Dangerous Dana (A Suspense Thriller)

by Doris Miller

PARTMENT, WAITING FOR HER TO COME HOME THAT NIGHT! I HEARD THAT DANA WAS OUT ALL NIGHT SINCE THAT AFTERNOON! NOBODY KNEW WHERE SHE WAS! NOBODY HAD SEEN OR HEARD FROM HER! TONY TOLD ME THAT NOBODY KNEW WHERE DANA WAS THAT ENTIRE NIGHT! THAT'S PROBABLY WHY SHE WASN'T HOME THAT NIGHT! SHE WAS PROBABLY OUT ON A KILLING SPREE! AND NOW SHE'S IN JAIL AGAIN! EVERY TIME I TURN MY BACK, DANA IS GETTING ARRESTED! EVERY TIME MY BACK IS TURNED, DANA IS GETTING ARRESTED FOR SOME ASSAULT CHARGE OR SOME MURDER CHARGE!" Christine angrily pounds her fist against her opposite hand as she continues, "SHE KEEPS PROMISING ME THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO GET INTO ANYMORE TROUBLE! SHE KEEPS PROMISING ME THAT SHE WON'T GO TO JAIL ANYMORE, AND THEN SEVERAL MONTHS DOWN THE LINE SHE GETS ANOTHER ASSAULT OR MURDER CHARGE AGAINST HER!"

  "OH CHRISTINE!" Winston shouts! "HOW DO THE POLICE KNOW THAT IT WAS DANA WHO KILLED HER EX COWORKER? ANYBODY COULD HAVE KILLED HIM! THE GUY LIVED IN THE BRONX AND DANA LIVES IN QUEENS! HOW WOULD DANA KNOW WHERE THIS GUY LIVED ANYWAY?"

  "OH COME ON DAD! KNOWING DANA SHE PROBABLY FOLLOWED THE GUY AND STALKED HTM! SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO AUTHORITIES IN THE PAST THAT THEY'VE SPOTTED DANA FOLLOWING THEM AND STALKING THEM! THEN THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, A FEW OF THEM WIND UP BEING REPORTED MISSING AND THEN FOUND MURDERED! THAT WOMAN KATHY HAD MADE A COUPLE OF REPORTS TO THE POLICE THAT SHE HAD SPOTTED DANA FOLLOWING HER AND STALKING HER A COUPLE OF TIMES! SHE EVEN WENT TO COURT AND GOT A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST DANA, AND THEN SHE STILL WINDS UP BEING FOUND MURDERED!"

  "OH MY GOD CHRISTINE!" a relative of Christine's shockingly shouts! "HOW WERE THESE PEOPLE MURDERED?"

  "MOST OF THEM WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD! THEY WERE EITHER STABBED TO DEATH OR THEY GOT A HARD VICIOUS BLOW TO THE HEAD! SOME WERE CHOKED TO DEATH AND SOME HAD BROKEN NECKS! SOME GOT RAN OVER BY A CAR BY A HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER! THEN A FEW QUICK EYE WITNESSES WOULD GIVE THE POLICE THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OF THE HIT-AND-RUN VEHICLE! WHEN THE POLICE TRACE THAT LICENSE PLATE NUMBER, IT USUALLY WINDS UP BEING A STOLEN CAR! AND IF A PERSON IS FOUND DEAD, THEIR BODY WOULD BE FOUND EITHER NEAR THEIR HOME, SEVERAL MULES AWAY FROM THEIR HOME, OR A HUNDRED MILES AWAY FROM THEIR HOME AND THE POLICE COULD NEVER EVER FIND ANY FINGERPRINTS OR ANY CLUES AGAINST DANA! THEY COULD NEVER EVER PROVE BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT IT WAS DANA!"

  "YOU KNOW CHRISTINE, THIS IS REALLY OUT OF HAND!" Marie angrily shouts! "IF DANA IS GOING AROUND DOING ALL OF THIS STUFF, THEN SHE HAS TO BE STOPPED AND SHE HAS TO BE STOPPED NOW!"

  "I AGREE WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT MOM! BUT EVERY TIME DANA GETS ARRESTED AND GOES TO JAIL, MIKE AND GRACY KEEP BAILING HER OUT! THEY KEEP HIRING THESE CRIMINAL LAWYERS FOR DANA! THEN THESE CRIMIMAL LAWYERS WOULD PLEAD INSANITY FOR DANA, OR THEY WOULD CLAIM THAT SHE'S INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL OR DANA WOULD TAKE PLEA BARGAINS! THEN THE COURTS WOULD PUT DANA AWAY EST A MENTAL HOSPITAL FOR A SHORT TIME! THEN SEVERAL MONTHS DOWN THE LINE, SHE'S BACK OUT THERE DOING THE SAME DAMN THING," Christine shouts as she angrily pounds her fist against the opposite hand again! "THE ONLY FACT I DO KNOW AND REALIZE IS THAT MY VERY OWN DAUGHTER IS A SERIAL KILLER," Christine cries as she holds her hands on her head!

  Christine's family and relatives worriedly surround her as Winston angrily cries and shouts, "OH CHRISTINE, I TOLD MIKE AND GRACY BEFORE NOT TO BAIL DANA OUT OF TROUBLE! I TOLD THEM BOTH BEFORE TO LET DANA SPEND SOME TIME IN JAIL OR PRISON, BUT THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME! THEY KEEP SAYING THAT DANA IS THEIR GRANDCHILD AND THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LET THEIR GRANDCHILD ROT IN PRISON IF THEY COULD HELP IT!"

  "OH DAD, DON'T THEY REALIZE? DANA IS DESTROYING OTHER FAMILIES' LIVES BY TAKING AWAY THEIR LOVED ONES! DON'T THEY REALIZE THAT? NOW DANA MIGHT HAVE FOLLOWED HER EX BOSS AND HER EX COWORKER LAST FRIDAY EVENING AND SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WAITNG FOR JUST THE RIGHT MOMENT TO MAKE A KILL! THOSE GUYS TOOK HER JOB SO SHE'S PROBABLY THE ONE WHO TOOK THEIR LIVES! I MEAN THIS IS THE LAST STRAW EVERYBODY! THIS IS IT! THIS HAS GOT TO STOP AND THIS HAS GOT TO STOP RIGHT NOW! I'M GONNA GO UP TO NEW YORK AND WHEN I GET THERE, IF DANA IS FOUND NOT GUILTY AND DOES NOT HAVE TO GO TO PRISON OR ANY INSTITUTIONS, I'M GONNA BRING HER AND MY OTHER CHILDREN BACK DOWN HERE TO LIVE WITH ME FOR GOOD!"

  "WHAT!" Christine's family and relatives shockingly shout!

  Three little girls ages 6 to 10 and an 8-year old boy come through the hallway, wondering what the shouting is all about as Christine angrily points her finger to everybody and continually shouts, "FROM NOW ON, MIKE AND GRACY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DANA BEING LOCKED UP IN PRISON BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BRING DANA DOWN HERE AND LOCK HER UP MYSELF! AND WHEN I GET DANA DOWN HERE, I'M GONNA KEEP A REAL TIGHT LEASH ON THAT WOMAN!"

  "YOU BETTER KEEP A TIGHT LEASH ON DANA CHRISTINE!" Marie angrily shouts! "BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, THEN I WILL!" Everyone shockingly looks at Marie as Marie angrily tells them all, "THAT'S RIGHT EVERYBODY! I HAVE MY OWN PLANS FOR DANA!" Marie angrily looks at Christine and firmly tells her, "YOU GO AND BRING HER DOWN HERE!"

  Christine angrily storms off! Around 22 shocked family members and relatives storm off after her! They start to shout all over the place! The four children start to follow off after the family and relatives, wondering what's going on! An aunt of Christine's named Nina turns around towards the children and angrily shouts, "GO BACK TO YOUR ROOMS!" The children turn around and hurry back towards the hallway! They stop in the middle of the hallway as they continually hear shouting going on all over the house!

  "What happened?" the little boy asks the older girl.

  "I don't know," the older girl says. "I heard the telephone ring! Then I heard Aunt Christine shouting, yelling and everything! I kept hearing her yelling about Dana!"

  The three younger children stare at the older girl.

  Harold comes by the hallway. He sees the children standing in the middle of the hallway and shouts, "DIDN'T AUNT NINA TELL YOU ALL TO GO BACK TO YOUR ROOMS? HUH?" The children hurry through the hallway as Harold follows after them! The children run to their bedroom door and stand there! Harold goes to the children's bedroom door and tells them, "Get inside the room!"

  The boy turns to Harold and says, "We hear shouting Uncle Harold! What happened? What happened to Aunt Christine?"

  "Aunt Christine have to go to New York!"

  "Why?" the older girl asks. "Did something happen in New York? Did something happen to Dana?"

  "It's nothing any of you need to hear about! Just get in the bed and go to sleep!" Harold moves the children inside the room. The children worriedly look at Harold as he closes the bedroom door in their faces. Harold goes back through the hallway. He goes back to the family and relatives as they continue to shout all over the house!

  A little while later, Harold comes out of his family's house. It is very dark outside. He goes to a small group of men standing outside the gate and tells them, "Listen guys, I can't make it out with you all right now!"

  "No?" one of them asks. "What's the matter Harold? What's wrong?"

  "A family emergency just came up! My niece is in jail again!"

  "What!" the stunned guys say. "Which niece? Dana?"

  "Yes, her again!"

  "Oh Harold, what did your niece Dana do this time?"

  "Oh you all know what she probably did!"

  The guys stunned look at Harold as one of them says, "Oh no Harold, don't tell us that your niece Dana killed another person, mon!"

  "Well we don't know yet whether she did it or not, but either way a person was murdered last Friday night! I have to go to New York with my sister! We're planning on leaving in a few or several hours!"

  "Oh yeah?"

  "Yeah."

  "Well who died?"

  "An ex co-worker of Dana's! Some Indian guy that worked at her old job was slain in the Bronx last Friday night! He was found outside his apartment building with his head bashed in! He died later on at the hospital! Nobody knows who killed him! But either way, my niece is a suspect! She's in jail right now and I have to go to New York! I'm sorry I can't make it with you guys tonight, but I have to be there for my sister and my niece! My family and I are on our way over to my sister's house right now to help her start pa
cking!"

  "That's okay Harold, we understand! Sorry to hear that your niece is in trouble again! We hope everything goes well for you guys!"

  "Yeah thanks! Listen I'll catch up with you guys when I come back, alright?"

  "Alright Harold!"

  "I'll see you guys later!" Harold then runs off! The men wave 'goodbye' and sadly stare at Harold as he runs off.

  It is several hours later on a Tuesday morning. An airplane from Jamaica flies swiftly into Kennedy Airport! After the plane lands, an angry Christine and around 12 of her angry family members come from off the airplane! Christine had brought an entire mob with her! They are coming for Dana! They all pack up together with all their luggage! They look around to make sure that everybody is around. They see that everyone is around and together! Christine then shouts, "IS EVERYBODY READY?"

  "YEAH WE'RE READY!"

  "OKAY LET'S GO!" A hopping mad Christine and her angry family members start to march off through the airport terminal!

  Christine and her family members soon come out of the airport terminal and approach several cabs! They load up their luggage and hop into the cabs! The cabs pull off real quickly!

  The cabs soon reach in front of Gracy and Mike's house. Christine and her family members get out of the cabs with their luggage. They approach outside of Gracy and Mike's front door and ring the doorbell.

  Robert is inside the house. He goes to answer the front door. He opens up the front door and sees his angry mother standing out there with many of her family members and relatives, including his Uncle Harold, his Uncle Alan, his Aunt Patricia, Alan's two sons 33-year old Greg and 34-year old Nick, Aunt Nina, two uncles of Christine's, two male cousins of Christine's and two female cousins of Christine's. Robert says, "Hi Mom!" Christine barges inside the house, followed by her angry family members! Robert asks, "What's wrong Mom?"

  Christine angrily turns around towards Robert and shouts, "YOU KNOW WHAT'S WRONG ROBERT! IT'S YOUR SISTER! SHE CAN'T SEEM TO STAY OUT OF JAIL!"

  Gracy and Mike come from out of the kitchen. They approach Christine and her angry family members. They see how angry and upset Christine is as Mike shouts, "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"

  David soon comes down the staircase, followed by his children, Sammy, Thomas, Missy, Landa and Linda, and a few other relatives. Everyone starts to surround Christine as she begins to shout, "NOW LISTEN EVERYBODY! I'M NOT HAVING DANA KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH TO JAIL OR PRISON! I MEAN THIS IS THE LAST STRAW EVERYBODY! THIS IS IT! WHEN DANA GOES TO COURT AND IF SHE IS FOUND NOT GUILTY AND THEY RELEASE HER FROM JAIL, I'M GOING TO HAVE HER AND THE REST OF YOU ALL MOVE RIGHT BACK DOWN TO JAMAICA WITH ME, PERMANENTLY!"

  The entire family is all shocked and stunned at Christine's statement as Thomas asks, "What are you talking about Mom?"

  "I'M GONNA HAVE YOU ALL MOVE BACK DOWN TO JAMAICA WITH ME IF DANA IS RELEASED FROM JAIL!"

  "Mom, you can't mean that," Sammy says.

  "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN SAMMY! I DON'T MEAN TO MAKE IT INCONVENIENT FOR ANY OF YOU, BUT I GOT TO KEEP MY EYE ON DANA! I DON'T WANT HER TO WIND UP SPENDING THE REST OF HER LIFE LOCKED UP IN PRISON! I'M AFRAID THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO HER IF THESE MURDER CHARGES OR MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES KEEPS COMING UP! SO JUST IN CASE DANA IS FOUND NOT GUILTY AND THEY RELEASE HER FROM JAIL, YOU ALL BETTER START PACKING YOUR STUFF AND YOUR BELONGINGS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE GONNA MOVE BACK DOWN TO JAMAICA WITH ME!" Christine looks at Missy and shouts, "MISSY, I SUGGEST YOU START GETTING YOUR RESIGNATION PAPERS READY! YOU TOO SAMMY!" Then she angrily storms off!

  Missy follows after her angry mother and worriedly asks, "Mom, you're not suggesting that I just quit my job like that, are you? You're not suggesting for me to quit my job and fly off back to Jamaica, do you?"

  Christine turns around and says, "You heard what I said Missy!"

  "But Mom, this is my job! I can't just quit my job and take off like that! Why do we all have to move back to Jamaica?"

  "Yeah Mom," Sammy says. "I can't just quit my job either! I had a future in that job!"

  "Oh I have jobs for you all in Jamaica!" Christine angrily says. "You all are going to help me at my businesses! From now on, you all will be working for me! TURN IN YOUR RESIGNATION PAPERS!" Christine angrily turns back around and storms off!

  Everyone in the house is shock and stunned! Puzzled, they look at Christine as she storms off into the kitchen! Gracy follows after Christine! She approaches Christine in the kitchen and worriedly asks, "Christine, why do you want all your children to move back down to Jamaica?"

  "I'M SORRY MOM! I'M SO FRUSTRATED I JUST RATHER HAVE ALL MY CHILDREN BACK HOME IN JAMAICA WITH ME! LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS THE LAST STRAW! DANA HAS BEEN ARRESTED TOO MANY TIMES! SHE HAS A RECORD SHEET A MILE LONG! I DON'T WANT MY CHILD TO WIND UP STAYING IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE BECAUSE SHE CANNOT CONTROL HER VIOLENT TEMPER! I'D RATHER HAVE HER HOME BACK IN JAMAICA WITH ME! THIS WAY I CAN KEEP MY EYE ON HER!"

  David comes into the kitchen and says, "Christine, you can't expect the children to just stop their lives here and stop what they're doing to pick up and move to Jamaica just like that!"

  "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I EXPECT DAVID! THAT'S WHY I'M HERE! TO TAKE THEM ALL BACK HOME WITH ME!"

  "You can't mean that Christine! What about their lives here? What about their plans here? What about their future here?"

  "THEY DON'T HAVE A FUTURE HERE ANYMORE DAVID! THEIR FUTURE WILL BE HOME BACK IN JAMAICA WITH ME!"

  Mike comes into the kitchen. He and Gracy pull Christine to the side as they try to calm her down!

  That same Tuesday morning, Missy arrives to the school. She catches up with Raymond in the school hallway. She cries and shouts to him, "OH RAYMOND! EVERYTHING IS GOING CRAZY!"

  "Crazy?" Raymond asks. "What do you mean Missy? What's wrong?"

  "I'M GOING THROUGH A FAMILY CRISIS!"

  "A family crisis?" Raymond holds Missy by her shoulders and asks, "What happened?"

  "MY SISTER DANA! SHE'S IN JAIL AGAIN!"

  "WHAT!"

  "DANA WAS ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MURDER!"

  "SUSPICION OF MURDER? OH MY GOD MISSY! WHAT HAPPENED?"

  "Well two weeks ago, an Indian guy that worked at Dana's old job had snitched on her and her friend Teresa! He told their boss that Dana and Teresa were both stealing! Then Dana's boss had a word with her and her friend Teresa! Dana and Teresa got into a heated argument with their boss, then their boss fired them both right on the spot! I heard that this Indian guy caused Dana and Teresa to both get fired! Then he was murdered in the Bronx last Friday night! He was found outside his apartment building with his head bashed in!"

  "WHAT! OH MY GOD MISSY!"

  "Yeah! I heard his skull was fractured! He died later on at the hospital from a hard vicious blow to the head! The police suspect Dana of killing the guy out of retaliation! They suspect her of killing the guy because of her history! Dana has a long record of assault and murder charges! The police have her fingerprints on file!"

  "THEY HAVE HER FINGERPRINTS ON FILE?"

  "Yeah! The police had found the victim's I.D.! They found out from his I.D. and from his family where he worked! Then the police contacted the victim's job! The police discovered that the victim had caused Dana and her friend Teresa to get fired and removed from their jobs a week before he was murdered! So the police arrested Dana last night on suspicion of murder! They claim they know Dana's violent tempered history! And because of her violent tempered history, she's gonna be the first person the police look at!"

  "OH MY GOD MISSY!"

  "And when we all came home from Central Booking, my father had called up my mother down in Jamaica and told her about the news! He told her of Dana getting arrested again and everything! Then my mother got real furious! She came up here with a lot of her family members and relatives and said that she's gonna have me and all my brothers and sisters move back down to Jamaica if Dana is released from jail!"

  "WHAT!"

  "Yeah! She said she's gonna h
ave us all move down there for good!"

  "Oh my God Missy! Your mother can't mean that!"

  "She does mean that Raymond!"

  "But you're a grown woman Missy! You or your brothers and sisters don't really have to move back down to Jamaica if none of you don't want to! Your mother is just real upset right now!"

  "No Raymond, she means it! And it doesn't matter to her that we're all grown! As far as she's concerned, we're all still her children! She's worried sick about Dana! She's so afraid that Dana's violent temper is gonna cause Dana to wind up spending the rest of her life locked up in prison and my mother doesn't want that! My mother wants to take Dana and the rest of us away as soon as possible if Dana gets out of jail!"

  "You mean your mother really wants you all to move back down to Jamaica with her?"

  "Yes! She wants us all to move back down to Jamaica for good! She says she wants to keep an eye on Dana! She told us all to start packing our things! Then she told me to start turning in my resignation papers! She even told my brother Sammy to start turning in his resignation papers too!"

  "What! Oh Missy, I can understand that your mother is worried sick about Dana, but what I don't understand is why does she want the rest of you to move back down to Jamaica? Why?"

  "Because she just got so fed up with Dana going back and forth to jail that she wants all her children back home with her!"

  "And just because of Dana, you all might have to move back down to Jamaica?"

  "Yes! None of us were planning on moving back to Jamaica any time soon! We all had plans here! I was planning on working here for many more years! If I had gotten to retirement here, then I was planning on moving back down to Jamaica after that! I wasn't planning on moving down there any time soon! None of us were!"

  "Well how do your brothers and sisters feel about it?"

  "They're all upset about it! We all are! Like I said, none of us were planning on moving back down to Jamaica any time soon!"

  ".Well how does Dana feel about it?"

  "Dana doesn't know about it yet! She doesn't know that my mother is planning on having her and the rest of us move back down to Jamaica if she gets out of jail! She doesn't know about it yet!"

  Raymond puts his arms around Missy as she cries uncontrollably on his shoulder.

  It is Wednesday morning now. Teresa is inside her apartment, listening to mellow and jazz music on her stereo. The phone rings. Teresa picks up the telephone and says, "Hello?"

  "Hello Teresa?"

  "Yeah, speaking."

  "Hi Teresa! This is Stanley from the stockroom!"

  "Oh hi Stanley!"

  "Hi Teresa! How are you?"

  "Oh I'm feeling alright! Hold on Stanley! Let me turn the music down!" Teresa goes to turn down the music volume. She gets back on the phone and says, "So how are you Stanley?"

  "Oh I'm doing okay."

  "Good! So what's happening? What's new?"

  "Well I guess you heard the bad news about Wallace's death, huh?"

  "Yeah I heard! Anne had called me up Monday morning and told me about it! She told me that Wallace was ran over and hit by a taxi cab last Friday evening! She said it was a hit-and-run and that the taxi cab kept on going! Then she told me Wallace died later on at the hospital!"

  "Yeah it's all true Teresa! It's all true! They had Wallace's funeral yesterday morning!"

  "Oh my God! Did you go to the funeral Stanley?"

  "Yes I went. It was very sad. I felt real bad for Wallace's wife and family."

  "I'm sure you did Stanley."

  "And you heard what happened to Ramesh, right?"

  "Yeah Stanley, I did! I heard Ramesh was found outside his apartment building in the Bronx with his head bashed in! I heard his skull was fractured and everything! I heard he died later on at the hospital too!"

  "He did! Both incidents of Wallace and Ramesh happened last Friday evening and night! What a strange coincidence, huh?"

  "It sure is! It's just so unbelievable!"

  "It is! The police came here late Monday morning to investigate Ramesh's death! They started asking me and the employees a lot of questions! From the information they got, they suspected Dana of maybe killing Ramesh! They said that they were going to arrest Dana and lock her up!"

  "Yeah Stanley they did! I was at the police station with Dana's family after she had gotten arrested!"

  "You were?"

  "Yeah!"

  "Well the police had called me back the next day and told me that Dana was in jail."

  "Oh they called you?"

  "Yeah they did! From the information the police got from here, including Dana's violent tempered history, they also suspect Dana of maybe killing Wallace too!"

  "They do?"

  "Yeah!"

  "Oh my God!"

  "But they don't have too much of a proof yet, since Wallace was hit and ran over by a taxi-cab. Anyway Teresa, the reason I called you in the first place is to tell you that I was given Wallace's position!"

  "What! You were given Wallace's position?"

  "That's right!"

  "What do you mean Stanley? Don't tell me that you're the head-boss now?"

  "That's what I'm telling you Teresa! I've gotten the position! They gave me a promotion!"

  "They did?"

  "Yes!"

  "Oh that's wonderful Stanley! Congratulations!"

  "Thanks Teresa! Teresa, what I want to tell you is, being that I'm the head-boss now, I would like for you to come back to work at the stockroom!"

  "What are you saying Stanley? Are you saying that you would like to hire me back?"

  "Yes Teresa! I would like to hire both you and Dana back! That's if you two don't mind?"

  "Oh no, of course we don't mind Stanley! I mean, at least I don't mind! I don't know about Dana!"

  "Well are you able to get in touch with Dana while she's in jail?"

  "I don't know Stanley, but I can get in touch with her family and tell them the news, and then they can pass the news on to her!"

  "Okay, good then! So what do you say Teresa? Would you like to come back to work here?"

  "Sure I would Stanley!"

  "Good!"

  "When can I start?"

  "Oh how about starting next payroll, which is next week! That's Monday!"

  "Okay Stanley! I'll be there first thing Monday morning!"

  "Good! You know Teresa, if Dana does come out of jail and she decides to take my offer to come back and work here again, you know I'm gonna have to put her into the back office by herself again! She will have to continue to work alone! I can't allow her to work around the other employees! They all feel kind of intimidated by her. They all feel sort of scared and uneasy whenever she's around. They said they don't know whether they want to continue to work here anymore if they have to work near or around Dana. Not too many people feel easy being around a so called murderer. So I will have to keep Dana isolated from the other employees if she decides to take my offer and work back here again."

  "I understand Stanley. I know people are usually not comfortable being around a murderer. It's just human nature. But I'm sure Dana wouldn't mind working alone! She'll still be glad to get her job back! Some people would rather work alone you know!"

  "Yeah that's true Teresa. Oh by the way Teresa, you had left a lot of your belongings in your locker! Dana had left a lot of her belongings inside her locker also! You two never got a chance to clean out your lockers when you both left!"

  "Yeah I know Stanley. After Wallace fired me and Dana, we just didn't want to see that place anymore."

  "Yeah I can imagine how you two must have felt! Well you don't have to worry now Teresa! You can keep your belongings right where they are! You don't have to worry about cleaning out your locker since you're coming back to work with us!"

  "Oh thanks a lot Stanley! I'm glad you got a promotion!"

  "Yeah me too!"

  "I'm sorry for Wallace's loss. Too bad his loss had to be your gain."

  "Yeah I wish I co
uld have gotten a promotion some other kind of way instead of having somebody die in order for me to get it." Teresa sadly stares into space. Stanley then continues, "Okay Teresa I have to go now."

  "Alright Stanley! And thanks again for hiring me and Dana back! I'll pass the news on to Dana's family so they can tell her!"

  "Okay good Teresa! I'll see you Monday morning."

  "Sure thing Stanley! By now!" Teresa smilingly hangs up the telephone. She excitingly leaves her living room and heads towards her bedroom.

  The following Thursday morning, Christine comes over to her in-laws Mike and Gracy's house! She continues to demand that her children turn in their resignation papers to their jobs! She angrily asks, "Missy, have you turned in your resignation papers yet?"

  "No Mom! I don't want to quit my job! I don't want to move back to Jamaica!"

  Christine angrily points her finger at Missy and says, "Missy, if you don't turn in your resignation papers, then I'm gonna have to go up to your job and do it for you! So you have a choice! Either you do it, or I will! You have two more months left to do it!" Christine angrily walks away!

  "Mom, please don't make me quit my job! Please Mom," Missy cries out! Christine angrily ignores Missy as she continues to walk away! A crying Missy follows after her mother!

  That same evening, Thomas is at his girlfriend Mandy's apartment. He is very upset. He tells Mandy about his mother wanting him and all his brothers and sisters moving back home to Jamaica if Dana is found not guilty and is released from jail! Mandy, a slim black woman who is around 34 years old and wears a short curly Afro and bangs, becomes very upset! She asks, "Why? Why does your mother want you all to move back home to Jamaica with her Thomas?"

  "Because she's worried sick about Dana! She's so upset about Dana going back and forth to jail! My mother is so afraid that Dana is gonna wind up spending the rest of her life in prison and my mother doesn't want that Mandy! She decided that she wants us all back home in Jamaica with her if Dana gets out of jail! My mother keeps saying that she's gonna keep a tight leash on Dana if Dana gets out of jail!"

  "Really?"

  "Yes!"

  "Well Thomas, what are you all going to do?"

  "We don't know yet Mandy! We're all still in a state of shock right now! None of us were planning on moving back down to Jamaica any time soon! My mother told Sammy and Missy to start turning in their resignation papers!"

  "Yeah? Well what about you, the triplets, and Robert? What about your jobs?"

  "Well we all have part-time jobs here and there! So my mother doesn't feel that it's necessary to push any resignation papers on us! She feels that we can just pick up and leave our part-time jobs and quit just like that!"

  "You mean she actually expects you all to just pack up and leave just like that if Dana gets out of jail?"

  "Yes she does Mandy!"

  "Well Thomas if it's so important for your mother to keep an eye on Dana, and she wants you all to be with her, why can't she just move up here to New York and be with you all?"

  "Mandy you know my mother owns a couple of businesses down in Jamaica! She just recently bought and opened up a third business down there! She always has to take off from her businesses to fly up here whenever Dana gets into any kind of trouble! So to save herself the trouble and the aggravation of flying up here back and forth, she says she's gonna have Dana and the rest of us move down there! That way she'll be able to keep a close eye on Dana and at the same time, have the rest of us with her!"

  "But Thomas, what if Dana doesn't want to move back down to Jamaica if she gets out of jail?"

  "Oh Mandy my mother says that she's gonna have Dana move back down to Jamaica whether Dana likes it or not!"

  "Oh Thomas, what are you going to do? I don't want you to leave! I don't want you to move back to Jamaica!"

  "I don't want to move back to Jamaica either Mandy, but if that's what my mother wants, then that's what I'm gonna do!"

  "WHAT! WHY?"

  "Because Mandy my mother means the world to me! My mother is going through a lot with Dana going back and forth to jail and prison for assault and murder charges!"

  "I know Thomas, but what about us? You're just gonna pick up and leave me like that?"

  "It's not that I want to pick up and leave you Mandy, but my family is going through a crisis right now! I don't want to leave you Mandy, but my family comes first! I have to be there for my family!"

  Mandy starts to weep on Thomas' shoulder as she angrily cries, "Oh Thomas, why did your father have to go and call up your mother about Dana being in jail anyway?"

  Thomas looks at Mandy and angrily shouts, "MANDY MY FATHER HAD EVERY RIGHT TO CALL UP MY MOTHER ABOUT DANA BEING IN JAIL!" He grabs Mandy by the shoulders and shouts, "LISTEN MANDY, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME MINOR CRIME HERE! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MURDER! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOSS OF A HUMAN LIFE THAT MY SISTER MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR! IF YOUR CHILD WAS IN JAIL ON A SUSPICION OF MURDER CHARGE, WOULD YOU WANT ANYBODY TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM YOU?"

  "No. I guess not Thomas. No, I wouldn't want anybody to keep it away from me."

  "SO WHY SHOULD MY FATHER KEEP SOMETHING LIKE THAT AWAY FROM MY MOTHER! DANA IS MY MOTHER'SCHILD TOO YOU KNOW! IT WOULD BE VERY UNFAIR OF MY FATHER NOT TO TELL MY MOTHER ABOUT DANA OR ANY OF THEIR OTHER CHILDREN BEING IN JAIL OR PRISON FOR A SUSPICIOUS HOMICIDE! MY FATHER DID THE RIGHT THING MANDY! IF HE DIDN'T CALL MY MOTHER UP, I OR SOMEBODY ELSE IN MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE!"

  "I'm sorry Thomas. I'm sorry for that remark I just said. I guess I was only thinking about myself, not wanting you to leave me."

  Thomas' eyes fill with tears as he puts his arms around Mandy. Mandy's eyes become filled with tears as she puts her arms back around Thomas.

  Two and a half weeks pass. It is Monday morning now. Dana's court date finally arrives. Her entire family is there inside the courtroom, including her parents, her grandparents, her siblings, her aunts, her uncles, her many cousins including Diane D, Christine's family members and Christine's many relatives. Tony is also inside the courtroom with Michael, Teresa and Joseph. Dana's cousin Nancy, who is one of Gracy and Mike's many grandchildren, is outside the courtroom in the hallway. She soon walks into the courtroom. She goes to take a seat near her grandparents, Gracy and Mike.

  Dana is nowhere inside the courtroom. She is locked in a back room behind the courtroom. She will remain there until the court begins.

  The court is now about to begin. George Hanson, Walter Stevens, Dr. Ross and another psychotherapist come out of the back room where Dana is being held. They go to take a seat.

  As the court begins, Nancy is called to take the witness stand. She gets up from out of her seat and goes to take the stand. After the sworn, Prosecutor Roy Jones, a black male around his mid forties, begins to question Nancy and asks, "Now Miss Nancy Brown, where were you the night of Ramesh Kankariya's murder?"

  "I was at home."

  "Who were you at home with?"

  "I was at home with my cousin Dana."

  "You were at home with your cousin Dana?"

  "Yes."

  "How long were you and your cousin Dana inside your home together?"

  "Most of the night."

  "From what time was your cousin Dana at your home, until what time did your cousin Dana leave your home?"

  "Oh Dana first came by my house around 4:30 that afternoon. Then she left my house around 12:30 after midnight."

  "Why was your cousin Dana at your house?"

  "She was visiting me. I had been very depressed and lonely for quite some time. Dana knew that I had been very depressed for quite some time, so she decided to come over to my house to keep me company, so that I won't feel so lonely."

  "What were you depressed about?"

  "Oh nothing particular. I had recently broken up from a relationship. After my relationship was over, I began to feel very depressed. A few people knew that I was depressed and lonely. Dana knew that I was very depressed and lonely so she came over to my house so that I can have a
shoulder to lean on!"

  "What were you and your cousin Dana doing most of the time inside your home that Friday evening and night?"

  "Well we talked and watched TV most of the time, then Dana fell asleep right on my couch, being that she was sort of tired. I continued to stay up and watch television while Dana slept."

  "You did?"

  "Yes."

  "Miss Nancy, did your cousin Dana ever leave your house and came back that Friday night?

  "No, Dana never left my house!"

  "So you're saying that your cousin Dana never once left your house the time and night of the murder?"

  "No! Like I said, Dana didn't leave my house until around 12:30 after midnight!"

  After Nancy finishes being questioned by Roy Jones, Roy Jones tells her she may step down. Nancy steps down from the witness stand. One of Dana's ex co-workers, Anne, is then called to take the stand. After the sworn, she is asked by Roy Jones, "Now Miss Anne Parker, weren't you one of the employees at the stockroom who told the police that Ramesh Kankariya had caused Miss Dana Brown and her friend Teresa Grant to get fired and removed from their jobs?"

  "Yes," Anne nervously says.

  "How did Ramesh Kankariya cause Dana Brown and her friend Teresa Grant to get fired and removed from their jobs?"

  "I really don't know. All I know is that I heard he caused them to get fired. I'm not sure whether he caused them to get fired or not. I don't know any details. I told the police that I heard that Ramesh Kankariya had caused Dana Brown and her friend Teresa to get fired and removed from their jobs. I told the police that I heard it."

  "Well who did you hear it from?"

  "I heard it from Ramesh himself."

  "You heard it from Ramesh himself?"

  "Yes."

  "How did you hear it from Ramesh?"

  "When I was walking past him at the stockroom hallway, I overheard him saying on the telephone that he caused Dana Brown and Teresa Grant to get fired from their jobs."

  "You overheard him while he was speaking on the telephone?"

  "Yes."

  "Well do you know who he was speaking to on the telephone?"

  "No I don't. I didn't ask."

  "Miss Parker, how did Miss Dana Brown get along with her ex co-worker Ramesh Kankariya when he was alive? Did they get along well?"

  "I don't know. I really haven't paid much attention to their work relationship together."

  "Well do you know whether Miss Dana Brown and the victim Ramesh Kankariya had any kind of problems with each other in the past before Ramesh squealed on Miss Dana Brown and her friend Teresa Grant?"

  "I'm not sure. I haven't paid much attention to that either."

  "Miss Parker, how well did you get along with Miss Dana Brown?"

  "We got along okay. We didn't talk to each other much, but we got along okay."

  "You did?"

  "Yes we did."

  "Okay Miss Parker, you may step down."

  Anne gets up and steps down from the witness stand. She then goes to take a seat.

  After Anne finishes being questioned by the courts, another ex co-worker of Dana's, Morris, is called to take the stand. After the sworn, Roy Jones asks Morris the same questions that Anne was asked. Morris gives almost the same nervous, 'I don't know' answers that Anne gave. He also tells the courts that he is not sure whether the victim Ramesh Kankariya had caused Dana Brown and Teresa Grant to get fired from their jobs. Roy Jones looks at Morris. He then tells Morris, "You may step down sir." Morris gets up and steps down from the witness stand. He then goes to take a seat.

  After Morris finishes being questioned by the courts, another ex co-worker of Dana's, Mary, is called to take the stand. After the sworn, she is asked by Roy Jones the same questions that Anne and Morris were asked. Mary gives almost the same nervous, 'I don't know' answers that Anne and Morris had given. She also tells the courts that she does not know whether the victim Ramesh Kankariya had caused Dana Brown and Teresa Grant to get fired from their jobs. Roy Jones looks at Mary. He then says, "You may step down ma'am." Mary gets up and steps down from the witness stand. She then goes to take a seat.

  Christine notices that even though Dana's ex co-workers were each asked questions by the courts, they did not say much. Christine notices that Dana's ex co-workers did not give much information. She also notices how scared and nervous they each appeared to be. She notices how afraid they all seemed to speak out. Christine figures that Dana's ex co-workers know Dana's violent tempered history. She figures that they are all afraid of a possible retaliation by Dana.

  Deep down inside, Anne, Morris and Mary each think that Dana might have had something to do with their former co-worker Ramesh Kankariya being found outside his apartment building with his head bashed in. They also think that Dana might have had something to do with their former boss Wallace being hit and run over by a taxi-cab. They notice how both incidents occurred on the same Friday evening and night, but they do not speak out of fear. They do not want the same thing happening to them! They feel that Dana does not have any kind of conscience or any kind of remorse when she hurts people that have done her or anybody in her family wrong. None of them want to cross Dana.

  The judge then calls for the defendant to be brought out from the back room. The court officers go into the back room to bring the defendant out.

  After a few minutes, the court officers come back out into the courtroom with Dana. Dana comes out into the courtroom surrounded by the court officers. She is in handcuffs with a chain around her waist. She is dressed in a bright red sweater shirt with sleeves rolled up to her elbows, gray denim pants and a matching denim vest. Her long black hair is out loose, hanging in front of her chest and along her sides and back. Christine, David and the entire courtroom look on as the court officers lead a handcuffed and chained Dana into the courtroom.

  After a few seconds, the handcuffs are taken off of Dana. She is then put on the witness stand. After the sworn, she sits down and starts to be questioned by Roy Jones. Roy Jones asks, "Now Miss Dana Brown, did an ex co-worker of yours, the victim Ramesh Kankariya, cause you and another co-worker named Teresa Grant to get fired and removed from your jobs a week before he was slain?"

  "Yes he did."

  "Now Miss Brown, I understand on that Friday evening, the night of the murder, there was a party going on inside your apartment! A party of almost around seventy people! You were not there! Your co-worker and friend Teresa was there! Everyone at the party saw her, but no one at the party knew where you were the whole entire evening! Where were you that Friday evening Miss Brown? Where were you the night of your ex co-worker, Ramesh Kankariya's murder?"

  "I was with my cousin Nancy at her house."

  "Oh yeah? How long were you at your cousin Nancy's house?"

  "All night from around 4:30 in the afternoon, until around 12:30 after midnight."

  "Why were you at your cousin Nancy's house Miss Brown?"

  "I was visiting her."

  "Why were you visiting her that particular evening?"

  "She was very depressed because she had recently broke up from a relationship. I decided to come over her house to visit her, to keep her company so that she wouldn't feel so depressed and lonely"

  "What were you and your cousin Nancy doing the night of the murder?"

  "We were watching television. Then I fell asleep on the couch."

  "Did you ever leave your cousin Nancy's house at all and came back the whole entire time you were there?"

  "No! I never left her house at all! I didn't leave out of my cousin Nancy's house until around 12:30 after midnight!"

  "So are you saying that you never once left your cousin Nancy's house the whole time and night of the murder?"

  "No!"

  "Where did you go right after you left your cousin Nancy's house?"

  "I went straight home!"

  Roy Jones looks at Dana. He then asks, "Miss Brown, have you ever been near or around the home of Ramesh Kankariya?"

>   "No I haven't! I didn't even know where he lived!"

  "Okay Miss Brown, you may step down."

  Dana gets up and steps down from the witness stand.

  After the long court procedure, there is no evidence found. No evidence could be found against Dana. No fingerprints were found at the murder scene. No weapons were found. None of Dana's shoe prints were found at the murder scene. Being that Dana has an alibi, she is let go. She is found not guilty! Her family, relatives and friends become excited and happy for her! The chains are then taken off of Dana. Christine gives a sigh of relief. The victim's family becomes very upset and emotional! They all start to cry and scream out in the courtroom! Christine sadly looks on at the victim's family, feeling very sorry for their loss! She then goes to give Dana a big hug in the courtroom! Christine's family members go and give Dana a big hug also! Dana's siblings also go and give her a big hug! David goes and gives Dana a big hug! Then the rest of his family go and give Dana big hugs!

  Christine then goes to the victim's family members. She gives them her sympathy. Some of Christine's family members and relatives give the victim's family their sympathy also.

  As Christine, her family and her relatives give the victim's family their sympathy, Dana's other family members and friends happily lead her out of the courtroom into the hallway! Some of Christine's relatives then leave out of the courtroom also. They follow everyone else as everybody leads Dana towards the end of the hallway! They are all happy that Dana is not sent to prison again! They all stand at the end of the hallway, away from the courtroom! They all start to surround Dana and give her great big hugs! Tony happily has his arms wrapped tightly around Dana's shoulders as all of Dana's siblings and relatives smilingly stand beside her! Diane D and Teresa smile on as they stand around Dana! Michael and Joseph smile on and stand around Dana also, so does Nancy.

  As Dana's family, relatives and friends surround her at the end of the hallway, Christine, Harold, Alan and a few of their relatives come out of the courtroom. They then stand outside the courtroom together and look down towards the end of the hall at Dana. They stand there and watch everyone surrounding Dana. Christine turns her head around and looks back inside the courtroom. She sadly looks at the victim's family, still feeling sorry for their loss. She then turns her head back around and looks towards Dana again. As she, her brothers and their relatives stand there and watch everyone surround Dana, Alan looks at Christine and says, "Christine, I don't understand, what was Dana doing at Nancy's house that Friday from 4:30 in the afternoon until around 12:30 after midnight? I thought you said Dana had told Tony that she was gonna do some shopping that Friday evening?"

  "Well that's what Tony told me! When I spoke to Tony on the phone that Friday night, he told me that Dana had told him earlier that day that she was gonna do some shopping! He told me that he walked Dana to her car that Friday afternoon and Dana told him that she was gonna do some shopping just before she drove off and left him! Yet Dana is saying in the courtroom that she was at Nancy's house that whole Friday evening and night and Nancy is confirming it too!"

  "Well you know what that means Christine? It means that either Dana and Nancy are both lying and Nancy perjured herself to cover up for Dana, or Dana changed her mind that Friday afternoon and decided to go to Nancy's house. She could have actually been at Nancy's house."

  "I don't know Alan. But I'm afraid none of us will ever know the truth."

  Christine, her brothers and their relatives continue to stare down the hall at Dana as everyone happily surrounds Dana. Harold looks at Christine and says, "Well Christine, now that Dana is not going to prison, I think you better start to get your tight leash ready."

  "Don't worry Harold. I have it right here," Christine angrily says as she reaches deep down into her big black leather bag. She goes inside a hidden compartment and secretly shows her brothers and her relatives a long thick chain, two pairs of thick locks and a pair of handcuffs! Christine's brothers and relatives shockingly look at the long chain, the two thick locks and the pair of handcuffs! They shockingly look at Christine as Christine puts the chain, the locks and the handcuffs back into the hidden compartment inside her black leather bag. Harold then shouts, "CHRISTINE, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT CHAIN, THOSE LOCKS AND THOSE HANDCUFFS?"

  Christine shakes Harold's hand and says, "Harold, meet Dana's new correctional officer!"

  "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT CHRISTINE?" Alan shouts!

  "I'm gonna use this chain, these locks and these handcuffs on Dana!"

  "WHAT!" Harold shouts! "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE GONNA USE THAT CHAIN, THOSE LOCKS AND THOSE HANDCUFFS ON DANA? YOU MEAN YOU'RE GONNA WRAP THIS CHAIN AROUND YOUR OWN DAUGHTER?"

  "That's right Harold! I'm gonna have myself a one-woman chain gang!"

  "CHRISTINE!" Alan shouts! "YOU ARE NOT GONNA PUT THAT CHAIN, THOSE LOCKS OR THOSE HANDCUFFS ON DANA!"

  "Watch me Alan," Christine says as she is about to walk away. Alan firmly grabs Christine by the arm and shouts, "NO CHRISTINE! NOW DANA IS MY NIECE! I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO DO THAT TO HER!"

  "Alan I'm not doing anything to Dana! Dana is doing this to herself!" Christine starts to walk away again.

  Alan grabs Christine by the arm again and shouts, "NOW CHRISTINE, WHEN WE ALL AGREED TO COME UP HERE TO GET DANA, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU MEANT GETTING HER THIS WAY! I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU MEANT USING CHAINS, LOCKS AND HANDCUFFS!"

  "No I didn't mean it at first Alan! I just decided to use these things at the spur of the moment!"

  Christine starts to walk away again, but Alan grabs her arm and shouts, "CHRISTINE! GIVE ME THAT CHAIN, THOSE LOCKS AND THOSE HANDCUFFS!"

  Christine looks at Alan and says, "Alright Alan! Forget it! I won't use these things on Dana!"

  "You won't?"

  "No, I won't! I won't use them on her! But I have to call up Mom and Dad, and let them know that Dana is not gonna go to prison!" Christine starts to walk away towards a pay phone. Harold and Alan start to follow after her. Christine reaches the pay phone and makes a long distance call, down to Jamaica. She asks Harold, Alan and their relatives for some extra coins. They all hand her the coins as she puts them inside the pay phone. Christine calls up her parents on the telephone. Thomas, Missy, Landa, Londa and Robert soon approach Christine as she speaks on the telephone. They all listen to her conversation as she talks to her parents in Jamaica. They start to hear Christine saying, "Hey Mom! It's me, Christine! …. Yeah! How are you? I'm alright too! …. Yeah! Is Dad there? …. Good! I have good news for you two! …. Yeah! Dana has been acquitted Mom! …. Yeah! She was found not guilty!" Christine's children all smile and look at one another! They, Harold, Alan and Christine's other relatives continue to listen to Christine's conversation as Christine continues, "Yeah Mom, she's not going to prison! …. No she's not! So I'll have her move down there by next month, okay? You can start getting her room ready!" Christine's children look at her as Christine continues, "Yes! You can get ALL of their rooms ready!" Christine's children look at each other again! Christine continues, "Yeah! I'll have them ALL down there by next month, okay Mom?" Christine continues to talk to her mother as she puts more coins into the pay phone. Her brothers, her relatives and her children continue to listen to her conversation on the telephone as she says, "Oh by the way Mom, you know that hospital a few miles away from where you are? No not that hospital, the other one! …. Yeah that hospital! Could you call up that hospital for me and make arrangements to have Dana committed in there?" Christine's brothers, her relatives and her children become shocked and stunned as Christine firmly shouts, "YES MOM I WANT TO HAVE HER COMMITTED IN THERE! TELL THAT HOSPITAL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW PATIENT IN THERE BY THE NEXT TWO MONTHS," as she angrily looks towards Dana! "Oh you and Dad already made arrangements for that other hospital? Yes Mom could you do that? Change from that hospital? I'd rather for Dana to be in the other hospital …… Yes …… Oh thanks a lot Mom! Just give that hospital Dana's name and informat
ion and I'll take care of the rest when we all get down there next month, alright? …. Oh thanks again Mom! I really appreciate this! Listen, I have to go now! The change is about to run out! I'll talk to you and Dad later, alright? I love you! ..... Okay, by now!"

  Christine's children look at her as she hangs up the telephone. Missy cries out, "Mom?"

  "Not now Missy," Christine says as she walks away from her children. She starts to walk towards Dana. Alan grabs Christine by the arm and says, "Christine!"

  Christine turns around towards Alan and says, "Alan, everything's gonna be alright! Take it easy!" Christine turns back around and continues to head towards Dana. Her brothers, relatives and children follow after her.

  Dana still has her family, her many relatives and her friends surrounding her. She has Sammy, Linda, Diane D and Nancy standing around her. She has David's family standing around her. She also have Christine's other family members standing around her. Tony, Michael, Teresa and Joseph are also standing around Dana. Dana and Nancy start to hug and embrace each other. Nancy gives Dana a warm smile and says, "You did great Dana!"

  Christine is about to approach Dana and Nancy. Dana and Nancy look and see Christine approaching them. Everyone that is surrounding Dana smile as they look at Christine, except for Christine's children. None of them are smiling. They suspiciously look at their mother. Nancy smiles and says, "Hi, Aunt Christine!"

  "Hello," Christine says. She then looks at Dana and gives Dana another big hug. She then pulls back and asks, "So how are you feeling Dana?"

  "I'm feeling alright Mom."

  "You do?"

  "Yeah. I'm feeling alright."

  "Good. Can I talk to you for a minute?" Christine says as she starts to pull Dana away from the crowd. The crowd looks on as Christine leads Dana away.

  "CHRISTINE!" Alan calls out.

  Christine turns around and says, "Alan please! I told you everything's going to be alright!"

  Alan worriedly looks at Christine. Christine turns back around and leads Dana down the long corridor towards the other end of the hallway. She then leads Dana around an isolated corner, where they can have total privacy.

  When Christine and Dana reach the isolated corner, Christine looks at Dana and starts to hold on to Dana's strong arms. She then asks, "So how are you feeling Dana? Are you feeling alright?"

  "Yeah Mom. I'm feeling alright."

  "Good. Are you sure?"

  "Yeah Mom, I'm okay."

  "Good. Are you sure now?"

  "Yeah Mom, I'm feeling alright. Why?"

  "Because I have BIG PLANS for you Dana!"

  "Big plans for me?"

  "Yes!"

  "Well what are they Mom?"

  "We're gonna go to your apartment right now and start packing up all of your things and belongings! You're moving back down to Jamaica with me AND your brothers and sisters next month!"

  "What are you talking about Mom?"

  "You and your brothers and sisters are moving back down to Jamaica with me next month!"

  "Mom, what do you mean? What are you talking about? What do you mean we're moving back down to Jamaica with you?"

  "I told your father, your brothers* and sisters, and everyone else in the family that if you came out of jail and did not have to go to prison, then I was gonna have you ALL move back down to Jamaica with me!"

  "You did?"

  "Yes I did!"

  "Mom, I'm not moving back to Jamaica!"

  "Yes you are Dana! So go to your apartment right now and start packing up all of your belongings, alright? And tomorrow I want you to go to your old job and get the rest of your belongings out of your locker!"

  "Mom, I'm not going to get the rest of my belongings out of my locker! I heard that Stanley had gotten a promotion! I hear he's the head boss now! I hear he wants to hire me back! He already hired Teresa back!"

  "I know he's head boss now and he hired Teresa back! But you're not going back!"

  "Yes I am Mom! Stanley rehired me!"

  Christine angrily points her finger at Dana as she firmly says, "You are not going back Dana! The only place you're going is back to Jamaica with me! You and I are going to go to your job tomorrow to tell Stanley that you're not coming back to work for him! We're only going to go there to pick up the rest of your belongings out of your locker! We're gonna tell Stanley that we're picking up the rest of your belongings because you are moving back down to Jamaica with me!"

  "MOM, I'M NOT GIVING UP MY JOB, ALRIGHT? AND I'M NOT MOVING BACK TO JAMAICA!"

  Dana starts to walk away pass Christine, but Christine quickly turns around and angrily grabs Dana by the arm, saying, "I'm not finished with you yet Dana. At the way you're going, you won't be able to keep this job again or any other job! With your long criminal record, nobody else is gonna want to hire you! So it's better for you to just go to the stockroom and pick up your belongings from out of your locker! I suggest that we both go to the stockroom tomorrow morning and start cleaning out your locker, because if you don't, then I will have no choice but to do it for you!"

  "MOM, I'M NOT GIVING UP MY JOB! AND I'M NOT GONNA MOVE BACK TO JAMAICA!" Dana shouts as she angrily pulls away from her mother!

  "YES YOU ARE DANA!" Christine shouts as she angrily grabs Dana by the arm again! "YOU ARE MOVING BACK DOWN TO JAMAICA WITH ME WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!"

  "MOM, WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU WANT ME TO MOVE BACK DOWN TO JAMAICA? WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU WANT US ALL TO MOVE BACK DOWN TO JAMAICA WITH YOU?"

  "Because you're constantly getting arrested Dana! Every time my back is turned, you're constantly getting arrested for some assault charge or some murder charge! I'm not gonna have that anymore Dana! I'm not gonna have you keep getting arrested, going back and forth to jail or prison!"

  "But Mom, I didn't do anything!"

  "I don't know what you did or didn't do Dana! I wasn't there! But either way, I'm sick and tired of the police keep suspecting you of a murder that was committed! The next time in the future, whenever another murder is committed in this town, the police won't have to worry about suspecting you anymore Dana, because you won't be here! You'll be down in Jamaica with me and your brothers and sisters! We will all be down in Jamaica by next month! You're all moving down there with me for good, do you hear that? So let's go to your apartment right now and start packing all of your belongings!" Christine pulls on Dana and starts to lead her away!

  Dana angrily pulls away from her mother again and shouts, "MOM, FOR THE LAST TIME I'M NOT GIVING UP MY JOB! AND I'M NOT MOVING BACK TO JAMAICA!"

  "YES YOU ARE DANA!" Christine shouts as she grabs and pulls Dana by the arm again!

  Christine and Dana begin to shout at each other! Soon everyone at the other end of the hallway begin to hear the loud commotion! Dana's family, relatives and friends start to rush down the other end of the hallway! They start to rush towards the corner to see what's going on and to see what the shouting is all about!

  As Dana's family, relatives and friends hurry around the corner, Dana angrily storms away from her mother! She rushes through the crowd as her family, relatives and friends rush off after her! Sammy and Thomas call out to Dana as they chase after her! They catch up to Dana and grab her! They both hold tightly on to Dana's arms and waist as Alan angrily shouts, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?"

  "UNCLE ALAN," Dana angrily shouts, "MOM IS TALKING ABOUT SHE WANTS ME TO GIVE UP MY JOB AND MOVE BACK DOWN TO JAMAICA WITH HER! SHE SAYS SHE WANTS ALL OF US TO MOVE BACK DOWN TO JAMAICA WITH HER! SHE SAID WE ALL HAVE TO MOVE BACK DOWN TO JAMAICA WITH HER! SHE SAID FOR ME TO GO TO MY A