are shot” Monette laughed.

“I don’t believe a word of it. You had fire
in your eyes. I have a feeling this show is going to mean a whole
lot to you.” Jim spoke as though he saw right into Monette. He
studied her for a few moments, the way he had when he’d first
interviewed her in prison.

“Yeah, well maybe this big mouth can be put
to some good use,” Monette joked. She gathered up a jumble of notes
written in preparation for the interview.

“I’d say very good use. You were great,
Monette. You really struck a chord with those folks listening. I
could tell from the calls we got Outstanding debut” Jim smiled at
her and patted Monette’s shoulder.

“Thanks, Jim. Maybe I’ll show up next Monday
after all.” Monette grinned back at him.Despite her joking
attitude, Jim’s compliment really boosted her self-confidence. She
respected his opinion because he was as genuine as he was
brilliant. Jim wouldn’t hold back if he had doubts about the
show.

“I’ll be listening along with the rest of
Baton Rouge,” Jim said as he followed her out into the hallway.
“Gotta go. Meetings the rest of the morning.”

“See ya. And thanks again for helping me look
good. Sound good is more like it,” she called after him. Jim merely
smiled as he hurried off. He was already checking his BlackBerry
for messages.

Chaz strode toward Monette wearing a big
smile. He opened his arms. “You did it, Monette. I loved the first
show. Now about next week.”

“Next week.” Monette remembered her big talk
about the next show. The reality hit that she was committed to
pulling more rabbits out of her hat, more precisely at nine o’clock
every Monday.

“Yeah. That one should be fantastic. You’re
right on the money. Not just another tired relationship gab fest,
but why women choose the wrong man.” Chaz walked with her and
talked with his hands as they went to her office. “I’m telling you
men and women will be weighing in on that one.”

“Yeah.” Monette tried to figure out just when
she’d come up with that brilliant idea. Now she had to figure out
how to execute it.

“I know you probably already have your guest
lined up, but if you don’t mind me making a suggestion.” Chaz
stopped when they reached the door to the communal office. He
seemed to study her reaction.

Since Monette had no clue about what to do
for a guest, she could afford to be generous. “No, please, suggest
away. I mean, you’re the boss.”

“I’m not a micromanaging control freak. Hot
Topic is all yours. I trust your judgment If you want me to butt
out, just say the word.” Chaz held up both hands palms out, as
though surrendering to her wishes already.

“I’d like to think I’m flexible enough to
listen to anyone on the KTQL team.” Especially since she was
probably out of her league trying to do a talk show in the first
place.

“That’s right Teamwork,” Chaz replied with
enthusiasm and put an arm around her shoulder as he walked her into
the office. He waved at Nikki, who was on the phone. “There’s this
psychology professor at Southern University. She’s written a book
on relationships, so she might have some insights. We could expand
our demographic. Right now we mostly pull in a female
audience.”

“I’ll be happy to talk to her." Monette
grinned at him, feeling a tremendous wave of relief.

“Fantastic. She has called me several times
about appearing on one of our shows, but we didn’t have the right
talk venue to accommodate her. Here’s her card. I’ll have my
secretary bring you a copy of the book. Can you stick around until
Layle brings it?” Chaz headed for the door as he spoke.

“Sure. Happy to do it Chaz.” Monette nodded
as though she had done him a favor.

“Excellent.” Chaz was already striding down
the hallway before Monette finished talking.

“Girl, it’s all about you. Chaz has me
writing up a promo spot for your next show. I don’t think you need
my help.” Nikki winked at her as she hung up the phone.

“No, no. I definitely need all the help I can
get. Now all I need to do is get up the nerve to talk to this
professor.” Monette looked at the card Chaz had handed her.
“Patricia Ray Carter, PhD,” she read.

“Don’t worry. The lady is trying to sell
books. She’ll be thrilled to hear from you. Read the book this
weekend and come up with a list of questions. The callers will do
the rest.”

“Yeah.” Monette started to think of angles to
make the show really pop. “Thanks for the tips.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll be tuning in to that
one for sure. I could talk for hours about the bad choices in men
I’ve made. But I’ve got to be on the air.” Nikki broke off when she
glanced at the wall clock. “Oh hell, in two minutes. Bye.”

“See ya later.”

Monette shook her head as she watched the
young woman dash down the hallway. She felt like the only person
moving at a normal speed around there. Monette sat down at the desk
she’d chosen just as Chaz’s secretary came in. She handed Monette
the book with a smile.

“I started reading it. Kinda dry if you ask
me.” The woman shrugged and left

“Shoulda known it wouldn’t be that easy.”
Monette groaned at the pages and pages of small print.

Chapter 4

The next day Monette sat at the desk in her
bedroom, hissing in exasperation. She balled up one more sheet of
paper and tossed it into the small trash can at her feet. When it
bounced onto the floor from the already high pile, Monette let out
a string of curse words. Lenore pushed the door open and poked her
head in.

“How’s it coming?” Lenore grinned when
Monette squinted at her. “You need to take a break. Come on
downstairs with me and let’s have lunch. We’ve got the place to
ourselves for once. Everybody is at work, Trudy went to some
meeting, and Sherrial is locked up in her office doing
paperwork.”

“Damn, it’s almost twelve-thirty already?”
Monette glanced at the clock in surprise. Then she shook her head
in disgust. “I’ve been at this for two hours and nothing. I
shouldn’t have agreed to a two-book contract.”

“Let it go for now. You might be trying too
hard. Come on.” Lenore pushed the door all the way open and
beckoned for her to follow.

Monette tossed the yellow legal pad onto the
table. “Might as well. My way sure isn’t working.”

They went down to the kitchen. The quiet of
the house seemed strange. Monette had been so engrossed in trying
to write that she hadn’t noticed. For once neither the television
nor sound system was going. Lenore’s fuzzy, oversized slippers
scuffed across the hardwood floor.

“I’m like that way sometimes. When I get
stuck writing a poem or something I get away from it. You know,
focus on something else,” Lenore said over her shoulder as they
entered the large kitchen. She went straight to the
refrigerator.

“Let’s hope it helps.” Monette perched on a
barstool at the long counter. “The first book was easy. I wrote
about my life and how I landed in prison.”

“By the way, thanks for giving me a signed
copy. Roast beef, turkey or ham?” She held up a plastic zip and
lock bag in each hand.

“Glad to do it. Got any bologna in there?
Yeah, now that’s good stuff,” Monette said when Lenore showed her a
package of the meat.

“I can’t believe you eat this mystery meat.”
Lenore wrinkled her nose. “All we got is Swiss cheese.”

“Fine. Anyway, now I’ve got to come up with
something else.” Monette ran her fingers through her long hair. She
snagged a gray strand. “Oh, God, time really doesn’t wait for
anybody. I’m going to the beauty salon this week for a rinse.”

“Why not write about life here at New
Beginnings,” Lenore suggested. She found a loaf of Italian bread,
sliced it, and made the sandwiches.

“Because the book is due in five months. I
need to know how the story ends. That could be book three, though.
If I manage to get another contract, since I can’t come up with
book number two.” Monette groaned and covered her eyes.

“Wish I had your problem. I’d love to see my
name on a book. I’ve got so many ideas my notebooks are stuffed in
two suitcases in the attic.” Lenore shook her head as she spread
mustard, then mayo, on the bread.

“You’ve got talent. Me? I just had a soap
opera life,” Monette retorted.

“Who in this place hasn’t had a soap opera
life?” Lenore tossed back with a dry laugh.

Monette smiled for the first time that day.
“You got a good point there.”

“I like the way you talk about stuff right in
the headlines. Then your callers— What?” Lenore broke off when
Monette snapped her fingers in excitement

“That’s it! I had a caller the other day that
had been in prison around the same time I was. I’ll do a complete
book on women in prison with life lessons they’ve learned.” Monette
grabbed the notepad they used to write out the shopping lists and
started scribbling.

“An advice book from women who screwed up
their lives?” Lenore grimaced with skepticism.

“Some of the smartest women I know were in my
cell block, including a couple of lawyers, an accountant and a
former med school student” Monette held up a hand to forestall
another comment from Lenore. She wrote for five minutes, and then
sighed with satisfaction.

“Told ya coming down here would help.” Lenore
put two plates on the counter. She put ice in glasses and poured
from a pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator.

“You were right. I’ll get it,” Monette said
when there was a knock at the back door. She looked through the
peephole. She recognized Jayson and opened the door. “Hello
again.”

“Hi. How have you been?” Jayson said as he
came inside.

Monette enjoyed the deep bass in his voice,
and then recalled his reaction to her a few days before. She let a
little ice creep into her tone. “Pretty good.”

“Hey, Jayson.” Lenore grinned and licked
mustard from her thumb.

“Hi, Lenore.” Jayson glanced at her with a
smile for a second, and then looked at Monette.

Lenore raised a dark eyebrow. “Umm, did you
stop by just to say hello?”

Jayson cleared his throat. “Huh? Oh, right. I
brought the van back. I need to leave the keys and invoice with
Miss Sherman.”

“Trudy ain’t here right now. I’ll let the
secretary know. Either she or Sherrial will sign the invoice and
take the keys.” Lenore left for the small office.

Jayson gave Monette another one of his shy
smiles. Monette pretended to find her notepad more interesting than
his handsome face. When his back was turned, Monette looked up in
time to see him walk over to the window and look out. She admired
his long-legged stride. He had the powerful build of a man used to
lifting heavy objects. His sleeves were only rolled up to his
forearms. Still, one portion of a tattoo was visible. Monette tried
but failed to read the words. Probably the name of some woman, she
mused. A few minutes later Lenore came back.

“They’re both tied up right now. Can you wait
a little bit? Sherrial promised not to take too long,” Lenore
said.

“Sure.” Jayson smiled at her.

Lenore hurried off when the hall phone rang.
“I’ll get it. Probably for me. My mama knows I’m off on
Tuesdays.”

“Ahem. I listened to your show yesterday.
Really interesting.” Jayson crossed his arms as he spoke to
Monette.

“Thanks.” Monette glanced at his handsome
smile but didn’t smile back.

“I, uh, really hate that you had to suffer at
the hands of a corrupt man like Winn Barron. He gives the justice
system a bad name.”

“Yeah, well that same system doesn’t see him
as corrupt. They didn’t do a thing to him.” Monette shrugged.
“Jerry Hines isn’t exactly dripping credibility. Since there was no
evidence backing up either of our stories, nothing else is going to
be done.”