50
Mimi ended her phone call with Raphael and breathed a sigh of relief, although she shook her head in disbelief. It was hard to fathom that her coming back to Durham had caused so much hurt and pain. Hindsight was twenty-twenty.
She walked back into Afrika’s room to check on her; she was still asleep. The room was quiet and still; the only movement came from the monitor that recorded Afrika’s vitals. Mimi leaned over the bed and pulled the thin spread up to her shoulders. She patted Afrika’s head and said a prayer. Mimi thanked God for her family, specifically that Afrika was going to be all right and that Raphael was safe.
Taking one last look, Mimi slipped from the room and dialed John’s number. The night nurse gave her a smile and went back to her paperwork that was spread out on her desk. Mimi walked down the hallway and prayed that John would answer his cell. Just as she was about to hang up, she heard John’s groggy voice.
“Hel-lo,” John said almost in a whisper.
“John, this is Mimi. I need your help.”
“What is it, Mimi?” John asked, his voice more alert, no doubt sensing the stress in Mimi’s voice.
“It’s late, but I need a real big favor. Raphael is in trouble. He was kidnapped by Victor at gunpoint tonight, but he was able to escape.”
“How in the world did Victor kidnap Raphael?”
“I don’t know the whole sordid story, but I do know that my husband is hiding out in some woman’s house who, thank God, happened to be in the right place at the right time when Raf was trying to get away from Victor. I have to go get him and bring him home. I have an address.”
“Your husband is high-maintenance, Mimi, if I may say so. Ever since he rolled into town, it’s been one thing or another. He’s got some serious issues.”
“Say what you will about Raphael, but he’s a good, kind, caring, decent man. Some of what he’s going through is my fault, but right now John, my priority is getting my husband out of harm’s way.”
“Where’s your car?”
“That’s part of the long story. Raphael was in it when Victor surprised him.”
“Damn.”
“You’re right. Can you help?”
“Look, Mimi. This might be too dangerous for you. Afrika is going to need at least one parent at her disposal. It may take less time if I just go and get him.”
“John, pick me up. I’m going with you. End of conversation.”
“I’ll be there in twenty or thirty minutes.”
“Hurry, I’ll be waiting.”
CHAOS MET JOHN AND MIMI AS THEY CRUISED DOWN THE STREET, looking for the address Raphael had given them. Not wanting to bring attention to themselves by driving into a neighborhood that was notorious for drugs, John chose to drive his beat up Nissan, which didn’t have GPS. Several groups of people walked in their direction as if they had come out of a revival meeting, talking amongst themselves and rehashing a poignant point the minister made that had them in a tranquil mood; although the hour was nearly one in the morning.
“An awful lot of folks out in the hood at this time of night,” John said, driving slowly.
“Raphael said something about police cars and a fire truck passing by while he was talking with me.”
“Umm, must have been some fire.”
“There it is, John,” Mimi said, pointing to a weather-beaten A-frame wood house.
“Raphael must’ve been some kind of scared to stop off here. Go ahead and call and let him know we’re out here, in case Victor is still lurking around. He might be watching from that crowd in front us.”
“You’re right.”
Mimi took out her cell phone and dialed Raphael who picked up on the first ring.
“Baby, we’re parked outside but not in front of the house,” Mimi said. “John is driving a dark blue Nissan. When we see you, he’ll blink the headlights two times. We’re taking precautions in the event Victor is somewhere nearby. Do you know what all the commotion is about?”
“No. Shirley, the lady who lives here, went to the corner to see if she could find out. I’ve got to wait until she gets back because she left her three little kids in here.”
“Well, we can’t wait forever. We’re putting our behinds on the line being over here.”
“I know, baby. But what was I going to say after the lady let me hide from the enemy?”
“I see someone heading this way. They look like they’re in a hurry,” Mimi said, excited.
“Hold on, let me peek out of the window.” Raphael held a corner of the blind but couldn’t see anyone. “Mimi, I didn’t see anyone.”
“Whoever it was went between the house…”
“They found a dead man near the railroad tracks on the next street over,” Shirley said upon entering the house, huffing and puffing. “People down at the corner there whispering, talking about they heard some shots. Look, I don’t know if you’re hooked up with that man, but you got to go. Can’t have no criminals in my house; even though you seem like a nice man. Don’t worry about me; I won’t say a word. I can promise you that.”
“All right, I’ll leave now. But I had nothing to do with anybody getting shot, Shirley. I was the one being pursued.”
“Whatever, mister, it’s time. Don’t look like my man coming home tonight, but you can’t stay here no more.”
“Well, thank you for your hospitality,” Raphael said as he shook Shirley’s hand and high-tailed it out of the door.
“You can always come back on a better day!” Shirley hollered. “I can throws down in the kitchen and the bedroom, too. You know the address.” Then Shirley shut the door.
Raphael picked up the phone and could hear Mimi laughing. “It’s not a laughing matter, Mimi. I’m coming out to the sidewalk.” Raphael clicked the phone off and inched his way from the side of the house to the sidewalk. Looking left, he could see people milling about, and to the right he saw the headlights blink—one, two. Risking everything, he ran like his pants were on fire.
Reaching the car, Raphael jumped in and John pulled away from the curb, making a U-turn.
“Let’s get the hell out of here. Someone was killed tonight.”