“Is he awake?” Ms. Dawn asked.
“He’s been in and out. Your son is a lucky man. From what I understand, after he was shot, he drove himself here, parked his car, and managed to walk to the entrance. He passed out just as he reached the desk. He was administered a low dose of pain meds, so he should be awake and alert soon.
After the transfusion and X-rays, he’ll be assigned to a room. Once that’s done, someone will notify you. Any more questions?”
No one responded, so the doctor nodded and disappeared through the double doors he’d entered. We returned to our seats, and although the news was positive and I felt better, I had a lot of questions.
“Did Rowdy happen to say where he was going?” I asked.
“No. He was gone when I got in from work. The only reason I knew he’d been shot was because one of my coworkers saw him being put on a gurney and recognized him from when he visited,” Dawn said.
I noticed Ramina’s leg shaking and her fiddling with her hands.
“What do you know, Ramina?”
She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “I don’t know anything. I swear I don’t. He doesn’t tell me where he’s going unless he’s coming to your place.”
Ramina may not have known Rowdy’s exact whereabouts, but I had a feeling she knew something. I’d bet my last dollar that whatever he was up to had everything to do with the phone call I overheard.What the hell are you up to, Rowdy?
I openedmy eyes and tried to sit up, but excruciating pain shot through my shoulder. After a few deep breaths and bracing myself for the pain, I tried again.
“Oh no, Mr. Noble. Don’t try to move,” a woman who I assumed was a doctor or nurse said as she approached my bed. She pressed a button on a small remote, which adjusted the bed so that I was sitting up. “Are you thirsty?”
“I’m good. What the hell is going on?” I asked.
“I’m Nurse McGhee, and you were shot in the shoulder.”
I closed my eyes, and the past couple of weeks flashed through my mind. After Noelani put me out for not being completely honest with her, I went ahead with my plans to hit up the stash house, but decided it would be my last.
Most of the money I’d stolen over the years wasn’t for my personal gain. I wasn’t trying to get rich or live lavishly. Nothing had changed, but this time, there were a few specific things I wanted to use it for. Some of those things were personal, some weren’t, but still close to my heart. Thankfully, the hit was successful, and I officially retired from what had become a lucrative hustle.
A few days later, Myra called me. I was tempted not to take her call, but I couldn’t pretend I didn’t want to know what she had to say. The information she shared whenever she reached out had been helpful.
“Zelle and some of his boys are coming to Onyx City, and to look for you,” she said.
“Who says I’m in Onyx City?”
“Look, you ain’t gotta confirm shit with me. My girl said Zelle’s niece saw a picture on your sister’s Flikstagram that could’ve only been taken in Onyx City. I’m starting to think I must love your ass because I really ain’t gotta keep telling you this shit I be hearing around town.”
I sighed because she was right. I hadn’t been the nicest to Myra the last few times she’d called, and she was just trying to help.
“You don’t love me, but I appreciate you looking out. Wassup?”
Myra proceeded to tell me everything she knew, and from that point on, I was on high alert. I didn’t know what Zelle and his people knew about my life in Onyx City, but I assumed before they made the trip, they’d do their research.
“I’ll let the doctor know you’re awake, and he’ll come and explain everything to you. Some people are waiting to see you. I’ll?—”
A knock on the door, followed by two uniformed officers entering, interrupted her.Shit!
“Mr. Noble, I’m Officer Downing, and this is Officer Walker. Can we ask you a few questions?”
“You can ask, but I don’t know anything.”
“Do you remember any details about the incident?” Downing asked.
“I left my house and was headed to see my girl. My car was driving funny, so I pulled over a few blocks away from my house to check my tires. I got out and went to the front driver’s side tire first, but before I could kneel to get a closer look, I heard a gunshot and felt stinging in my shoulder.”
“Do you know what street you were on?” Downing began.
