Hood Ornaments

For the whole ride, Tori was impeccably calm. Her breathing was so steady the detectives thought she was asleep. One actually looked in the rearview mirror to check on her. He was somewhat startled when he saw her staring back at him.

“You still with us, Ms. Watts?” He asked dropping his gaze.

“Never left.” Tori said deadpan causing the other detective to chuckle slightly while Carlo sucked her teeth.

“Problem Carlo?” The driver asked

“Nah, looks like y’all got a smart ass. Should be interesting in the box.”

“How bout you keep your mouth shut, Lizette? You ain’t ever been in a box. Make no mistake about it if it wasn’t for your old man, you wouldn’t have been in there to almost fuck this shit up Officer.”

The driver and Carlo bickered back and forth and although Tori’s eyes stayed forward, she was listening intently to the sarcasm ping-ponging in the car. These two obviously either didn’t like each other or they wanted her to think they didn’t like each other.

Are they really going to try good cop/bad cop on me?

That shit been played out.

I know that bitch is a detective.

I’m just gonna heed Mr. Chambers’ advice and keep quiet until he gets there.

I hope he knows what the hell he is doing.

I’m a long way from home.

***

The last time we came here it didn’t seem it took this long,” Dell said casually.

“Probably because you didn’t know why we were goin.”

“Speakin of that, Unc, you sure you’re okay drivin. I mean last time we had Mann…”

“Oh you feelin some kinda way cuz I’m drivin your truck?” Sticks chuckled.

“Nah, man. Just tryin to be polite.”

“Mmmmhmmm, I’m okay. As long as we stopped to eat, I was gonna be aiight. You can take a nap though.”

“He’s gonna kill me ain’t he?”

“Why would he do that Nephew? This was just an unfortunate set of circumstances. Shit I didn’t know what was goin on until they let me go. So nah, Dell, this was no one’s fault. Nobody is gonna get hurt.”

“Cept…”

“Tori will be okay, eventually.”

“You don’t sound so sure Unc.”

“I’m not sayin it’s gonna be easy, but trust me.”

Dell quietly nodded as he looked out the window. Even in the dark he recognized certain landmarks, and he did his best to stifle his impatient sigh.

A lot has happened in a little over a year.

Most of us grew in one way or another.

One life was plucked before he bloomed.

One will probably be replanted.

One will go through a harsh winter before she gets a chance to blossom into the full beauty that she is.

Dell just hoped he didn’t become an unwanted weed.

They passed the street Dell thought he remembered. He didn’t think much of it at first because it was dark. But when the street turned into a road and that road became darker, he started to get worried.

Paranoid even.

He glanced at his uncle who appeared to be squinting at something off in the distance. Dell’s mind raced again. The paranoia began to take over and was slowly tranforming into fear.

I need to know what is goin on, and I need to know now.

“Deer, Unc?”

“Nah, I think that’s her truck.”

Dell was growing more impatient, and his impatience led to annoyance.

“Unc?! What the hell are we doin?”

“We ain’t doin shit. I am trying to figure out if that is Jasmine’s truck up ahead or if she turned off already.”

Dell thought he had figured out what was goin on, but he would just have to wait and see. He discerned Sticks was annoyed or slightly nervous. After all this was only the beginning of the plan. After this leg of the trip was over, everyone had to be a lot more cautious.

Tori depended on them.

And she didn’t even know it.

Sticks turned onto another road and pulled onto the shoulder. A few seconds later, a truck pulled up behind them and shut its lights and engine off. Dell glanced in the review mirror and started to get out of the truck to get in the back. Sticks stopped him.

“Nah, you staying up here.”

The back door behind him opened and the back seat sunk down a bit.

“Sticks, go say something to Jazz before she has a damn fit.”

Sticks sucked his teeth and mumbled under his breath, “This woman stay mad…”

Dell felt a strong smack on his shoulder.

“Sup youngin.”

“Sup Dre. Good to see you…well no not really…but”

Dre chuckled, “S’ok youngin. You got manners. No offense taken.”

Dre then looked over his shoulder. He saw a very irritated Jasmine being kissed by a somewhat apologetic looking Sticks. He chuckled somewhat as Sticks returned to the truck.

“Don’t chu laugh Bamma.” Sticks chided.

“I Love that woman to death but that mouth.”

“She’s justified though.”

“No doubt, but every time?”

Dell held his hand out so Sticks could give him the keys. Sticks gave him dap instead.

“Chu think you doin?”

“Being polite and offering to drive home so you could get some rest.”

“Not the plan.