Poisonous

Chapter Four

               The light slowly creeps through the window, illuminating my office in orange. I've spent all night sifting through the logs from our latest shipment. I shove myself away from my desk and rub my eyes. "Nolan!", I shout and listen as my voice echoes throughout the house. Footsteps are heard soon after and Nolan's tall frame appears in the doorway, "Whatcha need Cain?". "Have you noticed that there's been a few alterations to our shipment logs?", I question as I look up at him. "What are you talking about?", he asks as he makes his way around my desk and stares down at the papers covering it. I point to the places on the paper that have some unusual notes beside them. "What do they mean, some parts of the product weren't accounted for?", Nolan questions as his eyebrows furrow together. "Somebody's been stealing from us", I reply, "And this isn't the only shipment that has these notes on it. There's more, going back at least two months". Nolan grunts and begins scanning through the other papers sitting on my desk. "Who the hell would steal from us?", he asks as he reads the same note over and over again. I shrug, "I don't know, but you and I are going to head over to Southport and find out". "Southport?", he sighs, "That's a day's drive there and back, what about Nikki?". "Kennith is gonna stay and keep an eye on her like we promised", I reply, "We'll only be gone for a few days".

~~~

               "Why do I have to stay and watch Nikki?", Kennith protests. "Because I have more important things to do right now than watch some stupid chick", I sneer, "So you're gonna stay and keep an eye on her". He lets out a frustrated sigh and nods his head. "Fine", he says, "You know you didn't think she was some stupid chick last night". "If I remember correctly, you said she was hot as fuck", Nolan chuckles. I roll my eyes, "So what, the dress she was wearing last night made her look hot". The two of them chuckle at my response. I stay silent and nudge Nolan in the direction of the car. "We'll only be gone for a few days", I say, "Make sure she doesn't get into any trouble while we're gone". "She's a waitress, what kind of trouble could she possibly get into?", Kennith questions. I shrug and get in the car. We sit there for a minute before the driver pulls away from the house and we make our way down the driveway. We come to a stop at the end of the driveway and wait for a car to pass before we turn left and make our way down Crescent Way. "Hey Charlie, can you turn and drive down Trinity Row?", I ask my driver. He nods and takes the next right. I glance over at Nolan, who sits there eyeing me suspiciously. I shrug it off and turn my attention just in time for us to pass Nikki's house. Observing as she makes her way back inside with a handful of mail. "Everything okay sir", Charlie asks. I nod and we continue down the road, turning right at the next stop sign and make our way out of Covul.

~~~

               The silence can be deafening. It's been months and yet I still find myself waiting for her to call, waiting to hear her voice or see her walking through my front door. I've accepted the fact that she's gone, but it doesn't change the fact that I miss her. I steal a glance at the calendar hanging on the wall and notice that today marks another important date. I move over to the calendar and run my fingers over the words scribbled under the date. "Damn that's today", I mumble, "You've missed a lot, Sammy". I sigh and move towards the counter, pushing various envelops aside and propping myself on top of it. "I need to pay Ivan a visit", I mumble before I move away from the counter and grab my keys. The street is quiet aside from the sounds of honking in the distance. I slowly bring my hand up to the doorbell and give it a push, listening as its tone echoes throughout the house. I wait a few moments before the door opens and Ivan's figure blocks the doorway. "Nikki?", Ivan says, surprise laced in his voice, "What are you doing here?". "I can't visit my best friend?", I question. He chuckles and moves aside, allowing me to step inside his house. The minute I step inside my eyes focus on the scattered alcohol bottles and scattered photo albums. Ivan quickly moves around me and begins picking up the discarded bottles. "How long have you been drinking?", I question as my eyes scan the living room. "Not long", he replies. "Don't lie to me Ivan", I say. "Since I woke up at eleven", he mumbles. I look at the clock on the wall and sigh, "It's three thirty right now". He shrugs and continues clearing the empty bottles. I move myself towards the couch and pick up a photo album. "I'm okay Nikki, you didn't have to come", Ivan pleads. "Ivan don't start with me", I reply, "You know me better than that. Can I have a beer?".

               "How are you feeling? I know that today is a rough one", I say. Ivan sighs, "I can't believe it's been two years". "I know", I reply, "It doesn't feel like it". Ivan sighs and tosses the photo album in his hands onto the coffee table, the picture of Sammy staring at us. "She would have been twenty-one this year", Ivan mumbles. "I know, it's not hard to forget. You're twins", I reply. He sniffles and takes a sip of his beer. Sammy was Ivan's twin sister, two years ago today she was killed by a bullet that shot and passed through a gang member. "It's not fair", I mumble. Ivan slams his now empty beer bottle down on the coffee table and gets up, heading to the kitchen for another. "That bastard survived the incident and we had to bury my sister", he shouts, "Tell me Nikki, how is any of this fair". "I never said it was", I state. "She was nineteen! And he gets to walk around living his normal life while she rots away in the ground", he continues. "I know Ivan", I reply, "Believe me you aren't the only one who knows how unfair the world can be". "Oh please, what do you know", he snaps. I sit there, speechless. I slowly place my beer on the coffee table and stand up. "Nikki, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-", I lift my hand up and stop him from continuing, "No Ivan, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you seem to sit there and act like you're the only one in pain right now", I snap, "Sammy died two years ago, two years! Destiny died a little over six months ago. Six months! She was only sixteen!". He sighs and slowly moves towards me. I move away, "I don't need your pity right now. And I'm damn sure not gonna stay here and watch you drown yourself". "Oh like you did after Destiny died", he snaps. "Because she died THIS YEAR Ivan!!", I scream, "I remember when that was YOU!". "I am truly sorry about Sammy, I miss her too", I take a deep breath, "You were right earlier, I shouldn't have come". I quickly put my shoes back on and grab my keys before opening the door and slamming it behind me.

               Once out on the sidewalk I take a deep breath. I came here to comfort him and it turned into a screaming match over who's grieving more. I sigh and slowly make my way to my car, stopping as soon as I hear clapping. I turn towards the clapping and see a group of people standing further down the sidewalk. "Nice, so who won the argument?", a tall muscular man with yellow hair questions . "It's none of your business", I snap. He chuckles and puts his hands behind his back, "Feisty, I like it. And I do believe it is my business, it's everyone's business really. We could hear you two screaming at each other out here". I roll my eyes and turn back towards my car. "You're not gonna get anywhere in that car, we ripped your spark plugs out", the man says. I turn and face him, annoyance painted across my face, "And why would you do that, I don't even know you guys". He chuckles, "That may be so, but we know you. Nikki". My breath hitches as he says my name. "How do you know what my name is?", I question. "I know more than just your name", he says as he quirks an eyebrow, "My boss would like a word with you". I chuckle, "Yeah, not gonna happen. I don't know you guys and I damn sure don't know your boss, so if you don't mind I would like to go home", I sneer. His face goes serious and he pulls a gun out, pointing it straight at me, "You see, I wasn't asking". I stay silent, keeping my eyes on the gun. I slowly back away and a loud sound echoes throughout the street, followed by an intense searing pain in my stomach. My eyes quickly dart to my stomach and I watch as blood begins to stain my shirt. I soon find myself falling to the sidewalk. My hand quickly covers the wound and my eyes dart up to stare at the man who shot me, a smirk painted across his face. "Grab her", he says to the men standing next to him. They slowly make their way towards me, stopping as soon as they hear the sound of a vehicle approaching. Tires are heard squealing, followed by voices and soon I am surrounded by unfamiliar men. "Nikki", a familiar voice is heard beside me. I turn to see Kennith kneeling beside me, his eyes glued to my stomach. "He shot me", I choke out before everything goes black.