Three Sides of the Tracks (19 page)

30

Headed South

Brandy arranged her body to keep her arms from being pinned by the bulk
of Smurf on one side and Whitey on the other as the Buick approached Valdosta
in south Georgia.

“Need to stop soon for gas, don’t we?” Smurf said.

“Gas, my ass. You mean you’re hungry again is more like it.” Slink growled,
adjusting the rearview mirror till his eyes met Smurf’s.

Smurf tried a placating grin, but the hardness in Slink’s eyes didn’t
diminish.

Slink turned the mirror to its original position. “Soon as I see a good
spot, we’ll stop ‘cause I know the next thing I’ll be hearing is one of these
gal’s whining about the bathroom.”

Caroline didn’t hear the sarcasm. The boredom of the interstate and
droning of the tires had finally lulled her to sleep and her face rested
against the door. Brandy lowered her eyes because that, indeed, was exactly
what she was thinking.

Slink surprised them all by turning onto the exit ramp for the highway to
Valdosta. When he reached the red light, he turned in the direction the signs
indicated for downtown Valdosta and nudged Caroline awake.

“Wake up. We’re stopping soon for gas and bathroom break.”

Caroline woke slowly, nausea rising as the awareness of where she was and
who she was with flooded her mind and drove the exhaustion away. She blinked
away the sleep then glanced back at Brandy with what she hoped was an
encouraging smile, but Brandy’s forlorn expression didn’t change.

Slink pulled into a strip-mall parking lot. “We passed a mom and pop
station back there that looked okay. Now let me tell you gals how this is gonna
work. We’re all going in except Smurf. Sweetness, you’re gonna stick with me,
and you, you pain in the ass, are gonna stick with Whitey and shop around on
the shelves for something to eat. After I check the place out, I’m gonna peep
in the ladies room and see if anyone’s in there. When I think it’s okay, Sweet
Cheeks is going in by herself and I’m gonna block the door and not let anyone
else in. After she’s finished, you go in and do your business. And, in case you
get any bright ideas about leaving some kind of message on the walls or what
not, I’m going in and check. If you know what’s good for you, them walls and
mirrors better be clean. You got me? Cruel eyes left no doubt the consequences
would be severe.

Brandy and Caroline nodded.

“Okay then.”

“What about me?” Smurf said.

“I’ll pay for the gas when I go inside, and you pump it. Stand between
the pump and the window so the clerk can’t see you. This way we don’t fit the
description that I’m sure is on all the channels by now.”

Smurf’s broad face looked glum, but he managed to keep his complaints to
himself.

Slink turned the car around and in a moment turned into a whitewashed
full-service station with four islands of gas pumps. With a final warning look
at each of the women, he motioned them all out. He let the women and Whitey walk
ahead of him then motioned some other instructions to Smurf.

Four other people shopped the aisles when Slink entered. He touched
Caroline’s arm guiding her down one aisle stocked with canned beans, chili, Spam,
tuna fish, spaghetti, and other edibles. Whitey clutched Brandy’s arm and they
turned down an aisle stocked with pastries and bread.

The bathrooms were in the back corner. They’d been in the store for about
two minutes when the women’s door opened and a plumb woman came out. Slink
pulled Caroline toward the door then opened it for her and peeped inside. “Go
ahead. And don’t get stupid.”

Caroline cut her eyes at him then pulled the door shut behind her.

Slink used the men’s room then came out and walked over to Whitey. “Both
of you go ahead. Don’t forget what I said,” he told Brandy.  

Caroline exited just as Brandy went in. Brandy couldn’t restrain herself
and flung her arms around Caroline. Terrified by what Slink might do, Caroline
pulled Brandy into the bathroom then pushed her away. “Don’t make a scene. Just
another day or two and we’ll be okay. If you act up, there’s no telling what he
might do. All right?” Caroline watched the panic subside then gave her a quick hug
and stepped back into the store before Slink could get there.

As she feared, he strode up the aisle with a murderous expression on his
face. Caroline flashed a seductive smile then wrapped her arms around him and
whispered. “She’s okay. I talked to her. She just lost it for a minute.”

“She’d better be. I’ll leave her in there if she’s not.”

“Can I go back in and calm her down a little bit. I think it will help.”

“What are you up to, Sweet Cheeks? Getting soft are you?”

Caroline forced the smile to stay on her face for the benefit of anyone
watching. “I’m not doing it for you. I just want to get out of this without
anyone else getting hurt.”

“You just said she was okay, so why do you need to go back in?”

“Just thought it would help.”

“You’ve helped enough. Grab what you want to eat and let’s get outta
here.”

 Slink waited around the bathroom until Brandy came out then took a
six-pack of beer and a big 40-ounce bottle from the cooler and motioned to
Whitey that it was time to go. He waited by the counter for Caroline and Brandy.

“I’ve got all this,” he told the clerk, and they laid their items on the
counter.

Whitey stood by the door and held it open.

Caroline walked out first then Brandy, with Slink right behind her.

As soon as she cleared the doorway, Brandy bolted. There was a patch of
open space between the gas station and a restaurant next door. She had almost
cleared the edge of the gas station when Slink yelled, “Smurf,” and Smurf
stepped from around the corner of the station and grabbed Brandy in his
bear-like grasp.

“Scream and I’ll break your neck right here.”

Brandy couldn’t draw a breath much less scream. She nodded and Smurf
released her except for a firm grip on her arm, which he used to lead her to
the car.

Slink sat in the front seat waiting on them.

Caroline studied his face for some sign of rage, but he seemed calm, and
that caused her stomach to flutter with dread.

He drove to the edge of the parking lot, looked both ways, then lunged
over the seat and stabbed a four-inch knife blade deep in Brandy’s thigh.

Brandy stared blankly at the bloody knife in Slink’s hand until the pain broke
through her already tortured mind. A long shriek pierced the air as blood ran down
her leg.

Slink smacked her with an open palm and held the blade to her face. “If
you don’t stop that wailing, I’ll cut your tongue out.”

The shrieks turned to garbled moans as Brandy held the leg and rocked
back in forth.

Slink wiped the blade on her other pants leg. “That ought’a slow you down
some, you stupid bitch,” he said and drove out of the lot.

“Damn you,” Caroline screamed.

31

Grady Hospital

“I want to talk to the detectives and see what I can find out,” Bart
Phillips said a few minutes after the sergeant left. “Will you two be here if I
find out anything?”

Belinda looked at Martin.

“I’d sure like to talk to Bernard. Bet he could explain a lot of this,”
Martin said.

For the first time since she’d discovered Danny’s bed empty, Belinda’s
expression turned hopeful. She moved forward on the couch and clutched Martin’s
arm. “What if Bernard doesn’t make it? Someone should be there with him. He
doesn’t have any family. I know it’s imposing but—”

Martin took her hand. “Of course, I’ll go with you. I’m not going to let
you go through this alone. You’ve been through too much alone as it is.”

Bart Phillips averted his eyes.

“Despite his rough ways, Bernard is really a very sweet person and cares
a lot about Danny. If he does recover, I think he’ll help us if he can,”
Belinda said.

“I wouldn’t mind talking to Mr. Davis myself, but I want to speak with
the detectives first. See if what Mr. Davis has to say jives with the
detectives’ findings. Belinda, if what they said about the caliber of the
bullet and the metal plate are correct, y’all might get there and find him in
pretty good shape, all things considered.”

Belinda stood. “No matter what condition he’s in, Bernard will be in the
emergency room for at least a few hours. You boys make yourself at home and
I’ll see what I can find for lunch.”

A big grin spread across Bart’s face. “You remember those roast beef
sandwiches your mother used to make?”

“The ones you used to charm out of me, you mean? And my mother didn’t
make them; Sally Ann, the housekeeper, made them. My mother never cooked a day
in her life. Not that I can remember anyway.”

 “Rye bread stacked with thin slices of roast beef and lettuce, tomato,
and ultrathin slices of onion with lots of mayonnaise and a touch of spicy
mustard. Man, I loved those sandwiches and have never been able to make one taste
like those. You should have seen my act trying to beat Belinda out of her
lunch.”

Martin raised his eyebrows. “I did see you. I was sitting right next to
her. We used to nudge each other under the table watching you nonchalantly
eyeballing her lunch to see what she’d brought that day.”

“Yeahhhhh,” Bart’s voice trailed off as he recalled a mental image of
more innocent times. “Geez, was I that obvious?”

“Eighth grade boys don’t overly concern themselves with hiding their
intentions, or, if so, you aren’t very good at it,” Belinda said, smiling at
them both. “You might have to settle for ham on rye today though.”

Bart smiled and rubbed his stomach.

Martin and Belinda arrived at Grady Hospital in downtown Atlanta late
afternoon and asked the emergency room clerk whether she could give them
information for Bernard Davis.

“Relationship?” she asked without looking up.

“Sister,” Belinda said.

The clerk’s hands moved over the computer keyboard. “He’s been moved to
ICU. Third floor. Elevators down the hall and to your right.”

Belinda squeezed her eyes shut and prayed a silent thank you that Bernard
had lived.

Martin took her hand and led her toward the elevators. “I’m impressed.
Did you have that planned?”

“No. It just popped out. I want to see Bernard, and she didn’t appear
very accommodating.” A slightly guilty expression accompanied her smile.

“It might take more of the same for the nurses to let us into the ICU.
Try ‘frantic concern.’ ”

Belinda nudged him with her elbow. “I
am
concerned.”

“I meant
sisterly
concern.”

“I’m going to regret saying that, aren’t I?”

“Yep.”

The couple stopped at the ICU clerk’s station. “We were told that Mr.
Bernard Davis has been brought here. This is his sister. May we see him now? He
was shot and—”

“Yeah, quite a few in there with that same problem. What relation are you
to Mr. Davis?”

“Sister and brother-in-law,” Martin said.

“Wait in there,” the overworked clerk said with a jerk of her thumb
toward an overflowing waiting room.

 Heat and the smell of too many bodies from the waiting room encouraged
them to stay in the hall, but only a few minutes passed when the ICU outer door
hissed open and a nurse’s head leaned out. “Bernard Davis visitors.”

Martin held up a hand and they walked toward the half-open door.

“If you want to see Mr. Davis, it will be a few hours.”

“Can you just please give me his condition? I’m his sister.”

“He wouldn’t be in ICU if it weren’t for the rules. We’re keeping him for
observation because of the concussion. They ran an MRI when he first came in to
check for cranial swelling, but it was negligible, so they stitched his scalp
back on and gave him some precautionary meds for swelling and IV to compensate
for blood loss. He regained consciousness while in the ER, but he’s groggy, and
the standard treatment for mild concussion is rest, rest, and more rest.”

“Can I see him for just one minute? Please?” Belinda said.

“Not until he’s more alert.”

“I suppose you know a gunshot gave him that concussion. It’s really very
urgent—”

“Patient’s well-being is my first priority, ma’am, but I’ll keep an eye
on him and come get you as soon as it’s safe for him to have visitors. That’s
the best I can offer.”

“Thank you. You’re most kind,” Martin said in the most charming tone he
could muster accompanied by a likewise charming smile.

She smiled back and said, “brother-in-law?”

“No. Boyhood friend. Like brothers.”

The smile broadened. “I’ll let you in as soon as I can.” 

The ICU outer door hissed open two hours later and a nurse leaned against
it. “Bernard Davis visitors.”

“That’s us,” Martin said.

“Thank goodness. Sister?” she asked Belinda.

 “Yes, why did you say ‘thank goodness’? Is his condition—”

“His condition’s fine. Physically that is. He’s been more trouble in an
hour than the rest of them combined. I told him his sister was here, and he
said ‘That’d be a trick, that I’m crazier than he is.’ Don’t have a clue what
that’s supposed to mean. Anyway, he’s all yours. Cubicle six.”

ICU rooms were arranged in a circle with the nurses’ station in the
middle. “Over here,
Sis
.”

Belinda smiled and Martin used all his restraint to keep from laughing.

“Been a long time since I saw you two together. Have to say it looks
awfully natural. Hope it ain’t a one-time thing.”

Belinda took his hand. “That’s sweet of you to say, Bernard. How are you?
I thought you were dead when I saw you on the floor in all that blood.”

“So it was you who found me, huh? Wondered about that.”

“Yes, Danny’s missing, Bernard, and I went to your house to see if you
had any idea where he might have gone. I know he’s looking for his friend. One
of the girls kidnapped from the church.”

“He said he left you a note.”

“I didn’t find one.”

Bernard averted his eyes as he figured out what would cause the mother
standing next to him the least worry. “You’re not gonna like it, but I helped
him. Let him use that old car of my sister’s. My
dead
sister’s,” he
couldn’t resist adding.

“But why, Bernard? You care for Danny too much to send him after those
thugs, as dangerous as they are.”

“I don’t spect he’ll find them. I figure he’ll ride around looking in
some spots they might hide out then come on home. Didn’t want to help him, but
he’s dead set on finding that friend of his. I mean dead set.”

“What if he does find them, Bernard? Did you think of the consequences?”
Martin said.

“Not as much as I should have. Laying here talking with you two, it don’t
seem as good an idea as it did when I was talking to him. But then again, if I
hadn’t of . . .”

Belinda clutched his hand. “What? What were you about to say?”

“Oh, just that he might’a done somethin’ crazier. Like I said, that gal
has a hold on him. Y’all two ought’a understand that.”

Martin leaned over the bed and glared at Bernard. “All of it, Bernard.
Stop the bullshit. This has gone on long enough.”

Bernard glanced at Belinda. “I don’t think you need to hear this. Just
him, okay? Then he can tell you whatever—”

“This is my son, Bernard. You tell me right now,” Belinda said, her voice
trembling.

Bernard cocked his head. “Y’all’s son, you mean.”

“Damn you—”

“Okay. Okay, but I’m telling you, it ain’t about Danny takin’ the car no
more. In fact, if he hadn’t, he wouldn’t be alive right now.”

Belinda and Martin froze.

“The guy who shot me was
lookin’
for Danny, and, in case you ain’t
ciphered it out yet, he weren’t one of the idiots what robbed the church.”

It took Martin a moment to figure it out. “That rotten son of a bitch. I’m
going to beat him to a pulp.”

Belinda looked at a scarlet-faced Martin then at Bernard, who had a
knowing expression on his face as he nodded at Martin.

“It’s time to put aside your feelings and tell the cops what you know.
Bart Phillips is on his way up here. I’m gonna take Belinda home and then go
pay someone a visit.”

Martin took Belinda’s hand and almost dragged her from the ICU.

“What was that all about?”

“Not here. We’ll talk in the car.”

All the way to the car, Martin tried to think of a story that wouldn’t
cause Belinda to go to pieces. Having a hit man after your son is not what she
needed to hear.

Belinda stayed quiet until they left the parking lot. “I can see your
wheels working, so you might as well tell me the truth.”

Martin sighed and squeezed her hand. “Danny and I went to the Bluebird
Café to eat after I picked him up from the police station. While we were there,
Jessie Whitaker came in drunk as hell and threatened Danny because the dumbass
thought he was involved with kidnapping his daughter. I think he still believes
that, despite everyone telling him it isn’t so, and he hired someone to beat
Danny up, scare him, or whatever his crazy mind concocted. That’s what Bernard
meant when he said the guy who shot him was looking for Danny. I doubt he would
have shot Danny if he’d found him. Bernard probably had one of his spells when
the man came to his house and things got out of hand.”

“I appreciate your effort, Martin, but I saw Bernard’s head half blown
off, so that little story is, I think,
understated
.”

Belinda raised their clasped hands to her lips and kissed his hand.

“Try not to think the worst. I’m going to drop you off and then go see
our friend Jessie Whitaker. He’s had far too much leeway and lost track of
reality. Thinking he could get by with something like this is indicative of
just how crazy he is. Heck, he makes Bernard seem the picture of sanity.”

“Not sure that’s a good idea, Martin. Not without Bart, anyway. What if
things get out of hand?”

“Bart’s too busy. I’m just gonna run out there and tell him to leave my
family alone. If he has an ounce of sanity left, he’ll get the picture. If I
can’t get through to him, I’ll leave and handle it another way. Let Bart really
scare the daylights out of him. Something like that. Okay?”

“
Your
family?”

Martin unclasped his hand, put his arm around Belinda and pulled her
close. “That’s right.
My
family. I know these haven’t been the best of
circumstances, but since we’ve been spending time together, I finally feel
whole again. I think my sense of loss had grown callouses I’d fought it for so
long, but, when you opened the door that day and I looked in your eyes again,
everything rushed in. I swear I thought my chest was going to burst open. You
were just so beautiful, are so beautiful, and the past, my love for you . . .
it was all there. Just like we’d never been apart. And I’ve felt that way every
day since then.”

Belinda snuggled against him. “I know. Me too.”