Chapter 14
Ava hey girl it's me. Hey what you got for me? Girl you sitting down?I am. They are true. When? Five year's after the marriage Ava.
Something was wrong Ava. What? This fool talking about he'll give it to me on the next date. No way when is that? Tonight he said he just went in the record and got what we asked for he never checked to see why he needed it.
It's been day's since I heard from Chaise I'm starting to worry. Let us pray God will answer us any news from the private investigator? The police? Nothing yet girl but they both said they will follow up later in the day. Call me when you get news Ava? Sure will okay later.
Belle stopped by Ricky's steak house.
She ordered four inch tjick juicy steak with home made steak fries with a rich green organic salad.
Belle ordered a bottle of chilled red wine to wash it down.
Belle went to the basement, Chaise baby are you alive? He was blacked out on the floor. Belle ran a bucket of cold water from the slop sink she splashed the bucket on him.
Chaise opened his eyes, well baby you finally lost that fifty pound's you wanted you should thank me your back to the weight you were in your twenties.
Sit up I come bearing gifts. She took the steak out in the plastic plate.
Mmmm smell that? Belle cut the steak into small piece's maintaining her distance.
She rolled him a bottle water across the dusty floor Chaise desperately cracking it open drinking all of it.
Easy now I hear the body can go into shock after fasting and eating fast.
She rolled him two more bottles he drank one holding the other. Smart man, she pulled the steak dinner out of her picnic basket cutting the steak into strips one by one.
She ate some this is really good dipping it into A1 sauce. Did you like Al on your steak or ketchup? I can't recall.
He didn't answer she dipped a piece in Al and tossed it at him.
Catch it before it hits the floor I spoke with Ava, I think me threatening to kill you worked s
smacking her steak licking her finger's.
She threw the fries across the room by the handful. Eat em before they get cold tossing him ketchup packs.
Have you figured who I am? He was busy eating the morsels she tossed his way. Hey! He snapped his attention to her wickedly staring at her no I haven't.
Chaise how many women did you cheat on Ava with during your marriage? You can't be one of them because you are way to young.
Now you're on the right track! Yes, you're almost there! Think! He drank his water slow he was so fixed on food and the smell he couldn't think. She tossed the bowl to him the food spilling out on the dusty dirt floor inches within his reach.
Belle laughed maniacally recording him as he belly crawled to reach the morsels at his finger tip's touching the fat of the steak but missing the meat.
Look at you a lowly beggar she rested her shoe on the steak mashing it into the dirt pressing her weight on it moving it further away.
Belle spit on him kicking him in the face with her pointy stiletto pathetic you are.
She traipsed up the wooden stair's of the house either you free yourself with the truth of your sin or die here Chaise the choice is yours.
Chaise took a deep breath commanding himself not to cry, he removed his shirt landing it on top of the steak and plate pulling it closer to him. He grabbed what was left of the meat brushed it off he didn't want to waste water washing it he devoured the dirt infested meat morsel.
Chaise cleaned the steak bone tossing it down taking a second look he picked it up shaping it.
Chaise finally got thru to Ava after trying foe days, he knew Belle would not be back for at least five day's.
Ava? Chaise thank God you're still alive.
I hired a private investigator with the funds from the business Chase.
I noticed she comes every five or six day's to torture me Ava. How do you know? I write lines on the wall with a rock, three times she came five day's apart and four times six day's apart.
The detective and I think you're in Queens, bordering long island.
Tell him I can hear tug boats. Chaise you're hearing things tug boats on long island?
Yes Ava I worked them with my dad, I owned one when he died he was a fisherman remember? We sold it Ava to start the business?
I was upset you sold it Chaise. Yeah you were, you loved that little boat.
Your dad named it after me when we got married the Ava little bit and strong like you he'd say God rest him he was the only father I ever knew.
He'd be ashamed of how you treated me and you know it Chaise.
I been thinking about him a lot lately and I have to agree he would be cross with me.
What's wrong with you boy? I didn't raise you that way! Don't you shame me and your mother in these streets you carry my name--
And don't you forget it! Ava imitated her father in law's voice.
Chaise wiped his eyes he was a good man.
If the detective follows her in four to six day's he'll find me.
Chaise did you have a vasectomy? The line was quiet, Chaise! Yes Ava. You made me think all these year's I couldn't bare children and you were sterile?
Nigga have you lost your fucking mind? When the fuck did you do that? And fucking why?
Hello Chaise! Ava do you want the truth? I'm asking nigga right!? Stop yelling. You don't tell me what the fuck to do for thirty years I saw women with babies went to baby shower's, saw movies about babies had baby fever and thought I was a half a woman because I wasn't good enough to carry children for you and all this time....all this got damn time you been sterile?
Ava do you remember that car accident I had when I was struck by a drunk driver on my motorcycle? They told you I was in surgery? Yes for your arm and shoulder? Yes Ava a piece of metal stabbed me in my ball's.
They severed the sacks and mangled one of the ball's Ava the sacks inside were filled with blood and couldn't be saved.
They left the sacks but Ava there was nothing inside of the left one the lines were severed connecting the fluid and sperms.
You didn't think to share that shit with your wife? Ava we were already at each others throats that's all you needed to walk out the damn door on me.
We were still young in our late twenties we were arguing every fucking day baby I was scared I didn't know what to do.
I knew how bad you wanted a baby that's all you ever talked about even in high school. Then I find out I can't give you a baby? I'd just lost my dream of being a father and now I'm supposed to loose my wife along with it a two for one deal?
I couldn't do that Ava I still loved you despite the argument's I love you.
I'm sorry I lied to you baby I was wrong for that. We could of adopted Chaise how dare you strip me of the decision of parenthood it wasn't for you to do.
You're right but if it meant loosing you I'd do it again.
All this time it wasn't me. No Ava it wasn't that's why I kept saying stop worrying how do you know it's you? It could be me do you recall me saying that? That doesn't get you out the dog house negro.
Yeah baby I know.
She wiped her eye's, I gotta go try and call later on. She sat down crying her eyes out a part of her was relieved and the other half angry.
Her phone rang Ava wiped her nose hello Mrs. Dawson? Yes. This is the private investigator you hired, Scott Mandel. Yes hello Scott. Ms. Dawson were you aware your ex husband was involved in a paternity suit? How long ago?
Twenty seven year's ago, I'm not saying this has anything to do with the case but I think it's worth looking into. Can you email copies of all your finding thus far? I sure can ma'am.
Fine, also he called and said Belle comes to see him once every four to six day's. Chaise said if you follow her during that time starting from today she may lead you to him.
Good work Ms. Dawson real good work did he say anything else? He said he hears Tug Boat's at night tooting horn's. At night? Yes sir he said it was dark when he heard them. Did he say when? No why? If I had a time of day I could see what day tug boats were in the harbor that would help narrow down townships within distance of hearing the horns blow.
If he call's back please ask if he can recall the day. I sure will. Thank you Ms. Dawson I'll be in touch.
Hello? Ava it's Roxie the business account is empty. Empty? Yes all the money is gone.
That's impossible that account has close to two million dollar's in it.
Ava, it's gone!