Suzetta Perkins - Déjà Vu

“Three down,” said one of the sharpshooters. “No sign of anyone else.”

Angelica emerged from the car and walked cautiously toward the group of officers. When Agent Hopkins saw her approach, he put out his hand to stop her from coming closer. This wasn’t something she needed to see up close. Her worries were over-Santiago was dead.

The door to the fellowship hall opened, and Lieutenant Broadnax stepped outside. Edward, Jefferson, and Margo were right behind him, all in a hurry to find out what went down. All efforts to restrain the group of people left in the fellowship hall were fruitless as they pushed past Broadnax and spilled outside. A yellow ribbon and a sea of police officers blocked their attempt to proceed beyond a certain point as the police waited for the coroner’s office to scoop the dead from the ground.

“What happened…are you all right?” Edward asked Angelica as he ran to be by her side.

“Edward, it happened so fast. One minute I had a gun pointed at my head, the next minute I was thrown to a bunch of muscle-bound cops, who tucked me away in their patrol car. Then the shooting began, and after a couple of minutes, it was all over. Agent Hopkins saved my life, and to think I believed he was one of the bad guys. He deserves a medal for his undercover work.”

“Good job, Angelica,” Margo said. Margo smiled and went to Angelica and hugged her.

“I needed that, girl. You don’t know. My life flashed before me a hundred times, but I’m glad it’s all over.”

“It’s over for all of us,” Margo responded. “We have you to thank for risking your life to save ours.”

“I’d do it all again,” Angelica laughed. “Well, I hope I don’t have to do it again. If I wasn’t forced to be the sacrificial lamb, I’m not sure I would’ve volunteered.”

Jefferson put his arms around Margo and finally spoke. “I can’t believe it’s all over.”

“From the little Agent Hopkins told me, Santiago probably wouldn’t have seen the light of day. Even though he won’t stand trial, there was enough evidence to convict him of several murders, including Hamilton’s.”

“Yeah, I heard about Hamilton’s cousin. Well, Santiago won’t be around to hurt anyone else,” Jefferson said.

“Look, why don’t we get away from here and go back to our hotel so we can sit down and talk?” Edward said. “We’ll get room service, if you want something to eat.”

Margo glanced at Jefferson and then looked quickly away. She puckered her lips. “Everyone has been through so much today,” Margo began, “and we’ve got to get our house taken care of.”

“This is Saturday, for heaven’s sake,” Angelica said. “You’re not going to get anything done on your house tonight. Come on, Margo. I want to bring you up to speed with what’s happened to me.”

“Well…” Margo began.

“Yeah, a few appetizers and some iced tea might do it for an hour or so,” Jefferson put in. “Help us to unwind from the day. We’re coming.”

“The Fayetteville police would have made Hamilton proud today,” Angelica added as an afterthought. “He lived and breathed that badge.” Before she could say anything else, Agent Hopkins approached.

“Hi, folks, I’m Agent Hopkins. Angelica was a brave woman tonight. I don’t know that I would have trusted me, if I were her.”

“It was a hard sell, but you left me little choice,” Angelica said. “And I’m glad it’s over.”

“Well, you did a fine job. Helping us to apprehend one of the FBI’s Most Wanted was a good thing. One of these days soon, I’ll be able to tell you the whole story leading up to this day.”

“Do you have any idea why Santiago may have killed Donna?”

“I can’t talk about the case, but it may have something to do with Donna kicking you out of her house and not telling him. But it’s apparent he found out where you were.”

“With Ari…,” Angelica mumbled. She pulled herself together. “Thank you again, Agent Hopkins, for saving my life…for saving all of our lives. I don’t know how we can repay you.”

“Nothing to repay, Angelica. I was doing my job and I’d do it again.”

“Would you do me a favor?”

“If I can,” Agent Hopkins said.

“On the day I left the women’s prison, Sgt. Macy told me that she would see me again, and because I don’t plan to ever darken the doorway to that place, please tell Sgt. Macy for me that Angelica Barnes is never coming back. She gave me and the other girls in Dorm L a hard time. And, Agent Hopkins, she is not quite right-a lesbo who’s taking sexual liberties with women, those who want it and those who are forced against their will.”

Agent Hopkins pondered what Angelica said. “We may be taking a trip to the women’s prison sooner than you think. You may have repaid me by giving me what I need to take down corrupt workers in the system. Thanks again, Angelica.”

“Glad to be of service.”

Nausea floated through Margo’s body as the images of Jefferson and Angelica walking into the hotel she now approached herself came back to her. Knowing the whole story did not make her feel better because she now had to deal with the mistake she had made. She hated how Malik had reacted when she told him that she was staying with her husband. Now she knew it would be only a matter of time before Jefferson found out.

She grabbed her stomach as a terrible reality seized her mind. God, don’t let me be pregnant, she thought to herself as her nerves started to unravel. She was too old to have baby momma drama.

“Are you all right, Margo?” Angelica asked with concern on her face.

Margo looked up, and Jefferson, Edward, and Angelica were in front of her, staring her down. From somewhere, Jefferson grabbed a piece of paper and began fanning her.

“I’m all right.” Margo sat up straight. “I guess so much happened today that it all caught up with me.”

“Do you want me to take you home…I mean, the hotel? We no longer have police protection since they’ve killed Santiago.”

“No, Jefferson. I’ll be fine. If I can have some water or something else cold to drink.”

“Coming right up,” Angelica said as Jefferson sat next to Margo and held her in his arms.

“Water for the lady,” Edward said, handing a bottle to Margo. “Look, I want to thank you guys for sticking with us today. I know the relationship between our families has been rocky, but when it counted, you were there. We owe you a debt of gratitude. And I think my sister can finally get on with her life.”

Angelica smiled, walked to Edward and gave him a brotherly kiss on the cheek. “That was sweet, Edward, and I’d like to say I feel the same as my brother. Margo, you are the best, and if I ever get a friend like you again, I’m going to keep her for life. I want you to know that I do love you, and if you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I’d appreciate it so much.”

Margo smiled and nodded. She took a sip of water and sat the bottle down.

“Angelica is thinking about going back to New York,” Edward said, trying to ruffle the silence.

“So, you liked New York?” Margo asked quizzically.

“It’s not that I like New York so much, but I left someone there who is very special to me. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have Ari on my side. He gave me hope and came to my rescue when I was trying to get away from Santiago. I put him through more changes, but he was my pillar of strength when I didn’t have it for myself. I’ll never forget how he gave me safe passage out of New York. He means the world.”

“He seems awfully special,” Margo said. “Sounds like you’ve found true love.”