“You can’t prove that I knew what was on those tapes,” Kennedy said.
I shook my head. “We both know you did.”
Erica began packing up. “Just to be on the safe side, I’ve filed a motion to have you take a lie detector test.”
Kennedy turned to her lawyer. “Do something, bitch!”
“There is nothing I can do, Ms. Chambers. The evidence is overwhelming at this point. We just have to go through the motions—”
Kennedy jumped up, causing the table to rattle from the force of her jerking at the handcuffs.
“You’re good for nothing. Get the fuck out of my face. You’re fired!” She turned to me and Erica as we stood to leave. “You are not gonna pin this on me. Do you hear me? Y’all and my whore bitch of a daughter can go to hell!”
Erica shook her head. “We’ll see you in court, Ms. Chambers.”
We left the room with her screaming at our backs. There was silence between us as Erica and I walked out to the parking lot. She stopped just shy of the car and turned to me.
“You almost lost it back there,” she said.
“I know. I apologize.”
She sighed. “It’s over now. We won’t see her again until court. Just don’t lose it in there. I don’t have the kind of pull to get you out of being held in contempt.”
“I promise I’ll keep it together.”
“Good. You headed home?”
“Yeah. I need to check on Alayah.”
“How’s she doing?”
“She’s…there.”
She offered me a sympathetic smile. “Just keep taking care of her. I know things are hard for her right now, but there is light at the end of this dark tunnel. She has to keep her head up. We’re gonna get them.”
I prayed that she was right. Everybody involved in this mess needed to pay, and if I had anything to do with it, they would.
A Week Later…
Today had been the longest day, and all I wanted was to go home, shower, eat, and relax. I felt like I’d been working around the clock, and my body was tired. My mind was exhausted. After that meeting with Kennedy, I decided it was best to take a step back from this case. I was emotionally invested and taking things way to personal…even if it was.
The woman I loved was hurting because of the sorry excuse she had for a mother.
I couldn’t fix it. I couldn’t ease her pain. I couldn’t take it away. Listening to her scream at night broke my heart. Wiping away her tears only fueled the anger I felt. This world was already cruel enough. The last thing anybody should have to deal with was the level of cruelty she experienced from her own mother.
Since Alayah had basically locked herself in her room, I asked her aunt to come over during the day to check on her and make sure she was okay. It would kill me if she sought to end her pain by taking her life. I wanted to give her more credit than that as far as her strength, but her psyche was fragile right now. We couldn’t take any chances.
When I got home, the house was quiet, but I could smell food cooking in the kitchen. Thinking that Alayah was up, I headed in that direction. I was surprised to find my sister at the stove.
“Hey, Bridget,” I said, hugging her. “What are you doing here?”
“Ellie wanted to see Alayah. I figured she could use a visit from her bestie. They’re taking a nap.”
I nodded. “You didn’t have to cook, you know.”
“I know. But I also know things are hard right now. I just wanted to help where I could.”
“Thanks, sis.” I discarded my jacket and tie, then went to the fridge for a beer.
