Wrongful Kiss

September 09 2011

On the other side of the gate was a clearing just large enough to allow Thomas to turn and lock the gate behind him. Then pushing some more bushes out of his was, he stepped into the shadows of a big dumpster.

Looking around, he made sure no one saw him enter from what appeared to be no where.

After waiting and watching for about a minute, and checking all up and down the alley and even checking inside the dumpster, Thomas walked across the alley, then turning right he walked in the shadows of the wall down a few doors till he was in front of a large gray metal door. There he stopped and banged on the door which was marked with the words no night deliveries.

He hit it hard once, waited, then two fast knocks, one knock, then three short slow knocks.

He waited. After a few minutes, he heard the door slowly being unlocked. Then it opened.

“Hey Thomas, Where have you been man”?

This was from Stan, a young black man who had lost most of his hair already.

Standing behind him a man that looked even older than Thomas did.

The younger man had told Thomas before that baldness ran in his family and so he knew at an early age that he would have no hair by the time he reached his current age, which was one year short of thirty.

Thomas did not know how old the man was but except for the hair lose Thomas thought he was in his early twenties.

“I have been on vacation.” Thomas Said. He smiled at the younger man and took his hand in a hand shake that turned into more of a helping hand up the steps and into the small room beyond the door.

He stopped and waited as the man closed and locked the door and then turned to his older looking friend.

They smiled at each other with a half ass lazy old man smile, both giving a nod, and then the older looking guy turning and walking off down the hall way. Thomas followed.

Thomas and his friend walked pass several doors which had pad locks on them, and entered into a large office.

Stan kept going pass the office and went through another door and disappeared.

Inside the office there was a very large one way glass window which showed an even larger room full of shelves with all kinds of mixed alcohol on them. There was a counter also and Stan, the bald man had joined three other men behind the counter.

On the front side of the counters were two lines of people with different bottles of alcoholic beverages. They were waiting to pay for their items.

Thomas followed his friend across the office and set behind a desk after his friend had set down in front of the desk and then pointed to the other side of the desk for Thomas to set.

“Let’s have a drink Dick.” Thomas said.

Dick set still and pointed to the side of the desk that was Thomas’s right.

“You know where it is, top right hand drawer.” Dick also pointed with his chin.

Thomas reached into the drawer and took out the bottle. A pint of Makers Mark, the best damn Kentucky bourbon made. He took a drink.

The two men set there and drink out of the bottle. It was a new pint bottle, and had not been opened when Thomas had taken it out of the drawer and opened it.

After almost three minutes the bottle was almost empty. The two men had set there and drink the pint and had not said a word. They were getting to know each other again. Thomas took the last drink from the bottle.

“Have you got any money for me Dick?” he asked turning the bottle down.

“Just over fourteen,” was the reply, “In the center drawer, the envelope with your name on it.”

“Hundred?” asked Thomas. He was thinking more but how much more he was not sure?

He reached in and took the envelope out. He did not open it, but folded it in half and put it in his back pocket.

“Thousand.” Dick Replied.

“Fourteen Thousand, Damn, you have been busy.”

“We have had a good two week Thomas.” Dick was looking down at the floor, “Summer holiday almost over, everyone shifting to winter season, and the 911 weekend coming up, people are buying a lot.”

The two men set there and looked out the one way glass. There were fifteen or more customers in the store.

The package store was the only place around for miles to buy liquor. Both Allen and New Hope were dry towns.

Dick Spray was 64 years old. His wife had died almost ten years ago leaving him alone. He had no children. So when he met Thomas and they become friends and this store become a life saver for Dick. For Thomas it was just a few minutes away from his personal prison, 

“Was you able to do anything about what I asked you?” Thomas said.

Dick didn’t answer the questing. He asked one of his own.

“Did you find out anything?” Dick had been worried about Thomas for a long time. He knew Thomas had seen a doctor.

“She sent a letter, but I haven’t read it yet. I guess I will when I get back. It just came today.”

“You didn’t open it yet. What’s the hell is wrong with you Thomas?”

Dick was now holding on to the desk, trying to pull himself up.

“Don’t you want to know what’s wrong with you? Are you freaking crazy?” Dick tried to never use cuss words, so he would substitute with other words to make a point.

“If it’s something bad we can do something about it.” He was now standing, and started to walk around the desk.

Dick was older than Thomas by almost ten years, and he liked to drink.

Like Thomas, he was not an alcoholic, not yet, he didn’t have to drink, but he did.

But his men here in the store were good men and took care to make sure he was never too far over the bend to finish out the day.

Thomas stood up, and the two men passed as they exchanged seats.

“It doesn’t matter Dick. You know I don’t give a damn.”

The two men had been friends for a long time. Dick did know that Thomas didn’t care. He had never cared about anything that Dick could remember. Not unless you took in consideration those animals of his.

Thomas had money when he came to town. He had not needed the work or the help from the Marla’s, but after the accident he had stayed on.

Later, after Thomas had become friends with Dick, Thomas had fronted the cost of opening the liquor store. Thomas had given Dick fifty thousand dollars to help with the inventory and opening the liquor store.

Now by this time he had gotten his money back, and made ten times that amount, and more than once Thomas had tried to back out of the deal that he had made with Dick. He had made more than enough off his money, but Dick had told him no, and kept paying right on paying him.

Dick had lived up to the agreement, word for word. And that was what it was, an agreement between two men, a hand shake. And a friendship that had grown more valuable to them than any amount of money ever could.

“Dick, I am tired. I just come by to get some supplies, and then go back home. I will read the letter tomorrow night. In fact, I will bring it over here, and we will read it together.”

They looked at each other.

“Did you take and do....” he stopped,

“Was you able to do that thing I ask you?”

Dick looked at him. He knew what Thomas was talking about.

“You have $757.000.00 in the bank. That does not include the fourteen from this week. I can show you the records of the total amount.”

“I don’t need to see them Dick.”

Dick looked at him, a blank face.

“That also does not include what the stocks and bonds you have are worth.” Dick handed Thomas a stack of paper. They were money statements, and Stocks and Bonds statements. Thomas had $640.000 dollars in stocks and bonds alone with the money in his account for a total of $ 1,397,000.00.

Thomas was a rich man and yet he lived like he had nothing. The only thing he allowed his self to have was his drink, and those old cars he owned which were also worth a small fortune.

“What about the other thing?” Thomas asked.

Dick looked at Thomas. He was trying to know who this man was.

“I looked into the account number you gave me and the money is there just like you said.”

“How much?” asked Thomas.

Dick had a smile on his face that made Thomas think of the fox in the hen house.

“There are over two hundred million dollars all together in the eleven accounts.”

Even Thomas’s eyes grow wide.

“Are you kidding me?” he asked.

“No I am not.” Dick replied.

They set there thinking for several seconds.

“Where the hell did you get that kind of money Thomas?” asked Dick.

“It’s not mine.” Thomas said. “I was just…” he did not finish.

Again there was silence as the two men set there.

The door opened. One of Dick’s employees walked in. He was carrying a large brown bag, and a suit case of beer, Bud Ice. He set the suit case and the brown bag on the floor. He then pulled out one of the bottles that was clanging inside, and set it on the desk.

“There you go boss.” He said to Dick. He looked at Thomas. “Hello Mr. Saratoga.”

Thomas smiled and said “hello James” back to him. James Williams was his name Thomas thought, he was not real sure.

Dick told him that would be all.

“Are the accounts legal?” asked Thomas as James left the room.

“Oh yes. I checked the accounts and all you have to do is sign a paper and you can do what ever you want with the money.”

Thomas was thinking.

“Someone asked me to put some money away for them a long time ago. Over the years the accounts have had small amounts added to them from time to time. I am supposed to have to wait till the summer of 2012 before I can take the money out.” Thomas was looking at Dick asking him a questing with his eyes.

“That’s true. There is a big penalty for removing the money any sooner than 2012. But it is all legal from what I can tell.”

Then Thomas asked, “What about the names I gave you. Were you able to locate them.”

Thomas had asked Dick to find three people for him, two men and a woman.

“I could not find the Dan Harper guy, but I did find out that the brother Andy Harper has a home in the Atlanta area. He does not live there and I could not find where he did live, but he does visit there once a year at lease.”

Dick reached over and took the top off of the bottle of Johnny Walker that James had set on the desk. Then using a letter opener, Dick forced the bottle pourer out of the bottle and then handed the bottle to Thomas to drink from.

Thomas took the bottle from Dick and using both hands turned it up once for a small drink, and then a second time for a larger drink. Then he wiped the top and handed the bottle to Dick.

Dick turned the bottle up and took only one large drink.

“These people are big time crooks I think.” Dick said. “From what I could find out they were part of some kind of family.”

Thomas looked at Dick.

“The family is called heaven Dick. And Andy Harper is the head of the family. All the family members call him God.”

“Damn Thomas just what the hell are you doing for these people?’ Dick asked.

Thomas smiled, “Just cleaning some money for them.”

Dicks jaw dropped. He shook his head no.

“How did you find out about all this Dick.” Thomas asked.

“I hired a private eye, A Hansel Molton, out of Atlanta. I thought a local boy would have better luck finding what we wanted to know.”

“What does he know?” asked Thomas.

“Nothing, but he was not too happy when he reported his findings to me. He said these were not the kind of people to make mad.”

“That is true Dick. That’s why I have to find them. I got to let them know their money is safe and ready for them.”

“Well I will just have to try something else I guess.” Dick said. “The detective made his report, sent me the bill, and said he quit.”

They both laughed. Thomas picked up the bottle again.

“I also have some other news.” He said.

Thomas took a drink and then replaced the led and set it on the desk.

“What news?” he asked.

“The detective was able to find the girl.”

Thomas just looked at Dick. He had almost forgotten that he had asked Dick to find Kelly. He started to shake. He reached over and took the bottle again and with more than a small effort he opened the bottle and took a drink. He did not replace the led this time but just looked at Dick as he let the drink go down. Then he took a second and a third.

By this time he was shaking so hard that Dick had to go over and take the bottle from him. Dick set the open bottle on the desk.

He was holding his friend by the shoulders.

“Are you okay Thomas?” he asked.

Thomas was crying. No sound, just tears.

“Where is she Dick?’ Thomas whispered almost not making a sound.

Dick started talking.

“She is unmarried. She lived with a guy, a cop name Gary Sara. He is dead, killed by a young Spanish man, gang member. He was shot from behind while trying to arrest another member.’

Dick turned and went back to his side of the desk and reached into his desk top again to pull out another envelope.

Thomas reached the bottle and turned it up again, coming down with the bottle, Thomas gagged, spiting out liquor from his mouth and nose, his eyes filled with tears as he tried to catch his breath.

Dick lay the envelope down and ran over behind his friend and started to beat on his back. After a few seconds Thomas was able to breathe again.

“Sorry.” He said.

“Damn Thomas.” Dick said as he started wiping up his desk.

Thomas sat there for a few minutes. Dick was watching him. He could see the tears forming again in the old mans eye. He thought to himself. Who is this girl?

Dick knew that Thomas had a daughter name Dakota. But until a few weeks ago Dick had not known anything about this girl.

Dick knew the name of the girl. Kelly Ann Addison. She was a young half white, half black girl. Only thirty three years old. But what was she to Thomas he did not know.

Dick had at first thought she must be his daughter. But Thomas had told him no, she was not. Dick had then counted up her age a few times but that did not add up also. If she had been a lover, then she had to have been young. Dick did not like to think about that.

Dick went back around the desk and set down. He reached the envelope and took out a picture. He lay the picture down on the desk in front of Thomas. It was a picture of a very beautiful young brown skin girl.

Thomas knew that it was her. He would have known Kelly anywhere.

He could not bring himself to pick up the picture as more tears came to his eyes.

Dick took the picture and put it back inside the envelope.

“I’m sorry Thomas. I also have her address.”

“What?” cried Thomas?

“She lives over in Georgia, Atlanta, just outside Atlanta, Gwinnett County”

“I know that place.” Thomas had dried his eyes. “I lived there at one time my self.”

“You did?”

“Yes, when I was younger. I owned a small business, a small electronics shop.’

“She has a child.” Dick said.

“Yes, a boy right?” Thomas was asking more than telling.

“No, she has a little girl. She is eleven years old.”

What?” Thomas was shocked. He did not know why, but he had never thought of her as maybe having a child. She was always a child herself. Or at lease that was how he thought of her, how he remembered her.

There should be a boy there also around eighteen years old.” Thomas was remembering a morning so long ago. He was remembering being told a child was going to be born. It was much later that he had found out it was a boy.

“Anyway this guy, the cop, and this Kelly girl had a girl baby together but then he goes and gets his self killed.” Dick said.

“What happened to the boy?” Thomas was talking to his self.

Dick stopped what he was doing. He looked at Thomas with a questioning look. He continued.

“Sense she was not married to the cop, she was unable to get any help. They lived in a section eight house, and got food stamps. But over the past few years she has pulled herself up from the welfare rolls and has a job and she is caring for herself and her child alone.”

Thomas was looking at Dick, not moving, he was holding the bottle again. He turned it up again, took a drink, but this time he did not spill it.

After handing the bottle to Dick, Thomas lit a cigarette, then handed one to Dick. “Did you get a picture of the little girl?” 

“Yes.” Dick said.

“And are you sure there was not another child, a boy.”

“No other child Thomas. Not that the detective knew of. He just said she had the one child.”

“I’ve got to go. I’ve got to piss.” Thomas was standing. He picked up the suit case and the brown bag. “I will come back tomorrow and we will think out what I am going to do.” Thomas picked up the envelope, and then turned to walk out the door. Dick stood up to follow him.

At the back door Thomas put his goodies inside a shopping cart that was setting there.

One of the liquor store employees had put it there for Thomas.

“Thanks Dick. I know you care, but I’ll be okay. Really I will.” Thomas held out his hand. Dick took it and the two men shook.

“Take care, Bud.” Dick Said.

Thomas walked down the alley way. The liquor store was the forth shop from the end. Then there were two more shops – and then a large food mart super market. After the super market were six more shops.

Thomas was friends with the manager at the supermarket and so he would be allowed to store his drinks in the back hall of the store as he went food shopping. He needed a few things and thought he would go ahead and get them now.

When Thomas was in the middle of the super market building he stopped. He was looking for something. He did not see it. The drunks in the area had a signal. There was an old tire that had been left there. If it was facing face white wall toward the wall, that meant that someone was inside the small cubby hole made by the shape of the building; a place where the drunks could hide and drink their wine.

The tire was there, but it had been burned. It was lying on its side.

Thomas did not have time to wonder what had happen to the tire. He knew. Three men were walking toward him.

“Grandpa,” said one of the men. Not really a man, he was a big white boy. About 17 years old. He had no hair. It had been shaved off. And he had a role of ear rings in both ears.

His shirt was open, and his jeans looked like they had not been cleaned in years.

“What brings you out this late at night old man.?” asked the boy.

“Got any money old man?” asked the second boy; a black kid. He was also hairless. He had on a white T-shirt and baggy paints.

“If you want to live, you had better have some money. Or I’m going to cut you deep and kill you dead.”

The third boy, also white, did not speak. And Thomas knew that he was the most dangerous of the three. He was holding a bat. Thomas had seen his kind before. He was a coward, and would not move till his goons had taken the blunt of the attack. Then he would put in the killing blow with the bat.

“What’s it going be old man?” asked the first boy. The three were trying to surround Thomas. He was tying to keep them between himself and the shopping buggy.

The black kid grabbed the shopping buggy and pulled it hard out of the hands of Thomas. Slinging it off into the distance, the shopping cart turned over slinging the liquor bottles over the ground, some breaking open and glass going everywhere.

The three kids now had Thomas surrounded. “You Children need to back off before you get hurt.” Thomas told them. He had his hands knifed into a karate blade.

“Look he is going to karate us.” said the leader. He was raising the bat. The other white kid reached out to grab Thomas, and Thomas blocked his arm with the karate hand as hard as he could.

‘Damn.” said the kid as he pulled back the arm. A small smile came to Thomas. The smile was there more so as to hide the pain than anything else. Then he felt a hard slap to the head. He had been hit by the black kid in the back of the head. As he was falling, he felt no fear, only regret that he had not been allowed time to see Kelly before dieing. But he knew that Dick would make sure that Kelly and Dakota would be taken care of for him.

At lease some of his many screw ups would have a good out come.

A very long way off from where Thomas was seeing what he thought was going to be the last lights of life he ever saw, Kelly Ann Addison was trying to get her friend Mona into her car.

Small car, big girl, and heavy drinking, it was not going to be an easy job, she did not fit well.

       Kelly got the girl into the car as a wind come over her. But this wind was cold as ice and she felt like she had never felt anything like it before.

Somewhere in the world, someone was dieing, and calling out for help.

Kelly just felt she was losing someone again. 

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