The Dirty Red Series

by Vickie M. Stringer

  “You are present.”

  “But you didn’t know that.”

  “Where else would you be?” Detective Thomas questioned. “It’s obvious that you and your client have something going on besides legal consulting.”

  “Watch it, Detective,” Chass said sternly.

  Thomas held up his hands in surrender. “Look, I just have a few questions. It won’t take long.”

  Chass was still pissed off about the tapes and the fact that Quentin was trying to protect Red. Under other circumstances, she would have let the detective question him, but the only reason she continued her line of questioning was to be nosy.

  “What do you want to ask me?” Q asked.

  “I wanted to ask you about the day you found Ezekiel,” Thomas told him. “You went back to your apartment for what reason?”

  “Because I live there.” Q smiled.

  “And for no other reason?” Thomas asked, lifting an eyebrow.

  “He answered the question,” Chass told him. “Move on, Detective.”

  “Had you talked to Ezekiel that day?” Thomas asked.

  “No.”

  “Had you called him?”

  “He didn’t answer.”

  “He didn’t answer?”

  “If you’re going to ask me the same questions over and over after I’ve answered you, this is going to take a really long time,” Q told him.

  “Did anyone answer his phone?” Thomas asked.

  “No,” Q said, shaking his head.

  “So, there was no particular reason you went back to your apartment that day?” Thomas asked.

  Q shook his head.

  “When was the last time you spoke with Raven, prior to discovering Ezekiel unconscious?”

  “Earlier that day,” Q told him. “Before I left.”

  “What was Ezekiel’s relationship with Raven like?” Thomas asked.

  “They hated each other.”

  “Did you ever suspect that Ezekiel might want to have sexual relations with Raven?”

  Q shrugged. “It wouldn’t have surprised me. Most men wanted to.”

  Detective Thomas couldn’t hate on Q’s response. He had masturbated several times since seeing Red put oil on her body that day. The coconut scent lingered in his nostrils every time he thought about it. He wanted her just as bad as the next man.

  “You ever hear them argue?” Thomas asked.

  “They hated each other,” Q repeated. “Zeke thought she was scandalous and he didn’t want me with her. You don’t think Red had something to do with Zeke’s death, do you?”

  Detective Thomas shrugged. Either Q was a pretty good actor, or he had nothing to do with Ezekiel’s death. Something wasn’t right. The toxicology reports all suggested a poisonous combination of chemicals and alcohol in Ezekiel’s system. If Raven hadn’t killed him, and Quentin hadn’t killed him, there was only one other possibility.

  “Was there any change in Ezekiel’s behavior?” the detective asked. “Any signs that something was upsetting him?”

  “Zeke wasn’t the type to commit suicide, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

  “Quentin, I’m afraid that there is no certain type who does or doesn’t commit suicide,” Thomas told him. “In my career, I’ve seen guys who you would least expect to commit suicide, kill themselves. Guys with good looks, great careers, great-looking wives and tons of money in the bank, just blow their brains out one morning without leaving so much as a note. You never know.”

  Q shook his head. “Naw, Zeke didn’t go out like that.”

  Detective Thomas rose. He would have to keep digging, he told himself. If Q and Zeke argued, then why hide it? If he had gone there to kill Zeke, then that would be a reason to hide it. What if Zeke was already dead when he got there and Quentin was just covering up for Raven? There were just too many variables, too many questions.

  If Ezekiel wasn’t suicidal, then that meant he was poisoned. Men usually didn’t poison other men. If Q had stormed in there to rescue Raven, then the two of them would have fought. However, if Ezekiel was trying to rape Raven, then the two of them would have struggled, and she wouldn’t have had time to poison him. Unless her rape story was bogus. He was going to have to pressure her some more. Her story just didn’t sound right. There were still too many pieces missing.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  Red picked up her cell phone and dialed the number to Triple Crown. A receptionist answered.

  “Triple Crown Publications is the blueprint,” the receptionist answered with a smile in her voice. “How may I direct your call?”

  “Yes, may I speak with Kammi Johnson, please?”

  “Who may I say is calling?”

  “Lisa Lennox.”

  “Are you one of the authors?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Hold one minute, please.”

  Red listened to the clicks and beeps as she was transferred to another extension.

  “Hello, this is Kammi,” a voice chimed.

  “Hi, Kammi, this is Lisa Lennox.”

  “Oh, hi, Lisa. How have you been?”

  “I’ve been doing well,” Red told her. “How have you been?”

  “Busy, busy, busy,” Kammi told her. “Getting ready for some big releases, the BEA and just running around like a chicken with its head cut off.”

  Red laughed. “I hear you. I can understand busy.”

  “Your novel is doing well.”

  “Really?” Red said excitedly.

  “It’s still number one on the Essence bestsellers list.”

  “Yeah, that’s good news!” Red told her.

  “We can’t wait to see part two.”

  “I’m working on it.”

  “Well, you don’t have much time,” Kammi told her. “Your deadline is approaching fast.”

  “I know.”

  “We need to get with either Vida or Keith and finalize a cover design. Have you thought about what you want?”

  “I was picturing using the same cover, and just putting Part Two on it.”

  “That usually works best,” Kammi agreed. “That way people will know that the books are related. A lot of times they’ll pick both part one and part two up at the store when they see the covers are closely related.”

  “Then I’ll go with that.”

  “Can you give me a sneak peek into what you have so far?” Kammi asked excitedly.

  “I want it to be a surprise,” Red lied.

  “I can’t wait. I just loved the first book. I don’t really say this to many of my authors, but I am a fan. Your book was so real, so street, so exciting. I’m dying to read part two.”

  “It’s coming.”

  “Did you get the check?”

  “I did,” Red told her. “Thank you.”

  “If this project turns out to be a success like the first one, you need to start planning for your long-term career.”

  “Like how?”

  “Like, start thinking about a three-book deal with Triple Crown.”

  “A three-book deal!” Red said excitedly. She had just done a one-book deal with a $50,000 advance. Was Kammi talking about three books for $150,000? If so, she could really get into this writing stuff. She had to make sure that she had this money on lock.

  “Yeah, I was just talking to the boss lady herself,” Kammi added. “She is very pleased with your sales numbers.”

  “That is the best news that I’ve heard all day!” Red said ecstatically.

  “Well, just hurry up and get us your next book.”

  “I will,” Red told her.

  “Great.”

  “Kammi, the reason I was calling today was because I found an agent.”

  “Oh, good for you.”

  “I know. She’s great.”

  “Finding an agent is as hard as getting a publishing deal,” Kammi told her. “Agents don’t take on new clients often.”

  “That’s what I heard,” Red said.

  “But then again, you
have a pretty good track record now,” Kammi told her. “So, who is your agent?”

  “Her name is Raven Gomez.”

  “Raven Gomez?”

  “Yes. I’ve started the Raven Gomez Literary Agency.”

  “Well, good for you!” Kammi laughed. “Congratulations on your new business.”

  “Well, I figured that no one can represent me like me, and while I’m at it, I might as well take on other clients as well. Finding an agent is hard, so why not open up doors for others as well as myself?”

  “That’s a great way to look at it. Are you going to relocate?”

  “I’m thinking about it.”

  “That wouldn’t be a bad move. You know, this business is really a face-to-face business, with a lot of meetings and lots of lunches. Being an agent means wining and dining editors and attending industry functions, most of which take place in New York.”

  “I know,” Red told her. “I figure I can fly back and forth for now, and rely on my phone, fax and e-mail to get a lot of things done.”

  “Well, I’ll put you down as the agent of record.”

  “Great, and make sure that all of the checks go to my agency’s new PO box, which I’ll e-mail you. And make sure that all contact regarding Lisa Lennox or inquiries into any advances or contracts are forwarded to me. I don’t want any information given out. I want to handle it personally.”

  “I’ll make a note of that in the Lisa Lennox file.”

  “Thanks, Kammi.”

  Red hung up and leaned back in her chair with a shit-eating grin on her face. She had just cut Bacon out of the game. Now, she just had one more phone call to make. This one would be a great pleasure. It was now time to get even with that bitch Terry for shooting up her crib.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  Hello, Social Services, how many I direct your call?”

  “I need the Child Welfare Division, please.”

  “One moment please.”

  Red listened patiently to the music as her call was being transferred. Suddenly, a woman came on the line.

  “Child Protective Services, this is Rhonda, how may I help you?”

  “Hi, Rhonda. I need to speak with an investigator.”

  “I’m an enforcement agent. How may I help you?”

  “I wanted to report a severe case of child abuse.”

  “Child abuse? How old is the child?”

  “About six to eight months.”

  “Six to eight months?”

  “Yes,” Red confirmed. She could hear Rhonda tapping away at her keyboard.

  “Are you a relative, a teacher, a neighbor?”

  “I’m a family member.”

  “Is the child in your custody?”

  “No, unfortunately. He’s in the custody of his drug-dealing father and his abusive girlfriend.”

  “Have you notified law enforcement?”

  “No.”

  “Is the child in any immediate danger?”

  “Yes!” Red snapped. “The child is being molested.”

  “Oh, my God,” Rhonda proclaimed. “And you said this was a baby?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you able to dial 911 at this time?”

  “So the parents can pretend like everything is fine? The police won’t take the baby away if there are no physical signs of abuse.”

  “Why do you say the child is in immediate danger?”

  “The child is specially challenged, and the father slaps him around,” Red told her. “I saw it with my own eyes on several occasions. I also personally witnessed the sickest act in my entire life: I saw the father’s girlfriend stick the baby’s penis in her mouth.”

  “Oh, my God!” Rhonda exclaimed again. She absolutely detested child molesters, and would personally shoot each and every one of them if she could. Hurting a child was so evil and sadistic and those who did it deserved to die the most torturous deaths imaginable in her book.

  “Please, you have to hurry up and get this child away from them,” Red said. She pretended to be crying. “They are evil people. The girlfriend is under psychiatric care; the father is a major drug dealer who blames the baby for being challenged, so he abuses the child.”

  “I am personally going to launch this investigation and look into this myself,” Rhonda reassured her.

  “Thank you,” Red said, sniffling.

  “Would you be willing to give a statement?”

  “Of course!”

  “What is your name, ma’am?”

  “Vivica Borrego,” Red lied.

  “And what are the names of the parents or parent of the child?”

  “The father’s name is Mekel Simmons and the girlfriend’s name is Terry Washington. Actually there are other kids there too, and if this is happening to the baby, Lord only knows what’s happening with the others.”

  “Well, now they have me in their lives, and I love sending people like this to prison for a long long time.”

  • • •

  Bacon strolled into the room. “What up, Red?” He walked up to Red and kissed her forehead.

  “Where you going, sweetie?”

  “I gotta go out and take care of that thing.”

  “What thing?”

  “You know,” Bacon said, pulling her close and kissing her again. “Blue taking a shipment back to New York for me tonight.”

  “Oh.”

  “I gotta find my white polo shirt with the beige and brown stripes,” Bacon told her.

  “It’s in the dryer, why?”

  “I’ma pack and head to New York for a couple of days. I’ll be back on Sunday. Can you maintain that long without me?”

  “I’ll try.” Red smiled. “So, why you going to New York?”

  “Get some business straight. Then we gonna head to Philly and meet with some cats. I might have a window into Philly. If I can start supplying them cats with some of this fire that Juan has been sending me, we might be living up the Trump Tower this time next year.”

  “Can I go to New York with you?”

  “Not this time. This is business. I don’t want you nowhere around the shit we transporting, but I promise, next time you can go.”

  “You want me to pack you a bag?” Red asked sadly.

  “Yeah, I just need enough clothes to last till Sunday,” Bacon told her. “What you gon’ do while I’m gone?”

  “You know me . . . shop, maybe get a new whip . . .”

  “What you trying to buy?”

  “I’ma trade in all my cars and just buy one,” Red told him. “I want a new Range Rover.”

  “Hell, if you trading everything else in, then you should be able to get it for nothing.”

  “Can I push your new Bentley to the dealership?”

  “Damn, girl, you killing me!” Bacon laughed. “Yeah, you can push it, just don’t try to trade my shit in. You know how to drop the top on it?”

  “I’ll figure it out.”

  “All right.” Bacon slapped her on her ass. “Go and pack me some clothes so I can get outta here.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Red couldn’t stand having Bacon’s smell on her. Before he left, he tried to get some pussy for the road, but she couldn’t give him any. She didn’t want to because of what she heard Foxy say in the salon. The thought of Bacon fucking a transvestite sickened Red. As far as she was concerned Bacon was gay, and if it were up to her, he would never touch her again.

  Red dried off from her shower and threw on a T-shirt and a pair of capris. She had a nice pair of sandals to match. She threw her hair up in a ponytail, then climbed into Bacon’s Bentley to start the other phase of her plan. Everything was coming together nicely and she had only a few more to pay back.

  She picked up the phone and made a phone call. “I need to see you right away, please . . . hurry.” She hung the phone up, then sat down and waited.

  Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang, and Red rushed to her front door and opened it. Detective Thomas was standing before her.

&nb
sp; “Hi.”

  “Hi.” Red smiled. She surreptitiously looked at the corner ceiling to make sure that the tiny red light on the camera was on. “Come on in.” Red stepped to the side and allowed him inside, then closed the door.

  “What’s the big emergency?” Thomas asked.

  “No emergency.”

  “I rushed over here,” he told her. “You didn’t sound too happy.”

  “I’m sorry if I made you think that,” Red apologized. “I’m very happy.”

  Detective Thomas stopped and stared at Red. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. Life had damaged her, but she was still redeemable. She could still be wife material, he mused. He thought about the life he could give her if only she turned out to be innocent, but in order to know that, he would have to get her to come clean. Why didn’t Raven understand that he could really help her if she let him?

  “So, what can I do for you today, Ms. Gomez?”

  Red smiled at him and he got lost in her eyes. Her flawless red-toned skin contrasted greatly with her hazel-green eyes, setting them off.

  “I just wanted to say thank you for everything that you’ve done for me,” Red told him.

  She leaned forward and kissed Detective Thomas on his lips. It shocked him at first but then he looked into her eyes and watched her face transform. What had been an innocent kiss was followed by a second kiss, this one slower, more passionate.

  “Oh, my God, I’m sorry,” Red told him and turned away, feigning embarrassment. “You must think I’m—”

  “No, it’s no problem,” Thomas interrupted her. He paused for a moment, then spoke her name. “Raven?”

  Timidly, Red turned back toward him.

  “I think that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve been wanting to tell you this since I first met you. You’re like no other woman I’ve ever come across.”

  Detective Thomas caressed the side of Red’s face. She leaned forward and again their lips locked. Their tongues found each other, slowly at first, but more assuredly as the kiss progressed and their tongues danced together. She smelled like jasmine and white roses to him, while he smelled of clover and spice to her.

  Red pulled the detective farther inside, kissing him passionately while backing her way to the sofa. Detective Thomas tossed off his jacket while Red unbuttoned his shirt. He lifted Red into the air, kissing her passionately the entire time.