Dark Waters, page 16
Faith says, “Ooh, fancy.” She then yawned. “Well, I’m going to bed. Good night. I’ll talk to you later.”
After Keenan Jr. hangs up, he heads into the house through the garage. When he gets in the kitchen, Taylor walks up and looks behind him. “Where is Kennedy? I thought you two were just going for ice cream.”
“We did. And then I dropped her off at my parent’s house for the night.”
Taylor’s eyebrows furrow together. “Why?”
Keenan answers, “Because I didn’t want her to hear us fighting.”
“Fighting? We’re not fighting.”
“Really? So . . . Who is he?”
When he takes off walking, she follows him. “What? . . . what are you talking about?” Her anxiety quickly spikes, but she tries to hold it together.
“I’m only going to ask you this once. Who are you fucking?! Who is he, Taylor?” He turns around and yells in her face, “ANSWER ME!” but she doesn’t.
After about thirty seconds, Taylor finally collects enough wind in her lungs to say, “You know I would never cheat on you, Keenan. Where did you come up with something so ridiculous?”
“FROM YOU! I saw you with him the other day; now tell me who the fuck he is!”
Taylor is doing a lot of talking, but Keenan Jr. is not listening to any of it. All he wants is a name. He wants to know who the guy is with the dreadlocks. He wants Taylor to tell him about him, but she won’t. Unbeknownst to Keenan Jr., she doesn’t know much about him other than his name is Ross Mcknight, and he has a big penis. The end. That information will do nothing for Keenan Jr. He doesn’t want to know about the size of his dick, and the name Ross McKnight wouldn’t mean anything to him since he doesn’t know Faith’s husband’s name. At least not yet.
“Taylor, I know you’re seeing someone.” The last shrinks of color she had left all drained out of her face when Keenan Jr. says, “He has a white truck . . . now tell me about him.”
Taylor starts telling Keenan Jr. what she knows about her lover with him hovering over her. “His name is Ross McKnight . . . He’s a sanitation worker for the city.”
Keenan Jr. starts flipping out. “WHAT?! You’re cheating on me with a fuckin’ garbage man?!” He stopped himself from lunging at her. “ . . . How did you meet him?”
“At-at the . . .”
“TALK, DAMMIT!”
Her words rush out of her mouth. “At the DMV. We started texting back and forth and . . . With you always away . . .”
“So this shit is on me?!”
Taylor tucks her hair behind her ear. “No! That’s not what I’m saying at all! It wasn’t supposed to turn into anything other than just a few text messages . . . but it did.”
“You said his name is Ross McKnight or some shit? A goddamn garbage man?!” Keenan Jr. asked, “Does he know who I am? All those guys down there know who the fuck I am and would know better than to mess around with my wife!”
“No, Keenan, he never mentioned you.”
He angrily said, “I started to take care of him the day I saw you, but I had to control myself because I would’ve shot him right there! And I heard you talking to someone in the bathroom one night; it was him, wasn’t it? I was going to come in there and snap your ass in half, but I didn’t because I knew you would lie to me. So I kept telling myself whatever you were doing would all come out, and sure enough.”
“Keenan, it wasn’t like that. I swear.”
“Shut the hell up; it’s exactly like that.” He turns his face up as he gets real disrespectful to her. “You’re nothing but a country red-kneck white bitch that will do anything for black dick.”
That hit a nerve inside Taylor. Her eyes bugged when she took a step back. She said she wouldn’t bring up any of what his mother said about him, partially because she didn’t believe it. The other reason was she didn’t want to make him mad, but she couldn’t control her words right now, even if she wanted to. Then, before she could catch herself, she looked him eye to eye and said, “Oh yeah? And you’re nothing but a black crook that does anything for the white man’s green money!”
Keenan Jr. popped Taylor right in the mouth after what she just said. His fist opened before impact, so it was an openhand slap, but damn. He stepped up to her like he was about to do it again. “What the fuck did you just say?!”
Taylor is screaming at the top of her lungs, and she has a right to with blood going down her throat. “DID YOU JUST HIT ME, MOTHERFUCKER?!”
He’s in her face yelling, looking about ready to all-out jump on her. “REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID! SAY IT AGAIN SO I CAN FUCK YOU UP IN HERE! AND WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SHIT FROM, ANYWAY? HUH! HUH!”
Taylor is too mad about Keenan Jr. slapping her mouth to be scared of him or the veins protruding from his neck. “I know what you’ve been doing out there!” She snatches the bracelet off her wrist, popping the clasp, and throws it at him. “That bracelet. The renovations to the house. The three new cars. The Rolex. I should’ve known—”
“You don’t know shit about my business, Taylor!”
“No, you have it all wrong. Now, I know all about it.”
“Really?!” Now his fists are balled back up. “Since you know so much, tell me what I’m about to do to you!”
“If you touch me again, I’m calling the cops!”
“You’re not calling anybody to my house, bitch!”
They were arguing like crazy, with Keenan Jr. seconds away from turning violent when a bang at the door interrupted them. There it goes again. They both stop shouting and look at each other. Keenan Jr. asked, “Did you hear that?”
Taylor looks at him before they both run to the door in time to hear, “Philadelphia PD”—Bang, Bang, Bang—“Open up!” Once they announce themselves, Keenan Jr. quickly opens the door. He doesn’t have to ask to see badges since he knows four out of the six guys standing there.
“Eric, Tony . . . Mike, Ronnie, what’s going on?”
The tall, buffed black guy in the front said, “Keenan Waters Jr.?”
“Eric, what the—”
He roughs Kennan Jr. around. “You’re under arrest for fraud.”
Keenan Jr. put up a fight before the cuffs locked around his wrist. “Nigga, get your hands off me! You know who the fuck I am! ERIC, GET THE FUCK OFF ME!” Kennan Jr. looks at Taylor, who yells for them to get off him. He asks, “Did you do this?!”
Taylor shouts, “Of course not! No!”
He could tell she was telling the truth, so he said, “Don’t say another word.”
“I won’t. I love you.” She kissed him as if he didn’t pop her in the mouth ten minutes ago.
“I love you too. And don’t talk to anyone unless it’s to my dad.” Keenan Jr. mouthed, “Call him now,” before they escorted him out the front door.
As Keenan Jr. was rushed to the police SUV with the blue and red flashers in the front windshield, Clarance Washburn was sitting across the street from his house, calling Keenan Sr. for a second time since he didn’t pick up the first time. “Come on, pick up Keenan, or else your son is going down . . .”
36
Lillian
Lillian is sitting at her makeup table. Just as she did in the beginning, except this time, she is taking everything off. Not putting it on.
She looks at herself as she takes off her jewelry. She then wipes away all the makeup from her face. Next, she takes off her hair. She named this wig Samantha. She brushes it out before she puts it back on the wig head. Lillian then grins, looking at the custom-made unit. “Good night, Sam.”
She’s humming; no song in particular, but a melody is coming from her throat. Then when the phone starts to vibrate, Lillian looks at her iPhone sitting to her right, but it’s not the one ringing; it’s the burner flip to her left buzzing. She stops humming and answers. “Hello.”
It’s Horace Barlow, and all he says is, “Got eyes on him,” before he hangs up.
Lillian closes the burner flip phone. She then looks at herself in the mirror. She’s blank and emotionless, without anything running through her face but hatred. She cares about nothing and nobody right now as the blood in her veins runs ice cold.
“Keenan Jr. has all the potential in the world, so why would he make the choices he’s made? He will eventually kill his career, and running for mayor will be out the window. It’s his own fault. But that’s okay . . . I’ll let his father handle him while I tighten the leash on Naomi and Saint Kenny. It’s not too late for them. It’s not too late for Keenan Jr. either, but it is for their father.” Lillian brushes her real hair talking to herself. “A child . . . with that trashy prostitute? . . . And you played with me, Keenan. You just wanted to reconcile so that I would call off the divorce. So I wouldn’t drag your name through the public. That’s why you rushed downtown and reponed my boutique. And that’s why that son of a bitch has been coming home at night! But the minute I shredded those papers, you bail to Myrtle Beach for the holiday with her? You just forgot all about us, huh? Well, news flash Judge Waters . . . You’re not in control anymore . . . I am . . .” Lillian lightly lays down her hairbrush. She then gets up, turns off the light, and climbs into bed. She’s comfortable. Quiet. Peaceful. She even feels joy as she snuggles under the cozy cream Eiderdown comforter.
Words drift out of her mouth as she drifts off to sleep. “Goodbye, Keenan . . . and good riddance . . .”
37
Judge Waters
Keenan Sr. is rushing around Mia’s bedroom to do some last-minute packing for their Memorial Day weekend getaway. And it’s their son’s ninth birthday, so they’re going to Myrtle Beach for some fun in the sun without any interruptions. For Keenan Sr., that means no work, no phone, and no other family. Instead, it’s all about him, Mia, their son, and their mini vacation.
“Oh, shoot.” He pats his pockets before he looks around.
“What is it, Keenan?”
“My phone. I must’ve left it in the car. I’m expecting a very important phone call.”
“Okay, well, we can head out. I’m ready.” Mia asks Keenan Sr., “Do you have everything else, baby?” as she takes her stuffed luggage off the bed.
“Dammit, I’m forgetting something else.”
Mia looks at him. “Other than your phone, what else did you forget?”
“This.” Keenan Sr. plants a juicy kiss on Mia’s lips.
She giggles. “Now, don’t start anything you can’t finish.”
“Hey, Pappa, I’m all ready to go!” When Kannon runs into the room, he leaps into Keenan Sr.’s arms. “This is going to be the best birthday in the whole wide world, Pappa!”
“There is my birthday boy! And I think you’re right, squirt; this will be an awesome trip!” Keenan Sr. is excited when he says, “We’re going to build sandcastles, eat popcorn, watch scary movies, and stay up as late as we want every night.”
The little boy frowns in Keenan Sr.’s arms. “Mom doesn’t let me stay up late. She said my legs won’t grow long like yours if I do.”
Mia and Judge Waters both laugh. “Well, maybe just this one weekend, she’ll make an exception.” He winks at Mia.
The little boy says, “Yay!” excited by the words coming out of his father’s mouth. “I’ve been calling you because I wanted you to spend time with us; I’m so glad you’re here now.” Kannon then hugs Keenan Sr.’s neck tight. “I love you, Pappa!”
“Hey, I . . . I love you too, squirt.” Keenan Sr. is so uncomfortable telling his son he loves him. He doesn’t get this sinking feeling when he tells his other children how much he loves them, so he doesn’t know what this is about.
“It’s always only Mom and me when we go places; I’m glad you’re coming this time too, Pappa, so I don’t have to just send you pictures from Mom’s phone.”
Keenan Sr. looked over at Mia. She nods at him and whispers, “Talk to your son, Keenan,” in his ear before leaving the room.
He hugged the little boy tight. “Not this time, squirt . . . I’ll be with you and your mother the whole weekend.”
“You promise you won’t leave us?”
“I promise, Kannon, I will never leave you or your mother . . .”
When they’re ready, they leave the house, load up Keenan Sr.’s Escalade, and head for the freeway. He ensured his phone was in the car, but he didn’t check to see that he had two missed calls from Clarance Washburn and ten missed calls from Taylor. When he saw his phone on the middle console, he said, “There it is,” but never picked it up.
Keenan Sr. is driving with Mia in his passenger seat and their son in the backseat behind him. “I’m sorry we had to leave so late.” He looks at Mia before his eyes return to the road. “I couldn’t get out of that courthouse fast enough today.” He smiles as she chuckles. “We could’ve flown, but I didn’t want anyone to see us. You and my son are not a secret, Mia, but you understand why we must stay under the radar, right?”
“I understand, Keenan.”
“Good. I’m glad that you do. I’m not ready to be plastered all over the news channels as the next scandal of the week. I want to leave all that hoopla here in Philadelphia, so we can enjoy a nice, relaxing weekend.”
Mia says, “And this is going to be a great birthday for Kannon,” as she gleams with bliss, looking in the backseat at their son, who is already asleep.
“It sure will be.” Keenan Sr.’s phone starts to ring. When he sees it’s Clarance, he tells Mia, “Before we leave the city, I have to handle some business with my son. Once we’re finished, he’ll catch a car home, but I have to sign for a new case he’s taking on. It won’t take more than twenty minutes.” He lied to Mia about why he was going to get his son from jail, but that was none of her or anybody else’s business.
“Okay, honey, that’s fine with me.”
When he answered, Keenan Sr. turned off the Bluetooth so Mia wouldn’t hear Clarance. Just as he put the phone up to his ear and said, “Hello,” a black Denali pulled up on the side of them. The truck was speeding; now it was going even speed with Keenan Sr. Their nose and nose. Same speed. Keenan Sr. keeps his head straight as he talks, not paying much attention to the truck riding on the side of him. However, Mia looks over, just in time to see a guy dressed in all black, with his face covered, roll down his window and point a long gun at them. From Mia’s view, it looks like one of those guns with an extender on it. She’s instantly frantic, looking at the guy with the barrel pointed their way.
As Mia is panicking for her life, Clarance is in Keenan Sr.’s ear, telling him, “Keenan, I’ve been calling you. What’s going on? Listen, you must get to the station immediately. Like, now.”
Keenan Sr. looks at Mia like her hair is on fire as she starts to yell. He briefly takes the phone away from his mouth when he asks Mia, “Honey, what is it?”
Mia shouts, “Keenan, look!” but he can’t make out what she’s yelling.
He then tells Clarance, “I’m on my way. I’m getting off on the next exit.”
“Okay, we have a small amount of time, so get here, Keenan.”
After Judge Waters hung up the phone, he looked over at Mia again. Her eyes are big. Her lips are tight. “KEENAN!” She slaps his arm and shoulder and tells him to look out the window.
“Mommy . . .” Kannon is waking up in the backseat. He’s rubbing his eyes when he asks, “What’s going on?”
Mia is too hysterical to answer her son. So instead, she shouts, “KEENAN, PLEASE, LOOK!”
The shooting started before any more words could come out of her mouth. The man in the Denali spread Keenan Sr.’s Escalade up. There is not a single area on the side of the big luxury SUV that doesn’t have a bullet hole through it.
When the first bullet hits Keenan Sr., he drops his phone and swerves but keeps going. “Holy shit! What is going on?! Father God, in the name of Jesus, please take care of my family and me!” As Keenan Sr. prays, some of the gunfire misses him, but most of it doesn’t. Now, he’s full of bullet holes, just like his truck. He then blacks out right there in the driver’s seat.
Keenan Sr. plows into a road sign on the side of the interstate, where the Escalade comes to a complete stop. It’s smoking from under the hood. The airbags deployed. One of the rims is bent. Two front tires are flat, and green stuff leaks onto the ground.
The driver of the Denali keeps going, with Horace Barlow in the passenger seat calling Lillian. He just shot up her husband, but he was as cool as a fan when she answered.
Lillian said, “Yes,” and just held the phone.
All Horace says back to her is, “ . . . It’s done,” before he throws his burner phone out the window . . .
EPILOGUE
Keenan Sr., Mia, and Kannon are in bad shape. Mia and their son didn’t get shot as many times as Judge Waters, but the gunman didn’t miss them. Right after Keenan Sr.’s truck plowed into the road sign at forty miles per hour, Mia’s screams are almost as loud as the Cadilliac’s blaring horn. When the first bullet hit Keenan Sr., his head slumped to his stirring wheel and stayed there. When Mia tries to help him, “OUCH, AH!” she cries out in pain from the bullet in her thigh that has shut down her mobility. She has just enough strength to turn her head to the backseat, and when she does, she wales seeing her son bleeding. “KANNON! OH NO, KANNON, BABY, GET UP, GET UP!” He’s not moving. Neither is Judge Waters. They are both hurt pretty badly. Mia is hurt too, but not like Keenan or Kannon.
Minutes later, with the sirens blaring and flashing lights rushing in their direction, Mia felt they were saved. She cries as she begs Keenan Sr. and their son to hold on. She assures them, “Help is on the way!”
Sitting frozen in agony from her broken thighbone, Mia hears one of them breathing. She then hears one of them grunt. She starts to panic because she doesn’t hear them both. “Keenan, baby, wake up!”
She then calls out to her son with blood smeared on her face. “Kannon, sweetheart, wake up!” Mia fears the worse, but they’re both still alive. However, they both won’t stay that way as one will fully recover while the other will die right on the operating table.
