by Roy Glenn
“Okay,” Panthea told Marcus as she was led away in cuffs.
Marcus stood and watched Panthea until she was out of the courtroom. He placed his papers in the briefcase and prepared to leave for his office. “Mr. Douglas?” a male voice called.
Marcus turned around to see Scott Daniels standing behind him. “Yes, Mr. Daniels,” he answered with a bit of contempt. “What can I do for you?”
“I want to apologize for the way I acted yesterday at the jail. I didn’t know who you were,” Scott said.
“Don’t worry about it, Mr. Daniels. I’m sure you were under a lot of pressure,” Marcus said and started to walk away.
“One more thing, Mr. Douglas.”
Marcus stopped and turned. “What’s that?”
“When did my wife hire you?”
“She came to my office earlier this week on another matter.”
“Would you mind telling me what about?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I would. That would be a violation of attorney-client privilege. I am not at liberty to discuss that with you.”
“I know you can’t give me details, but I’m the one paying the bill. Could you at least tell me what it was about?”
“No sir, I’m afraid I can’t,” Marcus said and once again started to walk away, but this time Scott grabbed his arm. “Unless you want me to break that hand, I suggest you remove it.” Scott let go of his arm, and Marcus took a step toward him. “If you ever touch me again, I’ll kill you.”
On the way out of the courthouse, Marcus had to ask himself what was up with that? He had just threatened to kill a man just for touching him.
The reason was simple.
Marcus wanted his wife.
And that was enough of a reason for Marcus to dislike Scott. He tried not to be judgmental and let his personal feeling about cheating spouses get in his way, but he couldn’t. Marcus had caught his wife Randa in bed with another man. He thought about Panthea and wondered why any man would cheat on such a beautiful and oh so sexy woman. Marcus pulled out his cell phone and put in a call to Janise. He asked her to call Olivia so she could meet him in his office as soon as possible.
Panthea could hear the guard’s feet shuffling along the floor. But this time, she refused to allow her heart to soar with hope. She was certain this time would end just like all the rest. She’d hear them come, keys jingling and soon the door would slide open after he yelled to the gatekeeper, and then out someone other than her would stroll.
No, not this time, there was no way she’d allow herself to fall into that trap again. The truth was, each time she had before, the let down was more than she could bear. This time when she heard the feet stop at her cell door, she still refused to give hope a place in her heart.
“Panthea Daniels,” a voice called. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes snapped open, and she bolted upright on the poor excuse of a cot she’d tossed and turned on for the last twenty-four hours.
“Did—did you just call my name?”
“Yeah bitch, but why don’t you just stay here, and let me go since you ain’t got no place else to be,” a nasty hooker said as she shot Panthea a dirty look.
“Cool it, Cinnamon,” the guard said. He motioned toward Panthea, “Look, you need to come on. You made bail.”
Panthea could hardly believe her ears. It was true, and she was about to leave that god-forsaken place and go home.
She quickly shuffled herself from the cot, slipped her feet into the plastic slippers and rushed out of the cell she had shared with the hooker and two other women.
After processing wrapped up, Panthea was so thrilled to be walking out the doors, she didn’t know if she should shout or start dancing. She wanted to do both, but the sight of Scott quickly curtailed her desire for celebration. What the hell took you so damn long? Panthea thought.
“Are you okay?” Scott asked.
As if you could actually care, Panthea thought. “I’m as good as can be expected,” she answered bitterly.
“Well, let’s get you home and cleaned up,” he said.
Panthea wanted to wash herself for days in hopes of sending this horrible experience down the drain. She knew and understood her battle was far from over, but still, she’d been humiliated with an arrest then jailed like some common criminal. She wanted nothing more than to return to the comfort of her home.
When Marcus arrived at his office, he found Olivia there waiting for him. Much to his surprise, Garrett was sitting in the waiting room right next to her. “Good morning, Olivia. And Garrett, what are you doing here?”
“I don’t know what he’s doing here,” Olivia said before Garrett could answer. “I told him I got this.”
“I know you got it, Olivia, but the circumstances of the case have changed. It’s a murder case now. You did a good job on the surveillance, but I just think that I’m better qualified to handle a murder investigation, right Marcus?”
“Let’s talk in my office,” Marcus said then led the bickering duo down the hall. Once they got to his office, Marcus quickly asked Olivia what she’d found out before her and Garrett could start up again.
“Not much,” Olivia said and took out her notes. “I’ve been looking into the victim, Abril Arrington, and other than her name, where she lived and where her office was, I haven’t found out very much.”
“What kind of business was she in,” Marcus asked.
“She ran a small business called Venture Capital, which put investors with business people looking for financing for their new, growing, or struggling business.”
“What type of investment?” Garrett asked.
“Venture capital investments are generally high-risk investments, but offer the potential for above-average returns and or a percentage of ownership in the company,” Olivia said.
“What about the murder, Olivia, anything on that?” Marcus needed to know for both professional and personal reasons.
“Nothing yet. I haven’t heard back from my contact in the department.”
“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” Garrett interrupted. “You shoulda had that yesterday. In a murder investigation there is no time to waste, Olivia. That’s why you need to let me handle this, Marcus.”
“Why you gotta handle it, Garrett?” Olivia shot back. “You must think you’re the only one with contacts in the department. Now I told you, I talked to my guy, all he could tell me at the time was what she was charged with, and he’ll get back to me. I’m expecting a call from him any minute,” Olivia said in defense. For her, it was a little deeper than just being the one to handle the investigation; it was a matter of money. If Garrett took over the investigation, that meant she would be out of a job.
Marcus held up his hand. “Enough,” he said loud enough to end the debate. “Garrett, get on the phone. See what you can get from your sources.”
“Who’s the lead detective?” Garrett asked.
“Guy named Silver.”
“Jerry,” Garrett said and began dialing. “Me and Jerry go back.”
“Atlanta Police, how may I direct your call?” the feminine voice answered.
“Detective Silver please. Garrett Mason calling.” Garrett put the call on speaker and motioned for Marcus and Olivia to be quiet.
It wasn’t long before Silver came on the line. “Mason, you low down son-of-a-bitch.”
“What’s up, Jerry?”
“You still giving the women hell?” Silver asked.
“Every chance I get,” Garrett said and looked at Olivia. “What about you? How you doing?”
“Same as always, Mason—solving crimes one case at a time.”
“I know that’s right. Listen, you caught a case one of my clients is defending.”
“Which one?”
“Panthea Daniels. What’s the story with that one?”
“She killed her husband’s mistress—that’s the story with that one,” Silver said matter-of-factly.
“Okay, can you give me a
ny more than that, Jerry?”
“Won’t you guys get all this in discovery?” Silver asked.
“Yeah, but I’m just trying to get a head start. You know me, Jerry.”
“Pretty cut and dry. She’s being charged with the murder of Abril Arrington. You know the husband was banging her. You were probably the one who followed him.”
“No, that was one of my operatives.”
“Business must be good for you to hire somebody. What—you got her handling your light work?” Silver asked. Olivia leaned forward. She was about to say something, but Marcus touched her hand.
“Not at all, Jerry. I got a good one here. She has my full confidence,” Garrett said.
“Glad it’s working out for you. Anyway, she leaves Douglas’s office she goes to the bitch’s house. They get into it. They fight and Daniels ends up pushing the home wrecker, causing her to fall through a glass coffee, cut her jugular vein and bleed to death.”
Marcus wrote the words, I KNOW ALL THIS. ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE? And held it up for Garrett to see. “Was there any physical evidence placing Mrs. Daniels at the scene?”
“No physical evidence, but we have an eye witness that says he saw a woman running out of the condo and get in a black Mercedes.”
“He get a license number?” Garrett asked.
“No.”
“Not even a partial, huh?”
“No, Mason, not even a partial.”
“But you do have an eyeball witness; he pretty solid?”
“Like a rock.”
“Well, I’m sure even without any prints or DNA at the scene, your witness will be enough to carry it. Hey, Jerry, thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I’ll let you get back to work,” Garrett said and hung up the phone. “They got nothing, all circumstantial.”
“That’s what it sounds like to me,” Marcus said. Olivia nodded her head. She could feel the job slipping away from her. “But they still have a strong motive, and she has an unconfirmed alibi,” Marcus continued. “Garrett, I want you to stay on the murder.”
“You got it, boss.” Garrett turned to Olivia. “I’m sorry, Olivia, but this is what I do.”
“No, I want her to stay involved in this,” Marcus said. Olivia breathed a sigh of relief.
“You know I work better alone, Marcus. She’ll just slow me down.”
“That is so unfair, Garrett. I will not slow you down. I’m not just some rookie—”
Marcus held up his hand. “Enough.” Both Garrett and Olivia looked at Marcus. “You two sound like you’re married.”
“No, we don’t,” Olivia said quickly and Garrett agreed.
“I know you work alone,” Marcus added. “That’s why I want Olivia to look into Abril Arrington. I want to know everything about her. Who she was in business with, who her clients were—everything. Talk to the neighbors, one of them has got to be the eyewitness. Take a run at him. Let’s see how rock solid he is. As far as I can see, their case hinges on him. And see if you can’t run down her alibi. His name is Wade Long.”
“You got it, boss.” Olivia turned to Garrett. “I’m sorry, Garrett, but this is what I do.” She turned back to Marcus. “You want me to go at the husband?”
“Take a look at him, follow the money, but don’t talk to him, at least not yet. Once we see how this is looking, I might want Garrett to go at him hard.”
“Cause that’s what I do, girlie,” Garrett said and beat his chest.
“I can do hard,” Olivia said quietly.
9
It was another hot afternoon in the ATL, another day that Olivia wished the air conditioner in her Honda worked. But the way her finances were going, getting Freon for the compressor was so far down on the priority list that it wasn’t even funny. Olivia was behind on just about every bill she had.
It was after one o'clock and Olivia thought she would stop somewhere for lunch. And she was sure that she wouldn’t be going any place like Oceanaire Seafood Room. That Black and Bleu, Blue Marlin Steak set her back a chunk and Garrett wasn’t going to reimburse her for her expense until next week. So, as she had done many times before, she would stop at McDonalds and order a kids meal.
Olivia had spent the morning trying to get some background on Abril Arrington, but she really hadn’t gotten anywhere.
Her next stop would be Venture Capital, the business Abril Arrington owned. The office was in Dunwoody, not far from Perimeter Mall. Olivia decided she would pass up Mickey D’s and grab something in the mall, maybe even do a little window-shopping. One thing was certain, she definitely was enjoying the freedom she now had not being on the job anymore; being a beat cop was to confining for her. Olivia only hoped things would work out for her. “Cause these lunches is getting expensive,” Olivia mused as she got out of her car and went inside.
She wondered around the food court trying to decide what to have. Did she have a taste for Malibu Wings or Panda Express or Sakkio Japan? Olivia decided to be a good girl and chose Salad Sensations.
After lunch, Olivia made her way to Venture Capital. It was located in a nice office park. Olivia went in the building and approached the receptionist. “Good afternoon. How may I help you?” the woman asked.
“My name is Olivia Wayne. I’m a private investigator looking into the death of Abril Arrington, and I was wondering if I could have a look at her office?”
“I’m sorry. Who did you say you were looking for?”
“Abril Arrington,” Olivia said tentatively.
“I’m sorry. I’m not familiar with that name.”
“This isn’t her office?”
“What’s the name of her company?” the receptionist asked.
“Venture Capital. I was told that this was her office and had been for the last two years. Maybe my information is wrong,” Olivia said more to herself than the receptionist.
“Venture Capital. Yes, we do rent space to that company.”
“Rent space?”
“Yes, we rent office space to small business people. It comes with a receptionist that answers their calls in their company’s name. And they get access to the conference room, computers and other office equipment.”
“I see. The receptionist—that would be you?”
“That’s right.”
“How long have you been working here?”
“Two years this December.”
“And you say Venture Capital does have an office here, but you don’t know who Abril Arrington is? Do they get a lot of calls? Or has any of her clients come here asking for her?”
“Not enough to make me remember. And if someone had come looking for her it would have had to be while I was at lunch. And they still would have had to sign in and out.” The woman said pointing to a logbook that sat on the counter. “To tell you the truth, I know everybody who works in this office. If that person, whatever her name is, had an office here, I would know her. Venture Capital may have an office here, but they don’t do business here.”
“Did you tell all of this to detective Silver?”
“Who?”
“Detective Silver. He’s the cop assigned to the case.”
“I never heard of him. You’re the only one who’s been here asking questions.” The phone started ringing. “Would you excuse me for a minute,” the woman said, turning slightly to grab the phone. “United Brothers Shipping,” she sang into the receiver.
While the receptionist took her call, Olivia looked around the lobby and thought it was strange that somebody could have an office they never came to. She also thought it was a little strange that Detective Silver hadn’t been there.
“Do you think it would be alright if I took a look in her office?”
“I can tell you where the office is, but I can’t let you in. Even if I wanted to, I don’t have a key to the clients offices.”
Olivia smiled, knowing she could pick a lock. “Just tell me where it is, and I’ll be out of your hair.”
The receptionist told Olivia where to find the o
ffice, and she went off by herself in search of it. After making sure the hallway was clear, Olivia went to work on the lock. Olivia dug in her purse for her tension wrench and inserted it into the keyhole. She had no trouble at all with the lock and was inside in no time.
It was a small one-person office with a desk and two chairs in front of it. On the desk, sat a computer and a phone, but nothing else. No papers, no mail, opened or otherwise. No personal pictures on the desk or on the walls. In fact, the walls were bare.
Olivia looked in the desk drawers and in the small file cabinet. “Nothing,” she said and sat down at the desk. “Who are you, Abril Arrington?”
After leaving the never used office of Venture Capital, Olivia drove to the North Avenue condominium where the murder was committed. Her mission there wasn’t to check out the crime scene. Although she was dying to get in there, Olivia was there to canvas the neighbors—to find out something about the mystery woman.
Olivia had been there for over an hour, knocked on a few doors and talked to a few residents in the parking lot. She talked to the police’s eyewitness and confirmed his story. He saw somebody leaving in a hurry but couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. Everyone else she spoke to said basically the same thing about Abril Arrington. They were all naturally shocked by the murder.
“She seemed like such a nice person,” a few actually said. But nobody could tell Olivia anything about her. Most didn’t even know her name.
Olivia got in her car, ready to drive downtown to Marcus’s office. She backed out of the space and was on her way out of the complex when she saw an older woman, sitting in a first floor window. She was immediately reminded of her great grandmother. Olivia looked in her rear view mirror at Abril Arrington's condo then pulled into the first space she could.
Olivia got out of the car and walked toward the older woman’s building. As she walked, she tried to gauge the distance from the window to the condo. “Hundred and a half, maybe two hundred feet.”
Olivia turned toward the window, the woman was watching her. Olivia thought back to the days when she was a little girl, when her great grandmother used to sit in the window all day. She was well into her nineties and couldn’t get around very well.