It was barely two weeks later, when, as the story of her life goes, Sasha saw the beginning of the end of her happiness. The minute she answered her phone and heard her mother’s voice, the hair on the back of her neck spiked.
“Imagine my surprise when I showed up in New York to find your apartment has been rented out. Where in the hell are you living?”
Sasha sat back from the desk and exhaled, “I have a place in Virginia.”
“Why in the hell are you in Virginia? Are you still working on a special project?”
Sasha exhaled, “At least you remember our last conversation.”
“I’m not senile. Of course, I remember,” Stephanie hissed.
“It’s hard to tell. I haven’t heard from you since the Christmas holidays. It’s July.”
“I’ve sent you text messages. I’m living my life.”
“I’m living mine too. What do you need?”
“Who said I needed anything?”
“You. Whenever you initiate a call, you need or want something. What is it this time?”
“Shit, if you are going to sound like that forget it.”
“Mother, I’m busy here. What is it that you need?”
“Well, I was looking at a little condo in Miami and may need help with the down payment.”
“What’s wrong with your place in Atlanta?”
“Atlanta is getting stale for me. I need to be where the action is. And girl Miami is jumping.”
“Well, it’s going to have to jump without you. I don’t have extra cash on hand at the moment.”
“Why not?”
Sasha exhaled. “I just bought a condo here and since I’m on leave at the UN, I have to watch my finances.”
“You’re on leave from your job? Why?”
“Mother, I’ve been on leave since the last time we talked. I just requested another six months to finish out the project.”
“You are not getting a paycheck for this project?”
“No. I’m doing it as a favor.” Sasha replied.
“That’s a hell of a favor, to give up your job and not get paid. This project must be important for you to let it interfere with your responsibility to me. Who are you doing this favor for?”
Sasha decided it was time. “I am working on a project for my sister.”
There was silence on the other end of the line. Sasha waited. Stephanie was having a moment. She had to think of the right disgusting words to say.
“You are working with who?”
There was the tone she expected. “Monique Day, my sister.”
“You don’t have a sister,” her mother huffed. “You are an only child. I know because I gave up my life the day you were born and I never did it again. So you do not have a sister.”
“I do, just like I have a father. A pretty decent one at that.”
Stephanie laughed. “That statement alone, lets me know you have the wrong man. There is nothing decent about Al Day. Never has been, never will be.”
“Oh, I don’t know mother, he kept you in a comfortable lifestyle since you were sixteen. He housed and clothed both of us until I was eighteen. He paid for my education, he paid for your booty lift and the home you are living in now. Shall I continue?”
“I can see that man has brainwashed you. Give me your address,” Stephanie demanded.
“Why? You made it clear to me years ago you do not like Virginia.”
“Is there a reason you don’t want me to know where you live. I’m sure your father has provided you with the best that drug money can buy.”
Sasha shook her head. “You know, Mother, you really don’t want to come here. I mean, aren’t you afraid Al may try to take you out if you interfere in his business? After all he is a dangerous drug dealer, or so you’ve told me all my life.”
“First of all, Al would not dare put a finger on me. And second where in the hell do you get off talking to me like this. Have you forgotten I’m the one who gave birth to you? Now give me the damn address.”
Sasha noticed she skipped over the life long lie part. “You know, I think you forgot that fact a long time ago. Earlier you said something about my responsibility to you. What about your responsibility to me?”
“I gave you life.”
“That’s what I thought for 33 years. But I have to say. I’ve lived more life in the last seven months than I did the entire time I was under your roof.”
“You and I apparently need a face to face,” Stephanie replied.
“You know, I needed a face to face when you were busy on your cruise. Now, not so much. I like the way my life is going so I will hold off on giving you my address until you calm the hell down. My life is pretty peaceful right now. I want to keep it that way.”
Sasha disconnected the call. Then she immediately felt guilty.
“What was that all about?”
Sasha closed her eyes and exhaled. “I’m about to get a visit from my mother.”
They were having breakfast in the work center as Luke looked across the island at her. The concern on her face was clear. “Do you want her to come? I have ways to prevent it.”
Sasha laughed. “You would do that wouldn’t you?”
“Damn right. So would your father. And let’s not forget Monique.”
She leaned over the table and kissed him. “Thank you, but I have a feeling if I let you, Monique or Al have your way I would never see my mother again.”
“How terrible would that be?” Luke asked.
Sasha thought about that for a moment. Then exhaled. “She is my mother and you of all people know how important family is.”
“Yes, however, there is family you are born with then there is family that you choose.”
“I can only hope that she doesn’t mess up the family I’m growing to love.”
Luke smiled. “Did I just hear the word love come out of Sasha Coles’ mouth?”
She cleared her throat with a chuckle. “Don’t get carried away Luke Lassiter. I was referring to Al and Monique.” She stood and walked into the office. “Follow me. I have something to show you.”
Luke followed her into the office with the documents.
“Look at this,” Sasha said as she reached across the desk. “This is from the region of Nigeria,” she walked over to the world map Luke had put on the wall in the office. I believe it was mis-categorized. This document should be in the later pile.”
Luke walked over to the map and stood next to her. “What does that indicate?”
“Look at the map. Remember when I first looked at the documents months ago I mentioned the country of Benin?”
Luke nodded. “Yeah.”
“Well whoever wrote this document’s dialogue indicated it’s from the Nigeria region. Look at the proximity to Benin.”
“They are literally next door to each other.”
“Exactly,” Sasha nodded.
“So the two countries are working together on this plot?” Luke asked.
“It may not be the country, but based on what I’m getting from these documents the people involved are from both areas. And that’s not all. This document indicates the timeline of events is closer than we think, Luke.” She went back to the desk. “This document talked about developing a team to carry out the plan. This one,” she held up another document, “reads as if the team is in the process of training.”
“Any idea how long ago this document was written?”
“I would guess about a year or two ago.”
“So if you are reading the tea leaves correctly, whoever is behind this has been training their people for a year or longer.”
Sasha thought before she answered, understanding the significance of what she had uncovered. “Yes, I’m afraid so.”
“I’m going to pass this information to Adam. It may trigger something for him.”
“Aren’t they all going to be here for the cookout?”
Luke nodded. “Thanks to you, yes.”
“What did I have to do with it?”
“Well, when my mother called about the July 4th cookout you suggested they all come here. I sure hope you can cook.” Luke smirked. “My family loves to eat.”
“I don’t have to worry about cooking. Leah, Ruby and Diamond will be here within the hour. That’s why you couldn’t get no ass from me this morning. I had to finalize my review of this document before they get here.”
“You denied me for my family? That’s cold.”
“You’ll get over it,” she smiled. “I’ll make it up to you by giving you a pony ride tonight.”