Chapter 88: Mother
Chief Weideke didn't leave until the early morning hours. The Homicide Team detectives were still working feverishly, feeling the heavy pressure of the Chief's personal attention.
When Wenner returned, Bernie and Theodore were discussing investigation results with the team. He retreated to his office, opened a drawer, and fumbled around for a long time, finding only a handful of empty candy wrappers.
The next day, Theodore and Bernie returned to the black community. With the black patrol officer's assistance, they located the address where the deceased had been registered.
It was an old single-occupancy apartment building, just two streets from the community school.
After confirming the room number multiple times, Bernie jimmied open the door.
The apartment layout was simple, like an enlarged motel room. Except for a separate bathroom, the living room, bedroom, and kitchen occupied a single space.
Theodore stopped the patrol officer from entering, producing gloves and shoe covers for him.
The room's first impression was its cleanliness. Aside from an unmade bed and pants by the door, the entire space looked as if no one lived there.
Bernie ran his finger along the floor but found no dust. He held up his clean finger and looked at Theodore in surprise.
"Someone must come to clean regularly," Theodore assessed, stepping into the room and heading straight for the trash can.
Inside were several crumpled pieces of scratch paper. When unfolded, they revealed football tactical diagrams.
After examination, Bernie confirmed these were preliminary tactics the Free Fighters had used in their final game.
Theodore opened the bedside drawer and found more scratch paper. Besides tactical diagrams, there were training records, occasional opponent analyses, and strategic ideas for the Free Fighters.
Beneath these papers lay a photograph, a group shot of Leroy and the deceased.
Theodore handed the photo to the patrol officer and asked about their relationship.
The officer hesitated before explaining that the deceased had always taken special care of Leroy, treating him to meals, buying equipment and cleats. Leroy had respected the coach greatly and listened to him intently.
Many people joked that Leroy was the deceased's illegitimate son.
Bernie thought of the field incident and Leroy's disparaging comments yesterday, his expression growing strange.
Theodore also remembered Leroy, not just his disparagement, but his habit of saying "Coach said" in every other sentence.
He guessed that Leroy was raised by his mother alone.
The patrol officer confirmed this, adding that many people here didn't even know who their fathers were.
Theodore handed the photo to Bernie, who placed it in an evidence bag with the papers.
Opening the wardrobe, Theodore found underwear, socks, pants, and jackets neatly organized by category. He finally checked the bathroom and confirmed only one person lived there.
Leaving the deceased's home, they went to the hospital. The number of guards had more than doubled since yesterday.
Under the silent stares of these watchers, they entered and reached the floor where injured team members were housed. Here, they were stopped.
The patrol officer argued with the lead gang member at the corridor's end before they were permitted to pass.
The patrol officer's face was grim as he explained in a low voice: last night, white attackers had assaulted the gang leader and nearly stabbed him to death.
Theodore asked if anyone had died. Receiving a negative answer, he lost interest in the matter.
When they reached Leroy's ward, his mother was present, a voluptuous woman helping Leroy toward the bathroom.
Leroy limped against the wall. Seeing the three men enter, his tone dropped and he stiffly pushed his mother away: "No need, I can do it myself."
The patrol officer stopped the woman, who was still trying to help, and made introductions.
Learning Theodore and Bernie's identities, the woman became immediately wary:
"Leroy is the one who got hurt. He didn't do anything."
Leroy, who'd been heading to the bathroom, seemed embarrassed by his mother's behavior and hobbled back. He pushed her aside, sat on the bed, and asked with forced adult seriousness: "What do you want from me again?"
Bernie and the patrol officer were already breathing heavily in the tense atmosphere.
Theodore asked why he'd called the deceased a "traitor, a liar, who betrayed their trust."
Leroy's words echoed yesterday's response. However, as he spoke, his eyes kept darting toward his mother.
These glances were so obvious that even Bernie and the patrol officer noticed the unusual behavior.
Theodore acted as if he saw nothing. He produced one of the calling cards and asked Leroy if he'd seen it at the deceased's place.
Leroy's face twisted with mockery: "He just likes these white bitches. He said they do things in bed..."
He spoke loudly, mixing in vulgar and insulting language.
"Shut up!" His mother suddenly slapped him on the head.
This woman, who'd always appeared meek, finally revealed the side that matched her imposing physique.
She gripped Leroy's head with one hand like a toy, placed the other on her hip, and stood tall with chest out like a proud rooster:
"I did sleep with Amos! So what!"
"Which woman in this community hasn't slept with him?"
"If I didn't sleep with him, how would I raise you?"
"Do you think it's easy raising something like you!"
"You're still living in my house! If I hear those words again, get out!"
Her voice boomed, echoing throughout the entire floor. The previously noisy corridor fell silent.
Theodore mentally compared her to Cahill and decided she was slightly inferior, Cahill could make his shouting heard throughout the entire precinct.
Leroy's face flushed red. Feeling humiliated, he stood and pushed his mother, but the patrol officer intervened.
He flailed his arms and legs, shouting and cursing, until the patrol officer slapped him and he collapsed to the floor.
"She is your mother!" the officer sternly rebuked.
Leroy knew the patrol officer's authority. He didn't dare meet his eyes and turned toward the door, where several gang members had gathered to watch the commotion. Their faces were now stern, expressions cold.
Feeling wronged, Leroy looked up at his mother. Her eyes held only disappointment, and she made no move to help him up.
Theodore sensed the moment was right. He had Bernie escort Leroy away, then produced the photograph and handed it to the mother:
"Is Leroy Amos Williams's illegitimate son?"
The woman took the photo, examined it, returned it, and calmly nodded: "He's just like his father, doesn't understand responsibility at all."
The patrol officer looked between the woman and Theodore, utterly shocked.
__________________
Check out more than 65+ chapters right now! 🔥
👉 patreon.com/Mr UmU
https://www.patreon.com/Mr_UmU
__________________