~ SHEILA ~
Mrs. Lori never made that call. Pete and I privately ran by her building for three weeks. Apparently the girl's names were Michelle and Heather; both senior year students at Berklee. They said the same thing their mother said-or rather their mother schooled them to say when we harassed them without notice on campus. Their statements could give a big break to this case.
After running through Tracy's deleted chats-yes that's all it was, just chats, no phone calls, voice notes, video call records, nothing. Whoever this man was married to, she was one hell of a threat for Tracy to be this discrete. Their permanent meeting point was her place. No outdoor meet-ups as well. To think I knew her...
Mrs. Lori did answer the questions. She answered strategically. Michelle and Heather were the neighbourhood gossips. Gist like that won't escape them. They were also the social butterflies that kept the youth of that block. The private investigator we hired to watch their every move found a whole lot of shit we could use. Apparently, Mrs Lori's nonchalance towards her environments extended even to her own home; one of the girls was two months gone for her lecturer and contemplating on terminating or keeping it, apparently blackmailing the guy out of huge sums of cash and free passes. I doubt she's even pregnant. The other-Heather was knee-deep in coke.
"So how are we gonna to do this?" Pete stared at the steel gate waiting to spot them.
"We could offer Heather a pro bono".
"And give her mother the opportunity of running by us to claim illegal arrests without a warrant, not ever. That woman has a wit and she isn't afraid to use it".
"We don't need a warrant, there's prove. What's this really about?"
"There's no need to be that extreme, they're just girls"
"What's your suggestion then?"
"Michelle has more things to loose".
We spotted them descending the stair case in the mix of other company. For their own sake, I hope they are cooperative this time.
Pete chuckled turning to me in the driver's seat. He stared at me for a while as if counting the features on my face.
"Is it this same weather that I'm under or is this small murder case giving you constant hot flashes?"
"I've been having terrible headaches for quite a while. Anyways, I've always had them."
"No you didn't".
Deja vu hit again. The sudden reminder that we had history made the atmosphere awkward or at least for me. The accomplished look on Pete's face shows that statement was intentional. His face was flushed. It had occasionally been that way for the pasts three weeks. We had been spending a lot of time together following the Shanon girls and he had certainly been using this as an opportunity to re-ignite something that shouldn't happen. The constant side remarks and little slangs here and there from our pasts made me uncomfortable. Things were even getting physical; Unpleasant hand brushes here and there and sensual body countenance that will depict more to an on-looker than it should really mean. This is exactly the reason why I didn't want to work with him.
"Yes I did. You didn't know everything about me back then Pete".
"I certainly knew your medical history and most especially your body..."
That statement took me aback. He knew exactly what he was doing. A sly smile curved at the corner of his lips as he continued "to know that you don't sweat that much, you never did"
"Well I do now. I will call Ben to get me some drugs. It's probably a fever; this case has been stressing me out. In the meantime, if you're done reminiscing about what you knew, the Shanon girls will soon get away.
...
"You guys got to be kidding me. You can't take no for an answer and just fuck off!" Heather was the rude one-as expected, the coke gave her the guts.
"Unfortunately Miss Shanon we didn't come here for you. We came for Michelle."
Heather turned to her sister having a worried look on her face then proceeded to raising her voice again at us.
"Anything you want from her, you can ask me as well and get shit stuck in your head, we ain't giving you shit so just get the fuck-off!!"
"You heard the girl old lady, fuck off...... "! One of the 'company', I talked about earlier moved to intimidate me with his six foot height and infuriating scent from whatever crap he was smoking that he blew in my face. Did this spoil brat just call me old? What an irony. Did he keep a mirror? Years of rotten lungs and tattoos made him look like a fifty year old than the typical twenties in College.
Michelle on the other hand, stood triumphantly in her clique spanking gum in her mouth in a slutty manner while sizing up Pete.
"There won't be any need for that young man". Pete stepped in.
"We promise Michelle. This is for your own good as well as ours. We won't take up much of your time, we promise. We will be fast. Five minutes"
"Hey men, she said FUC-"
"It's ok BAD ROCK, the man said five minutes" she said slyly as she sluttly sent her tongue into the mouth of another ruggedly looking dude standing next to her. Mrs Lori was in trouble and I liked it.
"I ain't going to no station. It ain't no criminal and we have a party soon so any where we gonna do this, should be around this streets"
"You could follow us to the car" Pete said moving his hand to the direction of the VMW parked in their parking space. At this point, I was already tired of them. It was exciting to know witty Mrs Righteous was facing similar troubles at home, so much for the sermon about closing your legs.
"You can follow us to the car"
"I will follow anywhere daddyyyyy...."
Without realizing it, I rolled my eyes. How old were these kids? They need to be placed on a leash.
"Ok so what's this about again?"
"It's about the case." Pete asked as she gave a frustrated sigh.
"Honestly, you can't take a hint can you? We don't know shit. All we know is that bitch use to run by these niggas in their numbers. That was common knowledge"
"Well the other neighbours didn't say so". I cut in trying to put some dignity on my friend's image.
"The other neighbours ain't vigilant."
"Vigilant! Or maybe they just have more important things to do than skipping lectures and fucking around with teachers to pass tests". In as much as she struggled to keep up her confident posture, she visibly recoiled at that revelation. Yes arrogant bitch, we got you by the necks.
"Ok you got me but I have said what I know. She kept a lot of men. That's all I know, honestly"
"On the day of the murder, did you happen to see any of the people who came in. from morning to night"?
"I saw one guy come in....as CCTV should tell you..."
Ok, I was losing my patience. I pulled out my Samsung.
"What is she doing? Calling the corps on me for not doing your work properly"!
"Calling Mr Cortex. Apparently, I will like to tell him how one of his brightest students actually gets those A's".
"You ain't got shit"!
"You wanna bet, I ran by the hospital to get your real pregnancy tests results. Imagine the relief Mr Melody's bank account and reputation will receive after that little gist. Not to talk of what he can frame you for as your punishment to the board? Do you really think colleagues in his line of work will rule in your favour? Moreover I think Heather's unhealthy addiction to that shit y'all are on can be bad for school cred and very attractive to prison. So save yourself all that trouble and cooperate. We are going to go over those questions again and you're going to answer like the prim young lady you are." She swallowed visibly scared now. I finally got her attention. Good.
"On the day of that murder, March 16th 2022, if you can recall like I know you can-who entered her house from morning till night? Lists them"
She looked at me for a moment then exhaled while shrugging her shoulders. She's finally going to crack.
"I wasn't at home all day. I came by at five. Her boyfriend or at least one of them came by around that time and they got into a heated argument....as usual. She kicked him out... shortly after the other nigga came in"
"What other nigga and how did he come in? CCTV didn't show that"
"CCTV ain't Jesus. It ain't everywhere. Did your guys ever bother checking the backyard? That's how he usually came in".
"Why would he need a back door?" Pete asked
"That dude definitely locked in or has a serious aggressive girlfriend!"
"You say he came by frequently?" I added
"For months... Nigga had a time table. 9p.m on a normal day and 9:30 to 10 when he was late. They seemed more serious than the once that entered through the front door. All that effort just to cheat that must be some good ass pussy"
"It's been going on for months right? So you have a visual representation of him. Could you describe him?"
Pete took out a jotter and a pen from the glove compartment.
"Bitch I ain't got time for this ok, I got a party to go to"
"Excuse me!"
"He ran by at 9.pm. Ma'am, you really expect me to know how he looks."
What was the sudden aggression for?
"There are streets lights on that way Michelle. The fact that you knew a guy permanently enters her house using the backdoor for months even at that time means you know how he looks. Cut the crap and let's be done with this"
There was an uncomfortable amount of tension coupled with waiting in the vehicle. What was that look on her face? Was it fear? I almost wanted to beat the answer from her smug mouth. What was it this large mouthed family couldn't just say?
"You know him".
"Ok...I think I'm gonna make that call."
"Hey Hey Hey, I'm serious, you know the dude. I've seen you drive by there once I think on Christmas with a kid."
"I think you're high. You really think this is a joke?" I proceeded to lifting my phone to my ears.
"I'm serious. You know him.....handsome face, tall dude, brunette and has a beard."
My mouth was glued shut. I opened my mouth to speak the words that formed in my heart but was too heavy to come out. Yup! She too was on that shit. She's definitely high.
Pete asked more slowly as if giving her enough time to think before answering the question
"Michelle....on the day you said you saw him with her. How many males were there and what was he putting on?
"I don't even recall what I wore lasts Christmas you want me to recall what a complete stranger wore two Christmas ago? All I know is she came with a kid and that man. He looks like that man. Yeah I know she's your friend. That's the reason for all these fuss but she ain't no real friend to you ma'am. My mum's been trying to save you the headache but your call......."!
"Pete get her out!"
"You don't believe me...I'm sayi...."
"It's ok Miss Shannon, no more questions."
"So it's my secret safe with you guys. I need that money to pay my tuition. My mum's no help."
"Your secret is safe with us but I'll advice you to get a real job. You can't keep up a fake pregnancy for long. At one point, the scams gonna backfire"
"Ok preacher. As long as my secret is fine with you, I'm good..."! She opened the door to live and took one glance at my lifeless posture.
"Mrs Graine, I'm so sorry.......but you asked"!