Page 54 of Resurrect Me

“Yeah. Not sure why everyone around here thinks only men can be evil. We’re all equal, right? If we can be equally as good, we can all be equally as bad. Evil doesn’t discriminate. Once it takes hold of a person, it plants more seeds, festers and grows. The soil makes no difference.”

I swallow and lean against the wall, allowing the information to sink in. “What’s her name? Who is it?”

“That will have to wait.”

I push against the wall and head for the door again. I’m tired of his shit. “Goodbye, Reggie. Have a nice evening.”

Silence. I open the door and Reggie shrieks, “wait!”

I keep my hands on the cold metal latch but turn to give him one more chance.

“You know her, personally,” he screeches.

“I’m waiting. You have three seconds.”

“It’s Judy…Beckner,” he replies.

“My mother-in-law?”

Tacy

The Uber ride felt like the longest ride of my entire life. When it rolls to a stop in front of the warehouse, I gulp, thank the driver for putting up with my body odor since I hadn’t showered, then crawl out and sidle up to the front door. Do I knock? Should I try the back door instead? Surely, they’ll see it’s me through their surveillance and let me in? I pray I don’t get shot.

There is a camera in the corner of the building pointed right at me, and I reach a shaky fist out to knock. An obnoxious beeping noise emanates from behind the door, and a man’s gruff voice shouts something inaudible. There’s a scraping metallic noise, as if someone’s unlocking a dozen locks on the door, and finally the door opens and a pair of gray eyes peek through the crack. Gray eyes bordered by a bushy pair of gray eyebrows. An older gentleman.

“Who are you? We’re closed.” His voice cracks as he saysclosed.

“I’m here for Aris.”

“There’s no one here by that name. It’s just me and the shop is closed,” he repeats and steps slightly into the light. There’s a large scar across his nose and down one cheek. Like someone slashed him with a knife when he was a young man.

“Listen,” I lean in and lower my voice. “I’m on the inside. I’m with The Rebellis. I’m Aris’s wife and I need to speak to him.”

His eyes widen. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now, do you need a ride, Miss? I can call you a cab.”

I shake my head. My patience is thinning. The pain in my ribs is searing and almost renders me incapable of speaking. But the throbbing of my eye socket is almost more than I can bear. I’mseeing stars, but I must press on. “I don’t have a lot of time. Please, just get him. Get Aris.”

Another shake of the head, but then the man shuts the door abruptly and a familiar hand pulls the door open. He hurries me inside. The scent of gasoline and sweat permeates the air of the warehouse.

“What are you doing here, Babydoll? Jesus, are you okay?” Aris asks as he pulls me into his arms.

I wince when his chest presses against mine. “Ow.”

He pulls back and scans me from head to toe. “Why are you here?”

The doorkeeper is already down the hallway, leaving the two of us alone.

“It’s…the kids, Aris,” I say and double over in pain. “They’re…in…danger.”

“What? How? Who?”

I shrink to the floor and put my head in my hands to try to stop the dizziness.

“Tacy, where are the children?”

“They’re with my…mom,” I say shakily. I try to lift my head and look at him, but it feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. I just need to…rest. My eyes close, but Aris shakes me gently to snap me out of it.

“Tacy! Please just tell me what’s happening. The kids are with your mom. What’s the danger?”

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