Seven Wakings Read online

  I’ve got to put their minds at ease. “I’ll make sure he’s taken care of.”

  Kim giggles. “You kill Joe? You’re such a tough guy.” She grabs a towel off a shelf. “I’m going to shower. You can check on things if you like.”

  I stop her. “What time does the party start again?”

  “Cocktails are served at 5:00.” She reaches for the handle.

  I put my hand on the door. “And how many guests?”

  She looks up at me. “How could you forget all of this?”

  Scrambling for an answer, I blurt, “I’m a guy. We forget everything.”

  Kim giggles and tries to leave.

  I brace my hand, clench my jaw. “I said ‘how many’?”

  She shrinks. “Twenty five, or so.”

  I remove my hand.

  After she leaves, I spot a duty belt in the corner of the room, and walk to it. Picking it up, I see that it holds a 9mm and several rounds in the belt; it’s the same type of gun Cal and my father had as cops. Opening the magazine, I find it fully loaded. Strapping on the belt, I feel ridiculous. I never learned how to shoot.

  I turn toward the door and see Mike’s jacket on a hook. As I put it on, something cold rests against my chest. I can’t get to it. The object is sewn into a pocket. I look around for something that could poke a hole in the lining.

  It dawns on me that there might be cameras in the room. Taking a cue from reality television, I go in search of a bathroom. Of all places, cameras shouldn’t be allowed in there.

  There’s one across the hall.

  I lock myself in and inspect the room. No cameras. I search the drawers for something sharp. Nothing. It’s like they’ve child proofed each object. The most threatening tool is a sweater shaver. I take off my coat and gnaw a small puncture in the lining, then screw my finger into the tear and rip open a hole. Reaching in, I feel something the size of a brooch.

  It’s cold, heavy and engraved. I pull it through the hole and hold it in the palm of my hand.

  “What the hell?” Mike’s Internal Affairs. I look up. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  Mike finds dirty cops.

  I don’t even know how to process this. Everything I figured out doesn’t make sense anymore. I’ve been dealt a whole new hand of cards and have to reshuffle my thinking.

  I have to pee.

  There’s no part of me that wants to see Mike’s bait and tackle. Delaying, I look up. Gold acoustical panels. Stepping on the toilet, I push up one of the ceiling panels and hide Mike’s I.A. badge inside. There’s no way I want to get caught with that.

  I have to relieve myself. Stepping down, I move my zipper down slow, unlatch my belt and pants, and reach inside. Damn! I can hardly believe what I feel. Mike is beyond well endowed.

  I feel a strange sort of moxie.

  “Bully for you, Mike.” I take a deep breath, and aim for the center of the bowl.

  After washing my hands, I step into the hallway; don’t know which way to go. To the left, stairs lead down to the room where the cots are. To the right, this hall T’s into another one. I go right, then left at the end. There’s an open door. I head toward it. It’s a monitoring room with smoked glass that overlooks the room where the kids are being held. There’s a bird-nest chair for surveying. I stand behind it and can see most of the cots. The supply table blocks the head of Anna’s cot. Paul must have known that when he put her there. Monitors display several other rooms, and the grounds outside.

  “I see you’re doing your job.”

  I recoil at the sound of Vanessa’s voice.

  Turning slowly to her, my cells ignite. I can’t tell if it’s my disdain for her or Mike’s, but his brain wants to attack. I rein in impulse. “Yes, ma’am. I like what I do.”

  She rests against the frame of the door. “My sister tells me that you’re into boys. I’ve got a fresh one down there for you.”

  Offering me my own son? I’m tempted to use Mike’s gun to pistol-whip her between the eyes. “I’m into men, not kids.”

  “Touchy, are we?” Vanessa puts a cigarette into an opera-length holder. Her hair is pulled back in a tight, black chignon. I’m reminded of the vision I had before being murdered: She was the woman outside of Joe’s office. The older man was probably Gilchrist.

  “You got an extra cigarette?” My impulse to smoke is as strong as DeWayne’s was to drink. Besides, I want to see how to get out of here.

  She draws one from a silver case. “Are you actually going to light it?”

  “Yeah… outside. You wanna come?” Maybe if I get her out of the house, we can end this thing right now.

  “I always want to cum.” She growls. “But not outside. You go right ahead.” She gestures down the hall. “I’ll be happy to watch the kittens sleep.”

  As I approach the door, Vanessa doesn’t move.

  “Too bad you’re gay. I understand you’re quite a handful.” She grabs my crotch, and growls.

  Anger flares like I’ve been hit with kerosene. “Yeah, too bad.”

  I push past her and make my way to the other end of the hall. Looking back, I see Vanessa disappear into the monitoring room. I find a door that opens and leads down a wide concrete corridor. I can’t see what’s at the end. Walking slowly, I stop where light and shadow converge. There’s a door on the right with a square window. I look in and see the kids from a different angle. This is the door at the foot of Mac’s cot.

  Trying the handle, I find it locked. Mac sees me. In an unprecedented act of defiance, he flips me the bird.

  Another dimension to my son is born.

  I don’t know whether to laugh or decide how to parent him.

  Cellar doors open. A stray pair of boots clomp down the stairs. It’s Carlos.

  “Hey, you going out for a smoke, Mikey? I knew you’d cave one day.” He turns on the stair to head back up with me. “I’ll have another one with you.”

  It’s strange to see Carlos this way… pleasant. He would have raped me as Anna, but with Mike he’s friendly.

  We walk up together.

  I put the cigarette in my mouth as we step outside. “Anything on Joe and the kid?” A spotlight turns on. I’m sure Vanessa’s watching us.

  “No. But we’ve got a bunch of guys out looking for them.” Carlos strikes a match, cups it in his hands and offers the flame to me.

  I inhale and mindlessly groan at the feeling. Smoking for Mike feels equivalent to sex. As I play with my cigarette, I don’t hear what Carlos is saying. Something about Joe. I’m captivated by how the red cherry consumes the shaft of tobacco, and emits white heat as embers die in her hungry wake. Yep… sex alright. I take another deep drag and hold the smoke in my lungs.

  Carlos snaps his fingers in my face. “Did you hear me Mikey? We’ve still got to snatch another girl by tomorrow night if we can’t get Anna back.” He blows clouds of smoke into the night.

  Everything pulls back in me. I didn’t think about that. “Vanessa’s still on the hunt?” My boner for smoking goes flaccid.

  “I know… crazy, huh?” He takes another deep drag and blows smoke rings.

  “She sure is.” I try inhaling again, but now smoking just leaves me dizzy.

  Carlos flicks off ashes, stomps out his cigarette. “I’d better get back; I’ve got kids to restrain.” He laughs at himself.

  “I’ll be in soon.”

  I have to think. Holding the cigarette between my lips the way Mike would, the smoke curls into my eye, burns it. Tears betray my bravado. My love affair with smoking has taken an embarrassing turn.

  I should volunteer to bring back Anna/kidnap a girl.

  My “nether region” is irritated. I reach into Mike’s pants and find his penis twisted like a balloon animal. Finally, I understand why men are always adjusting “things.” After airing things out, I spit out the cigarette and grind it with my foot. Disgusting habit.

  Inside, I make a pit stop in the bathroom. I have to take off these briefs; it’s like he’s we
aring a training bra on DD breasts.

  Once “commando,” I head down the hall.

  Vanessa swivels her chair toward me. “Kim tells me you’re willing to ‘clean things up’ around here?”

  Just the “in” I need. “Yeah. Everybody’s stretched pretty thin around here. I got no problem takin’ out Joe and bringin’ back the kid.”

  She almost laughs. “I didn’t know you had a sense of humor.”

  I have no idea what’s funny.

  She unlocks and opens a drawer. “What makes you think you can find them?” She slides Mike’s phone and keys to me.

  I look at his Blackberry; there’s a new text from a blocked number. It reads: We have Joe and Anna. Proceed as planned.

  I wonder if it’s Archer. “Because I already did.” I show her the message.

  “I can see why the Chief puts so much trust in you.” She smiles. “If you do your job right, I’ll be ‘daddy’s little girl’ again soon.”

  “I’m on it.” I turn to leave.

  Vanessa gets up. “Before you go, see if anyone’s awake. We’ve only taken a few pictures. You know how Daddy likes his ‘before’ photo’s.”

  “Yes ma’am.” I want to tell Mac what’s going on.

  “Rattle their cages at little bit. I want to get this show on the road.”

  As I enter the lower level, Mac turns away from me… too fast. I know he’s awake.

  “What’s up, Mikey?” Carlos stands up.

  “Vanessa wants more pictures.” I put my hand behind my hips to stretch my lower back. Mike needs lumbar work.

  “I’d be happy to knock ‘um around a little bit.” His eyes go dull.

  “That’s alright. I saw someone moving around over there.”

  Carlos sits back down next to Paul and gets lost in a repeat of Jersey Shore. I meander to Mac’s cot, tap him and say, “It’s not nice to flip your mother the bird.” I’m sure to stand where Vanessa can’t see his face.

  He turns to me. “You’re not my mother.”

  “Hard to believe, I know. Trust me, I’m still getting used to it.”

  He scowls. “Bullshit. There’s no way she’d ever be you.”

  I raise my eyebrows. “Okay seriously… you can’t be cussing and flipping people off. It’s disconcerting… like seeing a toddler smoking a pipe.”

  He studies me. “Hmmm… Mom was always ripe with simile.”

  His grasp of the English language never ceases to amaze me. Smiling at him, I say, “I love you more than you could ever possibly know.”

  “Damn!” He smiles playfully at me. “That was the last swear word, I promise.”

  I shake my head. “I’ve got another surprise for you…Mike’s Internal Affairs.”

  “No way!” He tries to sit up; the handcuff catches him. “He’s on our side?”

  “I know. I can’t believe it either.”

  Mac looks away from me. His eyes are tracking someone.

  Soon, I feel Carlos standing next to me. “I’ll let Vanessa know he’s up.” He heads off to the speaker on the wall.

  I try to comfort Mac. “Don’t worry— she’s just going to put you in some sort of costume, take some pictures, and lock you back up.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “I can promise you that no other parent could deliver that line with equal apathy.”

  I have to laugh. He’s right.

  Vanessa says through the speaker, “Put him in number 71.”

  I search my pockets for keys to handcuffs, don’t have any. “Hey Carlos, do you have…”

  He tosses me a ring of keys. “Just give ‘em back when you’re done.”

  I unlock Mac’s handcuffs and help him stand.

  As Vanessa and the Chief step out of the elevator, the Chief squeezes her ass.

  Mac says too loud, “It’s always a feast of pheromones with you two.”

  Vanessa smiles at him. “Lively banter from someone a child.”

  “Yeah, he has quite a personality.” I give him the stink eye and lead him to the dressing room. “You do realize that you’re playing with fire, right?”

  Mac sits on the garden bench with arms splayed across the back. “She’s child’s play.”

  I find the costume she wants Mac to wear; it’s a Fireman’s uniform.

  He laughs. “That’s ironic. Looks like the universe thinks I can handle her.”

  “It’s a polyester costume, with a high melting point.” I turn away as Mac gets changed.

  “It’s a sign, I’m telling you.” He shuffles around.

  “I think you’ve been spending too much time with Lynette.” My own words hit me. I can already see him changing. Who will he become after years with her…years without me?

  After some shuffling, Mac says, “Okay… I’m ready.”

  When I turn to see him, it’s all I can do to not laugh.

  He strikes letter poses in the mirror, then says, “Get it? You’re the cop, I’m the fireman…Y.M.C…”

  “…we look like the Village People. Funny.” Stifling a smile, I open the door. “Play nice.” I gesture toward the photography room.

  He struts from the changing room to center stage. Vanessa seems amused by him. After each snap Mac changes into a new animated pose. She uses all her film, then pats his head.

  “I think that ‘nap’ did you good.” She puts down the camera. “You almost make me not hate children.”

  “Are you flirting with me?” Mac winks at her.

  “Let’s get you back to bed,” I say, before Mac makes another wisecrack.

  He yawns. “Yeah, I’ve been up for ten whole minutes.”

  Before leaving, Vanessa approaches me. “Paul and Carlos can handle things from here. Deal with the important business.”

  Carlos takes the keys from me.

  On the way to the elevator, Chief Lewis gropes Vanessa like a randy teenager, while I cover Mac’s eyes.

  “Uh… shouldn’t you be leaving to handle business?” Mac sits on his cot.

  I turn to him and put the handcuff on loose enough to get free. “I’ll prop the door. Wait until they’re distracted, then…”

  “No,” he shakes his head. “I’m staying here… until we can all get out together.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m trying to protect you. I can’t do that if you’re…”

  He puts up his other hand. “Stop. You’re not going to be here for much longer. I’m going to have to start making decisions for myself. And… I’m choosing to stay.”

  “I can’t let you do that.” I reach toward him.

  He puts his hand on my shoulder to stop me. “You don’t have a voice in this, Mom.”

  I don’t know what to do. I can’t exactly carry him out of here kicking and screaming.

  He seems to sense my inner turmoil, and smiles. “Don’t you want to see the type of man I’ll become?”

  I’m stymied by the question. “Not if it means…”

  He tightens his handcuff. “Just go. I’ll be fine.”

  I’m aghast. “What did you just do? You know I don’t have the keys any more.”

  He shrugs. “Besides, we’re running out of time.”

  I look at my watch. 4:50 in the morning. The party’s not tomorrow… it’s tonight. He’s right; I have to go. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Please don’t do anything until I get back— especially piss off Vanessa.”

  Conflicted, I head outside and go to the front of the house. At least I’ll know where he is. And he does seem to be able to charm Vanessa.

  Mike’s car is still in the driveway. I hustle to it, get in, and dial.

  “Lynette McCollum-Hayes.”

  “It’s me, Emma.” I start the car.

  “Where are you?”

  “At the beach house. You’ll never believe who I am.” Turning on the headlights, I shift into drive.

  “And I’m too exhausted to guess.”

  “I’m Mike Dupree… an Internal Affairs officer.” I pull out.

  “You jus
t blew the three brain cells that I had left.”

  “I know. Are you guys at your house?” I turn on to South Seneca.

  “No. Kate and I are at Joe’s. I couldn’t exactly go home without Mac, so I told Lou we took a road trip.”

  Good point. “Is Kate comfortable there?”

  “Completely. She likes Joe. He’s an easy fit with all of us.”

  “I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Will you call Archer and ask him to meet us?”

  “Sure. See you soon.” Lynette disconnects.

  After we hang up, I drive over a bridge, high atop the water, and head back to Glen Burnie. The ride only takes about twenty minutes, but seems to last forever. I just want to hug Kate, see Lynette, and be near Joe. Lost in thought, I don’t notice a car following me until the exit near home. Headlights turn on at the top of the ramp and follow me down. Maybe I’m just being paranoid. I take extra streets to see if I lose the car, but it follows me like we’re hitched to the same track.

  I speed up and head to the kids old elementary school. It’s been abandoned for a few years, since a new one was built. Once there, I whip in back and turn off the lights. Hopping out, I enter the brick building through a busted back door and hide behind it.

  The car pulls in; headlights shine into the room. Looking through the seam of the door, I see the silhouette of a man moving toward the building. He has a gun.

  With his back to the outside wall, he yells, “Show yourself, you sorry fuck.”

  It’s Paul. As he turns the handle and edges in, I put my gun in the center of his back. “Put the gun down.... slowly, where I can reach it.”

  He lowers his arms, crouches down, and places the gun on the ground next to him. “You’re never going to get away with this, Mike. Dirty cops always get caught.” He stands up slowly, keeps his hands visible.

  I pick up the gun, and drop it in my jacket pocket. “I’m not a dirty cop; I’m Internal Affairs. Frankly, I thought you were too.”

  “Bullshit. You and the Chief practically suck each other’s dicks.”

  I still haven’t gotten used to the way men talk to each other. “I can prove it.” Reaching inside my jacket, I feel the hole. “Damn…I left it at the house...”