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The next night, Connie and Winston rushed through the halls of the police station, while the officers brought the sobbing, handcuffed Travis Crawford into the booking area.
Winston grabbed an officer. “What the hell happened with Travis Crawford?”
“Travis shot Charlie Gere,” the officer said.
“What?” Connie gasped.
“Yeah, he claims it was self-defense and Gere was beating his mother.”
“Oh my god.” Connie covered her mouth.
Winston moved as another crop of arrestees passed. “Send Travis upstairs to room A okay?” he instructed the officer. “We want to talk to him first.”
“Yes, sir.” The cop nodded. “Getting right on it.” He zipped from the crowd.
“Come on.” Winston and Connie jumped on the nearest elevator and got to the detectives’ floor.
“I can’t believe this.” Winston hopped out the elevator, breathless. “Talk about throwing a wrench, huh?”
“Ain’t that the truth?” Connie hurried beside him and toward the interrogation room. “I wonder how Charlie’s doing?”
“Hey.” Winston stopped a female cop in the hallway. “Can you get us some information on Charlie Gere’s shooting? Contact the hospital for us?”
“Yes, sir.” The officer darted away.
****
“I don’t know how this happened.” Travis laid his face on the table, sobbing. “Charlie and I don’t get along, but I didn’t mean for this to happen. Can I see my mom?”
“Not yet.” Winston maneuvered his gun belt and sat beside him. “What happened?”
“They got in another argument about Kathleen.” Travis sucked his lip. “Mom couldn’t let it go and didn’t believe he wasn’t cheating again. Charlie had her pinned on the kitchen floor, strangling her.”
“The same way Prisha died,” Connie said.
“Charlie’s temper is out of this world. You’ve seen samples of it. When his rage reaches a certain level, he can’t control it.” He wailed with his hands over his face. “God, how can this happen? If only Mom had listened when I told her to get away.”
“What happened, Travis?” Connie asked.
“I first tried to get him off her but I couldn’t. She was screaming and crying. I ran to my room and got my gun.”
Winston touched the table. “It was your gun?”
“Yes, I keep a gun around the house for protection. It’s registered and everything. I came back into the kitchen and I warned Charlie to stop but he wouldn’t. I closed my eyes, prayed, and shot.” He shut his eyes. “Hit him in the lower back.”
“Then what?” Connie crossed her legs.
“Mom was screaming at the top of her lungs and I was in shock. We kept checking Charlie and begging him to get up but he was in so much pain and blood was everywhere. I called the police, and that’s the story.”
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Winston stood.
The female officer who Winston had instructed to get more info concerning Charlie’s condition, entered. “May I speak to you, Detectives?”
Connie and Winston followed her into the hall.
“I have bad news about Charlie Gere.” The officer secured her clipboard under her arm. “He didn’t make it.”
Connie grabbed Winston’s arm. “What?”
“He died on the way to the hospital. He’d lost too much blood.”
Winston fell against the wall. “Jesus.
****
“You sure this’ll work?” Dee mixed the herbal sedative into the glass of nonalcoholic cocktail.
Rena nodded, peeking outside Dee’s bedroom. “It’ll take a few minutes but give him enough and he’ll be out like a light.”
“Shit, should’ve used a cup.” Dee lifted the glass, noting the cloudiness forming in the center of the peachy drink. “Think he’ll notice?”
“No. Just make sure you distract him.” Rena smiled. “You’re good at that.”
Dee set the glass for Jonathan beside hers. “Hope I don’t get them mixed up. Thanks, Rena.” She gave her a slight hug. “I appreciate this.”
“If this all goes well, you’ll be gone.” She sighed, rubbing Dee’s back. “I’ll miss you.”
“Come with me. There’s nothing for you here and Jonathan’s dangerous. If he finds out you helped me no telling what he’d—”
“Deidra?” Jonathan knocked on the door.
She jumped, patting her hair. “Come in.”
Rena stood erect, sticking out her bosom.
“Well.” Jonathan entered. “Nothing like walking into a bedroom with two beautiful women. Deidra, you’re glowing, darling.” He kissed her cheek. “You smell so good.”
“Made your favorite. A sparkling peach cocktail minus the booze.”
He reached for the glass on the right but she handed him the one on the left.
“Here you go.” She plastered on a huge smile. “Hope you like it.”
He sipped from the square glass and smacked his lips afterwards. “It’s perfect.” He put his arm around her waist. “What did you want to talk about?”
Dee put her hands on his shoulders, imagining strangling the life out of him.
“I’ll give you two privacy.” Rena gave Dee an allusive glance and left.
The silver in Jonathan’s eyes twinkled. “Every day I look at you and wonder how the hell I made it before I knew you.” He sipped the cocktail as he caressed her backside with his other hand. “I’ll never let you go.”
“You love me, Jonathan?”
He batted, eyes dazed. “I’ll never love a woman like I love you.”
“What’s your definition of love?” She folded the collar of his black shirt. “Does it mean that you’d sacrifice anything for me to be happy?”
He kissed her with a loud smack. “I’d do anything for you. Ooh.” He wobbled, rubbing his stomach. “Hm.”
“What?”
He held onto her. “Whoa.”
“You okay?” She helped him to the bed.
“I’m dizzy.” He squinted, grimacing. “What did you do?”
“Excuse me?” Dee took his glass.
“What the...?” He held his head. “What did you do, Deidra?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“What the fuck did you do?” he shouted, drooling. “You put something in my drink?”
“How do you feel?” She snickered. “Helpless? Drained? Good.”
He lay over, moaning. “What are you talking about?”
“You kidnapped me and drugged me!” She slapped him. “I know the truth, Jonathan.”
“No.” He grabbed her. “Listen—”
“Let go of me.”
“No.” He pulled himself up, locking his flimsy arms around her. “I love you. I had to show you.”
She squirmed. “Get off me!”
“I had to show you we belong together. This was the only way.”
“Get off!” She pushed him to the floor.
“Deidra?” He raised his arm, struggling to stand. “I love you more than anyone ever will.”
“Love? You don’t kidnap and drug someone you love, Jonathan.” She turned to leave, and he grabbed her ankle. “Get your hands off me!”
“I can’t let you go.”
“Fuck you.” She kicked. “I swear to God if you don’t let go of me—”
“I can’t let you go!” He tried to pull her to the floor. “You belong to me now. We’re supposed to be together.”
“Go to hell!” She kicked him.
“No.” He rose to his knees, crawling toward her. “Deidra, don’t leave me.”
“You’re gonna pay for what you’ve done.” She opened the door. “I’ll be back with the police.”
“I love you.” He reached for her as she ran out. “I won’t let you go!”