Bella closed the distance between them. “So, you knew that your sister was killing people, and you thought you’d help her get away with because we’d be looking for aman?”
For a few seconds, Niyah had an inner debate about how to respond. She decided honesty as a last resort. “I did.”
Bella glared at her like she was Charles Manson. “You tampered with evidence?” It was definitely more of an accusation than a question. Either way, she’d already shared enough.
“She’s my sister,” Niyah affirmed. “You don’t know what they did to her.”
Bella grabbed her by the collar. “Does whatever they did justify murder?”
Niyah matched her energy and got in her face until they were nose to nose. "Why don’t you tell me?” she challenged with an accusatory glare. “Whatever happened to that preacher that shot your daddy?”
Bella looked away, but she couldn’t hide the flicker of guilt in her eyes. “I don’t know.” Her lie was obvious.
Niyah snatched away from Bella. “Get the fuck off me!” She walked over to the door and locked it. “I speak for the dead, Bella. I guarantee you had that motherfucker ended up on my table, he would’ve been screamingyoursister’s name!”
“Well, he didn’t end up on your table,” Bella hissed. “And he didn't talk to you. So, all that bullshit is irrelevant.”
Niyah inhaled a deep breath and held on to it for a few seconds before exhaling. “I’m not saying what she did was right. I’m saying they hurt her, and they messed her up real bad.”
Bella relaxed her shoulders and leaned against the wall. “Hurt her, how?”
Niyah’s face warmed instantly. Tears welled in her eyes until they spilled down her cheeks. “They brutalized her, Bella. They raped her. And… t-they... theyinfectedher.”
Bella ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. “What am I supposed to do with this, Niyah?”
Niyah walked over to Bella and grabbed her hand. “Be my friend. Burn that fucking stick!”
Bella pulled out of her grasp and walked toward the door. She opened it and turned back to Niyah. “You coming to the compound for election night?”
An election party was the last thing on her mind. “I don’t know. I told Xander I’d go with him. But…”
“You and Xander getting serious?” Bella questioned.
Niyah shrugged. “We’re gettingsomething.”
Bella grinned. “Niyah and a white man... I never thought I’d live to see the day.”
Niyah chuckled. “He’s notthatwhite.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Bella agreed with a soft laugh. She dropped the popsicle stick in the trash by the door. “Family is important, especiallyours. We have to protect each other.”
When she left the room, she said, “I’ll see you Tuesday.” Those words echoed from the hall.
The door hadn’t closed from Bella’s departure before Katima stuck her head inside. “Doctor Reed, do you need my help in here?”
Niyah smiled and waved off her eager intern. “No, Dr. Leer. I’m finishing up. Thank you."
“Okay, I’m headed to the lab if you need me.”
Niyah nodded and grabbed a fresh set of protective equipment so she could finish her last autopsy of the day.
***
Niyah punched the code and entered her condo. It was completely dark, so she assumed Xander was out. She sighed, glad not to have to put on a face for him. Fishing that popsicle stick out of the trash had made her feel especially low. The thought that all the work she’d done to become who she was had become null and void the moment she tampered with evidence.
Niyah hadn't fallen into forensic pathology. She’d worked at it. She didn’t happen upon her position in the ME’s office. The position was coveted. She had sacrificed a love life, a social life, and a shit ton of sleep to get where she was. Niyah took great pride in speaking for those who could no longer speak for themselves. Yet, with a few despicable deeds, she’d left herself with nothing to be proud of.
Niyah dropped her keys on a table by the door and her bag on the floor by to the table. She went into the kitchen. After turning the light on, she washed her hands in the sink. Her eyes wandered to the cabinet where the wineglasses were kept, but she thought better of it. Wine wasn’t going to drown the sorrows that were causing the tears to warm her cheeks.
