Possessed

by Stacy-Deanne

  “I tell you.” Winston’s cinnamon-brown curls blew in the passing breeze. “It’s getting harder and harder to work for the law when we’re getting no justice.” He switched lanes. “Did you see how smug Jonathan looked? I wanted to rip his head off. I’m sick of him getting away with everything, Dee.”

  She turned, catching the disdain in his passionate blue eyes.

  “That’s it.” He curled his fingers around the steering wheel. “He’s not getting away with this shit. I’ll handle it.”

  “Winston.” She touched his arm.

  “No, this is enough. We’ve been doing it your way and nothing’s getting done. We’re meeting roadblocks at every turn. It ends today.”

  “Stop.” She pushed her fingers in his silky curls and dragged her hand to his naked chin. “Just when I got used to that goatee you hack it off.” She chuckled, trying to lighten his mood. “We need to stick to the plan.”

  “What plan?” He increased speed. “You say let the law handle it but what good has that done so far?”

  “If we don’t do this the right way, then it’s all for nothing.” She sat up, the black leather squeaking underneath her. “I want Jonathan to go to prison, which means we have to follow protocol.”

  “Fuck protocol.” He blew out his cheeks. “This man kidnapped and raped you, Dee.” He looked at her. “He raped you.”

  She watched the cars ahead of them, gripping the door.

  “Hard to hear, isn’t it?” He turned on his signal and swerved onto another street. “Well, it’s hard for me to sit back while Jonathan does whatever the hell he wants. No more.”

  “I can get him on the rape.”

  “With Rena?” He laughed. “She’s never gonna go against Jonathan.”

  “If that were true she wouldn’t have told me Jonathan kidnapped and drugged me. She wants to do the right thing in her heart but she’s afraid.”

  “I don’t trust her and you shouldn’t either.”

  “I have no choice.” She lay on the door. “Promise me you won’t do anything to Jonathan.”

  Winston held a close-lipped smile.

  “Winston, I mean it. Do you promise to stay away from Jonathan?”

  His mouth rose in the corner as he turned the wheel. “Trust me the way you do Rena.”

  ****

  “I can’t believe she’s gone.” Robin Glover paced in the interrogation room while Dee, Connie, and his parents watched him from the table. “It’s like a bad dream you know?” He stopped in the middle of the floor, the tight T-shirt enhancing the muscles of his upper body. “How can this be real?” He stroked his large hands, tears escaping his grayish-blue eyes. “How can she be dead?”

  Dee grabbed a tissue from her pocket and handed it to him. “You cared about her a lot, didn’t you?”

  He wiped his nose, his peach skin turning red. “She was a wonderful person. Gave me confidence with learning the piano.” He straightened his 6’3 body, loosening his long arms. “With track, I have all the confidence in the world. It’s a part of me. I was born to be a track star.”

  His mother Gisele grabbed her husband Edward’s hand, smiling.

  “But, I’ve always had passion for music.” Robin stood wide-legged in gray Reebok tennis shoes. “Music awakened me in a way even track doesn’t.”

  “He can play many instruments.” Gisele smiled, the wrinkles around her mouth making her look much older than forty-four. “But, he always wanted to learn piano.”

  “I like pushing myself,” Robin said. “The bigger the challenge, the more I want to do it.”

  “Did you consider Lang a challenge?” Dee asked.

  Robin’s jaw went slack and his hairline rose underneath his sable crewcut.

  “If you want to help us find out what happened to Lang,” Connie commented. “You’ll be honest with us.”

  “Wait, a minute.” Edward’s rectangular forehead crinkled. “Are you accusing Robin of something?”

  “We thought you wanted to ask him some questions.” Gisele’s black eyebrow lifted.

  “We are asking questions,” Connie said. “Robin, you’re a minor but you can talk to us alone if your parents agree.”

  “Hello no.” Edward flinched. “We’re not leaving him alone with you.”

  Giselle stuffed her hand in between her husband’s arm. “What in the world are you getting at, Detectives?”

  Robin rocked with sweat sprouting across his forehead.

  Dee made note of his apprehension. “You and Lang were having an inappropriate relationship, weren’t you, Robin?”

  “What?” Edward snarled.

  Robin’s stare dropped to the floor.

  Gisele sat erect. “Robin, what is she talking about?”

  He blushed, covering his face with his hands.

  “Robin?” Edward got up, his thin, straight body reaching 6’5. “Answer your mother. This can’t be true.”

  Robin lifted his head, sniffling. “It is true.”

  Gisele covered her mouth.

  “Ms. Latimer and I were having an affair.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Edward charged his son. “What do you mean having an affair?”

  “We were fucking, Dad.” Robin walked to the table. “You want all the details?”

  “How could she do this?” Gisele shrieked. “You’re a child and we trusted her.”

  “Don’t blame Lang,” Robin said. “I’m old enough to make my own decisions and she didn’t force me into anything.”

  “You’re a child, damn it.” Edward swung his son around to face him. “She took advantage of you. She was an adult seducing a sixteen-year-old boy.”

  “Fifteen.” Robin swallowed. “It started before my birthday.”

  Gisele stroked her throat, groaning.

  “Lang didn’t seduce me. I came onto her.”

  “We paid her to teach you piano lessons.” Edward flung his arm. “Not to rape you and that’s what she did. Lang Latimer was a sexual predator, and she deserved what happened to her.”

  “Shut up!” Robin threw Edward against the wall.

  “Robin,” Gisele screamed.

  “Robin?” Dee and Connie ran to him and tried to pull him off but neither had the strength. “Let him go.”

  “I loved her.” He banged his father against the wall. “I loved her, Dad!”

  “Let him go,” Connie said. “Now, Robin.”

  He turned his father loose.

  “What the hell’s gotten into you?” Edward straightened his shirt, panting. “You’ve changed because of Latimer’s wickedness.”

  Gisele leaned forward, shaking her head.

  “I don’t even recognize you, Robin.” Edward reclaimed his seat by his wife.

  “It started about six months ago,” Robin said. “Ever since I first met her, I wanted her. We knew it was wrong but didn’t care.”

  His parents avoided eye contact with him.

  “We loved each other.”

  “She had a boyfriend,” Gisele said. “That rich guy. Did you believe she’d actually be with a sixteen-year-old?”

  “That’s what you get for thinking with your dick,” Edward snapped. “Let me guess. She used you until she got bored and dumped you, didn’t she?”

  Robin grimaced.

  “Robin, how could you do this?” Gisele’s face twisted. “We raised you to be smarter than this.”

  “I fell in love.”

  “It wasn’t love.” Gisele’s lips curled. “It was fornication and sin.”

  “Don’t say that, Ma.”

  “Then why did you hide it?” she asked. “If it was something to be proud of?”

  “I didn’t want to get her into trouble. I knew you’d have her arrested.”

  “You damn right we would’ve,” Edward said. “And to think we felt sorry for what had happened to her but now it’s good riddance.”

  “You bastard!” Robin lunged for him but the detectives held him back.

  “Cool it.�
� Dee touched Robin’s chest. “These are your parents and they have every right to be upset about this.”

  “I bet it hurt you that Lang broke things off, didn’t it, Robin?” Connie asked.

  “I didn’t kill her.” His lips trembled. “I told you I was out with my girlfriend that night.”

  Connie and Dee let him go.

  “I loved Lang Latimer,” Robin said. “I would’ve given her anything she wanted.”

  Edward scoffed, shaking his head.

  “I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life.” Robin sat at the table with glassy eyes. “I don’t know how I’m gonna go on without her.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Broadville Port, Maryland

  “I’m not leaving!” Winston’s voice bellowed from the front hall, interrupting Jonathan’s yoga session with Candra Martel.

  “God.” Jonathan opened his eyes, sitting Indian-style on the white mat in the middle of the meditation room of his mansion.

  “Who is that?” Candra uncurled her legs, her dirty-blonde ponytail swinging when she looked toward the door.

  “My old friend.” Jonathan grinned. “Detective Winston Lewis.” He stood, holding the waist of his black track pants. “I figured I’d be seeing him again soon.”

  “I’m not leaving,” Winston yelled again. “Jonathan, come face me like a man!”

  Candra stood, pulling at her lime green leotard. “What does he want?”

  “For me to leave Deidra alone.” Jonathan got his water bottle from the floor. “That’s not happening unless I die.”

  “Are you gonna call the police?”

  “No need.” He pinched her chin, raising her head to look at those green eyes. “I can handle him easily.”

  “I’ve never felt so safe as I do in your arms.” She touched his cheek and he couldn’t take his eyes off the huge scar on her throat and how attractive it made her. “I wish I could be in them all the time—”

  “Jonathan!” Winston busted into the room with two guards holding his arms and poor Tran shivering behind them. “We need to talk.”

  “Let me guess.” Jonathan moved Candra aside. “You’re not leaving until we do? Fine. Give us privacy.”

  The guards grimaced, letting Winston go.

  “Are you crazy?” Tran asked. “We need to call the police.”

  “Who’s in charge here?” Jonathan pulled up his pants, standing on the mat. “Winston and I need to talk man-to-man.”

  Tran and the guards left.

  Winston huffed and puffed, curling his hands into fists. “Ready to be six-foot-under?”

  “Ouch.” Jonathan cackled.

  “We’re handling this once and for all, Wild.” Winston walked to the middle of the room. “Just you and me like men.”

  “Are you challenging me to a duel, Detective?” Jonathan rubbed his knuckles. “I’m a black belt.”

  “Good.” Winston did a subtle wink. “It’ll match your face because it’s gonna be black and blue when I get through with you.”

  “Don’t you dare touch him.” Candra jumped in front of Jonathan. “You’re a police officer. How can you do this? This is police brutality.”

  “Candra?” Jonathan touched her shoulder. “Give me some time with the detective.”

  “No.” She patted his cheeks. “I don’t want him to hurt you.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Jonathan secured her tiny hands in his big palms. “Trust me. I’ll be the winner of this conversation.”

  Candra peeked over her shoulder at Jonathan as she left the room.

  “I thought I’d see you soon.” Jonathan wagged his finger at Winston. “Since you and Deidra didn’t get the outcome, you wanted at the hearing.”

  “Fuck the hearing.” Winston marched to the door and locked it. “I came to deliver a message.”

  “Oh?” Jonathan stretched his arms, loosening himself for the fight. “What is it?”

  “You’ll get it.” Winston walked to him with his chin in the air. “After I kick your ass and if you’re still breathing when it’s over.”

  “I think I will be.”

  “What happens here, stays here. I’m not a cop right now.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m not pressing charges for you letting me kick your ass. You sure you want to do this?”

  “You have no idea.” Winston threw a punch, but Jonathan pointed his elbow to the side and swung his upper arm, blocking it.

  Winston stumbled back, clasping his wrist.

  “I warned you.” Jonathan punched Winston in the face and he went flying into the mat.

  “Ah!” Winston threw his leg up as Jonathan leaned over, kicking Jonathan in the stomach.

  “Ooh!” Jonathan stooped over, struggling to breathe as pain rippled through his ribs.

  Winston got up and thrust his fingers into Jonathan’s eyes as Jonathan charged him.

  Jonathan howled, his eyes stinging and burning. “Fuck.”

  Winston grabbed him by the neck and delivered three speedy punches to the face.

  Jonathan yelped, falling to the mat.

  Winston panted, red-faced and bleeding. “Leave Dee alone.”

  “No chance.” Jonathan leapt to his feet and smacked Winston in the midsection with his knee.

  “Oh...” Winston stumbled backward.

  Jonathan bounced in place, gyrating his fists. “I got more where that came from.”

  “How about some of this?” With lightning speed, Winston slammed his head into Jonathan’s stomach.

  Jonathan screamed from the searing pain.

  “Motherfucker.” Winston gave Jonathan an under punch and when Jonathan turned, pushed him to the mat face first.

  Jonathan swallowed, blood drizzling from his teeth. “Shoot.” He laughed, spitting drops of the crimson liquid. “That’s all you got?”

  “Had enough?” Winston turned Jonathan around and socked him in the nose. “That’s for kidnapping Dee.” He socked him again four times. “And that’s for raping her. You sick fuck.”

  “It wasn’t rape.” Jonathan kicked Winston’s crotch.

  “Uh!” Winston barreled over, holding himself.

  “How many times...” Jonathan grabbed the back of Winston’s head. “Do I have to tell you Deidra is mine now?” He swung his arm, bashing Winston’s face with his elbow.

  “Ah!” Winston spit blood, growling.

  “You done?” Jonathan winced, grabbing his aching side.

  “Are you done?” Winston bent Jonathan over, ramming his knee into Jonathan’s face. “Huh?”

  Jonathan fell to his knees, coughing and spitting blood.

  Winston hopped on his back, locking his arms around Jonathan’s neck.

  “Aw!” Jonathan clenched Winston’s arm. “Let go.” His throat tightened as oxygen dissipated. “Get...off.”

  Winston got off him, kicking him.

  Jonathan laid with his face to the mat, grabbing his pounding head.

  “Look at me.” Winston flung him over. “Dee is the only thing stopping me from killing you. Here’s your message.” He snatched a paper out his pocket and tossed it on Jonathan’s chest. “I hope you choke on it.”

  Coughing, Jonathan sat up, aching from his head to his feet. “What is this?” He read the results of a paternity test. “No.” He threw the paper aside. “It’s a lie.”

  “I’m the father.” Winston beat his chest. “You hear me? I’m the father and not you. Leave us alone, Jonathan. If you care about Dee; then you’ll let her be happy and live her life.”

  Winston groaned, staggering out the room.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  As soon as the bell rang to dismiss school, kids flooded out Willow Creek High, spilling in various directions.

  “Ah, high school.” Dee sat in the driver’s side of her Chevy Malibu eating glazed doughnut holes. “You miss it?”

  “Kinda.” Connie bounced in the seat. “I loved to learn.”

  “You were a nerd, huh?” Dee sucked glaze from her index finger. �
��Were you as nosey in school as you are now?”

  Connie grinned, wiggling her nose. “What do you think?”

  Robin Glover exited the school with a group of boys.

  “Well, well,” Dee said. “He seems chipper doesn’t he?”

  “Definitely not like he’s grieving.” Connie leaned out the passenger window as the boys made it to the sidewalk. “Robin?” She waved. “Mind if we speak to you for a moment?”

  “Whoa, man.” The redheaded, pimple-faced guy beside him, nudged Robin with his elbow. “Got a hot date?”

  “Hey ladies.” The black boy with the flat top blew kisses at the detectives. “Looking for a real man?”

  “Cool it, Junior.” Dee stuffed the bag of doughnut holes in the console. “Get in, Robin.”

  He slipped his backpack off his shoulder and shrugged at his friends. “Why?”

  Dee sucked sugar from her teeth. “You know why.”

  The redheaded boy whistled. “Hey, if he doesn’t want to go I’ll lend you my services.”

  “Yeah.” The black boy pinched the collar of his T-shirt. “You two so fine I might go commit a crime just to see you again.” He and the redheaded boy laughed.

  “Cute,” Connie said.

  Robin headed for the car, sighing.

  “Will we see you later, man?” the black guy asked.

  “Yeah, hit me up on my cell.” Robin got in the backseat as his friends left. “What’s up?”

  Dee turned around to face him. “No bullshit, okay. You’re in serious shit.”

  He swallowed, switching his eyes to Connie. “I didn’t do anything.”

  Connie said, “You left out some things about you and Lang.”

  “What did I leave out?”

  “You didn’t accept that Lang wanted to break things off,” Dee said. “In fact you were furious and harassed her.”

  “I wasn’t harassing her.”

  “Robin.” Connie leaned back on the window. “Let me tell you something about the police. By the time we ask questions, most likely we already have some answers.”

  “Is it true you’d been emailing her and sending her text messages, one which said you wished she was dead for breaking your heart?”