SUGAR - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

"He didn't go back to Charlotte. You just dumped a lot of shit on him. Let him process it," Drew said attempting to calm me down as I paced back and forth.
"He's been gone for 3 hours, Drew!" I yelled. "He didn't even say anything, he just left. He doesn't even come to Houston often. Where else would he go?"
The front door suddenly opened and my dad walked in holding DJ. I stopped pacing and just stood watching him, waiting for him to say something. He placed DJ on the floor before walking back over to the couch, taking a deep breath as he sat down.
"You're still here."
"Of course I'm still here. Just went to a bar and had a few drinks to process everything."
"I'm sorry for dumping all of that on you at once."
"Why didn't you just tell me about the scholarship?" he asked calmly.
"I didn't want to disappoint you."
"Jordyn, surprisingly I'm more upset at the fact that you hid that from me than anything else. You know you can talk to me about anything and I will fix it."
"I can't always come to you to pick up the pieces when I mess up. I got myself into trouble so I got myself out."
"And look where that's gotten you. In deeper shit that you need me to get you out of. Regardless of your intentions that's a dangerous lifestyle. You weren't raised to know how to navigate that environment. Your mom and I made sure of that."
"I managed pretty well. Paid for my entire junior year and I have the money for fall semester without anyone's help."
"So what are you going to do for spring? I'm assuming they denied your appeal. What's your plan to get out of this, Jordyn?"
I sat down on the sofa, putting my head in my hands as I cried. My dad kneeled down in front of me, lifting my face and wiping tears from my cheeks.
"I'm sorry. That didn't come out the way I wanted. We'll worry about that later. We have a bigger issue to deal with. While I was out I made a few phone calls. The state has been trying to build a case against Slim for a few months now for distribution and some other shady activity but they're struggling to gather enough evidence. Is there anything you know that could help with the case?"
"No. I didn't even know he sold drugs. I thought he made his money through operating an underground sex club."
"They believe that's a front for drug activity. In order for them to give him hard time, the charges have to stick. There can't be any circumstantial evidence. Have you ever heard him speaking to anyone in code?"
"No, I wasn't around him a lot honestly. Twice at the club I worked at and maybe 2 or 3 times after that before I came to Charlotte."
"If it would help the case, would you be willing to talk to him or even meet up with him again?"
"Respectfully sir, I don't think that's a good idea," Drew chimed in.
"Anything to keep him away from my daughter is a good idea."
"I'll do it," I spoke up. "I'll do whatever it takes to get rid of him."
"Jordyn, are you sure?" Drew asked, grabbing my hand. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"And I don't want anything to happen to either of us," I said looking at him then my dad. "What do I need to do?"
"I'll call the lead detective over and he'll ask you some questions. Just cooperate the best way you can."
An hour later ...
"Has he ever done anything suspicious around you?" Detective Jackson asked as we spoke privately on the balcony.
"The only thing I can think of is once when we were together he got a phone call from a woman panicking on the other line and he left in a hurry. Another time he mentioned having guests over for a meeting at The Dungeon but I'm not sure if its relevant or not."
"Do you think you can get him to tell you about the phone call?"
"I'm not sure. I wouldn't even know how to bring it up so he wouldn't get suspicious."
"Would you be comfortable wearing a wire so we can listen in on the conversation?"
"Absolutely not. If I'm going to meet up with him to get information I have to dress as I usually would or he'll suspect something."
"I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but would you be willing to follow through on the offer so we can add solicitation charges?"
"Willing? No. Especially not for money that would be kept as evidence."
"We're doing each other a favor, Ms. Powell. You'll be compensated by the state for any distress you're under during this investigation. Scratch our back and we'll scratch yours."
"Since you put it that way, I need a favor."
"Sure, go ahead."
"He has a cousin here. Just recently moved back and started working with him to make a living. I'm not sure the extent of what they do but I know it's illegal. If he gets caught in the crossfire, I want the best plea deal offered to him in exchange for my testimony."
"What's his name? We'll keep an eye out for him."
"I can't give you a full name at the moment but if he gets picked up I'll let you know who he is."
"I'll see what I can do with the DA. Until then, if you have any information you have my card. Please don't hesitate to call for any reason."
"Thank you, Detective," I said, escorting him back inside.
I sat on the couch next to Drew and DJ as my dad walked Detective Jackson outside.
"Everything okay?" Drew asked, wrapping his arm around me as I leaned against him.
"Far from okay. I didn't think any of this would happen."
"But it is and I'm proud of how you're handling it. You can't try to fix everything on your own, JoJo, it's okay to ask for help."
"I should've just been honest from the beginning. I ruined our relationship, I put us in danger, and I could potentially ruin my dad's campaign."
"Hey," he said turning my head to face him. "I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere. We'll get through this like we do everything else. You'll graduate, we'll get married, we'll start our family, everything we planned 2 years ago will still happen."
He gave me a kiss as my dad came back inside.
"I have to go back to Charlotte to meet with my campaign manager. Do you want me to send someone here to guard you?"
"No, I don't want to draw attention just in case."
"I'll stay here with her and make sure everything is good," Drew added.
I got up to hug my dad and walk him to the door.
"I'm proud of you, baby girl," he said, kissing my forehead. "I'll pop in as I can but if you need anything you call me no matter what it is."
"I will. I'm sorry all of this happened."
"It's not your fault. I don't plan on saying anything to your mother and when this is over we never speak of this again. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
He hugged me once more and shook Drew's hand before leaving.
"Come on, baby," Drew sighed. "Let's watch a movie or something to get your mind off everything."
We went back to the couch to cuddle and watch a movie with DJ sitting in my lap as I laid against Drew. A text came through on my phone from the same unsaved 281 number that I had been dreading seeing come across my screen.
Did you make a decision or do I have to make one for you?
"Whatever you decide," Drew said, reading the message with me.
can i meet you tomorrow night around 9?
Smart girl. I'll see you then.