In Need of You

Chapter Twenty Two

Every breath Elisha took seemed deeper and heavier. He pulled into a side parking lot next to an abandoned building. A rusted Peterbilt truck sat next to the small mud drenched two-door car. Its hood and hubcaps were missing. He wiped away a fleeting tear as he parked next to the truck. Dad had done more than fight to split him and Sabrina apart; he placed her life in danger for the family's name. 

The family's name, Elisha thought. Fuck the family's name. All it was, was just a name. It was nothing more nor less. As far as he was concerned, the only name that was important to him was Jesus Christ. And dad was going to need him more than ever at this point. He felt his cellphone buzz in his jacket pocket and dug it out. 

"Whatcha got for me?" Elisha asked, answering the phone. He watched two men walk inside the warehouse and gripped the steering wheel tighter. 

"I drove by Detective Graham's place and no one was there," Edward said. He sighed. "Listen, Eli, I wanna bring my sister back home safe. I don't know what the fuck yo' pops got against her, but I'm gonna take his ass out myself if he hurts Sabrina. That's my baby sister."

"I know, Edward," Elisha replied. He closed his eyes, trying to stop the tears from flowing. "I didn't mean to put her in this kind of shit. I'm--."

"--This isn't your fault, Eli," he said. "I know how much you love Sabrina. I just understand the kind of bitch yo' father is too."

Elisha let a tear flow. "I just can't let this shit fly with my dad. I should've solved this earlier on," he said. "But I'm going to finish what he started."

"Man, don't do twenty for him."

"I'm going to try my best not to, Edward," Elisha said. "Meet me at the warehouse off Chauffer Street in ten."

"Alright, man. Be safe."

Elisha ended the call. He watched another person walk inside the warehouse. He took out his Beretta from his glove compartment. Sliding out the magazine from the gun, he checked, making certain that he had his hollow points. Seven silver friends smiled back at him. He slid the magazine back into the gun and cocked it. 

He got out of his SUV and checked his surroundings as he crossed the street. He stopped next to one of the white vans and pressed his back against it while surveying the entranceway. He noticed a black Dodge Charger parked next to a yellow Porsche on the small lot. A pair of white and black furry die hung from the review mirror. As he neared the vehicles, Elisha saw a radio scanner sitting in the passenger seat. This was definitely a squad car from the Kentfield Police Department, he thought. But with the details missing, Elisha couldn't tell which precinct it was from. 

Hearing the door open, he readied his gun as he rushed back to the van. He moved closer to the edge of the vehicle, hoping to get a glimpse of the owner of the footsteps. He peeped from behind it. There wasn't anyone to be seen. He frowned. Maybe this could have been a decoy. Maybe whoever had Sabrina was waiting to lure him into a wild goose chase.

Hearing a thud, he tiptoed from behind the van while aiming his gun. He positioned himself against a short rusted tractor-trailer he assumed was once burgundy or red. He glanced from the corner, seeing a tall figure drag the individual away from the entrance of the building. Not wanting to give away his position, he watched the person, noticing that it had the build of a man. He walked to the black Dodge Charger Elisha spotted out earlier and opened the door. 

He took off the black mask, unveiling a smooth head of wavy black hair. His brown skin glistened under the sun. He reached inside the car and pulled out what looked like navy blue jacket police jacket Captain Alders issued to them once he became a detective.