by Stacy-Deanne
“He regrets that, and he’s not going to repeat the same mistake.”
“How do you know—”
“Enough, Dee.” Connie stood as the assistant returned with an older Asian woman wearing her hair in a chin-length bob.
“Hello,” the woman had a mild Korean accent. “I’m Dr. Maeby Jeon.” Her tiny eyes disappeared when she smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are you free now?” Dee asked.
“Sure, sure.” She turned to the assistant, said something in Korean, and the assistant walked off, nodding. “I was glad you called me.” Maeby sat her scrawny body on the table. “Anything I can do to help with the Kengs’ murder I will.”
Connie sat. “Is it true you used to go to the Kengs’ church? I mean Kingdom Hall.”
Her animated face became hollow. “Yes.”
Dee got her pocket notepad and turned to a clean sheet. “Was anything going on between you and Normand?”
“No.” Maeby’s face sunk. “Why?”
“Someone says there was,” Connie said.
“He was my brother in religion, but that’s all.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“That’s not what we heard.” Dee squinted at Maeby. “You were harassing him because you had a thing for him.”
“That’s not true at all.” She laughed. “Who said this?”
“Doesn’t matter who said it,” Connie declared. “Did you leave the Kingdom Hall because you were bothering Normand?”
“No.” Maeby gritted her teeth. “Normand told lies.”
“You realize this is a murder investigation, right?” Connie asked. “Be honest because if we find out something on our own you’re gonna wish you had.”
“All right.” Maeby pouted. “I swear there wasn’t a harassment. That’s a rumor Normand and Tabitha spread to the congregation to make me look bad because Normand and I were having an affair.”
Connie gaped.
Maeby rubbed her palms together. “It was for about seven months. Normand was obsessed with me.”
Connie nodded as Dee scribbled.
“He said he’d wanted me for years, and I was vulnerable because my husband got kicked out the religion for cheating on me,” Maeby said. “Normand tried to control me and was very jealous. He’d have these irrational rages sometimes.”
“Did he ever hurt you?” Dee asked.
“He scared me all the time.” Maeby pushed her hands between her thighs. “But never got physically violent. I broke things off with him when I found out he was living a double life.”
Dee lifted her head. “How so?”
“Oh, he was a good actor.” Maeby smiled. “Played the religious family man in public and behind closed doors he was a conniving drug dealer.”
“Drug dealer?” Dee and Connie repeated.
“He’d gotten in deep with the K-Town Crips and sold drugs for them.”
Connie’s bottom lip wagged.
“He never said how he got involved with them but he must’ve owed them something,” Maeby said. “Maybe the Crips put a hit on him and his family. After he told me about the drugs, I wanted nothing to do with him but he wouldn’t leave me alone.”
Dee shook her head. “This is one hell of a story.”
“I have emails and text messages.” Maeby bounced. “They prove he was harassing me and he doesn’t mention the drug dealing straight out but he alludes to it and you can draw your own conclusions.” She stood and took her phone out her scrubs. “I’ll show you.”
****
“That’s nonsense.” Jan Chang added another suit to the rack and walked toward the window of his small men’s clothing boutique. “Maeby’s lying. Normand didn’t have an affair with her. I was his best friend. He’d have told me.”
Connie fixed her blazer while Dee rocked beside her. “Just because you’re friends doesn’t mean he’d tell you everything.”
He passed her a sharp look, lines sprouting around his stern eyes. “I knew Normand for over thirty years, and he was an honorable man. His family and religion meant the world to him. He’d never have risked losing everything over an affair.” He headed to the shoe section, the aisle smelling of new leather. “Maeby was trying to cause problems. Why do you think she left?”
“Maeby had proof of what she claimed,” Dee said.
He stopped straightening the loafers on the bottom shelf. “That’s not possible.”
“Oh, it is,” Connie, said. “We saw the emails and text messages proving they had an affair and that Maeby was the one who broke things off with Normand.”
“No.” Jan stood, his hairline stretching across his wide head. “Normand wouldn’t lie to me.”
Dee made an exhausted shrug. “We heard he sold drugs for the K-Town Crips.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” His nostrils spread. “Did Maeby say that?” He went back to straightening shoes. “That woman is disgusting.”
Connie stood over him. “We believe her.”
“You didn’t know Normand. Why would he be involved with some violent street gang? There is no way this is true.”
****
“Oh.” Grayson climaxed, causing Connie’s entire body to shudder that night. “Jesus.” He rolled off her, pulling the maroon sheet over his sweaty body. “That was intense.”
Connie took a gulp from the glass of water on her end table.
Grayson straightened the pillow behind his head and exhaled, the smell of mushrooms from dinner floating from his mouth. “What’s wrong?”
Connie pulled the sheet over her breasts. “Nothing.”
“Those beautiful lips can’t lie.” He touched them with his index finger. “The sex was great, but you had something else on your mind.” He turned on his side, propped his arm up and used his hand as a headrest. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”
“It’s silly.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Dee and I talked about you cheating on her.”
He tilted his head back, grimacing. “She brought that up?”
“Well, it happened, right?”
He sighed, shaking his head.
“I don’t understand why you’d do that. You guys had the best relationship. There was no reason for you to cheat.”
“We had issues like any couple does.” He turned on his back. “Dee doesn’t have enough to worry about? She’s trying to sabotage our relationship now?”
“She made good points though.” Connie wiggled her leg. “You’ve been with a lot of women.”
“And? Did I ever say I was a priest?”
“Why did you cheat on Dee?”
“Because I was stupid.” He lifted his head, scowling. “I loved Dee and I regret what I did.” He touched her stomach. “That has nothing to do with us.”
“I need to know I can trust you.”
“Hold on.” He sat up. “I’ve done nothing for you to think you can’t.”
“How can I be sure you won’t cheat on me?”
“I don’t believe this.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “This isn’t about me cheating on Dee. This is about you getting scared. You’re getting cold feet, aren’t you?”
“No, but I need to be sure. There was no reason for you to cheat on Dee but you did. Things are going great with us now but what if you cheat anyway? Isn’t it fair to wonder?”
He stuck out his lips. “You cheated on your husband.”
She looked away.
“And, my ex-wife Edana, God rest her soul, cheated on me, but I never once cheated on her or any other woman but Dee. Yes, it was wrong. I made a mistake and you of all people should understand that.”
“You’re right.” She laid her head on the headboard. “Who am I to judge after what I did to Percy?”
He stroked her arm. “Neither of us are perfect and it’s unfair to expect us to be.”
She looked him in the eyes.
“I love you, Connie.” He kissed her nose. “I want us
to be together.”
She smiled; relieved she’d gotten things off her chest. “I want that too.”
“Then enjoy our moments together.” He kissed her forehead, pulling her close. “Because I plan to cherish each one.”
CHAPTER NINE
“Your turn, Lydia.” Lisa moved aside in her and Jake’s kitchen that night after putting the paper baking cups in the muffin pan.
Lydia held up her hands in her Betty Boop apron as if she were about to do surgery. “What am I supposed to do?”
Dee snickered, sipping red wine.
Lisa scooted the bowl of cupcake batter beside the muffin pan and handed Lydia the pastry bag. “Just squeeze the filling into the cups. It’s not rocket science.”
Dee laughed. “It is for her.”
Lydia bent over the pan, barely squeezing the pastry bag as if she’d hurt it.
“Get through with that.” Dee slid on top of the island. “I’m hungry and ready to get my cupcake on.”
“I want to make sure I don’t mess up.” Lydia squeezed the batter into the last row of cups. “I’m done.” She stood aside, fidgeting.
“Something bothering you?” Lisa put the pan in the oven. “You seem tense, Lydia.”
“Spill the tea.” Dee lifted her glass, belching. “That’s what girl’s night is for.”
“Got a call from Cam today.” Lydia washed her hands. “We got into a fight about moving to Baltimore.”
“I told you he didn’t really want to.” Dee swung her legs. “He’s just like you. Has to have adventure at every turn. Being stationary in a place like Baltimore won’t satisfy him.”
“Maybe I’ve changed because even though I love traveling to exotic places and exploring the world, I’m ready to settle down.” Lydia got a strawberry from the fruit tray and dipped it in the bowl of whip cream. “At some point we have to deal with us as a couple and I think he uses traveling as an excuse. I asked about our plans.” She lowered her head, batting her long lashes. “Like marriage and stuff.”
“Uh-oh.” Lisa puckered her lips. “Brought up the marriage thing?”
“Why are men so scared of marriage?” Lydia asked. “And, why do they think we gonna keep giving them the cookie for free?”
“Because we always do.” Dee laughed. “Half of it’s our fault. That’s why I never discuss marriage with Winston. I want to let him bring it up because if I do we’ll end up in a fight.”
“That’s not how I see it.” Lisa tilted her body, smacking her lips. “A woman has every right to ask. I’m tired of going through circles about marriage with Jake. He keeps saying it’ll happen but I’m not seeing him take any action. No one in this kitchen is getting any younger and time’s running out with these biological clocks. I’m in my late thirties. I want kids before I’m old enough to be someone’s grandmother.”
Dee motioned for the fruit tray and Lydia passed it to her. “Being happy with the man you love is more important.”
“Hm.” Lydia bit into another strawberry. “Then how long are you going to be stubborn and not apologize to Winston?” She looked at Lisa while gesturing to Dee. “They haven’t spoken to each other since she agreed to give Jonathan immunity.”
Dee stuck her nose in the air. “He called me stupid and I don’t play that. Here I am struggling with making the biggest decision of my life and he can’t support me. We’re not squashing this until he comes to me.”
“That’ll never happen since he’s just as pigheaded as you,” Lydia said.
“Winston’s a romantic.” Lisa poured more wine into her glass. “He won’t be able to hold out long. I’m sure it’s killing him.”
“Good. Let him be the one tortured for a while...whoa.” A paralyzing sensation rushed through Dee’s head. “Damn.”
Lisa grabbed her. “You okay?”
“Are you dizzy again, sis?”
“What do you mean ‘again’?” Lisa glanced at Lydia. “This has happened before?”
“No.” Dee massaged her temples. “I’m fine.”
“She’s lying. For weeks she’s been getting dizzy, almost fainting and throwing up.”
“I’m fine, Lydia.”
“How come you didn’t tell me this?” Lisa rubbed Dee’s back. “Have you seen a doctor?”
“No.” Lydia smacked while chewing strawberry. “Another thing she’s been stubborn about.”
“I’m just stressed but I’ll be all right now that this Jonathan stuff is settled.”
“Dizziness and throwing up?” Lisa touched Dee’s forehead. “You sure you aren’t pregnant?”
“Pregnant?” Dee grimaced. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Not the way you and Winston can’t keep your hands off each other.” Lydia snickered. “Take a pregnancy test.”
“I am not pregnant.” Dee huffed. “Jeez. Can’t a woman just be stressed?”
“I don’t think stress makes you dizzy to the point of passing out,” Lisa said.
“Thanks, Dr. Swanson.” Dee rolled her eyes. “For your information I had my period the week before last and these symptoms started before then so I can’t be pregnant.”
“I’d feel better if you took a pregnancy test.” Lisa took off her apron. “I’ll go get one.”
“What?” Dee gaped.
Lisa left the kitchen and came back with her purse. “I’ll go to the drugstore down the block and be back in a minute.”
“This is insane.” Dee jumped from the counter. “How can I be pregnant if I had my period? I’m not pregnant!”
Lydia checked the cupcakes. “Then you shouldn’t be afraid to take the test.”
CHAPTER TEN
An hour and a half later, Lydia stood by the sink in Jake and Lisa’s guest bathroom, ogling the plastic stick. “Uh-oh.” She passed Dee the test. “You’re pregnant, Dee.”
“This is bullshit.” Dee sat on the lavender toilet seat. “This test is wrong.”
“That’s the second one though,” Lisa said.
Lydia held her waist, flashing Dee a condescending look. “I doubt two tests can be wrong.”
Dee stared at the two pink lines and threw the stick in the sink. “No, I had my damn period. How can I be pregnant?” She snatched the test box off the sink. “You can’t rely on these cheap things.”
“Home pregnancy tests are very accurate.” Lydia crossed her arms.
“Then how the hell did I have my period since you’re so smart.”
Lydia smiled. “You didn’t.”
“What?” Lisa asked.
“Some women have bleeding during pregnancy that they mistake for their period.” Lydia beamed as if she’d discovered a new world. “I Googled it. That must be what Dee had.”
“I had my period.” Dee threw the box into the trash. “I was cramping and everything.”
“How do you explain this then?” Lisa put the stick in Dee’s face. “Something’s going on and you need to find out what.”
“I’m not pregnant.” Dee threw the stick in the trash. “I’ll go to the doctor and prove it to you busybodies.”
“We’ll come with you.” Lydia smiled at Lisa. “For support.”
“Fine.” Dee leaned back on the toilet, crossing her arms. “But, I’m not pregnant. I know my body better than anyone.”
****
“I shouldn’t be telling you this.” Hyeon Shim sat at the table in the interrogation room with anxiety etched across his face the next day. “Whatever a fellow member tells me in confidence should be kept private.”
“We respect your loyalty to Normand Keng.” Connie and Dee sat across from him. “But, if what you know can help us find out who killed him and his family, don’t you think God and Normand would forgive you for sharing?”
“I don’t want you to see Normand in a negative light.” He massaged his knuckles. “Normand confided in me he was in fear of his life.”
Connie glanced at Dee. “Why?”
“He was afraid that the K-Town Crips would kill him because he owe
d them money.”
Dee raised an eyebrow.
“Normand sold drugs for the gang.” Hyeon swallowed, shaking his head. “He was in debt to them. They gave him a loan because he was going to lose the store.”
“Holy shit,” Connie whispered. “Sorry.” She flinched.
“Tabitha and Faith didn’t know any of this.” Hyeon clasped his hands and brought them to his lips. “The store wasn’t doing well and Normand was desperate to save it before they found out. He thought Tabitha would leave him if she knew he’d failed.” His eyebrows snapped together. “I feel in my heart the gang got to him.” His face tightened as tears appeared in his eyes. “I prayed he’d find a way out of this mess but not like this.”
****
Jonathan lay on the bench in his garden, raising and lowering the dumbbells over his naked chest. His six-pack constricted each time he lifted the weights, but no matter how hard he tried to concentrate, he couldn’t take his mind off Dee.
He let out a hungry groan, lifting faster as the head of his stiff dick pushed itself against the confines of his underwear and black workout pants.
His breathing grew heavier as he imagined spreading Dee’s legs and pressing himself inside her warm opening.
“Deidra.” He closed his eyes, as a burst of energy ran through his thighs and jolted his cock. “Oh, fuck.” He squeezed his legs together, nipples tingling and sweat popping from every pore. “Ah.” A heavenly sensation he’d only felt while being inside Dee, wrapped itself around his entire body. “Hm.” He threw the dumbbells beside him, untied the strings on his pants and thrust his hand inside his underwear. “Oh.” He stretched out on the bench, his hand teasing his dick while his bare toes spread in the pedicured grass. “Yes.” He swallowed, throat growing dryer the more he stroked. “I love you, Deidra.” He jerked up, almost coming as an image of her naked breasts and curves came to mind. “Deidra.” He huffed and puffed, staring at the grass but only seeing her image. “God, yes.” His heart raced as he neared the core of orgasm. “Deidra—”
“Jonathan?” Shauna pranced through the garden in wide-legged red slacks and red open-toe stilettos.