Concrete Roses: Revived

By T. L. Pratcher

Out of the frying pan and into the fire .... Tammy and her girls barely escape life – threatening snares in Concrete Roses Trampled Book I, only to be caught in the iron clutches of danger again!

In "Concrete Roses: Revived," Tammy grapples to keep her family together under the menacing intimidation of her former pimp, Rooster, and his main girl, Chica. Her past life just will not leave her alone as old friends reveal new plots and diabolical schemes that aim to destroy Tammy and all she holds dear. But amid the chaos, new alliances are forged, and hope emerges!

• Language: English
• Publisher: T. L. Pratcher
• Release date: Nov 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005539559

T. L. Pratcher

Concrete Roses: Revived is T.L Pratcher’s second literary work. She has a background in the field of Social Work. T.L. resides with her husband and two children in Memphis, Tennessee.

Book preview

Driving down Riverside Boulevard, leaving Lauryn and Jackson’s home, Tammy’s gas light popped on. She wasn’t quite on empty, but it was late at night and she didn’t want to risk being stranded, especially with her girls in the car. She glanced at her cellphone on the passenger seat.

Ugh, where am I going to find a gas station open at this time of night? Guess it serves me right for staying out all night long. I bet Prudie is raving mad, I haven’t returned any of her texts, Tammy muttered.

Tammy spotted the, All Night N’ Day Gas & Convenience Mart on her right. She quickly pulled in. She peeked at her girls asleep in the back seat and decided they’d be fine while she left them momentarily.

Tammy didn’t waste any time. She parked her car at pump three, ran inside the store, and stood in line to pay for gas. A police officer got into the line behind her. Looking through the large store window, Tammy saw a man walking from around the corner of the store and up to the entrance. He was dressed in a pair of caramel colored slacks and a short-sleeved burnt-orange shirt, accenting his smooth brown skin. Coffee-brown tinted shades concealed his eyes. When he entered the store, he paused, removed his shades, and looked directly at Tammy. He didn’t say a word. His eyes said it all.

Tammy muttered one word under her breath. Rooster. Instinct told her to run, but her eyes were affixed on Rooster and she was frozen in her spot.

Rooster was Tammy’s pimp. The two of them had been introduced by Rooster’s lady, Chica. Chica had described Rooster as smart, savvy, connected and powerful.

Rooster is fine as he is ruthless. Trust me, you don’t ever want to get on his bad side, Chica had warned.

As Tammy stood face to face with Rooster in the convenience mart, she found herself exactly where she did not want to be, on Rooster’s bad side. He had caught her; she was inches from his grasp.

How did he find me? This place was not in a part of town where he would normally hang out, and she had been careful to avoid him ever since she left him.

Maintaining her spot in line, Tammy’s eyes followed Rooster around the store as he casually picked up a few items. Then, Rooster unexpectedly turned down the aisle that led to the line Tammy was in. As Rooster advanced in Tammy’s direction, her heart raced and she fidgeted a little in her spot. The officer behind Tammy seemed to notice her anxious behavior. Tammy looked at him and smiled slightly. She felt a layer of protection with the officer present, but she was still afraid. Tammy had heard Rooster once beat a girl badly in public. She hoped he wasn’t crazy enough to make a move on her in front of the police.

Tammy watched Rooster until he claimed a space in line behind the officer, then she quickly turned around and faced forward to avoid further direct eye-contact with him.

The process to the cash register seemed to take forever. Every few seconds, Tammy’s eyes averted downward right, expecting Rooster to walk around the officer and approach her from behind. The tension in the air was glacier thick.

To add to her dilemma, Tammy left her girls, four-year-old Keeva and three-year-old Kimmie, in the car unattended. From the store window, she saw Kimmie moving around inside the car. She prayed Kimmie’s activity didn’t bring awareness to the police officer, and to Rooster, that the girls were in the car alone and vulnerable. Given the circumstances, Tammy knew that she had to get out of the store so that she could get to her girls before anyone else did. She pondered her next move. She saw her opportunity. She would stall the officer on his way out of the store. She figured if Rooster saw her talking to the officer, it might deter him from making any contact with her, and she could distract them both from her children.

After paying for her gas, Tammy waited near the exit and fiddled inside her purse. When the officer approached the door where Tammy stood, she made her move.

Excuse me, Officer. I’m trying to find Beale Street. My GPS has me going around in circles, but I know it’s close. Can you help me?

The officer began to give her directions as they walked out of the store. Tammy carried on a casual conversation with the officer for as long as she could, hoping Rooster would leave the scene while they talked.

After a while, Tammy looked over her shoulder. To her surprise, she saw Rooster lingering at the door of the gas station as if he planned to wait it out. Sweat beads formed on her forehead. She tried to smile to ease the tension. Just when she thought she could not keep up pretenses any longer, Tammy watched as he walked around to the side of the building. When Tammy saw Rooster get into his car, she ended her conversation with the officer and walked briskly toward her car. She quickly pumped her gas and got into her car.

Before she pulled away from the pump, Tammy looked in Rooster’s direction and caught him glaring. She looked in front of her and saw the police officer was still on the lot. His car was not running.

Tammy remembered during her conversation with the officer, he mentioned that police visited the store a lot. He said they were always in and out of there.

Okay, he’s not leaving just yet so I’m not leaving either. I’ll be safe as long as he’s here, Tammy thought, eyeing the police officer’s car.

She turned and looked in Rooster’s direction again. He was still glaring at her from across the parking lot, and did not appear to be leaving anytime soon.

Tammy mumbled, Well, looks like the verdict is in. Rooster is crazy, but he’s not stupid…this is going to be a long night.

Where are we going, Mommy? Kimmie asked.

Just sit back, baby. She glanced at Keeva and observed the little girl sleeping and safely restrained in her seatbelt.

For the next several minutes, Tammy sat in her car and contemplated her next move. Her fear of being alone with Rooster became a reality when she saw the officer drive off the gas station lot. Oh no! Tammy cried.

"Mommy, I have to go to the bathwoom."

Tammy took a deep breath. Kimmie, baby. Mommy needs you to hold it. Can you hold it for a few minutes, sweetie?

Nooo, I can’t, Mommy. I been holding it all night.

"I have held it all night, Kimmie," Tammy said, correcting her daughter’s grammar.

I have been holding it all night, Mommy. I really, really have to go!

Tammy remembered what Prudie used to do at times when they were out and Tammy had to use the restroom. She grabbed a thirty-two-ounce cup from the cup holder in the front seat and emptied out the leftover liquid. Kimmie could use the cup to do her business. These were desperate times and desperate times called for desperate measures.

Tammy passed the cup to Kimmie.

"Mommy, I have to go ca-ca too."

What?

Oh, I see! Tammy exclaimed. She would have to make a dash for the store restroom. Keeva was still sound asleep in the back seat. Tammy would have to leave her behind because she would slow her down. Tammy knew leaving her children in the car unsupervised was taking quite a risk. She learned that little tidbit in a parenting class she recently completed. She’d taken the risk once tonight already and she really did not want to try her luck again. During Tammy’s deliberation, she spotted another police car entering the gas station store lot. Two officers sat in the front seat. The words of the previous officer rang true—the police did seem to be in and out of this gas station. Tammy was thrilled. She felt emboldened to seize the opportunity of her newfound security.

Tammy kept an oversized, brown-colored blanket in the trunk. She retrieved the blanket and reentered her car. She unfolded the blanket and draped it over Keeva from her position in the driver’s seat, making sure the blanket covered Keeva’s body. After securing Keeva, Tammy and Kimmie hopped out of the car and quickly walked towards the store. During her frantic dash, she left her purse behind with car keys inside, and she had forgotten to lock her car doors. She hoped Rooster would assume that she only had Kimmie with her. As Tammy and Kimmie approached the door of the store, Tammy and Rooster locked eyes.

Rooster looked at Tammy and then at the police car. He opened his car door to step outside.

Tammy recoiled and clenched Kimmie’s hand. Then surprisingly, the passenger door of the parked police car also opened and a female officer got out of the car and walked toward the store’s entrance behind Tammy.

Tammy slowed her gait to allow the officer time to catch up to her so they could walk into the store together. She looked back at the police car and noticed a male officer remained inside the car. She sighed in relief at the idea that someone would be watching her car and her daughter.

Tammy hurried Kimmie out of the restroom. When she reached the store’s exit, she saw that the police car was gone. She raced outside. She observed an empty spot where Rooster’s Mustang was previously parked, but her car appeared to be safe and secured in its spot.

Tammy sighed in relief, closed her eyes briefly, and then inhaled. She walked to her car. Tammy watched Kimmie open the rear door of the car and enter before entering herself.

After entering the car, Tammy surveyed the large gas station lot and the dark surrounding areas. She realized she was not out of danger yet. Rooster could be anywhere just waiting to capture her. She kept her eyes peeled, observing every detail of the perimeter outside of her car. Yet, in all of her carefulness, she never looked in the backseat to check on her daughters. She never told Kimmie to secure her seatbelt, nor did she remove the blanket from Keeva’s body. She just sat there watching and waiting for something, anything that would give her courage to put the car into drive and leave.

2

Collateral

Tap, Tap, Tap!

Tammy awoke, startled to see a female police officer standing next to her car, tapping a flashlight against her window.

Are you alright, Ma’am? the officer asked.

Tammy noticed it was daytime. Is it morning already? How long did I sleep? She looked across the lot where Rooster’s car had been parked. She sighed in relief when she saw that space was still empty. She still had not answered the officer.

Ma’am, are you okay? the officer asked again.

Tammy let down the window. Oh, yes! I’m fine.

My partner and I noticed that you’ve been here for quite a while. We left and came back; you were still here parked in the same spot. Thought we’d check on you. Is there a problem with your car?

Thank you, and no there isn’t. We’re fine. I appreciate you checking on us.

That your kid back there? Is she alright? the officer asked, referring to Kimmie asleep in the back seat.

Yeah, she’s fine. We’re just tired, ya know.

Sure. It’s a good thing to see she’s all buckled up. May I check your license and registration please? the officer firmly requested."

Yeah, Tammy responded. As she gathered her credentials, she remembered that she never told Kimmie to buckle her seatbelt. She was thankful Kimmie had buckled herself into her seat without being told. She didn’t doubt that Keeva was buckled into her seatbelt also because she never left the car.

As Tammy handed the officer her license and registration, she got a good look at the officer’s face. Tammy recognized her as the same officer who had walked into the store with her the night before.

Ma’am, this is not a safe place to sleep. Especially when children are involved, the officer advised as she reviewed Tammy’s credentials.

Yes ma’am, I know. I meant to leave after getting gas.

Um hmm. Have you had any alcohol or substances?

No, nothing like that, I just needed some rest.

You still live at this address?

No, we actually live at 1476 Amherst Lane with my mother. I was in a bad situation at the other place. The guy I was involved with was abusive and I had to get out of there... our lives were at stake.

The officer’s expression changed. She seemed less suspicious of Tammy. She handed Tammy’s license and registration back. Well, glad that you’re alright. Guess you’re one of the lucky ones. Take care of that little girl, the officer said as she took a step back allowing Tammy to leave.

Yes, ma’am, I will, Tammy said as she fastened her seatbelt, put her car in DRIVE, and exited the gas station parking lot.

As Tammy drove, she could barely pay attention to the road in front of her because she was so focused on the road behind her. She continually scanned the rearview and side mirrors, expecting Rooster’s car to slide out of each street she passed.

Tammy still did not go straight to Prudie’s house. Instead, she parked at a strip mall a few miles away. She planned to call Prudie to let her know what had happened so that she could have some back-up ready. Tammy figured if Rooster tried something, and Prudie ended up having to shoot him on her property, they might not get into much trouble.

When Tammy picked up her cellphone, she noticed she had a missed call and a voicemail message. Both from Rooster. On the verge of panic, she opened the message and listened.

"It was nice seeing you tonight. Such a surprise. I was just hanging around downtown. You know I don’t even go downtown, but I’m glad I did ‘cause a brother lucked up and found you. I been lookin’ for your trifling tail everywhere. I never expected to find you at a gas station in the middle of the night. Anyway, it was especially nice to see your beautiful girls. I wanted to get a better look at the older one, so I took her for a ride. Hope you don’t mind. Hmm...it’s true what they say, kids grow every minute you’re away from them. She ‘don growed up a lot since y’all been gone. I can tell she gone be a real money-maker. Think I’ll keep her for a while. If you want to visit, we at the house. You know where it is."

Tammy dropped her phone, leaped backwards in her car. She was horribly shocked to find an empty spot under the blanket where Keeva should have been.

Tammy wanted to scream, but her heart seemed stuck in her throat, making it impossible for her to speak. Tears silently cascaded down her cheeks. She instantly looked to the left and saw Kimmie waking up.

Mommy, where’s Kee-Kee?

Tammy turned around in her seat away from Kimmie and began to