by BlaQue
Pajay quieted down a bit, but I knew she was there; waiting and plotting how she was going to upstage me. She was sneaky like that. I entered the den and looked around for what I could use to aid me in getting Joseah out of our lives. I spotted the phone cord and snatched it from the wall. I left the den and headed to handle this shit once and for all. I got to the bottom of the steps and went to the left. Joseah was always on the lower level of the house when she wasn’t in the nursery with the baby. I checked each room and when I came to the kitchen, there she was with her back to me washing the dishes I had left in the sink after making Dread’s breakfast.
A deep breath escaped from my lips as I charged at her full force. I swung the telephone cord over her head, around her fleshy neck, and I yanked her backwards; causing her to lose her footing and fall backwards. Her overweight body hit the floor with a thump. The bowl she was washing shattered near her feet. Her head crashed against the floor and bounced off of the tiles like a basketball being dribbled from half court. I went down with her—banging my knees on the floor. I could barely feel the pain shooting up my legs; I was that caught up in what I was doing. Joseah couldn’t fight back or try to save herself. Her head hitting the floor had knocked her unconscious.
“Finish it. Kill that nosy bitch!” Pajay screamed. She was cheering me on. It made me want to choke her instead. As usual, something deep within was telling me I didn’t have to do what I was doing. I could have just fired her and sent her on her way. She didn’t have to die!
“Don’t start this stupid shit! I swear what would you do without me?” Pajay said taking control. She wrapped the cord tightly around Joseah’s neck and choked her until the last bit of breath left her lungs. That was the last thing I remembered until I woke up a few hours later next to Joseah’s dead body. I heard the sound of the baby crying through the baby monitor that was on the island counter. I looked around the kitchen half expecting Pajay to be there, but she wasn’t. The water was still running in the sink from where Joseah was washing the dishes. I got up from the floor wincing from the pain shooting through my knees. I removed the cord from her neck and stuffed it in the pocket of my jeans and limped to get to the baby.
I got to baby Yasheema’s room and picked her up to quiet her cries. I was so afraid that Pajay had tried to do something to her while I lay on the kitchen floor. Instinctively, I put the baby in her carrier and went back to the kitchen and got her bottles and put them in the baby bag in the hallway. The garage was next on my “to do” list. I went into the garage, pressed the automatic door opener and walked out to where I had parked Dread’s truck earlier. I strapped my daughter in the back seat, got in the driver’s seat, and backed out of the driveway as if nothing had happened.
“That’s what I’m talking about. Make it all look like an accident. We can tell the police that we came home and decided to take the baby out for a ride because she was fussy. When we returned home, we found the nanny dead, simple as that!” Pajay said like it was just that easy.
I had another body under my belt and it felt awful.
“You need to get rid of the evidence you dumb ass! You are riding around with the damn phone cord in your pocket. You need to dump that shit and get to a store and buy another one to replace it so nothing seems out of order when the Feds start snooping around the house. You do know they are gonna’ suspect us; right?” she said.
“Shut up and let me think! Stop fucking ordering me around!” I shouted at her. I yelled so loud I scared the baby who had drifted off to sleep. I pulled the car over on the side of the road and put the car in park. Shuffling through my purse, I finally found my bag of magic blue pills. I needed to think, and I didn’t need Pajay looking over my shoulder and fussing in my ear about what I needed to do.
I took two of the pills and pulled back onto the road and drove until I ended up damn near in Baltimore. I pulled into a strip mall and purchased a new phone cord, identical to the one I needed to replace. I found a deli and decided I needed to have folks see me. That way if the police wanted to check into where I had been, my movements could be traced. I ordered a cold cut sub and a large orange juice. I fed the baby and picked at the sandwich until I felt like enough time had passed. Before leaving the deli, I tossed the old phone cord in the trash. There was no way anyone would be looking for a murder weapon way out in Baltimore.
When I arrived back at my home, I pulled the truck into the garage and popped another pill. I had to be sure I wouldn’t be getting another surprise visit from Pajay while I cleaned up her mess. Having her around while I tried to pull things off could be dangerous. All it would take was for her to get upset and I could land in the loony bin; or worse, jail.
I carried the baby inside and placed her carrier near the door. I headed straight up the steps to hook up the new phone cord. I made my way back down the steps and unstrapped the baby from the carrier and walked casually into the kitchen where Joseah’s body was still laying face up on the floor. She looked like she was sleeping, but I knew better. I put on my game face and grabbed the cordless phone from the counter.
“911. What is your emergency? Do you need the Police, the Fire Department or an Ambulance?” the 911 operator asked me.
I took a breath, it was show time!
“Ambulance. I think my nanny had an accident!” I shouted into the phone.
“What type of accident ma’am?”
“I’m not sure. I just returned home from running errands with my daughter and found her on the kitchen floor.” I responded trying to sound shaken.
“Is she breathing?”
“No…I don’t think so! Oh, please send someone quick!”
“Ma’am, please try and stay calm. Is there anyone else in the house with you?”
“Oh, God I don’t know!” I said trying to sound alarmed.
“Ma’am, can you and your daughter get out of the house safely?” the operator asked.
“I can try and go to my neighbor’s house.” I said.
“Ok, get out of the house and don’t touch anything. Help is on the way.”
I disconnected the call and headed out the front door to the neighbor’s house. I rang the bell and an older white lady opened the door. I explained the circumstances that had brought me to her home and she ushered me and my baby girl inside. Moments later, I heard the wail of the sirens making their way onto my street. My neighbor went back outside and directed the first officer who arrived to where I was.
I sat there in the lady’s kitchen with a blank look on my face; rocking the baby, tears rolling down my cheeks. Sympathetically, the officer told me to stay put. I nodded through fake tears and he left back out of the front door of my neighbor’s home. The sounds of blaring sirens and more trucks screeching to a halt could be heard. I knew there were at the front of my house. I couldn’t take it anymore and went out on the porch and joined my neighbor who was watching all of the commotion unfold.
The paramedics rushed inside my house and my heart started to pound. A light sweat formed on my forehead signaling the start of my roll. At least Pajay wasn’t a factor for the time being. It felt like time was standing still. I stood there for what felt like an eternity before the lead officer made his way over to me.
“Ma’am are you the one who made the call?” the officer asked.
“Yes…what happened…is she going to be alright?”
“It looks like she took a nasty fall and hit her head pretty hard. We will know more once the coroner gets here.”
“Oh God, no!” I exclaimed trying to seem as distressed as possible.
“I didn’t get your name ma’am.” The officer said pulling out a small notepad. He began jotting down something and looked at me waiting for me to give him my name.
“My name is Pajay… I mean ShaniQua Watkins.” I stammered trying to cover the fact that I had almost fucked up.
“We will need to ask you a few questions. You will have to come down to the station with us.” the officer stated before scribbling more
information on the paper.
“Sure, whatever you need officer. May I go inside and get my cell phone? I have to call my fiancé and let him know what’s going on.”
“Your fiancé? Where is he and what is his name?” the cop asked.
“His name is Ronald Evans. I dropped him off at the airport this morning. He has a performance in Atlanta. I am sure he has called me by now to let me know he got there safely.”
“You can’t go back in the house ma’am until the coroners have removed the body and the detectives have given the sign that the scene is all clear.”
Just as he finished his statement, a black coroner’s van pulled into my driveway. Two white females got out of the van and spoke briefly with a man who I assumed was the lead detective. Shortly thereafter, they followed him inside my house.
Through all of the excitement, and the comings and goings in my front yard, I managed to notice a black Impala with DC government plates making its way to the front of my house. I knew that car. I had seen it one too many times. It was Detective Gatsby. His being there meant nothing but more added stress for me.
“What the fuck does he want?” Pajay spoke up. Her voice was faint, but she was audible enough to cause me some alarm.
“This cracker is beginning to be a pain in my ass.” she said annoyed with his presence.
I watched him get out of the car and walk up my driveway. He flashed the other officers his badge and they let him through the yellow tape that was surrounding the perimeter of the house.
“Like it or not we are gonna’ have to deal with his ass, because if he starts snooping around and giving any of our past information to these other Feds it could mean trouble for us.” Pajay said. Then she finally grew quiet.
She had a valid point; if that nosy ass cop stirred up anything it could mean trouble for us all.
Chapter Twelve
Rare Essence (R.E)
“Lock It”
Detective Gatsby
I hadn’t slept all night. Every time I tried to close my eyes I would see her eyes wide open, staring at me, accusing me. I tossed and turned. I just knew someone from IA (Internal Affairs) would be knocking on my door to question me.
I gave up on the idea of sleeping and paced through my small apartment. I finally turned on my television to see if my latest fuck up had landed on the news. Flipping through the channels, I finally landed on Channel 8 News. From the looks of it, not only had they identified the young woman’s body, but they had notified her next of kin who was one of the dancers from the club. She was giving a statement and offering a reward to anyone that could give information that would lead to the arrest of her sister’s killer. I was just about to turn the TV off when the camera showed a very familiar face on the screen. It was Neko Reynolds. He was consoling the sister of my victim. The sadness in both of their eyes radiated through the screen. The reporter went on to say that the club had been closed the night before for a private function.
I shut off the television. I didn’t need to hear anymore. I couldn’t take it. That rapper guy, Dread, had been in the club that night and Neko Reynolds was involved with the victim’s sister. I knew Neko had plenty of hatred for Ronald Evans, and I was going to use that in my favor to get out of this mess I had created.
I felt better just thinking about what I was about to do. If everything went as I was planning it to go, I didn’t have to worry about anything else. I got dressed as quickly as I could. I would worry about showering later on. I had a mission to complete and I was going to get the job done once and for all.
*****
I pulled up to the Evans’ residence and it looked like a full three-ring circus outside. I almost panicked and drove off. Calming my nerves, I finally exited my car. There were police crawling all over the place. I flashed one of the rookie officers my badge. He let me through the taped-off area and I proceeded to look for my target. I had the arrest warrant in my hands and ready to take Ronald “Dread” Evans down on sight. He may not have committed the crime the night before, but he was going to get pinched for it! Especially if I had anything to do with it.
Walking through the massive yard and up the steps, I found the lead detective handling whatever was going on at the residence. To my surprise I found out that the nanny who worked for the Evans’ family was dead!
After being brought up to speed by the detectives on the scene of the happenings surrounding in the Evans’ house, I proceeded to try to find my mark. I walked back out to the front yard of the house and questioned the officers milling around if they knew where I could find Ms. Watkins. The young cop pointed over to the neighboring porch. I headed in the direction of Ms. Watkins and I could tell she was not happy to see me at all!
“Ms. Watkins, may I have a word with you?” I asked.
“No you cannot. As you can see I don’t really have the time to play these mind fuck games with you detective.” she snapped at me.
“Well, maybe this will help.” I said handing her the warrant for her fiancés arrest.
She scanned the paperwork and shook her head, balled up the paper, and threw it on the lawn.
“This has got to be all wrong! Dread didn’t have anything to do with that girl’s death. He was performing last night! Call his manager and they will be able to verify it!” she screamed at me.
“Ms. Watkins, did you ever stop to ask your fiancé where he was performing last night?”
She shook her head. I knew I had her right then and there. This shit was going to actually work!
“He was performing at the Stadium Club last night for a private event. According to sources he disappeared after his performance. There was quite a bit of time that he was unaccounted for. He had the means to murder that young girl, dump her body, and return home to you like it never happened.” I said putting the icing on the cake.
ShaniQua Watkins stood there simmering like a pot ready to boil over.
“Now where is he? Or would you like to go down for aiding and harboring a wanted man?” I asked her hoping she would give me a reason to slap the cuffs on her ass too. I was willing to lock up anyone; I had too to save my own ass. If that meant busting her too, then so be it!
“I hate to disappoint you Detective Gatsby, but he is out of town on business. He left this morning for Atlanta.” NiQue said.
“Now isn’t that convenient? A woman loses her life and now Mr. Evans is out of town! How convenient indeed! And now, of all things, we have a dead nanny and it doesn’t strike you as funny that he skipped town?” I said, stirring the pot. “I will see to it that we get his ass this time. He keeps slipping away from me, but he won’t this time. He got off for killing your best friend’s entire family and you still stand firm on protecting that piece of shit. He must have put it on your dumb ass good!” I said, making her hotter than the flames of hell.
“Look Detective Can’t Catch Crook, if you want to walk out of here with your own life, you would want to get the fuck outta my face! I am not beyond fucking up a washed-up cop with a hard on for busting niggas for no reason!” she spewed.
She was so feisty it was a turn on. I quickly shook off those types of thoughts because that is what landed me here in the first place; me wanting to fuck some sweet, juicy, black pussy.
I started to go back and forth with her for the hell of it, but I knew it wasn’t going to do me any good. I was going to let her win this round, but she was going to have to see me again!
Her elderly neighbor put her arms around NiQue’s shoulders and tried to get her to go inside the house. NiQue shook her head. She handed the baby to the older white woman and then she walked up to me. Her full chest was heaving up and down in a rhythmic pattern that you couldn’t help but notice. Her eyes were dilated wide as saucers, which struck me as strange because it was bright as a summer’s day outside and unless she had them medically dilated it was odd for them to be that way. Her skin was slick with sweat. I knew that look; she was high.
“Detective Gatsby, you and I both k
now my husband is no killer. He is an entertainer! If you keep up this bullshit of trying to frame him, I swear I will make you pay for it with your life.” She stuck her finger in my chest and something about the way she threatened me made me believe that she would do just as she said she would. There was no way she was just going to threaten me and get away with it. My ego would not stand for it.
“Ms. Watkins now you look here! I am an officer of the law and I am doing my job. Now you are more than welcome to run and get your lawyer or whoever you want to get, but you are not going to stand here and threaten me like you have no respect for the law.” I said sternly.
“Oh, I have respect for the law, just not for you! And if you don’t get the fuck out of here, you will see how disrespectful I can be. I don’t need my lawyer to deal with you!” She seethed.
Something about what she said had me shook. I knew she meant ever word she was saying. This ballsy bitch wasn’t making threats, she was making promises. I backed away from her because something about her seemed inhumane. I didn’t want her that close to me. The sexual attraction I had originally felt was gone now and I didn’t want it to come back. This bitch would fuck around and bite my dick off!
“Do me a favor, tell your fiancé he should make this easy on himself and turn himself in or I can make this ugly for the both of you.”
I turned to head back over to where the Maryland cops were trying to restore order on the normally peaceful block. I stopped in my tracks, turned around and approached Ms. Watkins again.
“Oh, and whatever you are high off of, you better not let these county cops find out, they will have that pretty baby in foster care faster than you can blink.” I laughed and walked away from her.
If she had believed Ronald was innocent, she definitely doubted it now. From the looks of it, he hadn’t told her about the location of his show the night before and if I didn’t have any other ammo against him, what I had just told her was the shit that sealed his fate.