seen Lazarus walking away.
“Was it your fight when you came to fight Richie’s father with us? Was it your responsibility when you volunteered to help Travis get his new business up and running over Christmas? It’s what we do, Roman. We’re family, we help each other any way we can,” Riley said.
“This is over and above. He could end up paying the price…”
“He could. Anybody that takes on a dangerous, possibly illegal activity in a large city is taking a risk, which is exactly why he’s taking it from you,” Riley said.
“He’s acting like he’s got nothing. He’s got Alex. He’s got a place among us,” Roman said.
“And that’s why he’s doing what he’s doing. He only knows one way — all or nothing. He’s giving us his all,” Riley said.
“And Alex?” Roman asked.
“She confuses him. His instinct is to give her all, but his head says don’t give her a damn thing. This gets him away from her for a while, and helps us,” Riley explained.
“What if he gets caught?” Roman finally asked.
“What if any of us got caught? I have to believe that Lazarus knows more about what he’s doing in this situation than any of us. Even me,” Riley said, standing up and taking a few bills out of his wallet to toss on the table. “Let’s go home. We’re out of options for the moment,” Riley said.
Roman got up and followed Riley out to the truck. Once they were buckled in and driving away, Roman finally spoke. “I don’t like this.”
“Me neither particularly. But some things just have to play out. Lazarus is acting out of loyalty to us, to you. Accept his gift, and know that even if you fought him, he’d still do whatever the hell he wants to,” Riley said, as he drove up the on ramp to put them on the interstate in the direction of home. “I learned a long time ago, not everything you do falls under the good heading, but even those things can end up doing good. Some things are flat out wrong, just bad written all over it, but they can end up being the most beneficial things you’ve ever done. It’s all a matter of balance.”
Roman looked over at Riley and thought about his words. “What did you mean when you said that Lazarus knows more about this situation than even you?”
Riley sat quietly, just driving them in the direction of home for a while before he finally looked over toward Roman. “A good man can do some bad things in bad situations for good reasons. It don’t define him. It just means he had no other choices at the time and made the best of what he was offered.”
Roman rode along in silence for about twenty minutes. Then he finally spoke. “Could mean you were in the wrong place at the right time, if it led you here.”
Riley smiled and glanced at Roman again. “I think Laz is at one of those wrong places. I trust him. Let’s see where he can take us from here.”
~~~
It was midnight when Mary Davis was yanked from sleep by a pounding on her door. She ran from her bedroom to the front door, looking through the peephole to find her only son, Frederick standing on the other side of her door. She quickly unlocked her door and pulled it open.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I’m tired of hiding out at my friends’ houses, Ma. Why I can’t I go back home?” he whined.
“Because I said not to. The police said we can’t return to it until they release it back to us. It’s a crime scene. And besides, you and I both know you get bored, and when you get bored you make bad decisions, baby. All your neighbors are already on high-alert thinking that woman stole from them and killed that man! If you go into their homes, you might get hurt over some worthless material objects that could easily be replaced. It’s not worth the risk,” she explained.
“That woman is my wife,” he grouched.
“Was your wife. She divorced you while you were in jail! What kind of wife does that?” Mary asked, outrage in her voice.
“I know. She ain’t never stood by me, Mama,” Frederick complained.
“It’s okay. Mama always stands by you. Come on inside and let Mama make you something to eat. You can stay here as long as you want,” she said, reaching out and taking him by the hand to pull him into her condo.