Page 37 of Salvation

The case file on the package from Hope’s office earlier is tossed on the front seat along with the Mascareni file and various other unsolved, though similar, cases that have Gabrial’s signature all over them. I’ll put them in the trunk when I arrive at the shelter.

I’m heading away from the station and into the old neighborhood to pick Hope up. She never responded with what we were doing tonight, but I’m not surprised. I’m sure she got lost doing something or another there. She’s practically married to the shelter, but her care and dedication have it running smoother than it ever has before. Since she took it over, she’s helped more people, and turned more lives around, than anyone thought possible.

I pass the church where we used to spend so much time and see all the cars parked in the lot. It’s Thursday night, so it’s the weekly men’s group meeting. Hope’s dad still runs a lot of the community programs over there, just like he did when we were children. The church is actually only three blocks from the shelter.

Hope comes by her giving nature and desire to help the less fortunate naturally. I have the same drive, though I’m more into making sure the law is followed and clearing the streets of the guns, narcotics, and criminals that multiply like street rats.

I’m the rule follower. Hope is the humanitarian. And Gabrial is the crime lord. Three people from the same place that all chose different paths.

I’m a firm believer in absorbing everything around you and becoming the best person you can be with what you’re given, rather than holding grudges and allowing your environment to define you. I’m a believer of the white.

Hope is the dreamer who wants to help everyone and is willing to bend the rules if she can save more people that way. She’s a believer in the gray.

And Gabrial… he’s the one that forges his own rules. He listens to no one but knows that hard work can bring riches even if the riches come at the expense of those willing to hurt themselves to gather them. He understands the rules he makes and expects those around him to follow them, but society and right and wrong are blurred for him. He’s the believer of the black.

I see Noah Delayne, Hope’s father, walking from his car to the meeting hall carrying boxes as I stop at the light. He looks up and waves when he sees me. I wave back and watch as he continues on his way. He’s a good man. Generous and always willing to give second chances… or third if you can prove you’re trying. He doesn’t believe anyone is a hopeless case.

I admire that, but I also worry that one day he’ll give the wrong person too many chances and suffer the consequences because of it.

The church is in the middle of the neighborhood. A community center is also around the corner and right across the street from Mother’s Love Deli. The shelter is within three blocks of all three. These four structures are the heart of this neighborhood and a beacon of hope for those that live here.

I turn onto the street that leads up to the shelter and watch as a group of young boys play basketball in the street in front of their houses. I wave to them as I park next to Hope’s car, and they call out to me, “Hey, Luke. Wanna play?”

I call back, “Not tonight, guys. I have a hot date with a pretty lady. Next time though, okay?”

They all whoop and holler as they call out, “Miss Hope is pretty alright. How’d a guy that looks like you get a date with a lady as fine as her anyway?”

Laughing along with them, I call out in good natured cheer. “It’s all in the way you treat them, fellas. Treat them with respect and shower them with affection. That’s the secret.”

They nod and continue with their game. Walking to the door, I try the handle and smile as I see it’s locked.

Good girl.

I look through the glass and see Davey sitting on the couch looking at his phone, but Hope isn’t up there. I guess she’s in her office or the back. I knock. Davey’s head whips up, but his face relaxes as he sees who’s at the door. He stands and crosses over to the desk, pressing the button to unlock it. A second later, the door opens, and he holds it so I can slip in. I make certain it locks behind me and look around. “Hope in her office?”

He shakes his head. “No. She went to the back about five minutes ago. Said she wanted to make sure everyone was good to go for the night before she headed out.”

Nodding, I head to hallway that leads to the back. Turning my head, I notice he’s just standing there. Gesturing in front of me, I say, “You coming or are you heading out?”

His eyes widen briefly and then he asks, “You think it’s okay that I go back there? I’m a man and they don’t know me.”

I nod with newfound respect for him. He’s concerned that his appearance might frighten the battered women and children. “Yeah, you’re with me and they do know me. They know I’d never bring anyone that’s a danger to them back there.”

Smiling broadly, he follows me to the back. “Cool. I like kids.”

I look him over. He’s covered in tattoos and gives off the aura of someone who can fuck shit up if need be, but he’s always been courteous when we’ve crossed paths and is not like a lot of the other men that Gabrial employs. Of course, he’s usually just driving Gabrial around as far as I know.

And I know everyone who works for Gabrial. That’s my job. I also ran a background check on him earlier when I heard that he was going to be hanging around Hope.

A few small, petty crimes, but nothing major and nothing dangerous on his record.

I punch in the code for the lock, and it clicks as it unlocks to grant us access. Hope gave me the code a few years back as a safety precaution so I could get in here if the need ever arose. Times like this when she’s locked in the back, it comes in handy.

We walk down the hallway and pass the bunk room. It’s relatively empty since it’s only 7PM, though a couple of women are sitting with small children on the beds. They smile timidly as they see me pass. The next door is closed, but it’s always closed as it’s the bathroom and the showers are in there. We pass the daycare room next, and I peek in to see if that’s where Hope is. It’s empty other than a couple of children playing with some cars on the mat. The kitchen is right across the hall and there’s a lot of noise and chatter coming from in there. It’s dinner time.

Popping my head around the doorjamb, I glance in. It smells like chili and cornbread in here. Women and children are all at tables, either quietly talking as they eat or full out laughing.

It’s nice to see them so relaxed after all they’ve been through. Davey sees Maia and her son sitting at a table with another woman and young girl and he walks over to them. Maia smiles at him shyly as he approaches and gestures to the seat next to her.

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