“Why don’t we grab Maya and go?”
“Tried it. She won’t come. Sonny’s trapped here, anyway.”
Dylan sat up. He knew that when he said it. “I guess we should go see him.”
“Yeah,” Jake said. “Tell him to calm his ass down so I can try to get through this inquiry or whatever it is.”
“ABOUT TIME,” SONNY said when he saw Sheriff Brown leading Jake and Dylan down to his level. “You get me some bail?”
“They haven’t set bail for you, Sonny,” Jake said. “They’re keeping you here until tomorrow.”
“They can’t!” Sonny tried to rattle the bars, but they were sturdy and made no sound.
“We can, and we will.” The sheriff unlocked the cell, relieved Jake of Sonny’s backpack, and tossed it in. “Never underestimate what we do here in Rain.” He re-locked the cage. “Don’t linger.”
Sonny didn’t wait for the sheriff to get out of earshot. “Man, this place is crazy.”
“No argument there.” Jake tried to shake the bars just because.
“Now that we know,” Dylan said, “maybe you can put some effort into not creating spectacles.”
“Bite my ass. All I did was look at a woman, same as you.”
“And, yet, I didn’t get arrested.”
Jake put up a hand to stop the bickering. “It’s my fault. I’m sorry I dragged you guys into this.”
Dylan pointed to the cell. “This isn’t your fault.”
“No, it ain’t,” Sonny agreed. “It ain’t my fault either. I know who to blame and I will do something about it.”
Dylan rolled his eyes and tuned him out.
Jake gave him the courtesy of looking at him.
“I have a meeting tomorrow.” Sonny lowered his voice. “It’s bigger than the one you have tonight.”
Jake leaned in and Dylan paid attention.
“The best I can tell, this town is in the middle of a racial power struggle—”
The brothers looked at each other, agreeing. The comment made sense.
“ But, the power is about to flip.”
“What do you mean?” Dylan asked.
“It means I, or we, have a meeting tomorrow.” He turned to Jake. “It might help you and Maya.”
Jake’s eyebrows shot up. “How?”
“That’s why I’m going to the gathering.”
Dylan didn’t like it. With next to nothing to go on, he didn’t know what he didn’t like about it. But, hopping blindly into shit was Sonny’s thing.
Sonny read his expression. “Nobody asked you.”
“I don’t recall giving an answer.”
“I know what you’re thinking,” Sonny sneered. “I thought of it so it’s not a good idea. Fuck off, Dylan. At least, I’m trying to help Jake and Maya. What are you doing?”
“Not getting arrested for starters. Seems to me that’s a better help than jumping into a game when you don’t know shit about the players. But, don’t let me stop you. Two or three hours is plenty of time to make new friends and trust them with Jake’s future.” Dylan left.
Jake stayed. He listened as Sonny fantasied about his revenge and shared his insights on JB’s duality. It was intriguing, yes. But, Dylan wasn’t wrong.
Chapter Nine
“Mom.” Maya tapped once on her parent’s bedroom door and let herself in. “Can I borrow some nail polish? My travel case is pitiful.”
“Come in,” Diana said. “I got a new make-up delivery last week. The new fall colors are fabulous.” She slid to the edge of her vanity bench to make room for Maya.
Maya could look at her mother and see her future. A few strands of her chestnut hair were starting to resist coloring. She had picked up a little weight as the early stages of menopause were taking hold, but her eyes were clear and her mind was still sharp and shrewd.
Their family home was the largest on the street. The last house before the mile-long Bishop drive. Maya and Toni were born here. So were Sidney and JB. The Harrisons worked for the Bishops for as long as anyone could remember. Sidney was an officer at the plant—JB a manager. Diana ran Keisha Bishop’s household. Maya and Toni were on the payroll, doing whatever chores their mother assigned.
“Oh, this is pretty.” Maya held up a bottle and read the name. Mango-Kiss, a soft cream with a peachy hue.
“The movie was terrible,” Diana quipped, “but the color is beautiful. Adds a festive touch, I think.”
“It does.” Maya brushed the polish across her nail to test it. “We could definitely use a festive touch.” As soon as she said it, the room felt heavy. “Mom, I don’t think I can do this.”
Diana got serious. “You have to.”
“I’m sorry.” She laid her head on her mother’s shoulder.
Diana hugged her. “It’s not your fault, honey. You didn’t ask the man to propose.”
“No, but I could have stayed in Bridgeport. We could have gotten married, and no one needed to be involved.”
“That would not have worked, at all. Sweetie, it’s imperative for you to appear transparent. You can’t marry someone the Bishops haven’t met. Even if they don’t approve—”
“They won’t.”
“Even if they don’t, they can’t think you’re keeping secrets.”
“Maybe I should have told Jake no.”
Diana didn’t respond.
Maya sighed. “I love him, Mom.”
“Every girl in town wants to be you. Hell, I want to be you. Every guy here wants to be with you. They know what’s going on. They would help you...help us. You can pick any of them and be happy.”
“I’m happy with Jake.”
“Why are you crying?”
“Because...because this is a mess, that’s why.”
“And, that’s the problem, honey. An engagement shouldn’t be a mess. We can’t afford to have outsiders snooping around, stirring up trouble. It’s too dangerous.”
“He’s not an outsider, not to me. He can help us. He has resources and connections. We can trust Jake, Mom. I know we can.”
“That’s for the Bishops to decide.”
Maya’s tone was flat. “They already have.”
“Did I tell you, Blair and Whitney had their baby last month? A little boy.”
Maya didn’t question the change in topic. “You said they named him Colin.”
“Yes.”
“After the quarterback?”
“Of course. Blair broke Tigris’ heart in high school. Yet, they were green-lighted like that.” She snapped her fingers. “We have a lot more respect than Whitney’s family. The point is, it’s not hopeless. The Bishops are unpredictable. The best thing we can do is get through this evening and get this circus behind us.” Diana dabbed her daughter’s eyes. “You need to redo your mascara. If there is a way, I promise, I’ll help you find it. But, I will not risk your life.”
“I don’t want to risk yours either.”