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

About a half-hour later, in the Emergency Room at Rainier General hospital in downtown Seattle, an unconscious woman of advanced middle-age was found slumped right by the sliding door entrance, propped against a wall; no ID was found on her person. Upon further examination a bleeding lump the size of a chicken egg was found on the side of her skull, and after a hurried CAT scan she was diagnosed as having a serious concussion. The ER doctors were further concerned since she did not wake up the entire time of her triage exam, so immediate preparations were made and she was bustled into a private room in the intensive care unit. The doctors went to consult as the attending nurse and a nurses’ assistant began set up an IV and EKG monitors.

“The poor woman,” the attending nurse was currently saying to her assistant. “The doctors say if she doesn’t wake up soon she’ll slip into an irreversible coma.”

“Well, maybe if we make it more comfortable in here for her, she’ll wake up faster,” her assistant said as she placed a filled water pitcher and Styrofoam cups on the nearby dresser. “Is there no way to find her family?”

“No, she didn’t have any ID on her, and from the look of her somebody did this on purpose,” the nurse said irately. “Damn that man, whoever it was- he might have left her a vegetable for the rest of her life. I’ve seen too much of this coming into the ER; when will men learn to keep their hands off of their women???”

“Well,” the assistant said, fussing on her pillows, “there’s no one else in here, it being a slow night; I don’t like that she may be back here by herself, its too quiet. Let’s turn on the T.V., let her at least hear something normal so that she won’t feel so alone in here.”

“That actually might help,” the nurse said somberly, picking up the remote and switching on the TV which was bolted into the ceiling. Then the nurse and her assistant, with a final glance of pity towards the dormant figure, headed out of the room, leaving the door open.

Rena Howard lay there unconscious as the TV commercial block droned on- then with a blare of sound the next program started.

 “LIVE, IN LA- IT’S HOLLYWOOD INSIGHT!! AND NOW, HOLLYWOOD INSIGHT’S OWN MOTHER-DAUGHTER CO-HOSTS, MONA AND KELLISSA GIVERS!!!”

“Good evening everyone- and welcome to HOLLYWOOD INSIGHT. Tonight we take you up to Seattle, WA to get a sneak peek at the most exclusive celebrity graduation bash this season as we try to party with celebrity graduate Marquis Hill. This promises to be the event to beat this year!!!” Mona Givers gushed.

“Yes, mom, and covering this event, our special guest reporter, all the way from ACTION NEWS in New York, here’s HOLLY RIVERA!!!” said daughter Kellissa, indicating towards the monitor to her right.

The scene was one of flashbulbs, reporters and a throng of lookers-on and star-gazers, all in front of an immense black gate with the initials HT curli-qued through the front. In the camera’s center, a lone figure was shouting towards the audience to attempt to make herself heard above the calamity around her.

“Thank you, ladies..! This is Holly Rivera for Hollywood Insight; I’m here at the entrance to HillTopp Terrace, more commonly known as HT. As you at home can see for yourselves, the very entrance is packed with onlookers and major paparazzi, all waiting for the chance to get a glimpse of the newest celebrity high school graduate, Marquis Hill of the powerful Hill family. At this moment they are on their way back from a more private family celebration to a fabulous party for Rainier Crest High’s entire graduating class- held right here in just a little while. We’ve learned that the hottest hip-hop DJ on the northwest coast, DJ Slycce, will provide the music for the party- and some of the scheduled performers are Acid Rock artist Kelly Ozzburn, R&B artist Craven Si’moh, Mad-Boy artist Lil ‘Mann and from No Mo Limit Records, Lil’ Skeet-Skeet…

“In an added twist right out of the pages of Little Orphan Annie, sources have confirmed that Dr. Malik Hill has recently adopted an orphan child, a baby girl; and just before the grad party commences the whole senior class has agreed to allow the first part of their grad party to double as a sort of welcome/birthday party for the child, whose name we have not been able to determine. The first of the invitation-only party guests have arrived and are already inside- and look, here comes the Hill Family now..!”

Four blindingly white stretch Lexus-class limousines slowly pulled up to the front gate and stopped as a cadre of security guards surrounded them and opened the passenger doors on a makeshift red carpet that had been run from the gate’s entrance to the disembark point.

From the camera’s angle, the reporter was pushing past the crowd to get a better view. “And here’s the occupants getting out of the first limo- ladies and gentlemen it’s the Gubernatorial incumbent, Joe Hill- and his lovely wife, Joan- great-uncle and aunt to the graduate..!”

Joe had gotten out of the back of the limo and was helping his wife to her feet. He had an expensive looking black suit and striped tie, and Joan wore a matching black cocktail dress with a ebony glitter handbag. They waved to the crowd as together they swept into the gates at HT, flanked by security as the next limo approached the red carpet.

The reporter went on as the second group approached the crimson walk. “Here come the second limo’s riders, it’s none other than Seattle’s most celebrated Detective, Danny Clark- with his ex-wife, Claire Clark; Marquis's godparents...! And another couple has also gotten out of the limo- it’s Marquis's mother, Marquette Stevens, escorted along with an unknown man… he appears to be Marquette’s date for the evening!!”

Danny was wearing a beige spring sport coat and a black button down shirt. He was smiling and waving with Claire as they passed through the throng, hoping that the sudden bright lights and camera popping wouldn’t scare off Ray, as this was not exactly something he’d ever have to do before…

When the limo had come for him twenty minutes ago, Danny explained to the passengers already in the back seat, Claire and Marquette- that he was bringing along a co-worker, one of WolfRam & Hart’s lawyers from the L.A. branch; they didn’t question it. Marquette actually snuggled up to Ray during the drive over, and when no one was looking Ray gave Danny a wry smile and winked; his way of letting Danny know that things were fine with the cover. Danny, standing outside the limo, watched Ray get to his feet and assist Marquette out. He was wearing one of Trey’s off-white spring suit, along with a light peach silk shirt and white loafers to complete the ensemble of upper-class casual. Marquette, now used to the good life, was wearing a stylish maroon wrap-skirt and matching spaghetti-strap heels, her hair shoulder length and curled to high-school look; she still looked very much like a teenager herself, to be 35. Danny looked over at Claire, who was dressed in a sequined white dress, a full-length sleeveless bodice style. He was definitely glad that ‘Umfana’ was still able to pull off decent attire. Each smiling couple arm in arm, they went through the black gates and disappeared.

The reporter was being jostled as she obviously fought to keep her place against the red carpet. ”And now we have the third limo-” and just as she said this the flashbulbs intensified as the riders clambered out onto their feet. “And it’s none other the man of the hour, high school graduate Marquis Hill, his best friend Michael- and what our sources have confirmed are their current girlfriends. We’ve been trying to identify their names but so far we’ve come up with no information on them. After his highly-publicized break-up with Oscar-Winner North-Dakota Manning, it appears that Marquis is keeping a low profile on his newest love interest, who by the way is stunningly beautiful. Watch out, ladies, I think high school’s most eligible bachelor is off the market!!!”

Marquis duplicated Malik’s every-day style of dress; he was wearing a pair of white linen-wrinkle slacks and a sky-blue silk shirt that showed off his well-toned arms and chest, complete with matching sky-blue shades that turned the pink of his lips into a sexy blush shade that was to drool to look upon. White Timberlands were on his size 12 feet, and he stood there handsomely before the raging paparazzi, being used to getting his picture taken. On his arm, Carmen was indeed stunning in a designer print sienna dress, which enhanced her cascading auburn hair and inviting eyes of her own.

To Marquis's left stood Kap, also getting used to the press cameras by virtue of having a best friend in the Hill family- not that he couldn’t hold his own, as incredibly sexy as he was from the head down. Tonight Kap wore a pair of casual khaki-colored slacks, wheat Timberlands and a burgundy muscle shirt that enhanced his gym-trained biceps, causing the press to linger on his perfectly shaped wrestling form for a bit. Angelina was no slouch, either; she had pinned her hair up and was gorgeous in a full-length cling-type backless dress that fully showed off her buxom cleavage. They stood about for a second, letting the cameras get a good look at them all.

Just as the reporter was about to comment further on the sexy foursome the last limo had pulled towards the red carpet and the door opened. The reporter’s voice got an excited pitch…

“The final limo’s riders have just come into view- its Dr. Malik Hill with his daughter in his arms, yes!- and accompanying them is, as an added bonus, the celebrated writer and Oscar-hopeful, Karl Khonic..! We are the first to get an official glimpse of Dr. Hill holding his adopted daughter in his arms, and from what I can see from over here, she is the most adorable child! We’ll see if we can get a closer look at one of the richest African American girls in current history..!”

Malik was wearing something similar to Marquis, white linen slacks with a light blue silk shirt, matching light blue shades and white loafers- his favorite outfit. Lamar had on dark slacks, dark Stacy Adams wingtips and a pale yellow silk shirt which doubly enhanced his sexy complexion. Baby Jamara was dressed in a pick lace baby’s outfit and matching bonnet. The flashbulbs and the reporters had now reached a zenith of frenzy; the crowd roared their delight as seeing Dr. Hill and Karl Khronic- and then the crowd gave an additional whoop of awe as baby Jamara was noticed.

“Hey Dr. Hill- what’s your daughter’s name?” the reporter managed to shout above the other press.

Malik looked her way. “It’s Jamara,” he yelled back. “ JAMARA HILL!!!”

She was sleeping on Malik’s shoulder, but from Malik’s yelling her name, the noise and the lights she woke up, looked around- and then giggled in a cooing way; from her reaction she was by no means afraid of the crowd; on the contrary, she seemed to lap it up.

“AAAAHHHHHWWWW,” the crowd said en masse, melting at the light shining from Jamara’s beautiful face as she attended to her public for the very first time- with smiles and baby gurgles, stretching out her chubby fists to play a on-the-spot game of peek-a-boo with the entire crowd..!

“I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful this baby is to you guys at home,” the reporter was saying, awestruck. “Little Jamara Hill has stunned the whole crowd- and she is actually performing for them!!! A natural before an audience, this one..!”

For a second everyone focused their eyes on the baby and Malik, the security guards shoving and pushing the crowd back to make room. Malik, all bemused at his daughter’s actions, then handed the baby to one of the security guards. The cameras followed the guard all the way to the gate’s entrance where Sophie the nanny was waiting to take Jamara upstairs. Malik and Lamar then waved at the crowd for a time, signed some autographs- and two men then headed into the gates, flashbulbs popping all around them at a staccato rate.

The reporter turned back to her camera for a minute. “As I said before, this party is by invitation only, and the gates will be officially closed, open only to those who have a graduation party ticket, rumored to have been especially designed by Marquis's girlfriend for their classmates and guests. Let’s see if we can get a quote from the graduate- MR. HILL, Marquis!!” She ran over to where Marquis still stood with Carmen, signing autographs “…Hi, Holly Rivera for HOLLYWOOD INSIGHT, congratulations on getting your diploma!!! How was the graduation???”

“It was great,” Marquis said, laughing and holding his smiling girlfriend close. “But you kinda had ta be there!”

“Well, we can be with you now at the grad party- we hear its invitation only, so can we get an invite..!” the reporter angled.

“Oh, sorry, my mother’s calling me to come inside,” Marquis indicated towards the gate. Marquette was standing there waving him in amongst the horde; Kap and Angelina were already making their way over.

Marquis flashed a winning smile to the reporter. “Thanks for all the fuss,” he managed to say before Carmen bustled him off and into the gates- which shut then with a loud CLANG! followed by an even louder groan from the paparazzi and the red-carpet watchers.

The reporter turned back to the camera. “Well, folks, there you have it; the graduating class of 2015 is about to have the bash of the century; none of them will ever forget THIS night. Live at the top of Mount Rainier, downtown Seattle, this is Holly Rivera. Back to you in the studio, Mona…”

******

click’

Inamae X, aka Lionel Jenkins, sat in a dark corner of Joe's den in Crimson Crest, holding a remote in his hand, the TV’s going off plunging him into blackness. Sitting there in the dark, tugging at his prophet-like chin mustache, he grew angrier by the minute.

Lionel finally took a deep breath. “So, everyone’s at this graduation party, everyone’s invited- but me, huh..? My woman, my niggah, my brother, and… the boy- they’re all there, and I gotta hide out here in this ol place..? I don’t think so,” he frowned darkly.

He rose and climbed out the closest window in the den he could find, creeping across the dark, deserted lawns of Crimson Crest, heading for the old Arabian’s barn which stood at the edge of the north Seattle woods; he knew Joe had it converted into a spacious garage, and kept his luxury cars parked there.

“I think its time my little brother Danny-boy and I got re-introduced- for the first time.”

And with a look of dark determination, Juke Jenkins’s eldest boy disappeared into the dark barn as the first of the predicted storm clouds began to gather in the northwest.