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Deja struggled to focus on the furniture rental order she needed to place for next week’s wedding. Worrying about Nina cluttered her mind, making focusing on anything else next to impossible.
The intercom beeped, and Maggie’s voice followed. “Call for you on line one.”
“Who is it, Maggie? I’m swamped with work right now.” Though Deja was busy, the truth was she was avoiding Thompson. He’d already called for her earlier in the morning and left a message saying he wanted to schedule a time for Deja to come back to his office to discuss the details of their contract. Her stomach churned thinking about having to go see him again because he definitely wanted to do more than talk.
“It’s your friend, Nina.”
“Put her through.” Nina was the only person she wanted to hear from.
“Deja, I had a problem at the bank. They only let me withdraw ten thousand dollars. I can pick up the remaining forty thousand in five to seven business days.”
Deja shot up in her chair. “What? We need that money.”
“I’ve been thinking, why don’t we move the body somewhere more permanent ourselves?” Nina asked.
“That’s not a good idea. How would we get the body out of the park and find a place to take it that would be secure enough without someone noticing? We can’t play around with this. It needs to be done right the first time. We hid it deep in the park under those logs, and with this bad weather, I don’t think many people will be out there. As long as we get the money soon, it would be better to have it moved permanently and not risk making a mistake by trying to do it.”
“You’re probably right. But I can’t rest knowing the body is there. Strange things had already been happening to me, and after this, I feel like I’m going to lose it.”
“You can’t, Nina. You need to hang in there. I’ll find a way we can get the money sooner. Just go home and rest.”
“How can I rest at home? If Rodney ever found out what I’ve done, he’d make sure the police locked me up, and I’d never see the girls again. Remember how quickly he threw me out of the house?”
“That won’t happen. When Candace gets home with the girls, say you’re not feeling well, and stay in your room. I’ll come over with some soup and run interference this evening. We’ll get through this.”
“I hope so,” Nina said before hanging up.
Deja leaned back in her chair and ran her fingers through her hair. She hadn’t expected there to be a delay in getting the money. That complicated everything. Waiting several days to get the money would feel like an eternity. Too many things could go wrong in that time, and Deja was in this too deep for anything to happen. If the truth about Kevin came out, it wouldn’t be long until Deja’s past came out too. She definitely couldn’t have that.
Only one person could possibly help her with quick cash. Though she didn’t want to do it, she didn’t have much of a choice. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the phone and dialed Thompson’s direct line.
“Ms. Vu, it’s a pleasure to see your number. But more importantly, when will I be seeing you again? I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind.”
“How’s tomorrow at lunch?” The sooner Deja got this over with, the better.
“Sounds appetizing.”
Maggie opened Deja’s door, a worried expression on her face. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but your son’s school is on the line for you. The secretary said it’s urgent.”
Deja’s heart pounded. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Thompson.” She slammed the phone down. “Go ahead and transfer the call, Maggie.”
As Maggie jogged back to her desk, Deja’s head spun. Something was wrong with Miles if the school was calling. The phone beeped, and Maggie transferred the call.
“Ms. Johnson, this is Ms. Jones. There’s been a situation at school with Miles. We need you to come down here.”
“What’s happened? Is he hurt?” Deja asked.
“He’s not hurt, but something happened with a few other students. It’s best if you head to the school, and you can discuss it then.”
“I’ll be right there.” Deja picked up her purse and rushed out of her office. “I have to go to Miles’s school. Tell Raquel I’ll be back later.”
“Will do. I hope everything is okay,” Maggie said.
Deja hoped so too. With how things had turned out with Kevin, she wouldn’t be able to handle it if something bad had happened to Miles.
***
AFTER SPEEDING TO THE school, Deja parked, hopped out of her car, and ran toward the office. She opened the door and nearly bumped into Rodney. “What are you doing here, Rodney?”
“Ms. Jones called and said there had been a situation with Bree and Laila, and I needed to come down.”
“Yes. Thank you both for coming so quickly,” Ms. Jones said. “I’ll see if the principal is ready for you two.”
“What’s this all about?” Deja asked.
“Principal Gibson will go into further detail. Why don’t you take a seat?”
Deja glanced at the open chair next to Rodney but continued standing. Neither one spoke, and tension filled the room. The door to the office opened, and another parent walked through it. Deja recognized her as Sam’s mom, the kid who had been bullying Miles. The woman’s damp, graying hair and jogging suit gave away that she’d probably been interrupted mid-workout, and her worried expression matched Rodney’s.
Ms. Jones reappeared in the office. “Mrs. Foster, thank you for coming. The principal is available, so I need you three to follow me back to his office.”
Deja hurried after Ms. Jones. In the principal’s office, Miles, Bree, Laila, and Sam sat at a large round table. Miles’s eyes were red, as if he’d been crying, and Sam held a plastic bag with ice to one of his eyes.
Sam’s mom gasped and hurried to him. “Oh, honey, are you okay?”
Sam shrugged without removing his gaze from the table.
Principal Gibson gestured for the parents to take the empty seats at the table, and each sat next to their child, with Rodney in between his girls. “So these kids were involved in quite a scene at lunch today. As you all know, there is zero tolerance for fighting at our school, and I wanted to bring everyone in to discuss what happened and make sure it doesn’t occur again.”
“Who did this to my Sammy?” Mrs. Foster asked.
Rodney spoke next. “I’m also eager to know what exactly happened.”
“I’ve been told different accounts, but apparently there was some name-calling and then a physical altercation.” Principal Gibson wagged his pointer finger at the kids. “Neither is acceptable.”
Deja couldn’t imagine Miles having a physical altercation unless it was Sam’s fault. “The kids recently told us that Sam’s been stealing Miles’s food and picking on him. Does that have anything to do with this?”
“Sammy doesn’t need to eat your son’s food. You wouldn’t do that, right, honey?” Mrs. Foster said.
“Oh, yes, he does,” Laila said. “He bullies him and takes his food every day. But today, Miles said he couldn’t have it. So Sam got mad and called him ghetto. Then Bree said that Miles’s isn’t ghetto and told him to take it back. Sam said no and told Bree to shut up and that she is crazy like our mom. Then she punched him in his eye. He pushed Bree back, and I yelled at him to stop. I saw it all.”
Based on Bree’s sullen expression, Deja believed every word of Laila’s story. Though glad the kids had taken her talk last Friday to heart, she hadn’t anticipated this.
“Okay, Laila. That’s enough.” Principal Gibson cleared his throat and addressed the adults. “I’ve spoken to each child individually about their behavior, and I think they have a good understanding of what they’ve done wrong. Sam is not to take anyone else’s food or name call. Miles is to tell a teacher if it occurs again. And Bree and Laila know that violence is not appropriate. I think it’s best if the kids go home and cool off for the rest of the day, and they’re welcome to return tomorrow.”
Rodney cleared his throat. “Mr. Gibson, I’m glad you talked to the kids, but I think all parents at this school should also be told that gossip and name-calling have no place here. Other parents have ostracized my children because of my wife’s health problems, and it’s obvious that their poisonous behavior is affecting the children. No one deserves to be treated like that. It’s a shame people take advantage of another person’s health condition.” After Rodney spoke, he stared right at Sam’s mom.
Deja looked away from Rodney. She’d never seen him stick up for Nina before, and his words hit too close to home.
“Your point is taken, Mr. Taylor. I think that you’re right, and a conversation with the parents in Bree and Laila’s class is needed. Thank you for coming,” Principal Gibson said.
Sam’s mom rose, glaring at Rodney. “I’m glad it’s been reiterated that violence is not tolerated at this school the way it is in some other neighborhoods. Let’s go, Sam.”
Deja went to Miles. “You okay, buddy?”
Miles shrugged. “Sorry I’m in trouble.”
“It’s not your fault. Let’s go home.”
They followed the principal out of the office with Rodney and the girls behind her. “You three did really well sticking up for yourselves and each other. I’m proud of each of you,” Deja said.
“So we’re not in trouble?” Bree asked.
Rodney squeezed her shoulder. “No, you’re not. But it’s not okay to hit other people. Tell a teacher if you have a problem next time.”
“Rodney, why don’t I take the kids home with me and keep them for the day? I’m sure you have to get back to work, and Nina mentioned she’s not feeling well. You can give Candace the afternoon off, and I’ll bring them home in time for dinner.”
“Fine,” Rodney said. “Girls, go ahead and get in Ms. Deja’s car with Miles.”
“Bye, Daddy.” Laila gave Rodney a long hug then joined Bree and Miles in the backseat.
“That was really nice the way you stuck up for Nina in there,” Deja said to Rodney.
Rodney narrowed his eyes. “Of course I would stick up for Nina. She’s my wife. But I need you to cut the bullshit, Deja. What the hell happened on Saturday night? Nina’s been acting completely out of it since then.”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s alcohol poisoning. She should feel better soon, I hope. That’s why it’s best to just let her rest.”
“You can take the kids for the afternoon, but I don’t want you over for dinner. Nina doesn’t need someone like you pretending to be her friend. Just leave her alone.” Rodney turned his back and walked toward his car.
Deja wanted to respond to Rodney’s cruel comment, but she had nothing to say in her defense because he was right. Deja couldn’t act like she’d been a good friend after what she’d done to Nina. But she couldn’t leave Nina alone like Rodney wanted. If Nina had another breakdown now, it’d be all Deja’s fault. She’d gotten Nina into this mess, and now for both Nina’s and Deja’s sakes, she’d have to see her out of it.