Ammo and Mary Page 8

  He pulled out a billfold filled with cash. He counted out two thousand dollars and handed it over. No questions and no haggling. “I would like to talk to you about making a couple of suits and shirts for me. I am sick of everything being ill-fitting then having you alter it. If you are up to it.”

  “I can look into it for you. I will say I do not have all the resources of suit manufactures for the fabric, but I do know of a few places here in the city I might be able to get something. Like my services today, they will not be inexpensive.” I was not going to take this on.

  “Please look into it and let me know. Thank you for dropping everything and taking such good care of this for me.” He was staring at me again.

  I pocketed the money and started out the door. I could not wait to be away from him. “Bye now, Mr. Greyson. Thank you for your generosity. I will call you about the delivery for tomorrow.”

  “Text me instead, please. Thank you again.” He offered a small wave. I waved back.

  After he shut the door I headed out to my car, put my things in the trunk, and got in. I buckled up and started my car. One deep breath later, I drove away. I wanted to find a place to pull over to call Ben and tell him everything. While it might be nothing, this guy gave me the creeps. I had all kinds of sinister thoughts going through my head. I knew my mind was not playing tricks on me. I had heard ‘help me,’ then that thump. I was still ten minutes from home, but I could not wait anymore. I pulled into the next parking lot, pulled out my phone, and hoped he would answer. I dialed and waited for him to pick up.

  “Hey, Mary. How are you, sweetheart?” He answered, oh thank God.

  “Ben, I have no idea what just happened, but something is wrong,” I said. I was very panicked and started shaking.

  “Mary, are you in a safe place now?” he asked

  “Yeah, I’m in my car in a coffeehouse parking lot,” I said.

  “Okay, tell me from the start what happened.” He waited for me to answer.

  “I went to Mr. Greyson’s house. I set up in the dining room like last time. He had his shirts on the table all ready for me. I fitted him and started working on three of the white shirts. I packed up the rest and started working on the shirts. When I was finishing up, I heard whispering coming from the air vent near me. It was saying ‘help me.’ A few moments later, I heard a thud. Then a door slammed, and Mr. Greyson headed down the stairs. I wanted him to try on a shirt, but he had blood on his hands. I pointed it out. He said a maid tripped and cut her head. He went and washed his hands. He tried the shirts on. Asked me if I would make his clothes from now on, paid me double in cash, and I left. I drove till I was about ten minutes from home and called you,” I said. I was shaking. I just wanted to be home. I wanted Ben there holding me.

  “Mary, can you give me any information you have on Mr. Greyson?” he asked.

  I gave him his name and address. “I did call Clarisse Rosenberg when he first called me for work. Clarisse is the head matron of the who’s who in the North Shore. Clarisse had been over to welcome him to the neighborhood and get money out of him for her charity work. He donated ten thousand dollars. She left shortly thereafter, saying he was the evilest man she’d ever met and a cheapskate,” I explained.

  “Really? Well, we will be checking him out. Mary, are you going to be okay driving?”

  “Yeah. I am better now that I talked to you,” I said.

  “That’s good. I am glad you called. So, you have shirts you need to work on now?” he asked, wanting to clarify.

  “Yes. I told him I would finish them and then have them delivered tomorrow,” I said.

  “Okay, Mary. Drive home and text me when you get there?”

  “Yeah.” We said goodbye and hung up. I put my phone down and carefully drove home. I texted Ben as soon as I got in my house with my machine and bags. I figured the best thing I could do was get those stupid shirts altered. The faster I did, the faster I could get rid of Mr. Greyson.

  Chapter 19

  Ammo

  “Domino!” I called as I came up the stairs. He was in the command center with Gena, Hack, and Binary. Another two girls had been taken according to the reports Adin had sent over.

  “What’s up, Ammo?” Domino said as he put down the papers he was looking at.

  “Mary just called.” I paused, trying to figure out how I would explain this.

  “That’s good, Ammo. I hope you take her on a second date,” he said and went back to his papers.

  “No, not like that. Domino, something happened at the client’s house she was at,” I said.

  Domino looked at me. “So why are you here and not getting your ass over there?”

  I stared at him. Shit! He was right. I should be heading to Mary right now, not standing here talking.

  “Ammo get your go-bag, get in your car, and get over there. Call me while you are driving and tell me,” Domino snapped at me.

  “Gena, here.” I handed her the name and address of Mr. Greyson. I turned and ran out the door. I headed to the armory. I had an arsenal in my car, but I need things I could leave at Mary’s. I got my go-bag, my handgun, and holster from my apartment and left.

  I started driving to Mary’s. After I got to Harlem Ave and started heading north, trying to figure out what street I wanted to head east on, I called Domino.

  “Go, Ammo.”

  “Mary was at a client’s today to alter some shirts. While she was there, she heard the word ‘help’ being whispered through the air duct. Then she heard a thud and a door slam. The client came downstairs. He had blood on his hand. Mary pointed it out. He said a maid tripped and cut her head open. Mary quickly left after that with double her fee. She still has more shirts to alter for this guy. She freaked out. She also told me one of the North Shore’s socialites thinks he’s evil. I get the impression that Mary thinks the guy is a creep.”

  “So, what is the plan?” Domino asked.

  “I am hoping she can get those shirts done that she had to finish at home. Then I thought I would deliver them for her and see what I could scope out,” I said.

  “I see. I am sending Joey, Ninja, Lego, and Oatmeal to Mary’s. They will install a security system in her house. They will put the Forces security app on her phone. Binary will get it all connected so she, you, and the command center can see what’s going on at her house. Then, tomorrow, they will come back with the delivery van so you can go check that client out. Okay?”

  “Yeah. I don’t think she can afford that, so take it out of my check.” I knew what security system he was putting in her house. The equipment was very expensive because it was all new technology.

  “Ammo, God help you. You so need lessons on women and relationships. You love her right? You are already thinking of marrying her? She is part of us now. We have always taken care of our own.” Domino was exasperated with me. Again today. Ugh. “And I will be fine on my own. Charlotte is staying with me till Monday.” He hung up.

  Loved her, yes. Marry her? I let that roll around in my head. Yeah, I hoped we would one day soon. I wanted to take her out to dinner first though.

  I was almost to Mary’s house. It was around 1 in the afternoon. I found parking in front of her house. I grabbed my bags, I locked up my car and went to her door, ringing the bell. I heard her footsteps come to the door. She stood on her toes to look through the glass on her door.

  “Ben!” She threw herself in my arms. I held her close. I could feel her starting to relax.

  “Hiya, Mary,” I said.

  “Come in. Please?” She looked at me with pleading eyes.

  I let her go, grabbed my bags, and stepped in. She closed and locked the door behind me. “How are you doing?” I asked, looking at her so I could see for myself.

  “I am trying to get those shirts done.” She started walking to her sewing machine. She was wearing her work clothes. Khakis, a teal polo she’d put her logo on, and sensible shoes. “I have two finished but still have twenty left to do.” She sat back down at
her machine.

  “Okay, I am going to do some things, I have some guys coming over for the rest of the afternoon to take care of some things. Could I have your phone and keys, please?” I asked her.

  “They are on the counter,” she said and got back to work.

  I let her work. The sooner she got those done, the sooner I could get over there to take a look at things. I grabbed her phone and keys. I found her house key and took it off the ring. I needed to get a copy for myself. I took her phone back to her recliner and sat down. I went through her contacts, found Rosa’s number, and added her to my phone. Then I added a bunch of Forces contacts to her phone. I added our Forces App and got her on the Forces Ladies’ text group. Gena and Binary and the female operatives and the few wives had their own text group. That way they could all keep tabs on each other and not have all the guys pushing them around. At least that’s what Gena told me.

  Just as I was finishing, the guys showed up. I let them in. “Mary, these are a few of the guys I work with. They are going to set up some security and tie it into Forces,” I said to her.

  She looked up from her machine. “Security? Like cameras? I can’t afford that, Ben.” She kept on sewing.

  “Mary, honey, there is no cost to you. It’s been taken care of. Also, it will help me rest easier knowing you are safe,” I said. Domino was so right; I so needed lessons on women and relationships.

  She stopped sewing and looked up at me. She searched my face. I didn’t know what she was looking for. I hoped that I was expressing whatever she wanted to find there.

  She covered her face with her hands and blew out a breath. “I would be stupid to turn this down. Go ahead.” She rested her chin on her hand and leaned on her table. She was looking around her house. She looked back at me. I smiled at her. I knew she was stressed out. I wanted to take that away from her. “I got to finish these.” And she went back to sewing.

  I turned to the guys and they got to work. I handed her phone and key to Lego. “I downloaded the app already and I would like a copy of her key, please.”

  “Done. Are you helping us or something else?” he asked me.

  “I have my own things I want to do,” I said to him. I knew that Joey, Ninja, Lego, and Oatmeal all worked fine without me. I went to my bags and took out the weapons I had and walked around her house, stashing them so I could get them if I need to.

  I went into her kitchen to see what kind of pots and pans she had. I quickly discovered she really had nothing. I found an electric tea kettle and a toaster on the counter. She had plates, glasses, bowls for cereal in the cabinets, and silverware in a drawer. As far as food went, she had a loaf of bread, peanut butter, yogurt, milk, and cereal. I made a list of things I wanted. I looked to see where the guys were. I saw Joey heading my way to the TV room she had set up toward the back of the house.

  “Hey, Joey, I am going to head out to the store. I will be back soon,” I said. I went towards where Mary was sewing.

  “Yeah, sure.” He gave me a chin lift and went on to his task.

  “Mary, honey? I need to run to the grocery store. I will be back shortly. Joey, Ninja, Lego, and Oatmeal will be here with you, okay?” I asked her.

  She never stopped what she was doing. “Sure.”

  “Do you need anything while I am there?” I really wished I could get this robot working Mary to go away. I wanted my Mary back.

  “I have no idea. Anything you get will be fine. I got to get this done. I don’t want this creep’s stuff in my house.” She went back to sewing. I kissed the top of her head and left.

  I called Rosa on my way to the store.

  “Hello? Who is this?” she answered.

  “Hello, Rosa, it’s Ben. How are you?” I asked, hoping I could get some help from her.

  “Getting ready for the dinner rush. Is Mary okay?” I heard the worry in her voice.

  “She is okay. The client she saw today scared her. I am staying over with her for a few days. I was wondering if I could get a plate of dinner added to hers tonight? And if I could borrow a frying pan, a turner, and a knife?” I asked.

  “You are going to cook in her kitchen?” Rosa seemed shocked.

  “I need more food than yogurt, cereal, and peanut butter toast,” I said.

  “Yeah I bet you do,” she laughed. “So you have figured out what she can make on her own, huh? I can add a large plate for you for tonight. I have a pan, a turner, and a knife you can borrow for the foreseeable future. You are now expected at Sunday dinner. It’s at four o’clock at my house. Mary is always late, Fix that.” Rosa said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said.

  “I will drop everything off tonight at 5,” she said and hung up.

  I chuckled. She was no nonsense. I liked it.

  I looked on my phone and found the closest grocery store. I picked up more bread and milk. I got some eggs, vegetables, snacks, and fruit. I loaded up my groceries and got back to Mary’s. It was 4:30. I’d made it in plenty of time for Rosa. I walked in the house and saw Mary was still sewing, though her finished pile was much bigger.

  I put all the groceries away and went to check on the guys. I found them in the TV room. “Did you all finish?”

  Lego handed me her phone and the keys. “Yup. She is set. Binary has everything working and you are ready to go. I think we are done and are going to head out. We will be back when the delivery is ready to happen.”

  “Thank you, guys. Have any of you heard from Tarzan?” I asked.

  “No, we had hoped you would have. He’s closest to you,” Oatmeal said.

  “Texted him this morning and all he said was he was taking a few days off. I will try to call him later then,” I said. We were all worried about him and Jenn. I only knew about the diagnosis since Mary and I had walked in on that research session.

  I let them out and locked up. I took Mary’s phone and keys back to the recliner. Lego had also given me a copy of my apartment key. When he did, he had given me a look. I figured it was one of those things I still needed to learn. I put her key and mine back on her ring. I put the copy he made me on my ring. I then sat back and played with the Forces app on her phone. I set it up so it would be easy for her to see the different camera feeds. I would show her how to use it later. I took out my phone and made sure I had her feeds in my app. I saw Rosa walking up to the house. I got up to answer the door.

  “Watching for me?” She had a big bag in her hands. I went to help her. “There you go. You should find what you need and few other things in there,” she said.

  She walked in and went to Mary. “How many left?”

  “Two, then press and fold,” she said.

  “Put the pan of food in the oven on warm. It will keep until she’s done. Let me know if you need dinner tomorrow and see you Sunday,” Rosa said and left.

  I locked the door behind her and took the bag to the kitchen. I pulled out the foil pan of food and did as instructed. I went about unloading the rest that was in the bag. The next thing I took out said ‘refrigerate me until serving time.’ I did. I found a nice pan so I could make eggs in the morning, the turner, and the knife. I also found a cutting board, a small coffee maker, and coffee. Attached to the coffee was a note. ‘Mary hates coffee, figured you didn’t.’ I knew right then that Rosa was the best. I figured I would just run out and get some coffee for myself in the morning, but this was way better.

  I went back to the recliner and watched as Mary finish the last shirt. She got out an iron and stack of tissue paper from a cabinet. She set the iron to heat up and I watched as she folded the paper into the shirt. I got up and went to help her. We quickly made an assembly line and had the twenty-two shirts ready for delivery. She got a clear bag like you would find at a dry cleaner. She opened it up and I slid the stack in.

  “Done.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “I want to go shower and change.” She turned and walked towards her room. I wanted to hold her, hug her, kiss her, but I let her go. I know she was dealing with this situ
ation the best she could. It was just hard for me not to try to help her.

  I went into the kitchen and got out some plates. I pulled the pan out of the oven and waited for it to cool some before taking the foil lid off. I found enchiladas, rice, and beans. I plated it up for us. I opened the refrigerated portion and found sour cream and two salads. I set those out on the peninsula and put our plates there. I grabbed some forks and knives and paper towels. I figured water would be good enough to go with dinner. That’s when I noticed she had no water glass set out. I bet she’d had no lunch or water all day. I should have paid more attention to her and gotten her water.

  “It smells good. What did Rosa bring?” she asked, coming in the kitchen.

  “Enchiladas. Mary—” I started.