by Stacy-Deanne
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Connie said. “We’re doing everything we can to find out what happened to Prisha.”
“I appreciate that.” Nilan stood as tall as Winston did with bronze skin and big eyes. His thick, swarthy hair drew notice to his square forehead. “Prisha was my angel. My only child.”
Winston pulled a chair out for him. “Please, sit down.”
Nilan and Connie sat while Winston remained standing.
“I’m trying to keep it together.” He made fists with his colossal hands. “But, no one can prepare for such a tragedy.”
Connie reached across the table and took his hand. “We heard Prisha visited you in Minnesota recently?”
He nodded while taking a tissue out his shirt pocket. “We made amends.”
“Amends?” Winston inquired.
“We grew apart some years back because I thought she was going down the wrong track. She’d gotten involved with that cult.” He wiped the wet spot under his nose. “The Circle.”
Winston sighed.
“I knew Jonathan Wild was dangerous.” Nilan’s ebony eyes shifted behind his square glasses. “I forbid her to have anything to do with him, but she chose him and that cult over her family. He did this.” He stabbed his crooked finger into the table. “I know it.”
“Accusing is one thing,” Winston said. “Proof and motive is another.”
“He’s possessive.” Nilan glanced up at Winston. “Once you’re a part of his group, he feels he owns you for life. Prisha gave up everything for him but she got pregnant and he kicked her out like she was nothing. It wasn’t until she was homeless with no one to turn to that she came to her senses.” He sobbed, holding his fist to his mouth. “I begged her not to come back here. She said she wanted to confront him because she blamed him for her losing the baby. I knew something bad would happen, but I didn’t expect her to be dead.” He sat back, sniffling. “He brainwashed my baby and turned her into something I couldn’t recognize. Jonathan Wild has to be stopped before he ruins more lives.”
Winston ran his hand through his hair, pushing Dee’s image from his mind. “Other than Jonathan is there anyone else you think would hurt her?”
“No.” He breathed through his wide nostrils. “He did it and he won’t get away with it as long as I’m here.”
“Mr. Banerjee,” Connie said. “I’ll caution you not to threaten Mr. Wild.”
“It’s not a threat but a promise.” He stood. “I’m not leaving Baltimore until I find out what happened to Prisha.”
“You need to let us handle this,” Winston said. “I understand you wanna do all you can for your daughter—”
“If Jonathan had his hooks into someone you cared about...” He poked Winston’s chest. “Would you just sit back?”
Winston moved his lips in and out. “No.”
“I can’t either. I didn’t protect Prisha from that monster when she was alive, but I’ll make sure he pays for what he’s done now.” He went to the door. “I’ll be at the hotel on West Chelsea Boulevard if you need me. Room eleven.”
Winston frowned. “Isn’t it hard staying over there when it was the last place your daughter was?”
“That’s why I want to be there.” Nilan’s gaze dropped to the floor. “Makes me feel close to her.”
“How long do you plan on being in town?” Connie asked.
Nilan answered on his way out, “For as long as it takes.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Nilan followed Tran through the soaring hedges and assorted flowers of Jonathan’s colossal garden.
“Hello.” Jonathan sat on the off-white daybed enclosed in a canopy of curtains. “It’s nice to see you again, Nilan.”
Tran half-smiled at the men and left.
“Please.” Jonathan gestured to the silver tray of fruit and pastries. “Take anything you like.”
“I’m not hungry.” Nilan swallowed. “I can’t stomach you let alone this food.”
Jonathan’s eyebrows rose as he bit into a tart. “You have a problem with me?”
“You ruined Prisha.” Nilan pointed at him. “You got into her soul like a virus and destroyed what made her my little girl. After meeting you, she didn’t care about anyone else not even herself. You made her dependent on you. You stole everything she was.”
“A shame it’s been years and you’re singing the same song.” Jonathan squinted. “I never forced Prisha to do anything. She became a part of The Circle.”
“Stop it!” Nilan sliced his hand through the air. “You can save your lies and your mind games for some naïve woman but they won’t work on me.”
Jonathan wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I did nothing to your daughter.”
“You won’t get away with this, and I’ll make you pay.”
“Get the hell off my property.” Jonathan threw the napkin on the tray. “Right, now.”
“Your time is coming, Jonathan.” Nilan glared at him as he walked away. “Just wait.”
****
Dee moved from the bushes behind the canopy where she’d been listening. She waited until Nilan left then approached Jonathan.
“What the?” He jumped. “Deidra. You scared me, honey. Were you listening just now?”
“Why does he think you killed Prisha?”
“You spying on me?” He stood, pushing the curtain out the way. “The Circle is built on trust and loyalty, Deidra.”
“I—”
He got closer to her, his fruity breath landing on her face. “Why were you listening?”
“Because I’m not sure I get a straight answer when it comes to Prisha.” She walked around him and stood in front of the table. “Jonathan, the way you talked to her father was despicable as if you have no remorse for what he’s going through.”
“Nilan Banerjee made my life hell. He spread lies just because Prisha chose me over him.” His breath blew the ringlets on the side of her head. “I’m the leader of this community, and I answer to no one.” He grabbed her arm as she turned to leave. “You’re not going anywhere.”
She panted, seeing something unrecognizable in his eyes. “Let me go, Jonathan.”
“You don’t tell me to let you go.” He seized her other arm and held her to his hard chest.
“Let me go.”
“I don’t have to let you go.” He held her head and slapped his moist lips over hers.
“Mm.” She tore her mouth away, turning her head left and right. “No.”
“Be quiet.” He shook her. “I’m offering you everything you can ever want.” He sucked her neck, slurping. “You owe me.”
“Jonathan.” She tussled as he threw her on the bed and got on top of her. “Stop!”
He pinned down her arms. “I love you, Deidra.”
“Jonathan.” She twisted and kicked. “Jonathan, I’m serious.” She yanked her hand from his and slapped him. “Stop!”
He stared at her with his eyes wide, rubbing his reddening cheek.
She sat up. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry.” He got off the bed, looking confused. “I didn’t mean to—”
“I got to help Emma.” She stood, wiping his kisses from her mouth. “I told her I’d help her fix dinner.”
“Honey, I’m so sorry.” He blocked her.
“I’m not ready to have sex with you.”
His eyes resembled that of a wounded animal in pain. “Will you ever be ready?”
“Not if you keep acting like this, I won’t.”
“Deidra, it’s been three months. Three damn months.”
“You have a mansion full of beautiful woman at your disposal you can have sex with anytime you want—”
“I want you! Don’t you get that? I want you.” He pulled her close. “I love you.”
“What you did isn’t the way you show it.” She batted her eyes. “You scared me, Jonathan.”
“Okay.” He closed his eyes. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Y
ou don’t own me. This is my body and I decide what I wanna do with it and when.”
“I’m an asshole.” He nodded, eyes watering. “I had no right to treat you this way and I hate myself for it.”
She fixed her dress.
“Deidra, we can’t be complete until we become one in every capacity. What are you afraid of?”
She stared him in the eyes. “Should I be afraid of you?”
He blew a quick breath. “No.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“Deidra?”
She left as he reached for her.
****
On the way into the den, Charlie tripped over Travis’ shoe for the hundredth time. “Goddamn it.” He struggled to straighten his six-five, 270lb body with the help of the chair. “Travis!” He grunted, his jeans twisting in the crotch. “Travis, get your ass in here now.” He grabbed the black and white Nike on his way to the hall. “Travis?”
“What the fuck do you want?” he yelled from upstairs. “I’m busy.”
“With that porn?” Charlie stood at the stairs, raising the shoe. “Get your ass down here right now. I almost broke my neck.”
Travis slumped to the top of the stairs in baby-blue pajama bottoms and a white undershirt. “What is it?”
Charlie strangled the shoe in his colossal hands. “I almost broke my neck on your shoe again.” He threw it at Travis who ducked before it hit his head. “How many times do I have to tell you not to leave your shit laying all around this house?”
Travis crossed his arms, tapping his chin. “Your ass shouldn’t even be here.”
“Who helps your mother with bills?” Charlie straightened his jeans in the center. “You sure as hell don’t. You’re twenty-five, still living at home and don’t pay a damn cent towards anything.”
“I’m there when Mom needs me. Who fixed the screen door when it broke? Me.” Travis came down a few steps. “Who painted the whole damn garage when Mom had been asking you to do it for months? Who—”
“You’re pathetic.” Charlie gripped the railing. “You just wanna be in this house under your mother with her tit in your mouth.”
“Shut up.” Travis gritted his teeth. “It’s none of your business what I do.”
“It is when she comes crying about not knowing what to do with you. When you and her argue and you go off on a tangent like a two-year-old. I hold her and console her as a real man does. You’re not a real man and you never will be.”
Travis lifted his head, smirking. “I’m the man of this house and that won’t change.”
“You sure about that?” Charlie walked up three steps, leaving space between them. “Ever since I came into the picture, you’ve been trying to get rid of me but I’m still here. You ran off every other man your mother was with due to your bullshit.” He pointed to himself. “You’re not running me off. I love Susan more than I’ve loved any woman—”
“Is that why you cheated on her?”
Charlie took in a deep breath, struggling not to rip Travis from the stairs. “What happens in your mother and my relationship is none of your damn business. Stay in your place.”
“My place is here. It’s always gonna be here even after you’re gone.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Charlie winked. “I stick things out with the good and the bad and Susan is worth even dealing with your crap.”
“You’re not right for her.” Travis groaned under his words. “You’ll never love her like I do.”
“You got that right.” Charlie chuckled. “No one will ever love her like you right, Travis? Because you’re obsessed with your mother and you want to be the only thing she cares about.”
“I’m the one who’s always here.” He punched his chest. “I was here before you and I’ll be here when you’re gone.”
Charlie hopped up two more steps, stopping right in Travis’ face. “Keep wasting your time scheming and plotting all you want. True love always wins and your mother loves me.” He cocked his head. “I’m gonna ask her to marry me.”
“The hell you will!” Travis locked his hands around Charlie’s neck and Charlie swatted him to the steps with one swing.
“You kidding me right now?” Charlie stood over him, raising a fist. “I’ll smash your ass, boy! Your mother is the only thing keeping you alive.”
Travis stood, trembling and turning red.
“I’ll crush your ass,” Charlie said. “Look at you. All that big talk but can’t handle it when you see a real man. Come here.” He grabbed Travis’ shirt. “Maybe it’s time we squash this right now like men.” He shook Travis as if he were a feather. “Huh?”
“Let go of me!” Travis delivered a flimsy punch to Charlie’s face.
“See there? You bully those who can’t fight back.” He twisted his hands in Travis’ shirt. “Bully me. I dare you.”
“Charlie?” Susan ran up the steps. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Mom, help!”
Charlie let Travis go.
“Charlie!” Susan yanked his arm. “Have you lost your mind?”
“This boy is a monster.” Moisture overtook the corners of Charlie’s mouth. “Susan, you got to handle this—”
“I told you not to touch him.” She skipped up the steps and coddled Travis. “God, you’re ten times bigger than he is. One punch and you’d kill him.”
“I wasn’t gonna hurt him.” Charlie caught Travis’ taunting grin behind Susan’s back. “He’s nothing but a conniving little rat. Keeps leaving shit on the floor so I fall. I think he’s trying to kill me.”
“Trust me,” Travis said. “If that was the plan you’d been gone a long time ago.”
“Stop it.” Susan shoved him. “Go to your room, Travis.”
“Momma, this man is violent, and he’ll hurt you one day.”
“Shut up!” Charlie reached past Susan. “I’ll never hurt Susan.”
“Since when?”
“You’re doing what you always do.” Charlie panted, sweating. “Twisting things. Susan, he’s not a little boy anymore. Put your foot down.”
“Don’t tell me how to raise my son.”
“Raise?” Charlie guffawed. “He’s a grown ass man. Get him out of this house so you can have a life and we can have peace.”
“Peace starts with you acting your age, Charlie,” she said. “You’re as bad as Travis.”
“Get rid of him, Mom.” Travis put his arm around her shoulders. “He’s crazy.”
“I’m warning you.” Charlie shivered with rage.
“Look at him.” Travis pointed. “He hates me. What’ll stop him from coming in my room in the middle of the night and blowing my brains out?”
“You’re insane.” Charlie grabbed Susan. “He’s doing his mind shit again. The boy needs help.”
Susan pushed Charlie. “Travis, go to your room.”
“Mom—”
“I said go to your room now.”
He exhaled, running up the stairs.
“Go home, Charlie. It’s best if you don’t stay here tonight.”
“Susan—”
“Please.” She passed him and got off the stairs. “I can’t take this right now. You two can’t even act human after what’s happened to Prisha? I cared about her and can’t grieve because you’re fighting like animals. Go.”
“Susan, I love you.” He walked downstairs and stood next to her. “Travis is the problem here.”
She looked him in the eyes. “I need an answer to something that’s weighing on me.”
“What, sweetheart?” He took her hand, eyeing the bruise on her wrist.
“Did you do anything to Prisha?”
“No.” His body went limp. “Travis is trying to turn you against me.”
“You didn’t tell me you went to see her before she died.”
“I didn’t think it was important.”
“And, you didn’t tell the cops either.”
“Susan.” He held her by her arms. “I’m not the enemy here.�
�
“Then tell the police you were there. They’ll find out.”
“Well, let them find out.” He let her go. “All they care about is pinning shit on people.”
“I wanna believe you.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I’m confused.”
“Remember what your heart’s telling you.” He hugged her. “Then you’ll never be confused.”
CHAPTER NINE
“What did you say?” Winston asked the cleaning lady the next day. “You think CeCe Babbitt killed Prisha?”
“That’s what I said.” The stone-faced black woman smacked gum as she swept outside the Bay Bridge Boarding House. “I’d put my life on it.”
“Why?” Connie asked.
The woman stopped sweeping and exhaled. “That boy was in her face every time she turned around. He’d follow her to the laundry mat, follow her to the store. Everywhere she went...he was there.” She stuck her nose in the air. “He’s always lurking around and dipping behind corners. Shoot, one time I was cleaning, he was right behind me and I didn’t even know he was there. I asked him what the hell he wanted, and he just walked off. Crazy ass.”
Winston scratched the side of his neck.
“Prisha was planning on leaving because of him.” The woman continued sweeping. “I heard her on the phone in her room.” She did a quick nod. “Uh-huh. Said CeCe gave her the creeps and she was scared he was gonna rape her or something.”
Connie crossed her arms. “This is disturbing but doesn’t mean he killed her.”
“Prisha embarrassed the hell out him in front of everybody. She called him all kinds of names and cursed him out. The tenants saw it. CeCe was shaking and red and all mad looking like a storm was brewing inside of him. After that, he didn’t talk to Prisha no more, but he was still watching her. I saw him.”
“Why didn’t she tell Ms. Kachel?” Connie asked.
“Prisha told her a million times he wouldn’t leave her alone.” She stuck out her lips, holding her hip. “CeCe’s always harassing women. Prisha was just one of many he stalked.”
“Stalked?” Winston gaped.
“Yeah.” The woman flicked her hand. “He gets fixated on every pretty woman he sees.” She gave Connie a onceover. “I bet he’s got you on the list.”
