Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux Read online

  In all the years that Sadie had watched her only daughter follow Grey aimlessly, she never imagined her straying. Ivy was a faithful girl totally clueless to infidelity. In fact, when she was little, Madison would occasionally call Ivy Little Semper Fi, because once she attached herself to any project or friend, she was hopelessly faithful. And so considering that Sadie knew her daughter better than any of the headstrong men that surrounded her, she had decided that Ivy’s choice was due to some misuse of her trust by Grey.

  However, the selection itself amused Sadie. Why Nicola? She had to admit when she first met him, she thought that he was exceptionally charming and attractive, but Ivy had never been a superficial woman, so there had to be more. Now an opportunity presented itself where Sadie could probe into the situation further by way of an unplanned conversation. She watched Nicola run vigorously, tiring out his young body with every stride, and when he was finished, she stood up and approached him as he grabbed his keys off the tarp.

  “Excuse me, young man,” Sadie said approaching him.

  Bending down on the ground to catch his breath, Nicola looked up shocked to see Ivy’s mother walking towards him. He stood up and wiped the sweat from his brow.

  “Mrs. Winters,” Nicola said extending his hand to shake hers. “How is Ivy?”

  “She’s recovering well, thanks to you.”

  “Well, I’ve been staying away to try to keep the confusion down, if you know what I mean.” Nicola sighed. “Who would have thought that you’d be here today? Memphis is such a small place.”

  “Isn’t it? Actually, I had a meeting earlier today over at the Library with my women’s group. Afterwards, I figured that I’d take a break out here at the park.” Sadie looked at Nicola panting and tired, but there was something that only a mother would sense running a muck in his normally pleasant demeanor. “So, how is your day coming along?” she asked offering him a finger sandwich.

  “Shitty.” No sooner than Nicola had said his curse word did her realize whom he had said it to. “I’m sorry.” He was embarrassed by his slip.

  “That’s alright.” Sadie smiled. “Why is your day…shitty?”

  Nicola thought about his response this time, gauging the possible outcomes of being honest at this particular juncture in his day. Finally, he decided to answer. “I want a drink, but I’m trying to fight it.”

  “Is this an often urge?” Sadie asked concern.

  “Did I just reveal my Achilles heel?” Nicola wiped his face. Did he really care what these people thought of him anyway? They were in love with Grey.

  “No.” Sadie walked with him. “When I was much younger and Ivy’s father and I were still together, I use to find myself attached to the bottle as a way to deal with my husband never being home.” She stopped and looked at him. “Thankfully, I caught it before the kids were born.”

  “How did you quit?” Nicola was intrigued by her candor.

  “Madison saw me through it, but it was my conscious decision to stop. To this day the kids don’t’ know. It was one of our many secrets.” Sadie thought back to her husband at one of the most difficult times in her life.

  “Sounds like a good man.” Nicola took the finger sandwich from Sadie.

  “Well, the Winters’ family has a way of growing you.” She nibbled on her sandwich.

  “Thanks,” Nicola said softly. “I’ll be okay. I’m sure of it.”

  “Well, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I’m here,” Sadie said sincerely. “I was a psychiatrist for over twenty years. I retired only last year, and to tell you the truth I really miss it.”

  “Don’t be surprised if I take you up on it.” Nicola stopped and smiled gently at the older image of Ivy.

  “I look forward to it,” Sadie said bidding him farewell to allow him to go on with his day.

  Nicola watched Sadie for a moment, glad that she had come over to talk with him. Who would have ever thought that Ivy’s mother had an addiction? Who would have ever thought that he would know something about Ivy’s mother that Ivy didn’t know. He smiled for a moment. Grey didn’t know either. He liked that. It soothed his mind to know that everyone wasn’t against him. Walking to his truck, he took in the fresh air and decided against having a drink that afternoon.

  As Sadie grabbed her things off the ground and headed to her car, she thought again about Nicola. He had shown his Achilles heel, but she tried to present a more positive spin on his situation. He could come through it if he wanted to come through it. Evidently, he was consciously fighting; otherwise he wouldn’t have been out there running. He would have been a bar getting loaded. Still, Ivy had chosen to put herself into an awkward situation if he was unsuccessful in his fight and the kids were his. However, there was something about Nicola that gave her confidence in him. She only hoped that her instincts about his character were right.

  **

  It was nearly midnight when Brooks finally awoke from a much-needed rest after making love to Trina for many hours. Looking at her sleep peacefully beside him, he rolled over and checked his alarm clock. She would never know if he snuck out for a few hours, and even if she did wake up, she would be so satisfied with his earlier performance until she wouldn’t make a fuss about him being gone.

  Slipping out of bed, Brooks pushed passed his boxer, Rico, who laid on the floor guarding him loyally. After taking a quick shower, Brooks slipped on a black t-shirt and a pair of jeans and headed anxiously downstairs with his phone already on speed dial to Nicola.

  “Yeah,” Nicola said answering finally after a few rings.

  “Hey, man. Where are you?”

  “Ordering something to eat at the East Way Grill,” Nicola said sitting at the bar watching a few women across the room shoot pool.

  “How long are you going to be there?”

  “Uhh,” Nicola groaned and looked at his watch. “At least another hour. I’ve been here with Gremier and Big Baby for going on two. Hold on I’ll let you talk to him.” Nicola passed Gremier the phone.

  Taurus Gremier was an ex-cop, turned professor of African-American studies at a small Mid-Western college. Thought to be a militant brother because of his long dreads and abundant knowledge of all things African, Gremier was a character well-missed on the Memphis SWAT team. Home to see family for the weekend, Gremier hooked up with Nicola accidentally when they both ended up at the Black Tie.

  Big Baby Mike was a local lieutenant that had seen more than a few days on the streets of South Memphis and was now a mouthpiece for officers that used a less attractive but more useful approach to apprehend suspects often referred to as “excessive force.” He too had met his old collogues accidentally in the well-known club.

  “Brooks, get your punk ass down here,” Gremier said pulling back his locks.

  “I’m on my way. Hell, ya’ll could have called a brother and let him know that you were in town.” Brooks jumped in his truck and pulled eagerly out his garage.

  “Well, Nicola said that you were spending time tonight. So, we didn’t want to interrupt you and the Nubian Queen.” Gremier laughed. “You’re still kicking it with Trina, huh? She’s still taking your shit.”

  “Yeah, man. But she finally got me. I proposed tonight. No ring. No speech. I just came out with the shit.” Brooks couldn’t help but be proud of his news.

  “What?” Gremier was impressed. “Looks like it’s all coming together for you. Well look, bring your ass, and we’ll see you when you get here. Alright.” Hanging up Nicola’s cell phone, Gremier chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?” Nicola asked hands clasped as he leaned back in the booth.

  “Brooks just said that he proposed to Trina.” Gremier passed Nicola back his phone.

  “What?” Nicola was in complete shock. “When did this happen?” He took the phone and sat up.

  “Tonight, I guess.” Gremier shook his head and ordered another drink.

  “He’s on his way down?” Nicola asked taking his hot plate.

  “Yeah,” Gremier s
aid noticing the troubled look on Nicola’s face. “What? You’re not happy for him?”

  “Fucking ecstatic,” Nicola said sarcastically as he got up and made his way to the restroom. “Watch my food. I’ll be right back.”

  **

  Across town, while Brooks celebrated his engagement with Nicola and the boys, Caesar and his men piled bags of unmarked money into the back of a black, late model Yukon Denali to make their monthly exchange for drugs from their largest distributor, Miguel Guerra.

  Caesar had proven over the years, his reliability and had grown to be trusted by Guerra, the South’s most notorious drug trafficker. The cocaine had just made it through customs compliments of a rogue agent that took a nice cut from every shipment and was waiting to be picked up off a local delivery truck near a warehouse in an industrial district on the edge of town.

  “Alright, Hector,” Caesar said handing his little brother the keys. “Don’t make one mistake on this.”

  “I won’t,” Hector said grabbing the keys and jumping the driver’s seat of the truck.

  “Do you remember everything that I told you?” Caesar asked feeling his gut reject the idea of letting his little brother take the lead on the drop.

  “How many times do we have to go over this? You’re my blood! I’m not going to let you down. Trust me.” Hector patted his brother on his shoulder.

  “Guerra isn’t someone to have to answer to about his coke. After you make the exchange, call me immediately. I need to know for sure that everything went cool. Alright?”

  “Alright,” Hector said listening. “We’ve been over this, man. Look, if you don’t trust me, then why don’t you do it.”

  “I do trust you.” Caesar sighed. “I have to keep my face off the streets because Agosto and his boys have their foot so far up my ass, I can’t breathe. I’m suffering too many losses. No one knows about you. You’re my secret weapon. Agosto and Brooks have no idea you even exist. They’ll never suspect you. Just drive safely and slowly. Keep your glasses on, your music down and your hat to the front.” He tapped his brother’s University of Memphis baseball cap. “You look like a college kid.”

  “I am a college kid,” Hector said looking over at his schoolbooks on the passenger seat. “Speaking of which, I have to hurry up and get back, so I can study.”

  “With as much money as you are gonna make off this one drop, you can buy a college professor,” Caesar said proud of his brother. Hector would be the first to ever graduate from college in their entire family. “Look, no one’s gonna give you shit. But Antonio and the boys won’t be far behind you. So if you run into some trouble, they’ve got your back. We’ve done this a million times with Guerra. You’ll be fine.”

  Anxious to get on with the job, Hector pulled out in the dark streets of Memphis with his payload, and Caesar’s crew followed closely behind him. For Hector, this drop would prove to his brother that he was capable of being in business with him. At school, he never received much attention, couldn’t get a girl friend and hated his 1985-Buick Century. Maybe he could buy himself a new lifestyle equipped with a place off campus, a new truck like the one that he was driving now and some new clothes. Then there was always Amber, the girl in his physics class that he had a crush on since his freshman year. If he could just impress her, all of this would be worth it.

  Caesar’s right hand man, Antonio, drove behind Hector with his crew locked and loaded. He had been quiet the entire day, pissed that Hector had been chosen over him to perform the drop. What did Hector know about the streets? Everything that Caesar had ever gotten in Memphis was because of him not Hector. Trying not to appear too frustrated in front of his crew, Antonio leaned back in the seat half-high off marijuana and listened to the radio. He almost prayed for something to go wrong.

  Half an hour later, Hector pulled into the empty warehouse and picked up his cell phone. So far so good. Turning off his lights as previously instructed by Caesar, he pulled into the unmarked dock. Quickly, he got out of the car and walked to the back of the truck. Flashed by a black BMW parked in the darkness across from him, Hector popped his trunk and grabbed the black duffle bag full of unmarked large bills. Nervous, he closed the trunk and raised the bag and then proceeded to approach the car.

  Guerra’s point man got out of the BMW smoking a large cigar. Hector was stunned that the guy was a villain straight out of the Hollywood with his all black attire and slicked back jet-black hair. Hector could feel his heart begin to pound heavily as he approached the man. He needed to be cool, the way his brother would be. That was it…he would pretend he was Caesar.

  “Hola,” Hector said showing the bag.

  “Keep your hands where I can see them,” the villain said in a raspy voice walking up to Hector. He frisked him quickly for guns or wires. He nodded at Hector approvingly and led him to the back of the warehouse alone.

  Hector walked quietly beside the villain hoping that he could not hear his heart pounding. He looked back for Antonio, but he was nowhere to be found. With haste, the two walked up the stairs of the dock into a small opening that lead down an alleyway to the back of the dock where the delivery truck sat awaiting them.

  Hector was both happy and scared to see the truck. So far he had not been set up, but he prayed that all the money was in the bag. These people looked like they would not accept and IOU. Gripping the bag, the tried to walk with confidence but felt himself stumble as he approached the back of the truck.

  Two very large, Hispanic, armed men sat at the back of the delivery truck, both wearing black and confirming the theme for the night. One of the oversized men approached Hector, reeking of loud cheap cologne and patted him down again, while the smaller man took the bag of money and passed it inside of the delivery van to be counted. Hector unconsciously bit his lip as the villain talked on his cell phone to whom he was sure was Guerra.

  “It’s all here,” a thin gaunt Hispanic woman said as she stuck her head out of the delivery truck.

  “Give him his work,” the villain commanded to one of the muscular bodyguards as he smiled sinisterly at Hector. “And say hello to your brother for me.”

  “Will do,” Hector said adjusting his glasses and most happy to be leaving.

  “These men will see you to your car with your goods,” the villain said motioning to the men to follow Hector with three large silver briefcases.

  Hector turned nervously and walked back to the truck. As he popped his trunk for the men, he waived at Antonio proud that he had completed his mission without grave error.

  Antonio and his crew watched carefully. They were supposed to get out of the car and accompany Hector after the drop was made. It was Caesar’s crew that was supposed to ensure everything went smoothly, but because of their dislike for Hector, they had not. Antonio had ordered everyone to stay in the car and wait for the inevitable to happen. A screw up. And now Antonio watched angrily with the proverbial pie in his face, pissed that everything had gone as planned even without his help.

  “The shit bag actually did it,” Antonio said as he motioned for the point man to start the truck.

  “I actually did it,” Hector said to himself as he watched the men load the truck and walk away.

  As instructed previously by Caesar Hector got in the car and watched the villain drive off. When he was alone in the parking lot with only Antonio and his men across the way, he started his truck,. He was about to dial Caesar’s number to let him know that everything had gone as planned, when he was suddenly flashed by a bright light that did not to appear to be coming from Antonio. His heart stopped when he realized that it was a police car’s spotlight.

  On the loud speaker, a loud and commanding voice demanded that he and Antonio turn off their trucks and put their hands in the air. Hector could hear his heart beating and large sweat beads forming on his forehead. Following their instructions, Hector tried not to look as suspicious as he actually was.

  The officer, although very new to the area, realized that the situation w
ould call for back up. Getting on his radio, he called in Hector’s tags and the request for additional vehicle. Looking for the least threatening car, he spotted Hector, visibly nervous and alone, and decided that he would approach him first. Getting out of his squad car with his hand on his gun, he walked towards Hector’s car. He called in the license plates and proceeded to the driver’s side. Still with his hands up in the air, Hector tried to ignore the sweat running down his forehead.

  “Sir, turn off your vehicle, and carefully step out of your truck and give me your license and registration,” the officer said with a tighter grip on his sidearm.

  “Yes, sir,” Hector said turning off of the truck. Getting out of the car, Hector passed the officer his license and looked over at Antonio’s truck.

  “Hey, don’t look up at them,” the officer demanded peering through his glasses at the young preppy Latino, his finger pointed. “Turn around and place your hands on the truck.” Patting Hector down, the officer was relieved to find no concealed weapons or drugs.

  “Is there a problem, officer?” Hector asked trying to ignore his first panic attack.

  “What’s your purpose for being out here this late?” he asked reading Hector’s body language.

  “I got lost,” Hector said visibly nervous.

  “Lost?” The officer looked through Hector’s wallet.

  “What were you trying to find with your truck full of homies over there?”

  “I was looking for a friend’s place.” He stuttered.

  “On a warehouse lot?”

  “Like I said, I got lost, sir” Hector said wishing that he had collaborated with Antonio on a just in case story.

  “Oh, I’m sure,” the officer said wondering where his back up was and looking over at Antonio’s truck.

  “Really officer, this is all a big misunderstanding. Me and my friends were…” Hector was violently interrupted by a loud gunshot and blood splatter across his face. He screamed and hit the ground. Ducking beside the truck, he looked over to see the officer bleeding on the ground.