AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sure, if he’s the stunt driver that drove me and Jared to the hospital the other day,” she replied, with a crease of worry in her brow.
I nodded, “He’s on his way to take you home safely, my beauty. I'll pay for our dinner on my way out.” I see Beatrice moving to get up and take a firmer tone, “I'm serious, Beatrice. It's dangerous over there right now. I need to keep you safe. That's why I need Trey to take you back to your place. Will you do that for me, my darling?”
I could see that she melted with my use of the words ‘my beauty’ and ‘my darling.’ I didn't talk like that very much to her.
It's about time you did!
When I get Beatrice’s promise, I pay the bill and we wait for our respective drivers in front of the restaurant. “Hendrik, my sweet. You will be safe yourself, won't you? You do realize I do not know where you live? Tell me you will be safe!” I reassure her that I have lived in that neighborhood for many, many years and have been safe all along. I absolutely do not remind her that that's where I got mugged and knifed! She doesn't need to think of that.
Soon enough. Soon enough.
Trey passes Beatrice into the back seat of his car. Before Trey gets behind the wheel he nods to me and gives me a high sign to show that he will text me when Beatrice is safe and sound in her own place.
I get in my own car driven by Trey’s second-in-command, and off we go to my studio apartment.
The police are there and when I arrive, asking what the hubbub is, one of the beat cops tells me that a first-floor studio apartment door was battered but there was no entry due to neighbors (and the big cop nodded over to a couple of Jared’s men milling around with Marianna, too) who interrupted the breaking and entering. I asked, “Was it the first-floor studio front?” The cop nodded. “That’s my place,” I told him.
The beat cop looked fairly admirative as he added, “Looks like these two neighbor men simply gave both thieves a punch in the solar plexus and when they were down they sat on them until we arrived!” The cop chuckled and shook his head. “Ballsy. But they coulda been hurt, ya know!”
So? A couple of members of Jared’s crew got into it with a couple of wanna-be robbers. Since I’d identified myself and stated that the apartment in question was my own, I asked if I could go up and see what the damages were. That same beat cop went upstairs with me. I easily saw that he was right. The locks had held until Jared’s men intervened. The cop went back down, not interested in entering my studio.
When the police had carted off the criminals and the neighbors had gone back to their dinner and televisions, Jared and his men pulled me aside on the sidewalk. I shook my head and motioned for us to go up to my place. Once inside, Jared nodded to James who told me the story. They were keeping an eye on my block and the entrance to my building as they do on a 24-hour basis. They noticed some skanky-looking characters scoping out the building. And the rest, I knew from the beat cop. I asked if they recognized the two thieves. James nodded and looked to Jared who took over, “Professor, they are from the street gang six blocks West of here. A real dumb bunch if you ask me. No skills. No leadership over there. There is no reason for them to be here except that somehow they must have found out what you have in your place here. That's all we can think of. But we can't imagine how they found out. None of us talk. You don't talk. Beatrice has never been here, has she?”
And I had to stifle a chuckle. They all leaned forward just a tiny imperceptible half-inch to hear my response. “No, she has never been here. As far as I know, she does not even know I live in thisarea, much less in this building,” and all the men relaxed, again imperceptibly, and I suppressed a grin.
I love these guys! No man could have better brothers.
Chapter 36
Beatrice
IamwithTreywho is talking about some “professor” to the other young man in the front passenger seat. I can't stand it anymore and when there’s a lull in their conversation, I ask who the professor is.
It’s really funny and disconcerting how they first look at each other.
Like kids caught eating the forbidden extra piece of candy.
There is a little amazement in Trey’s face, but not in the other guy’s.
Trey says, “Oh, that’s our nickname for Hendrik, because he is so much about teaching us and guiding us in our businesses.”
This is news to me. What does Hendrik know about … guiding anyone in business?
I ask Trey, “Well, how did Hendrik learn all this stuff himself?”
Trey says, “The Professor never really told us that. But we are making money in our businesses, so we figure what he taught us is the real deal. We have big respect for him sharing his knowledge with us.”
Now I’m more confused about Hendrik than ever. A …professor? Teaching anyone about … business … and making money?
I am doubting myself now. I don’t have anyone to speak to. I don’t really have a girlfriend.
I’ve never really been close to someone like I’m close to my mom and cousins. But I can’t talk to those boys. They’d spend the whole time teasing me and not listening.
So when Trey has “tucked me safely at home” (I overheard his phoned report as he walked back down my stairs), I call mom. She said she just happens to be shopping at her favorite mall, so we meet for a meal. My meal was sort of interrupted, but I can always eat anyway.
“Mom …” I begin when we are at our table. Then I’m at a loss for words. Me. Miss Belt It Out.
My mom, no fool, stops fiddling with the tableware and looks at me with concern. “What’s going on? What’s the matter, sweetie?”
