Up in Smoke

By Kea Emerson

Carter Stone is young, handsome, smart, talented, and on the road to riches. After years of hard work and big dreams, one of the best colleges on the east coast is giving him a full ride on a basketball scholarship. Life is but a dream!

…that dream turns into a nightmare when he wakes up in the wee hours of a hot July morning and realizes his house is on fire!
When the smoke clears, the authorities discover that the fatal fire was intentionally set, and Carter's family has lost everything. Precious young lives are lost, his childhood home is gone, and his severe injuries threaten to destroy his future.

Disoriented, crushed and enraged, he learns that Sabrina, his loving, hardworking, single mother is on life support. As the doctors pressure his family to end her suffering, Carter realizes her life could end any day at any time.

Despite their best efforts, the police have no leads and no suspects, and the young rising star has no idea who would do this to his family and why. Desperate and devastated, he makes one promise at his beloved mother's bedside: that he would not let her go without finding out the truth.

It was just another day, just another shift for Charity Riddick, a young Registered Nurse on duty that fateful night in July when a fleet of emergency vehicles rushed a family of 7 to her hospital. Horrified and distraught over what happened to them, she was determined to help the surviving family members heal physically and emotionally. In the process, the Stone family takes over her heart---and her good judgment, blurring the lines between nurse and investigator.

…and when the relentless murderer sets out to finish what was started, nobody is safe anywhere.
…but how do you find a killer who is hiding in plain sight?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667858067

Book preview

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UP IN SMOKE

© 2022 Kea Emerson

UP IN SMOKE is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents, businesses, events and incidents are fictitious and the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual businesses, or actual events is purely coincidental and unintentional by the author.

No part of this publication may be used, shared or reproduced in any form whatsoever without written permission by the author, with the exception of brief quotes used in articles or reviews.

Your support of author’s rights is appreciated.

All rights reserved.

© 2022 by Kea Emerson

Initial Print and E-Book Edition: 2022

Print ISBN: 979-8-83977-479-7

eBook ISBN: 978-1-66785-806-7

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

For my daughter and my son.

My love for you both is limitless.

Chapter 1

Saturday, July 7…

Carter’s hazel brown eyes fluttered.

He had a difficult time opening his eyes; they felt as though they were covered in some kind of ointment or cream.

He could not see very well, everything around him was a blur. He felt disoriented and groggy. His head was heavy on his neck. He could hardly hold his head up. Involuntarily, it fell back against his pillows.

He could hear voices in the hallway. He could hear machines beeping and clicking.

By looking around he could not clearly see what was going on, but he knew exactly where he was when he inhaled.

A hospital.

Everybody knows that hospital smell. He would recognize that familiar hospital smell anywhere. He had been to the hospital many times – more times than he could count. He spent many hours of his life at hospitals: the times his mother went into labor with his siblings, the times when one of them had to go to the Emergency Room from a fever, a stomach virus or asthma attack and the times he hurt himself playing basketball or just acting like an idiot doing stunts with his friends.

He inhaled again.

Yep.

He was in the hospital.

THE HOSPITAL!

He jerked up with all of strength he could muster. Out of habit, he tried to touch the top of his head because whenever he jerked up in his own bed at home, he bumped his head on the bunk over him.

My family!! Oh my God!! I gotta get my family! Where is my family!? He yelled. He fought against the tubes that seemed to be connected to every part of his body, snaked all over him like he was in a horror movie. He struggled against his plastic shackles with all the strength he could gather. He felt warm blood oozing from at least two or three places on his body.

Aye! Dios mio! The frightened middle-aged woman from Housekeeping who was just coming into the room ran to the call bell on the wall near Carter and pulled the cord. He startled her so badly that she dropped the armful of hospital gowns she was carrying into the room to place in the cupboards. She sprinted toward the door and called out into the hallway for help.

Within seconds, a pretty, cashew-colored young lady with a long, sleek bronze ponytail entered the room. She was already pulling on a pair of gloves.

Mr. Stone, please! Please calm down. She asserted, carefully trying to keep him in his hospital bed. Ignoring her, he ripped at his bandages and monitors. He was bleeding from his IV site and screaming with all his energy. She scrambled to assist him, but he was out of control.

Go get me some help! NOW! She commanded the housekeeper. Go!

She grabbed her walkie-talkie and yelled into it for assistance.

Carter could not see very well but he knew that whoever was near him was female because of her voice and her scent.

Lady, get out of my face, get off of me! You don’t know me, and I don’t want to know you! He pushed against the nurse’s efforts to calm him down and keep the equipment on him.

Mr. Stone please!

Lady, you don’t understand!! My mom! Oh my God! Where’s my mother?! Where are my brothers and sisters? He screamed, he wiped at his eyes with hospital blankets and tried to focus his vision. He tried to fight the groggy feeling in his head and keep it from flopping back down onto the pillows.

If you calm down, I can give you that information, Mr. Stone. Now sit back! Now! She ordered, surprised at her own aggressiveness.

"Who are you talking to?! Who are you to give me orders? Did you just tell me to calm down? Carter said through tight lips. You... don’t…know…me! He pulled at his tubes again, even as he gritted his teeth and winced in pain. I’m getting up out of here. I’m getting up out of here right now!" Carter used his arm to keep her at bay.

Sir! Mr. Stone, you heard me correctly! I need you to calm down. You are going to make your injuries worse! She could not just let him yank off his IV and walk out of there. Nobody on her watch was going to walk out against medical advice if she could help it. Not with injuries as severe as his – even if he was a maniac.

Carter was determined to leave. Who does this lady think she is?

At the top of his lungs, he screamed like an ape.

Startled, Charity Riddick, RN BSN backed up.

Umma ask you again... he screamed at her, Where! Is! My! Family!!!??

She opened her mouth to respond but he cut her off.

Where…is…my…mom? Carter asked through clenched teeth.

Other hospital staff members approached the door, donning gloves.

"Again, I need you to calm down. Please cooperate so we can give you the information you ask for." The nurse’s jaws tightened as she squared her shoulders. She took in the big, brawny young man in the hospital bed on her unit with a stern eye. Bandages covered almost all of his brown skin. She challenged him by cocking her head and pursing her lips. She was surprised again by her own assertiveness.

The two stared at each other unflinchingly for several seconds. She held her ground. She did not break eye contact. The other staff members waited and watched.

He blinked repeatedly.

She maintained her stare.

Suddenly, Carter put his hands to his face and wept uncontrollably. He fell back against the pillows in defeat and began to cry his eyes out.

Breathless, the nurse was relieved that she had the fortitude to win the standoff, even as her aggression became helplessness. She exhaled and quietly announced, I am going to assist you now and help you get better. Is that okay? She waited. He did not object. She stepped closer to him and began to timidly assess the damage he had done.

Where am I? What day is it? What time is it?? Carter asked helplessly through his tears. I don’t remember nothing!

Charity reached to touch him.

Get that junk off’a me! Carter barked, swatting at her again.

She clenched her jaw, ignored him and continued to do her job.

I said I don’t want this mess on me! Carter began tearing at his bandages again, despite his pain. He felt stoned, intoxicated and beside himself. He was disoriented, not sure of what had actually happened to him. He wasn’t even sure of what was happening to him in that moment. I have the right to decide that I don’t want any of this stupid stuff on me. You can’t give me nothing I don’t want! You must have given me drugs…got me all loopy, I don’t even know what is going on! Get off me you witch! He pulled away from her with all the strength he could muster.

Furious, she pulled her gloves off. You know what? You are absolutely right! Have it your way! Get out of that bed and leave if you want to! I’m done! Do you know how lucky you are to be alive? You have no idea! Let me tell you –

Charity, what is going on in here? Dr. William Morton drew back at the scene in Carter’s room as he entered room 416. He looked around and ran his hand through this salt-and-pepper hair. It looked more like a crime scene than a hospital room. Another nurse entered the room with him. She gaped in shock. And what are you all standing around for? Is this some kind of show? He rebuked. If you are not helping, you are hindering. Please leave unless I send for you. Shamed, they all scattered back to their respective workstations.

Tubes stretched from one end of the room to the other like escaped vipers. Fluids pooled all over the cold floor. The IV pole was on the floor beeping loudly. There was blood everywhere.

I’m done with this guy. I’m done! That’s what’s going on in here. If he wants to leave AMA, then I’ll go start the paperwork. She stomped out of the room before he could stop her.

Charity! Charity!! He called after her, but it was too late. She was halfway down the hallway, complaining and waving her arms the whole way.

Dr. Morton sighed heavily and turned his attention back to Carter.

Mr. Stone, if you want to live, if you want to recover, you have to –

Live?? Recover?! Wow. Carter broke out into a sinister laugh. Do you know what happened to me? Do you know? Look at me! Do you know what happened to me? I hope somebody does ‘cause I sure don’t. He threw off the blankets and sheets and looked at himself. His body was covered in blood, bloody bandages and ointment. What the hell happened to me??!

Dr. Morton knew from his many years of experience with combative patients: especially those who have experienced this level of trauma; you don’t fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water.

Although he was furious about the scene he’d just walked in on, he spoke to Carter in the softest, warmest tone of voice that he could muster. He spoke slowly and chose his words carefully.

My name is Dr. William Morton and this is Everly. She is a nurse. He motioned toward the young lady in the room. She is one of the most skilled nurses that I have, and we are working very hard with you and your family. I want to keep you alive and help you recover from your injuries completely, young man. You want to know what happened to you? I will tell you what happened to you. Please, listen carefully.

He pulled over a stool and sat down. A horrendous house fire happened to you. Life-threatening trauma happened to you, that’s what. Dr. Morton clenched his jaw, paused and shook his head in amazement. But you, young man, are a warrior. You fought like a champion – even through various levels of consciousness – and you survived. You got heart, man. I gotta take my hat off to you. Your surviving family members would not be alive if it wasn’t for your love, your courage and your bravery. For their sake – even if not for your own – they need you. You lived. And now you must keep fighting through your recovery. Whatever you do after you leave this hospital is on you. But while you are here, I want to do everything in my power to help you. However, it is your life and your decision. You can leave if you want to. He stood and stepped closer to Carter. Take a good look at your body. Do you see all these bandages? Think about how much pain you are in. Will walking out of here make that pain go away? Dr. Morton challenged. Will walking out of here right now make anything better? He pointed in the direction of the hospital’s exit. You walk out that door right now, do you know what’s waiting for you?? More pain. Infections. Disfigurement. He waved his finger up and down Carter’s body, indicating his limbs. Nerve Damage. Loss of use. He pointed to his head. Cognitive challenges. Memory loss. He crossed his arms. Need I say more? Your family members are fighting for their lives with everything they have in their little bodies and souls as we speak, but here you are attacking my staff and giving up. They need you to be strong. He paused. What’s it gonna be?

Carter sat back on his pillow. He hated this doctor. He hated that nurse that ran out of the room. He hated this other nurse in the room that was looking at him like she felt sorry for him. He hated God. Something terrible happened and nobody would shoot straight with him. That was not a good sign.

He looked around his hospital room helplessly. Bland tones of beige and white surrounded him. The TV above his bed was off and there was no remote. The room was silent for a few moments. Besides his own heart pounding in his ears, the only sounds he heard was the hospital staff in the hallway and the consistent beeps and purrs of the various machines in his room. He glanced to his right. The adjacent bed in the room was empty.

Where’s my mom? Where are my brothers and sisters? Carter asked as calmly as he could.

If you allow us to help you, we can give you all the information we have, but you won’t be any good to yourself, your family or anybody else if you die in that bed because you were too stubborn to let us help you recover from your injuries. Now, what’s it gonna be young man?

What day is it? What time is it?

It is Saturday, July 7th. Dr. Morton checked his watch. 1:13pm

What about the TV? Do I gotta pay for it or something?

Dr. Morton shook his head. Don’t worry about the TV. TV is not a good idea right now.

Carter said nothing. His jaw clenched. He seemed to have no memory. For several moments, he searched his memory, searched his mind for what happened but he could not really determine anything that made sense. He seemed to have no choice. Finally, he rolled his eyes in defeat and sat back on the pillows. He held out his arms as if he was about to be handcuffed.

There we go, Mr. Stone. That’s more like it. Thank you for cooperating. Dr. Morton quickly checked his phone and turned to leave the room. Everly, will you see to it that Mr. Stone gets cleaned up and his IV started back up? I will send someone in to help you right now. I think I am going to change the prescription for his pain medications and add a new one for anxiety too, not sure yet. Let me think about it for a moment and I’ll write it up as soon as I get a minute if I do make any changes. If you have any other recommendations when you re-assess him, let me know right away.

Everly nodded and started gathering supplies.

Dr. Morton turned to Carter. I will be back in a few minutes with the Chaplain so we can talk.

The Chaplain.

He knew exactly what that meant.

Carter burst into fresh tears, shaking his head vigorously. No, no, no!!!!

Chapter 2

Wednesday, July 4: Independence Day

Before the fire…)

Two sets of hazel brown eyes looked up as a back door in the heart of North Philadelphia squeaked open.

It’s looking good back here, ladies! Real good! Sabrina Stone said as she stepped down into the yard and approached her daughters as they cleaned and decorated the backyard for her annual Independence Day family barbeque. A festive array of banners, lights, table covers and balloons in a riot of patriotic red, white and blue made the backyard start to look like a professional venue.

Satisfied with the progress they were making, she turned to go back into the house. She looked at her watch. I know it’s hot out here but put some pep in your steps because I have to start putting the food on the grill. I told everybody to be here by 1:00!

What are you gonna pay us? The elder of the two daughters laughed and playfully put her hands out. See, because…all this slave labor…

What? Pay? Girl, I’ll pay y’all in kisses. How about that? Sabrina laughed, her pudginess jiggled in concert.

Please! We get those from you anyway! She waved, I don’t want that. I can’t take kisses to Willow Grove Mall and buy new clothes with them. I can’t take kisses to the hair salon and get my hair done with them. I can’t take kisses –

That’s right you can’t. That’s because they’re priceless. She smiled and tickled her daughter’s chin. Now, get to it! She laughed again.

Sabrina washed her hands and began to mix the ground beef and seasonings. The kitchen counters and kitchen table were covered with platters of fruit, fresh cut vegetables, bowls of salads, hot dog and hamburger buns, marinated chicken cuts and big bags of snacks and chips. Her dessert table was always a big display of all-time favorites like apple pie, blueberry pie, cherry pie and red-white-and-blue layer cake. The desserts were always very festive, very colorful and very delicious!

Every year, she singlehandedly fed her entire family and just about the whole street on Independence Day. And every year, the food and decorations got grander and bigger. Every year, new faces that she didn’t know showed up with someone or new neighbors came over. If she caught passers-by looking at the spread, she warmly invited them to the food. Sometimes people politely declined but complimented her on everything. Other times they gladly accepted a plate and walked off with food, drinks and sweets.

Life in one of the top ten largest cities in the country, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was always exciting on holidays. The colors of the cityscape changed vibrantly with the seasons. It is truly a tourist town and for every holiday there was a reason to travel to Philly.

One of the main attractions was Independence Day, and the city attracted people from all over the world. Steeped in history, there were so many attractions, free concerts with all the biggest names, museums and things to do for the July 4th holiday. On this week, people from all over the world converged onto the city to experience Chinatown, The Betsy Ross House, Olde City, The National Constitution Center and The Liberty Bell. They maxxed out the hotels, packed out the restaurants and jammed up the traffic to get their fill of history and concerts.

About 10 years ago, Sabrina decided that the Philadelphia natives in her family and neighborhood had grown restless and had seen all there is to see. Multiple times! Class field trips, family outings, or just showing their out-of-state relatives around…there was nothing new under the Philadelphia sun for them. She decided to start throwing big barbeques. The celebrations were open to whoever lived on the block or whoever was simply walking by. Neighbors should know each other, take care of each other and be a part of each other’s memories. That was the kind of spirit she grew up seeing and experiencing and it was time to bring all of that back.

Cooking for people was Sabrina’s joy. She would much rather be in her kitchen making fresh ground beef patties and shucking corn than navigating the crowded streets of Center City in 90 degree heat. She had no interest in walking behind slow-moving families that were decked head to toe in PHILADELPHIA paraphernalia, with cameras around their necks or camera phones taking snapshots of landmarks she’d seen a billion times. She smiled at the thought. Yes indeed, they can have all of that. She wished them well and hoped they had a safe, fun time in the big city, but she had no regrets. While they were stuffing their faces with those awful lunch cart hotdogs and eating Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks from places that Philadelphia residents never step foot in, she was making 6 different salads from scratch with all fresh ingredients and loving every moment.

Sabrina’s barbecues were a large undertaking, but she was good at planning and she loved throwing parties. She got much of what she needed on her employee discount: decorations, food, ingredients. It was a lot of effort on her part, and she felt it was her duty to let everyone know about her labor of love.

All she did was complain all week about how much time, money and energy she had to spend. Whenever someone suggested she skip the hosting, she got offended. This was her family tradition as well as her tradition in the community. The immediate family, the extended family, co-workers and friends in one place, dancing, eating, laughing. No drama. She prayed that there would be no violence in her neighborhood for one beautiful day.

Sabrina always cooked on the 4th of July no matter what day of the week it fell on, and everyone showed up hungry and walked out happy. It got to the point that her supervisor would schedule her that day off automatically and not even bother to wait for her to formally request the day off. He even asked her a couple of weeks in advance if she needed a day or two off before the holiday to prepare. She dared not skip a year. Cooking was her gift. She did it willingly and lovingly, but not without complaint. She made sure everybody was familiar with her sacrifice. She smiled to herself and started to season and tenderize steaks for the grill.

Philadelphia. She had never lived anywhere else. It had its problems just like any other major city, but she still loved it.

She hadn’t been alone with her thoughts for more than five minutes when she heard the front door open.

I don’t know how y’all can run around playing basketball in this heat! She shook her head. Ugh!

Sabrina’s words met her oldest son and his two best friends as they bounced into her kitchen talking and laughing loudly, covered in sweat like pigs.

Turning in the direction of the racket that her son and his friends were making, she said, Don’t y’all know we are in the middle of a heat wave?

Please, Mom! Carter reached up to help his mother pull down a box of onion soup mix. He opened it for her and poured it into a big bowl of hamburger meat. That’s like asking us how we can breathe in a heat wave…you just do it! Besides, we played inside this morning. At the Rec.

She slapped Carter’s hand. Boy you better wash your hands in my kitchen. You know better!

Hey Ms. Bree.

Hi Ms. Bree. Carter’s friends greeted her.

Mom, I told a few people from my job that they could get a grub here for the holiday, hope that’s cool. He put holiday in air quotes and Sabrina rolled her eyes. She knew what was coming.

I don’t know why we keep this up, this ain’t no black person’s holiday anyway. But because you ask me to, I still participate.

And because you’re greedy, you still eat. She laughed. And because you’re a ham, you still dance. And because you think you know everything, you still try to control the games. And because you –

I’m just trying to help you out! Carter laughed and started dribbling the basketball again. Jabron tried to steal the ball. El came over to defend Carter.

Sabrina hit his arm with a wooden spoon. Boy, get that filthy ball out of my kitchen! Get y’all nasty, sweaty butts up out of here and go out back and start the grill up for me. Before you do that, bring the chairs up from the basement. I asked Omar to bring them up earlier, but he…never got around to it.

Carter rolled his eyes. He leaned over and looked into the living room where Mr. Omar, Sabrina’s boyfriend, was sleeping soundly on the couch while his mother did all the work. As usual. What else was new? He didn’t even stir when they all came in. The little ones were toggling between running around and watching TV, taking advantage of Sabrina’s preoccupation with all the food. It looked like the wicker toy chests threw up in the living room. Omar was snoring like a freight train through all of it.

Didn’t get around to it? Man…what was that bum busy doing?

Carter…watch your mouth, Sabrina shot him a warning glance, and lower your voice."

Whatever, Mom. Come on y’all. he waved his friends to the basement.

Help me bring the chairs up.

Chapter 3

Pleasantly exhausted, Sabrina all but collapsed on her living room couch. She proudly rubbed her hands across it: brand new furniture, recently bought with cash: no financing. She was satisfied that the big Independence Day Barbeque was in full swing, so she put her feet up on her ottoman. It was large enough for about four people, complete with storage when you lifted the top. She leaned back as she listened to the DJ and the noise of loud talking and laughter fading into the background of her thoughts. She took one last glimpse of the scene through her kitchen window: the food, snacks, the energy and the drinks had everybody in the zone.

She fluffed out the wig she had chosen for the holiday’s festivities and closed her hazel brown eyes with satisfaction. A radiant shade of burgundy, long and wavy. Of course, in the heat of her constant motion, it wasn’t long before she tied it up and out of the way.

Satisfaction was a transient emotion for her, so she welcomed it when she felt it. Not many women set out in life to become a single mother, especially 7 times over. No woman sets out to have so many children before finishing an Associate’s Degree. No woman sets out to have children by different men…these things are not any young woman’s goals in life.

Being an unmarried – a never married – a never having even been asked to get married – mother had its challenges. The years on welfare, the struggling just to get through Community College, the government subsidy programs and all the indignities that those things came with, were all behind her now. She started at the bottom of the food chain of her job. She started as a part-time cashier and fought and scratched and worked her way all the way up to Supervisor and next on her radar was General Manager. The only thing that stopped her from applying for the position at the moment was that she knew the hours and schedule were all over the place. She knew that was a high-demand position and her youngest children were way too young.

And with Carter going to college soon…

Carter. College. Soon. This was happening! Her ace, her right-hand man, her oldest child, her world, was going away to college. Where did the time go?

She gave birth to him the year after she graduated high school. The first time he opened his eyes, they were very dark, and she thought that maybe he would have his father’s eyes. Over time, his eyes lightened to the same color as hers. Her parents were not too disappointed about her pregnancy: it was the fact that she was not married and there was no chance of marrying the father of the child. They were abysmally disappointed in the boy who was the father. Upon meeting him, her father new immediately that he was trouble. He knew he had bad intentions. He was not good enough for his daughter. He warned her to stay away from him. Of course, when a father warns his young daughter to stay away from a guy, he instantly becomes irresistible to her. Naturally, she wound up pregnant with his child and naturally, he fell off the face of the earth and was not a part of her life or Carter’s. She moved out into her own small, subsidized apartment around the time Carter turned two. Not too long after that she met another young man and not too long after that she was going to have another baby. This time, a baby girl. He hung around for a couple of years and then she realized that he had no intentions of ever keeping a job, ever paying a bill, ever being a dad or EVER being a husband.

And so the story goes...

Sabrina had the presence of mind to decide to be both mom and dad to her children whenever necessary. Sabrina was the provider and the comforter. She was the breadwinner and the bacon fryer. She decided after her second child was born that no matter what, her home would be stable, loving, organized