AFTER A BROKEN MARRIAGE .

chapter19

Monique and her friends stay out a long time but once they got in their car and drove away she saw a car little distance from her light up she got in and drove off too, she was on the road when it was tailing her the same car from the clubs parking lot, she has the feeling it was Laurence but it didn't look as if she knew the car, she turned off on her street and was still been followed, she parked in the middle of the driveway hurry inside the house close the door run to the kitchen grab a knife and went to the washroom to hide behind the washing machine she trimble for she thought she heard footsteps around the house it was as if someone entered the house, Laurence knew her husband wasnt there for he left him with the group not long ago before he saw monique at the club, he look into the bedroom where he knew she stay but didn't see her she hid behind the machine careful not to make a sound as he continue his quest to find her,
Lloyd phone rang in the middle of the conversation he was having with the others he answered it because Monique was calling,
"Where are you?" She asked her
"Where are you why you whispering"
"Some one followed me home I think they're in the house"
"Did you call the cops?"
"No, can you hurry home?"
"I'm coming shortly"
He hang up on that last word,
"What happened?" Mark asked
"It's my wife she said someone followed her home and might be in the house"
"Did she call the cops?" Shelly ask
"That's the first thing she should have done"
"Well I got to go I'll catch up in the morning"
"You need company?" Odane ask
"Yeah" dude I think you should let someone come a long"
"I'm sure she's just scared because of the brake in" nelisa said
"She should call the cop what if you go on your own and something happened to you" shelly said
"Nothing going to happen" lloyd said
"Be careful" odane said
"Yeah man be careful" mark said
Lloyd turn to look at aliyah who turned and walk away, he got in his van drove away, they move to where aliyah stood by her car,
"Too bad" nelisa said "maybe we are to just go home"
"What for?" Aliyah ask
"Maybe we should just go thrill at your penthouse" Nelisa said
"Now you want to come to my house I thought I wasn't a good host"
Nelisa grin and hugs her,
They did as suggested on getting there aliyah make tea while the others talk in the living room,
Lloyd got to the house park his van behind his wife car and ran to the front door using the key from his pocket,
On hearing the van Laurence pulled in the kitchen to hide himself, "Monique" Lloyd called
Monique heard the calling but wait awhile before moving, "Monique" he called a second time, where are you?"he asked,
"I'm here" she said running to him he turned and she hugged him I'm so glad you're here"
"It's OK"
Laurence came to the door behind Lloyd Monique lift her head to see him she held Lloyd a bit tighter,
"Relax I'll get you water and we call the cops"
"No no we can't call the cops" she said
Lloyd ease her back to look at her Laurence draw into the kitchen, when they didn't move her look out Monique kept watching for him,
"Maybe if we call the cops it could get worst"
"What you think they could be after you for"
"I'm not sure if it's me or something else, I've defended some people who might know people who might think I have information"
"What kind of information if you know something and don't say"
"If I know something why do you think I know something there you go accusing me again, you thought I had someone else"
"I never said that and please I'm not accusing you let's not argue about it you should get some sleep"
"Why don't you check the bed room"
"Stay right there"
"I'll come with you" she said following behind him,
"I can't help to think that Monique has or had an affair and its all coming to haunt her" shelly said
Mark didn't want to think it but now that shelly mentioned it he wonder if its a possibility,
"We saw her the other day having a heated conversation with Laurence" nelisa said
"The Laurence?" Shelly question
Nelisa nod,
"Aliyah heard her voice once she was on the phone talking with Lloyd and heard her talking we were in the salon one day and this girl came aliyah later try to convince me she puts her in mind of Lloyd's wife, but she was going on about her boyfriend, her man who's rich and showing off diamond, Aliyah you know don't hold her tongue tells her that he must be a smuggler or a pimp, its only such men she knew could afford diamond like those"
They laugh, "we weren't even sure if she was her at the time I'm still surprised about last night, and she is the same one who ran, who ran aliyah off the road"
"Monique, she's the one crashed her?" Shelly asked
"Tea time everyone" aliyah said coming to lay a fancy tray set on the coffee table, she head back to the kitchen and they fix their tea nelisa make a cup for aliyah
"From what he told me at those sessions we had, it was bad between them, not that I'm saying it couldn't be fix but something isn't right I'm not saying it because of Aliyah"
"I for one not doing that, the last time I stay over there her husband weren't the only one she mistreated she mistreated us too, if aliyah didn't invite me to stay I wouldn't come back"
Aliyah came from the kitchen to head down the passage that lead to the terrace door,
"Aliyah honey your tea going to get cole" nelisa call out to her,
" I'm coming" she said
Lloyd check the house with monique beside him they came to the kitchen and she wonder where laurence went, he locked up tightly see her to bed,
They spot aliyah coming from the terrace with a handful of clothes
"Laundry at this hour?" Odane ask
"I'm going to pack these a way just another few minutes"
"Take your time , but hurry" shelly said
"I hope you don't teach your child that that was confusing a while ago what you said"
They giggle, she went in the room and they went back to talking,
"Lloyd's mom told aliyah too that she think she was seeing someone and if she and Laurence was or into something I'm sure he's the one get someone over there to trashed the place" shelly said
"Didn't they say it was just her room for they weren't sharing room" nelisa said
"How did you know that?" Odane ask
"His mom told aliyah"
"She met his mom?" Shelly asked
"Yes he brought her there and she went to visit on her own, and she was disgruntled"
"I'm sure they didn't go there to just rampsack the place and did things to her things a lone if it wasn't for reason"
"What if it's someone she let go to jail and they send some one to scare her?" Odane ask
Both nelisa and shelly sat quietly as if they were looking into the possibillity, "nah!" They both said making odane laugh,
"Did anyone say her reaction last night when Laurence came to talk to lloyd?" Shelly asked
"Did you notice? She only looked his way when he mentioned about that woman who let lloyd didn't get to do the job" nelisa said
"Yes, yes" shelly agreed, "he said the other night that Lloyd should hold on to aliyah for he gets she has some good qualities even more than his wife, and he was asking aliyah the other day if she think her architec man is good enough for her, I think she said more than him he said he bet not all the women in his life see eye to eye with her, I asked aliyah what she think he meant but she said let's not act to be interested"
"She really dispised him" shelly said
"Don't talk about it, he does has a reputation"
"From the very looks of him" shelly added
"Did any one call to check on Lloyd?" Aliyah asked once she was back in the living room to sit
"Lloyd" shelly and nelisa said wondering why they didn't think to call,
Lloyd see like Monique had fallen a sleep step out into the living room closing the door behind him, as he left the room Monique got up and got to the window crack the curtin and peek out, she could see Laurence crossing the street his car was parked down the corner she could see from the window once he drove off she got back in bed,
They barely say his name out their mouth when aliyah's phone started ringing,
They thought she wouldn't answer but she picked up "hey" she said
"Hey" he said
"Is everything OK?" She asked
"I want to think so, you are you alright?"
"I'm fine "
"You weren't sleeping when I called why?"
"Of course I was sleeping I just woke up to take your call"
"If you were sleeping I could tell I would have heard it in your voice"
"I sound different when I woke from my sleep?"
"Yeah"
"Tell me about it"
"It's late you probably should get some sleep"
The others look at her,
"Yeah you right, so what about you you won't go to work later?"
"I have to swing by to see mark and shelly in the morning but I plan on staying home to fix the security system"
"You going to install burglar system?"
"I'm thinking about it"
"So did the cops came?"
"My wife, well she thinks it might get worse if we get the cops involved"
"Why would she think that?"
Lloyd sigh,
"Maybe you should get a private investigator to see who's tailing her and from there you will find out everything"
"You think, you know of someone I can go to with out the cops get involved?"
"No but I'm sure you'll find some one in town"
"I'm going to think about it, so what you suggest about the alarm system?"
"I know you didn't really talk to me about it but in your neighborhood there haven't been a robbery for it a quiet neighborhood, you said so yourself, I'm sure if it was something else your whole house would be rampsack"
"I don't know"
"You couldn't know but I can't help my self to think laurence know something about it" she said aloud unexpectedly and bite her lip,
They all look at her
"You think it's laurence but why would he, you think it has something to do with the job i didn't do for him?"
"Did I actually say that a loud you know what for get it I'm going to bed I'll see you in the morning"
"OK" lloyd said and she hang up much as he wanted to hear why she think Laurence had anything to do with it he didn't push it, she widen her eyes "me and my tongue" she said, "did you hear me telling the guy Laurence had something to do with the robbery at his house, couldn't someone pinch me"
Shelly laugh when she look up at her,
"Why you think that?" Mark asked
"It is only my instinct I'm sure it isn't like I'm implying, but any way good rest of the night" she hugs them to went off,
"You're rushing off because he said so?" Nelisa ask
"Not really but my big mouth might say something its not to, but if its the case he saying so he's not here but still the center of attraction" she grin as she left,
"I think he love her with a deep affection, but just trying to stay committed to his wife" nelisa said
"She's such a trickers and I hope he found her her dirty back ground
for what about the baby it's going to need a father" Shelly said
"She told you about the baby?" Nelisa ask
"Lloyd told mark"
"He did?"
"She's pregnant?" Odane ask "sweet Jesus"
Nelisa look at him
"Your mom do it and you are doing it two, wow" odane said
Nelisa grin, "that's how tight over friendship are"
"I can see how tight"
"I didn't tell her about Lloyd's wife I hope she doesn't get mad at me when she found out"
"About what part?"
"The party"
"She must have gone pitiful on him"
"Now you're sounding like aliyah against Laurence" nelisa said they all laugh
"But seriously that girl can be"
"She's a lawyer as according to her she get paid big money by rich men to defend them in court, so maybe she has to lie for them too"
"I just hope Lloyd do as aliyah said about the investigator"
"I think he's going to for he's interested to know his wife his safe"
"Your right"
"Maybe you two should take the job" mark said odane laugh aloud,
"You're right" he said
"I only wish I could stay a bit longer" shelly said
"But you'll come weekend right remember you're bringing the boy aliyah will took him trick or treating"
"I'm to really bring him?"
"What you mean?"
"OK" shelly said
"Can we go to bed now?" Mark asked
Odane got up and so did mark, they went to the rooms closing each door
"You stay the night on the sofa?" Monique ask coming to see Lloyd in the living room
"Not really I only, what time is it?" He sat up looking around
"I'm going to go to work"
"Are you sure you want to?"
"Yes I'm to work on a case so I need to meet with my client"
"Call me if you need me"
She nods he see her to her car before getting ready to swing by to see mark and shelly, they were at breakfast when he came in the kitchen,
"Morning" he said
"Hey" they answer
"Must I set breakfast for you?" Aliyah ask
"Yeah thanks"
She set it on the table and he sat next to mark
Aliyah stood leaning on the counter eating pritzel with orange juices,
"Your wife is left back home?" Shelly asked
"She left for work?"
"Where does your wife work?" Nelisa ask
"At a lawferm in Walton"
"Your wife is a lawyer?" Aliyah ask coming to sit
Lloyd nod,
"And she work in Walton, that lawferm is on walton street 4th avenue a hour from there to the court house, fifth street is right behind the court house"
"Isn't it we went to fifth street for bowling?" Shelly asked, "and we met Laurence over there"
"That is place fifth street is where he has his kingdom"
"Is he really a pimp?" Odane asked
"It may sound as if I'm picking on him but take it from me he's looking good from his face but he's no good"
"You said last night you think he might be the one who break in my home"
Honestly she don't think it was a break in, break in she and his mother both see eye to eye on it, but she wasn't going to run her feelings by him or by anyone,
" I should drop you, drop you guys off I have to go to work?"
" I've never heard what job you do" mark said
"Oh she's a aerobics instructor" shelly said
That's it, That's what you acturally do at the gym, that too to be pay?" Lloyd ask
Aliyah wonder why he let it sound so bad if it's because his wife is a lawyer
"So when you said at first you work at the gym i thought you just went there for work out, so be it how you planning on teaching that now?" He asked her, he got up when they all look at him pull aliyah out the kitchen into the bedroom they heard the door close and wonder what he was going to scole about,
"You want to hurt yourself?"
"Hurt myself in what way"
"All that body movement will sure to harm the baby"
Aliyah mouth widen on hearing his words"
'Why you acting to be concerned"
"I am concerned"
"If you say so" she said moving from his grip,
"Aliyah I'm talk" he said but the door close on him,
"ing to to you, dammit!" He said coming out to find them in the living room all ready to go, they walk down mark and shelly said their goodbye to lloyd since he wasnt going along, they said goodbye to odane and nelisa in the same period , Lloyd held on to aliyah's hand pull her aside,
They could hear him saying
"we can finish this conversation later"
"If you say so" aliyah reply
"I say so, just be careful driving"
"I'm not vonarable you know"
"I'm not saying you are, I'm just saying you should be"
"OK, OK I'll do that" she told him as she touch his chest, "you too be careful"
"I'll see you later"
"OK"
He had to drove out for the others to move their car to where he was parked,
"Call me later" nelisa said hugging her
"Yes I'll call you" Aliyah told her, she got in her car with mark and shelly drove out with nelisa behind her they took separate road as nelisa was going on the high way,
"So when you guys coming for halloween weekend will it be on a regular time or should I pick you up earlier?" Aliyah asked, mark looked at Shelly
"Same time I guess for dru to the time we both got off work" shelly told her
"Regular time it is then"
They were almost at the station when aliyah's phone rang, lloyd call her up, She opened the line on speaker, "I'm driving" she said
"You OK?" He asked
"I'm fine, you?"
"Yes, call me when you get back"
"OK" she hang up
Much as Lloyd has said aliyah should call once she got back but they barely got to the train station and was waiting to board the train when he call back
"You said I should call once I didn't means I'm not back yet, and if you call so often how will you concentrateon what you're doing and how will I?"
He hang up with out Saying anything,
Aliyah look at shelly and smile, their time came to finally board the train they hug, "see you on Friday" she said
"Drive safe" shelly said
"I will, thanks" she wait for the train to leave before getting back in,her car, she head right into town to the gym, her assistant was busy already with the class so she sat aside and look while she sat a side she called Lloyd to tell him she was back he hang up saying he'll call her later,
He finished with the alarm system and later swing by aliyah's penthouse she wasn't yet home so he let himself in he took a shower got change into fresh clothes grab a drink got comfy on her bed, he wasn't there for long when mark call they have been home for sometime but since they had to work he talk with shelly who told her to tell the girls they're home then she said she'll call later, she gave mark back the phone leaving them to talk
Aliyah didn't do much at the gym today but avoid going home without taking a shower though the one she got was quick she dress into a tshirt with bagged jeans, she wasn't up for cooking so she grab something from the fast food place she's been doing some cooking all weekend looking for ways to get away from it tonight, she barely got out the restaurant to go to her car when she turn and was startled by Laurence's present,
"Hey pretty"
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Aliyah ask
"Why would I want to do that?"
"Maybe because I don't like you and you know it"
"So you like the Architecture guy who's already married"
"What doe's that have to do with you?"
" I saw him sporting her the night at Roma's party your friends were there and you weren't was it because he was bringing her?"
Aliyah fight to hide how surprise she was hearing Lloyd took his wife to Roma's she was glad she changed her mind at last minute for she would feel too, too embarrassed,
"How are you sure she's his wife and not another sweet heart?"
Laurence laugh , "she don't wear a ring but I'm sure that's his wife"
"Did you met her before the party, or had she work on a case for you, you know she's a lawyer right?" She asked
"I couldn't know she's a lawyer, I just know she's a wife"
"You didn't have anything to do with his house being rob did you?"
"What you talking about pretty you always think the worst of me"
"For I know you one deal goes bad and you seek for revenge"
"And my reason to trash over there would be what?"
"You would have to tell me maybe I guess and guess wrong, I hate to be wrong"
"Maybe something went wrong pretty that I could tell you about but guess what I would have you next to me and when I'm done caressing your body I would tell you all about it"
"For get it I'm not interested anyway, and for the record I don't think you have any idea how to caress my body" she plant a hard fist in his gut then walk away,
Laurence watch her off with a smile, wondering to himself why on earth she choose to accuse him wondering if she knew they've been into something, he watch her drive away sigh to himself,
Aliyah got to her apartment park in her usual spot, she got out the car and walk into the building she didn't take notice Lloyd's van was park out there, she got inside remove her baggage jeans before going to the kitchen to leave the bags she came back to the living room took up her dirty things taking them to the laundry room, she was going by the bed room once more going back to the kitchen she peek in and noticed for the first time lloyd was there, He was laying down on the bed in a comfortable position aliyah smiled to herself,
"You're here?" She asked, Lloyd turn his head to look over at her,
"I let myself in I hope you don't mind"
"Why would I mind?" She asked walking over to the bed, "I didn't see your ride"
"Probably because you won't looking for it?"
She came and sat across him,
"Probably for now I don't expect to see you come over"
"What you saying?"
"Now that your wife been requesting you so much now"
Shelly look at mark,
"What you saying?" Lloyd went on to ask
"So you took her a long to Roma's party"
"Neslisa told you she asked to come I didn't want to at some point but after what happened she was scared to be a lone"
"It wasn't nelisa who told me, none of the girls told me I wonder why, but I so happened to randomly ran into Laurence here in paulding and he asked how I wasn't there at the party he told me that she was there, so how did Laurence came to know your wife?"
"He said he knows her?" Lloyd ask "well I'm not sure if they do"
Aliyah wonder if he ever think of asking her if she happens to know him, but leave it she didn't want to be seen pushy
" I try to ask him if he has something to do with what happened over at your place instead of an answer he just ask why do I accuse him for everything"
"Why do you?"
"Accuse him of everything?"
"for he has a reputation I would warn even my enemy to Stay aware of him, he said your wife doesn't wear a ring what happened to it did they steal it too?"
Shelly eyes widen in wonder as she look at mark, she never came to
"She lost it" Lloyd said not wanting to tell her the full story he knew she sell it and wonder if Laurence is the one she sell it to for how did he come to know she didn't wear a ring he thought now he should question it for no matter what the circumstances that ring was to show the bond they created and to think he pay so much for it.