“Did he touch anything? Leave any prints?”
She shakes her head. “No sir. Him did have on gloves.”
I put a hand to my chin. Wow. Just wow. “Why did you report it today?”
“Mi did get shot inna mi foot, and mi did deh hospital. Mi fraid fi come out late… so when daylight come, mi reach here.”
I nod. “You said seven persons shot. You told me five dead. That’s six. Who’s the seventh?”
“Lorie… the girl weh work a the bar. She did deh talk to him.”
My brow arches. “Is she dead?”
“No sir. She get shot inna her foot, and har head lick but she alive.”
Good. “Where is she now?”
“Hospitalized.”
I nod. “I need to speak to her as soon as she’s stable. She might be our missing link.”
I close the file slowly. Whoever this killer is, he’s good. Scary good. But I’m better. And I’m going to find this bastard and lock him behind bars once and for all!
17
Vent
“See you guys Friday, and congratulations again,” my professor says just before I log off the meeting.
It’s Wednesday, and I have a hair appointment at 12 o’clock. Can you imagine it’s almost 11 and I’m still in bed, sprawled out on Nickoi like a comforter? He’s on the business app, giving instructions to his workers while I’m just here, soaking up his warmth. After what happened yesterday morning, I don’t even think I want to drive again. Not for now. Mi think unuh know which incident mi a talk bout.
I wait until he gets off the phone before I ask, “You can carry mi to Clova?”
“Now?” he asks, glancing at me.
I nod, sliding off the bed. “It’s a 12:00 appointment.”
He sits up, yawns, then nods. “Alright.” I make my way to the bathroom. I slip into my multicolored polo hoodie, denimshorts, and white Air Forces, then pull my natural hair into a low ponytail.
By the time I open the bathroom door, Nickoi calls out. “Mami?”
I peek out. “Hmm?”
“11:30 now enuh and yuh seh a 12:00 yuh fi reach deh.”
“Mi a come,” I grin, snatching up my comb and brush, tossing them on the dresser. He’s smiling at me now, dressed in a white tee, Polo shorts, and Polo slides.Classic.
“Mi feel like a choppa,” I joke, turning to him.
He laughs. “Yuh wah mi wear mine too?”
“Yes!” I giggle with a goofy smile. He chuckles, opens his closet, and throws on his matching hoodie. Then he steps beside me in front of the mirror. I wrap my arms around him and snap a mirror picture of us. As I scroll through the photos, cheesing to myself, Nickoi walks away laughing.
“Yuh nuh real enuh.” Haha.Hope yuh know a the appointment him a talk bout enuh. Mi know.
“Mi ready now,” I say with a little laugh.
“Come on now man,” he calls, already heading downstairs. As I follow behind, he starts teasing.
