AFTER CHRISTMAS

By

DimariS

Chapter 7 – Three More for the Road

While Connie got on with the matter of my hands I questioned Lula about the smarmy habits of one Reggie Weeks. She put in a call to her friend Jackie who was "entertaining" so the girls got down to the business of pumping me about New Year's Eve.

"So white girl what you wearin' to this fancy gig? Tell me it ain't jeans and a t-shirt. You know I can loan you somethin' hot. After all we 'bout the same size."

That's when Connie lost it. "Girl, are you crazy. You make two of Steph and besides she has to dress fine for an event like this."

"I can do 'fine' just fine! Don't go uppity on me, Miss Thang, or I'll bust a cap up your ass!" And away we go.

Then I felt it. Ranger had arrived. The man did have presence and as usual all women within a two-block radius were dumbstruck – namely Connie and Lula. The phenomenon really was an awesome sight to behold.

"Ladies. Babe, can I see you outside?" He touched my neck and guided me into the alley bringing back memories of the many times we had been there before. "Babe, here's a check for your part in Rippey's capture."

When I saw the amount I was stunned. "Ranger, this is too much. His bond was $120,000 so the fee is $12,000 to RangeMan. Why would you pay me half that?"

"Because you got hurt due to a mistake I made not providing backup and before you say anything RangeMan policy is to do this for any employee in the same situation."

"Okay, so you're not treating me differently than the guys?"

"No, I'm not. You've expressed your opinion on that score more than once. I listened." He took a deep breath and continued. "I wanted to talk to you about something else. I was wondering if you could change your plans for New Year's Eve. There's a high level skip we think will be in Manhattan that night and I could use your help recovering him."

"Ranger, I don't know. Some things have already been arranged and I don't feel I can renege. Can I get back to you on that?"

"Sure, Babe. We're not a hundred percent positive he's going be there and there's two weeks left on his bond." He turned to leave, shook his head and returned to press me against the wall. Once again he kissed me until my mind fogged over and walked away. I guess he wasn't the inviter or the Gucci giver. Damn! Now what do I do?

Answer: go to the bank, pay my rent, pay off my credit card bill and buy groceries. After the manicure I still need to find my skips. Time was running out. Maybe Jackie called back.

When I walked back into the office, Lula was jiggling in her seat. She either had to pee or had news for me. I was hoping for the latter as I sat down for Connie to apply the second coat of the black and silver nail lacquer called 'Live and Let Die.' Seemed appropriate.

"Jackie called and says Weeks been doin' a 'ho named Cherry. She a new girl and younnnng! Don't have no corner yet so she's been set up by her pimp, Sugar D. He's gotta crib down on Stark over the Buy 'n Baggit. Want me to go with? I got my gun."

Now here's the thing. Lula illegally carries a big ass but unregistered gun in her purse and sometimes hits what she aims at, Stark Street is beyond dangerous, and she used to have a 'corner' there in her former profession. "Lula, appreciate your help but keep the gun in your purse. We're just checking things out, okay?"

"A'ight, white girl, but you ain't no fun no more! Let's stop at Cluck in a Bucket on the way 'cause they got some fried chicken with my name on it. Need my strength to take out Sugar D. Now let's roll."

"I've got to make a stop first and we'll do lunch. Let's take my car 'cause it will fit right in on Stark."

"Sheeit, that piece of crap'd barely fit in a junkyard!"

Connie laughed, "It'll be a blessing when you blow it up. Maybe Mooner will drop a lit joint in it like the last time."

After shooting her the universal finger, Lula and I swung out the door just as my cell shrieked the theme from "Alien," the ring tone for my mother. Oops, forgot to return her ten hundred phone calls. If I let it go to voice mail, the thing will probably implode and I don't have time to replace it. "Hi, Mom can't talk right now; but I'll stop by for dinner tomorrow night. Okay?"

"Stephanie Michelle, I've been calling you for days and you haven't returned one of my calls. I raised you better than that! You be here promptly at six o'clock and invite Joseph so you can apologize to him for the scene you caused at your latest stupid stunt. How could you?"

"Mom, I'll be there at six but I won't bring Joe and I'm not apologizing for anything. We'll talk about it tomorrow but now I really have to go." Then I disconnected. Going to catch hell for that, too. Gee, that'll be a novel experience. I just rolled my eyes at Lula and started my vintage vehicle. We're toddlin' now.

When my bank account and stomach were pleasantly full, Lula and I drove to Buy 'n Baggit on Stark. The place would have to go through renovation to qualify as rundown. Just as I turn the corner Lula jumps out of the car waving her arms yelling 'Freeze!' at a scantily dressed young girl and none other than Reggie Weeks. What are the odds? The girl freezes like a deer in headlights and dear old Reggie hauls his skinny behind around a building. Great! Now I have to run to catch up with him before he gets to his cousins. Run down this filthy, godforsaken alley full of trash and broken bottles and used…I don't want to know. I spot him up ahead holding on to the brick wall gasping for breath. Hot damn! A skip more out of shape than me! I feel so proud so I saunter up to him and reach in my back pocket for cuffs. Left 'em in the car. I am so screwed.

It was getting late and the shadows hid lots of scurrying and creepy things. My skin was crawling and the hair on my neck was standing at attention. As I reached for Reggie's arm he spun around and bowled me over running for the alley entrance then ran straight into Lula's embrace. It was kinda strange watching her smacking him while doing a good rendition of the chicken dance and blessing herself. I would have laughed but I saw a couple of two-legged rats rush into the alley with guns. The Statler brothers.

Crawling behind a dumpster seemed my only escape then I spotted it…Lula's big yellow plastic purse. Eureka! I rummage through it and grasp the cannon inside, took aim at a Statler and fired. The most amazing thing happened. The bullet ricocheted off a brick wall and struck Dean in the right shoulder causing him to fire his weapon and hit his brother, Roy, in the butt.

What a sight! There's Lula dancin', Dean cussin', Roy hoppin', pidgeons squawkin' and people pointin'. Only thing missing was a partridge in a pear tree. I sat by the filthy, overflowing dumpster and burst into uncontrollable laughter. Then I remembered the missing handcuffs, hurried out of the alley toward my car and stopped dead. There it sat. The words 'It Lives' spray painted on the front window in blood red and 'Not No More' on the hood with a huge bullet hole for emphasis.

My head hung down and shoulders slumped I think out loud, "There are no words." Behind me I hear a chuckle and Ranger's voice, "No, Babe, there aren't."