Love Lock Down

Chapter 23 (Leroi)

I was going crazy wondering what they was asking her. I thought about trying to creep down the steps to listen in, but one of the detectives was a big dude and I wasn't tryin to have to fight him. I sat down on the bed and it dawned on me that I still needed  to go through the shoe box. I pulled it out and poured the contents on my bed careful to get up and lock my door. I sorted all the paper into a section and then all of the pictures in one section. I looked through the pictures and find an old i.d. I had to look at it good to realize it was Curtis. He had long braids and a full goatee like Rick Ross. The name on the I,d, was Brent Cavenaugh. What the fuck was  really goin on here? I looked through the pictures and saw Curtis or Brent on a picture with the dude from the letter. He was actually posed with his arms around dudes waist. I felt like I could throw the fuck up. This nigga definitely had to go. I read through the letters and they were all form the same dude. It appeared that Curtis had been locked up for armed robbery, and he had started this relationship with this tranny. He got out first and was supposed to make a l life for him and  dude who was due out next year. when I looked at the envelope I saw that Curtis had another address he was using. I had heard of Collingwood drive and I knew it was in the suburbs so I put it all together real quick. Looks like Curtis had another crib. I took one of the envelopes and stuck it in my top drawer.

I looked through the papers and they were all insurance- related  except for one that was addressed to mama. It was from a doctors officer. The letter said that they were referring her to a specialist because she had developed edema which had caused her legs to swell up. It made sense because mama had been depending on that cane a lot lately. The letter went on to say that they wished her the best of luck on the next level of treatment. Now  I was mad as hell cause nobody was gonna tell me nuthin. I threw everything back in the box and stuffed it under my bed. The tears of hurt and frustration were building up in the back of my eyes, but I fought them as I held my head in my hands.

There was a knock at the door so I took a deep breath and answered it. Mama told me that the detectives were gone and she was taking Navette downtown now. I just looked at her and shook my head.

"What's wrong with you Leroi?"

Nuthin mama I just got a lot on my mind. I think Imma go take a walk." I said walking past her and out of the house before she could stop me. I usually didn't go nowhere without my headphones, but  I needed a clear head to put a plan together.I walked all the way to the other side of the projects oblivious to the looks I was getting from all the niggas that recognized me from the hill.I was risking everything walking by myself, but I was on a mission. My mama is sicker than I thought, my step daddy is a fag, and I got to help Navette get through her issues. Who was gonna help me. I reached my destination and I held my head down as I knocked on the door.

"Yeah who is it?" Said the voice on the other side.

"It's Leroi man," I said not believing what  I was about to do.

"Well, well, well, I never thought I would find you on my doorstep." Said Juan opening the door.

"Look Juan I ain't got time for small talk. Where that nigga Petey at?"