CHAPTER 4
“Next case is the People vs. Davis Stiles.” The court clerk yelled into the packed court room.
Davis walked out of the door. He was glad to be able to stretch is legs. The bull pen was packed with over eighty people awaiting their chance in front of the Judge.
“Are you Davis Stiles?” The Honorable Judge Mayer asked.
“Yes, your honor.” Davis replied. He bowed his head in shame. Standing in front of judges’ benches, with hands cuffed, makes the most prideful, arrogant man, a little humble.
“You have been charged with battery. It is a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, and a $1000 fine. Do you understand the charges brought against you before this court this morning?” Judge Mayer asked.
“Yes.” Davis replied. Wanting to be blunt and to the point.
“Okay, can I get a recommendation from the State?” Judge Mayer asked.
“We, the State of Illinois, feel that bond should be set at $10,000.” The State’s Attorney replied.
“Mr. Stiles, do you have a lawyer?” Judge Mayer asked.
“No, your Honor.” Davis replied, now looking at the Judge with his full attention.
“We will appoint you a Public Defender. They will come speak to you and then I will decide on your bond.” Judge Mayer explained.
“Thank you, your honor.” Davis replied.
“Next case.” Judge Mayer said.
The bailiff grabbed Davis by his arm and walked him aback to the bull pen. Davis surveyed the packed court room as he was being led away. Beth was sitting in the back row, looking disgusted. Davis didn’t mind the expression on her face. Her presence alone gave him a sense of hope that he had lost two days ago. When she got up and walked out of the police station. He was un-cuffed and put back into the huge bull pen. The room was surrounded on two sides with bars. It had one toilet, one sink, and was filled to capacity with broken men awaiting their fate. All the benches were filled. The only places to sit were on the floor. Even that was a tough thing to do. Other people sprawled out sleeping. Still others shivering in corners or puking from withdrawal from drugs. Most of the people were holding conversations with each other about their case or shaking hands representing their gangs. All sorts of people filled the cramped area. You had your drug dealers, drug users, woman beaters, child molesters, drunk drivers, murderers, rapists, and of course, those who probably just got caught up doing something stupid, like Davis. He found a spot on the floor, and waited impatiently for the Public Defender to come talk to him.
Danny sat in the front row of the packed court room. When Davis came out he wrote down what was said, and now he just sat there reading his front page story. Laughing to himself, he read it over and over again. He was proud of himself. Angie was the reason for the perma-grin that couldn’t be removed. He sat there until all the court cases were appointed lawyers.
“Court adjourned until 1 p.m.” The clerk yelled.
Danny folded up his paper. He had enough time to go to his car, write the first half of his follow-up on his laptop. He would grab a burrito from the roach coach that was always parked on California Avenue, just outside the courthouse.
He headed out the court room, not realizing he had just opened the door from the court room for a pretty young lady with strawberry hair. This was a woman on his list to interview. She smiled at him, and walked on through the door into the old hallway that connected the court rooms.
“Thank you.” Beth said to Danny.
“You’re welcome.” Danny smiled back happy to do a good deed.
Beth walked down the corridor to the stairwell. The courthouse was old. The hallway ceilings were finely carved out of marble. She thought about all the people that had walked through the building for the past hundred years. She made her way out to the courthouse, through the crowds, the metal detectors, the Cook County Sheriffs, and out to California Avenue. She looked north and then south down the sidewalk, having a feeling of uncertainty. This city was still new to her. Her home was in Tempe, AZ. This was Davis’ stomping ground. She remembered that their time in Chicago was only supposed to be a month. Now a year and a half later, it was becoming home.
She decided to go to Popeye’s chicken for lunch. She started walking north on California toward 26th Street. She took out her cell-phone and called her house. There was no answer. She was glad that Mark had gotten up and left. She had loved the way she escaped from herself and her problems for a night. Now, she knew she had put the effort into her marriage and leave well enough alone. Mark was great, but it was out of revenge, or “getting even,” that she had slept with him. She loved Davis and was determined to give it her all. If their marriage failed, it was not going to be her fault. She still contemplated telling Davis about Mark. She asked God to help, and left well enough alone.
She came to the railroad tracks that ran alongside 26th Street. As she crossed the street to the Popeye’s on the corner, the morning paper caught her eye. In the newspaper box window, “Man Found Not Guilty, Arrested Again.”
Beth covered her mouth and whispered, “Oh my God,” to herself. She fumbled through her purse for enough change to buy the paper. She pulled it out of the box and hurried inside Popeye’s to read it. She ordered a bottle of water and a bowl of Cajun rice.
The article talked about Davis being found not guilty of killing a State Trooper, and now he was back in court for battery on a bar patron. The story had a few blatant lies, but nothing anyone could prove, except for her and Davis. The most shocking thing in the article was the quotes from Mark. She couldn’t believe it, and felt totally guilty. She felt as though she had betrayed Davis in the worst way.
“Excuse me, but do you have Yellow Pages I could look at?” Beth asked the cashier at the counter.
“No ma’am, Can I help you find something in particular?” The cashier replied.
“I jus need a lawyer.” Beth answered.
Not realizing it, six heads turned an ear to listen further. The restaurant was filled with lawyers.
“Excuse me, but I’m a lawyer,” came the voice from behind her in line.
Beth turned around to see a man in his early forties with jet black hair slicked back on his head. He had a face carved from stone. High cheek bones, thick black eyebrows, and dark brown eyes. His smile gleamed whiter than white. His skin looked stretched and tanned from his forehead to his neck. Beth figured this man paid a lot of money to try to look in his twenties. But his experienced face gave away his true age. She reached out her hand to shake his hand. His hands were manicured. His palms were soft and supple. The man had on a dark blue, three piece suit, that draped over his six foot three inch frame. The material glided with him when he moved. Obviously, an expensive tailor added to this man’s bills.
“Hi, my name is Beth Stiles. Do you have a minute to talk?” Beth asked being kind of hesitant.
“Sure, my name is Trevor James, Attorney at Law.” He replied with his gleaming smile. He extended his hand with his business card that had magically appeared. With his other hand he slowly led her to her table to sit and talk about her little problem.
“Court is back in session.” The clerk yelled to the courtroom.
“The first case is Davis Stiles.” The clerk exclaimed after waiting for those in the room to be seated.
Davis emerged from the back hallway. He stood in front of the judge for the second time today.
“Mister Stiles, you have been appointed a Public Defender, but it seems your personal attorney has arrived.” Judge Mayer explained as he looked up to see Trevor post up beside Davis.
“Hey, Davis, Trevor James is the name. I am going to get you out of here. Just let me do all t he talking.” Trevor explained to Davis.
“Sure, Beth did this?” Davis asked.
Trevor looked at him and smiled, then turned his attention to the judge. He flipped through his legal pad. He looked up and let the judge hear his spiel.
“Your Honor, Trevor James for the defendant. We are asking for a release, on his own recognizance. We feel that he is not a threat to the community and having no prior convictions in his past reinforces this.” Trevor’s words rolled off his tongue with such precision, that almost everyone in the courtroom was focused on him.
“Your honor, he has an arrest for a D.U.I., Vehicular Homicide, and a few other misdemeanors. To let him off on his own is a threat to him and the community. The State objects.” The State’s attorney laid it down so blatantly that Danny’s pen couldn’t even write it down that fast.
“If you would have let me finish, I was going to inform the court of his past arrests. Any way, Mr. Stile’s wife has asked me to inform the court that Mr. Stiles will go for an assessment at Country Oaks treatment center in Bourbonnais, IL tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. If they feel he needs any sort of treatment, Mr. Stiles will comply with all recommendations.” Trevor finished with such an elegance he even impressed himself.
“Your Honor.” The states attorney tried to interject.
The judge lifted his hand to cut-off the state. He sat there and pondered it for a moment. Then after weighing out his options, he made his decision.
“Obviously this is bond court. My obligation is the State and people who reside in it. I feel an I-bond might be letting him off easy. But I will set your bond at $5000 d-bond. Which means, Mr. Stiles, that you must post $500. I would suggest if you can, that you do go to some sort of counseling, treatment, or whatever is needed. Your next court date will be July 27th. I suggest you be there with something for your judge. I will not be there since this is my courtroom. But obviously alcohol is a problem for you. Do something about it.” Judge Mayer replied.
“Thank you.” Davis replied, and then he glanced over at Trevor who smiled and nodded his head in satisfaction.
“Yes, your honor, thank you.” Trevor followed up.
“Next case.” Judge Mayer yelled.
“You will be out around four or five o’clock this evening. Beth and I will be waiting for you. We have a lot to talk about.” Trevor spoke quickly as the bailiff led him away.
Davis wanted out now, but Cook Co. Jail was so overcrowded, that it always took hours to get anything done. He was surprised he had a lawyer. He loved Beth, and all this just strengthened that. He was going to do the right thing for her, or so he thought as he was led back into the bull pen.
Danny got up from the first row and ran out of the courtroom. He needed to get to his car. The quicker he finished the story, the more papers would be sold. If he could get the story in before 2 o’clock, it would make the evening edition. Then his readers would have a follow-up to his morning story. He knew people would be interested in the events of Davis Stiles’ life. He reached for his cell phone and speed dialed Burt.
“Hello,” Burt answered his ringing phone.
“Yeah, Burt, they gave him a $5000 d-bond, 10%, anyway, he is going to a rehab in the morning. He has an attorney now. Old slick Trevor James. Imagine that. I wrote the first half of the story already. I am on my way to the car to finish it up. I will get to the printing dept. as soon as I finish.” Danny relayed his information as quick as he could talk.
“Great job, son.” replied Burt. “Angie says you did a great interview with the cop. I always knew you had potential. Keep up the good work.”
“One more thing, I am going to Country Oaks treatment center tomorrow. I am going to try to admit myself and get Davis’ story if I can, if that is alright with you? You can have Angie do the follow-up interviews with the other people on my list.” Danny remarked.
“Do what you do, my boy.” Burt exclaimed.
“Thanks boss.” said Danny. “Tell Angie to come by my apartment tonight and I will fill her in on what I still need done. I just might be gone for a while.”
“Will do.” said Burt.
Danny hung up his phone, jumped into his car, and typed out the rest of the story. He was about to hit “enter” when he looked up to see what time it was. His car clock read 2:10p.m.
“Perfect,” Danny breathed, smiled, and relaxed all in the same moment.
The story was downloaded with 20 minutes to spare. Burt made sure the evening press was delayed until the story arrived. Danny headed home, tired yet ecstatic at the same time. He had made love all night, slept for two hours and then came to court. He had left Angie sleeping in her bed. She looked so peaceful and serene. Feelings of warmth filled his heart. He could see great things coming from this. He drove home and began to pack for his little adventure into the unknown world of drug and alcohol treatment, better known as rehab.
Beth and Trevor sat in the foyer inside the building that connected Division five to freedom. The court house stood in front, facing California. Directly behind it was Division five. Cook county Jail divided up its inmates by the severity of their crimes. Division five was where the bond office was. They waited patiently, quietly discussing the options Davis had. The steel door clicked and Davis strolled out. He looked pitiful, unshaven, dirty, jail house slippers, and a nice big, black, and blue bruise that covered his swollen cheekbone.
The time had whizzed by. It was now going on 7p.m. Trevor was familiar with the Cook County system. He had told this to Beth earlier and she understood. Davis on the other hand, had trouble containing his anger. He swallowed his pride and gave Beth a big hug. He squeezed extra hard. She avoided the kiss he tried to plant.
“I am sorry, baby girl.” Davis whispered in her ear.
“I know baby. But I think you need a shower. What do you say we go home and figure everything out.” replied Beth as she pushed herself away from the shell of a man she had picked up from jail just a week and a half ago.
Beth looked over at Trevor and smiled. She didn’t need to thank him any longer they knew what to do. Davis was the one who needed to thank some people. He no idea what was in store for him.
“Thank you, uh…” Davis extended his hand to Trevor, but couldn’t remember his name.
“Trevor James and it was my pleasure. I will be seeing you. Beth knows what’s up, so I will let you two be on your way. Here’s my business card. Call me anytime.” Trevor shoved his magically appearing business card into Davis’ hand.
“Thanks, Mr. James. I won’t forget this.” replied Davis.
“Your welcome.” Trevor smiled.
Beth and Davis walked to their car. There was a lot to talk about on their way back home to Hanover Park. Davis didn’t feel like explaining everything that had happened and Beth didn’t want to know anyway. After they started driving, Beth tossed the paper into Davis’ lap. Davis picked it up and read the front page. He ears and face filled with blood and took on the same color. Beth looked over and could tell he was fuming mad.
“How the hell can they do this to me?” Davis screamed, not even expecting an answer.
“Calm down, baby. It’s going to be alright.” Beth tried to calm him down.
Davis finished reading the paper, opened the window and threw the whole paper out onto the I-290. Beth watched the newspaper scatter in her rearview mirror. Davis reclined the passenger seat, without a word, he mumbled himself to sleep.
“Please Lord, give me strength.” Beth prayed softly to herself.
Danny packed a week and a half worth of clothes. He made sure he had his necessities, shampoo, deodorant, q-tips, conditioner, hair gel, toothpaste, and a toothbrush. While he was packing up his toiletries, he came across a bottle of Vicoden from when he got his wisdom teeth pulled. He threw those in his bag too. He figured it would help him look more like a drug abuser. He needed to cover all his angles on this one. If he could get into this place, it would be the story of a lifetime. He spent over two hours on the phone with Country Oaks, setting up an assessment for the following morning at ten a.m. They wouldn’t give in until he explained he was going to pay for the rehab out of his won pocket. He would get Burt to sign off on the expenses later. He gathered up his things, including his set of fake I.D.’s and birth certificate. He definitely couldn’t go under his real name. He put his bags by the front door, and sat down to watch the nightly news. He knew Angie would be by soon. So he needed to relax a little now. Who knew what she had in store for him.
The knock came at the front door. Danny had dozed off, and it startled him. When he realized what was going on, he jumped up to answer it. He opened the door and Angie stood there in a pair of ripped worn jeans, a white t-shirt, with the shape of her white bra showing through. Her hair was up in a pony-tail and in her hand were four men’s jag-off magazines.
“I figured if you were away, you might miss me, so I am helping you out.” Angie giggled her intentions.
“Uh, okay” Danny really didn’t know what to say. He never thought about fuck books, but with them in front of him, it made sense.
Danny let her in out of the hallway before one of his nosy neighbors caught wind of their open conversation. Angie walked into the apartment, saw the bags sitting by the front door, and laid the magazines next to Danny’s bags.
She kicked off her shoes and plopped down on the couch. Danny went into the kitchen for some sodas. He slid next to her, and they discussed the near future and what it meant for both for them. Neither one of them had any expectations, at least, not stated ones that is. They both felt comfortable for now, without having to say or label anything that happened between them. They didn’t know it, but they both would wait for the future to unfold. They cuddled and fell asleep on the couch.
“Honey, wake up. We are home.” Beth whispered while nudging Davis from his slumber.
Davis opened his eyes and went into the house without a word. He walked into the kitchen for something to drink. He sat down and drank his 7-up with his hand holding up his head. Davis was frustrated, angry, tired, distraught, broken, and just plain sick of life.
“Davis, we can’t go on like this. I don’t know what to say to you anymore. I feel like I have no idea who you are anymore. This is why I want you to go to rehab, and stop drinking. Ever since I met you, I have seen nothing good come from it. I forgive you for what you have done in the past, and if you want we can move on together, or you stay behind while I move on. It’s your choice.” Beth finished with tears in her eyes.
Davis looked up and saw her crying. He felt even worse, than he thought he could. He stood up, walked over to her and held her tight.
“I will do this. Not because I think I need too, but because you think I need too. Whatever it takes to make our lives better I’ll do. Besides, I need to go somewhere and rest. That story just cut me deep.” Davis tried to cover his anger with a little caring.
“I know, but it will all work out, especially, if I have something to say about it.” Beth smiled a little, pulled herself away and looked into Davis’ eyes.
She saw why she still loved him. He still had signs of life. Which she planned on nurturing, until he grew back to be the man he used to be before the accident.
“Why don’t you go shower and do what you need to do to relax. I am going to go pack for you. We have a big day tomorrow. Trevor says if you go to the treatment center for thirty days, he would be able to get you off from this battery charge.” Said Beth as she went about doing what needed to be done.
Davis wanted to talk, but she ran off so fast, e knew she was right. He needed a shower, and a good night’s rest. He would leave everything to Beth. She was always able to manage and control things better than him.
He went upstairs and turned on the shower. He got undressed and was about to go back into the bathroom when the phone rang.
“Hello.” Davis answered.
“Hello.” there was nobody there and Davis slammed down the phone. Thinking it was a reporter, he went into the shower to cool off.
“Hello.” Mark said.
“Did you just call here?” Beth whispered into the kitchen phone.
“Yeah, but Davis answered.” Mark replied.
“Well, I really can’t talk now, but I do need too. I’ll call you at home tomorrow night.” Beth hurriedly said.
“But…” Mark tried to say.
“I can’t talk. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I promise.” Beth replied. “Bye.”
“Bye,” Mark replied.
He needed to talk to her about his interview and the story in the paper. But he knew her situation. He liked her too much to screw up her life. He would only come to her if she asked and was willing. Mark sat there asking God to make her willing.
CHAPTER 5
“Can I help you?” asked Margaret.
“I have a 10 o’clock interview with Phil Wennington.” replied Danny.
Margaret sat behind her desk, an older lady, with smooth skin, a mocha complexion, and big brown eyes. She was a little thick in terms of weight, but her clothes fit her frame with grace. The cross hanging from her neck denoted her beliefs, and Danny could tell she enjoyed the work she was doing.
“Have a seat, and I will get him for you.” Margaret explained in her calm voice.
“Thanks,” Danny said.
Danny scanned the empty waiting room, and decided on a seat in the corner. He was trying his best to seem displaced, despondent, and with some inkling of dissidence. He had done some research yesterday on the internet. He found many websites that dealt with addiction. He visited the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous web sites. He chatted with some people, and focused his energy on becoming a human being who needs to drugs to survive.
“Mister Stugats. I am Phil.”
Danny stood up to him and they shook hands. Phil was six foot four, a slim hundred and sixty pound. He had on a purple and pink polo shirt, with mauve slacks, and nicely priced dress shoes. Danny looked at the shoes for a few seconds. They were made of soft leather. The toes came to a point, and on the top was a fan like design made out of leather strips that connected just below the tongue of the shoe. Danny always looked at shoes to tell who or what kind of person he was talking too. These shoes made him think of a man who enjoyed the finer things in life, and would go to any lengths to stay comfortable all the time.
“Hello, I am Steven Stugats. It is nice to meet you.” Danny replied with a smile and a firm handshake.
“I am glad you could make it. We usually don’t allow people to come in for interviews on such short notice. The reason being, they hardly ever show up. But another client cancelled yesterday, so I guess there is someone looking out for you.” Phil explained himself thoroughly.
“Well great. I really needed this.” Danny replied.
“Okay, then, why don’t you grab your bags, and follow me.” Phil turned and slid his I.D. card into the secure slot in the door. The green light came on and Phil led Danny into a whole new world. Danny had no idea what he was in for, but knew this was his time to shine.
“Look Beth, obviously, we got problems, but we can get through them. I mean this place is such fucking bullshit. I mean I can’t call you for the first two weeks. I have to abide by all the fucking rules on this sheet.” Davis screamed at Beth, shaking the sheets of papers he had just received from Bob Waters. “What the fuck did you talk me into?”
“Davis, I love you. If that’s not enough to make you want to stay and get help then I have nothing more to say.” Beth calmly told him.
Davis looked into her eyes. Emotions had caused her to roll a couple of tears down her cheeks. He didn’t even feel compassion or guilt. He felt he was suckered into this rehab thing. He held his arms close to his sides, so Beth wouldn’t see him grinding his finger tips into his palms. His knuckles were white from the pressure he was applying to his hands to keep them balled up in fists. His mind raced, and then just as quickly as he had gotten mad, he calmed down. The lights came back on, in his head.
“You’re right.” Davis choked out.
“I love you, and we will get through this. Together, I swear.” Beth replied.
“Okay baby.” Davis answered back.
Davis and Beth hugged good-bye and kissed. She felt his passion and love. She melted all over again. After a long minute of locked hearts, she pulled away and turned to leave the little cubicle.
“Beth,” Davis yelled.
“I’ll be up here to visit you in two weeks. We’ll talk more then.” Beth said.
“But…” Davis tried to holler after her, but realized she was a woman who had set her mind to something. Past experience had told him he wouldn’t be able to sway her no matter what he said.
“Bye, baby girl.” Davis whispered.
Beth heard him speak softly, although she didn’t actually hear the words, she knew they were special. To Beth, Davis was trying to change, but it was going to be a long and arduous journey. She wasn’t sure if she was going to have the energy to keep up. But she was going to give it the old college try.
“What is your drug of choice?” asked Phil.
“Alcohol and painkillers.” replied Danny.
“Okay, why don’t you tell me how you got to where you are at?” asked Phil.
Danny thought long and hard about his life. He had to give this guy something. He began to rattle off his life in a nutshell. When he got his teen-age years, he threw in some things that were not true. Being a journalist, he created stories for a living. It was second nature to create a new life.
“Well, that was interesting. I know you some untruths in there. But you will soon see this program is about honesty. It seems you need some help. Now let’s sign these papers and we can get you started with the program.” Phil explained.
Danny signed his “John Hancock” on the designated lines. As he signed, he realized that Phil had just talked about honesty, and here he was signing under a false name. He chuckled. Phil looked up from his papers and they made eye contact. Danny felt a little guilty. So he glanced back down at the sheets. He finished up and handed them back across the desk.
“Okay, now we have to go through your things,” Phil said as reached over for one of Danny’s bags.
“Uh,” Danny mumbled.
“What?” Phil replied.
“Forget it.” Danny quickly answered.
Phil went through all of Danny’s things. He had found the bottle of Vicoden and put it aside. Danny kept his focus on the floor. At least there, Danny wouldn’t be able to see any disappointment in Phil’s eyes. Phil’s job entailed, making sure that intakes were not trying to bring in substances of any kind. Country Oaks’ policies even forbid the use of pain killers for clients with medical problems. When Phil came upon the magazines, he didn’t even flip through them or flinch. Danny found this kind of odd. Any man would have at least skimmed the pages. He was quickly formulating thoughts of homosexuality. This was one thing Danny could not stand. Probably because he just didn’t understand.
“Alright Steven, let me take you to the facility. I will give you a quick tour then we’ll go find your “peer partner.” Phil explained.
“O.K. But what’s a peer partner?” Danny asked, still a little uneasy thinking this guy was probably gay.
“It’s another client to show you around. Someone who can make sure you know the rules. It’s a way for you to get accustomed to the program.” Phil delightfully spoke.
“Ohhh.” Danny replied.
“So, follow me.” Phil said, he reached down and picked up the lighter of Danny’s three bags.
“You got it?” Danny asked, as he picked up his other two bags.
“Yes, that’s why I grabbed the lightest one. Clients have to learn to work here.” Phil smiled.
“Right,” Danny mumbled.
Phil led the way through the cubicle maze. They reached the back door of the building and Phil walked out into the sunlight. Parked in a row, just outside the back door, were six, gold, Ford Taurus’. Phil opened the trunk, threw Danny’s bag in there and waited patiently for Danny. After all the bags were in the trunk, Phil and Danny jumped into the car.
“You are really going to like it here.” Phil explained.
“I hope so.” Danny replied as he looked over his shoulder and saw for the first time the whole facility. There were five buildings about a ½ mile across a large field of overgrown grass, plants, bushes, and small trees. A road wound through them, and Danny realized that was the way they were going to take.
“Phil,” Bob screamed.
Phil stopped backing out of the parking space, and looked over at Bob standing at the back door with Davis. Phil rolled down the driver’s side window and waited for Bob to walk up to the car.
Danny looked at this five foot ten inch man who weighed at least three hundred and fifty pounds, waddling towards the car. Behind him, Davis stood with white knuckles clenching two bags. Danny could tell that Davis didn’t want to be here. Danny felt the same way.
“This is a new client, Davis Stiles.” Bob told Phil, as he motioned for Davis to come to the car. “Could you take him up to the house?”
“Perfect timing,” said Phil “you always manage to let me be your tour guide.”
“Well, you know.” Bob said as he through his hands in a surrendering fashion.
“O.K.” Phil answered.
“This is Davis. Davis this is Phil and uh...” Bob said, waiting for Danny to introduce himself.
“Steven Stugats.” Danny replied.
“Steven, it is nice to meet you.” Bob said as he backed away so Davis could shake Phil’s hand.
“Hey Phil, Steven,” Davis shook Phil’s hand while crouching down to look at Danny through the driver’s side window.
“Davis,” Danny and Phil said almost in unison.
“Well jump in.” Phil said as he motioned to the back seat.
Davis opened up the back door, threw his two bags onto the back seat and climbed in. Phil put the car in drive and took off toward the cluster of buildings in the distance. Phil obviously knew the road well, because he weaved and turned, around the winding road that split through the overgrown back yard. They went through the center of the buildings. The road came to an end at a large cul de sac. Phil pulled up to the fifth building. Two buildings lined the road on both sides, and the fifth was built perpendicular to the four. It stood four stories high. It was red brick, and very well maintained. The house had to be at least a hundred years old.
“Alright gentleman, let’s get your things and get you inside to get settled.” Phil said as he slid out of the car.
“Well, you ready to get treated in ways you thought unimaginable.” Davis said with a shit-eating grin.
“Hey, I am totally ready to be victimized.” Danny replied.
“Ha, ha.” Davis replied. He hadn’t laughed like that in a while. He was starting to like this guy.
Davis and Danny got out and escorted Phil inside the automatic doors. Just inside the foyer was a front desk. There, with her head down sat a beautiful blonde. Her hair was straight and bright like the sun. She obviously was very into what she was doing, because she didn’t even flinch when the automatic glass sliding doors opened and then closed behind the three gentlemen.
“Why don’t you two have a seat, and I will get Sharon to help you guys out.” Phil motioned over to the wall across the foyer where a few seats were positioned around a small coffee table.
Davis and Danny hurried to the chairs, so they both could wait and see when this Sharon girl looked up.
“Hi, Sharon. I got two new clients today. I am leaving the rest up to you.” Phil explained.
Sharon looked up from her work to see Davis and Danny sitting down. They looked at her beautifully tanned skin, big blue eyes, and the perfect face that went with the hair. Her cheek bones were high, and covered in blush. Her eyelashes extended out past her eyes with just the hint of mascara and eyeliner to match. Sharon smiled at Davis and Danny, and then motioned for them to come up to the desk.
“Thanks Phil. I’ll take good care of them.” Sharon replied as she rose up to greet them.
Phil said, “Thanks,” and quickly found the exit.
Davis and Danny pushed and shoved to get to the desk first. They focused their attention Sharon’s body as they approached her. The same thought went through both of their minds at the same time. “Boy, would I love to hit that. I would only need a good two minutes with her.”
She stood there with her perfectly sculpted body. She was tone, and had the thickness in all the right parts. She had on a black sweater, and blue jeans. She reached over the desk to shake their hands.
“Hi, I am Sharon. I am a staff member. I make sure that everyone is where they are supposed to be. This building is where most groups meet. The male dorm rooms are upstairs. I will be giving you both “Peer partners.” They are in groups right now, so what do you say you guys sit over there and fill out these questionnaires I have here.” Sharon finished her usual spiel. She handed them both clipboards and pens and sat back down to finish her work.
Danny was about to go when he noticed Davis wanted to say something. Davis glanced over at Danny and threw his eyes in Sharon’s direction. Danny got the hint that Davis wanted him to say something. Danny shook his head, “no,” and walked back to sit down. Davis looked back to Sharon then at Danny, once more at Sharon, and then realized he might as well just sit down too. With his head down, Davis joined his new friend and “partner in crime.”
Beth tuned the radio trying to find a good song that would help her with her mood. She felt horrible inside. Her stomach was upset and she felt ashamed at what she had done. She wanted to tell Davis, about her rendezvous with Mark. Now he was gone, again. It was getting harder and harder for her to be alone with her emotions. She used to be able to share with Mark on how she was feeling. But now that just wasn’t an option. She wasn’t in the heartbreaking business, only the people-helping business.
“Friday, I’m in love,” by the Cure came on the radio and she smiled with tears of joy, pain, and sorrow, flowing down her cheeks. Again she was faced with a choice of what to do next. She prayed, sang, and drove all at the same time. She soon realized that God could be the only one to save her from this mess.
She picked up her cell phone and dialed Mark’s number. The phone rang four times and his answering machine picked up.
“Hi, you have reached the Illinois State Police trouble-shooting department. I am unable to take your call. But please don’t hesitate to leave your guilt and I’ll come calling when I get in. Guaranteed!” Mark’s message played on a few seconds longer with silence, then the beep.
“Hi, Mark, um, well, I guess I need to talk to you. Um, I mean, um, oh, just call me.” Beth related her message feeling a little uncertain. She hit “end” on her phone and put it down in the center console of her car.
She turned the radio way up and started her search for answers. The answers, she hoped, would come sooner than later. She needed to release the pressure. Her emotions were all being shook up. She felt like a bottle of pop that you drop. If you open it too soon, it leaves a mess all over you. Not to mention, the explosion usually ruins everything around you.
Beth drove home. An hour and a half is a long time for a person to be alone with their thoughts. Without someone else to talk too, things get a hell of a lot worse before they get better. Wishing she had someone to talk too, never realizing that the volume of the radio was drowning out the sound coming from her cell-phone, her prayers were being answered. She was just using her will instead of God’s.
Mark slammed the receiver down. He just missed her call. He lit up a cigarette and spit the tobacco out. He plopped down in his chair and dazed out the sliding glass of his front room. His thoughts raced around in his head. Mark didn’t like the way Beth had sounded. He was caught up in his emotions. Feelings of love and loneliness swirled around in his heart like a whirlpool with no bottom.
He started dreaming again of bigger and better things. He knew he could make Beth so happy, if she would only let him. She was making it difficult for him to keep imagining the two of them on a beach, sipping cocktails and making each other happy.
Happiness was always something that he could only see but never feel. He always saw other people being happy. He tried to empathize with them. But never could. He grew up in a family where there was no love or happiness. His father was an alcoholic who beat him and his brother on a nightly basis. Acting like it was some sick ritual of his. It drove his mother to suicide. She had killed herself with Mark’s father’s service revolver. Mark’s father was a cop for the Chicago Police Department. He brought all the pain and misery from his job home with him.
The reason Mark became a cop was because he wanted to prove to himself, and his father, that the job was a job, not a way of life. He turned 18, went to college, and studied criminal justice. When he graduated with a bachelor’s degree, he found out that the Illinois State Police were hiring. He did the tests, got accepted and was off the academy. By the end of the summer, he was working out and learning how to fire a gun.
Two months in the academy and he was ready to graduate with honors. Graduating with honors was going to give him the opportunity to be a white shirt. But the unthinkable had happened before graduation. His older brother, Peter, had overdosed on heroin. The death of his older brother took him right out of the state of mind he needed to get through “hell week” at the academy. The academy gave all their graduates a rigorous test for a straight week. They made sure that the recruits knew what they had learned the previous three months. After the week was over, there was straight partying all through the weekend into graduation on Monday.
Mark froze up during “Hell Week.” He couldn’t stay focused and it drove him insane, that he had to choose between his brother’s funeral or graduation. He stuck it out and got his completion. The honors were gone, but he secured his job on the force. After graduation, he visited his brother’s freshly dug grave. The only reason he knew where it was at, was because Peter and his mother were eternal neighbors. The fact that his father showed no emotion, floored Mark. Mark cussed his dad out that night. They went to the bar to relieve some stress. What really happened was Mark got more stressed from his father’s “no care attitude.”
Mark never spoke to his father again. He started his new job. He put his full attention and spirit into his position. After his first year on the force, the news came that his father had retired three months earlier. At the same time, he had to hear about the old man dying of cirrhosis of the liver. Mark put aside his resentments and laid the last remaining member of his messed up family, to rest. After the funeral, he stood over the three graves that lied side by side at the Elmwood Park cemetery. Tears filled his eyes. He croaked out a goodbye and turned to walk away. He vowed never to return. Since then, life has been one crazy thing after another, every moment fading into the next. He had shut down. It wasn’t until he met Beth, seven years later, at the hospital, that he started to feel again. Instead of shutting them off right away, he let his emotions fly.
Now, he sat there looking out the window, wanting so bad to be cold and apathetic. But it was too late; his emotions ran all through his body. He cried and cried. The cigarette burned itself out in the ashtray. The phone could not ring; he never hung it up after he slammed it down. No one was around to share in his misery. He had to deal with it all by himself. He wished he wasn’t alone. The saying is true. “Misery loves company.”
Two guys approached Davis and Danny. They both looked up to see two guys standing in front of them. One of the guys had on a tye-dyed “Grateful Dead” shirt, worn out blue jeans and Converse All-Stars. He had a mushroom haircut, where all the hair from the top of his head fell down to his chin line. The sides and back were shaved down to the scalp. He had a beard with no mustache.
The other guy was black, six feet tall and well built. He was wearing a “Fat Albert” jean suit. He had on expensive leather boots and carried himself with a “pimp walk.”
“How’s it goin’?” Sammy asked.
“It could be better,” replied Danny.
“Could be? Ha,” yelled Davis.
“I am Sammy, and this is Greg.” Sammy replied.
Sammy reached out to shake Davis’ and Danny’s hands. Greg followed suit. Davis looked at both of these guys and could tell, Greg was laid back with the “Let the world blow up,” attitude. Sammy was more of the “I look good,” kind. Sammy walked over to Sharon’s desk and got the information he needed.
“So what’s goin’ on?” Greg asked.
“Not much, DUDE.” Davis chuckled.
“Yeah, that’s funny DUDE. But, um, if you’re trying to be cool, you failed, BRO. I may look like a stoner, act like a stoner, and talk like a stoner, but just remember, BRO, I have a hell of a lot of respect for myself. From the looks of you, you probably hate yourself, DUDE!” Greg sarcastically implied.
“You little fucker, I should kick the shit out of you.” Davis hollered.
Danny grabbed Davis’ shirt and pulled him back. Sharon and Sammy looked over at the commotion then finished their conversation. Danny waved at them to tell them everything was alright.
“Look man, I see you are pissed off at being here. Me too, but let’s make the most of it.” Danny said.
Danny pulled Davis away, so he could talk to him a little more privately. Davis was hesitant at first, but after an ugly stare down with Greg, he conceded.
“Look, that little pecker, can’t be more than 18. You’re how old?” Danny asked.
“31,” Davis replied with his head down.
“Right, so why should you stoop to his level?” asked Danny.
“That fucker needs an old fashioned ass whoopin’” Davis replied.
Danny stared into Davis’ eyes and saw the rage. He had seen that look before in his step-dad’s eyes, it was that feeling of losing control seeping out through every part of the body.
“Just let it go,” Danny finally said.
“Let’s just get this shit over with. I need to lie down before I kill this punk,” Davis replied.
Davis followed Danny back over to where Greg was standing. Sammy walked over from the desk with a couple of sheets of paper in his hand.
“Okay. Look’s like we’re all set. You guys follow me and we will show you around,” Sammy said as he began to walk off. Davis and Danny grabbed their bags and followed in line behind Greg and Sammy. They walked into a huge room at the end of the hallway.
The room was vast in space. There were at least ten couches positioned throughout the room. A fireplace was on the left side, and double swinging doors on the right. Where the four of them stood there were railings that ran alongside the room. Stairs led down into the sunken room. The ceilings were vaulted. And on the other side, eight large windows at least twelve feet in height each, looked out to a field bordering a forest, split by a creek. The beauty of the entire scene was left up to the imagination. It felt alive in the room. The hallway split to the left and to the right. Elevators were in both corridors. Sammy grabbed Davis and went right. Greg took Danny to the left.
“Why can’t we stick together?” Danny asked.
“Your guys’ rooms are in different parts of the House.” Greg replied in his stoner voice.
“I’ll catch up with you later, BRO.” Davis hollered from his side of the hallway.
Danny put up a hand to acknowledge the comment. The four of them got into their separate elevators and disappeared into the unknown world of Rehab.
“Angie, get your ass in here,” Burt yelled from his office.
Angie made sure she took her time getting into his office. Her desk was a few feet from Burt’s door, but she hated when he yelled. She opened the door, looked inside and saw he was on the phone.
“What’s up boss?” Angie politely asked.
“Where is Danny? I need to keep this series going. We have got readers calling and asking for more. I mean, shit, I thought he was going to stay in contact.” Burt yelled.
“He just got there yesterday. He said he would call me as soon as he could. Don’t you think he has got to get settled first?” Angie asked.
“Settled, Schmeddled,” Burt snapped. “He needs to keep his job. And his job is stories. He had better call by the end of the day; I want something in the paper by tomorrow. If not, I won’t be happy. You hear me?”
“Yes, boss. I’m sure he’ll be calling today.” Angie replied, realizing it was her cue to leave.
She slipped out of the office doorway. She went back to her desk and fumbled through her purse until she found the list of contacts, Danny had given her a few days ago. Angie knew that Danny was working on a good story, but Burt wanted something now. So she figured she would do some follow-ups and get a story written. This would give Danny a few more days to work with.
Angie picked up the phone and called Beth. She figured if you are going to start something, then go for the “gusto.”
“Hello,” Beth answered the phone hoping it was Mark and not her boss.
“Hi, I am looking for Beth Stiles. This is Angie Smith. I am with a woman’s group. I read the story in the paper about your husband,” Angie lied through her teeth.
“Um, I don’t want anything. Thanks,” Beth replied. The last thing she wanted to deal with today was a telemarketer.
“Please, ma’am, don’t hang up. I am not calling to sell you anything. You see, there are a few of us ladies who have men in prison, or man problems, period. And we get together once a month for a support group. The last meeting we had; was last night. The next one is in four weeks. We all read the stories and decided to contact you, to see if maybe you could meet with us and give us some insight on how you are maintaining through your ordeals.” Angie finished.
“Ha, ha, ha, that’s funny.” Beth needed a good laugh. She didn’t feel she was maintaining anything at all. She felt like falling apart at any given second. “Well, I don’t know what to tell you Miss Smith.”
“Mrs. Smith. My husband is in prison for murder. He was sentenced to thirty years. He has been gone for eighteen months now. I got to tell you, I would be an absolute mess if I didn’t have this group.” Angie explained.
“So what is it you want from me again?” curiously asking. Beth had become interested all of a sudden.
“Well, since I was designated to contact you, maybe we could meet for an hour or so tomorrow after work.” Angie said.
“Well, I took the week off. So I guess it couldn’t hurt.” Beth replied.
“O.K. Well then, how about we meet at the “Rainforest Café” at “Woodfield Mall” tomorrow. Let’s say sixish.” Angie said.
“Sure, that would be fine,” Beth replied.
“Good, I’ll see you then.” Angie quickly said, so Beth wouldn’t have time to back out or ask for a phone number.
“Fine, bye.” Beth said.
Beth looked up at her ceiling. She had been lying in bed all day. She wanted to hear from Mark, but couldn’t reach him at all. She call in sick for the week so she could collect herself and find some answers to the many questions in her life.
“Maybe, this is God’s work,” she mumbled up at the ceiling.
She was feeling a little better. She rolled over and fell asleep. The rest was good since she had not been able to sleep at all throughout the night. This guilt she was feeling had to go or she knew it would be the death of her.
CHAPTER 6
“Wake up. Come on we got ten minutes before breakfast.” Sammy nudged Davis.
“It’s like seven in the morning. Just give me another five minutes.” Davis groaned.
“No, I have to get you down there and fed. Then we can come back up here and clean the room before the community meeting,” Sammy said.
Davis laid his head back down then realized that Sammy wasn’t going to let him stay there. He threw the covers off, stomped his feet on the floor, then stomped around his dorm room looking for his clothes. He slammed drawers, and doors. Sammy laughed. Davis was making a spectacle of himself. Sammy had seen this kind of behavior a lot. A man who doesn’t think he has a problem with his life will usually fight the program for a good month or so, even longer if he is hardheaded.
“You almost ready?” asked Sammy.
“Yeah.” The gargled sound of Davis’ voice could be heard, his mouth obviously filled with toothpaste.
“Good, cause they got sausage and pancakes on a stick today. And that’s my favorite.” Sammy grinned out the words.
“How can you be so happy about one particular food? Geez, it looks like you’re having sex with yourself over there,” Davis chuckled.
“Man, you got one hell of a mind,” Sammy retorted. A man not secure with himself might have taken that comment the wrong way, but not Sammy.
“Hey, what’s up with my one roommate, R-R-R-ich, Dick?” Davis imitated.
“Come on, I’ll tell you in the elevator down. There will be less people likely to overhear.” Sammy said as he guided Davis to the elevators.
“So, what do you think of the food?” Greg asked.
“Hey, this ain’t bad at all. I was expecting some sort of Russian Borsch or gulag.” Danny said.
“Yeah, they do, do a good job with what they feed us around here,” replied Greg.
“Hey, there’s Davis and Sammy,” Danny said as he stood up and directed Davis over to where they were sitting.
“Oh, man, not your pecker wood friend.” Davis said as he came over with Sammy.
“Fuck off dude.” Greg said.
“Pull yourself up on the swearing Greg.” Sammy said.
“Thanks for the pull-up,” Greg answered back and continued to eat his breakfast.
“Well, let me go grab some food for you and then we can come back and be seated.” Sammy said.
“Hey that sounds good.” Davis said.
“If we’re not here when you get back, it’s because we went to clean our rooms.” Danny replied.
“Then, I’ll catch up with you later,” Davis yelled back over his shoulder. Sammy was guiding him to the serving line, if they were late then neither one of them would eat.
“Come on, let’s just get our food and get on with our day.” Sammy explained.
“Yeah, yeah. Hey, so my roommate is gay, huh?” Davis asked.
“I don’t know, but he has social issues,” Sammy said.
“Yep, gay, fag, queer, homo, tree jumper, punk, bitch.” Davis said.
“Come on! Pull yourself up.” Sammy said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Davis asked.
“Well, when someone gives you a pull-up it is because you are breaking the rules. The only proper response to a pull-up is thank you.” Sammy explained.
“Oh well, I still think he’s a fag,” Davis said as he put that shit-eating grin on his face.
“Alright, let’s just go eat,” Sammy said.
“Are you ready to order yet, ma’am?” asked the waitress.
“No, I’m waiting for someone. I could use a refill on the coffee, though.” Angie replied.
“Sure, coming right up.” Tiffany, the waitress, said as she spun around while rolling here eyes.
“Bitch,” Angie mumbled under her breath.
Angie sat there, wondering whether Beth was even going to show up. She figured she played her part out as best as she could. She wanted to help Danny by giving him a little more time. She never thought she would end up falling for a guy who was a reporter. But she was happy with her decision to give Danny her all.
This story would hold Burt off, long enough for Danny to finish what he was doing. Plus, this would entice the paper’s readers into buying more copies. Angie felt good doing something for someone else, even if it was at the expense of Beth and Davis.
“Hi, are you Angie?” Beth asked as politely as possible.
Angie looked up from her thoughts and smiled. Her ship had come in. She stood up and shook Beth’s hand.
“I am, and I didn’t think you were going to make it,” Angie replied.
“Well, I wasn’t coming. But I guess one thing you said to me kind of stuck. I really do need someone to talk too. My husband is in a treatment center. I really do need this.” Beth said as she eyed the carpet.
Angie looked at her. She could tell Beth was guilty and ashamed of her husband and their situation. This was going to be a lot harder than she ever imagined.
“Well, why don’t we have some lunch and a chat? Then you can ask me any questions you have.” Angie said.
“Sounds good.” Beth said.
They sat down; Angie called the waitress over for another round of “cat fighting.” Tiffany took her time. Angie knew this broad was screwing with her.
“Can I help you, NOW?” Tiffany asked with all the emphasis on the word “now.”
“Um, yes,” Beth said.
“Okay, great. What are you having today?” Tiffany asked. She was a little thrown off when Beth answered first instead of Angie. Tiffany loved to have battle of the wits with other women. She loved her job, but she also loved screwing with other women. Tiffany finished taking Angie’s and Beth’s orders, and went about her usual business.
“So, why don’t you tell me about this group you’re involved in?” Beth asked. She was very interested in hearing something that might help her with what she was dealing with.
“Well, I guess I’ll start at the beginning. I was married at twenty years old. My husband was kind and gentle. He always gave me everything I wanted or needed. He always had money and made sure the bills were paid. He would leave for work early in the morning and come home late. But he always made time for me. It was a great marriage for the first year. Then things started happening. First I found out, he had other women that he messed around with on the side, then the late phone calls and the hang-ups. I confronted him about it and he told me the truth. He made some bad choices for awhile, but he had stopped doing what he was doing. I didn’t believe him, but I stayed. Why? I don’t know. I guess, the “I do’s” really do mean something to me. Anyway, I started getting nosey. After another year or so, we bought a house in Oak Park. I didn’t think anything of it. Hell, I have a house I can call my own. So, I let him slide for awhile. I guess you can say, I let him buy me off. But he wouldn’t be home much, so my curiosity got the best of me. I followed him to work for a few days. Everything was fine, or so it seemed. But then I came across some real shady dealings. You see, Joe, my husband, was running a drug dealing thing. You see, he bought me a house in Oak Park, so he could be close to his drug spots on the west side of Chicago. I had to let it go. I was mad, but scared at the same time. I was scared for him, for me, for life in general. So I would just drop hints here and there hoping he would decide to tell me what was going on. Then during the summer of our fourth year of marriage, a deal went bad and he defended himself. The other guy died and then came the hurricane. All the bad things I thought could happen; did. He was arrested. The police found out about the drug dealing. They seized the house, the business, and the cars. The only thing I was able to keep was my wedding ring, a week’s worth of clothes, and my health. So, now, I had to move home with my mom. I made the commute by bus to the county jail once a month for his court dates. I hired him a lawyer. And just…”
“How did you afford a lawyer?” Beth interrupted.
“Oh, it seemed, Joe had put some funds away with one of his girlfriends. So I got his phone call one night from her. I was mad at first, but God works in mysterious ways. He sat and fought that case for over two years. The longest two years of my life. I had to go back to work and help support him in jail and my mom. Things got really tough. Then they found him guilty and gave him thirty years. Now I go and see him downstate in Menard Maximum Security Facility. But, one day, about a year ago, I got a phone call. Similar to the one I made to you. I was suspicious at first. But now I don’t know how I would have survived without the other women.” Angie finished.
“So, this is just a club of women who support each other while their husbands are gone?” Beth asked.
“Yeah, either some are dead or are in prison. We read about yours in the paper. So we decided to reach out to you.” Angie finished.
“Huh,” Beth was speechless.
She had prayed for a little help. Now God was working for her. She always believed but times like these made her faith a lot easier to have. Tiffany brought their food. Angie had sold Beth. Beth wanted to see how this worked. She was willing to try anything to remove this hole she was feeling in her heart. The cell phone began ringing in her purse.
“Excuse me. I probably should get this.” Beth politely said to Angie.
“Hello,” Beth answered.
“Hi, it’s Mark.”
“Oh, hi,” Beth replied.
“Can you talk?” Mark asked.
“No, but I’ll call you when I get home,” Beth replied.
“Okay but make sure you do,” Mark huffed.
“Okay bye.” Beth shut her phone and looked back across the table at Angie.
“Who was that?” Angie nosily asked.
“Just a friend,” Beth replied. “Hey, what do you do to please yourself while Joe is gone, if you know what I mean?”
“Oh, I pick up guys at the bar.” Angie giggled.
“Really!” Beth exclaimed.
She was shocked, yet somewhat relieved. They giggled and laughed the evening away. Beth had really started to like this Angie girl. She felt a good friendship forming. She couldn’t wait to meet the other women. This is what she needed.
“License, insurance, and registration. Ma’am.” Mark politely asked the woman.
“What did I do?” The woman asked.
“Well, I clocked you doing 64 in a 55.” Mark replied.
“Oh, nine miles over, come on. Can’t you give me a break? I’m on my way to work.” The woman said, as she handed him the license, insurance, and registration.
“Sorry ma’am. Just doing my job.” Mark emphasized. “I’ll be back in a minute with the ticket.”
Mark walked back to his squad car, the woman just sat there and pouted. Mark was really irritated with his job today. He knew why. He waited all night for Beth to call him back. The call never came. He tossed and turned all night. When it was time to leave for work, he made a decision to really nail these scofflaws today. Watching the woman’s driving record coming up on his computer screen, he dazed off into traffic of the congested I-290.
He imagined the conversation he wanted and needed to have with Beth. When he got home tonight, he was going to tell her how he really felt, what he wanted from her, and ask her to leave with him for good, somewhere south of the border, a nice Mexican town on the gulf, a villa, and maybe some small tourist business to supplement their income. If she said yes or no, it wouldn’t matter. He was going.
With her preferably, of course, but if not, he wasn’t going to lie around and wait to die. He decided to get out of Chicago for good. He didn’t have anything left here. Sorrows and bad memories, and as far as he was concerned, they could have and keep Chicago all to themselves.
He snapped out of his deep thought and realized that he had been daydreaming for about twenty minutes. He could just imagine how his scofflaw was handling the situation. He got out of his squad car and approached the woman’s car.
“Sorry ma’am,” Mark said.
“What’s taking so long?” The woman asked.
“I had to make sure there were no outstanding warrants or other violations.” Mark replied.
“Yeah, yeah… Can I please just be on my way?” asked the woman.
“Well, I decided to just give you a warning. But please obey the speed limit, that’s what it’s there for.” Mark smiled and handed her, her papers back.
“Oh, thank you, officer.” The woman said with a smile. She blushed, feeling a little guilty about being sarcastic.
“No problem, ma’am. It’s Trooper Daniels. Have a nice day.” Mark corrected her as politely as possible, and stepped back allowing her to drive off.
“Thanks, Trooper Daniels.” The woman said and drove off.
Mark walked back to his squad car. He radioed his headquarters and told them he was returning to the station. He was through for the day. He was going over to Beth’s house to get this problem over with. He was done telling people what to do and how to do it. He retired in his mind. Now, it was time to retire officially. He was going to wait to talk to Beth first. Then he would put in his notice. The job was killing him, mentally, emotionally, physically, and worst of all, spiritually. It was time to just surrender.
Beth rolled out of bed around ten a.m. She felt rested for the first time in weeks. She put on her slippers and went downstairs for her usual breakfast, which consisted of yogurt, some fruit, and a nice glass of O.J. She grabbed the paper from her front porch, sat there at her kitchen table and opened the paper.
The paper crashed down on the kitchen table, spilling her orange juice and just missing the yogurt. Tears welled up in her eyes and dripped down her face. The orange juice dripped from the table to the floor in unison with her tears.
She grabbed the phone and called Angie. God had sent her support and she was going to use it. She ran upstairs to find the number.
“Come on, pick up,” Beth mumbled to herself as the phone rang.
“Hello,” Angie answered.
“I’m so sorry, but it’s Beth,” she choked out between tears.
“Don’t be sorry, what’s wrong?” Angie asked.
“They printed another story.” Beth exclaimed.
“Who did?” Angie asked.
“Those damn papers.” Beth said, now getting angrier by the minute.
“Calm down, what’s the story?” Angie asked.
“It’s about Davis being in rehab. How they found out I have no idea.” Beth said.
“Look, I’m at work, right now, but I‘ll swing over there on my lunch break. I’ll take off the rest of the day.” Angie explained.
“I would really appreciate that, but I don’t want to get you in trouble.” Beth said.
“It’s no problem. I’ll see you around one. I’ll call you when I’m on the highway, then you can give me directions.” Angie said.
“Okay,” Beth said.
She hung up the phone. She felt better. Again she thanked God for allowing her to meet this woman Angie. Last night helped her relax for the first time since her and Mark had their little fling. She went back downstairs to clean up the mess she made and read the rest of the story.
As she was almost through cleaning up the juice, her door bell rang. She went to see who could be here at this time of the morning. Normally she was at work. So no one would think she was home. Standing there on the front porch, looking down, in full uniform, was Mark. She bit her lower lip, ran a hand through her bed head. Then she opened the door.
“What’s going on? Mark.” Beth asked.
“I’m so glad you’re home. Do you think I could come in for a while?” Mark asked. His head was hanging. Eyes glued to the welcome mat the read “The Stiles.”
“Yes, of course, come in.” Beth opened the door wide and let him in. She had forgotten all about the story in the paper. The looks on Mark’s face made her yearn to help and get outside herself and her problems.
Mark walked past her and they both sat down at the kitchen table. Mark removed his starched brimmed hat. He ran his fingers along the razor sharp edges. He was still contemplating his decision to retire early and leave.
“What’s up Mark?” Beth asked.
Mark looked up and caught the eyes of the most caring woman he had ever met. There he sat with two choices. What he had decided to say, after going over it three or four times in his head, just rolled out.
“I put in my resignation today.” Mark spoke softly.
“What?” Beth asked, not understanding him at first.
“Well, Beth, I can’t do it no more. I have decided to go to Mexico!” Mark exclaimed. Every second that went by made him stronger and stronger.
“Why?” Beth asked still stunned.
“I love you.” Mark said all he had too.
“Mark, you don’t love me. What we did together was a slip in my morals and values. I care about you, but I am married. I have to give my husband a chance. I really do believe in my vows. I have wanted to talk to you. Before we had sex, I was able to talk and ask your opinion. Now, something’s changed.” Beth finally was able to talk about how she felt.
“Husband, Ha! Davis isn’t the same man you fell in love with. What happened between you and me was no accident. It’s been building up since I met you the night of the accident. I came here to ask you to come with me and let me make you happy for as long as you live. With or without you, I have to go. I can sit here all day and try to explain my side of things. But I’m not. Will you come?” Mark let his emotions flow. They ran down his face in the form of tears and red cheeks. His voice cracked repeatedly.
“Mark, I am truly sorry. I won’t give up on Davis right now. I can’t.” Beth started crying as she spoke her husband’s name. She didn’t like where this was going.
“Fine, I am leaving within two weeks. If you change your mind, you know how to reach me.” Mark raised his voice in disappointment. He stood up and walked out.
“Mark…” Beth called after him. She really didn’t have anything else to say.
Mark stopped as he reached for the handle on the front door. He didn’t hear anything else except the door slamming behind him and he walked out. He didn’t want to leave, but he expected this.
“God, please help me?” Mark prayed out loud as he walked to his car.
Inside, Beth mumbled a serenity prayer asking for a little strength from her Higher Power. She needed all the help she could get. Angie came into her mind, and that was a quick answer to her prayers.
“Burt, I got something.” Angie exclaimed.
“Well, it better be good. I want to hear it.” Burt said.
“Danny just called; he’s at a bar with Davis. Davis got kicked out of rehab for fighting. Danny’s getting drunk with the guy as we speak. He wants me to write the story up to get it out by the evening late edition.” Angie excitedly yelled.
“Hot damn. Run with it!” Burt exclaimed. He loved the newspaper business. It boiled his blood at times and then there were the times like these when the action pumped adrenaline throughout his body.
“I’m on top of it boss.” Angie said as she flew out the room back to her computer.
She sat down at her terminal and started putting everything Danny had told her into black and white. Davis beat up another client and then facing the consequences of being thrown out, he left. Danny followed him and they just called a cab and hit the nearest bar. Now waiting for the Grey hound to come back to Chicago, they were throwing back a few beers. Angie knew this was going to sell papers. People were interested and hollering for more. The cell phone started ringing. She looked at the caller I.D. and then realized she was supposed to be on her way to Beth’s.
“Shit,” Angie said to herself as she picked up the phone.
“Hello,” Angie said.
“Where are you?” Beth asked.
“I’m so sorry. I got swamped here at work. Look, I am almost finished. I’ll be done here in an hour or so.” Angie said feeling a little guilty.
“Oh, I just thought maybe you got lost or forgot my number. Well, I really would like to talk. How about dinner?” Beth asked.
“Yes,” Angie was glad to have gotten out of that situation.
“Okay, I’ll cook here at my house.” Beth replied.
“Great.” Angie answered back.
Beth gave her the directions and they agreed on seven o’clock. Angie gave Beth her word that she would be there. Beth felt a little better. Things were tough but God had given her some strength and hope. They said their good-byes and hung up. Angie finished the story in time for the afternoon press to get it off. She sat back, and blew out a sigh of relief as she sent it to the press. She ran home and showered and got ready to spend some time with Beth, her new victim.
“So what are we going to do?” Danny asked.
“Hell, I don’t know.” Davis replied.
“Man, I think you really hurt that kid.” Danny said.
“Fuck that little punk.” Davis screamed.
Danny could see Davis was becoming belligerent by the second. He wanted the story, but not bad enough to let this guy just fall apart. The past few days in treatment had caused Danny to grow a conscious. That was a liability in the newspaper business. Now, he felt like he had to at least get Davis back into somewhat of a stable environment.
“Why don’t you call your wife before our bus comes?” Danny asked.
“Yeah, I guess I should.” Davis said. The thought of Beth sobered him up enough to not hesitate making the phone call. The bus came was going to come at seven o’clock. He had only about ten minutes to talk.
“Give me some change.” Davis asked Danny.
“Here,” Danny handed him four quarters.
“Thanks.” Davis replied. “Man, I’m buzzed.”
“Yeah, that happens when you slam Heinekens like that.” Danny said.
“All in the name of fun.” Davis snickered and stumbled to the payphone in the back of the bar.
Danny sat there nursing his second beer. He had to keep, a somewhat, straight mind, to deal with this recent turn of events.
“You what? How? God help me. We agreed to do this together. Can’t you even make an effort to do something right for once?” Beth screamed into the phone.
Angie sat there listening very intently to the conversation that was going on. It didn’t phase her much. She saw how distraught Beth was now. She thought to herself, “Wait till she sees the morning paper.”
“Babe, I’m on my way home on the bus. I will be downtown about ten thirty tonight. Can you pick me up?” Davis asked now starting to get angry.
“I’ll think about it.” Beth said as she slammed the phone down. This was something she was going to have to deal with.
“What was that all about?” Angie asked politely.
“That was my husband. He got thrown out of the treatment center. Now he wants me to go pick him up in three hours; downtown!” Beth said.
“Are you going?” Angie asked.
“Yes, I need to deal with this.” Beth said angrily.
“You want me to go with you?” Angie asked.
“I could really use the support.” Beth replied. She thanked God she didn’t have to ask for help again. She was so grateful for this woman, Angie, even though she knew nothing about her.
Angie and Beth finished their dinner and calmly went over all of Beth’s options. They had finally come to a solid decision. Davis gets help or Beth leaves, period. They hit the road to meet them.
Mark sat there, TV tuned to the news. He wrote down a plan of attack for his new life. He had a lot of money saved from his father and his brother’s life insurance policies. He figured the two hundred thousand he had in the bank was enough to start over in Cancun, Mexico. He decided to take his month paid vacation that he had accumulated and leave as soon as possible.
He called Southwest Airlines and made the reservations for himself and Beth. He knew that he couldn’t count on her changing her mind, but he had to keep the option open. He arranged for the flight on Monday to whisk him away from all the pain and misery of Chicago. He would drive from Phoenix and really get all of life from the get go. He sat there with a hole in his heart. It was first created by Beth over a year ago. It closed briefly when he made love to her. But now it was as big as the Grand Canyon. He needed to go away and never come back. He sat there and dreamed and prayed until he dozed off into a dream of pleasantly mixed emotions. Sorrow and happiness intertwined his thoughts into pictures of better things and good ones lost.
“She’ll be here.” Davis said to Danny.
“I hope so. I hate taking the subway home at this time of night. All those damn junkies and crack heads riding the “L” looking for a warm place to lay low until the sun rises.” Danny chuckled.
“I know what you mean. Besides I got to go out to Hanover Park. I have to take the Metra train and walk a mile or so home. I don’t need that shit.” Davis replied.
Danny was about to keep the conversation going, but he noticed Angie walking up with another attractive woman. He pretended not notice, then as they neared Beth ran over to Davis and hugged him. Angie flicked her eyelashes at Danny, not wanting to give them away. Beth and Davis whispered a few endearing thoughts to each other. Then she looked over at Danny and Angie looking all around like two lost children at the mall with nowhere to be.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Davis this is my good friend Angie.” Beth said. She waited for Davis to introduce his new friend.
“Hi Angie, this is my new drinking buddy Steven. Steve this is my wife Beth and her obviously beautiful friend Angie.” Davis finished the introductions not realizing Beth was still stuck on the “drinking buddy” comment.
Angie and Danny shook hands, and then they shook Beth and Davis’ hands. Danny looked at Angie and smiled laughing to himself about the name “Steven Stugats.”
“So Angie, how long have you known Beth?” Davis asked.
“A week or so.” Angie replied.
“Good friend, huh.” Davis said sarcastically looking at Beth.
“Shut up and let’s go. Steven, can we drop you somewhere?” Beth asked.
“I live on the north side by Foster and Pulaski.” Danny replied.
“Okay, you guide and I drive.” Beth replied.
They all started walking back to the car parked around the corner, making small talk until they reached the car.
“Um, Beth, I am coming back right by where Steven lives. I can drive him home. I will just pick up my car at your house and then that way I’ll have some company on the way home.” Angie said to Beth with a wink.
Beth understood completely. She knew Angie was probably going to rock this guy’s world with a night of sex. Beth still couldn’t grasp the notion but laughed a little thinking about her friend. They drove home with little or no discussion on the whole idea about Davis’ leaving rehab. Beth thought better of it to be discussed privately. She also wasn’t happy with the smell of liquor that filled the car.
“Well, it’s getting late. What do you say we get going?” Angie said to Danny.
“I’m ready whenever you are.” Danny replied.
“Alright, I’ll call you later.” Beth said to Angie.
“Steve, it’s been a hit. I’ll call you.” Davis said.
“Cool, sounds like a plan.” Danny said as he shook hands with Davis.
Beth and Angie gave each other a hug good-bye. Angie pulled on Danny’s shirt and they both jumped in Angie’s Dodge Neon, both anticipating wonderful night of sex.
Beth grabbed Davis and they went in the house to discuss the situation at hand. Davis would have liked to just go to bed, sleep off the alcohol, and deal with his life tomorrow. But he knew that just wasn’t going to be possible.
“I don’t understand you Davis.” Beth yelled.
“What? You couldn’t understand. You weren’t there. That little punk was getting on my last nerve. I showed him what happens when you mess with a real man.” Davis tried to explain himself, but the alcohol was doing all the talking.
“What do you think is going to happen at court? I mean, this drinking has got to stop. I can’t take this shit anymore. I just can’t do it.” Beth yelled.
Davis knew she was mad. He knew she never swore, and when he heard it, she definitely was pissed. They fought back and forth for a couple of hours. Davis tried to persuade her to understand his point of view. But he knew it was hopeless. He didn’t mind arguing, but this was going nowhere.
“I’m going to take a shower then we can finish this. I need a break.” Davis yelled.
“I’m going to bed.” Beth yelled back.
They both stormed off and slammed doors behind them. Beth went to the bedroom in tears, and collapsed on the bed drenched in tears. Davis on the other hand stayed angry. He turned on the shower and pulled out the pint of Jack Daniels he had bought before he left the bar. He slammed it, jumped into the shower, and made his way back to the bedroom where he figured his wife would be. He could go for some make-up sex.
He slipped into bed and reached over trying to console his wife. She had fallen asleep. He began to run his hands all along her body. He was horny and drunk now. In his mind, his wife was his, “End of story.”
“No, Davis, go to sleep.” Beth yelled being awakened to Davis’ groping.
“I’m sorry baby, come on.” Davis giggled.
“Fuck off!” Beth screamed. She turned over and looked at him.
“What?” Davis yelled back. He grabbed her and pulled at her clothes. He forced himself on top of her.
“No, No, STOP, No!” Beth cried out in tears.
“What? Don’t you love me no more?” Davis said as he laughed, perched above her.
Davis continued blocking out her cries to stop. He took what he wanted, got up and went to wash up again. He left Beth lying there, broken, hurt, and emotionally dead. She covered her naked, raped body, with the covers. She cried, not knowing what to do. She heard the shower come on again and got up, packed a bag, and was gone before Davis even got done in the bathroom.
“Honey, I’m sorry.” Davis said into the dark, empty room.
“Honey…” Davis said again, expecting a response. It fell on deaf human ears; the only one listening was God standing in the shadows, shaking his head in sorrow, showing sorrow for both his children. He was only the referee in the game of life. He never got involved unless he was asked too.
