by Ronnie Allen
“What kind of clothing does she design?”
“Some hip hop accessories. Belts, bandanas, caps, fancy shoelaces. Stuff I don’t understand, nor care to.”
“Have an exact address?”
“Of the business?”
“And her house.”
“Not offhand. But she has a warehouse in downtown Brooklyn, Never been there. The brownstone is on Garfield Place or something. She wanted complete anonymity and independence. It was as if no one knowing about her made her important. I never understood her thinking but I respected it. That’s something she never had. Respect. Never appreciated anything anyone has done for her.”
Frank shook his head. “Mr. Manning. Things aren’t adding up. What you’ve told us so far is nothing that would make you out to be a creep. Helping the kids of a close friend is commendable, especially when they’re having a hard time dealing with their own parents.”
Manning slumped in the chair.
“Mr. Manning?”
“All right.” He sighed. “I am the twins’ biological father.”
Silence overtook the room. Just for a moment.
“Do they know?” Frank asked.
Manning cleared his throat, swallowed. “They found out ten years ago. At fifteen. Kathryn, Mrs. Larcon, had a mental breakdown. She was committed and was having a nightmare in the hospital. The twins were in her room. She woke up screaming for them to get their father. Adam called Steven in from the lounge. When he came into the room, she started screaming again, ‘No not him! Jaye! Jaye is your father.’ Well, they thought it was her medications and her illness playing tricks. But Steven knew better. He never saw it coming, however, he saw the truth immediately. The twins were blond like me. Valerie was darker like him and Kathryn. He freaked out, the screaming was horrendous. He had to be sedated. The twins escaped into drugs after that. Their relationships were made rocky, permanently. And before you ask, no Steven never wanted a divorce. He felt there’d never be another woman who’d allow him his...uh...extracurricular activities without complaint.
“And Kathryn and I were no longer seeing each other. Ours was nothing but a short fling and we became careless. So she conceived. She and Steven were still having sex so it was believable and Steven never thought twice. And what you heard in the scene was true. It was I who paid all of their rehab expenses. Steven refused to pay for anything for them after that. And, yes, even the apartment. It’s in Steven’s name, but I pay the three thousand a month mortgage.”
Frank hesitated in an effort not to sound judgmental and moistened his lips before he spoke. “And you still remained partners in business and otherwise?”
“Yes. Money and our fun trumped all. Even family.” Manning paused. “So I guess that does make me a creep.”
***
Sam entered the section where AriellaRose’s room was in the psychiatric ward. The stark whiteness of the walls, and how they blended with the staff’s white uniforms, jolted her. The boundary between human and concrete seemed to have faded. She had to consent to a mini search that meant she had to walk through a scanner. Even though she handed in her weapon to be put into a lock box, the metal studs on her pants and jacket triggered the alarm. The hefty security guard looked at her as if she should have known better. She had, and thought about it after she had gotten to the precinct, less than a mile from the hospital. Frank had placed her on the approved visitors list, so the guard let it slide and admitted her into the wing. Frank also told her that everything in the room was recorded, visually and audibly, so she left her recorder in the car.
She walked into AriellaRose’s room. It was a little smaller than her private one at the hospital with the same colored walls. Light green. There were some oceanfront lithographs on the walls. Not too bad.
AriellaRose faced the door when she heard Sam enter. “What do you want?” She crossed her arms across her chest, laying them on top of the white sheets. She didn’t bother to sit up.
“Well, at least you’re not restrained.”
“Yeah. Where the fuck am I going to go?”
“Nowhere. So as long as you know that, we’ll talk for a while. Have some things to discuss with you.”
“You can sit over there. I’m not talking.”
“We just met with Jaye Manning. Sorry you had to find out the way you did. I never went through anything like that, but I can imagine how it made you feel.”
“Yeah, well. He’s more of a dad to me than Steven was.”
“That’s a plus.”
“I guess.”
“I need to show you something.” Sam retrieved the white band in a manila envelope with the clear plastic window from her tote. “Recognize this by any chance?”
AriellaRose stared. “No. Not at all.” Her face reddened, redder than a beet--a sweet roasted beet, as two minutes of silence passed.
“Know where we found it?”
“Where?”
“Near where your dad’s body was dragged and left.”
“I’m not feeling well. You need to leave.”
“Not just yet. There’s something more.” Sam plucked the second manila envelope that held the amulet from her bag. She turned the clear plastic side to face AriellaRose. “Let’s try again. What about this one? We found it on the ground--close to where your mother fell in the parking lot of the church, coming out of her AA meeting with your sister who also fell.”
AriellaRose began to cough, then choke. She brought up phlegm that stuck in her throat. Her complexion whitened. Sam ran to the door and screamed for the nurses. AriellaRose’s eyes widened, then almost rolled back in her head as she gasped to catch her breath. Her hands clutched her throat. She couldn’t dislodge the phlegm. Her gagging made her retch.
It seemed like more than thirty seconds, to Sam, before nurses ran in and shoved her out of the way. One nurse had to fight the panicking AriellaRose to hold her still. The nurse pushed her shoulders flat. AriellaRose punched her away and bobbed her body as much as she could to fight her. A second nurse grabbed her arms, one at a time, and forced wrists restraints on her that attached to the steel security bars on the side of the bed. When both wrists were secured, the second nurse held her face still, pinching her cheeks to open her mouth in order to insert a tube down into her throat to aspirate her. AriellaRose gagged, kicking her legs in protest.
After a minute, the nurse removed the tube filled with mucous. It looked to Sam, like a turkey baster filled with fat. AriellaRose began to catch her breath. The nurse removed the restraints. More mucus spilled out of her mouth into a tray that a nurse handed her. AriellaRose sat up, bent forward, and rocked like an autistic child. Then she pulled up the bed sheet and used it to wipe dribble from her chin. She heaved heavily at first, then her breathing became shallow after a couple of minutes.
Her gaze rocketed evil, that looked like a death wish, straight at Sam. Sam felt the negative surge of energy, but thanks to the pendant around her neck and healing stones in her pockets, the negative energy went right back to the sender. Sam smiled as the jolt of returning energy smacked AriellaRose in the face. She saw AriellaRose’s body sway about a millimeter upon impact. Sam’s energy was strong and it would behoove AriellaRose to get the message. From the look in her fear-ridden eyes, she had.
“Feeling better?”
“Get the fuck out of here!”
“AriellaRose, please listen to me. Someone, or a few people are killing your family. You and Adam could be next. We want to protect you. I know you work with spells and amulets. Do you know to whom these belong?”
“No, I don’t. Get out.”
“We know who the amulet belongs to.”
“Then why are you asking me?”
“We need you to tell me where I can find them.”
“Who? Who the fuck are you talking about?”
“The amulet belongs to an Emma Sanders. AKA Calinda Alexander.”
AriellaRose looked stunned.
“You see? We have a contraption that attach
es to a computer that reads a fingerprint. Then there’s a program called AFIS that identifies the person based on a match. Emma was in the system because she stole drugs from her father’s employer, a pharmaceutical company in Westchester. He lost his job. And the judge told her if she did it again, which she has, escalating to murder, there’d be jail time. Did you know that?” Sam paused. “Yeah, sure you did. Is that the hold you had over her?”
AriellaRose kicked her blanket off her. She must have had a surge of adrenalin because she grabbed a plastic knife she had had on her sheet and launched forward to attack Sam with the knife. She almost made it off the bed, but Sam grabbed her arm and pushed her back down. Sam held her down until the psychiatric nurse rushed in and took over. He held her shoulders down and leaned over her, until she calmed down.
While holding AriellaRose securely, he turned his head toward Sam. “You okay, Detective?”
Sam looked up at the man who was bigger and a lot younger than Khaos. She read his name plate. “Yes. Thank you, Jake.”
He gave AriellaRose a hard stare. “Are you putting her under arrest?”
“Actually, I’m not. She’s been through hell. Between her meds and what’s been happening, I’m going to let it slide. Just a woman-to-woman courtesy. Is she allowed visitors?”
AriellaRose looked stunned, stayed quiet and attentive.
“Only if they’re on the approved list.”
“Um, is she allowed phone calls?”
“Not in this ward. No way.”
“Jake, is it possible to bend on this? I mean, AriellaRose has just gone through some major trauma losing her family. She needs the comfort of friends. Who else does she have to turn to? Please? Can you cut her some slack?”
He sighed, as if in deep contemplation. “All right. I’ll return her phone. I have it at the nurses’ station. AriellaRose, I’ll give you your phone to make two calls, max. Then I take it back. Clear?”
AriellaRose looked confused but nodded.
“Come on, Detective. She has to rest now.”
“Feel better,” Sam said as she left the room with Jake.
When they got to the nurses’ station, Sam felt both relieved and uncomfortable. “Thanks, Jake, for going along with this. We know she arranged for these murders. I hate the deceiving part. But she’s in custody, so to speak, and we need to find her partners.”
“No problem. With the warrant Doctor Khaos just brought over, her phone is already tapped, location services turned on. And we have that other thing, for just in case. So good luck, Detective.”
“Thanks.” Sam left, head down, knowing she was doing a wrong to make a right.
CHAPTER 24
For whatever reason, AriellaRose understood not to cause a problem with Jake. He would not be as soft or consoling as Tattooman. She had already experienced his hard hands around her. He didn’t hesitate to demonstrate his strength. Fuck him, her ribs still hurt from his grasp. Those eyes alone, in that piercing dark brown, conveyed there was a very hard man who lurked behind them. From the screams she’d heard from the patients next door and down the hall, he must deal with men three or four times her size, and with multiplied craziness. He probably considered her a druggie with mood swings. Big deal. She’d be a piece of cake for him to handle. She still had no idea why she was committed. She’d had an angry outburst. So what? Hadn’t Tattooman ever seen one of those? She looked toward the door when she heard it open.
Jake entered the room and handed AriellaRose her phone without saying a word.
She looked up at him in his pure white uniform and gave him a hesitant stare. “Thank you.”
“Okay. You have two calls,” Jake told her. “A few minutes each. Nothing more. You have no idea how lucky you are. Detective Wright really likes you and she wants to get you out of this mess. And to keep you alive. She’s probably your only advocate right now. Understand that?”
“Yes, I know. I am thankful for that. She’s the only one who wants to help me. Don’t worry. I understand. Can I call later? My friends are working and their bosses don’t want personal calls. I know how worried they must be about me.”
“Sure. Okay, then. I’ll take the phone back and you buzz me when you’re ready.” She placed the phone in his open hand. “Try to get some rest.” He started to leave the room and turned back when AriellaRose pushed the sheets off her and got off the bed. “Where you going?”
“Bathroom. I feel like I’m getting my period. Got my pads in here.” She lifted her bag. “It’s the only thing you let me keep, except for my panties.” I’m not waiting till my friends get off from work, you dirt bag. The bitch detective is way too close and I’ve got to take care of business.
“Okay. Go.” Jake left the room with quick strides.
In the hall, he sent a text to Sam. No go. I still have the phone.
Crap. Got the bug in place, though, right? Sam responded.
Yes. In the paper roll, Jake answered. Was in place when you were here. Dr. Khaos had someone in housekeeping do it, so we’ll have to wait and see. I’ll keep you posted.
AriellaRose disconnected the IV pole, wrapped the cord on the hooks below the monitor and slid the pole to the front of the bed. With her bag in the pit of her arm, she dragged the pole close to the bathroom door. The cord was long enough for her to enter the bathroom and leave the pole outside. It was about a foot taller than the door frame. She closed the door as tight as she could without squashing the IV tube.
Thank the universe there were no recording devices in here. At least that’s what they had told her. She’d inspected the bathroom before and hadn’t seen any. The tiles were a pristine white on the walls and in the shower stall. The curtain had a striped black and white pattern. She searched again for anything that looked out of the ordinary around and under the sink, in back of the toilet. She bent down and let her fingers roam around the pipes. Nothing.
She took out a large plastic bag of sanitary napkins from her tote bag, pulled back the tab at the top of the bag, and removed twenty heavy flow napkins that were individually wrapped. Next, she pulled out a small smartphone that lay on top and in the middle of about fifteen more pads.
“Thank God, all these psychiatric nurses are men. They wouldn’t have thought to go near this. And another thank you, Aradia, for no scanner. Ah heck, they knew I couldn’t have anything on me. I’m almost naked under this crap gown. Sorry, Hecate, can’t forget you. Thank you for making me aware to always carry this hidden phone. Actually, what would I do without my Goddesses of the Dark? I’m really blessed.”
First she sent a text. Get my message 2 L. What I told U yesterday. Last contact.
She stared at the number before she made the call. She was pissed. Her beholden fucked up. They would pay. Definitely Flower, Emma, Calinda. Who cared what she called herself now? AriellaRose’s mind wandered to the consequences she’d be dealing out, visualizing Moon and Cloud binding Flower to the restraining poles. Both wrists and ankles. Flower being stripped naked. Her clothing cut off with shears. Cold, sharpened shears that would poke and scrape against her bare skin, preparing her for the worst that was to come. Her wails, asking for forgiveness, knowing it would be to no avail. The thin, sharpened blades, two at a time slicing through her delicate brown skin. The blood oozing. She’d remind them to make sure they didn’t overlap on healing cuts. She wanted fresh ones to remind Flower of her disobedience.
How many cuts should I delegate as the punishment?
That she’d have to think about after she spoke to them. After all, she was a fair leader. Her punishments were always warranted. Chills went through her. She held onto the sink with both hands and closed her eyes until the terrifying waves of energy ceased. It was almost as scary as an orgasm. She was so pissed. But which one lost the band? Now they had an ID with the amulet. And that bitch talked way too much. The fuck-ups stop now.
Oh Aradia.
She couldn’t think straight. Her thoughts jumbled in her brain.
Who would do
what to whom?
She had to plan. Had to be the one who gave the orders. She had been the one they depended on to make sure everything went as planned. She was their leader. The Warrior. It sucked she couldn’t do this from her ritual room. She tapped the call key.
Cloud answered the phone on the second ring. “Ram, where are you?”
“In a psych ward. They got an ID on Flower. She lost her fucking amulet but which one of you bitches lost your wristband? It was in the park, the three of you were there.”
From the pause on the other end of the line, AriellaRose sensed Cloud knew.
“I have mine. I swear. And so does Moon. I saw it when she pulled the trigger on Valerie.”
“Where are you now?”
“At the warehouse, packing orders.”
“The three of you?”
“Yes,” Cloud whimpered.
“Send me a group pic in a text of your wrists showing the bands. Now.”
Less than a minute later the pic came through. Cloud had her band as did Moon. Flower’s brown wrist was bare.
“I don’t have time to stay on the phone to listen, but do the necessary, now, in the back room. For the amulet and band. Make sure the floor is covered and get rid of the tarps. And no Blue to mask the pain. I’m doing without it and so can she. Different ones. On virgin skin. I expect her to bleed--a lot.”
AriellaRose disconnected the call. She placed the phone back into the bag, replaced the napkins, re-sealed the top, then sat on the toilet. Fuck. She’d surprised herself. She did get her period. Soaked through her gown and panties, too. Damn, she felt wet. Thought that was the thrill. She depressed the emergency nurse’s alarm in the bathroom.
Jake came in ASAP. “AriellaRose, what’s going on? What’s taking you so long?”
“I did get my period. My stomach is killing me and I soiled my gown.”
“No problem. I’ll get you another one.” He pulled one out of the closet. “May I open the door?”
“Yes.”