Chapter 56
Thank God for new phones,
Reggie thought, feeling the phone vibrating silently in his bag. He'd had it on vibrate before his mother snagged it and apparently she hadn't changed the setting. Good thing too because surely, his phone blasting Lil Wayne or some other rap singer's ringtone, would have been disastrous. It had been vibrating non-stop since clearing the area of no reception. But noting the many turns this weird guy was sending Junior in, Reggie knew there would soon be no signal to be found again.
Junior was doing well behind the wheel and if it had been a driving test he would have passed. Reggie could see him sweating though and he was sitting all up on the steering wheel. When they got to the hills with all the tight turns, and with all that snow on the ground, Reggie had to admit, his forehead began to moisten as well. Julia was as silent as a mouse.
“I have a couple of questions,” Junior began as if out of the blue.
“What's that?” the man answered.
“Since we're probably not coming out of this thing alive,” Junior went on. Julia groaned. “What is your name?”
“Fair question. It's Hap.”
“Hap? Interesting name. Well, Hap,” Junior began, “you have three teenagers and I can't believe that this was on your list of things to collect today ... so my question is this: who were you actually trying to kidnap in this caper?”
“Another good one.” Hap chuckled as if absolutely amused by Junior's inquiry and wittiness. “Reggie,” he answered flatly.
Reggie turned and looked at him. “Why me?”
“You'll see,” Hap answered.
“We'll all see,” Julia added.
“Exactly. Turn here,” Hap instructed.
Junior made the sharp turn onto a narrow road that ended at a wooded cabin. Snow covered the porch and the cabin looked cold and unlived in. Reggie looked at Hap who now motioned with the gun for him to get out of the car. He obeyed reluctantly, feeling the icy air embracing him.
Junior and Julia climbed out of the car and stood close by each other for warmth. “Let's go!” Hap barked at them, motioning both of them to walk ahead of Reggie who was now being led by Hap and his gun, up the icy steps. Junior slipped on the ice but quickly regained his footing. They went inside the cabin which was surprisingly just the opposite inside. Inside it was inviting and well lived in with many feminine touches.
“Now, I can tie you all up or trust that you respect Mother Natureârealizing that there is nowhere to go if you run away. You'll die out there.” Hap took the keys from Junior's hand and shoved them deep into his pocket.
“Can you please tell me what's going on?” Reggie asked.
“Sure. I'm Dr. Hap Washburn and I'm working for a client who is in need of some medical attention. And you, Reginald Ams, have the cure for what ails him.”
“Excuse me?” Reggie asked nearly gasping at what the words implied.
“My patient needs a new part, you could say,” Hap stammered as if enjoying the game he was playing with Reggie's emotions.
“New part! And he plans on taking one of mine?” Reggie's voice cracked while pressing his hand splayed out over his chest.
“You plannin' to take something off of him?” Junior yelped.
Reggie stepped forward aggressively. Hap again raised his gun threateningly. “Reggie don't,” Julia warned.
“Don't make me shoot you. My client would be furious! Killing you would really put a time crunch on things!”
“You're out your mind! I'm out,” Reggie said, breaking for the door. Hap fired the gun over Reggie's head. He froze. Julia screamed.
“Reggie stop!” Junior hollered. “Don't kill him!” Junior begged Hap.
Reggie spun on his heel. His face felt twisted and by the look on Junior's upon seeing his expression, Reggie had to figure he looked unrecognizable. Fear, anger, and growing rage consumed him. “Dead or alive Reggie, it doesn't matter to me. Dead would just make things complicated ... on one hand.” Hap said coolly. “Now just calm down. This will be over tomorrow.”
Motioning for Julia to assist him, Hap pointed toward a straightjacket lying on the large dining table. “Get that and put it on Mr. Hulk over there,” he told her. Julia picked up the heavy jacket and headed Reggie's way.
“Get away from me!” he growled.
“Reggie, please, he's going to kill you if you don't,” Julia tried to reason. “Trust me,” she mouthed.
“You're not putting that on me!” he fought, jerking away, pushing Julia so hard she fell flat on her butt. At that Hap aimed the gun at Junior, who quickly raised his hands and closed his eyes wincing in anticipation of the worse. “Don't. Just ... don't,” Reggie said, speaking slowly and determined to be understood while he reached down, helping Julia to her feet and then taking the jacket from her. He began to put it on himself, allowing her then to pull the straps and buckles, tying him in securely.
“Interesting. They say only blood is thicker than water, well, looks like step blood is too.” Hap smiled wickedly before instructing Junior to sit in what appeared to be a dental chair and then instructed Julia to clasp Junior's hands in the medical restraints. While she tied him up, Hap moved over to a tray, unveiling an assortment of hypodermic needles, choosing one, while watching Reggie out of one eye. Reggie didn't move an inch. His heart was racing fast, his mind was too cloudy. He'd not thought this completely out so he just stood stiff and ridged, tied up and helplessâfor now. But that wasn't to say that before this night was over, he wasn't planning to take this maniac out, some kinda way. There were three of them and one of him ... Some kinda way they were getting the hell outta there tonight.
Hap called Julia over. “You ever give yourself a shot.”
“No,” she whimpered.
“It's not hard. Hold the thing up ... thump it until you see no bubbles. If you get a bubble ... you could be dead within seconds.” He smiled. Julia's eyes widened as if she totally understood what he was saying. “Squeeze the bottom upward until just a little of the juice comes from the top,” he explained. “And then ...” he patted his waistline. “Right there in your belly. It won't hurt as much and it will work faster.”
Julia gulped audibly before following the instructions and injecting the fluid into her stomach area. Within moments her eye lids fluttered and she fell to the floor unconscious.
“You're one hell of a babysitter there, Hap,” Junior remarked smartly.
Hap laughed. “You know what, Junior, you're one hell of a comedian. You remind me an awful lot of my client.”
“Can't wait to meet the guy.”
“Oh you're gonna like him ... a lot.”
Chapter 57
Shelby was flustered and confused. Her senses were telling her that something was wrong with this whole thing. She'd called Trina and gotten confirmation that indeed Rashawn was on her wayâdriving. “Late as hell but maybe she stopped at some malls. Chance said, she was stressed outâbut still my thing starts in just a little while.”
“Trina have you called Rashawn?”
“No, her phone is off or whatever,” Trina told her. “At least that's what Chance said, or something like that.”
“Something like that? He told me she left it at home! Doesn't it strike you as weird that she's leaving for there the same time as Reggie is coming hereâalone. Well I mean he's coming with Juanita's boy.”
“Really.” Trina sounded very surprised.
“So you didn't know about that either.”
“I'm going to call Carlotta.”
“Don't bother, can't reach her nor Ta'Rae ... Rita either.”
“Something sounds raw and I think we're being left in the dark.”
“Why us? Let's put our heads together. Rashawn is coming there and Reggie is coming here ... hmmm.”
“I guess we'll know when they both get here and there,” Trina had said.
But Reggie hadn't arrived. And now Shelby had a sick feeling that Rashawn wasn't going to make it to Arizona either. She'd lingered just a bit longer around the station hoping that another train would come inâknowing this was the only one. Finally she called Chance from her car. What he told her nearly sent her through the roof. “Chance! I can't believe ...” Shelby could barely speak. She was beyond flabbergasted.
“Shelby calm down. I had to allow you to go down there to the station. If we had gone, it could have been a disaster. I had to allow you to see if perhaps he would actually make it.”
“But he didn't, dammit! My nephew didn't make it. And where in the hell is Rashawn while you're up here running around God's country with Juanita! You should have trusted me Chance. You should have trusted me!”
“I'm not running around with ...” Chance looked over at Juanita who sat quietly in the passenger seat. Ovan was on his computer in the backseat. “Shelby ... If I had told you what was going on you would have not been able to do this.”
“Why? Where is my sister? Nobody is answering their phones. Where is everybody? I called Trina ya know! Now she's worried too. What's going on Chance? I bet Rashawn is nowhere near Arizona!”
“Shelby ...” Chance's eyes burned as he held back emotion.
“The National Guard is right up ahead,” Ovan said.
“Who the hell was that? Why are you at the National Guard? Where are you?”
“I'm in Oregon. But I'm not in Eugene. We're in Klamath, tracking the Amtrak route. We figured if we missed it or whatever at least you would be at the station, just in case. We've been on the road all day going from station to station. Now we're going off road I guess. We just got some directions on where they could get a plane, maybe.”
Shelby began to wail. Chance knew he had to tell her the rest. She was hurting now. He was hurting her.
“Shelby. Listen,” Chance began after parking the car. Juanita jumped out and Ovan followed her. “Rashawn has been hurt. She's okayâ”
“What! Ooooooh Chance,” Shelby cried.
“She's okay. She's had a car accident. She's in ICU and all your sisters are there with her except for Trina. When I get off the phone with you, I'll call Trina. It's my lie, I'll call her. You can hate me if you want, but I had to do it this way. I needed some extra hands and yours and Trina's were the ones I chose,” he said, taking sole responsibility for a joint decision. “Reggie sort of ran away and he doesn't know his mother is hurt. We're trying to find him and take him home.”
“Chance I can't believe you were a part of this. I will never forgive you for this!” Shelby hung up.
“Dammit!” Chance blurted slamming the cell phone against the steering wheel.
“Chance, come on,” Juanita called.
Chance felt so much pent up anger inside. Why was he here? He needed to be with Rashawn. Reggie was not his son and neither was Junior but Rashawn was his wife, his world, the woman he loved. Juanita pulled open the door and tugged at his arm, bringing his thoughts back. “Come on.”
“Juanita. Is Roman Junior's father?”
“Come on, Chance. I don't want to talk about that,” she said pulling on his arm. He jerked away.
“Was it really Roman? Or maybe Doc. Which one did you screw? Which one!” he screamed. “Did you screw them both? While my wife was being raped and violated did you take a lovely little romp with both of them. Maybe you were just fuckin' Roman while Doc was kicking the shit outta me!” He pushed Juanita back slightly.
Ovan walked back to the car, apparently hearing Chance screaming. “Chance, pull yourself together.”
“And you! Who the hell are you? Who? I'm out here running around God's country,” he said thinking Shelby's heated words, “with who? Some weirdo from England who isn't even interested in finding my ...” He couldn't finish the sentence. “Where are Reggie and Junior? What does Roman want with them ... oh yeah you told me. He wants to
kill them,
” Chance screamed.
Chapter 58
Shackled to the chair at the ankles, Reggie was unable to move while Hap took the blood from one of his ankles. He gritted his teeth in pain as Hap took vial after vial with that big needle. “There,” he finally said laying the last vial on the tray. He then eyed Junior.
“What?” Junior asked.
“I just can't get over my thoughts,” Hap said, rolling up Junior's sleeve.
Junior closed his eyes tight. “A www shit man ... come on. I hate needles.”
“Me too,” Hap said, sounding light-hearted before tying the tourniquet around Junior's arm and thumping the bend of his arm looking for veins. Finding one, he stabbed roughly, drawing blood. “This is sort of silly in a way. I mean, you have the same mother butâ”
“No we don't,” Reggie coughed out, recovering from his discomfort.
“Ahha! Just as I thought. Who is your mother?” Hap asked Junior.
“Don't tell him shit!” Reggie barked.
“Oh Reggie stop being difficult for no reason,” Hap told him.
“Juanita Davis,” Junior said.
Hap thought about the name for a moment and then shrugged, “Nope, don't know her but whatever,” he said, happily labeling Junior's blood sample.