The Pink Palace by Marlon McCaulsky

Author:Marlon McCaulsky [McCaulsky, Marlon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2015-09-30T04:00:00+00:00

JAYSON

As we drive back on Peachtree Street, I notice how quiet and distant Janelle is. I’m nervous enough as it is, bringing Janelle around Vanessa. There’s no telling what she could have said to her. Judging by the expression on Janelle’s face, something bad happened. I guess I should just go ahead and set the bomb off now.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing,” Janelle says, annoyed at something.

“Come on, Janelle. You’ve had this look on your face since we left the house. What’s going on?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out, Tommy. What is going on?”

“What?”

“Vanessa. I saw the way you two were looking at each other, and don’t tell me I didn’t see it.”

“Janelle, it’s more complicated than you think.”

“Then uncomplicate it for me,” Janelle says.

Damn, if I lie again, it’ll only make shit even more stressful for her.

“I knew her from high school.”

“Oh my God, you two were together back then?” I don’t answer her. “Why didn’t you say something to me?”

“Janelle, what was I going to say to you? That twelve years ago I was with a girl who’s now with a major hustler?”

“Tommy, if King finds out, do you know what he’ll do?”

“Yeah, I think I know,” I tell her.

“No wonder she was coming at me like that.” Janelle stares out the window. She then turns and looks at me. “When you were in New York, did you sleep with her?”

I look at her and then turn away. It starts to rain lightly outside.

“Wow, complete silence. I guess that answers that question. Pull over,” Janelle demands.

“What?”

“I said pull over. I’m getting out.”

“And go where? It’s raining,” I say.

“Either pull the fucking car over or I’ll jump out!” she yells.

“Fine.”

I pull over to the curb and Janelle gets out, slamming the door. She starts to walk down the sidewalk in the rain. I turn off the engine, get out, and start to follow her.

“Janelle, Janelle! Wait up!” I yell.

“For what, Tommy?” Janelle starts to cry. I catch up with her and grab her arm. She pulls away.

“Will you let me explain?”

“Explain what, Tommy? You never explain shit to me! You have all your little secrets that you won’t tell me! I can’t believe I thought that you could be honest with me! Nikki was right. I was stupid to believe you could ever love me. All I am to you is some stripper that you’re fucking right now,” Janelle says.

“That’s not true. You mean more to me than that.”

“No matter how much I change my life, it won’t change who I am, or what I was. You can’t be real with me because I don’t mean nothing to you.”

“It’s not that simple!”

“It is, Tommy! If you really care about me, it is.” Janelle stares into my eyes with tears in her eyes. “Just what I thought.” Janelle turns around and walks away.

“I’m a cop.”

I can’t believe I just said that. What the hell am I thinking? I just blew my cover.

Janelle turns and looks at me in shock. “You’re a cop?”

I stare in her eyes.

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