Playthang

by Janine A. Morris

  He removed his badge from his right coat pocket and displayedit for Jordan.

  “What is this about?” Jordan asked.

  “You are under arrest for conspiracy of fraud, you’re being charged as an accomplice to the Baron Jones crimes,” DetectiveAdams said as he removed his cuffs from his belt clip.

  “What?” Jordan yelped. “Who is Baron Jones?”

  “Baron Jones, Marcus Shields, Tyrone Spencer, Phillip Watts ... whichever name you would like to refer to him as,” Detective Adams stated in a sarcastic tone.

  “Please place you hands behind your back,” Detective Charles said.

  Before Jordan could say anything more, Detective Adams was reading her Miranda rights. As if Jordan didn’t already know that she had a right to remain silent, the detective continuedthrough the whole speech. Jordan was in disbelief, she had never been arrested before and she didn’t even know what to say. All she could think about was what in the hell did Marcusget her into.

  45

  The room was empty all except for one long table and five steel chairs. Jordan had every intention on contacting a criminal attorney; for the meantime she decided she could handle it herself. She had no desire to prolong her stay any longer than necessary by waiting for an attorney to show up. They had driven her down to a federal office building in midtownManhattan.

  The same detectives that picked her up, entered the room that Jordan was waiting in.

  “We wanted to ask you questions about a Baron Jones,” the black officer said.

  Jordan’s eyes went up in the air as she thought for a second.

  “I don’t know a Baron Jones,” Jordan said.

  “Well ma’am, you may know a Marcus Shields,” the Caucasianofficer said.

  Jordan instantly looked at the black officer with confusion in her eyes. Jordan’s brain was roaming a mile a minute. What the hell was this about, she asked herself. What does Baron Jones have to do with Marcus and why did they need to questionher about him, Jordan couldn’t make sense of it.

  “So, please explain to me how I can be of help about this Baron guy, I’ve never met him,” Jordan said as soon as she sat down.

  “Well, Ms. Moore, Baron Jones is a man from New Jersey who takes on various identities and has committed identity theft over twenty times in eight different states already. He preys on women who he pretends to start a romantic relationship with, while in the meantime he is really gathering all the informationthat he needs to assume the person’s persona,” DetectiveCharles explained.

  “How does he take on the identity of a woman,” Jordan asked.

  “With the woman victims he just gains all their informationso that he can use their credit and purchase items in their names. With his male victims he has at different times used their names when he relocates to different places.”

  Jordan was beginning to assume what they were going to tell her next but she had to hear it for herself.

  “So what connection do I have to this Baron person through Marcus?”

  “Marcus is Baron Jones, Marcus Shields is one of his stolen identities,” Detective Charles said.

  “Wow,” Jordan said as she placed her hand on her face. “So why am I under arrest?”

  “Your name and address has appeared on several purchases, a flat-screen television was delivered to your house that was paid for with a stolen credit card, and therefore is reasonable suspicion that you are an accomplice,” Detective Adams said.

  “I am an attorney, and have nothing to do with his scams. I had no idea that he was a criminal; he told me he was an investor.”

  “Well, Ms. Moore, due to his habit of preying on women it is likely that you could be a victim and not an accomplice. We have considered that.”

  “So, why am I under arrest?”

  “We haven’t charged you with anything just yet; we just needed to question you.You have received stolen merchandise, which is a crime.”

  “It’s a crime if I knew it was stolen, and I did not,” Jordan said.

  “I am going to be honest with you. I was just notified beforewe came in that it appears that Baron was targeting you as his next victim, he has already made purchases with your credit cards we believe,” Detective Charles said.

  Jordan instantly recalled her credit card declining a couple of weeks ago, and that strange UPS slip she received on her door the other day.

  “He has had accomplices in the past, so we had to do some investigating on you before we could determine if you were a victim of his or an accomplice,” Detective Adams said.

  “I can’t believe I was a suspect,” Jordan said.

  “We just had to verify some things before we were able to contact you. We have had our eye on Mr. Jones for years; we have finally located him and was able to assemble enough evidenceto put him away for a long time.”

  “He lives around the corner from me, how would he expectto get away with this?” Jordan asked still in disbelief.

  “His residence is just for deception. Once he is complete draining his victim he disappears in an instant, before they know what happened. He leaves the residence behind and anything else that he needs to abandon, they’re not purchased in his name so it doesn’t matter to him. He is already workingon his next location and plan by the time he leaves. He needs a residence to look more authentic when he is settled.”

  Jordan sat there with her hand on her mouth. She was looking down at the floor trying to make sense of it.

  “We may need you to testify if the situation calls for it,” Detective Adams said.

  “That’s fine, but about what?” she asked.

  “How you guys met, what tactics he may have used to get closer to you or gain access to your information, things like that. We need to show that this guy is a deceiving criminal,” Detective Adams stated.

  “That’s fine,” Jordan said. “I am assuming no charges will be pressed against me.”

  “Yes, Ms. Moore. We will finish looking into this matter, but you are no longer a suspect at this time,” Detective Charles said.

  She said she was fine testifying, but she knew she wasn’t interestedin stating on record that she was intimate with this man that she obviously didn’t know.

  “We just wanted to make you aware of the situation. We arrested Baron this morning from his home around the corner. Since he is a flight risk, he will likely not be released, but there are no guarantees. Therefore, just be careful, place fraud alerts on all your accounts and social security number, and request statements from all your accounts to dispute any suspicious activity,”Detective Adams said.

  “We are really sorry to be the bearer of bad news, and we apologize for all this inconvenience,” Detective Charles said as he stood up.

  “Am I free to go?” Jordan asked.

  “Yes, Detective Adams will walk you out” Detective Charles said.

  “Thanks,” Jordan said as she, too, stood up.

  Detective Adams held the door open for Jordan to walk toward and through.

  “Should I change my locks or take any security measures?” Jordan asked.

  “That’s probably not necessary since Baron is not likely to be a physical threat. However it is a precaution that you can take if it will make you feel safer; we can’t guarantee what is going to happen with his bail or what he is capable of.” DetectiveCharles said.

  He reached in his pocket and removed a card from his business card holder.

  “Call me if you have any questions, and we will notify you if there are any major updates.”

  As she took the card, for the first time she realized just how handsome Detective Charles was.

  “Thanks, I will definitely be in touch” Jordan said.

  He was about six feet two, muscular build, a low faded ceasar with a whiskery yet neat goatee. He was chocolate brown skinned with dark brown eyes and nice pouty lips. He seemed to notice her scanning his features, because he smirked and broke eye contact. At that moment, Jordan had to mentally slap herself on the h
and. Here she was in the middle of some drama due to some man, and she was already checking out another one. She had to tell herself, even though she didn’t see a ring on his finger, she had no business even thinking about it. Jordan was no longer looking for Mister Right, at least not any time soon. So as fine as Detective Charles was, she wasn’t going to use that card unless it was absolutely necessary, she told herself.

  46

  It was a long and expensive cab ride back home, and Jordan had time to let it all settle in her mind. The expensive gifts, the variety of cars, the array of credit cards she noticed in his wallet, everything that didn’t add up. Jordan walked in her house and she walked straight to the living room and took a seat on her gray plush couch. There was part of her that just wanted to call someone and tell them about what just happenedbut at the same time she wasn’t ready just yet. So instead of making any phone calls she sat there and tried to think over all of her dealings with Marcus, and all of the things that did seem suspicious and she ignored.

  She remembered finding it odd when he didn’t have a job but yet he had all these luxurious things. Marcus stayed dressed in designer clothes at all times, drove more than one car, had a well-furnished beautiful home, but never had anywhere to be. Maybe Jordan should’ve seen a red flag, but she believed him when he said he was an investor; that wasn’t far-fetched. Hell, how was she supposed to know he was investing in people’s identities?

  The next few hours went by and Jordan had finished callingall of her credit card companies and accounts. She requested detailed statements from all of them, and asked them all to place a security alert on all the accounts. A piece of Jordan wanted to speak to Marcus, hear his side of the story. It was still hard to believe that the man that she had spent so much time with, that was so charming and she had such a connection with, was all just a figment of her imagination. She knew that chances were that even when Marcus was able to he probably wouldn’t call her. Jordan knew that she could never tolerate a criminal even if he wasn’t targeting her as a victim, because she was an attorney, but she had to admit that she was a bit disappointed that he was the only guy she had been seeing and now he was gone too. Jordan just had to face it that she was unlucky in love.

  As Jordan compiled a folder in her home office with all the new codes and information she received concerning her accountsthe past few hours, her home phone began to ring. She rushed from the office to go out to the living room, and with three rings having passed and no time to look at the caller ID she answered.

  “Hello?” she said.

  “Are you OK?” the voice replied.

  It was Jayon.

  “I’m fine, what do you mean?”

  “Turn to Channel Nine, that guy is on the news,” Jayon said.

  Jordan picked up the remote control, pointed it at the televisionand turned it on to Channel Nine’s five o’clock news, while Jayon remained silent. Once the screen appeared, Jordan saw the image of a news reporter standing in front of Marcus’s house. She was reporting on his scheme and his victims, and showing the quiet neighborhood that he lived in. After Jordan heard most of it, she finally said something back to Jayon.

  “The FBI came to my house today to notify me. I’m fine,” Jordan said.

  “That’s crazy, they showed his face and I was like I know that guy from somewhere but once I saw your neighborhood I remembered he was the guy from that night.”

  “Yeah, that’s him. Once again the victim of fraud.”

  Jayon delayed in responding, clearly caught off guard by Jordan’s aggression.

  “I didn’t call expecting you to allow me to console you; I just really wanted to see if you were all right.”

  “I’m fine, as good as I’m going to be under the circumstances,”she replied.

  “Did he do anything to you?”

  “So far it seems he made a few purchases with two of my credit cards totaling about $3,000, but that’s all that I have noticedso far.”

  “Wow,” Jayon said. “You should get fraud alerts placed on your accounts.”

  “I’m one step ahead of you. That’s what I spent the afternoondoing.”

  “Oh, good. Well I hope everything is OK, but if you need anything let me know.” Jayon said.

  In one sense she knew that he was the last person she would choose to depend on, but still it felt kind of good just having a friendly conversation with him again.

  “OK,” Jordan replied. “Take care.”

  “J,” Jayon said real quick before Jordan could hang up. “I wanted to apologize for the things I said the other night.”

  “That’s fine, thank you. I’m sorry as well for putting you in such an uncomfortable situation,” Jordan replied.

  “That’s cool, when I thought about it I couldn’t be mad at no one but myself, for losing you. Besides it’s not like you knew they were my friends.”

  Jordan didn’t reply. She didn’t know what she was supposedto say to this. It was uncomfortable enough as it was without talking through it.

  “Well, Jordan I know this has been a rough couple of months for you, and I know that I have caused a lot of turmoil. I just want you to know how sorry I am,” Jayon began.

  Jordan almost cut him short before he could start singing his song but then she realized that she did need to hear this.

  “I can’t make excuses for what I did, because there is none. I was wrong and selfish, and it’s something I will have to regret forever. There is no doubt in my mind that you were the best woman for me, but I was too immature to treat you the way you deserved,” he continued.

  Jordan could feel herself tearing up from the emotions that were gushing through her body. She sniffled some, and hoped that Jayon couldn’t hear that he had gotten the best of her.

  “I know it’s a sign of insecurity that I felt the need to cheat and seek other attention, but I never claimed to be perfect. I know that I let you down, and it kills me inside thinking about how you feel about me, but I truly hope that one day you can forgive me because my life just isn’t the same without you. I know you may never trust me with your heart again, but at the very least I hope I can have my friend back.”

  By now, tears were streaming down Jordan’s face. She didn’t want to face the Jayon she once knew, it was easier to hate the Jayon she now knew. Hearing him open up to her just brought back all the feelings she had as his friend and his girlfriend. She realized that he could’ve been lying, he could’ve been trying to sweet talk her, but it didn’t matter. At the end of the day, he was right. She would never trust him with her heart again and it just felt good to hear his explanation and apology.

  “Thank you, Jayon, I appreciate you telling me that,” Jordansaid.

  “No need to thank me, you take care, J, it was good talking to you.”

  “You too.”

  “Talk to you later,” he said.

  As soon as Jordan hung the phone up, she wondered how soon or how late would later be. She tried to assess if she was ready to have consistent interaction with Jayon. After she thought about it more she told herself one day, but today was not the day.

  47

  All the locks were changed at Jordan’s house, and it had been over a week since she heard anything more about Marcus. She watched a couple more news reports on his arrest and printed some online information, but aside from that nothing new. She spoke to all her friends and family about the matter, got their advice, and even spoke to some attorneys who specialized in fraud. Overall, Jordan was over it. She had been through worse betrayals, she felt. She was just thankful she never let this man completely in her heart. The feelings for him she had she constantly tried to subdue, and the more fooling around she did, the less she was concerned about gaining his heart. So the news, although it was surprising and hurtful, didn’t crush her. Jordan was already on to bigger and better things.

  Jason was home, and he had been home for a few days now. Omar stayed over in the guest room the first few nights, just to make Jason more comfortable.
Omar and Jordan agreed that they would coexist a lot better for the sake of Jason. He asked to sleep over the house a few nights a week to be closer with Jason, and not cause any more confusion in his life, at least until or if there was a good reason not to. Neither of them held any hard feelings, and they were both single, so there was no reason they couldn’t function more like a family. According to Omar, it was worth a try. For all they knew, it was possible that it would grow into more. Still, in the meantime, they would help each other raise him and keep him happier at the same time. Jordan was content with the plan as well. She had her son, he was happy, and she had the only husband she ever had living with her from time to time, giving her that company that she secretly yearned for.

  Jason had just gone to bed an hour ago, Omar was downstairsin the living room, and Jordan had just hung up the phone with Chrasey and Dakota. She was lying in her bed just looking up at the ceiling. Her television was on low, and the scent from the Glade candle burning on her nightstand was filling her nose. She was still emotionally confused about havingher life back. Her son was in his bedroom sound asleep with his Batman night-light on, Omar was downstairs watchingtelevision, and she wasn’t home alone. It didn’t even matter that Omar wasn’t her husband. He was the father of the one man that meant the world to her, and at least she knew that he wasn’t a cheating and lying Jayon or an identity-stealing Marcus.She, for the first time in a long time, felt like she could let her guard down.

  Jordan had finally come to terms with reality: No matter how much she liked it or not, God was only going to give her what she could handle. Just a few weeks prior, she would’ve never thought that she would feel the way she did on this night, carefree and genuinely happy. She knew that Jason would be home, but she didn’t expect to be at peace over Jayon, not worrying about being alone, and she damn sure didn’t expect to be watching movies with Omar on her couch. Jordan knew in her heart that God was good all the time. She realized that only time heals, and that there is no man that can rush God’s hands of time. The things we stress over one day are menial and humorous another day. Life is unpredictable, and Jordan was ready to accept what God had in store for her.