Evanescence **** Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Five

Lawrence had texted the address to a casino hotel along with the suite number, he preferred talking in person however I was in no condition to be seen, whatever had happened in Martin's home was haunting me, why couldn't I remember? Why had Dario mentioned a circle? I'd driven toward the highway, the nausea came suddenly also my palm had begun to sweat against the wood grain steering wheel. While trying to guide the car I texted Lawrence to inform him I was going to visit my children and to handle all business matters until I returned. I had to find Faith, Bebe she preferred; she would handle all legal matters for me as she had Christy. I looked forward to being with my children again.

While sitting at a Shell gas station on Tchoupitoulas St. I'd stopped at I searched to see if Carmella Long had a listed telephone number, I'd found one to the address in Carrollton Texas. After desperately dialing the number and finding it disconnected I went back to the online results, this time finding an article about a slain special agent who was decapitated back in November. Her name was in boldface letters.

In the top right hand corner of the article was Carmella's photo, beneath were photos of officers working the crime scene. Briefly, sadness consumed me genuinely. I couldn't absorb what I had just read, how could I tell Ryella she was dead? She loved my babies! I shifted in my seat for comfort, I was in so much pain, the heaviness in my chest would not subside. It was nearing 9 a.m and I was hellbent on seeing my children. I'd sat at the Shell, the Christmas decorations were still plentiful, I looked out of all four windows upward toward the sky. I hadn't known the direction of Martin's home, I had just gotten inside the Spur and drove away like a bat out of hell so to speak.

Silently I hoped Kerri wouldn't go to the home, where ever she was.

My itinerary included a trip to the Metairie home, I imagined the stench that was closed inside and decided I also needed protection, Trenton had guns in the storage. I was in danger and people were dying around me---I'd suddenly become cautious, the anxiety was overwhelming as I held my chest. I was done with people! I was now shaken after reading the article, decapitated? In the ancient world it was known as the proof of death. Proof of dis-integration of a once powerful enemy. In another article they described the killing as being precise and articulate, someone was trying to make a statement with the beheadings, the killer was seasoned. Naturally, I'd accused Troy. Veronica was a gold medalist in fencing, I found out while researching Lamont, also I remembered Redd's words. Kerri saw whoever killed Josh, she'd identified the black Tahoe, Troy was a natural born killer.

I'd heard of 5 deaths since I opened my eyes.

The sky was gloomy, the rain had gone but promised it's return in the heavens. The anger toward Dario was so intense but I wondered if I'd made a mistake.

As I prepared to leave the parking lot the prison number had shown up on the screen while I contemplated taking the long drive in pain. In disgust I looked at the phone, something inside of me had snapped---I was bold enough to face the big bad wolf! With every intention to warn Martin not to call again and deny any accusation he made I accepted the call. After the recording ended Troy spoke through the speaker as the phone laid on my belly. The emotions were innumerable; hurt, shame, anger, grief...all more intense because of his child.

"U ignoring my calls?"

Hesitantly I spoke, I was so choked up I couldn't speak when I tried. I told him I had simply missed his calls. He didn't sound himself which furthermore tore me apart. Finally I let go---the tears were nonstop, I sat in the Bentley and bawled while he spoke!

"U LEFT MEEEE! I GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR YOOOUUU!"

He just held the phone quietly, it made me angrier than I already was! Was he sympathizing?

I told him I didn't ask for his fucking child! I was in deep shit, I knew I was---I didn't feel worthyenough to even pray!

The sirens wailed down Tchoupitoulas, "Where are u?" Troy asked. I told him the truth.

"I told u not to fuck with MP, but u didn't listen. Do u know why I'm here?"

Of course I did! FOR MURDER! I told him I knew he was accused of killing Trenton, why was he talking crazy?

When he told me he recorded a conversation he and Martin had once I didn't understand what it had to do with why he was there. My heart was so bruised at the moment nothing he said could justify him being apart from me and his unborn child, I needed restraint. I loved him deeply but I had been possessed by a spirit of lust that I could not control, it would kill me! Why did he push me away, I was so close to dying and he hadn't even understood, I had watched Martin destroy my sister's sanity!

During the conversation I became ill, the smell of fried chicken early in the morning was churning my insides.

"He wanted my son, u just wouldn't listen---I didn't wanna lose---I couldn't let him take my son. He can't hurt u if he in here, go somewhere and don't come back to N.O, Im serious I'll find u, just leave."

"What did u do, I want to see u!?"

I wasn't sure if I did or not, I didn't even recognize myself anymore. As I sat in the car numbness was consuming my feet. While I talked to Troy another call from the prison came in, the one I'd expected. I listened.

"Fuck! U hard headed---"

"U can't just turn your back on me! I need to know something, I gave u all of me! I wanted the money for us!"

He was getting upset, I could hear it in his voice, he'd seemed calm at the beginning of the call but hadn't even asked if I was OK! I wasn't, he didn't know what I had done...my heartbeat was rapid and arrhythmic, I took a deep breath to prevent my chest from exploding. I hoped Dario burned in hell! I was so weak and didn't mind dying.

"It's people u need to stay away from, people u don't know. I gave my uncle up now u need to do what the fuck I tell u! They interrogated Martin's son for days, the nigga wouldn't talk, but his TLady did and gave them the weapon...by now the dna came back, he ain't getting out and he know it. Fuck that evil ass nigga he ain't blood. Don't talk to nobody, all them niggas on his team."

"Which people?"

I lowered the window to let the crisp air inside, I couldn't breathe! Shonda had crossed my mind, where was she? Why hadn't she called or returned the messages? Everything was beginning to tumble down on me, my sanity was slipping away. What had I done? I pictured him trapped.

"Just do what I say and stay away from Martin's crib, some shit about to go down."

Well now I had no choice, and why did he sound like he cared? I asked him, I was angry as hell! He couldn't just call me giving orders. Deep down I knew Trenton was alive and I could free him, he just needed to trust me. I blamed myself for leaving Troy, but he had to trust me and as long as he was in New Orleans I couldn't leave, I would visit my babies and then return. I needed rest, I was tired. I fought whatever sickness was consuming my body. I couldn't tell Troy I loved him but I did, nothing could replace what we had. What I'd done hadn't made me feel better, only worse and I realized I was the same.

"I know Martin killed my TLady, I just can't prove it. She was killed the same way the district attorney was killed, it's still an open investigation. U gotta keep your eyes open. I gotta go."

I asked when he would call again he answered by only saying he would and I better answer. Now I was curious to read the case files but I had fucked up.

So much incriminating evidence was in my possession and when the 703 number called again I listened briefly before saying, "I have the poison that was used to kill them both, also the text messages." I heard the volume on the television increase to sky high, Deal or no Deal was broadcasting. Quickly, I ended the call before patting my belly to calm my child. I was on the verge of throwing up and as I reached for the door Denard Pyle appeared on my phone screen after the Virginia call ended. I decided not to answer.

A text message came in.

"Martin' home is engulfed in flame, I am concerned of your whereabouts please call immediately. Likewise your sister's car is here but she is nowhere to be found, however, she returned last night...the housekeeper and her son is also unaccounted for. This is a terrible disaster! Please call!"

I'd noticed Kerri's car, had she returned while I was unconscious?

Now I was consumed with dread and pictured my sister as she was when we were children. She had been innocent once and couldn't defend herself, the immoral had brought her into the world. I'd done something someone should have done ages ago I thought.

I read Denard's message and hadn't responded intentionally but worried about Kerri. Her car was in fact at the home but it was usually there!

Troy hadn't mentioned the money, I was curious to know how he was surviving inside.

I inhaled and released a dreadful sigh before exiting the parking lot.

Had Troy incriminated himself for Martin to be arrested? Did he love me? I headed toward Metairie, yet wondering about Procell—-what was his last name? I debated whether to tell Ryella about Carmella or not and wondered about her connection with Twan, she had even followed me to Louisiana. All I knew was she was on Martin's trail.

There were things Nathaniel hadn't mentioned, why had Trenton thought Tobias and Twan would kill him? Boldly I texted him and said, "The home is no more."

I saw the message bubble appear and vanish, then reappear again.

"What have u done?"

I disregarded his question and knew he had to return for his truck, he'd left to spend Christmas with his children and returned quicker by flight. I rejected the FaceTime request and asked, "Did Trenton want u dead? Why did he think your sons would kill u?" I'd expected I was revealing unknown information but when he said Twan was at odds with Martin and the only way Twan wouldn't be killed was if he killed his father, the money wasn't even an issue. He died and he knew he would.

The clouds darkened as I'd drove, weakly I tried to exit the vehicle as I talked to Nate in tears, I just couldn't stop crying! Continuously I wrestled...

He wholeheartedly tried to convince me to leave, for the children he'd said with logical reasoning.

I told him I had to stay but would leave after the new year. Health wise I was in no shape to travel.

Silence filled the speaker, he spoke again as I turned into the driveway of my home when arriving. As I exited the car he said, "Over the years I watched Martin destroy Percy, the worst thing to do is feed into his doctrine, somewhere u showed interest in his teachings. We all have. Your father talked about an army that lures us into temptation, when he began to see Martin for who he really was he'd already made a huge mistake and knew it was no turning back."

I couldn't run from the situation at hand and besides I was on the road to riches, so I couldn't leave Louisiana. I felt Martin would have to play by my rules.

"What about the book, what if it is destroyed?" I asked in reference to The Devil's Decimal he said no one had even been brave enough to try.

It was only a book.

"The book is power, the knowledge of life is written inside but at discerned discretion. Choices have to be made, however, whose report will u believe—-even in the Bible...I've never read where Satan denied God was who He is, Martin had once said it's only because it was written in His favor, we believed him and was enticed by his riches.

It warned us, we know why, from whence and where he came, those who are taught. Evil can't be destroyed it existed long before mankind and will be here long after we've turned back to dust."

I noticed the light on inside, instantly I turned off the headlights. I hoped Dario's ass was back to dust.

The struggle to get out of the car and enter into the home exhausted me but I noticed the mail box, it was filled with mail. I had alarmed the home and left the door unlocked but it was now locked I discovered while pressing the thumb latch.

Looking between the narrow opening through the drapes I saw the alarm was disarmed and quickly told Nate I would get back with him, shit; who was inside? I was so weak, the whole time I'd driven I looked forward to eating the apples on the island, I was starving, the child was demanding I felt like a puppet. I pondered whether the apples were the reason I had actually come, I was en route to my daughters.

We ended the call but I still had so many questions and hoped Martin's home was also dust by now.

As I stood at the window in the December wind I held my phone unsure of who to call besides Lawrence, Denard texted again, I began to vomit uncontrollably while reading the messages, the rain had begun to pour.

"Where are u, I hope u are safe! Bodies were found inside, please call immediately..."