anyone to be homeless.”
“But I thought you said that many of them prefer to stay where they are, that they’re choosing to be homeless.”
“Yeah, but not all of them.” Trinity would never forget the time that she had found an opening at a woman’s shelter for Lucy. The woman had refused to go, claiming it was unsafe and that people would steal her stuff.
“That’s unbelievable. I can’t imagine choosing the streets over a warm bed.”
Trinity stood near the dresser, looking into the mirror. She pulled a lightweight sweatshirt over her head and exchanged her expensive watch for the one that she used when working in the yard.
“I want to have a place available to those who’ve fallen on hard times and do want to get off the streets.”
“And if anyone can do it, I know you can.” Connie slid off the bed and grabbed her large handbag from the chair near the window. “Is Jesse able to check on your peeps while you’re away?”
Trinity nodded with a hair clip between her teeth. She pulled back her hair and put it into a ponytail. Jesse was one of her old partners at the LAPD, a good friend, who often worked the area near Skid Row.
“Yeah, he said he’ll keep an eye on them while I’m away.”
“Okay, but in the meantime, you be careful down there.”
Trinity turned off the bedroom light and followed Connie out of the room and down the short hallway to the small living room area of her Hollywood Hills condominium. Trinity didn’t know what to expect with regard to where she’d be living when she went to Vegas, but she was definitely going to miss her cheery condo. During her time on the police force, most days she couldn’t wait to get home. She looked forward to her walls painted with bright colors, her large bay window that let in lots of sunlight, and most important, she loved the cozy environment that she had created. The intimate space kept her grounded...and sane.
“Do you still want me to pick you up at six in the morning?” Connie asked, standing at the door, her hand on the doorknob.
“Definitely, that should give me plenty of time to get to the airport and check my bags.”
“All right then, I’ll see you in the morning. Be safe out there.”
Forty-five minutes later, Trinity found a parking spot near San Pedro Street. She did a once-over of her attire, ensuring that she had remembered to leave anything of value at home. Most times when she visited, she didn’t have any problems, but every now and then some fool approached her thinking that she was an easy target. Just in case, she had a small handgun in her ankle holster and a Swiss Army Knife shoved down into the pocket of her jeans.
She climbed out of the car and grabbed the supplies that she had specifically brought for Lucy, Fred and Henry. Since the day they helped her catch a man who had robbed several Dollar Stores and killed two people, she had adopted them as family.
Trinity discretely put her finger under her nose. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to the smell of garbage and funk as she walked the short block to where her peeps hung out. Trash littered the area. A suffocating sensation tightened her throat as she wandered deeper into the throes of homeless people, noticing there were more of them than the last time she was there. Trinity stepped around a man who was stretched across the sidewalk, facedown, and prayed that he was alive. With the poor conditions, lack of food and nonexistent health care for them, it wasn’t uncommon for some to die right there on the street.
She spotted Fred and Henry first, wondering why Lucy wasn’t with them. It wasn’t until she got closer that she noticed someone lying on cardboard behind the makeshift card table they had set up.
“Well, if it isn’t our favorite cop,” Fred said, tossing the cards that were in his hands to the table and telling Henry to deal. They all knew she was no longer a cop, but still referred to her as one. “I was just thinking that it was about time we saw you.”
“I know. I was hoping to get here last week, but things have been a little busy.” She handed each of them a bag of toiletries, as well as some food. She set Lucy’s bags next to her shopping cart, which was sitting near her head and was spilling over with junk. Trinity glanced down at Lucy’s sleeping form. “How’s she been doing?”
The last time Trinity visited, Lucy was having hip trouble and could barely walk, but refused to seek medical attention.
“About the same,” Henry said. “She’s been sleeping a lot more, but says she’s fine.”
“Lucy,” Fred called out trying to wake her without taking his eyes off the recently dealt cards in his hands. “Trinity’s here to see you.” Fred winked at Trinity and she rewarded him with a smile.
Lucy removed the blanket that had been covering most of her face and head, but didn’t sit up. Trinity didn’t miss the dark circles beneath her eyes or how pale her café au lait complexion looked.
“What’s going on, Luce?” Trinity asked. She eased behind Fred’s crate and knelt down near her friend, feeling her forehead and then checking her pulse, which seemed a little fast. “Are you feeling okay?” Trinity helped her sit up, pushing the knit cap Lucy was wearing farther away from her face so that she could get a better look at her eyes.
Lucy swatted Trinity’s hand away. “Stop that. I feel fine. Besides, I told you to quit all that fussing over me. We’re going to have to find you a man so you can get married, have some babies and fuss over them.”
Trinity shook her head and smiled. She had to endure the marriage speech in various forms during every visit. Like many women, Trinity dreamed of the day she’d fall in love, get married and start a family, but she didn’t see the fantasy coming to fruition anytime soon.
Trinity studied her friend and concern welled up in her heart at how bad Lucy looked. Her health was clearly declining and Trinity would never forgive herself if she didn’t do everything she could for Lucy.
Just another reason why I need to get that shelter up and running.
Pulling out one of the bottled waters she’d brought, Trinity opened it and handed the bottle to Lucy, insisting that she drink from it. Lucy had once been married. Years ago, she had been a housekeeper for a wealthy family and enjoyed the work until she was accused of stealing. Anger bubbled inside Trinity every time she thought about the bad hand Lucy had been dealt. Instead of taking her word and basing their decision on Lucy’s commitment to their family, her employer terminated her without proving whether or not she’d stolen anything. Then, after a long period of unemployment, her husband eventually left her, taking the kids with him. That was twenty-some years ago and Lucy never forgave herself for not fighting to keep her children. Now they were grown, with kids of their own, and wanted a relationship with Lucy, but she refused. According to her, she didn’t want to be a burden to them, and nothing Trinity did or said could convince Lucy otherwise.
Trinity dug through the bag of food that she’d brought and pulled out a protein bar. “Why don’t you try eating something? I can tell you’ve lost some weight—making me even more concerned.”
Lucy pushed the bar away. “I told you that I was fine. Why don’t you pick on Fred or Henry?”
Right now Trinity’s main concern was getting Lucy some medical attention, but she had no idea how. She was leaving for Vegas in the morning and unless she was able to convince Lucy to go to the hospital at that moment, there was no telling when her friend would get some help.
Lucy looked away when her eyes met Trinity’s concerned ones. “I’m worried about you,” Trinity said in a low voice. “I can’t leave town knowing that you’re not well.”
“Trinity,” Lucy said in that tone that mothers, no matter the nationality, use to get their child’s attention. “I told you I was fine. Now give it a rest!”
“Luce, let me take you to the hospital.” Trinity ignored Lucy’s growing agitation. “I’m heading