Six -Aja - Lady of the Sun

I quickly descended the fire escape and released my fingers from the last rung, landing heavily. My feet hit the ground and bent my knees to absorb the eight foot fall. Physically I was fine but something was off.

Then it hit me like a freight train racing out of control at seventy miles an hour. Shit, I had just taken four lives without hesitation. My stomach would not settle. It felt so bad I staggered along the alleyway until the pain brought me to my knees. My stomach emptied with a violent expulsion, releasing food and liquid that left a foul taste in my mouth.

My mind replayed to deadly sequence over and over in her mind with a narrative voice asking myself 'why?'. Then the logic kicked in for me, I was protecting my father and his ideals. He was fighting for people who deserved a better fate in their lives. He tried to set things right for these women who were abused and the displaced.

The logic seemed to have a calming effect on my stomach for the most part but not completely. I am not sure if I will ever get over this. I quickly realized that I could no longer be that carefree music loving free spirit I had been just minutes ago. I may have been angry at the world but I soon realized I was far more disappointed in myself.

With my head buried in my hoodie I heard the sirens becoming louder and with the multiplying of police units it sounded as if the entire city force were on their way. I had to get moving. I popped my head from my hoodie. "Dad!" I called out, scrambled to my feet, and fled with purpose down the alleyway.

Shit, the police lights were flashing in the night and were about to turn into the same alleyway. Someone from the dark yanked me into a dim, dingy, musty smelling room. The same person closed the door quickly so they would not draw attention from the approaching police. My dad called out in the darkness. "Kiddo?"

"Dad!" I was relieved to hear his voice. I always felt comforted hearing my dad call me, Kiddo. He's alive and safe, for now. Then I heard more voices than I expected to hear. "Aja?"

"Yes. I am here." Aja's beautiful vibrato resonated as she spoke. I bet she used to sing. What a thought to have in the middle of a life changing night.

"There are more?" I could sense many racing hearts present. The presence of fear becane audible with the shallow breathing of the young women.

"All my friends are here." Aja happily replied without giving a firm number. "We will not rot in prison here." With defiance in her voice she had the others believing.

"Market agreed to get you home." I announced thinking I would hear jubilation but heard the women collectively gasp. "What?"

Aja spoke clearly. "She will never allow us to be free." No wonder the gasp of disbelief from the ladies.

I tried to keep hope for the ladies. "She must or else she will die like her bodyguards." The women fell silent.

My father did not expect those words from his only daughter. "Kiddo, what are you saying?" I knew I disappointed him. His voice felt like a dagger slipping into my heart. I could feel I am dead to him. What have I done?

I sat silently in the darkness gathering my thoughts. Then I spoke to my father. "They were there to kill you. I could not let that happen." That was it for my explanation. Even I had to figure out the rest of the why.

I know my father felt the guilt of dragging his only child into this world. With the glint of light from some far off street lamp I noticed dad sink back into Aja's healing embrace. His heavy breath made me feel he believed he destroyed my future. The leader of the People looked too weak to fight with me as he slipped back into silence knowing he would be called upon soon enough.

Three hours passed and the police activity in the alleyway came to an end. Aja let me in on the common knowledge that "people" in this part of the district were not high on the priority list for anyone. When bodies show up, the authorities simply call the morgue to collect the bodies. And in this case the windows and doors were boarded up and the group left doing the bare minimum of policing. Case closed. Gone.

I slivered the door open and checked the alleyway for signs of police activity. There were prostitutes hanging clothes out to dry and others taking there trash out after a night of work. The normal activity of the area made me feel secure in leaving the room and motioned for the other occupants to join me. I could see leaving the room proved to be a difficult sell but they chose to exit in their own time.

All that Aja owned in this country were behind boards though she did not appear sad by any account. The tall woman turned to me again countering her beliefs that Market would never help them get home. "Jordan, that woman will never help my friends." The mistakes keep mounting for me.

"Kiddo, she may have agreed just to survive another day." Dad surprisingly stood and somewhat walk. "Let's get a cab." He looked like crap and there is no way I could drag him around the city and do what needed to be done.

"Jimmy, are you able?" Aja spoke in a motherly manner as she looked my dad over.

"Kiddo, I will need your sunglasses. That sun is going to kill me!" He shaded his eyes from the morning light. He looked like death warmed over.

"The sun is gonna kill you?" I know my sarcasm was felt by my father. "I know where Trader will be in two hours. I need to get going."

"Hang on, Kiddo. We need to call Windy right now!" Dad patted his jacket to locate his mainframe cellphone. "Crap." Yeah, crap. In full sunlight I could see damage on my father. His clothes in tatters, his face swollen and his left hand looked like he was in a fight with a brick wall. Trader left him for dead.

"Looking for this?" I dangled his cellphone in front of his face. Then directed his attention to his savior. "Thank Aja."

"Beautiful and intelligent. Thank you." My father bowed the best he could. What the hell was that?

"Why did you just bow to Aja?" I had to question my father's actions.

He gave one of his wry smiles. Then found an old box to sit on before he let me and the 'ladies of the sun' in on what only he knew. "Aja, is not from Ghana." He shook his head. "She grew up in there, but her parents are Nigerian." He looked up at a very surprised Aja and smiled. "You are a descendant of the Yorubas and you were named after the African goddess Aja. You may not be a mythical goddess but you are a leader." My father paused to stretch his back then continued. "Your parents called me after the trader returned. I am not to leave hear without you."

Aja disagreed vehemently. "I will not leave my friends! My sisters! I stay until we are all safe. I will not go with you!" The beautiful woman showed pride, honor and defiance even with all the uncertainty.

Just then another 'lady of the sun' returned. "Market is dead! Market is dead!" No jubilation could be found in her voice. Truth be told the young woman looked frightened. That is the power Market had on her sex workers.

"Crap!" My heart sank. Mistake are adding up for me faster than a gambler on a bad streak.

"She killed herself." The young woman added.

"I guess she thought the task would be too big." I really felt for Market. I believed she could have made things right. "What now?" I felt defeat for the 'ladies of the sun'. Another hard lesson for me.

But there is a wild card seated on an old box and he made his voice known. "That is where I am of use." My dad put Windy on speakerphone. "Win? You're looking gorgeous this morning!" He laughed. I frowned. Dude you are married to Allyson!

"It's afternoon, brainiac." Windy fell silent for a moment because I could only imagine she really cared for this old goat. "But it is good to hear your gravelly, Clint Eastwood voice. How can I help?" She spoke as if she knew exactly what was going on.

"Kiddo? It was your plan to get these women back home. Tell, Windy that plan." Dad tossed his phone to me, then stated, "my head is pounding!"

I had to lecture him. I know, I'm an idiot! I can only imagine how I looked and sounded. "Does Ally know about Windy? You never said two words about Windy and you!" Then I heard Windy calling me.

"Kiddo! Kiddo!" Windy was yelling so she could explain.

"Yeah?" I answered while pointing and giving dad my angry death stare. If he were able to laugh, I am sure he would have been in stitches.

"Jordan...Kiddo. We are old friends. I once took a book from the university library and my penance was helping your thick headed father. Are we cool?" Windy waited for me.

"We're cool." I rolled my eyes and released my dad from my death stare. I could see a 'you idiot' smile from my father. Then I let Windy in on my fricken brilliant idea. Crap! "I had an agreement with Market to get these ladies home. But she killed herself. Now there is no money and the ladies are homeless, penniless and looking at me like I am crazy. Any ideas?"

I heard Windy blow a raspberry into the air. "They're right, you are crazy!" She laughed. "But you will find, I like crazy. Look at your father!" Dad did look crazy. It must be in the genes.

Hearing Windy speak about my father the way she did eased suspicions of the two be romantically involved. "So, any ideas?" I tried to give my dad the, 'I am idiot' look and he almost killed himself laughing.

"Your father never talked about me because we were involved." My lower jaw dropped. Windy waited but I offered my silence. "Okay, here's the quick and painfree version. Windy 101. I, being an idiot, fell for your dad's puppy dog eyes. Trust me he has them. But our ships sailed different in directions, romantically. And yes, Ally and I have talked. Now we have talked. Are we good, Kiddo?"

Still in shock here. Someone actually thought dad had puppy dog eyes. But if Ally knows then I have to be good with this. Right? "Yeah, we're good."

"Okay, next level Windy. I am the go-to when you are in need of any information. If it was written or whispered, I will find it. Airline tickets, I am your girl. Smack upside your head when you are delusional, ask your dad, and anything in between. Got it?" From the deep pit I was looking up from, I thought Windy was the second coming.

"Ah, yeah." Just then a lightbulb flickered on. I looked at Dad, tapped the speakerphone off, then spoke to Windy. "So, tickets, eh?"

"Oh, you must be the daughter of that nutty Canadian. Yes! I can get you a ticket anywhere in the world!" Windy waited for me to answer. "Are you still there, Kiddo?"

I walked away from the group to speak of a delicate matter. "Win, I just killed four of Market's men. My fingerprints were on her army knife." I was screwed and I knew it. How could I be so stupid?

"Let me check the local police reports, Kiddo. Madame Market, aka Elise Dupont. Aka plus one, Iron Lady! Got it. Ahhhhh, uh huh, right." Windy read ahead a bit before relaying the report to me. I was dying right there!

"There are three reports from the Homicide department and looks like four more reports from the first responders that were cut and pasted. Identical and most definitely typical for the classy, upscale area you are in."

"Come on Win...sorry, Windy." I apologized.

"No, no Win is good. And I don't usually read aloud, so bare with me, Kiddo. How about the Coles Notes version?" Windy offered but her slow delivery felt like Market's dagger toying with my mind.

I kicked an old empty crate and Windy heard it crash into the building. "Chill, Kid. Here goes. Five dead, four men, one woman. The men were apparently killed by the woman who then slit her own throat. Self-defense / suicide. The Homicide Department already stamped it...Case Closed." Both Windy and Jordan breathed a sigh of relief. "Now you see what they think about that neighborhood. Oh this gets even better. Body video of the officer in charge of evidence just tossed the goods in the dumpster. Check the dumpster!"

"What in the hell? Really?" I checked the dumpster to find a black garbage bag. I ripped it open and found the knife. I wiped it down then jammed it into a seam of the metal dumpster and snapped the handle off. Tampering with evidence, fuck me! How deep will I get?

I refocused. "Now to get to the Trader at the train station. Get these women home and Dad needs medical attention." I listed my wants to Windy like a Christmas letter to Santa.

"Screw Trader Bob! Your father needs attention, I will get our Brussel's contacts to help. As for the ladies. Ah, leave that with me. I will use Elise's money to get them home."

"I want the Trader, Win." There is no way this guy gets away. I looked at my father and was ready to kill again. What have I become?

"Okay, leave the cellphone with your father I can keep track of him if he has it. The Brussels contacts will help your father and hide the ladies until they can leave the country. Anything else, Kiddo?" Of course there is!

"Yeah, I need a cab. Not just any cab. His cab number is 1748. His first name is Jean. Think you can do that?" I wanted the same cabbie. "I think he he will be surprised to see me alive."

"Whatever floats your boat. You've got it. I will send my contact information to your cellphone so you can stay in contact with your net." With that said Windy was gone, I get the feeling she hates saying goodbye.

I walked back to my dad and handed the cellphone to Aja. My father still held his swollen head in his hands. "Contacts will be here soon. Aja, tell the girls they must go with them to stay safe until the tickets are ready." The ladies looked shocked but hope was actually visible in their smiles.

I crouched to look at my father. "Win, is sending your local contacts, Dad. I am off for the Trader."

Dad raised his head and spoke softly. "Alone? No way!" He tried to stand but Aja caught the man and helped him sit back down.

"It will be better this way. He has no idea who I am." I raised an eyebrow.

"Keep it that way!" Dad was fighting every word but made sure he could spit out four more before collapsing. "And no more killing!" He was out again. Those locals better get here soon.

"Aja." I looked at the young woman but was gently interrupted.

"Go, your father will be safe." Like a mother protecting its young and I felt at ease. I ran to the end of the alleyway looking for cab 1748 and Jean, aka, Mr. Cranky.