Jail's Bait: Parole's Victim (Book 4)

Kap and Marquis stood with trepidation as they stared at their girlfriends, Carmen and Angelina, who had just caught them, arms around each other and lips locked in passion, behind Marquis's closed bedroom door. For a minute no one said anything.

Then Carmen cleared her throat. “Ummm, just what are you guys… ummm, doing..?” she inquired mildly.

“Well, I… I can explain,” Marquis began, knowing full well that there was no way he was explaining his way out of why he was cleaning out his best guy friend’s throat with his own tongue.

“Yes, can you explain kissin your boy in your boxers,” Angelina asked then, her eyebrows raised. “With the door closed, too..? Well, you know what they say, right..?”

“Wha-what do they say, b-baby,” Kap said, his voice quivering.

“Two can play that game,” Angelina smiled then, grabbing Carmen and kissing her- to the surprise of the boys, who were surprised all over again as the kiss lasted- and lasted. Carmen, in response, wrapped her hands into Angelina’s hair as their lips caressed in a hot, sexy blend. They broke off the kiss and smiled at their stunned boyfriends.

“How come that looked like it wasn’t the first time you two… did that..?” Kap said then, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Give the guy a gold star,” Carmen said, smirking. “It wasn’t, actually,” she added, looking at Marquis, who looked nonplussed. “We were wondering how long you guys would take to catch on-”

“And catch up,” Angelina said, grinning at the boys as she put one arm around Carmen. “I didn’t think that little set-up we did the other day would work. But you did, didn’t you, baby,” she whispered into Carmen’s hair, making her giggle.

“Set-up..? What are you talking about,” Marquis said then, finally finding his voice.

“The Spin-The-Bottle game,” Carmen said then, smiling at her boyfriend. “Without yall realizing it we set the rules to make sure that you and Kap would have to kiss.”

“Why would you do that,” Marquis said to Carmen; “why would you set us up like that..?”

“Aww, baby,” Carmen said, coming over to him and stroking his face, “we saw what you and Kap refused to see- that as much as you love me, you guys are in love. You just needed a… push in the right direction,” she added, stepping back. “And, if you haven’t guessed by now, me and Angelina are… well, I guess the correct term would be ‘bi-sexual’.” She went back to her best friend, and held out her arms, Angelina coming to hold her close. “We’ve been lovers since 9th grade.”

“Whoa,” Marquis said, shaking his head in amazement. “You’re in another relationship… and I never even had a clue…”

“Come on, you know me- I’m high-energy, I like life, and I like pushing the rules. Didn’t you ever wonder why a girl like me didn’t really care if you and I had sex or not?” Carmen asked then. “I was gettin mine, and don’t get me wrong, I love you- but I didn’t pressure you ‘cause my needs were gettin met… and let’s face it, a girl like me gotz needs,” she grinned.

“That’s why we ditched you guys last night,” Angelina said then; “yall were hoverin over us so much these past few days that we needed to get some alone time together.”

Fresh shock ran through the boys. “But-but WHY didn’t you tell us,” Kap said, suddenly angry. “You lied to us!!!”

“You two were lying to yourselves,” confrontational Angelina said then. “We only helped you see the light.”

“So that’s it, you’re dumping us?” Marquis said incredulously- “on Graduation Day..?”

“Who said anything about dumping you,” Carmen said, frowning.

“No, we cant dump you guys,” Angelina agreed- “we love you… and besides, you know our secret, and we know yours- this is perfect. We do want families later on, and we’ve decided that you guys will be the perfect husbands for us- two DL couples living happily ever after,” she smiled.

“What?!?!?” Marquis and Kap exclaimed together.

“Think about it, baby,” Carmen said then. “I marry you, Angelina marries Kap, we have rock-solid marriages and on the side, you two get to stay with each other, we get to stay together too, no harm, no foul- and we can raise our children together- win-win.”

“Great idea, don’t you think..?” Angelina asked, her arms open wide to envision the prospect. “No one would know that we would have an …arrangement, and you get to ride off into the sunset with Marquis while I get my girl for life,” she said to Kap.

The boys looked at each other then for a long minute. “Maybe they have a point in all this, do you think?” Kap said to Marquis.

Marquis seemed to think it over. “Well, I did want a family of my own someday, and I did see myself marrying Carmen- maybe we should bring this subject up again after college. Right now, I just want everyone ta have they girl and they nigga both- today, on Graduation Day,” he said then, smiling at everyone in the room. “One day at a time. Is that enough of a compromise for right now..?”

“Fine with me,” Angelina agreed, coming over to Kap and kissing him. “Everyone should be with the love of their life- and we know that you two are the love of each other’s lives.”

“Too many people give up the one they really want because of convention, or circumstance. I love you,” Carmen added, looking at Marquis, “but let’s face it- I’m not the love of your life… and we both know it. Besides, you’re not the love of my life, either,” she said candidly. “I found that in the 9th grade…” and the girls were kissing again.

Kap and Marquis looked at each other as the girls forgot that they were in the room. “Well, I guess that’s that,” Kap said, turning back to Marquis. “All that’s left to do is to get to the stadium in time for the march.”

“Right, we need to get dressed, too,” Carmen said, she and Angelina turning to leave. “We actually only came over to drop off the official guest list to HT security for the party tonight and to see the baby- we’ve only got a couple of hours left to get ready.”

“We’ll see you at school,” Angelina said. Both girls kissed their boyfriends and then bounced out the door, shutting it behind them.

“I’ve really got to keep that door locked,” Marquis ruefully reminded himself out loud as he sat down on his bed with a plop.

“You’re tellin me,” Kap said, sitting down next to him. “It’s crazy that they want us to marry them to help keep ourrelationship strong.”

“That is kind of crazy,” Marquis said then, turning to Kap. “But if Carmen feels HALF for Angelina what I feel for you right now, then I understand her actions completely.”

“I know what you mean,” Kap agreed. He jumped up and headed for the door himself. “My change of clothes is in the car,” he said. “I’ll be back.”

“Just let Peterson or Mischa get your wardrobe,” Marquis said, heading back to his now cold breakfast. “Stay up here with me.”

“Peterson is about to lay your own clothes out, and you know I don’t like using Mischa,” Kap reminded him; “I know he’s my personal valet when I stay over but it… still feels funny askin someone else to iron out my clothes.”

“Why am I the only one who sees the benefits of a personal valet,” Marquis wanted to know as he picked up his gold knife and fork again.

“I dunno; it’s the curse of the spoiled, idle rich, I guess,” Kap replied wryly, going out the door and closing it behind him.

“HEY, I AM NOT IDLE!!” Marquis yelled towards the door.

*********

Did you see him,” Malik asked Lamar as he emerged from the shower. Malik was already dressed and spotless, reading the latest copy of Hip-Hip Force magazine.

“Yes, I did,” Lamar replied, retelling the whole scene as he dried off. “He actually didn’t see what was making him so depressed- that his hidden love for Michael was driving him crazy.”

“Well, after I had the ‘talk’ with Michael last night,” Malik said, “I told him to come by this morning to see Marquis before the march at the school- and talk to him.”

“I think I saw Michael’s car out front,” Lamar said; “so Mission: Matchmaker has been successful.” He went over to where his personal valet had laid out his clothes.

Malik grinned then. “So when you talked to Marquis this morning,” he said, his face suddenly changing to shadows, “did you see whether he remembered about today- the date, I mean?”

Lamar thought a moment. “On the one hand, he is really happy about the graduation, on the other hand he was caught up in those raw emotions that Michael brings out of him. I think that realizing that he and Michael are in love is keeping him from remembering that this is the decade-anniversary of Rah-Rah's imprisonment.”

“And he doesn’t need to realize that, either- that his graduation day is to the day ten years since his grandfather’s murder and his father’s mental breakdown… Damn it, ten years,” Malik said with anger- “and Rah-Rah still has the power to shake people up.”

“Forget about him; if I can you definitely should,” Lamar said.

“But didn’t you just have a nightmare the other day about him?” Malik reminded Lamar candidly.

Lamar stared at him. “Next topic,” he went on sternly. “I want to DVR the graduation and need to get some film; I’ll run to the store and be right back.”

Malik looked at Lamar. “I love you,” he said then.

“I love you too,” Lamar said, heading for the bedroom door. “By the way, don’t shoot the white baboon while I’m gone,” he added, leaning over and kissing Malik.

“Heyyyy,” Malik said, a gleam in his eye as he looked askance at Lamar; “thanks for the idea. I’d forgotten about that damn chimp. Whoever heard of a white Ba-fucking-Boon anyways.” He got up and went to the Winchester rifle he kept hanging over the mantel.

“OOOOmmmffhhh!!!” Malik said- Lamar had come leaping over the couch and, catching him in the waist, tackled Malik to the floor. They landed on the white bearskin rug, Malik face-down, Lamar straddling him and grabbing a leg. “Swear you won’t kill the baboon,” Lamar threatened, turning Malik’s foot inward.

“YEEEAAAOOOWW,” Malik hammered on the floor- “you’re twistin my foot!!”

“I’ll let go,” Lamar said, “if you swear you won’t go NEAR that baboon.”

“IIGHHT,” Malik said, twisting back and forth under Lamar. “I won’t,”

“I didn’t hear you SWEAR,” Lamar threatened, twisting the foot and sending fresh howls through the room.

“I-I-I-I S-S-S-SWWW-W- EEEEAAAARRRR,” Malik groaned.

“All right then,” Lamar said, letting go of Malik and jumping back.

Malik stood to his foot, wincing as he put weight on the one Lamar was twisting back and forth. “You like promises, huh..? I promise that you are SOOOO going to pay for that one,” Malik promised.

“And that don’t mean you can get someone ELSE to do it either,” Lamar went on, dodging out of Malik's way. “Nor can you get a sniper to handle it just because you swore that you wouldn’t go NEAR the baboon. We’ve both been around too many lawyers not to notice how to use certain words,” he added with a grin.

“You better get out of here before I call up one of those lawyers and sue you for assault,” Malik grinned back.

“You do and I’ll divorce you and take half,” Lamar countered, coming closer to Malik.

“You GOT half when I married you,” Malik said, putting his arms around Lamar's waist and kissing him.

“Don’t worry, Malik; everything will go off as planned today,” Lamar reassured him. “Marquis and Michael will graduate, they have fallen in love and they plan on being together as they journey to Berekley- your alma mater,” he added with a sly smile to Malik, who returned it. “So don’t worry about things that don’t concern this family, today of all days…”

Malik's considered this, then caught up Lamar in an embrace. “You’re right, of course,” he said, kissing his lover on the neck. “Besides your mother possibly making an ass out of herself, today will be the happiest our whole family has seen in a lonnnnng time.”

*********

 Later that evening, over at Oak Grove Sanitarium for the Criminally Insane, the new day nurse was setting up her desk for the shift change- writing down any new information the night nurse would need to know, re-filling prescription pads and checking to make sure there were enough meds on hand in case of emergencies- when the front door buzzer rang.

Looking at the clock, she buzzed the door and it opened to reveal a harassed-looking African-American woman, careworn and full-figured, wearing a light jacket over what looked like a waitress’s uniform, rushing towards the front desk.

“How may I help you,” the day nurse asked.

“I-I’m sorry,” the woman huffed, “I was late getting off work. Am I too late to visit my son?” Her hair was askew and sweat was running down her face- she had obviously run a ways to get here before visiting hours were over.

“There are only ten minutes left for visitors, ma’am,” the day nurse explained. “By the time you get to him you’ll have to come right back out.”

 “Please,” the harried woman begged.

 “I- I don’t know if I should, miss,” said the day nurse. “The rules are very strict about visiting after hours, and I’m new here; I don’t want to get in trouble.”

 “I understand, but please listen- today is very special to my son, it’s his anniversary,” the woman continued to beg. “My son- he was brought here ten years ago today. I couldn’t get the day off, so I had to wait until my shift ended, which is why I’m just getting here. I want to at least be able to see him, even if for a little while… he might not even know I’m here, he’s been catatonic since he’s been here- but I have to try.”

 “Catatonic..? You’re Robert Hill’s mother..?” the day nurse said, eyes widening with surprise.

 “My name is Rena Howard,” Rena replied coldly, “and MY son’s last name is HOWARD as well!”

 “Oh, yes, of course- my mistake,” the day nurse mumbled in agreement. As a new hire she was already informed on most of the cases here at Oak Grove, but the story of rapist/murderer Robert Hill's ten-year catatonia and the circumstances behind made her blood run so cold that she remembered it well. Ten years ago he had kidnapped and raped one of his friends, then shot his own father to death in cold blood, right in front of his young son’s face. The shock of it all caused Robert, known as Rah-Rah, to slip into one of the deepest catatonic states Oak Grove had ever bore witness to. He was fed intravenously because he never moved, not even to chew his food. To keep his muscles from atrophy his doctors had a physical therapist come in twice a week to massage his legs and arms, move his neck around and his fingers and toes. The nurse noted that the current volunteer physical therapist was actually doing better than the others- there were great results on his chart…

The staff had also been made aware of his mother’s insistence that though he was legally proclaimed a long-lost heir to the famous Hill fortune, no one from the famous Hill family would ever be allowed to visit her son, not even HIS son Marquis- she named them all traitors and sought court orders to keep them away from Robert. The staff at Oak Grove made speculative notes on Rena Howard, seeing a psychotic resemblance between mother and son, and discussed amongst themselves whether she might not be better off in the padded room next to his…

“Are you LISTENING to me,” Rena Howard repeated.

“What- oh, yes, Ms. Howard,” the day nurse said, coming out of her reverie; “I’ll remember going forward that his last name is Howard.”

“Very well,” Rena replied in disgust. “Now if you don’t mind, I’ll go see my son now,” she insisted.

The day nurse thought about it for a minute. “Look, Ms. Howard, I’ll sign you in, but my shift ends in five minutes,” she finally said. “You’ll have to sign out with the night nurse.”

“Fine, fine,” Rena said, signing in the visitor’s date book, putting her purse, jacket and apron in the nearby closet for safekeeping, then going towards the doors that led towards her son’s room. It looked to the day nurse that Rena had been going through the motions of leaving her valuables in the closet during visits for so long that it was second nature to her now.

“Buzz me in, and when I’m done I’ll have the night nurse buzz me out,” Rena replied, stepping through the security scan which led to the outer doors of the patient ward. The scan turned out clean.

“Have a good visit,” the nurse said as she buzzed the outer, then the inner doors which let Rena Howard into the patient ward corridor. The patients were locked in their rooms at night and heavily sedated, so she wasn’t sure if Robert would even notice she was there- but as long as it shut this woman up, than what did it matter, the day nurse declared to herself as she reached for her coat, noticing the night nurse’s car pull up outside the window. Let the night nurse handle Rena Howard.

As the night nurse walked inside and up to the front desk, the day nurse’s cell phone rang. “Good evening,” she said to the night nurse as she answered her call. “Hello… Oh, no,” she said, her face dropping with dismay. “Hold on, sweetheart, I’ll be right there..!” and she hung up her cell phone and grabbed her purse off the table, the purse’s edge catching hold of the visitor’s date book and slamming it shut.

“Is everything okay,” the night nurse called after the retreating day nurse.

“It’s my eight year-old daughter, she’s lost her house keys at school and now she’s stuck outside our apartment,” the day nurse called over her shoulder, passing through the front doors. “I don’t like that she’s trapped outdoors alone like that- I’ll catch you later, okay..?” and with the slamming of her car door seconds later, she was gone.

Gee, I hope the poor kid’s okay, the night nurse thought, reaching over to straighten the date book, it was left askew after the day nurses’ mad grab for her purse. “Well, the date-book is closed, so that means no one came calling today,” the night nurse said to herself, switching on all the alarms and monitors and grabbing the daily reports as she, with a sigh, settled in for the night.