Page 43 of Beni

August wanted to document at least one of the murals during her time in Chicago before it too was gone, like the others. Maybe, if the city stopped removing them, then people would quit defacing property just to prove a point.

But what did she know?

“Well?” Cam asked. “About Beni, I mean.”

The way her friend dragged out Beni’s name like it was dangling a treat for August had her laughing. Camilla was damn shameless, but she loved that about her.

“Really good,” August said.

“Yeah?”

The two shared a knowing grin.

“I told him we could meet up again while I’m here, you know, if I get around to it.”

“Get around to it, she says,” Cam guffawed, “look at that man, Aug.”

“I did. A lot.”

“And you stayed the whole night …”

“Lord,” August muttered, peeking up at the sky. “You know I did.”

“How was the next morning?”

“I mean, after the other twin had his tantrum and left … not too bad for round two on the kitchen table.”

Camilla whistled low. “Yes, that’s what I wanted to hear.”

“I had fun.”

“Good. And the twin thing, huh?”

August sighed, packing her camera away. She had an interview a couple of blocks away with the man who had designed the logo for another famous artist’s brand, also now passed on, and his legacy a bit murkier. Not that it mattered because the brand was what August wanted to focus on, and in Chicago, the music industry and hip hop had been a driving force in the city’s culture.

“They’ve got some issues,” she said.

“Really?” Camilla pulled a face. “Because they always seem so … together.”

“I think that’s part of the issue.”

“Huh.”

The two women were quiet as August finished packing up her things, and then they headed out of the ravine that led them under the bridge. She loved that Camilla was willing to come with her for the work she had to do when she had a day off, as it helped August find her way around a city that she wasn’t very familiar with.

“Hey, how much time do you have before you need to meet up with the designer?”

August checked the watch on her wrist. “About an hour, or so.”

“Oh, we have time.”

“For what?”

“To check out the center Tommaso’s aunt opened with Evelina DeLuca for youth in this area. It’s part of Manic Media’s Urban Initiative in the city, you know? Gives the kids a safe place to go after school for activities, or tutoring. Whatever they need. Some get signed up by their parents, and some just come with friends. They’re not turned away, regardless of how they come.”

August passed her friend a look, making a noise under her breath. “Or is this your way of trying to get me to see Alessa again so that she can make me another job offer to work here for Manic Media?”

Not that she was going to tell her friend, but she had already set up a meeting with Alessa. She made it clear it was just to discuss different things, and what she could do here, if that’s what she decided to step into. However, she didn’t want Cam to know about the meeting, or the fact that Alessa’s job offer with Manic Media was still very much on the table.