by Stacy-Deanne
“You left Alicia in that neighborhood alone after she’d been drinking?”
“What could I do?” She turned away. “It was Nadine’s van and you know how she is when she gets mad.”
“But Alicia was our friend. If it had been me, I’d have stayed with her to make sure she was safe. Mercy, how could you leave her alone like that?”
“I hate that we did that. She might still be alive if we hadn’t. Don’t you think I think about this every fuckin’ day?”
“What happened then?”
“We went back to Angel’s and told him what happened. He was still mad at Alicia but he was worried, too. He told Nadine to go back and take her home before something bad happened to her. Nadine agreed, then she left.” Mercy looked at her hands. “That’s the last time Angel or I heard from Nadine.”
“I don’t believe this.” Blake stared at the couple sitting across the park. “How could you keep this a secret?”
“I was scared.” A tear hung from her lip. “I knew it looked bad, that’s why I didn’t say anything. The cops will think we did something to her.”
“Hiding it has made it worse instead of better, I assure you.” Blake sighed. “You gotta tell Adams and Dao.”
“I can’t.” Mercy grabbed her. “What if they don’t believe me?”
“You have to tell the truth.” Blake held her. “If you really care about Alicia then you’ll do all you can to help them find out who murdered her.”
****
“How can you not have anything yet?” Pastor Bellows moved the rolling chair up and down between Alexis and Penelope’s cubicles. “There must be some leads.”
“I’m sorry.” Alexis twirled her pencil within her fingers. “But other than what we’ve told you we have nothing else to report about Alicia.”
Penelope put her hand on his shoulder. “As soon as we find out something significant you’ll be the first to know.”
“I just wonder if we’re being forgotten here,” he said. “Eli and I have been going through the motions but we’re not feeling anything. We’re dead emotionally.” He covered his eyes. “My baby girl is dead and no one will tell me anything.”
“Pastor, please.” Penelope patted his back. “We understand how hard this is for you and we promise that we wouldn’t hide anything we felt you needed to know.”
He put his hand down. “You’ve talked to her friends and everything. How can there be nothing? Are there any suspects that stick out to you?”
“Unfortunately several people have motive, but you have to understand that we can’t divulge the details of our investigation.” Alexis turned to her computer.
“Not even to her father?” He gawked at her. “I deserve to know what’s going on.”
“And Alicia deserves for us to not compromise this case,” Alexis said. “We can’t risk information getting in the wrong hands.”
“But I won’t tell.” He stood and leaned over Alexis. “I need to know something, please. I’m dying not knowing.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “We’ve told you all we can at this point, but we’re trying our best.”
He backed away from the desk. “Nadine’s mother came to my church yesterday. She asked me to pray for Nadine and I did.” He looked at Penelope. “I told her I knew Nadine was okay and that she’d come home alive. It was the first time I ever lied during prayer. I don’t believe Nadine is alive and I don’t think she’s coming back.”
Penelope sighed. “We hope that’s not the case.”
“I pray I’m wrong about Nadine.” Bellows grabbed Alexis’ hand. “You have to find the monster that did this. You have to.”
Chapter Seventeen
“So.” Penelope grabbed a pack of gum and threw it into her shopping basket as she and Alexis waited in the grocery store line that evening. “Kevin still mad at you for wiring Base?”
“Nah.” Alexis smirked as she checked the cart on her arm to make sure she’d gotten everything. “As soon as I got him back to his place I made him forget just how mad he was.”
Penelope grabbed the latest issue of Vogue off the rack, her slanted eyes radiated from the soft, pink eyeshadow. “You been putting it on him huh, girl?”
Alexis patted her hair, which she’d put into a ponytail. “The man could barely see after I finished with his ass. Let alone walk.”
They laughed.
When they got to the counter, the cashier greeted Alexis and rang up her groceries without giving Alexis a total.
The female sacker put the items in the sack and handed them to Alexis. “Have a nice day, Detective Adams.”
“Umm.” Alexis took the bag and looked at the cheerful cashier. “Didn’t you forget something? I haven’t paid yet.”
“It’s fine.” The cashier started ringing up Penelope’s groceries.
Penelope watched Alexis and shrugged.
“Uh, excuse me,” Alexis said. “I have to pay for my groceries.”
“No you don’t.” The cashier smiled, finished with Penelope, and told her a total.
Penelope grimaced. “Can I get a hook up too?” She handed the woman her debit card.
“Hold on.” Alexis laid the sack on the counter. “I don’t know what’s going on here but never before have I come in here and not had to pay for my groceries.” She looked around, grinning. “Did I win some sweepstakes or something?”
“No.” The cashier handed Penelope her card. “Your money’s no good here, Detective Adams.” The cashier reached for the next customer’s groceries.
“Since when is my money no good here?”
“Since now.” The cashier smiled again.
The sacker had the same wide-eyed expression and smile.
“Now this is creepy,” Alexis said. “And it feels a bit Stepford wife-ish. Penelope, are we in The Twilight Zone?”
She opened the gum and popped it into her mouth. “Are you seriously arguing because someone won’t let you pay for your groceries?”
“I’m supposed to pay.” Alexis got in front of the other customer. “Excuse me,” she addressed the cashier. “I demand you let me pay for these groceries.”
“I’ve been ordered not to, ma’am.”
“I want to speak to your manager.” Alexis leaned to the side. “Right now.”
The cashier summoned the manager through the microphone.
“I can’t believe you’re causing a scene because they won’t let you pay for your groceries,” Penelope whispered. “You’re crazy.”
“Don’t tell me I’m crazy.” Alexis moved as the other customer left. “This stinks like rotten eggs.”
The short, female manager with the wide hips waddled up. “Hello, Detective Adams. Is there a problem?”
“Yes.” She pointed to the cashier. “She won’t let me pay for my groceries and I demand to pay.”
“Oh.” The manager giggled. “You don’t have to pay. It’s on us. It’s all right.”
“No.” Alexis clenched her teeth. “I want to pay for my groceries because I’m supposed to. Are you actually refusing to let me pay for my groceries?”
“Detective Adams, please.” The manager touched Alexis’ arm. “You’re causing a scene. I don’t want to have to get security.”
“Security?” Alexis laughed. “You’re gonna kick me out because I want to pay for my groceries?”
“Please, have a good day.” The manager hurried off.
“What the…?”
“Just come on.” Penelope pulled Alexis out of the store.
“No, wait a minute.” Alexis stopped at the entrance doors. “Did what just happen…happen?”
“Yep.” Penelope chewed her gum.
“And you’re fine with it? It doesn’t seem strange to you?”
“Girl, when life throws you lemonade you need to drink it.” Penelope straightened her purse on her arm. “Let’s go to the shoe store.”
They walked toward Alexis’ car.
“Shoe store?” Alexis opened her trunk with
the remote. “We weren’t going to buy shoes.”
“I want to see if they don’t let you pay there, too.” Penelope laughed, putting her groceries in the trunk. “And it’s time for me to do my highlights again. Maybe we can swing on by the salon, too.” She touched her hair. “Shit, we need to before whatever the hell you got going on wears off.”
“This is serious.” Alexis set her groceries next to Penelope’s.
“I’m serious, too. You know how much those new shoes I want cost?”
“I’m not playing. I need to find out what the hell is…”
Alexis’ cell rang.
“Shit.” She wrestled with her purse and snatched out the phone. “Ah hell.”
“Who is it?”
Alexis answered, “Stop calling me.”
“Not until you agree to go out to dinner with me,” Grant said.
“I wouldn’t go out with you if your ass morphed into Kevin.” Alexis slammed the trunk closed. “Leave me alone, Grant.”
“Firecracker, you sound tense. Is the job getting to you?”
“Wait a minute.” She put her hand on her waist. “Are you the reason I couldn’t pay for my groceries?”
Penelope scooted closer to Alexis, listening.
“I guess you can say that,” he said. “I want us to be friends and I want to show you how good it is being my friend. I know it’s hard for a single woman these days. Thought I’d take the load off. I instructed some of our local businesses to put your things on my tab.”
“How dare you?”
“Are you actually angry because a man wants to buy things for you?” He chuckled. “Firecracker, you are some kind of woman.”
“I don’t give a damn what you do, but I won’t let you manipulate me.” Alexis opened the back door and threw her purse in the car. “You can tell everyone in this town not to accept my money and it won’t work. I’m not going out with you.”
“You will go out to dinner with me. It’s just a matter of when.”
“Ooh!” She clicked off.
“Wait!” Penelope snatched the phone. “Why did you hang up so fast? I wanted to see if I could get the hookup.”
“He makes me sick.” Alexis took her phone back. “He’s not manipulating me. I don’t care if he pays my rent, car note, whatever. I’m never going out with him.”
Chapter Eighteen
Alexis and Penelope entered Pastor Bellows church the next day. They went down the hall and stopped when they heard the Pastor inside his office.
“You’re not listening to me,” Bellows shouted. “I don’t have any more money to give you. I can’t just dream some up.”
“Whose problem is that?” another man asked. “We loaned you a lot of money and you said you’d pay us back, yet we haven’t even gotten half.”
Alexis and Penelope looked at each other.
“What do you expect me to do?” Bellows asked. “I’m at the end of my rope. I can’t give you what I don’t have.”
“If we don’t get that thirty thousand from you by next week you’re gonna need more than God to get you out of this.”
The door flew open.
Alexis and Penelope jumped back.
The tall, bald man with translucent-white skin stopped in front of them. “How are you doing today, ladies?” He dipped his pointy head to greet them and left.
Pastor Bellows leaned against his desk with his hand on his chest.
“Pastor.” Alexis rushed to him. “Are you okay? Is it your heart?”
Sweat beaded on his forehead. “I just…got too excited.”
“Come here.” Penelope and Alexis helped him into the chair behind his desk. “What’s going on?” Penelope asked. “Who was that guy?”
“And what did he want?” Alexis walked from behind the desk.
“It’s nothing.” Bellows took deep breaths.
“It didn’t sound like nothing to me.” Alexis crossed her arms. “Did we hear him say you owe him thirty thousand dollars?”
Penelope leaned on the desk. “Yeah, who is he?”
“It’s nothing.” He grabbed his glass of water and slurped. “Ah.” He laid his hands on the armrests of the chair. “I’m just having some financial problems. I took out a loan.” He cleared his throat. “Everything’s fine.”
“He threatened you.” Alexis pointed to the doorway. “He said you had to have thirty thousand by next week. Pastor, if this man is bothering you then—”
“I’m fine.” He held up a shaky hand. “Please leave it alone.”
Penelope stood by Alexis. “We have a new development in Alicia’s case.”
Bellows blinked. “What is it?”
“Mercy Cokes came to see us earlier,” Alexis said. “She told us that she and Nadine were with Alicia the night she was killed.”
“What?” Bellows covered his mouth. “Did they kill her?”
“Mercy claims they didn’t.” Penelope sat on the corner of his desk. “She said Alicia was very drunk and she and Nadine were going to take her home but Alicia and Nadine got into it so Nadine dropped her off not too far from where her body ended up.”
Bellows raised his thick, gray eyebrows. “You don’t believe that, do you? It’s obvious this girl is lying. She killed her.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Detective Adams…” He held his breath. “You told me before that Mercy claimed she was at work around the time Alicia was killed and now she admits she dropped her off where Alicia was found. How can you believe she’s innocent?”
“We aren’t saying we believe it,” Penelope said. “We’re saying right now we don’t have evidence to prove otherwise. Yes she lied and hid something from us, but that does not mean she killed Alicia.”
“What about Nadine?” He looked back and forth at them. “Any word on her yet?”
Alexis shook her head. “It’s like she disappeared into thin air.”
“Mercy Cokes did this.” Bellows stood. “Alicia was my little girl, so I feel it.” He burst into tears. “You can’t let her get away with this.”
“If Mercy killed Alicia, we’ll get her,” Alexis said. “We promise you.”
* * * *
“Yes, what Mercy said is true.” Angel grabbed a bottle of water from the mat of the boxing ring. “The day Alicia died she, Nadine, and Mercy were at my place hanging out.” He opened the bottle. “Alicia could be hell when she drank, and the fact that she was drinking while pregnant was ridiculous.” He sipped from the bottle. “We got into it when she started mouthing off about going to Los Angeles to work with some supposed big time trainer.” He rolled his eyes.
“So all that stuff about you working with a woman named Holly that evening was a lie?” Penelope asked.
“I lied because I was scared. I knew if I said I’d been with Alicia it would look bad.”
Alexis snickered. “And you think lying and covering it up makes you look better?”
“I bet it pissed you off that Alicia wanted to work with another trainer,” Penelope said.
“I was pissed.” He nodded. “But in the end I only want what’s best for those girls. I care about them and I want them to succeed.”
“I believe you care,” Alexis said. “You had Nadine go back and get Alicia because you were concerned with her safety.” She lifted her finger. “I’m not saying you’re innocent, but that shows you care.”
“I am innocent.” He screwed the top back on the bottle. “I didn’t kill Alicia. I swear. Instead of thinking I did it because she wanted to go to LA, maybe money was the motive.”
“Money?” Penelope asked.
“Yeah. You do know about Alicia’s inheritance right?”
Alexis looked at Penelope. “No.”
“You mean no one’s told you?” Angel set the bottle down. “Alicia got twenty thousand dollars when her mother passed.” He put his hands in the pockets of his sweats. “She was trying to save it but she kept dipping into it because of her dad.”
Alexis rocked
on her heels.
“He has debt on top of debt.” Angel sat down. “He was always asking Alicia to borrow money and she was sick of it.”
Alexis and Penelope exchanged glances.
“That’s why she was so pissed that day,” Angel said. “He kept calling every five minutes. She’d already given him ten thousand dollars.”
“Wow,” Alexis whispered.
“But he’s so far in the hole that didn’t even help. So I figure…” Angel crossed his arms. “Maybe someone killed her because they knew she had that money. She knew many folks with financial issues.”
“Like her lover Omar Silva?” Penelope squinted.
Angel raised his hands. “I’m not trying to point fingers, but he was the first one who popped in my head when I found out she was murdered. Alicia always talked about how bad his finances are. Mercy says that’s why he wants to get back with his wife.”
“How could Omar get her money even if he did kill her?” Alexis asked. “He couldn’t just walk into the bank and ask for it unless they had joint accounts or something.”
“Alicia didn’t keep money in the bank,” Angel said. “She didn’t trust banks. She kept that money in a safe at her house. I’m sure Omar knew that, being her lover.”
“Well.” Alexis gaped. “I think we need to pay Mr. Silva another visit.”
Penelope’s cell went off. She got it from her pocket and answered, “Dao here.” She glanced at Alexis. “Are you sure? Damn.” She closed her eyes. “That’s too bad. Okay, we’ll be there ASAP. All right, bye.” She clicked off. “They just found Nadine Williams’ body.”
“Jesus.” The color drained from Angel’s cheeks. “Are…are they sure?”
Penelope put her phone up. “Her van was found in a scrap yard. The owner hadn’t been there in weeks. He arrived today and noticed a foul odor. He saw the strange van and Nadine was in the front seat. Someone beat her to death.”
Chapter Nineteen
Eli Bellows answered Pastor Bellows’ door that night. His face dripped with sweat and he wore a dingy T-shirt and dirty Timberland boots. “Hello.” He stared at Alexis and Penelope. “I didn’t expect to see you, but I hope this means you have news.”