1. Sage #2
After a year of working together, Kaiser was like a member of the family.
Although the guidelines asserted Kaiser was to be treated like a working animal and not a pet, it was hard not to though.
Every night I took him home and treated him just like he was my own.
Every other Friday we made a pitstop by D-Ville Projects to pick up my daughter before hitting the highway.
And every other Friday, when we pulled up to the ten-story building donned with a new name, Kaiser would sit stone still in the back of my ride.
He would look out the window, waiting for Keturah to show up, shaking his tail ferociously to hide his containment.
I thought he liked her more than me.
The air was crisp as I pulled into the parking lot.
I found a space right up front, close to the back entrance.
I started parking with the residents since my daughter inherited the “take all damn day” trait from her mother.
Even though I sent her a text before I left the station, I knew she probably wouldn’t be ready.
I sent her another text that I was outside and received one back that she would be out in five minutes.
Which really meant more like ten or twenty.
So I shut the car off, letting Kaiser out to relieve himself before our trek home.
I guided him toward a grassy area off to the far side of the parking lot.
He handled his business while I scoped the area, making sure nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
Even when I was supposed to be minding my business, I couldn’t help it.
Naturally, I wanted to protect people, finding it hard to flip the off switch on the innate characteristic.
I saw a few familiar faces, waving at those who acknowledged me.
Many people still knew me from when I lived in the building prior to D-Ville projects turning into Meadow View Apartments.
I was on the ninth floor with my momma until I was seventeen, then moved down to the fifth floor with Jami right before she had Keturah.
She was a year older and had her own place.
Our relationship fizzled a few years after that, but Jami stayed stagnant, content with the way things were.
Jami had the opportunity to be practically anywhere in the city, but after the building was remodeled and upgraded for a more modern appeal, Jami chose to return.
So did more than half the previous residents.
Although the name changed, with the same people around it was basically D-Ville projects with a facelift.
“You looking for somebody?”
Turning toward the voice, I saw Cauvey. He stepped over to me, holding the front of his pants up with his hands.
“Maybe,” I told him.
“What they look like?” He smirked. “I’ll help you find ’em.”
“I wouldn’t trust you to help me find nobody.”
“Smart man.” He leaned against a tree missing leaves. “I wouldn’t trust me either.”
“I don’t.” I called Kaiser after he ventured off too far, then turned my attention back to Cauvey still standing off to the side. “You need something?”
“Yeah, information.”
I laughed. “I ain’t got none.”
“You don’t even know what it is yet.”
“It don’t matter. I ain’t got nothing for you.”
“Damn...” Cauvey shook his head, pulling a cigarette box from his pocket. “That’s fucked up, Keyoni.” He removed one from the green and white box before stuffing it back in his pocket. “We supposed to be on the same team.”
“Team?” I laughed even harder. “Last time I checked, I didn’t rep DP.”
The gang had a heavy presence in the area. I had connections with some of the members due to my brother’s previous affiliation. That all changed when he died.
“Might as well,” Cauvey countered, scanning me from head to toe. “You look the part.”
“Oh yeah?” Black just happened to be my favorite color.
Like many precincts, Diamond Falls PD chose to put its officers in an all-black uniform.
I paired mine with a recently released pair of black and white kicks.
Not because I wanted to wear the colors of DP, but because my daughter begged for the shoes.
When I copped hers, I bought myself a pair too.
“Well, looks can be deceiving. I just like the style.” Kaiser made his way back to me.
I glanced in the direction of the building.
Two people who weren’t Keturah exited. “What kind of information are you looking for?”
“A name. If you got it, an address.”
“For?”
“You don’t need to know all that.”
“I need more than what you’re telling me,” I told him.
Cauvey huffed. “The less you know, the better.”
“If that’s how you wanna play it...” I lifted my chin. “Stay safe out here.” I started walking off.
He asked for my help. I didn’t ask for his.
“My girl’s cousin was robbed earlier. I’m trying to find the person responsible.”
“What makes you think I know who did it?”
“A gut feeling.” Cauvey took a long draw from his cigarette. “Ain’t too many black cops on the force. And when it comes to the K-9 unit, the number’s even less.” Cauvey pushed out a heavy stream of smoke. “It happened today…in the parking lot of Murphy’s?—”
“Your girl’s cousin…” I nodded toward the silver Camry with girly interior. “Is that her car?”
He followed my gaze. “Yeah. That’s Sage’s car.”
“Dad!” Keturah sounded off behind me.
“Baby girl!” I yelled back, turning around. She descended the concrete steps with a backpack and tote. “Put your stuff in the car. I’ll be over in a minute.”
She called Kaiser. After I gave him a nod, he ran to greet her. I unlocked the doors with the key fob and waited for them to climb inside.
“Montez Malone,” I said matter-of-factly.
“ Tez? ” Cauvey quizzed. “Are you fucking serious?”
“Tez,” I confirmed. “I saw him with my own eyes.”
“Where he at now?”
“I took him downtown. He’ll probably be released sometime tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” Nodding, Cauvey dropped his cigarette on the grass, using his foot to smush it out. “Good looking out.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” I wanted to know some information too. “Sage…that’s your girl’s cousin?”
The skepticism left Cauvey’s face. He smiled. “Yep. Blood cousins.” Without prompting, he asked, “Why? Want me to hook you up?”
“I didn’t say all that.” I started walking toward my car.
“You didn’t answer the question either.”