Devilish Details Page 20

  Jazz twisted around in the bed so that her backside was to him. She was sure he got the message to kiss her butt. “Goodbye, Chief of whatever.”

  “I’ll be talking to you,” Miller shot back.

  “Not without my lawyer,” Jazz said.

  She listened to the clip-clip of his shoes on the polished linoleum floor and the whisk of the door opening. She turned onto her back once Miller was gone. Her sister walked in alone, a brittle smile in place.

  “You okay?”

  Jazz sighed as she arranged the sheets. “Yeah.”

  “He didn’t just want to interview you as a victim I’m guessing.” Willa took over smoothing the sheets until they were perfect. “The nerve of the man.”

  “He’s doing his job.” Jazz laughed. “I can’t believe I just said that. I’ve been hanging around Don too much.”

  “Speaking of the detective…”

  “No, we’re not speaking of Don. I don’t care what MiMi had to say,” Jazz cut her off firmly.

  Willa sat on the edge of the bed. “Sure you’re not dizzy or nauseous? The nurse said those might be signs you have more serious injuries.”

  “I’m sore, but that’s it. Well except for Miller grinding his heel on my last damn nerve.” Jazz leaned against the pillows.

  Willa gave a brief laugh and then cleared her throat. “At least Detective Addison protected you from being beaten. So far you don’t have any signs of internal injury.”

  “No thanks to those punk ass thugs.” Jazz closed her eyes.

  “Since you’re here, you could talk to the doctor about that surgery,” Willa said softly. She stared down at her hands clenched together. “Maybe since you met Don, I mean, I can tell you care about him.”

  Jazz opened her eyes and sat up. “Stop it right there. Even if a doctor says I could have kids, I don’t want any.”

  “At least let a doctor look. I’ve seen the way you look at Mikayla and Anthony, at little Sage when you think no one notices.” Willa moved closer to Jazz. She reached for Jazz’s hand, but Jazz pulled back. “I’m just saying.”

  “Look, I got over being raped by that sick bastard. The damn social workers forced me to go to counseling. I’m cured. Right as rain.” Jazz looked away from Willa.

  Jazz became preoccupied with sex, attracting male attention and being seductive. The social worker made her go back to the same therapist who’d treated when she’d become aggressive toward other children. The soft spoken woman had gently helped her understand the effects of being raped. From then on Jazz decided to be in complete charge of her body and her life as a whole. Doctors had explained the internal scarring might make her infertile later in life. Jazz didn’t care. She told everyone. Kids were a pain that slowed a woman down. Men never stuck around to help anyway.

  “I know, I know. You live on your own terms. Blah, blah, blah. But think about having a family,” Willa pressed on.

  “The world does not need another selfish, triflin’ mother who can’t or won’t take care of her kids,” Jazz retorted.

  “You’re not Vivienne.”

  “I’m not the bake cupcakes and attend PTA meetings type either.”

  “You think I am? Mama Ruby does my baking. I’ve gotten awards for NOT volunteering on PTA committees.” Willa grinned at Jazz.

  Jazz grinned back. “Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

  “Seriously, Jazz,” Willa started but stopped when Jazz stopped smiling. “Fine. Subject closed.”

  Silence stretched between them. Jazz and Willa avoided looking at each other. Willa straightened the room. She put a fresh box of tissues on the table next to Jazz’s hospital bed. Then she got a blanket and put it within easy reach in case Jazz got chilly. When she sat down gingerly on the bed again, Jazz grabbed her hand.

  “Stop trying to fix things and forget that guilt trip Vivienne put on you. Protecting us was her, not yours. Jazz let her hand go. “Yeah. Mostly I know. I mean…” Willa’s voice trailed off as she twisted her hands together.

  When Willa sniffed a couple of times, Jazz reached for the box of tissues and handed them to her. They’d never discussed the, not in such direct terms. Jazz knew Willa felt guilty for years. At some point, in anger, Jazz had let her. More proof that Jazz had inherited more of Vivienne than she wanted. Yet distance and maturity helped Jazz grow past such bitterness.

  “I wanted out of foster care and to live with Vivienne again. You wanted Miss Ruby and Mr. Elton to adopt you.” Jazz could have added that unlike Willa, she’d held onto the fantasy that Vivienne would be a caring mother. “What we went through affected us in different ways. Let it go at that. Okay?”

  “Yeah,” Willa said, her voice muffled by a wad of tissues. She looked at Jazz as she dabbed her eyes.

  “You want a big sloppy hug, don’t you?”

  Willa’s bottom lip trembled. “Uh-huh.”

  “Let’s get this outta your system.” Jazz opened her arms.

  Willa sniffed once and then wrapped Jazz in a tight embrace. She rocked Jazz from side to side. “Every time you get hurt, I hurt.”

  “Yeah, I know.” The love radiating from Willa comforted Jazz despite her rough exterior

  Willa’s parents peeped around the door. Both made cooing noises as they came in and joined in the hugging. Seconds later, MiMi came in to put her arms around as many of them all as possible.

  “This is so wonderful,” MiMi said in weepy voice.

  After a while, Jazz extricated herself from the human clump of emotion. “I need some air y’all.”

  “Sorry, right. You’re hurt.” Willa stepped away along with the others.

  “I’m so happy to see you girls getting along,” Mama Ruby said between snuffles. She took a deep breath and let it out, one hand over her heart.

  Papa Elton beamed at MiMi, Willa, and Jazz. “Yes, real nice. Don’t give me that look, Jazzmonetta. Family is the most important thing any of us got.”

  “Yes sir,” Jazz mumbled. She darted a warning glance at her when Willa started to smirk at her obedient response.

  Godfrey Higgins pushed through the door. He paused when he saw Jazz wasn’t alone. “Hello everyone. Sorry to intrude on family time. Jazz, I mean Ms. Vaughn, I need to discuss some business with you.”

  “Can’t it wait? My sister has been through a bad few hours,” Willa said ice in her voice.

  “I think we should discuss it now. But if it might affect your health…” “If whatever you want to talk about brought you across town to my sick room, you better come in and spill it,” Jazz said.

  “Ahem, of course, if I didn’t think it was important… By the way, I’m sorry you were hurt. Keith called me about this latest, um, incident.” Higgins strode in, his leather portfolio under one arm.

  “Ruby, we better get back to check on Jazz’s club and our place,” Papa Elton said. He gave his wife a silent message with a slight nod.

  Mama Ruby gazed steadily at the lawyer. “What?”

  “I think we should be going now,” Papa Elton said, putting more emphasis in his tone.

  “Right, yeah.” Mama Ruby blinked as though being pulled away didn’t sit too well. Still she smiled at Jazz. “I’m going to check in with your employees this afternoon. I’m honored you trust me to handle your business.”

  “Hey, you’ve got a couple years more experience than me running a restaurant and lounge,” Jazz replied. “Thanks for offering to help.”

  “Anytime, baby. Now if you need us, just holler,” Mama Ruby answered. She shot a sharp glance at Higgins.

  “Nice meeting you folks.” Higgins tugged at his silk tie.

  “Uh-huh,” Mama Ruby said.

  Papa Elton opened the door and caught his wife by the arm. His booming voice still carried even as he tried to whisper. “What was that about?”

  Willa crossed her arms and waited. MiMi went around the bed to sit on the small sofa. Both women gazed at the lawyer with interest. Higgins adjusted his tie a second time and cleared his throat.<
br />
  “This is about your night club, so maybe we should discuss this in private.” Higgins spoke to Jazz, but glanced at Willa twice as he spoke.

  “They know about the contract with Ames for investment money. Well mostly to get my ass out of jail. So what’s goin’ on?” Jazz said.

  “Ames is concerned about the latest series of events. He’s seeing a pattern that might affect the, er, value of his investment.” Higgins stopped to let his words settle in.

  “Yeah, but he signed on the line just like I did. So he’s got to wear his big boy pants and deal with it,” Jazz retorted.

  “Of course the area is still very desirable. But he’s not sure your name associated with the business isn’t a liability. Ames has other business partners to consider, and they might get skittish given the media coverage of your exploits.” Higgins sat straight.

  “Skip the big build up and get to why you’re here,” Willa broke in.

  Higgins didn’t look at her, but focused on Jazz. “There are two relevant clauses in the contract about the current owner not harming the business. One includes putting Candy Girls at risk for civil liability. The other refers to criminal activity.”

  “Morality clauses in a contract with a strip? You got to be freaking kidding,” Willa sputtered. She turned to Jazz. “I told you not to sign that damn thing.”

  “Let me freaking remind you, this is my damn business. I didn’t plan to be accused of murder and I needed the money.” Jazz slapped the bed sheet to get Higgins’ nervous attention away from Willa and back to her. “What civil liability?”

  Higgins pulled papers from his portfolio. “Ms. Lorraine Taylor is has filed a lawsuit because she was injured on your property and another one saying you defamed her. And a third one as well, a wrongful death action on behalf of the minor children of Ms. Kyeisha Lathers.”

  “I could strangle that…”

  MiMi sprang up at light speed and clamped a hand over Jazz’s mouth. “We’re in enough trouble.”

  Chapter 15

  Four hours later, Jazz, under much protest, had been installed in Willa’s guest bedroom. She’d tried to fight back, but fatigue and muscle relaxers made Jazz less of a fighter. Plus the news Higgins had brought contributed to an overwhelming sense of defeat. Although Jazz felt she’d draw strength from being on her home turf, Willa’s steel will won. MiMi sided with her big sister. When the nurse came in with the discharge instructions, Willa had taken them with smooth efficiency. MiMi packed up the few items Jazz had, her torn clothes from the night at Grown Folks. Dressed in comfortable sweat pants and a sweat shirt, Jazz was whisked into Willa’s SUV and to her home. Jazz glanced around. The cool shades of green and pale yellow did sooth her nerves. But mostly, it was the drugs. Willa paced around setting an already perfect room in order.

  “He knew. The slimy snake set you up so he and his buddy could get their greasy hands on your property,” Willa fumed. She placed a basket of healthy snacks and bottled water in easy reach for Jazz.

  “You need to calm down. Have some of my shit.” Jazz grinned as she held up her bottle of pills.

  “You sound like a drug dealer,” Willa scolded. She took the bottle from Jazz and put them back on the night stand. “It wasn’t a coincidence Ames took an interest in your business. Higgins watched the news and pounced.” Willa slapped her hands causing Jazz to start.

  “Standard clause, girl. Chill. Trying to protect his investment. Isn’t that what your high powered attorney friend said?” Jazz reminded her. Brad had been Willa’s employer before she left to take over Crown Protection.

  Mikayla burst into the room without warning. She threw her back pack onto a chair and bounced on the bed next to Jazz. “Auntie Jazz, it’s awesome having you down the hall from me.”

  Seconds later, Anthony strode in and gave Jazz a kiss on the forehead. “Glad you’re okay.”

  “Thanks big man.” Jazz patted her nephew’s face before he stood straight again.

  Mikayla wiggled closer to Jazz. “Are you going to live with us?”

  “H… I mean, no sweetie. I’ll just be here overnight,” Jazz said and cut a glance at her sister.

  “Aw, I was hoping you’d stay. You’re fun even if you don’t like kids.” Mikayla giggled when Jazz tickled her in response to their inside joke.

  “Lawd have mercy, but you’re such a pain in the butt.” Jazz pretended to scowl at her as they tussled.

  “Little girl, get yourself off that bed. Jazz is still bruised up.” Willa waved a hand motioning Mikayla to move.

  “I’m fine. Besides, hugs from a favorite niece are better than any old medicine a doctor could give.” Jazz smiled at Mikayla and took Anthony’s large hand.

  “Uh-huh. Don’t think you’ll get out of doing your homework, Mikayla. Go put your things away. I have snacks set out. In thirty minutes, you should have cleaned up, eaten, and have your head in a book,” Willa ordered.

  “But Mama, I’m in honors class. I’m always doing extra work and…” Mikayla stopped talking under the scrutiny of her mother.

  “I have the list of your assignments,” Willa said. She pointed to the door. “We’ll see you at dinner.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Mikayla slid from the bed and grabbed her backpack. She left with a dejected end of the world expression.

  “I’m going back to band practice. I just came to drop the sprout off since grandmamma couldn’t pick her up. I should be back by dinner at six or six thirty. But first, I’ll grab a snack to go.” Anthony waved and strode out again.

  “Bye, and be careful. He hardly waits to let me get it out,” Willa complained.

  “He’s a man, and they don’t like being babied.” Jazz covered a yawn with the back of one hand. “And no, I’m not going to take a short nap.”

  “About our conversation at the hospital, I apologize. That was my clumsy attempt to… I don’t know.” Willa hung up a new soft terry cotton robe in a closet, also over Jazz’s objection.

  “Speaking of babying…” Jazz raised both arched eyebrows at her. “If you show up with any more clothes for me, we’re going to fight.”

  Willa stopped fussing about the room. She faced Jazz. “You’re right. I need to remember that you’ve been making your own decisions since you were fourteen. Anyway, like I was saying about back at the hospital.”

  “Stop with the guilt and trying too hard. I made my own life, which I kinda like by the way.

  Well, minus the former acquaintances trying to kill me take everything I own, and send me to jail for murder . Other than that, life is fabulous,” Jazz said with a snort.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if Higgins isn’t in on trying to snatch Candy Girls. I’m going to dig deep on him until we even know his great-granny’s shoe size. Pisses me off so much I want to hit somebody.” Willa scowled.

  “Hey Anthony, your mama wants you,” Jazz yelled. “Girl, I’ve been beat on enough in the past thirty-six hours, so don’t look at me.”

  Willa burst into laughter. Soon they were both rolling on the bed giggling out the tension they’d both been under. Anthony and Mikayla had taken turns peeking into the room, shaking their heads, and then leaving.

  “Damn, we used to have fun those times we’d go out.” Willa wiped her eyes and fanned her face.

  “Yeah, I know all your dirty secrets about being a bad, bad girl.” Jazz wiggled her eyebrows at her big sister.

  “I sure as hell couldn’t keep up with you,” Willa shot back and they started laughing again. “Seriously, we have to take care of Higgins.”

  “You know a hit man? Cause if you don’t, I could…” Jazz used her right hand to point like a pistol.

  Willa glanced over her shoulder sharply and jumped to her feet. She closed the bedroom door. “Shut up with the gangsta jokes. The kids might hear us and think you’re for real.

  “I’m only half joking. Yeah, I thought about him coming to the jail with that contract. But to be honest, I had my back against a hard wall. I would have needed
help eventually,” Jazz added to head off Willa’s complaint. “Putting your house and business on the line was a dumb idea.”

  “Gee, you’re welcome. You must be getting better,” Willa quipped. Then she frowned again. “I talked to Cedric, and he’s sure your defense lawyer is legit. In fact, he’s taking all the right actions to prepare for your trial.”

  “Well that’s good to know. Saving Candy Girls won’t help if I’m in prison until I’m seventy years old.” Jazz rubbed her temples to ward off a headache.

  “Nah, in your fifties if you get twenty-five years for second degree murder,” Willa murmured as she gazed off in thought. Her paralegal training kicked in.

  “Wonderful, I’ll sure sleep better tonight.” Jazz lay against the fluffy pillows Willa had piled up for her.

  Anthony knocked and came in. “Moms, a cop is here to see Aunt Jazz.”

  “I’ll take care of this.” Willa stood with a scowl. She stomped past Anthony.

  “Feeling sorry for the dude,” Anthony joked. “See ya. I got to go.”

  Jazz blew him a kiss. “Bye sweetie.”

  Once Anthony withdrew, Jazz was tempted to go watch her sister in action. Where Jazz’s temper was all fire, Willa turned cold as ice. She could tongue lash folks without a cuss word or raising her voice. Vivienne used to say Willa would get her butt kicked faster than Jazz ever would. Yet the comfy bed kept Jazz in place as if the memory foam mattress was a magnet. When the door eased open she was stunned to see Don. His left arm was in a sling. When he entered the room, his gait seemed stiff.

  “Your sister made sure I knew this visit couldn’t last longer than thirty minutes. Forty if I don’t upset you.”

  He leaned down and gently kissed her on the lips. Jazz had no memory of lifting her face to accept it either. When she wrapped her arms around his neck, both sighed. T He pulled up the upholstered chair in the room until it was closer to the bed and sat down. He held both her hands in his.

  “Thanks for coming. Wait a minute. I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to be driving,” Jazz said.