by Peter Glenn
We got out of the car and I paid the meter, then we crossed the street to the police station. I glanced over at Charmaine as we made our way to the door. She was jittery and nervous, but she didn’t look like she was going to have a panic attack. Small victories and all that. It would have to do.
“Look,” I said, “I’ll do all the talking until we see him, okay? I’ve been to police stations dozens of times. I’ve got this handled.”
It was true, too. In my line of work, it wasn’t at all uncommon to have to talk to a police officer every now and then.
Charmaine looked at me and gave me a weak smile. “Okay,” she said. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Deal.”
I gave her one last worried look and pushed open the door to the precinct. Inside was a mix of chaos and confusion, with several people scurrying about from desk to desk, most carrying a folder or small stack of papers. Even in the digital age, police still used paper files a lot of the time.
Part of me wondered if that would ever change, but I let the thought slide. Worse than that was the fact that the place didn’t have a single Halloween decoration up in sight. What kind of precinct didn’t even try to decorate? It was off-putting, to say the least.
I put on my best smile and made my way over to the person at the counter. They had their nose in a folder as well and looked very distracted, so I dinged a small bell on the counter to get their attention.
The receptionist scowled and looked up to see us standing there, then immediately sat a little straighter and put on an overly fake smile. “How can I help you today?” he grumbled.
Sheesh. Not very personable for a receptionist. I squinted a little to see his nametag. It was black writing on a blue background, which made it hard to read. “Trevor?” I asked after a moment.
The receptionist nodded. “That’s me. What can I do for you?”
His tone had brightened once I’d said his name. Maybe he’d just been surprised earlier.
“Um, we’re looking for a recent prisoner. I believe they’re still in a holding cell here. His name is Daequan…” I looked hesitantly over at Charmaine.
“Johnson,” she finished for me. “Daequan Johnson.”
I gave her a slight grin and turned my attention back to Trevor. “What she said.”
“Visiting hours are over,” Trevor droned. He half-turned his attention back to what he’d been staring at earlier. “You can come back in the morning.” It sounded like he’d already given that little speech a thousand times just today. Which, in all honesty, wouldn’t shock me.
“Really?” I pressed. I believed him—we were pretty late—but still, I’d visited prisoners at midnight before without any issues. Besides, I wasn’t willing to give in that easily.
Trevor groaned and looked back up at me, clearly annoyed. “New policy. Hours are printed on the sign.” He half-heartedly pointed toward a small plaque next to him on the desk and went back to reading again.
I gave the plaque a quick glance. It did indeed list that visiting hours were from eight AM to seven PM. We were three hours too late. But I really didn’t want to wait until the morning, if I could avoid it. Every moment could be precious in a case like this.
An idea struck me and I ran with it.
“Well, it just so happens that I am Daequan’s lawyer, and this is my assistant. As his lawyer, I demand to speak with him at once.”
Trevor side-eyed me. “A lawyer, huh?”
“Yep.” I nodded with as much confidence as I could muster. “Now, let us see my client.”
Trevor’s eyes narrowed. “What law firm are you with?”
“Simon and Simon,” I blurted out. It was the first thing that came to mind. “Now, I must insist you let us through.”
“I’ve never heard of Simon and Simon.” Trevor picked up a phone. “I better ring my supervisor and–”
I reached forward and grabbed his phone and hung it up. Trevor looked at me wild-eyed. “I am afraid I must insist. I wouldn’t want you to be the one that got in trouble for denying my client his right to attorney.”
That seemed to do the trick. Trevor’s face paled, either from my threat or my actions, and he nodded. “Floor three, in the back. I’ll tell them you’re coming.”
“Much better.”
I gave him a toothy grin then swept past his desk, Charmaine in tow. We made it all the way to the elevator before I even let out a breath.
Once the doors closed, Charmaine devolved into a series of giggles. “I can’t believe you got away with that, dressed like you are.”
“You just have to act the part.” I shrugged. “They’ll believe anything, if you say it with enough confidence.”
She laughed again, then did her best to smooth her appearance before the elevator opened on level three. We piled into the hallway beyond. There were several metal doors on this floor. I looked at the sign underneath the first one. It said “Interrogation One.” We were on the interrogation floor.
I puffed out my chest and walked forward with my head held high. I’d barely reached the guard at the end of the hall before he stood and offered me his hand.
“Daequan’s lawyer?” he asked. I nodded. “Come right this way. We’ll have him brought up in just a moment.”
“Thank you, my good man.”
I gave him a broad smile and offered him my hand, which he took. Together with Charmaine, we followed him to the room marked “Interrogation Five.” The guard opened the door, and Charmaine and I went in, then he shut it behind us.
Once again, Charmaine and I were alone.
“Nervous?” I asked, looking at her.
She nodded. “Very much so.” She shivered a little, even though it wasn’t cold. “I hope they’ve treated him okay.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine.” I smiled broadly, trying to be as reassuring as I could. “Rattled, maybe, but fine. They wouldn’t dare hurt him in custody.”
There had been a high-profile case of police brutality a while back. It had cost the department millions, not to mention the bad publicity. Officers were much better behaved now. Which was good for Daequan.
Charmaine gave me a half a smile and nodded. “You’re right.”
I reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. “We’ll get him out of this. I swear it.”
“Thank you,” she said. She took a deep breath and stared straight ahead at the empty chair on the other side of the table. “I’m not sure I could do this without someone to help me, you know.”
“It’s going to be okay.” I squeezed again, then let go of her hand and she let it settle in her lap. “Promise.”
Bold words, but I found my mark more often than not, and I was determined.
We sat there in amicable silence for several minutes, staring at the chair and the wall. The room really didn’t have any furnishings in it other than a metal table and the few chairs. It was an interrogation room, after all.
After what felt like an hour, the door to the room opened, and an officer came in, pulling Daequan along with him. The tall, broad-shouldered man almost had to duck to let himself into the room. He had short, frizzy, black hair and dark, almost black skin. He was lean and well-muscled, wearing standard orange prisoner garb. His eyes had a heavy look to them, and there was a hint of sadness there, though they brightened instantly when he caught sight of Charmaine.
Heavy cuffs adorned his hands, dragging his arms downward, but he looked otherwise unharmed. The officer beckoned him over to the empty chair and hooked his cuffs into a little metal loop on the table, then turned to face me.
“You have thirty minutes,” the officer told me in a gruff voice. Then, he exited the room.
The second the coast was clear, Charmaine went over and threw her arms around Daequan. He hugged her back as best as he was able, seeing as he was still in cuffs.
“I’m so glad you’re safe!” she exclaimed.
“You, too, baby girl.” He leaned into her, his head resting on her chest. “You, too.”
Ther
e were tears in both of their eyes as she pulled away from him and took her seat once more. Charmaine cleared her throat and tried her best to look calm, but failed miserably. In the end, she settled for a worried smile.
“Are they treating you okay?” she asked him.
Daequan nodded. “Yeah. They’re treating me okay.” He huffed. “Well, okay for a prisoner, at least. It’d be nice if I could get out of these cuffs for a few minutes, but I’ll live. Damn fools keep thinking I’m a danger to everyone.”
“In fairness, they do think you’re a murderer,” I said. “But I’ll do my best to put in a good word for you and see if they can ease the restrictions a little.”
Daequan’s eyes narrowed, and he looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time. “Who’s this fool?” he asked, nudging his chin in my direction while staring at Charmaine.
“Honey, this is Damian,” Charmaine said. “He’s an occult investigator. He’s here to help us with your case.”
I gave him a big grin. “That’s me, all right. You’ve probably seen me at Mei’s a few times before.”
Daequan squinted at me, then he let out a chuckle. “Oh, yeah. I recognize you now. You’re the little punk that’s always running his mouth about all the jobs you’ve pulled.”
I felt heat rise to my cheeks, but it was an accurate description. I could be pretty mouthy.
Before I could reply, he got to talking again. “Well, how’s it hanging, little man? You’re an investigator, huh?”
I nodded. “Yep.” I leaned in a little closer. “But if anyone asks, I’m actually your lawyer. That’s how we got in to see you so late in the day.”
Daequan gave me a little wink. “Got it.” He leaned back against his chair and sunk into it a little. He let his arms fall to the side, though they were still restrained by the cuffs, so the pose looked a little awkward. “So, what’s the deal? Why’d you come? Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate you letting me see Charmaine,” he shot her a little smile, “but I’m assumin’ you came for more than a hug.”
“On that, you would be right,” I told him. “I was hoping you could tell us a little more about your side of the events. What happened and all that. Why do they suspect you were the killer?”
“Why?” Daequan tsked. “I’m black and a vampire. What more reason do they need?”
I had to admit, he had a point there. “That may be true, but it does nothing to help your case. And I really, really want to help you get out of here. So please, help me help you. Tell me what happened, and leave nothing out. Tell me everything, even if it seems insignificant to you.”
Daequan looked over at Charmaine and pointed one thick finger at me. “Is this guy for real?”
“Please, sweetie, just tell him whatever you can,” she begged. She turned her big doe eyes on him, which seemed to do the trick.
“Look,” Daequan said, “I already told the officers everything I know. Not that there’s much to it. I knew the guy, sure, but that’s it. I was with Charmaine all day. I certainly wasn’t anywhere near the dead guy’s place.”
Something in Daequan’s face set me off. I couldn’t quite tell what it was. The slightest hint of a nervous tick, perhaps? Whatever it was, I was certain he wasn’t telling me the full story.
“Are you sure about that?” I pressed.
“Of course! You think I’m a liar?”
I shook my head. “Not exactly, no. But you’re not being completely straight with me, are you?”
“Damian!” Charmaine scowled. She glared at me, eyes flaring. “Just what are you saying?”
“I’m just saying I think there’s a little more to this story than your husband is letting on.” She made to argue, but I put out a hand to shush her. “And I understand his hesitance. He’s under the police lens, and probably more than a little frightened for his life. I would be pretty hesitant to fess up in those circumstances, too.”
That seemed to quell Charmaine’s mood a little. She turned and looked at her husband, those big doe eyes back on her face. “Is he right? Do you know more than you’re saying?”
Daequan opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again a moment later. “I… maybe,” he admitted after a long pause.
Charmaine’s eyes grew wide as saucers. “Sweetie? What aren’t you saying?”
Daequan sat up a little straighter in his seat and let out a long, slow sigh. He looked straight at me. “You’re right, little man.” He laid his hands bare. “You’re right. There’s more to the story. And if I want to beat this, I need to tell you everything.”
A grim smile crept across my face. “Exactly. I can’t help you if I don’t know everything there is to know.”
“Honey?” Charmaine said. Her face had gone practically ashen.
“It’s okay, baby girl. I’m no killer or nothin’, but I gotta come clean.”
She got up to go over to him, but I put my hand out in front of her to keep her down. “Let’s just see what he has to say, all right?”
Slowly, Charmaine nodded and went back to her chair.
Daequan pulled on his face. “All right, so it’s like this. Donald. Or Donny, as I knew him. Yeah, I knew the guy, but it didn’t stop there. Everyone in the building knew him, but I knew him, if you know what I mean.”
I motioned for him to continue.
“Donny and I go back a ways. I’d met him when he was moving into the city about ten years back, and we hit it off pretty well. I’d visit him on occasion, but it was no big deal. Just hangin’ with another of the boys, if you catch my drift. We’d shoot hoops or play cards or watch the game down at the local bar with a few others in my group. But it was all on the level. You gotta believe me on that one.”
He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. I could see his shoulders tense as he mentally prepared himself to continue.
“That was all there was to the relationship for a long time. Until last month, that is.” He glanced over at Charmaine for a half second, then lowered his gaze until he was practically staring at his feet. “That’s when I lost my job.”
Charmaine gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth.
“It was nothing, okay?” Daequan insisted. “I was laid off with a dozen other people. ‘Redundant overhead’, or some nonsense. All a bunch of corporate bullshit, if you ask me. But there you have it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Charmaine demanded. There was a hint of anger in her voice, but also hurt. Or betrayal.
Daequan waved a hand dismissively. “I couldn’t find the words, baby girl. I… I’m sorry. It’s just, a man’s supposed to provide for his girl, you know?” He tried to reach for her, but with his hands cuffed to the table, it didn’t work.
Charmaine rushed over and put her arms around him. “It’s all right, honey, we would have figured it out. I could have helped you.” There were tears streaming down her face as she pulled away to look deep into his eyes again. “You don’t have to shoulder this burden alone.”
“It’s my duty, baby girl.” A single tear streamed down his cheek, landing softly on Charmaine’s shirt. “I’m the man in the relationship.”
“And what am I, chopped liver?” Charmaine wiped away her own fresh tears and straightened up. For a second, I thought she was going to smack him, but she just glared at him instead.
Daequan started to speak, then just turned away. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered. “I’m… I’m so sorry.”
She put her hand on the side of his head and pulled until they were locking eyes once more. She stared down into his big, dark eyes with an intensity that would have scared me. “We’ll get through this together. We just need to get you out of here, then I’ll help you find something new. I promise.”
Daequan’s face brightened, and he flashed her a grin. “I know we will, baby girl. I know we will.”
He backed up slightly, straightening in the chair once more and taking in a deep breath to calm his nerves. “But there’s more to the story that I haven’t told you yet.”
Charmaine looked like she was about to blow her top, but she backed away and sat down. I was somehow certain that when all this was over, the two of them were going to have a very long talk, and Daequan wouldn’t like it one bit.
But I had to get him out of here first.
“It’s okay, Charmaine,” I told her, patting her on the arm. “I’m sure he was just trying to protect you.”
“What he said.” Daequan inclined his head toward me. “The little man is right. I just didn’t want to hurt you. But I can see that was the wrong call.”
Charmaine looked at the nearby wall, seemingly unable to meet his gaze. “Just… spill it. Whatever you have to say.”
Daequan sighed and shook his head. “Donny was determined to help me land a new gig, like I said. But in the meantime, he had me doing small jobs for him, and in return, he spotted me a little cash. Not much, just enough that I wouldn’t have to beg on the streets or anything. And nothing illegal, mind you. It was all on the level. It was just little things at first. Picking up his dry cleaning, or picking up a book from the library. That sort of thing. Small errands. Occasionally, I’d act as his chauffeur, too, but only for small drives. Nothing out of the city or anything. Like I said, small stuff.”
“And?” I pressed.
“Well…” he leaned in closer and dropped his voice. “There was this one job he had me pull yesterday. He had me drive him out to some meeting by the docks in some shady abandoned warehouse or somethin’. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but the crowd he was going with, well… let’s just say they don’t think highly of us vampires.”
“Really?” My eyebrows raised. Now that was an interesting tidbit. “Do tell.”
“I’d never told Donny I was a vamp, and I don’t think he knew, or he probably wouldn’t have hung out with their type.” Daequan sighed again. “Look, I just wanted to do my job. Drive him there, wait a while, drive him back. But my curiosity got the better of me, and he was taking a long time, so I went inside to check on him. I only got a peek before they spotted me, but they were wearing strange robes and reading words out of an old leather book. I don’t really know much more about it than that, but I do know that Donny took the book back with him when he left.”