We didn’t speak much during the nearly hour-long drive into the city, where Kya said she had to stop to question some clients. Not wanting to cuff me inside the car and risk drawing attention, forcing her to explain why I was restrained, she left me on my honor.
“I mean it, Sativa. You will be so very sorry if you run. You promised to be with me forever, through thick and thin. Now, I want things to work between us. I really do. I’m keeping up my end of the promise we made to each other, and now I expect you to live up to yours, too. Got it?”
I turned to face her and nodded.
“Furthermore, no matter where you run, you could never hide from me. You know it, and I know it, so stay put. Let’s put this horrible incident behind us and move on, okay?”
I nodded again, looking straight ahead at the passersby.
She brushed my bangs back from my forehead, then gave my thigh a gentle squeeze with her long, slender fingers. “I really do love you, sweetie pie. I promise never to hurt you again, so come on, let’s get along. Let’s give each other the love and respect we said we would. You always told me the thing you hated most about a person was when they were all talk and no action, besides hypocritical.”
I had to force myself not to remind her how lousy she was at keeping her own promises. Instead, I simply smiled and promised to be where she left me when she returned. However, I was about to break a promise of my own.
Once she left the car to enter a large office building, my heart began to pound. I looked at my surroundings but couldn’t spot a payphone. After waiting a minute or two in case she returned immediately, I stepped out of the car. Unsure which way to go, I picked a direction and ran in search of a phone. When I couldn’t find one within a couple of blocks, I headed into a clothing store and asked to use the phone.
“We don’t allow public use of our phone,” said a middle-aged man. “Sorry.”
“But it’s an emergency!” I protested. “I need to call the police. Someone’s after me.”
He pulled a phone from under the counter and placed it on the countertop. I quickly yanked up the receiver and dialed. I told the dispatcher where I was and briefly explained my predicament. Although she didn’t seem to fully grasp what I was saying, she assured me help was on its way.
It seemed like a year had gone by before I saw the cruiser pull up. A blond lady cop exited the passenger side as her male African-American partner exited the driver’s side. I was the only one in the small store, standing at the counter with the sales clerk, when they sauntered in as if nothing serious was happening. After all, they were used to calls like these.
“Are you the one who called?” the lady cop asked.
I nodded. “Do you know Detective Kya Jackson?”
“Why yes, as a matter of fact, I do,” said the guy. “Officer Jackson’s a good cop.”
“Yeah, well, she may be a good cop, but she’s not such a nice person to live with.”
I told them about the beatings and my attempted escape.
“How’d you get here?” he asked.
“She’s just two blocks away, supposedly questioning someone involved in a case she’s on.”
“What do you want us to do? File a complaint?”
“No. At this point, I just want out. We live out in Maricopa, and I need an escort to get my stuff and stay with a friend.”
“Well, honey, we’d be glad to help, but we’re Phoenix, not Maricopa. You’ll have to contact someone in that county’s jurisdiction,” said the woman.
“How do I do that then? Can you bring me to Maricopa’s substation? I know they have one. She’s mentioned it before and even pointed it out when we went by it once.”
“Sorry,” said the guy, shaking his head slowly.
“Sorry? That’s all you can say?” I looked at them incredulously. “If you can’t help me, who can?”
Just then, the woman of my dreams turned into the woman of my nightmares, entered the store. “There you are,” she said with phony relief and the cheeriest smile. “I was worried sick about you, not knowing where you went. What’s going on?” She put on such a convincing look of concern that I was almost fooled.
When the cops recited my accusations and questioned her, she denied it all. Being one of their own, the cops believed her, not me. It was simply my word against hers, which meant that unless I was literally killed, it was a no-win situation. You simply couldn’t call the cops on the cops.
“What? Do you guys think I put these bruises on my face myself?”
“We’re not saying that…”
“Oh, just forget it. Go on and protect your own. So what if I live or die!”
The lady and her partner looked at me regretfully as I spun on my heel to leave the store, while Kya, unseen by her fellow officers, gave me the most murderous look I’d ever seen.
Back on the street, I knew it’d be at least a few minutes before Kya came after me. She’d likely be talking to the officers for a while, probably painting me as unstable and crazy.
Once again, I searched for a phone. This time, I found one in a diner and dialed Mary’s cell number. Much to my relief, she answered.
“Oh, thank God, thank God!” I exclaimed.
“Sativa? What’s wrong?”
“There’s no time to explain. Just get to Shauna’s Diner as fast as you can. I’ll be watching from the window. Be sure the passenger door’s unlocked. I’m diving right in as soon as I see you.”
“You got it, sweetheart. Hang tight. I’m on my way.”
I found a spot in the diner where I could observe the street while remaining hidden, ready to run into the men’s room if I saw Kya. I hoped Mary would arrive before Kya did, so I’d never find out her guess.
I waited what seemed like forever. Fate was with me when I spotted Mary’s car. I ran out and dove into the passenger side, directing her to the Maricopa substation. Once there, I explained everything to the only officer present. He followed Mary and me to Kya’s house. Fortunately, she hadn’t returned yet, and Mary had a large van, so I could pack the rats and most of my belongings after securing Yogi in a room. I was grateful I had saved the boxes I’d used to move in; they were in the guest room.
“This better not be a burglary I’m watching,” said the cop, leaning against his cruiser while we made multiple trips.
“Oh, it isn’t,” I assured him.
“Definitely not,” Mary chimed in. “This is a grand escape from a real monster.”
Eventually, we could fit no more in Mary’s van. I had to leave some knick-knacks behind, but I could live without them—I never wanted to see this place again. I wanted to put it all behind me along with Kya, though I knew it’d take a while for the anger and hurt to subside.
With the cop in his cruiser and Mary in her van, I went to free Yogi and leave the key Kya had given me on the kitchen counter. A wave of sadness washed over me as I set the key down, but I knew I was doing the right thing. The beatings would only worsen if I stayed, and I might even end up dead. Being either a punching bag or a corpse was definitely not in my plans. I took one last look around the house I hadn’t even lived in for two months, then turned and left.
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.