“The young woman back there said you emailed her a few weeks ago saying you moved to Atlanta.”
“Yeah, I did. So?”
“Did she ever respond to you?”
“No.”
“And why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Probably because she was busy. That’s why I wanted to come here and surprise her.”
“She said she never told you where she worked or that she was in Atlanta at all. She never gave you her email address and hasn’t spoken to you for years. So explain to me how you received her address?” Amara’s tone had a little fire in it.
Luther’s nostrils flared just a little. “I saw her on TV. I knew she was into being a nanny or whatever, and I saw she was working for this man’s kid.” He pointed at me.
“So she never spoke to you personally or invited you here?” the male officer asked. His pocket had the name Graham. “Seems to me you don’t know how to read the room.”
Luther said nothing in response.
“Sir, I’m going to ask you to leave.Right now,” Amara said, taking a step closer to him. “That young woman just explained to me who you are and what you did to her, and in my opinion, you are a threat and a danger to this family. If you don’t leave, I will arrest you for trespassing. Get in your car and go.Now.”
“Man, whatever,” Luther muttered, heading to his car.
We watched him climb into his Mercedes, start the ignition, and drive away. He stopped his car next to Octavia’s and rolled his window down. I started to walk her way—my daughter was in that car—but he yelled “I still love you, O!” Then he peeled off.
Officer Amara scoffed when his vehicle was out of sight. “I can’t stand pieces of shit like that.”
“Neither can I,” I grumbled.
“If he comes back, let us know,” Officer Graham said.
“Yes. And in the meantime, I suggest you and the young woman back there file a restraining order on him.”
“Okay. I will let her know.”
Officer Amara nodded and walked away.
Officer Graham smiled as he took quick steps backward. “Big fan, by the way.”
I smiled back. “Thanks.”
I reached Octavia’s car just as the police cruiser drifted down the street.
“You okay?” I asked after she rolled the window down.
She avoided my eyes. “I think so. Maybe? I don’t know.”
“I get it. I think you need a moment. Take Leesa to the house. I will meet you there.”
She started her car’s ignition and maneuvered around my vehicle to reach the gates. I did not miss the way she trembled as she went.
Twenty-Two
Javier
After parking and checking the mail, I entered my house and dragged in a deep breath. The scent of Italian herbs swelled in the air.
I dropped my keys into the glass bowl in the foyer before venturing through. Around the corner, in the living room, Aleesa sat in the middle of the rug, with a hooded dinosaur blanket covering her head, watching TV.
