Summer Of Love

Part 9

That Same Evening....

"That's crazy."  Ricky told Darren.  "So the dude was just laying there dead on the street?"

"Yep."  Darren told him.  "The ambulance was just taking his body away before I got here.  But the bad part of it is, is the incident happened last night according to Jackie."  They were in Ricky's aunt's record store.

"See how them white folks do our people?  Just so damn disrespectful."

"Tell me about it."

"Well dig this.  I'm about to go clock out of my work shift.  Go get us a table in the strip mall, and I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Alright."  Darren walked out of the store.

**************************

"Hey, Mama."  Jackie said, after answering the phone.

"Hey, Jackie."  Tina replied.  "Is your brother around?"

"No.  He went out with his friend."

"His friend?  Lord, don't tell me Darren's still hanging around with that Ricky character."

"I'm afraid he is, Mama.  They're a little bit too friendly for me."

"Jackie, are you trying to tell me Darren and this Ricky are more than friends?"

"Well Darren says they aren't.  But I always take his word with a grain of salt."

"Lord have mercy.  Well that's why I'm calling.  I'm actually thinking on coming down there to California."

"You are?"  Jackie was excited.

"Just for a few days.  But please tell your father and Darren I'm coming."

"I will."

*******************************

Chris was waiting on someone's front porch, after ringing the doorbell.  Finally his Uncle William opened the door.

"Nephew!!!"  William was glad to see Chris.  "What brings you by?"

"I actually came to ask you about something."  Chris walked inside.

"Okay."  William closed the door.

"Look, it's about my father.  And how he died."

"Look, Chris.  I know it's my late brother's birthday today.  And I know you're still messed up about Darryl killing himself."

"See, that's the thing.  Ma thinks he didn't kill himself."

"Is that right?"

"Ma thinks Pops had enemies.  And that he was killed by one of them.  And that's what I wanted to ask you about.  Who were some of my daddy's enemies?"

"So Denise didn't tell you who they were?"

"No.  She told me she would tell me some other time.  But I get the feeling she doesn't really want to tell me."

"Well I'm sorry, Chris.  But I'm just as clueless as you are.  If your father had enemies, I didn't know any of them."

"Dang."  Chris said.

"Listen, whether your father was killed or he killed himself, why is it so important for you to find out his enemies?"

"'Cause I just need to know.  Ma said Pops had no reason to kill himself.  He had everything going for himself.  And if someone killed him, I want to know who."

"To what end, though?  'Cause say you find out who supposedly killed your father, what then?  You going to kill that person?  Send him or her to jail?"