Antoine pulled in front of his West Philadelphia home and breathed a sigh of relief. He had been through hell and back and hated what he had done. Ransacking someone’s home and shooting them was one thing; killing a witness scheduled to testify at a federal trial was another thing. But he had done his thing and was back in the City of Brotherly Love as if nothing had happened. He was without a care in the world, with one exception; He had not committed the perfect crime because a few people were aware of what he’d done.
He was in a luxury vehicle that he rented at the airport when he returned from Florida an hour ago in his alias—a foolish move that keeps him connected to the name. He stepped out of the car and grabbed his carryon bag, walked up the stairs and reached in his pocket for his house keys. He found them and stuck a key in the lock.
It didn’t turn.
He tried again and it wouldn’t turn. The lock appeared to have been changed.
Hs reached for his cell phone and called Roxanne.
“What are you calling me for now?” she asked with venom. He could smell the blood dripping from her fangs.
“Come on. I told you that I had to go out of town.”
“Whatever. Why are you calling me?”
“I am at the house. My keys don’t work.”
“They’re not supposed too. I changed the locks. Look I am sorry,” Roxanne said and hung up the phone.
Antoine turned around to leave the house and watched police cars descend in front of the house. The first cruiser to stop dinged Antoine’s rental and hopped out with his gun drawn.
“Antoine, do not fucking move! Put ya hands in the air and drop the bag!”
“What I do?” Antoine asked and dropped the bag.
“Get on your knees and lay on the ground. Now!”
Antoine followed that order and did not move. He was petrified, but had no idea why he had been stopped. Do they think that I am a burglar? Well they can’t if the cop yelled out my name?
Another officer on the scene rolled up on Antoine and handcuffed him behind his back. He said, “You are under arrest for shooting in a public park at police officers and putting the lives of many innocent bystanders in danger by running down a city block waving a firearm.”
“What! I ain’t do shit!”
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you...”
“Save it! I know all that shit. I want my lawyer.”
“No problem. I am sure that you’re going to need one.”
* * *
Roxanne sat in her car up the street from her home and smiled at what she had just witnessed. She had been tired of Antoine’s foolishness and was glad that the police had gotten him out of her hair. She picked up her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts before she sent out a text that put another smile on her face.