Deceit, Lies, & Alibi's Trilogy Books 1-3

by Shontaiye

“Miss Cora, I’m going to try to call her and I’m gonna ride by her house to see if I see her car. Maybe she’s just been holed up in the house.”

  It wasn’t the first time that Naomi had stayed in her house for several days. She had her moments that most people just shrugged off assumed, that was just her. Shaleea, however knew better. Her girl had issues.

  “Thank you so much baby. If you get up with her, give me a call. I’m worried sick,” she admitted.

  “I know you are Miss Cora, and I promise I will.”

  After hanging up from Miss Cora, Shaleea skipped her coffee and left. Once she got in her car, she started making phone calls. She immediately arranged to have top of the line security installed for her home, her mother’s, and each of her sisters. She didn’t care if they lived in a box, if she loved them it would be secured. Mann knew too much and was capable of anything. She also spoke with her mom and asked her if Heaven could remain there for the entire school year. While she was done running from her problems, she would not put her child in harm’s way. She was also tired of shifting her around. Considering the fact that Heaven was already there the majority of the time; it just made sense.

  She didn’t trust Mann. He had shot Noah and had turned her friend Naomi into a snake. She wondered what he had been telling her, or worse, what she had been telling him. She wanted to call Noah; he would know what to do. However, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She knew, she would drive over to Razul’s. It was nearly six in the evening and he should be arriving home soon. She started her car and drove off. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another.

  <><><>

  “Did you try calling her again?” Razul asked for the third time. He had just gotten out of the shower and wasn’t sure how to digest all that Shaleea had just told him. She had really laid it on him, going all the way back to her sleeping with Mann, to him becoming infatuated.

  “Yeah, she not answering. I rode by there on my way here, but didn’t see her car in front of her house.”

  “And you’re sure it was his car?” Razul asked again.

  “I told you yeah Razul. Why you keep asking me the same questions over and over?” she snapped. She knew it was probably in his nature because he was a cop, but he was getting on her nerves treating her like someone he was interrogating.

  “The nigga is a nut…I know this for a fact and I’m scared Razul. I don’t know what to do,” she admitted.

  Razul didn’t bother to ask her for the complete run-down on Mann. He was sure she wasn’t telling him everything. It had to be more, judging by how scared she was. She had always been one that offered limited details and that was cool. He figured it was her way of not incriminating anyone but it wasn’t helping him help her.

  “Look…Your best bet is to switch up your routine for a little while. You’re going to have to lay off going certain places until he eases up.”

  Shaleea looked at him in disbelief. She wasn’t sure by what he meant by, “ease up”. Mann wasn’t going to ease up. She wasn’t sure why she was growing angry but she was. Razul wasn’t really giving her the reassurance that she was hoping for. She honestly wasn’t sure what she was looking for.

  “Tell me something I don’t know Razul.”

  Sensing her frustration, he walked over to her and sat beside her. He stroked her arm while he spoke to her.

  “Look sweetheart, I know you’re frustrated and I’m going to do my best to help you…But if he is how you say he is, then you have to be careful. I’ll do what I can for you, but at the end of the day I’m a cop. My hands are kind of tied…If some shit happens and I’m involved, Internal Affairs is gonna be all over my ass. I can’t risk that,” he admitted honestly.

  Shaleea knew what he meant by that, and he was right. While he liked and probably cared about her, he had a career and reputation on the line. To her that meant, he basically couldn’t help her.

  “It’s cool Razul. I understand and respect that.” He kissed her on the forehead and she smiled lightly in return.

  It seemed like her problems never ended. It was one thing after another.

  “One last favor I need,” she asked as she got up and prepared to leave.

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “Take me to get a gun; a legal one. I don’t care what it costs.”

  SEVENTEEN

  Mann

  Mann woke up abruptly and wiped the cold out of his eyes. His head was pounding. He used his fingertips to massage his forehead and looked downward, hoping that would help ease the pain. It did not. He was fully clothed and the bright green numbers on his alarm clock told him it was 7pm. He had only been asleep for several hours. He was relieved.

  He scurried out of bed and checked his phone. He knew he had some money waiting for him but it would have to wait. He had something far more important to do. He logged into his account on his GPS tracking app to check for updates. After pressing a few tabs to navigate the application, he discovered Shaleea was downtown at The Rittenhouse.

  He figured she would be staying at a hotel after realizing he had been following her. She looked right at him at Dunkin Donuts the previous day. Surprisingly, her little cop friend wasn’t with her. He had a tracker on both of their cars and was waiting for the right moment when Shaleea was alone so he could confront her. Now was the time. He had just a few questions for her. Technology was a beautiful thing.

  Shaleea

  Shaleea had just checked into The Rittenhouse Hotel. Razul had surprised her with last minute reservations and she was thrilled. He knew she was frustrated and needed to relax for a few days, so he booked her a room at the luxury hotel and also paid for a sixty-minute aromatherapy massage to go with it.

  Although excited and very thankful for the gift, Shaleea was a bit disappointed that he would be unable to accompany her. His staff was working on a big job and he had decided that he would stay late to help out with it. Shaleea quickly realized that his job was his life and he didn’t have a ton of time to really hang out. She understood. She figured she would catch up on some paperwork at the laundromat after relaxing for a while.

  After plopping down on the large bed, Shaleea just stared at the ceiling. She had already talked to Heaven and had also informed everyone of where she was at. With nothing to do, she figured she would take a hot bath, order room service and curl up in the expensive Egyptian cotton sheets. Shaleea started her playlist on her phone and went to run her water. She decided she would make the most out of her short escape. After soaking in the tub for thirty minutes, she dried off and ordered room service. After another fifteen minutes, and in the process of slathering herself down with lotion, there was a knock at the door. She peered through the peep hole and saw an older white male in a bright red uniform with gold buttons. It was room service. After receiving her food and tipping the delivery person, she went back to applying Pink Chiffon from Bath and Body Works to her skin.

  Before she could finish, there was another knock at the door. Figuring it was room service again and they had forgotten something, Shaleea ran over and snatched open the door. As soon as she opened it, she regretted it. She quickly tried to shut the door back, but it was too late. Mann forced his foot through the crack and pushed himself in. He drew his gun so she knew he wasn’t playing.

  “You better not scream,” he yelled.

  Shaleea froze in fear for a minute, and then made a dash to the bathroom. She clumsily stumbled into an ottoman and tripped over one of her bags. She got into the bathroom and slammed the door. She quickly locked it and grabbed her phone.

  Mann immediately ran behind her and tried to kick in the door. The force and banging from his foot caused Shaleea to jump. She prayed someone heard him in the hotel and called 911. Looking back to her phone, she dialed the first number she saw in her phone. After several rings, Shanita picked up.

  “Hello?” Shanita asked.

  “Shanita! I need your help. Mann’s here. He forced his way into my room and he’s kicking in the bathroom door. Oh
my god, I think he’s going to try to hurt me Shanita. Please help me. Call 911.”

  “Open the fucking door Shaleea! I just want to talk to you,” Mann yelled through the door. She could hear it creak and crack, as he was now using his shoulder to force it in. All of a sudden, it gave way and came flying open.

  Shaleea screamed and dropped the phone.

  “Hello? Hello? Shaleea!” Shanita called to her frantically. Shaleea could hear her, but wouldn’t dare pick up. Mann had his gun aimed at her. The cold look in his eyes scared her and she knew he would shoot. She had no choice but to cooperate.

  “Give it to me,” Mann demanded, referring to the phone. He walked over to her and she quickly picked up and handed him the phone. He terminated the on-going call, and grabbed her by her arm, forcing her up.

  “Get ya ass up and get dressed. You coming with me.”

  Shaleea glanced down at herself and realized she was practically naked. Her robe had flown open and all of her dark chocolate flesh was available for Mann to see. She slowly walked out and grabbed the first thing she could find; a black romper.

  “Right here. Take that shit off and hurry up and put it on.” He wasn’t worried about her being naked. He had other things on his mind, like getting out of the ritzy hotel before the police arrived. He knew whoever she was on the phone with had probably called 911, plus Shaleea hadn’t made it any better by running around knocking over things. Although he was pressed for time, he knew it would take the police some time to arrive. Besides, whoever decided to be a hero and get in his business, would be knocked unconscious.

  Although he had taken the front entrance in, he decided they would take the side out. He had observed the hotel for a while before entering. He always wanted to make sure he had options.

  “Mann please. Why are you doing this?” Shaleea sobbed. Tears soaked her cheeks and thoughts of her family flooded her thoughts. He didn’t answer. “Where are you taking me?” she asked. He still didn’t answer. He just stared at her. She had no idea what was going through his head. What she did know was that whatever it was, it wasn’t pleasant. He looked angry and under the influence of something. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, while his breathing was heavy, yet methodic.

  Shaleea continued to cry as she led the way out. She quickly grabbed her small Chanel bag and clutched it tightly in front of her. As they exited from her room and out into the hotel, Shaleea’s eyes darted around frantically for any sign of help. As expected, the hotel was quiet and nearly empty. It was the middle of the week and most of the people occupying the lobby were old. There was no way they would be able to help her.

  Mann nudged her side. “Go through that door over there.” He nodded his head in the direction of the side entrance.

  As they exited out of the somewhat safe haven of the hotel and into the plush, leather interior of Mann’s BMW, Shaleea grew worried. Mann had her phone jammed in his pocket and she had no way of contacting her family. She wasn’t sure where he was taking her, but wherever it was, he wanted to get there fast.

  They hadn’t long ago left the hotel and they were already on I-76 going well above 70 mph. Shaleea glanced at Mann. She hoped her sad face would conjure pity from him. However, he stared straight ahead and never looked at her. His attention was solely on the road and getting her back to his home.

  EIGHTEEN

  Noah

  “Whoa Shameeka! Slow down, what are you talking about,” Noah asked. He had just lie down in his bed to watch a game but her call made him immediately sit up.

  “I said the nigga Mann just ran down on Shaleea! He crazy Noah. You gotta help her. We putting on our shit now. We going to her and Mommy just called the police.”

  “Shameeka. Tell me where she is,” Noah demanded. He knew she called him for help, but she wasn’t telling him shit.

  “She’s at The Rittenhouse Hotel downtown. She went there to relax and the nigga just popped up on some crazy shit. Forced himself in with a gun. She ran to the bathroom and called Shanita…From what she could tell, she’s still in there with the door locked. She could hear him shouting at her in the background.”

  “Listen Shameeka. I’m on my way to her. Call me if you hear anything else,” he stated abruptly, before hanging up. He quickly dialed Nikka. After explaining to her that something extremely important happened, and that he needed to take Eva over there, he ran to his closet and grabbed his gun.

  He already knew what type of time Mann was on and he wasn’t going to give him a second chance when he got there. He decided then and there that he would have to kill him. Pennsylvania had a self-defense law and he knew Mann was going to force him to use it. He had determined years ago that he would die for Shaleea and wouldn’t hesitate to kill for her either. He knew today would be that day.

  <><><>

  Noah had just dropped off Eva and was racing down I-476 with all kinds of thoughts going through his head. He wondered why Shaleea didn’t tell him something was up before. He had told her Mann was dangerous. He partly blamed himself. He had become so wrapped up all the time problems he’d created, he left the situation with Mann unresolved.

  He also wondered who the fuck the new nigga she was dealing with that probably knew what was up, but wasn’t with her. He knew Shaleea very well. Although she was a strong woman she still looked to her man as her protector. Obviously they didn’t know the type of bull they were dealing with.

  Mann was not the average cat. That was one of the sole reasons he befriended him. Now it was working against him. He had fucked his girl, shot him, and was now on some obsessed shit. He was a nut. There was no telling what else he was capable of. He just prayed he got there in time. As he continued up the expressway, his phone rang. He quickly grabbed it. It was probably Shameeka again. He was wrong. It was Gina.

  “Hello,” he quickly answered.

  “Noah we’re tracking her. Don’t go to the hotel because she’s not there anymore.”

  “What do you mean Ms. Gina?” He was confused.

  “Shaleea just bought Heaven a new IPhone a few weeks ago. They share some kind of locator. We’re tracking her now on the computer. It looks like she’s in Blue Bell.”

  “Blue Bell?” he said aloud. “He’s going to his house…Listen, tell Shanita, Shyanne, and Shameeka to hold off. Do not follow them up there. I’ll go alone. You’re going to have to call the police…Mann is not the average dude and they will wound up getting hurt, or getting Shaleea hurt. Call the police and tell them she’s been abducted. Tell them she’s a wealthy business owner, goes to Temple, anything to get them to hurry. I’m not far from where she’s headed.…She gon be alright Ms. Gina.”

  “Please Noah…Get my baby. I’m going to call the police now.”

  Noah scanned the highway for the next exit so he could turn around. It was a mile away. He was headed in the wrong direction. However, he was still very close to Blue Bell. The home he had just purchased with Shaleea was literally 10 miles away. Once he turned around, he could get to Mann’s house in ten minutes. He had to beat her sisters there. He knew they were still going to go, despite the fact he told them not too. They were riders and wasn’t nothing going to stop them from warring over there sister.

  Shaleea

  Mann forced Shaleea through the door with a shove. She stumbled but didn’t fall. She clutched her purse and continued into the home. She had been cooperative with him, so she didn’t understand why he felt the need to be aggressive.

  “Mann what’s going on?” she asked. She peered around the dimly lit home and grew alarmed by what she saw as well as the foul odor that circulated through the air. She walked a little more into the house and saw he had pushed his dining room furniture all together and had a large piece of plastic covering the floor. That and the smell of rotting meat overwhelmed her. She felt the urge to gag. She figured the smell had to be the trash. Whatever was in there had long ago spoiled and needed to be removed immediately. She began to grow nauseous but took a deep breath to contain it.r />
  “You tell me?” he asked. He sat on the arm of his large Victorian style couch and waited for her to respond. One foot dangled, while the other rested on the floor.

  “You the one playing games…Out here being a whore right?” he asked. His gun was tucked in his pocket.

  “What are you talking about?” she cried. This wasn’t funny. She was scared and he was crazy.

  “You left Noah right? You said you couldn’t be with me because I was friends with Noah…. Yet, you left him, cut ties with him and said fuck me…Went out and got a cop for a boyfriend…Am I right?”

  “Mann I’m sorry…But there’s something wrong with you…”

  “Yo stop fucking saying that!” he yelled. He jumped off the arm of the couch and stood up. He was tired of hearing it.

  Shaleea jumped in fear and slowly backed up. She stared at Mann. She wanted him to see her fear, let him know that he was in control, so he would let his guard down some.

  “Mann,” she said. She spoke quietly and carefully. “Sweetie, I know you’re upset with me, and I don’t know what Naomi has told you but some things are wrong…. Yes, I left Noah. Yes, I tried to cut ties with him, and yes I was seeing a cop. But I had not completely moved on…I never had sex with him…I did care about you Mann, but the situation just wasn’t right.”

  She did her best to explain. She knew Mann was borderline crazy and his mind was giving him feelings of infatuation with her, so she emphasized that she had not been intimate with anyone.

  “Bitch! You’re fucking lying!,” he snapped before snatching his gun from his waistline. “I saw you at his house…And if you cared so much about me, how come you never called me, returned a call or text? Reached out in any way?”

  “Mann, I couldn’t….And me and Razul never had sex,” she reiterated desperately. She looked to his side where his gun was now resting. She was terrified. She prayed that God would send help.