Chapter 4 - Family Ties

"Aren't you tired of my story, Gustave?" Jaden enquired.

"How could I be bored or tired of the story? I am just getting ready to start eating my virtual popcorn and pour another glass of wine. It's just midnight, Jaden; I can go until 2 a.m. and then it will be my bedtime." Gustave looked at Jaden and his hazel eyes shone brightly in the moonlight.

"Continue please," he said as he raised his hand as if he were pressing the play button on the remote control.

"Alright, I will try to be quick."

So, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Benjamin Cowass, who was a fairly frequent visitor to the house, came early Saturday morning and dropped a bombshell."

Jamaica – 1990's

"Sir Mac, one of the boys that shot up your car showed up at the Clarendon Hospital suffering from gun shot wounds. We have him in police custody, but it would have been better if he was dead; it would be less stress."

I watched my Father think for a while and then he said,

"So, why can't that be arranged?"

The policeman was taken aback and I could see the shock on his face; he began to stutter as the words left his lips.

"Sir Mac, what the devil are you asking?"

"Cowwie, dead men tell no tales according to the movies," my father replied.

There was a long pause as they both thought about their conversation.

"So, how about another drink?" my father asked ,

"Wait a while," ACP said, "we need to catch his friends and then all of them can go cross the river, Styxx."

"That is the best news I've heard all day, ACP", Dad said as he smiled showing his white teeth.

"It would be a bonus if we recovered those weapons that they had, don't you think, Sir Mac?"

After thinking about it for a short while, Daddy replied,

"Sure, come to think about it, ACP, the country is just too small to have criminals and decent people living within the same communities and not expect conflict and clashes between good and evil."

"Sir Mac, you can't tell me anything. I see it every day in my line of work, but you and your family must be careful, Sir Mac, the boy you shot was the son of the notorious leader of the Cancel Dem Gang."

I saw as the hair on my father's neck stood up literally and the vein on the side of his head did a similar thing as his pulse quickened..

"So, what am I to do now ACP?" Daddy asked.

"Don't worry about it, Sir Mac; you and I can work out something and don't worry about the money. I will send over some boys to step up security at home and the family will have shadows in the form of body guards. They are all off duty cops, so you know they are trained and competent and I've handpicked them myself."

"How can we not worry, ACP? My family and I must be. Whether by design, coincidence or just blind fate we have become embroiled in the struggle of life, death, ethics and the Justice System. I know I have not done anything wrong in defending myself or my son. I can't just sit and wait for it to resolve itself; I must take a proactive approach. If I am to rely on the system, for the next 5 years we could be sitting and waiting on the wheels of justice to turn and in the meanwhile my security bill climbs."

"Do you have another solution, Sir Mac?" the ACP asked. "I thought that a man of your stature would have preferred to know that the family is safe and secure in the hands of trained men and women than to take the chance and hope that reprisals would not be a fact. Based on our intelligence on this gang as night follows the day, the moment they become aware of the parties involved they will strike back."

"I need to bring the matter to a close and quickly."

I saw when he picked up his phone to call the one person that could put an end to the matter. The phone was on speaker phone and the person answered on the first ring with a sleepy and groggy voice,

"Yes,"

There was a long pause.

"Marcus; Marcus is that you?" Daddy asked.

"Yes, who is this?" the voice answered in the same sleepy tone.

"Who is this? Daniel McNamara, Dominique's cousin from Spanish Town."

"Oh, what's up, Sir Mac? What can I do for you?"

"Where can we meet Marcus? I have a sensitive matter I would like to talk to you about."

"That sounds serious. Ok, lets meet out by our fishing spot near the airport about 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, if that is ok with you?."

"Sure, Marcus. No problem, see you there."

Daddy hung up then he hustled towards the kitchen and called out,

"Honey, Honey!"

Samantha McNamara knew the tone that her husband wanted something,

"Hon! Hon!"

As the tone got more urgent, she was being deliberate and was not answering him with the sole intention of pissing him off some more. A smile crossed her lips as she heard his footsteps getting closer and closer.

���Yes, dear?" she replied in the sweetest tone she could muster,

"I'm in the breakfast nook."

"Oh, why did you take so long to answer me, little woman?" he asked, "I've been calling you for a while. Anyway, can I borrow your car in the morning?"

"Sure, just don't do it like how you did yours last week Friday".

Hissing his teeth and turning away, he said, "Samantha, you are so awful."

"Hey, Daniel!" she shouted to catch his attention. When she was in earshot she whispered, "Don't you think you should talk to me about your plans before you go external?"

"Honey, I'm only just checking out my options and doing some research. As soon as I have the details I will present and submit for your approval, Boss."

"I'm serious, Daniel!" she retorted.

"Yes, dear, I know," he said as he walked away.

I slowly took off after him, trying to appear as if I wasn't following him. I wasn't too good at it though because he whirled around as soon as he took a few steps.

"Jaden, why the hell do you keep following me around?" he asked.

I really did not have an answer, but there was tension in the house and it felt as if it could be cut with a knife. By the time I got back to the veranda, the policeman had left and my father sat by himself and was sipping a cold Red Stripe Beer. I remember this clearly because he looked so pensive and seemed as if he never wanted to be disturbed.

I was scared and butterflies ran through my stomach, but I was excited by the budding friendship with Lisa Whitman and did not want the details of what grown-ups had to deal with. I needed the distraction to take my mind from the family matters. I could not wait to get to my bedroom and call Lisa. She answered on the fourth ring

"Hi, Lisa."

"Jaden McNamara, hi and how are you doing?"

"Hi, Lisa. I want to get out of my house and let off some steam."

"So, where do you live Jaden and can I pass by your house to look for you?

My heart was in my mouth and I wondered if she could hear the sound of my heart pounding in my chest. It was the first time a girl had ever offered to come by my house and my skin felt as if ants combined with pins and needles were all over my body. Gustave, I struggled to catch my breath and I tried desperately to control myself. I summoned as much testosterone and said;

"That sounds nice, but I don't think tonight or any time right now would be a good time to pass by my house, but I live at 32 Cherry Drive, St. Jago Heights."

I waited patiently to see if she would insist and if she did, that would have meant she liked me too and a sure thing to becoming my girlfriend.

"I thought you lived on the flats near the ghetto, Jaden."

I laughed, "We moved from Monk Street years ago, Lisa, but I could go for some ice cream and I hope you don't mind, if we have a shadow."

"Shadow?" she asked.

"Yes, since yesterday I am not allowed to go anywhere without a body guard."

"So, how do you feel having someone watching over you all the time, Jaden?"

"It makes me feel safe, Lisa, but at the same time scared because I feel as if anything can happen at any time."

"I'd love to have a body guard," Lisa replied.

"Technically, you do because Antonio does not give you any space to breathe."

"That is a low blow, Jaden; he is just insecure and I have told him over and over to just leave me alone and nothing could happen between us, but he never listens."

"Are you sending a subliminal message, Lisa? That you are free, single and available?"

"Ah, Jaden, I wish life was so simple. It's my friend, Donna that really likes him, but he will not give me a break."

"There is no way I would have known that you two weren't involved in something. I am feeling much better now that I have heard this," Jaden replied ecstatically.

"What are you feeling better about, Jaden, the situation at home or what you just heard about Antonio?"

Lisa won't be caught out that easily I thought as I chuckled.

"So, where do you live, Lisa? So that I can come and pick you up sometimes."

"Jaden, my Mummy is calling me; can I call you back later, honey or even send you a message or two? I like talking to you. I will definitely message you later tonight."

I listened for the click and the line went dead. I felt as if I were floating on a cloud.