Say Hello to the Broken-Hearted (19 page)

“This is your
s--for now.” He handed it to him, but John refused to take it.

“You didn’t say anything about a gun Ice.” John shook his head, “I do not intend on killing anybody.”

Ice laid the Taurus magnum revolver on the table, “Look, I told you before, anything can happen and I mean anything. What if some random guy walks up to you one night and tries to rob you, what are you going to do John…run?”

John
couldn’t find an answer. He stared at the chromium piece in front of him.

“Now do you know how to use it?” Ice asked.

“Nahh,” He shook his head, “Never held one before.”

“Here let me show you,
it’s quite easy,” Ice took the gun up and demonstrated, “You hit the release, this right here, to open the cylinder. It has six chambers. Place the bullets pointing inwards, close it, and then aim. Make sure to aim a little below the target to compensate for the recoil, then squeeze…got it?”

“Yeah
it’s quite simple.” John took the gun and repeated the instructions. As he held the metal in his hand for the first time, he felt a thrill of control and power. Eager to squeeze one out, his imagination ran wild.

“
I’ll suggest you let it remain in the locker most of the day. When it gets dark, around eight, you keep it on you.”

“That’s good thinking.” John handed it back to him, “I am going outside, show you how this is done.”

Ice laughed, “Nahh, you are on your own, I have some other business to take care of tonight. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”

“Alright then, catch you later.” John closed, and picked up the stash, “Time to make some m
oney. After all I have a woman and a child on the way to provide for.” He thought as he walked to his spot outside the corner store.

John
Steelburg made three hundred dollars the first night. He did well  bearing in mind that he is dew ten percent commission and only stood there for five hours. One week passed and his sales had tripled. He had already managed to save over five thousand dollars with his household bills paid. For the first time he was able to attain a hold on his finances, like the way a man should be able to. He was convinced that life had a renewed positive perspective, even with the glitches in his relationship with Karla. John somehow felt that things would work itself out for the better, his love for her hadn’t changed one bit. It may topple at times, but so far it had always managed to return to its center of gravity.

Karla watched John
as he slept like a baby in the couch. She wanted to talk to him but thought it cynical to wake him. The alarm snoozed at seven fifteen Am. He opened his eyes to find her watching him like an angel.

“Hey!” John greeted and smiled, “Good morning.”

“Hey, morning.” She replied softly with a slight dull gesture.

“Are you ok baby?” John puzzled, “Is everything ok?”

She didn’t bother to hesitate, “John where did all that money come from?” She asked.

“What money?”

“The money I found in your sock in the drawer.” Karla persisted.

“Oh that money.
It’s money I saved from helping people out with their handy-work…”

“Oh so that’s what you have been doing late hours of the nigh
t, handy-man work?” Karla continued. She didn’t believe a word.

“Yeah, pretty much, I wanted to tell you but I have been so busy
, as you can see.” John continued lying.

“
Ahh huh, I damn sure realize that. You have been so busy I can’t tell the last time you ate here or the last time…you-slept-beside me…in bed…”

John stood and held her face. What he saw was a piece of diamond in the sand of a deserted island. It still had its value, just needed someone to discover and treasure it.

“Cuz…” John opened.

“Call me baby.”

“Baby, I have been going through a lot lately. It’s not your fault. I take full responsibility for it. All of this is new to me Karla. I haven’t been through anything like this before, and I didn’t do a course in school about it either. What I am asking of you is to, bear with me…please.”

“John
...”

“Call me baby.”

“Baby, I do understand what you are going through, I do. I have lived a rough life--I know.” Karla affirmed as she held his hands, “And John, I have never stopped believing in you. I still love you like crazy, even when you walked out and slammed the door behind you. If there was ever a time when I needed you most, that was it. I felt so alone, it hurts so badly. God! I have never, never felt anything worst.”

“I am so sorry Karla.”

“Hold on, wait...shhh…let me finish.”

John nodded, “Go ahead.”

“What you did led me to believe that if something worse had to happen to me you would walk out on me just the same, may even walk out and leave me for good. So honestly John, and I have thought about this long and hard…I still do love you with all the passion of a thousand seas, but truth be told…I don’t trust you anymore--I just cant.”

Jo
hn was totally dumbfounded. The guilt suffocated him. From this point on things will never be the same.

“Now you may speak.” Karla instructed.

The words hit hard. An atomic bomb exploded in his chest. Coming to terms with what she just said wouldn’t be easy. Time may not even be a factor. John didn’t bother to reply. Maybe he was cognizant that words wouldn’t make a difference.

When a woman divulges into a certain thought process, there is nothing you can do to influence her mind. You could
take the moon, put it on a plate and offer it on bended knees, she will always see you differently.

John released her cheeks, took two steps back, squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what to say.” He opened his eyes to find a portrait of a stranger standing in front of him.

“Never in a million years could I ever imagine her saying those words to my face. Still, she loves me dearly, but the trust is nothing more than a dead corpse. I may be confused, how can you claim to love someone and in the same breath you don’t trust them? That’s neither here nor there for me. I believe she is fighting-fighting to keep the relationship above the waters. It’s obvious in her eyes-the flame is dying.”

“That’s
fine, you don’t have to say anything.” Karla added.

“Right…I am about to
take a walk. Get some fresh air.” John walked to the door.

As he turned
the knob to open the door, she uttered, “John…I love you.”

He left
without giving a reply. At that point he was in a dilemma of what that really meant.

Chapter 27

John
made the streets his comfort zone, his new home away from home. It was the only place where his mind found freedom from conflict. The exchange of weed for money, being constantly on the lookout for the police, and the fear of muggers pouncing on him to rob his money kept him on edge.

Friday, October the 12, Eight Twenty PM.

John opened the door of the store, as it was about time to retrieve his pistol from the locker. But suddenly he heard a voice from behind him commanded, “Hey you! Come here!”

John paused, his first impulse told him to not look behind him, pretended he didn’t hear and proceed for the gun.
Then the voice called again, this time with authority.

“Turn around and w
alk this way!” He heard the car door opened, “This is the police, don’t do anything stupid!”

“Fuck! I st
ill have a bag of weed in my rear pocket.” John fuddled as he turned around to face the cop approaching him while the other stood at the car door.

“Is there a problem officer?” John asked calmly.

“Yes--you are the problem.” He was a Lieutenant. At first guess you would say he had about twenty years in the force. His approach was intolerable. Twenty years of dealing with hoodlums could easily turn anyone into a hard-ass.

“I can assure you, I am a law abiding citizen-
-sir.” John responded.

“Is that so?” He replied as if he knew more.

“Yes that’s correct.” John kept his responses brief.

“In that case you don’t mind if I do a quick search on you? To see if you are carrying any illegal weapons or contrabands.”

“John stared at him sharply. If he searched him he would definitely find it.

“A
ctually I do mind--unless you have a probable cause or written warrant.” John replied.

“The officer
smirked. He was sparked that John new his rights.

“So you are a smart one huh?” The L
ieutenant asked.

“You could say that,” John added, “And by the way, how do I
know you are not just criminals impersonating police officers?”

The L
ieutenant and his partner laughed, “My name is Lieutenant Fixely and this is my partner Lieutenant Davis. We are both assigned to the Trin-City police department. Now with that said, I believe we have to take you down to the station. We have to withhold you in custody for suspicion.”

“Suspicion of what?”
John questioned.

“Suspicion of murder.”
Fixely replied.

“What! I have never killed anyone.” John pleaded.

“Well we don’t know that yet. See there was a murder of a woman couple blocks from here two days ago. Based on what we know now, you fit the description. A man about six feet tall, sneakers, jeans, casual T-shirt, and a black tom on his head, who hangs out often at this very store. Now you can do this the easy way or you can make this difficult, your choice.”

John was enthralled, nervous to a chicken feather and overwhelmingly confused.

“Are they real officers? Badges, strips and a radio car…am I really a suspect? There is no way to tell for sure…Come to think of it, they could be mistaking me for Ice. I bet that’s it.” John sighed, “The safest option I have is to cooperate for now.”

“Ok then, I
guess I don’t really have a choice.” John afforded.

“No you don’t.”
Fixely replied as he took out the handcuffs.

“No need for that.” John assur
ed him and walked into the backseat of the radio car.

“Oh-I-I had the time of
my life, and I owe it all to you…

“Hello!” Karla answered the ring.

“Hey baby, where are you?” John asked.

“I am home John, why are you calling me from a toll free number?” She puzzled.

“Karla I can’t explain right now. I am in the Trin-City lock up. I need you to inform Calvin of this and the two of you come and bail me first thing in the morning. Do you understand me?”

“But John-wait!
What’s going on?” Karla startled by the sudden unfolding. “What did you do John?”

“Initially they suspected that I was a killer, but further investigation
later cleared my name of that. So they booked me for the drugs they found--I had a little bag of marijuana in my jeans, no big charge. So hey, just do what I tell you ok?’

“Yeah just hang in
there, I’ll do exactly as you said.”

“Ok baby, see you in the morning then, I got to go.”

“Ok baby, please be safe ok.”

“Yeah I will…and Karla…
I love you.”

“I love you too John.”

Dial tone…

“
Mr. Steelburg! Mr. Steelburg!” John heard Lieutenant Fixely yelling his name as he approached the cell.

“
It’s time to go. Your fiancée and friend is here--they posted your bail. You are free to go, come on.”

As John exist the passage of the cells, he paused, and turned around, “Hey Lieutenant…Thank you.”

The Lieutenant nodded his head, “You are a good person kid, stay off the streets, don’t let me see you back in here.”

“I promise you this is the first and the la
st.” John assured him.

“Good-
-Very good.”

John proceeded to the station lobby where he found Karla and Calvin worrying with faces in palms.

“You two can quit distressing for a little bit, I haven’t left, I am still here.” As he said that Karla face lighted up as the moon and she thrust into his arms.

“I am here baby-so sorry-
but I’m here now.” John assured as he smoothed his fingers through her hair.

“What were you thinking?” Karla asked as she
punched his chest, “Don’t you ever scare me like that again, do you hear me?”