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MISS KARYN WALLACE appeared to be nice, but first impressions weren’t always the best judge of character, but Jet owed it to Diane to be weary of any woman who came into her daughter’s life, which hadn’t been many.
Karyn was more than a passing phase. Not only was Levi hooked, but he was defensive when it came to the woman he referred to as special.
“She’s a sweet lady and cares about Dori, and we care about her, so please be nice,” Levi stated as if he would not let her cast any doubts in his mind about a woman who might try to use his daughter to get to him. It wouldn't be the first time a woman tried those stunts on a man.
Jet tentatively agreed to give Karyn the benefit of the doubt, but something didn’t add up. Working as a bookseller didn’t seem to fit her. Jet couldn’t put her finger on it, but it was as if Karyn were living beneath her means when she could do better.
Her suspicions grew when Tia, of all people, introduced Jet to Karyn’s sister, Nalani. When had Seth’s girlfriend and Karyn become so close? she wondered.
The Wallace sisters’ resemblance was unquestionable, but their outwardly appearances were a contrast. Nalani, the younger, looked like a polished Cadillac compared to Karyn’s compact economy car style of clothes.
Super-friendly Tia had invited Karyn and Nalani to tag along with them to a girls’ night out at Macy’s without giving Jet the heads up. For no other reason than being Karyn’s sister, Jet didn’t like Nalani. What was happening to her? When did she start to dislike people, she didn’t know? She was turning into someone she couldn’t stand.
Tia must have sensed her discomfort when they got to the store and Jet kept her distance. “Stop looking at Karyn as if she’s the enemy,” Tia whispered, pulling Jet aside. “Levi is a good judge of character, or he wouldn’t be with her, so try to enjoy yourself.”
Taking Tia’s advice to heart, Jet turned her focus on the raffle prizes, free makeup samples and all the other goodies that came with the store-sponsored girls’ night out. Watching Karyn’s warm interaction with Nalani made Jet miss Diane even more.
Driving home, Jet reflected on her worldly possessions. She should be happy, right? She gave the appearance she had it all: car, luxury home built from the ground up and, a cushy job with the best company she’d ever worked for, and decent looks.
Jet had been in the house ten minutes when her phone chimed. Checking the caller I.D., she noted Rossi’s name.
“Did you have a good outing with Karyn, her sister, and Tia?” he asked without the preliminaries.
Was this a trick question, or was he expecting a cat fight because she was weary of Levi’s choice? “It was fun.” Since Karyn had come into the picture, it seemed as if Rossi was the point man to keep her distracted while Levi’s relationship blossomed. She was tired and ready for bed, and she told him so.
“Okay, but we haven’t spent time together in a while,” he rushed. “Let’s do something fun.”
“Sure.” When they disconnected, Jet shook her head. Rossi was one odd minister. Was it a coincidence whenever she dated, he started a relationship? Whenever she took a break, somehow, he was free again. She was too tired for deep thoughts, so she cleared her mind and prepared for bed.
One afternoon, Jet sat in her office going through files and other paperwork in preparation for her two weeks’ vacation. Before shutting down her computer to go home, she Googled the story about the grocery store massacre. It had become a yearly ritual to reread line by line the names of the victims. This had been her own way not to forget. The articles usually activated tears, but not this time.
With the New Year coming soon, she decided to give counseling one last try and stay with it until she felt whole. Would Rossi go along with her for support? Next, she pulled up the federal bureau of prisons’ website and typed in the criminals’ names in the search box to confirm they would remain inmates until their last breath. Jet would make sure of it by not missing a parole hearing. That wasn’t negotiable. She never felt criminals didn’t deserve second chances until her sister was gunned down. Convinced they couldn’t be reformed, they weren’t worthy of a second chance.
Judge not, unless you be judged of the same offense, God whispered.
She wasn’t a criminal. She had never seen inside a jail cell. With nothing else better to do, she typed in random names: friends, clients, the Tollivers, then Karyn Wallace. Her heart stopped, her mouth dropped, and her eyes bucked. She stared at the screen in disbelief. “I got a hit?”
An ex-convict named Karyn Wallace was a black female, twenty-six, served four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and was released earlier in the year. Jet blinked as panic spread through her. “Oh no. Could this be one in the same?” Number one: how many Karyns spelled their name with a “y”? She lifted an eyebrow. Number two: how many of them had the last name Wallace? Jet twisted her mouth, contemplating. How many with that combination had served time in prison? Now, she was breathing fire.
Something within Jet snapped. Karyn’s face was plastered on the person who pulled the trigger and killed her sister. Did Levi and the other Tollivers know about this?
Jet needed answers. After shutting down her computer, she grabbed her things and scrambled out of her office. She was going to Bookshelves Unlimited and hoped Karyn was on shift.
“Great,” she mumbled, stepping outside to see it had started to snow. The weather might slow her down, but she was determined to get answers. Once she arrived at the mall, the parking was sparse, despite the snow. Against better judgment and taking a chance, she snagged a handicap spot and headed inside.
Squinting through the aisles in the bookstore, Jet spotted Karyn. Her steps were determined as she approached Levi’s girlfriend. “Do you have a minute?”
“Hey, Jet. If you want to wait in the café, as soon as I get a break, we can chat.” Karyn smiled and turned back to a couple she was helping.
“It can’t wait.” She swallowed, then proceeded. “Have you ever spent time in prison?”
“What?” Karyn’s expression was unreadable. “I’m working, if you don’t mind.”
“It’s a yes-or-no answer,” Jet demanded, raising her voice, and making a scene as she stepped closer. She balled her fists and placed them on her hips. “I’m warning you to stay away from my fam—” stepping closer. Someone yanked on her arm, and Jet started swinging. The culprit was a security guard. When she tried to shake free, another guard hurried to assist. The more she tangled to get back to Karyn, the more the pair managed to drag Jet out of the store. One was radioing for backup. What? Were they serious?
Before Jet knew it, she was sitting in backseat of a patrol car. “You’re looking at attempted assault...”
Great, she was going to jail. She didn’t want a record and to have her picture posted somewhere like a criminal.
“What, I didn’t touch her!” Jet argued, although she was seconds away from some sort of physical contact—maybe.
“As well as disturbing the peace and resisting arrest,” the officer added.
Back at the station, she called Rossi to post bail. “You know I’m good for the money,” she rambled on. Oddly, he didn’t seem shocked and that surprised her. After two hours of the nightmarish ordeal, she was released, and that’s when she collapsed in Rossi’s arms and cried like a baby as he hugged her.
“Come on. I’ll take you to your car, then trail you home. I know how this ended, but I’m concerned how this began.”
You got to be kidding me? Her car had a ticket under the windshield. Jet closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Temporary insanity was all she could say to describe her behavior.
Less than thirty minutes later, they were in her living room, and she was pacing the floor. “I saw her name listed on an inmate registry...”
“You mean you saw a similar name. You can’t jump to conclusions like that. Why are you still visiting that federal prison site as if you’re bookmarking porn sites?” He didn’t hide his disappointment with a scowl.
“Jet, this has gone on long enough. You need Jesus, and that’s not an option. About three this afternoon God told me to pray. I didn’t know who or what for, but I obeyed. Now, I doubt the Karyn you found online is the same woman. You didn’t rationalize this. You’re one temper tantrum away from becoming delusional. You can’t lash out at others with or without a cause. Stop this behavior! As far as I know, Karyn hasn’t said an unkind word to you. Plus, your accusations could have caused her to lose her job.”
“All she had to do was deny it,” Jet argued.
“See.” His nostrils flared. “You’re not listening. Clip the claws, tomcat. You’re too classy for this.” Standing, he softened his words as he hugged her. “I know you’re as beautiful inside as you are outside.”
She looked away, but he brought her face back to his. “I’m going to keep praying until I see Jesetta—my Jesetta—again.”
His words were so heartfelt. Her shoulders slumped when she realized she had disappointed him. “I guess I got carried away with my imagination. Wait until Levi hears about this.” Jet groaned. “He may disown me.”
“Maybe,” Rossi teased and grinned, “but you’ll still have me.” He kissed her cheek and tugged her to the door. “Lock up. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
As she watched him drive away, Jet shook her head. Although she owed Karyn an apology for causing a scene, she still wanted an answer.
