by Rachel Rae
Blood Money
A Novel by
Rachel Rae
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover design by Micah Shipp, www.micahdsgns.com
© 2016 Rachel Rae
INTRO
Detective Brown:
I stood in the back of the crowd of people that all gathered in front of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace's residents for a candlelight vigil listening to Stacey speak, she still didn't know that we knew she'd had her husband set up for murder.
"It's a shame what people are willing to do for money," I said to my lieutenant at a whisper.
"Isn't it?" he responded folding his arms over one another.
"So when are we going to take her in and tell her that Mr. Wallace isn't dead?"
"After this whole charade is up take her ass in, but don't tell her anything try and get her to confess what she has done." he said before walking away shaking his head.
How in the hell am I supposed to do that? I had 10 years under my belt with the New Orleans Police Department but was new to the Houston Police department and still learning the ropes. I didn't think they would put me on a case so quickly but they did, I rubbed the side of my face then put my hands in my pockets thinking what was going to be my next move, this shit is more difficult than what you see on TV....
PART I
Deception
Chapter ONE
Stacey:
"Would you like a cigarette?" he asked with a deep heavy Louisiana accent, holding out a fresh pack of Marlboro short reds and pointing them in my direction.
"Sure," I said taking one out of the box then tapping it on the back of my hand as I waited for him to offer me a light, he lit his first then held out the flame so that I could lite mine.
"I've told you everything I know officer and to be honest with you I don't know what else you want me to say," I said sitting back taking a short drag from the Marlboro then exhaling.
"How about the truth Stacey, did you really think you'd be able to get out of this? All fingers are pointing to you and you don't seem fazed at all that your husband is dead and your lover is clinging to life in the hospital."
"Officer, everyone grieves differently, I have children and family members I have to be strong for," I said parting my lips letting some smoke escape.
"Well none of those people are here right now so who are you trying to be hard for? I know how much money you're about to get because of your husband's death, I know your kind, you were just a trailer trash white girl that had nothing, found you a black man that was on the come up and clinched your claws into him!"
"You listen to me, I may have stepped out on my husband but I loved him and he knew that! Don't you dare!! I loved him! You racist pig!" I put my head down and began to cry a little. "I can't believe you people! This is how you treat someone that has just lost their significant other? I'm the victim here!!! Roberto is the killer!!!"
I felt like he could see right through me and that this was not about to go as I planned at all, I could have sworn I killed Roberto. What am I going to do if he lives?
"Excuse me for a moment Mrs. Wallace will you?" the officer asked politely while standing up knocking me out my thoughts.
"Sure, take your time," I responded back sarcastically putting out the cigarette. I crossed my arms on the table and laid my head on them and thought back to how everything began. Had Roberto stuck with the original plan we probably wouldn't be where we are today, I had to replay the whole true story to myself so I would know what to leave out of the fake story to the cops.
"Let me think how did this happen?? How did this happen??" I said to myself out loud closing my eyes.
6 months ago....
"How long are you going to keep this up?" Roberto asked me. I looked at him for a brief moment sighed then lifted myself from off the top of him.
"Why oh why must we do this every time? It never fails, after we make love you want to go into some deep conversation why can't you ever just let it be where it is?"
"Because it will never be where it's supposed to be as long as you are married." he said sitting up sliding to the side of the bed than standing.
"Where are you going?" I asked watching him put his underwear and black boot cut jeans back on, without saying another word he continued to get dressed then walked into the bathroom. "I hate being ignored," I said out loud to myself walking towards the bathroom to where he was leaning on the counter looking at himself in the mirror. "Roberto I don't understand, you know what we were doing a long time ago why are you acting this way? You're being unreasonable and you're acting like a child."
He turned around quickly staring at me with his eyes darting from left to right.
"Like a child? I'm acting like a child? I have reasons to be angry, here I am spending my time, money and energy with you and you act as if there is no problem at all. You must be loco! What am I just some sort of doorman?" he said in a heavy Spanish accent.
"No! I’ve never said anything like that Roberto come on now, but you are the cook baby feel privileged that you are who I choose." I smiled sweetly.
He started to mumble something in Spanish when the alarm on my phone began to alert me of the time.
"I had a business before I even met you, I won Top Chef on Bravo! I am...."
"Washed up," I said cutting him off. "But it's okay honey it's ok. You'll get back to being on top." I said making air quotes. "Now if you don't mind be a doll Roberto and hurry with dressing my kids will be here soon."
He continued to mumble in Spanish while walking out the bathroom and back into the master bedroom of the guest house.
"Sooner or later Stacey you are going to have to choose and it better be soon."
I took my right hand and pushed back my curly blonde hair then smiled, “That seems like a threat Roberto and you couldn't possibly be attempting to do that now, would you? I write your checks and sign them and if you want to continue receiving even an ounce of this good life then I suggest you watch your tone and recognize who you are speaking to." I walked up to him boldly and put my left hand on his muscular chest, "Now, this conversation is over I have to get situated and you have to start on dinner." I kissed his lips before he stormed out of the room angry still speaking Spanish.
I know sometimes I come off as a bitch but he should have known by now that I'm about my business and he is my business investment -if you will- and since I have invested somethings on him then he should act accordingly.
After I finished getting dressed I walked out and headed towards the main house through the back door.
"Mary!" I yelled out to the nanny, she was pretty but not beautiful about 5’9 a little heavy set with skin the same color as brown sugar.
"Mary are you back? It's time to get the children."
"Yes ma'am I just got here and I know," Mary said jogging a bit from the hallway. I glanced at my watch then looked back at her.
"How long have you been working for Mr. Wallace and I Mary?" I smiled sitting on a bar stool in front of the kitchen island.
"Four in a half years. Mrs. Wallace," she said huffing seeming like she was either out of breath or a little frustrated with my question. I went ahead and ignored her "huff" continuing my speech.
"Mary, I must say I am frustrated," I said closing my eyes rubbing the sides of my head. "You see I like to run a tight schedule and I like for things to be done in a timely and efficient manner, it seems like you have been slacking a bit lately, is there something you would like to tell me?"
"No ma'am, I will get better, now may I be excuse
d? I have to meet the children at the bus stop," she asked dryly.
"Yes, of course." I smiled watching her turn and make her way back down the hallway. "Oh and Mary? These flowers aren't as fresh as the ones last week, you know Mr. Wallace loves the absolute freshest flowers and we wouldn't want to disappoint him now would we?"
"No ma'am you wouldn't." I heard her say before hearing the front door shut.
That day it seemed like everyone had an attitude and I honestly didn't care I was their employer and what I said went, I pay everyone on my payroll very handsomely and the only thing I require is for them to do their jobs and if they couldn't get with the program they can and will be replaced.
The grandfather clock chimed letting me know it was 3:15 pm and as I expected I heard the house alarm voice speak "garage door open", that talk I had with Mary through off my schedule and I forgot that day was Friday.
"Damn it," I said to myself darting up the back way up the stairs to our bedroom.
I knew his routine as he came home so I knew I had some time, I ran to our bathroom started running some water in the Jacuzzi tub which sat in the middle of the floor poured in some bubbles then quickly lit about 8 candles and placed them around the sides of it. By the time Sebastian made it to our bathroom I was sitting in the tub humming a song I'd made up in my head with my back towards the door trying to act as if I didn't know he had made it home.
"Knock knock." he announced sliding open the glass door to our bathroom, I did a little fake startled jump and looked back.
"Hey honey you scared me." I smiled looking back at him.
"I didn't mean to." he grinned walking to the tub moving some candles out the way, "You're taking a bath in the middle of the day? That's different you either had a stressful day, about to leave or you've been creeping." he said with sort of a smirk but taking a serious tone.
"One out of the three are correct," I said lifting half of my body out of the water then leaning in to give him a passionate kiss on the lips.
"I know it better be the stressful day or you're about to leave."
I smiled breaking our kiss and sitting back into the water, "it's the stressful day, I had to get on Mary and Roberto today."
"Why don't you get out of that tub and let me relieve some of that stress?" he asked rolling up his sleeve then putting his hand into the water to touch my "sweet spot".
I let out a deep moan and looked him in the eyes.
"How about you take off that suit and join your wife?"
He did what I asked sitting down in front of me lifting my foot and placing my French manicured toes in his mouth.
"I forgot to ask you how was your day." I giggled genitally pulling back my foot.
"Long a bunch of meetings, things you don't need to worry your pretty self about, turn around let me wash your back."
My problem with my husband wasn't that he wasn't attentive because he was at times, it wasn't because he wasn't attractive because he was, matter a fact one of the reasons why I married him was because he reminded me of that guy ummm Wesley Snipes. Yeah, Wesley, so he was handsome and damn sure was his money. Sebastian inherited and ran the biggest oil and gas company in Houston passed down from his great-grandfather to his grandfather, to his father than to him seeing that he's the oldest twin, needless to say, we weren't hurting at all. But the problem we had was something that I'm sure could have been addressed a long time ago which was his family, his inability to reach my sexual needs and of course his work habits. To be honest with you that day was the first day in a long time that he was showing me any kind of affection, I wasn't in the mood at all to have sex with him I can't lie because whenever we did make love it's no longer than 10 minutes, which was a waste of my time.
"Stacey, are you here?" he asked snapping in my direction.
"Oh yes hun, you just made me real relaxed that's all. What were you saying?"
"My mom and my brother are coming, later on, today so I would like for Roberto to fix something special."
"Sebastian I can't deal with that right now, I just told you about my day it's already been stressful enough," I said getting out of the tub wrapping my personal engraved monogrammed towel around my wet body.
"Do not start, you know my mom is set in her ways and she's just not used to you yet."
"It's been almost 12 years! We have a 11-year-old Sebastian and I know it's because I'm not black."
"My mother is not like that, she just wants what's best for me that's all. Would you feel more comfortable if I spoke with her?" He asked getting out the tub then walking up behind me putting his hands around my waist.
I wanted to yell at him and call him all types of names because I knew that none of that was going to happen so I just smiled and said softly, "That would be nice."
"Alright go pick out something for us all to wear," Sebastian said slapping my towel covered butt.
"Uggghhh I don't want to do this," I whined walking away from him into our bedroom to start getting dressed.
*************************
DING DONG DING DONG the doorbell sang as 2 of our three children and I walked down the tilted stairway down to the foyer.
"I don't wanna wear no freaking stupid suit!" SJ our 7 year old yelled attempting to take off his yellow bow tie.
"Language SJ! This is not a casual dinner, we are having guests over and you will act accordingly." I adjusted his bow tie and picked up our 2-year-old daughter Sophie.
Before we reached the bottom steps Sebastian walked up to the door and opened it. Why his mother always felt the need to be loud ALL the time was beyond me, every time she was around and spoke she made my skin crawl.
"HA HA!!!! There's my handsome boy!!!" she said hugging him. "Let me look at you umm... Every time I see you-you look more and more like that sorry ass daddy God rest his soul," she said letting go of him patting his shoulder then walked past him while he looked out the door.
"Where's Mike?"
"He had someplace he had to be or something I don't know, you know mama don't like to get into y'all's business."
I put down Sophie picked up the trail of my dress put on the best smile I could muster up and walk towards her.
"Miss Wallace it's been such a long time." I leaned in to embrace her but it seemed as though she was a bit hesitant.
"Mmm hmm likewise," She mumbled deeply breaking the hug first then turning her attention back to Sebastian.
"Now Peanut why you ain't tell me President Obama was coming here??" she yelled out now looking around like she'd never been here before.
"What do you mean Mom, the President isn’t coming here?"
"Then why are my grandbabies all dressed up like they about to meet the President? Little Sandy here has on the same ball gown Michelle Obama had on for the inauguration ball."
"It's Stacey," I said still smiling.
She ignored my correction stood there still talking out loud. "And where is that oldest granddaughter of mine?"
"Well, she refused to put on the dress I picked out for her so I told her that I will have Mary bring her plate upstairs," I said matter a factly.
"She refused to put on a dress?? And you got her staying upstairs hiding from her grandmother because of clothes?? Sidney!!!!!! Come on down here!!!"
"Mama please, Stacey has already said that she has to stay up there." he said sounding weak.
"So you are more worried about her appearance than her spending time with her own flesh and blood huh?!?!" she said yelling in Sebastian's direction.
"Mama it's not like that, I appreciate everything you're doing but Stacey had already..." he began before she cut him off.
"Yeah yeah, let's all respect Shanay-nay's opinions!" she said dismissing me with her hand. "She probably don't want her to come down here because her hair lookin’ just like Sophie's. It's alright your mama can't-do black hair baby, Grandma gone make that right before she leaves," she said bending down kissing Sophie on her left cheek.
"That is it..." I starte
d to say then in walked Roberto.
"Good evening, my name is Roberto and I will be your Chef. I have prepared special Hors d'Oeuvres for the family before the main course if you would follow me."
I was so glad Roberto came in when he did because what I was about to say was going to be something that would’ve been really inappropriate.
"Are you THEE Roberto from the show Top Chef?" Mrs. Wallace asked.
"Yes ma'am." he said smiling taking a bow then kissing her hand.
"You look even sexier in person! Let's go get some of those Horse Divers you're talking about then," she said interlocking her arm with his as they walked into the dining room. "Peanut you coming??"
"Right behind you mom!" he shouted back.
"See honey I told you, everything was going to be alright," Sebastian said smiling.
He was right everything was going to be just fine soon as I had about 3 glasses of my favorite champagne Salon 1995 everything will be just peachy
Chapter TWO
Sebastian:
"Hello, Mr. Wallace..." The officer said walking in shutting the door.
All the while I just stayed quiet and didn't say a word. When they came to the hospital and rushed me to this place I had so many emotions running through me. I know it had to be about Stacey, it couldn't be about anything else but her either way it goes I had a lawyer and he was on the way.
"Mr. Wallace, I know you're confused but I need to know everything that happened before yesterday".
"I would like to speak with my lawyer," I said sighing holding my stomach.
"Sir, what's going on is... Is so much more than you and I. And all I want to do is try and help YOU. Do you understand?" he asked now taking a seat.
"Do you understand that I would like to speak to my lawyer?" I asked raising my right eyebrow.
He rubbed his face and sat back, when he looked up I noticed there was a surveillance camera in the room so now I definitely wasn't going to talk.
"I... WANT... MY... LAWYER!" I said slamming my fist on the table, "I am not an aggressive man but damn it I know my rights."