As I drove to my Duluth home, I contemplated what would make a teenager—a well-to-do teenage girl—flee her friends and family. What would make her leave college without a trace and disappear? An unwanted pregnancy came to mind, but I shook my head. If Elena didn’t want the baby, she could’ve just aborted it or put it up for adoption. I was getting the feeling something more sinister was happening when suddenly my SUV lurched forward. Son of a bitch! Someone just rear-ended me.
Unable to identify the sex of the driver through the tinted windows of the imposing black Suburban, I pulled over on the quiet, tree-lined street to inspect the damage. I removed my Glock from my glove compartment and placed it inside my purse, leaving the weapon in my grip, though. These days, one could never be too careful because of the carjackings. I stepped from the comfort of my air-conditioned RAV4 into the still and gauzy air.
Damn, it was way too hot. After eyeing the Suburban, I sauntered to the back of my vehicle. The bumper was hanging. My jaw hardened, and I waited for the driver to step out. When the door finally opened, my imposing and portly childhood friend stepped out.
Fuck.
Bam McGrady waddled over to me in what could only be considered black silk pajama bottoms and no shirt. He ran his sausage fingers along the bumper before gripping it and ripping it off. He tossed it to the side, and it clattered against the curb. A sinister smile played across his fat, soup-cooling lips. “Got my package, Jinx?”
I hunched over while my head drooped slightly. With my most pressing bill one day overdue, I hoped there wasn’t much interest attached to the principal. “Got your money, Bam.” I released my grip on my Glock and dug out my cell phone. I checked my bank account, and sure enough, the bonus was there. It was just enough money to pay Bam but not enough to cover my mortgage. Shit. “You do Zelle, Bam?”
His dead-brown eyes zoomed in on me. He curled his lip and asked, “Home girl, is that how I gave it to you?”
With dread, I shook my head.
He narrowed his eyes. “Naw. I gave it to you in cash. Expect you to do the same.”
I sighed. “Then I can’t get it to you until tomorrow.”
He erupted into a sinister chuckle before he added, “That’ll be more interest.”
My chin dipped to my collarbone. “How much more?”
“For you? Ten percent on the principal.”
My head snapped up. “Th-that’s crazy! I can’t come up with that by tomorrow and still pay my mortgage. Have a heart, Bam.”
He sighed heavily. “I’ll give you four days, Jinx.”
I breathed shallowly. “Come on, Bam.”
He threw up his hands, and I smelled body odor. His man-boobs swayed, and I tried not to laugh. “Look, Jinx, if you were anybody else, a finger or a toe would be missing right now. Or a leg would be broken. I mean, I usually send one of my boys to collect for me. But I wanted to do you a solid because I know they can get carried away at times. Feel me?”
I nodded.
“But you my home girl. We go way back.”
I snarled at him. “We go so way back that you jack up your home girls. Home girls like me, right? We’ve known each other since grade school, and now what? You want to break my legs?”
He wagged a finger at me. “Look, you came to me. Remember? ’Cause your credit was so fucked up you couldn’t get a traditional loan. Tell your moms to stop gamblin’, and you won’t have to bail her out anymore.”
I was mad at him for demanding such a ridiculous amount of money, and I was angry at my mom for not only getting herself in this jam, but for me having to bail her out of it! To hell with him. I lifted my chin just as my heart rate quickened. “Well, I’m giving you the principal in four days. Nothing more, nothing less. I’ll pay the interest later.”
Bam shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“What time can we meet?” I sucked in my breath.
“Noon. Right here.” He waddled back to his Suburban and heaved himself inside. It wasn’t until he sped off that I realized I was still holding my breath. I exhaled then gasped a few times. I decided that I had to find Elena by this time next week, or Bam might render me dog meat.
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