Black Viper

by Christopher Speight

  “Yeah Dad, I got it,” Jr said, as he got up and jogged up the stairs.

  Frank watched as his namesake walked into his bedroom and closed his door. He then went to the couch, sat down, and grabbed the remote. He had to be at work in a few hours so he wanted to relax and enjoy his downtime while he could. He had just turned on the television and started channel surfing when his cell phone vibrated next to him on the coffee table.

  “Hello?” he answered without looking at the screen.

  “Hey, what’s going on?”

  “Not much. Just about to kick back and watch a little Shark Tank before I come in. You there already?”

  “Not yet, but I’m on my way in. Has your cell phone been turned off?”

  “Actually, it has. I always turn it off when I go see my wife.”

  “Oh, no wonder she called me then.”

  “She who? What the hell are you talking about Amber?”

  “Officer Brady. She said she was walking by your desk and your phone started ringing.”

  “And she answered it?”

  “Of course her nosy ass did,” Amber said laughing.

  “I’m going to have to have a talk with her. I don’t need her to answer my desk phone. I have voicemail for that.”

  “Well, anyway, when she couldn’t get a hold of you, she called me.”

  “Since she called you, I assume she took a message?”

  “Yep. Apparently, Veronica Baker wasn’t one hundred percent truthful with us when we asked her if she knew of anyone who would want to harm her fiancé.”

  Frank’s expression remained the same. Her hesitation when he asked the question insinuated that Veronica was holding out on them about that.

  “Tell me something I don’t know, Amber.”

  “Okay. Guess who spilled the beans on who it is?”

  “If I had to guess, I would say that it was probably her employee, Wendy.”

  “Good guess. Now let’s see if you can guess who hated Kevin Broadnax enough to want to kill him.”

  “Beats the hell out of me.”

  “Me too. I guess we’ll find out when we meet her. She didn’t want to discuss it over the phone and she definitely didn’t want to come down to the station, so she agreed to meet us at Columbo’s bar and grill.”

  “What time?” he asked.

  “In two hours.”

  “Okay. I’ll meet you there in an hour and a half.”

  10

  Columbo’s Bar and Grill in East Cleveland was located on the corner of Noble Road and Nelamere. It was a small, cozy establishment that had been there for over thirty years. Most of the people who frequented the place were blue-collar workers who often enjoyed good food and even better conversation. Unlike many of the other eateries in the area, Columbo’s only played respectable music. They rarely played rap, but whenever they did, they made sure that it was respectable with absolutely no profanity whatsoever.

  The outside of the bar consisted of brown brick from front to back. The inside was not particularly large, but the place never seemed to be crowded despite that fact. On one side was nothing but rectangular tables and booth like chairs. On the other side was the bar, and twenty feet down from that was the small kitchen where the all the food was prepared. The lighting was low, giving the entire place a romantic feel to it. The marble floor had a black and white checkered design. The bathrooms were located in the back of the place, near the rear entrance. Given the small proximity of the area, it wasn’t exactly ideal for the detectives to be meeting Wendy there. If anyone wanted to eavesdrop, they would be able to do so with no problem. But since she was unwilling to meet them at the police station, they had very little choice in the matter. If they wanted to hear what she had to say, it would have to be on her terms.

  Frank and Amber had planned to be there before Wendy, but when they arrived and entered the building, they spotted her sitting in a booth eating a plate of French Fries. When she looked up and saw them walking toward her, she picked up her glass and took a sip of her beverage. Amber couldn’t see inside the glass, but she would bet her last dollar that there was alcohol in it.

  The two detectives slowly made their way over to where Wendy was sitting. When Wendy looked up and saw that Amber had tagged along, she rolled her eyes. She didn’t like the woman and didn’t try to hide it. Detective Stone couldn’t help but notice the nervous look on Wendy’s face.

  “Good evening Miss Lomax. I understand you have some information for us,” Detective Stone said to her.

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  The two detectives shot a quick glance at each other. They could tell by Wendy’s mannerisms that she was having second thoughts about meeting with them.

  “Are you okay?” Amber asked. Wendy looked at her and smirked.

  “Oh, now you wanna be nice to me, huh? Yesterday, you treated me like shit, but since you think I’ve got something that can help you, you wanna be nice.”

  Amber glared at Wendy before turning her head to Frank. The look he gave her told her all she needed to know. The two partners had been doing this for a long time, so they both knew that Frank would get more out of her if he questioned her alone.

  “You know what? I’m going outside to take a smoke break. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Amber said. Shaking her head, she quickly slid from the booth and made her way toward the back exit.

  “I thought you quit,” Frank said to her as she walked away.

  “I did. But the way this woman is getting on my nerves, I need something to calm them.”

  “Whatever,” Wendy said, waving her hand in a dismissive gesture.

  “Okay, Miss Lomax––”

  “What the hell is her problem?” she asked, cutting Frank off.

  “Amber? Nothing. She just wants to catch the person or persons responsible for your friend’s boyfriend’s death yesterday.”

  “Well, I don’t like her attitude.”

  Frank took a deep breath. He needed to find a way to get Wendy to concentrate on the murder of her friend’s boyfriend and not on her dislike for Wendy.

  “Miss. Lomax, I know that Detective Davis can be a bit brash at times, but let’s remember that we’re all on the same team here. She wants to apprehend the killer just as bad as you do. You do want to find out who killed your friend’s boyfriend, don’t you?”

  “Yes Detective, I do.”

  “Okay. Then let’s get down to business so we can do our jobs. The longer the killer is out there, the more the odds favor him or her getting away.”

  “You’re right, Detective. I apologize.”

  “It’s quite all right. Now, what do you have to tell me?”

  “First, I need your word that this isn’t going to go any further.”

  “What do you mean?” Frank asked, playing dumb.

  “I mean, I don’t want anyone to know that I gave you this information, especially Victoria. If she finds out that I told you what I’m about to tell you, then not only will I probably lose my job, but my best friend as well.”

  The detective’s eyebrows shot up. The fact that she didn’t want Victoria to know about this conversation put an entirely different spin on the situation. Could Amber have been right all along?

  Was Victoria playing the grieving lover when she was responsible for her boyfriend’s death all along? Frank didn’t believe so, but it did give him another angle to consider.

  “Let me get this straight. You don’t want your friend to know about this conversation? May I ask why not?”

  Wendy smiled. She wasn’t about to fall into that trap.

  “Your word, Detective. I need your word.”

  With a deep sigh, Frank conceded. But even though he was about to give her his word, Frank knew that he might not be able to keep it. If what she said had anything to do with Victoria being guilty, him keeping his word would go straight out the window.

  “Okay, you have my word. Now, tell me who it is who has a big enough grudge against Mr. Broadnax tha
t they would want to see him dead.”

  Wendy took another deep breath, lifted her glass, and took a large gulp. Just before she began to speak, she leaned across the table so that only Frank could hear what she was saying.

  “Look, Victoria wasn’t being completely honest with you when she said that she didn’t know of anyone who would want to harm her boyfriend.”

  “Oh really? Now, technically, you know that we could pick her up for obstruction of justice, right?”

  “No Detective. You gave me your word, remember?”

  “I know I did, Miss Lomax. But you need to give me something more to go on, because the way it looks now, either your friend knows who did this and she’s protecting him, or maybe she did it and is trying to put us on the wrong trail,” he said, shrugging.

  Wendy shook her head vigorously.

  “Detective, I can vouch for Victoria. She is not a murderer,” Wendy said, struggling to keep her voice down. “And she definitely wouldn’t protect that asshole if she thought he was involved.”

  “Who, Miss. Lomax? Who are you talking about?”

  “If I were you detective, the next person I would question would be Victoria’s brother, Saffold.”

  “Victoria’s brother?” Frank asked, mildly surprised. “Why would he want to kill his future brother-in-law?”

  “Because he’s a racist asshole! He’s hated Kevin from the moment he laid eyes on him, just because he’s African American.”

  Frank took out his note pad and jotted down Saffold’s name.

  “Is his last name the same as his sister’s?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you know his address?”

  “He lives in Cleveland Heights. A few blocks from her actually, on Noble Road.”

  Frank pushed the pen and pad across the table.

  “Write down his complete address.” After receiving the information, Frank left the bar and gave Amber a brief synopsis of what he’d learned.

  “When do you want to question him?” she asked.

  “No time like the present. I’ll follow you home. We can take my car to go question that asshole.”

  11

  Noble Road in Cleveland Heights was a nice, clean street that was always busy. This was especially true in the summertime, as young kids frequently played on the sidewalk, while the older teenage boys played football in the street. Young ladies sat on the porch with the friends talking about the boys they had crushes on. The houses were some of the nicest in the neighborhood. Most of them were single-family homes with manicured lawns and huge back yards. Nearly every house on the street had a two-car garage. The city of Cleveland Heights routinely sent housing inspectors around to ensure that the occupants maintained the upkeep of the properties.

  Ninety-nine percent of the people living on the street were friendly and cordial. It wasn’t uncommon to see neighbors visit each other and take each other food or gifts. The one house that didn’t participate in the friendliness was the one on the corner at the far end of the street. It was the residence occupied by Saffold Baker. It was common knowledge around the neighborhood that Saffold was racist. Since the street was littered with African Americans and Caucasians, with a few Asians sprinkled in, Saffold pretty much kept to himself. He wanted nothing to do with anyone living on the street, and in turn they wanted nothing to do with him. Today was no different as Saffold sat on his porch and watched the various races of kids and young adults interact with one another.

  With one leg resting on his banister and a glass of Jack Daniel’s mixed with Coke in his hand, Saffold just shook his head in disgust. For no less than the fifth time since he’d awoke, his cell phone rang. He gazed at it for a few seconds before giving it the finger. There was no need for him to check the caller ID because he already knew the caller’s identity. Saffold had been in a dark mood ever since his sister had flaunted in his face that she was going to bear a child by a Black man. Victoria had been calling him since he’d left the bar the previous day, but he was so pissed that he ignored every single one of them. An evil scowl had been plastered on his face ever since.

  The only thing that caused him to smile was seeing the black Crown Victoria turn onto his street and slowly cruise down it. His smile got even larger when the car stopped in front of a group of African American teenage boys standing on the sidewalk. He was hoping to experience the pleasure of seeing one or all of them get slammed on the hood of the car. Disappointment set in as it continued on its way down the street. A surprised expression popped onto Saffold’s face when the unmarked vehicle stopped in front of his house. That expression turned to worry when the two detectives got out of the car and made their way up the concrete steps and onto his porch. He knew that it was never a good sign when two detectives came to your home to pay you a visit.

  “Good evening sir. My name is Detective Stone. This is my partner, Detective Davis. We’d like to have a word with you if you don’t mind.”

  Saffold looked from one detective to the other as they flashed their badges.

  “Uh . . . sure, Detectives. What can I help you with?”

  “Do you know a man named Kevin Broadnax?”

  “Yeah, I know him. Can’t say that I like him though.”

  The two detectives glanced at each other.

  “Really? Why not?” Amber asked.

  For the same reason I don’t like you, darkie, Saffold thought to himself.

  “No particular reason. I just don’t like the guy.”

  “Would it have anything to do with the fact that he’s dating your sister?” Frank asked.

  Saffold’s jaw tensed. Being reminded that his sister was dating someone out of her race was something that he didn’t like to be reminded of.

  “Something wrong?” Amber asked, noticing the change in his expression.

  “No.”

  “Are you sure? You seemed to get a little tense when my partner asked you about your sister dating the victim.”

  Saffold’s face twisted. He had no idea what was going on.

  “Victim? What the hell are you talking about?” he asked.

  The two detectives shared another look before turning their attention back to Saffold.

  “So, are you trying to tell us that you didn’t know that your future brother-in-law had been murdered?”

  “Murdered? You mean to tell me that he’s dead?”

  Saffold had to fight hard to suppress a smile. Being the bigot that he was, this was the best news he could have received. Now he knew why his sister had been ringing his phone off the hook for the last day and a half. She wanted to cry on his shoulder about her coon of a boyfriend being killed. Amber cocked her head and stared at Saffold.

  “You don’t seem too choked up about it.”

  “Why would I be? I told you that I didn’t like him,” Saffold said with a shrug.

  “But you didn’t say why.”

  “Like I told you Detective, I didn’t have a particular reason. I just didn’t like the guy.”

  “Oh, come on Mr. Baker. No one dislikes anyone ‘just because.’ There must be a reason. Maybe he did something to you to piss you off. Maybe he got into it with your sister and you stepped in as the big brother. Maybe one thing led to another and you two got into a physical altercation,” Frank said.

  “What are you trying to say?” Saffold asked. It had finally dawned on him why they had come to pay him a visit.

  “We’re not trying to say anything. We’re just giving you a scenario of what we think could have happened.”

  “Could’ve but didn’t! Look, I don’t know who did the world a favor and got rid of that asshole, but it damn sure wasn’t me! Now if there’s nothing else-”

  “You know, it is illegal to have an open container outside of your home,” Frank said through gritted teeth. Saffold was seriously beginning to piss him off. It was bad enough that a man was dead, but to hear Saffold gloating about it caused his blood to boil.

  “What?”

  “I think you h
eard the detective,” Amber said. “So, either pour out what’s in that glass or go in the damn house.”

  Saffold smirked as he poured the remaining liquor over the railing and onto the ground below. As soon as his comment about someone doing the world a favor left his mouth, he knew it would get under their skin. Now they were screwing with him just because they could. After emptying his glass, Saffold turned and headed for his front door.

  “Like I said, Detectives. If there’s nothing else-”

  “Actually, there is just one more thing. Where were you yesterday between the hours of two and four?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Are you hard of hearing Mr. Baker? He asked you about your whereabouts between the hours of two and four pm yesterday.”

  Saffold smiled at the two detectives before giving them his answer.

  “I left my sister’s bar at about 1:45. If you don’t believe me, ask my sister. She saw me leave, and her cocksucker of a boyfriend was alive when I left so you’re barking up the wrong tree, Detectives.”

  “You know what’s funny though, Mr. Saffold? Not one time have you asked how he died,” Frank said.

  “Maybe he already knows,” Amber chimed in.

  “Wow, you people just won’t quit, will you? Okay, I’ll bite. How did he die?”

  “ ‘You’ people huh?” Frank said with an edge to his voice.

  “Yep, ‘you people,’ ” Saffold said smiling.

  Frank ignored the obvious racial connotation and continued.

  “Someone sliced his neck pretty good. Cut his throat from ear to ear.”

  “Good for them,” Saffold said, grinning wickedly.

  Before the detectives could say anything else, Saffold walked into his house and slammed the door behind him. Frank stood there for a few seconds before Amber grabbed his arm and tried gently to pull him away.

  “Come on Frank. Let’s go.”

  It took Frank a few more seconds to relent, but he finally turned and followed Amber down the stairs. Once they got in the car, Amber looked at Frank and smiled.