Score: The Catch

Chapter Seven

It's been 18 hours and I still haven't seen her. It got so bad that I had to call her mama over to our place to see if she's seen her. I didn't want to tell her that she was missing, even though I should've. I had to brace myself. I heard the door bell ring, so I went to the door. Cautiously. When I opened the door, she gave me a big hug.

Erica's mother and I have a good relationship. She gives me advice if I ask for it and I help her around the house when her husband goes out of town. She's a really sweet lady, but when she's mad, it's hard to calm her nerves and get her to listen. "Hey baby, how are you?" She then asked if I knew where her daughter was as we sat in the living room. I hate not knowing where my baby is. I hate not being able to tell her mother. I hate the whole situation. "Ummm, see that's why I called you over here. I can't find her. I'm-" she interrupted me. When she's getting mad, she throws a whole bunch of questions at you, so I got ready.

"What do you mean you can't find her? Where were y'all last? How did you lose her in broad day? You really pissing me the hell off! Where the fuck is she?! Ugh! I could kill you!" I just looked at her. I told her that I couldn't find her, again. I also told her that the last place we saw each other was at the movies before we were supposed to leave. She jumped on me and screaming as I tried to push her away without hurting her. She started crying. "Let's go," she said while she sniffled. I don't know where we are going, but I didn't say anything. We hopped in the car she came in and started searching the town. I took my phone out and texted Erica to see if she still had her phone. I got a call from a private number. Usually, I don't answer, but since I was looking for something, I did. The voice that came into my ear sounded familiar, I wasn't sure. "Yo, somebody got Erica, B."

"Who this?"

I didn't get an answer. All I heard was a beep indicating that the call had ended. Something in my head clicked. I told Ms. Michelle to drive to the East side of the city. I know California well. Since I do, I know where everything is and where all the people are. I called Chris because I knew he would answer for sure.

I wanted to get some people to help me find Erica. I mean, the more people out looking for her, the faster I'll find her and I'll know she's okay. We pulled up to Carlos's house and I got out while Erica's mother stayed in the car. Walking to the door gave me an uneasy feeling as it always does. He shook my hand like normal. I know how Carlos is, if you tell him bad news as soon as the conversation between you and him starts, he'll panic and won't do it. After about ten more minutes of talking, there was a big thud in one of the back rooms, like someone bumped into something. Carlos excused himself. He said he had a problem He said he had a "perra mala torpe" or a clumsy bad bitch he had to tend to, he giggled. I'm assuming he wanted to be humerus. A few seconds later, I heard a loud slap and a woman's muffled but heard scream. Carlos moved back, but with his hands still wrapped around the neck of an unseen face. He moved back a little more, then dropped her. He turned around with his gun pointed in my direction.

I was confused, but I didn't show it. "Where's my money at? Where is my money, Brandon?!"

"Nigga, what money you talkin' about?"

"From the house! I know you got something, now give it to me, now!"

"I don't got shit for you, boy." I tried to figure out how I can get my pistol out of my waistband without him seeing it.

"Okay, you wanna play with me, huh?" He picked the girl up that I stopped looking at awhile ago. When he lifted her bloody face up, I wanted to rush, but I didn't. It was Erica.

I started to panic. She looked at me with pleading eyes and began to speak, "hel-"she was interrupted when he put a gun in her mouth.

Meanwhile down the street, I heard gunshots but I couldn't worry about that right now. I decided that I didn't have a choice but to launch at him, so that's what I did. Erica moved out of the way as quickly as she could. We fought for the gun until, out of nowhere, he stumbled on a table and fell, giving me the opportunity to flip if on him giving him another obstacle. Since his head was covered, he'd have to loosen his grip on the weapon in order to move the TV. Even if we just a little, if he does loosen his grip, then it'll work out in my favor. That's exactly what he did. Dumb ass. I killed him, finally.

"Baby, are you okay? I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen, I swear," I said honestly.

She nodded her head in the direction of the front door where Chris was standing. "You good?" He asked.

"Yeah. You late."

"You want me to clean this mess up because I know somebody called the police. I gotta hurry up because I think I'm gonna just drive to New York."

"Yeah." I didn't know he was leaving this early.

I picked Erica up and carried her out of the house. I looked for the truck but I couldn't find it. I walked to the street and saw the vehicle I came in sitting at a corner. Chris walked up and dapped me up and told Erica that he'd see her later before he got in his car and left.

Erica wanted to run instead of being carried. We rushed to the truck. I beat her to it. When I reached it, what I saw shook me up a little. I put my hands on the roof as I looked at the still body of Ms. Michelle. I didn't know what to say. I left the truck, so Erica wouldn't see the tragedy. "Baby, what's wrong?" She asked. She ran to the truck anyway.

"MAMA!" She cried out as she opened the door and put her mother in her arms. She let her go and turned to me, throwing punches. I grabbed her and hugged her tight as I ever have. "I know, I know," I sighed.

"You did this! It was you! I hate you, I hate you!" She screamed as she still rested her head on my chest.