Hi, all! It's been a minute, I know, but I've been hard at work on the third book in my Ratchet City series. I'm hoping to hit "Publish" on it in the next day or so, but in the meantime here's an excerpt:
“Have a seat. I’m Detective Collins, Shreveport Homicide.”
“Homicide,” I repeated, taking a seat in front of him. “I don’t know nothin’ ’bout no murder. I been in here for the last five years”!
“Really? Because I think you do,” he said smugly. “Ms. Deeadria Reese ring a bell? You too were like two peas in a pod before you came here.”
My jaw cracked a little. “Yeah, I know Dee. But like I said, I’ve been here the last five years. I don’t know nothin’ ’bout no murder. Besides, I heard she was already locked up for killing ole girl.”
“I’m not talking about her. I’m talking about a young man by the name of Jarvis Jackson.”
Now the wheels in my head were turning. Nikki had told me about a young dude Dee stabbed because he was cheating on her. ’Bout how she had the police thinking he had beat her and his momma being the one that messed up her face.
This had to be the same dude.
Before I could speak, Detective Collins cut me off. “Ms. Harris, I understand you don’t want to be labeled as a snitch, but I promise you no one will ever know. He was fifteen when she killed him. He had his whole life ahead of him. How would you have felt if that was your little brother she put in that box?”
He was doing way too much… I said, thinking to myself.
“She’s not the person you think she is,” he continued.
I was really looking confused now, because apparently Detective Collins thought that me and Dee were still besties.
He scooted his chair a little closer. “Did you know she continued to live with your boyfriend after you were locked up?”
He said that shit like it was “a-ha” moment or something. But y'all know what? I was gone play this lil game with him.
Lights, Camera, Action.“Detective Collins that was a long time ago.”
“There is no statute of limitation on murder, Ms. Harris,” he said, turning on the tape recorder.
I basically repeated the same story Dee had told Nikki; I added some dramatic tears and some deep breaths. “I never knew she was actually telling me the truth.” Sniffle, sniffle. “I always thought it was a story to make me think she was badder than what she claimed to be.”
Detective Collins was rubbing my hands the whole way through. “I know, I know,” he said sympathetically. “She’s very manipulative. I’ve been working this case for almost seven years. I just couldn’t let it go. I could never get enough on her to make anything stick. But now I got her!” He said like he had won a trophy. “I knew her mouth would get her in trouble one day.”
He was talking like he hated Dee, like it was more to the story than this, but that was none of my business.
“I need you to do one more thing for me”
“What’s that?” I said eyeing him suspiciously through my fake tears.
“I need you to identify on this recording who you are talking about. I’m going to have her escorted in; all you have to say is, ‘Yes this is Deeadria Reese.’ Can you do that for me?” He was so excited he looked like he was going to burst, and deep down so was I.
He signaled for Tully to bring Dee in. She looked a mess: her long hair was in a ponytail and her jumpsuit looked two sizes too big.
“Deeadrea Reese.”
She smacked her lips when she heard Detective Collins’ voice.
“Fuck you want? I’m already locked up.”
He laughed. “Yeah, you are, but not long enough. Is this the person that told you that story?”
“Yes”, I said making sure my voice was clear as crystal. “This is my best friend Deeadria Reese”
When she recognized my voice, the front of her scrubs instantly became soaked in piss.
“Who, who is that?” She began backing away.
“It’s me Dee – LaLa. I’m sorry, boo, I had to tell.”
“Tell what?” She reached up touching her dark shades.
“That you killed Jarvis on purpose because he was leaving you.”
“What, what are you talking about? I never told you…” Right then Detective Collins turned off the recorder.
“I think we have enough. I’ll be in contact with you if I need anything further, Ms. Harris”
As Officer Davis was getting ready to escort me back to my cell for the last time I asked her could I give my homegirl from the outside one last hug.
She hesitated a little but I assured her “Ma’am, this is my last night in prison. Why would I risk my freedom by doing something stupid?”
“Go ahead” she said.
I approached Dee and wrapped my arms around her; she tensed up.
I whispered in her ear, “Checkmate, bitch.”
