“Madison,” the officer called out to a female officer near him. “I’m waiting for a call from district 8, pick up for me if it rings,” and he left from behind the counter in Tracie’s direction.
Several officers began exiting a room close to where Tracie was standing. She took a deep breath and then stopped one of them.
“I need to talk to someone,” she said, looking at the officer’s name badge.
The officer that had come from behind the counter saw the contact and he turned to head back behind the counter.
“Give me a few minutes, Bradford,” the officer said to another, and then looked at Tracie. “I’m Officer Grayson, follow me,” and he led the way to the room he along with the other officers just exited. “Have a seat,” he said to Tracie and then walked around the table and took a seat across from her.
Tracie sat and shortly after her attention was drawn to a large white board on the wall in front of her. She looked as if she was trying to make sense of the names and arrows pointed in several directions.
“What’s your name?” Officer Grayson asked.
“Tracie Allen.”
“How can I help you, Ms. Allen?”
Tracie looked off to her side.
“I was with my boyfriend when he let his friends rob his sister house.”
“What is your boyfriend’s name?”
“Vernon Fowler, Jr.”
“Vernon Fowler, Jr.,” the officer repeated. He then looked off to his side thinking. “Excuse me,” he then said and rose from the chair and left the room. Shortly after, he returned with a tape recorder. “Everything said here will be recorded. Do you object to it?”
“No.”
Officer Grayson hit the play button. “You may proceed,” he said.
“Vernon’s sister, Ms. Fowler, I used to work for her as a stylist in her salon. I was still mad about her firing me, so I went along with his plan.”
“Did your boss know that you were dating her brother?”
“No.”
“How did you find out that they were related?”
“Vernon needed some money and went to work with me one day. He didn’t come in the shop; he stood across the street and waited for me. He had ran into one of his friends and stopped to talk.” Tracie wiped at her eyes again. “When I left the salon to give him some money he was gone. The next time I saw him I asked what happened to him. That’s when he told me he saw his sister come out of the salon. He said he started putting two and two together and remembered his sister wanted to open a salon. He said he left and called the shop posing as a hair product company and asked for the owners name to send out samples. That’s when he found out she was the owner.”
“Why didn’t you tell your boss you knew her brother?”
“Vernon told me not to. He said they didn’t get along well because she didn’t want to share the money their father left with him and that he planned to get his portion. He said if she knew we were together that she may find a reason to get rid of me because she didn’t want Vernon around her salon.”
“Is that why she fired you...she found out that you two were dating?”
“No, I was calling off and coming in late. Most of the times it was because of Vernon.”
Officer Grayson crossed his arms. “How long have you been dating Mr. Fowler?”
“About six months.”
“I want to go back to his sister being robbed. Whose idea was that?”
“It was Vernon’s idea. I didn’t know he was going to rob her. He said he was going there to ask for some money. Vernon said that the costumes were so she’d open the door. Officer, no one was supposed to get hurt.” Tears began to fall from Tracie’s eyes. “I didn’t know he was going to hit his sister the way he did,” and Tracie poured tears into her hand.
“So you witnessed him assault his sister?” Officer Grayson said.
Tracie nodded affirmative.
“Speak into the recorder.”
“Yes. He hit her in the face with his fist and she fell to the floor. Do you know if she’s okay?”
Officer Grayson moved his head from side to side. “The jury is still out on that. Even so, I was one of the officers on the scene. She was being raped as I entered the house.”
Tracie quickly covered her mouth with both hands. “Who raped her? God I feel awful.”
“Let’s just say he’s in custody,” and Officer Grayson let her weep. When Tracie appeared to be collecting herself he stated, “So I take it you didn’t know that was part of your boyfriends plan, to let his friends sexually assault his sister.”
Tracie shook her head no and continued to cry. “No. He said Reggie and Richard were going to pick us up in case his sister called the police. He didn’t say anything about them robbing or raping her. He tricked me officer. God I feel so bad. I didn’t want Ms. Fowler to get hurt, he promised me no one was going to get hurt.” Tracie again lowered her head and began to cry into her hands.
“I’ll get you some tissue,” Officer Grayson said and left the room. As he moved down the hall he called for his partner using his radio. “Bradford, get in here.”
“10-4,” his partner responded and exited from waiting out in the patrol car.
Officer Bradford entered the station and saw Grayson reaching for a box of tissue on the process counter.
“What’s going on Grayson,” he said walking toward him.
“You know that case from last night where the fool dressed like a vampire and raped the woman in her home.”
“What about it?”
“The victim’s brother set it up.”
“The brother, he actually set his sister up to be raped…what an idiot.”
“That’s the way it appears. I have the girlfriend of the brother in briefing.”
“Are you speaking of the woman that stopped you?”
Grayson nodded. “She claimed she had no idea the victim was going to be robbed; that her boyfriend must have planned it with his friends to have his sister’s house raided. I actually believe her. Come on,” he said and they headed to the briefing room.
Officer Grayson handed Tracie the box of tissue. “This is my partner, Officer Bradford.”
Bradford dipped his head to Tracie.
Tracie returned a look of gloom. “What’s going to happen to me? I have a daughter,” she said.
“When was the last time you’ve talked to your boyfriend?” Officer Grayson asked.
“Right before I ran out of Ms. Fowler’s house. When I saw that his friends came there to rob her, I ran out her house. I didn’t want to be a part of it. Vernon then came by last night but I didn’t let him in. I then saw him standing outside my apartment this morning trying to get me to open the door.”
“Has Mr. Fowler ever been violent toward you?”
“He’s pushed me around and slapped me a few times, but nothing like the way he hit his sister.”
“The two guys that showed up, did you know them?”
Tracie moved her head, no. “Vernon would sometimes mention their names,” she said.
“Are you aware that he was in prison before? Bradford, have an APB put out for Vernon Fowler’s arrest...possibly armed and dangerous,” Grayson said and then looked at Tracie for her answer.
“No, he never mentioned he was in prison. What did he do?”
“Forgery,” Officer Grayson said. “How did you get here? Is there someone that can pick you up in case he followed you here?”
“He doesn’t know where I am. I left out the back door and drove my grandfather’s car here.”
“Well, we are not going to charge you with anything now, so you’re free to go. But I must warn you to stay alert. If you see Mr. Fowler or anyone else that was involved call the police immediately. By the way, can you tell me where Vernon lives or spends his nights?”
Tracie shrugged her shoulders. “I let him stay a couple times at my apartment. My sister doesn’t care for him and preferred he not be in the building. I think he stay
s more at his friend Reggie house than Richard’s.”
“Do you know Reggie’s last name?”
“No.”
“I need contact information from you,” Officer Grayson said.
Meanwhile as Fran waited for Tracie she looked at her wristwatch again. Nearly thirty-minutes passed. She then looked at her rearview mirror and moved her head from side to side at the trouble Tracie got herself in.
“Come on Tracie, God, please let her go,” Fran uttered and deciding to leave started the car. She took one more look in her rearview mirror. “Tracie,” she said surprised they let her go. She could see Tracie walking fast down the street to the car.
“Fran I was so nervous,” Tracie said getting in. She strapped on her seatbelt then wrapped her arms around a chill that had whipped over her. “I didn’t realize how cold it was out here.”
“What did they say,” Fran asked and pulled out of the parking space she was in.
“I told them everything that happened and they said they didn’t have a reason to keep me and put an APB out for Vernon’s arrest. Fran, Vernon is evil. His two friends that he let rob his sister’s house raped her.”
“Somehow Tracie, that don’t surprise me.”
“The police also said Vernon’s been in prison before. How did I get involved with someone like that?”
Fran made a right turn.
“You’re going to have to be careful Tracie and observe your surroundings. Don’t think he won’t hurt you.”
“That’s what the police said,” and Tracie reached and turned the heat on. “I’m not coming out the house until they catch him, Fran.”
Fran glanced over at the fear in her sister’s face and voice. “I can’t say I don’t blame you, but you can’t stay locked up afraid of him.”
Tracie nodded repeatedly. “Yes I can Fran and I’m going to. I’ll going to keep doing hair in my apartment until they catch him.”
***
Vernon rang Reggie’s doorbell uncertain as how to handle Tracie ignoring him and possibly snitching on him. He needed to figure out what his next move would be.
Reggie was on his way back to the living room with a ham sandwich when the doorbell rang.
“I think Tracie is about to dime us out,” Vernon said as he walked into Reggie’s house.
Reggie glanced at Vernon before walking over to a seat on his sofa.
“Man that broad’s not stupid,” he said.
“I don’t know she’s acting scared.”
“Is that where you went earlier? I heard you leave.”
“Yeah, she won’t open the door or answer her phones. What does that tell you?”
Reggie reached for the remote control near his leg and cut the volume down on the television.
“Just because she’s scared doesn’t mean she’s going to rat us out. Did you tell her what Richard and I were going to do?” Reggie said and took a bite out his sandwich.
“Nah,” Vernon replied and walked away and to the kitchen for a toothpick.
“Nah,” Reggie repeated. “What the hell you tell her we were coming there for?”
“It doesn’t matter what I told her.”
“It does matter. That’s probably why she’s scared. What did you tell her?”
“I told her you and Richard was our back home,” Vernon said walking back into the living room and taking a seat on the edge of the lazy boy.
Reggie looked at Vernon like he couldn’t believe him.
“That’s it? Man you probably freaked her out. You knocked the shit out of your own sister in front of her and then you let your boys rob her crib. Why wouldn’t she be scared if she didn’t know any of that was going down?”
“Reggie man, forget all that. Her ass better not have rat us out.”
“Man, she can rat all she want to. No one has proof that I was in that house. I’m sure I wasn’t the only Vampire walking around Halloween night. You on the other hand, your girl know it was you.”
“What are you saying,” and Vernon narrowed his eyes at Reggie began moving the toothpick in his mouth around with his tongue.
“I’m saying if they find out we had something to do with it, then they gone have to prove I was there,” and Reggie took a huge bite from his sandwich.
“Oh, so you think you’re in the clear. Didn’t you say the police was chasing you?”
“The police was chasing a vampire. Do I look like a damn Vampire? What you should be worrying about is whether Richard gone rat us out. The fact we haven’t heard from him says he got caught, and which means he just collected strike three on top of violating his parole. What does he have to lose?”
“I’m not worried about him talking. Damn!” Vernon hissed. “I should have never brought her in on this,” and Vernon stood.
“So what now,” Reggie said and focused back on the television turning it back up. “Man, I didn’t get anything to drink when I got up,” he murmured.
“I got to find out if she opened her mouth.”
“What makes you think she’s going to anyway?”
“I saw her with her kid and sister sneaking down the street. They must have sneaked out the back door. I bet her sister talked her into turning me in. I can tell she thinks low of me.”
“Well if you don’t want strike number two you need to find out where she went.” Richard then began flipping through the channels. After he heard, up next, suspect sought after a home invasion on Halloween night, he said, “Check this out. This might be your sister’s crib they’re about to talk about.”
“Turn it up, turn it up,” Vernon fast said, his eyes inflated with anticipation of what they were about to hear.
“I did man. Calm down, they went to a commercial...and take a seat you’re blocking the TV.”
“Man I need to see and hear this,” Vernon replied, but moved over so Reggie could see. “It’s back on, it’s back on,” Vernon said focused intently on the television.
“Police are searching for two suspects in connection with the home invasion and the rape of a woman in Olympia Fields last evening on Halloween night. The suspects were in costumes dressed as Batman and the other a Vampire to hide their identities. Another suspect, who was also dressed as a vampire is in custody. If you’ve seen or know who the other suspects are, consider them armed and dangerous, call the police. In other news...”
“I’m gone kill him! I’m gone kill him Reggie. This fool raped my sister...he raped my sister,” Vernon said with such rage and began strolling back and forth from the living room to the kitchen. “He’s lucky the police got him. Man he raped my sister. I’m going to castrate him Reggie.”
“I told you he was contemplating it. You know you can’t trust a criminal.”
Vernon stopped his pacing. “Man that was my sister! I’m gon’ murder him, Reggie,” he said.
“Vernon what you need to do is ditch this city. If the police find out that you know Richard and you were part of her house being robbed, then there’re going to suspect that you allowed it to happen. Man, that’s a conspiracy to rape. I’m sorry, but you can no longer stay here.”
Vernon placed his hands on his hips and looked over at Reggie with his eyes wide.
“What, man, you’re putting me out your crib.”
“Look, after what you just told me and listening to the news, I think she snitched, so that makes you hot. It doesn’t make sense to bring the heat here,” Reggie said with remarkable calm. “All the police have to do is run your name and they’re going to see that you and Richard both served time at Statesville at the same time. Vernon you know I’m not going to rat you out, but dude I’m not in the system. Unless Richard talks, which I doubt, the chances of them coming here is zero. Even if they do, like I said, I wasn’t the only vampire out last night. As far as my costume, they’ll find OJ guilty before they find it. I went back after you left this morning to get it. And if they run your mug on the news I don’t want anyone pointing in this direction. So I’ll ask again, what’s your plan?”
and Reggie’s five ten frame, two hundred-forty solid pounds stood as if he was about to go to battle with Vernon.
Vernon wasn’t afraid of Reggie, but he knew if they physically fought Reggie would have the advantage.
“Whatever Reggie, you just remember my rent is paid up until January.”
“It’ll still be here,” Reggie countered looking straight into Vernon’s face. He then walked toward the door to let him out.
Vernon left mad, but his mind was more on eluding the police. He took in everything around him. He then thought about Reggie’s advice about ditching the city.
“I should have gotten a couple extra toothpicks,” he mumbled then narrowed his eyes even further at a dull bronze unmarked car that just turned the corner. Vernon moved his head a bit to the left to hide his face.
“Did you just see that,” the detective driving said.
“I caught it,” his partner countered.
The two detectives began laughing and talking as they drove past Vernon in an attempt to throw him off. The one in the passenger side brings a can of pop to his mouth like he was about to take a gulp.
Vernon glanced over at the car on the sly to see the two interacting jovially. He dropped his guard some after they passed, but was still cautious of his surroundings. He waited until he thought the car had reached the corner before turning to see in what direction it kept moving. The unmarked car kept straight.
“Reggie is right, I need to ditch this city,” he told himself again and Vernon spat out the toothpick and picked up his pace at the same time reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a stack of one hundred dollar bills. “It ought to get me somewhere,” he said putting the money back into his front pants pocket. He then flipped the hood of his black jacket over his head, stashed his hand into his front pockets for warmth as he walked.
The detectives had turned up the next street and speeding turned again heading in the direction Vernon was going. They quickly parked on a side street and exited the car. One detective ran nearly a block ahead and then hid on the side of a house. The other did the same but hid down a street over.
Vernon was taken by total surprise as one detective ran out and in front of him with his weapon drawn.
Trickery & Envy Page 18
