What's Done In the Dark

by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

  “I hope you don’t mind, I took her to Smashburger on the way home,” Felise replied.

  I shook my head. “She loves that place. She would eat there twenty-four seven if she could.” I motioned for Felise to follow me into the living room. “I can’t thank you enough for taking her to get her hair done,” I said as I settled down on the sofa. “It’s like I’ve been neglecting everything and everybody.” I’d been really trying to spend more time with Tahiry, with all the kids for that matter. But it felt like I couldn’t give my all to anything until I had some answers.

  She sat in the love seat across from me. “That’s understandable. Where are the boys?”

  “They’re with Steven’s cousin Rodney. He’s going to keep them for a little while, thank goodness. He took them to the park, I think he said. I needed some peace and quiet.”

  I was about to say something else when my cell phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number and almost didn’t answer because I couldn’t deal with any more calls of condolence, but I went ahead and pushed Answer.

  “Hi, may I speak to Paula Wright?” a lady on the other end said.

  “This is she.”

  The woman didn’t go on.

  “This is Paula,” I repeated.

  “I really shouldn’t be calling you because I could get in so much trouble,” she began.

  “Who is this?”

  “This is Lori. I’m the clerk that was working the front desk when you came to the Four Seasons the other day. My manager was trying to help you get some information about your husband.”

  “Oh, yeah. With the long, blond pretty hair?” I sat up straighter as I tried to figure out why she was calling me.

  “That’s me.” She hesitated. “I thought long and hard about whether I should tell you this, but my husband left me for another woman, and I just feel like . . . Well, I wish someone had told me. Everyone I knew covered it up.” She took a deep breath like she was trying to get up the nerve to continue. “Your husband was with someone that night.”

  I inhaled sharply as I gripped the phone tighter.

  “What?” Felise mouthed. “Who is that? What’s going on?”

  I held up a finger for Felise to wait.

  “Do you know who it was?” I managed to ask.

  “I have no idea. But they were at the bar for a while. I noticed them when I went on my break because I thought he was attractive. Later, he came and got the room, went back to the bar, then went upstairs. She followed shortly after. They were trying to make it seem like they weren’t together, but I’ve been doing this job long enough to know when someone is creeping.”

  I choked back tears, although I didn’t know whether to cry or scream.

  “I really don’t want to sully your husband’s memory, and I hope that I don’t make things worse by telling you, but I remembered everyone trying to make me think I was crazy when I told them my husband was cheating, and I was right. I just wanted you to know that your instincts were right.”

  “But you don’t have any details?”

  “No, like I said, she didn’t come to the front desk with him.”

  “What did she look like?”

  “Honestly, I didn’t get a good look because her back was to me. But she was a tall woman, real pretty dark skin, beautiful hair. She was trying real hard not to be seen, which is why I noticed her in the first place.”

  Well, that didn’t give me much. Based on her description, that could be practically anyone.

  “Please don’t tell anyone I called you,” Lori said. “I could lose my job.”

  “I won’t. Thank you so much.” I hung up the phone and fell back against the sofa.

  “What’s going on?” Felise asked again.

  “That was the hotel clerk at the Four Seasons. Steven was with someone.”

  Felise’s mouth dropped open.

  “I knew I wasn’t crazy.” I wiped away the tears that had once again started making their way down my cheeks. I hadn’t even realized I was crying.

  “D-did she say who it was? What she looked like?”

  I shook my head. “She didn’t get that good of a look at her.”

  Felise was in as much shock as me.

  “Hard to believe your perfect friend wasn’t so perfect after all, huh?” I managed to say, my voice a mixture of sarcasm and anger.

  It took her a while to compose herself, but finally she said, “Why would that lady call you with that?”

  “Because she knew I was going crazy and needed some answers.” I don’t know what good it did me, but I was grateful to at least know.

  “So what answers do you have now?” Felise asked.

  That was a good question. Yes, my suspicions were confirmed, but really, all I had now was more hurt.

  “Exactly,” Felise continued when I didn’t respond. “Let this go and remember the man you loved and who loved you. That’s all that matters.”

  Through tear-filled eyes I said, “I wish that it was as easy as that.”

  This time she didn’t say anything. She took me in her arms and held me until the tears stopped coming.

  33

  Felise

  I HAD TO PSYCH MYSELF up to step inside the rotating door. I hadn’t returned to the Four Seasons since that night, but Sabrina and her veiled comments were driving me mad. She sent me a text yesterday that said, How’s Paula? When I replied, asking her what she was up to, she didn’t respond. Just like she hadn’t returned my call the other day. I really think she was trying to make me sweat. I needed to get to the bottom of what she knew and what she wanted and I didn’t need to wait another day. Especially now that this hotel clerk had confirmed for Paula that Steven was here with someone else, I needed to nip this in the bud right away.

  I pushed my shades up on my face and kept my head low. I didn’t want to take any chances on anyone recognizing me.

  I’d already called to make sure Sabrina was working tonight. I spotted her immediately, giggling as she flirted with two men at the end of the bar. She was good at what she did. Too bad she’d dropped out of school and hadn’t taken her talents any further than this.

  I slid onto a bar stool and waited until she noticed me.

  “Well, well, well.” Sabrina strutted toward me. “I was wondering when you’d come.” She placed a coaster in front of me. “What can I get for the great Felise Mavins?”

  “Hello, Sabrina. How are you?”

  “I’m splendid,” she replied with a sly smile.

  A part of me wanted to believe she was being her usual snarky self, but my gut knew better.

  “So, what brings you to the Four Seasons. Again,” she added with a smirk.

  “I just, umm, I wanted to come by for a drink.”

  “Really? Okay. What can I get for you? Apple martini?”

  I didn’t know if she knew that was the drink I’d had the night I was here with Steven or if it was just a coincidence. Either way, the question cut just the way she’d intended.

  “Sure. An apple martini is fine.”

  I waited for her to fix my drink, and when she returned and set it in front of me, she leaned on the bar and said, “Cut the bull, Felise. Why are you really here?”

  “Why don’t you cut the bull, Sabrina?” I replied matter-of-factly. “I’m just trying to find out what you think you know.” I picked my drink up and tried to take a nonchalant sip, but my hand was shaking so badly, I lifted the drink only a few inches before setting it back down.

  Sabrina laughed. “Oh, what I think I know, huh?” She stood upright and folded her arms. “Let me see. What I think? I think that Dolly Do-Right met up with her best friend’s husband at the Four Seasons. Something went wrong: either she put it on him a little too hard, or she killed him. I don’t know.”

  “I didn’t kill anybody,” I said defensively.

  She replied, “So, you admit that you came here to meet up with Steven?”

  “I didn’t admit to anything. I didn’t come here to meet up with any
one,” I protested.

  “What were your intentions then? Although I’m sure to Paula it would all be the same.”

  I glared at her through hate-filled eyes.

  She grinned as she drummed her fingers on the bar. “You know, when Paula asked me to look into Steven’s death, I never expected to find out you were involved.”

  “So, I guess you can’t wait to tell Paula this little bit of news.”

  “If I couldn’t wait, I would’ve already told her.”

  I knew what she was implying. Disdain was written all over my face. “I didn’t have anything to do with Steven’s death, nor was I with him,” I finally said. “We had a drink at the bar, and I left it at that.” Whatever she knew, I was going to admit to the bare minimum.

  She gave me a broad wink like she knew I was lying. But no one had come into the room, so she couldn’t prove anything other than that I was at the bar with Steven. I got my purse and removed my checkbook. “So what do you want? How much?”

  She lost her smile. “Oh, so you think you can buy my silence?”

  I couldn’t believe she’d say that. If there was one thing I knew about Sabrina, it’s that she worshipped money.

  “I can’t be bought,” Sabrina said, much to my surprise. But then she leaned in again and said, “But since we are friends, I could use a loan of a grand.”

  I looked at her like she was crazy. I was an average middle-class working woman. A grand would dang near wipe out my personal savings. And I didn’t want to touch the joint savings I had with Greg because he watched the money so closely. But looking at the smirk on her face, I knew I didn’t have a choice.

  “Fine,” I said as I started scribbling in my checkbook. “I’ll give you a loan.” If all I needed was a thousand dollars to make her go away, I’d gladly pay it.

  She smiled.

  “But this is it.” I tore off the check. “The only reason I’m doing this is because I don’t need the headache of anyone raising any questions.”

  “Of course you don’t,” she said, taking the check. “But I think I decide when this is over.” She flashed a smile as she tucked the check in her bra. “Have a nice day. Don’t pick up any more men in this bar,” she added before going to wait on the next customer.

  I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

  In the car, I knew I was too frazzled to go home, so I called my younger sister.

  “Fran, where are you?” I asked as soon as she picked up.

  “About to go meet Mavis for lunch,” she replied.

  I debated hanging up because I didn’t want to hear Mavis’s mouth, but I needed Fran. Maybe I needed them both. “Where are you guys meeting?”

  “Pappasito’s on 59. Why?”

  “I’m going to come meet you.”

  “Oh, okay, what’s up?”

  “I just need to talk.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you there,” Fran said.

  Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into the Pappasito’s parking lot. I spotted Fran pulling into a spot near the front of the restaurant. But she was driving a car I’d never seen before.

  “What’s up, sis?” she asked as she got out of the car.

  “Um, where did this come from?” I asked, eyeing the silver Mercedes.

  She grinned as she ran her hand over the hood. “Nice, huh? This is my man’s car.”

  “What man?” I said. Fran couldn’t keep a man for longer than two months, so I had no idea who she could be talking about.

  “My new boyfriend.” She smiled. “Actually, it’s his wife’s car.”

  “What?”

  “Long story. I’ll have to tell you about it some other time.” She slid her shades on and pushed the remote to set the alarm.

  “Girl, have you lost your mind? Are you trying to get killed driving some other woman’s car?” I said.

  “The car is at the center of an ugly custody battle, so I’m driving it until they work all of that out.” She eyed me over the top of her shades. “But I know you’re not about to judge me.”

  “You’re right,” I said. I had my own problems. I couldn’t lecture my sister on her drama.

  “So, what’s up with you?” she asked as we made our way inside.

  “I need a drink. I’ll tell you in a minute so I don’t have to repeat it for Mavis.”

  “I hope you’re treating for the drink,” she said, holding the door open.

  We spotted Mavis, and she looked surprised to see me.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “Felise called and wanted to meet us,” Fran said, sliding into her chair.

  I hugged Mavis and had barely sat down before I instructed the waitress to bring me a Wave margarita.

  “Okay, what’s going on?” Mavis asked as soon as the waitress walked away.

  “Someone knows I was at the hotel,” I said, coming right to the point.

  Both of their mouths gaped open.

  “Who?” Fran said.

  “Do either of you remember Sabrina Fulton? I went to college with her. She was my roommate freshman year.”

  “Oh, yeah, I remember her,” Mavis said.

  I then proceeded to fill them in. From the funeral to this morning.

  “This is un-freakin’-believable,” Fran said once I was done. She had that gleam in her eyes like she was ready to go jump someone.

  “Don’t even look like that,” Mavis said. “We’re too old for violence.”

  “So, I’m supposed to just let some chick blackmail my sister and I don’t do anything?” Fran asked.

  Mavis ignored Fran and turned back to me. “Did you make it clear that you won’t be bullied into subsidizing her lifestyle?”

  “I did, but somehow, I don’t think she was paying me any attention.” I sighed. “I gave her the grand to go away. I can’t believe I’m in this position.”

  “Wow,” Mavis said.

  The waitress set my drink down in front of me, and I immediately began sucking it down.

  “Hey, slow your roll,” Fran said.

  “Yeah. All that drinking is what got you into this position in the first place,” Mavis added.

  I rolled my eyes at her, and thankfully, she didn’t say anything else.

  “Well, maybe she really will go away,” Fran said.

  No sooner had the words left her mouth than my phone beeped, letting me know I had a text.

  I didn’t recognize the number it was coming from, but it appeared to have some kind of video attached. I almost deleted it, but then I saw the name: “Steven and Felise.”

  The entire back of my neck prickled, spreading up over my head, as I opened the video and pressed play.

  “What are you looking at?” Mavis asked, leaning to look over at my phone.

  “It–it’s a video.”

  “What kind of video?” Fran asked.

  I no longer could speak. I simply set the phone down and turned it so my sisters could see the video of me and Steven sitting a little too close for comfort at the bar. In the corner of the video was a date stamp: 06-01-2013. None of us said a word as the next text came in. This is just a snippet. The terms just changed. Stay tuned. SF

  An hour ago, I’d thought I was all cried out. But this video brought on a whole new onset of tears. I had suspected that giving Sabrina that money was a bad idea. At this moment I knew without a doubt that my nightmare was only going to get worse.

  34

  Paula

  “KNOCK, KNOCK.”

  My sister lightly tapped on my door and pushed it open at the same time. “Are you okay?” she asked, sticking her head inside.

  Charlene and I were so far apart in age (I was ten when our mom had her) that we were never really close. But she was “in between jobs as usual” so she’d come when I called and hadn’t left since. Despite the fact that she didn’t know a thing about raising kids, she was still a tremendous help.

  “Hey, come on in,” I said, sitting up in bed. “I’m okay.”

  �
�No, you’re not. You still bummed about that call?”

  I nodded. “You know, I never thought Steven was a cheater.”

  “Didn’t Kevin come to the funeral?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And he confirmed that Steven was with him.”

  I nodded again.

  “You don’t think Kevin would come lying to you at the funeral, do you?”

  “No,” I replied. I had thought this whole thing through. “I believe Steven met up with Kevin. I mean, I saw the paperwork in that box of stuff they brought. But apparently, when he was done with Kevin, he met someone else. I just want to know who and why and how he could do this to me.”

  Charlene crossed her arms over her chest, looking like she was the older, wiser sister. “Do you think he actually had someone come to the hotel? As far as you knew, he was coming back home, right? So maybe it was a one-night stand.”

  “As if that makes it any better.”

  My sister sat down in the chair across from my bed. “It does. A one-night stand just happens. It doesn’t mean he loved you any less.”

  I rolled my eyes. My sister could go somewhere with that mess. In my book, cheating was cheating.

  “Look, I agree with Felise that you need to let this go—even though for some reason I’m not vibing with her right now.”

  “Is that what the eye roll you gave her was about?”

  “Just something about her demeanor. It reeked of desperation. But I probably just have an attitude because she hasn’t been around. I mean, what kind of friend bails on you in your time of need?”

  “She was close to Steven, too. She’s grieving in her own way.”

  “Whatever.” Charlene flicked my comment off, and I knew to drop it because I wouldn’t be changing her mind.

  “So, you really think I should just let it go?” I asked.

  She nodded. “I mean, what good is getting all the details going to do? Steven is gone. Why wallow in hurt over what he’s done—especially when you don’t know for sure if he even did anything? That clerk could be mistaken. She didn’t actually see them go in the room together. If her man cheated on her, she’s probably paranoid and thinks all men are dogs.”