“You’re welcome. The Creeds will be meeting in the parlor in ten minutes. They’ve asked that you join them.”
Niyah nodded. “I’ll be there.”
Wherever that is...
The young woman smiled and stepped away. Because she didn’t have much else, Niyah grabbed a pair of leggings and an SIU hoodie from her bag and quickly dressed. She wrappedher locs in a bun and checked her appearance in the mirror. Her look was as good as it was going to get. It wasn’t like she had a lot of options. So, she grabbed her cellular phone and left the room, praying that it wouldn’t take all night for her to find the parlor by herself. But she breathed a sigh of relief when she luckily ran into Donna in the hall. “Girl, thank God. I just knew I was gonna get lost trying to find the parlor in this big-ass house.” ?
DONATELLA
“Shiid,” Donna cursed through laughter. “This is my first time here. It’ll be like the blind leading the blind.”
“Aw shit,” Niyah scoffed, gesturing toward the long hall. “We’ll just walk around until we find it.”
Donna laughed. “Or until someone finds us starving and dehydrated in one of the long-ass hallways.”
Niyah giggled. “Oh, Lord.”
“Well, you’ve had a hell of a day,” Donna pointed out as they started their journey. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
“Thanks.” Niyah sighed. “Have you found anything new?”
Donna shook her head. “No, but I will. What about you? Anything from the bodies?”
“Mm-mm. Not yet.”
“You know what we need?”
“What’s that?” Niyah questioned.
“We need a homicide detective.” Donna’s head fell. “We needBella.”
She could hear fear and sadness in her own voice.
“We’ll have Bella,” Niyah asserted. “Trust me, she’ll be working this case from bed if she has to.”
“I hope so,” Donna muttered. When they made it to the staircase, she turned to Niyah and grabbed her hand. “Speaking of all hands on deck, I talked to my commander about assigning you a protection detail. We need you back to work, Niyah.”
Donna sighed, because she knew that leaving the safety of the Creeds’ could put Niyah at risk. Macabre or not, being the medical examiner was a safe line of work. Now that all of that has changed, Niyah must’ve been terrified.
“I’ll be fine, Donna. And I’ll be even better when we find out who’s trying to kill us. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
Donna smiled. “That’s wassup.”
Niyah grabbed a handful of Donna’s long hair and chuckled. “You lookin’ just like Bella.”
Donna grinned. “I know, right? I’m ready to cut it off, but I ain’t trying to get my head blown off while sitting under the dryer.”
Though Donna’s statement was more dismal than funny, Niyah forced a laugh. Nevertheless, the thought left them speechless. So, they walked down the stairs and searched for the parlor in silence.
Minutes later, she and Niyah heard voices and followed them. When they entered the room, her parents and the entire Creed clan were having a discussion about Bella and Lucas’ care. Tabitha Creed was explaining why she could better care for them at the estate and that they’d be safer there than at the hospital. Thankfully, her mother was convinced.
“Mom, Dad,” Donna greeted, giving both of her parents a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey, Babygirl,” her dad responded.
Donna hugged Tabitha Creed and gave the senator a pat on the shoulder.
“We’re just waiting for your sister,” Tabitha Creed informed.
