Deadly Saintes- The Complete Series, page 6
part #1 of Deadly Saintes Series
“We’re investigating a recent murder. Do you know a man by the name of Reginald Sainte Jr.?”
“I do. He’s my nephew?”
“Oh, you’re related?”
“By bond, not by blood. Is he in some kind of trouble?” Titus said. “You said murder? RJ wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
There was a pause. “Do you know anything about him being involved with a woman named Destiny? You might know her are Regina Crawford?”
“No sir. We haven’t talked recently. We had a falling out.”
“So you haven’t seen him in the past few days? Last Wednesday specifically.”
“Last Wednesday,” Titus said, pretending to flip through his calendar. “I did see him. We were all at the family house. Me, him, my son, his dad, his sister, and his wife. We were drinking and playing Spades all night. I’m sure you can imagine what that turned into.”
“Sounds like fun,” Jordan said. “I think that’s all I need for now. Thank you for your time.”
“Thank you Detective. And may I say that you’ve done a spectacular job since you’ve joined the department.”
“I appreciate it Mr. Webster. This is my personal extension, so please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.”
“I sure will. Have an excellent evening.” Titus hung up the call and held his arms out wide. “How’d I do?”
“Great for kissing ass,” Reginald said.
“I wasn’t kissing ass. I just told the man he was doing a great job, which is true. He’s kept his attention far away from us.”
“Just like I paid him to do.”
“Still an asshole, huh, Reginald?”
“Wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t,” Reginald said. “You’re gonna to have to pick RJ up. I got some business to handle.” He led the way to the door, turning to face Titus after he opened it. He then pulled him into a hug. “Thanks T.”
“You’re welcome, brother. We’re more than blood. I always got your back, you know that.” Titus closed the door behind him and dialed an unknown number. He picked at his nails while waiting for the other person to answer.
“If it isn’t Webster Jr. Why has so much time gone by since the last time you called me? I’m starting think you only want me for my information.”
“I’m sorry, Rose, you know that’s not true. I’ve been busy. How can I make it up to you?”
“You know what I like.”
“Me and you on your next off day,” he said. “I need a favor.”
“Shoot.”
“RJ is about to get released, I need to stall.”
“For how long?” she said.
“Until tonight.”
Chanel sat with her head in her hands. She wept, then wiped her eyes. She picked up the phone. Then put it down again. She set it in her lap. Through blurry eyes she scrolled through the pictures, the same woman, in different poses. She stopped on the one that was a close up of the woman’s face, a side view, taken when she wasn’t aware. She was beautiful. Her skin radiant, her eyes filled with unlimited possibilities. Innocence filled her smile. “Who is she?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Titus said.
“How did you get these?”
“RJ sent them to me. He’s always been a bragger, you know that.”
“So there’s more than one?” She dropped her face into her hands once more. “I’m so fucking stupid.”
Titus sat next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. “You’re not stupid. You’re in love.”
“I knew something was going on.” She began pacing as soon as she stood. “I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. So fucking stupid. So. Fucking. Stupid.” She pounded at her temples, her pace increasing.
Titus held her in place. “You’re not stupid Chanel.”
“I’m not? Those pictures. They go back years. How is that not stupid?”
“RJ’s bad decisions have no bearing or say so on your own. You are a strong beautiful black woman. Nothing he does, nor anyone for that matter can diminish that. You’re hurt. And that is totally understandable. But I will not sit here and let you blame yourself for his behavior.”
“Thank you, Titus.” She headed into the kitchen and retrieved two glasses and a bottle of wine. She poured and handed him one before curling up on the couch. She shook her head after taking a sip. “You know he’s the reason we never got along?”
“Is that right?”
“He always used to tell me you were just around Reginald for his money and that you were jealous of him.”
“You don’t say.” Titus sipped from his glass and crossed one leg over the other. “I guess it’s true when they say the worst pain comes by way of family.”
“You can say that again.”
They grew quiet.
“I always liked you,” he said. “I always thought you were too good for RJ. Too smart, too beautiful, too talented.”
“My entire family let me know that every time we talked. It’s a classic rebellion story. Sprinting from my father and I end up running right into a man just like him.” She laughed. “My grandmother was right. She always used to say if a man has the mind to cheat, he will, doesn’t matter how pretty you are, how successful you are, or how much of a good woman you are.”
“Your grandmother was a wise woman.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Titus finished off his glass. He leaned forward to that his elbows rested on his knees. “I know I just dealt you a major blow, but I have some more bad news. The girl is dead.”
“What?” She stopped swirling the burgundy liquid. Her hand remained frozen in place. Her blinks did nothing alleviate the burning in her eyes. She threw what remained of her drink into the back of her throat, swallowing hard. “No. RJ wouldn’t be stupid enough.” She paced once more. “Titus.”
“It’s okay, Chanel.” He caught her before she collided with the coffee table.
Chanel thanked Titus for the cup of coffee he gave her. Nothing was said for a while, neither of them knowing what to say. Checking his watch, he realized he was nearing RJ’s release time. He put a hand on Chanel’s knee.
“You don’t deserve to be caught up in this mess. I have something for you.” He pulled a duffle bag in front of his feet. “You shouldn’t have to go through the trauma of a trial or have to endure being questioned by the police.”
“I can’t leave.”
“It’s totally your decision, but there’s more than enough money in that bag to start over,” Titus said. “You don’t have any children. I’ll take care of the house. You can have the money from it to. No ties.”
She stared at her toes as she wiggled them. The carpet was softer than it had ever been before. Looking around the house, it was as if she was looking at it for the first time. All the colors popped, brighter than they had ever been. The art seemed to dance, the statues coming to life, the paintings transforming into a three dimensional version of themselves, the abstract shapes changing forms each time she looked away. “The family.”
“You’ll still be able to contact us. You can even come back and visit if you want. It’s just with everything that’s about to happen, if you stay, you’ll be in the police’s crosshairs. And I wouldn’t be the man I pride myself to be if I allowed anything to happen to you.” He held her hand. “No matter what happens to RJ, you’ll always be family. I’ll always think of you as my niece.”
There was no life in her smile. It didn’t reach her eyes as it normally did. “Can I have some time to think about it?”
“Of course, but hurry. I’m on my way to get RJ.”
She walked to the door. She hugged Titus.
He stroked her chin. “Such a shame when a man is too dumb to appreciate the queen he’s found.” He kissed her cheek. “Call me when you’ve made a decision.” Titus opened the door and went down the steps.
“Titus,” she said when he reached the sidewalk. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure, sweetheart.” His stroll was cool on the way to his car. He got inside, started the car, and turned up the radio’s volume until Sade’s sultry voice surrounded him. “My pleasure indeed.”
RJ recognized Titus’ car as soon as he walked through the heavy doors. The fresh air burned his lungs as he inhaled. It amazed him how fast one forgot about what the outside world was like. The twelve foot metal gate slowly inched open, stopping with a bone shaking click. He counted his steps to keep from sprinting through.
“Nephew.”
“What up Unc? Thanks for coming to get me.”
“How you feelin’? You hungry?”
“Not really. I just wanna get home. I need to get the jail smell off me. I can’t wait to hug my woman. I don’t know how guys do it.”
“Oh you know,” Titus said. He pulled into traffic, increasing his speed to 10 miles over the limit. “I know how you feel about wanting to get home, but I think getting the taste of some real food will do you good.”
“Get me the biggest, juiciest burger in the city,” RJ said. He let his seat back and blocked the sun with his forearm.
The house was dark when RJ opened the door. Kicking his shoes, off he headed straight for the refrigerator, chugging the bottle of water he grabbed.
A light turned on.
The bottle slipped from his hand. “What the fuck Chanel? Why the fuck are you sittin’ in the dark?” He used a dish towel to pat his shirt dry.
“Glad you’re home.”
“Me too, baby.” RJ didn’t hesitate to go to her, dropping to his knees and laying his head in her lap. He sighed as she rubbed the top of his head. He squeezed her waist tighter. “Don’t ever leave me. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“You should start making plans.”
He raised his head. “What?”
Chanel unhooked his arms and slid from underneath him. “You know I can’t stand stupidity and yet you do stupid shit anyway.”
“Whatever you think I did, I didn’t do.”
“So you weren’t still fucking that stripper bitch Destiny after I told you to end it.”
His head fell. RJ stumbled over his words he tried to get to his feet. “I didn’t –“
“Do not fucking lie to me, Reginald.” She made her way to the bedroom. A suitcase was open on the bed.
“Chanel.” He grabbed her shoulders. “Stop.”
“Don’t fucking touch me. Don’t you dare touch me.” She combed her fingers through her hair. Staring at him, she saw the man her mother and grandmother had warned her about. She saw the man that she had given everything up for. She saw the wannabe thug who never wanted nothing anything. The love was gone. Her eyes were dry. She breathed easy. She sat on the bed. “I’m going to ask you one more time. Did you stop?”
RJ’s shoulders slumped. “Baby, please –“
“I’m leaving.” She continued to pack, stuffing what she needed for a few nights stay into the bag. “I’ll be back for the rest of my stuff later. Don’t be here.”
8
Reginald stared out his window. His life had fallen apart in a few years. Vera was gone. The Internal Revenue Service had come after him for back taxes. He slowly shook his head. Constance had told him not to use try to hide the income, but he had overruled her and spent almost two years on an island waiting for her to negotiate a settlement. He had missed his family, but the alternative was a trial and jail.
He sat on the bed and picked up the picture on the nightstand. It was his favorite. RJ’s smile was as wide as he had ever seen it. He hadn’t seen his son smile like that since.
Laying down, his found that his spot was still warm.
The legs next to him wiggled. One entangled itself around his. A soft moan then appeared. Eralia pulled herself onto his chest. “This is nice.”
“What?”
“You being in bed when I wake up,” she said. “I know you sneak out every morning.”
“Business.”
“I know, but I get lonely sometimes. And,” she placed one of his hands between her legs. “Horny.”
Reginald kept his eyes up as she worked his finger inside of her warmth. Her legs spread. His finger dug deeper. It didn’t take long before he lowered his head. Eralia arched her back and bent her knees. He licked and sucked her folds, still moving his fingers. He kept a steady rhythm until her groans grew louder. He quickened the pace until he felt her walls clench against him and she screamed his name. Her mouth hung open, her eyes closed. “I need you inside me.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” She looked at him. “Please.”
He couldn’t ignore the lust burning behind her eyes. His pants tightened. Climbing on top of her, he kept his finger inside.She pulled his face down, her kiss soft. Her lips traveled from his mouth to his chin to his neck. Her hands started at his shoulders, venturing down to the middle of his back to his waist. She unearthed him. “Can I?”
“No.” He took himself out of her hand. Swiping his head across her opening, he grew harder, her moisture oozing onto him. One swift stroke led him past her entrance and into her depths. Reginald pumped hard. He was going to show his wife that age didn’t mean anything.
Eralia writhed with pleasure. “Harder.”
Reginald licked the sweat that had built on his upper lip. He hooked her leg over his shoulder and stood on his knees. He increased the power in his stroke, driving deeper, harder. The sweat on his chin dripped on her stomach. His hand slipped around her throat.
She lifted her chin. Nothing turned her on more than when he exerted his power. Eralia raised and lowered her hips, meeting every thrust. Suddenly, she was empty.
“Turn over.”
She had barely made it to her hands and knees when he pushed back into her.
Reginald grabbed her hips and pulled her back into him. He forced her down to her stomach. As he slammed into her, his lust turned into anger. The family’s turmoil seeped into his head. RJ’s face appeared. Slapping her ass was slapping his son. “I’m in control.”
“Yes!”
Another slap. “This is all mine.”
“Yes, Reggie!”
Another slap. “You stepped out of line, now I have to show you who’s in charge.”
“Show me baby. Show me!”
He put his hand back around her neck, sliding it underneath her chin. A firm hand on her back kept her ass down while he pulled her chin up. Eralia’s fists flew backward after the sheets slipped from the mattress. Tears spilled from her eyes.
“I am in charge. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.”
“This is my shit! And nobody can take it from me. I worked too hard to get it.” Reginald’s calves began to ache, but he had learned long ago to push through discomfort. “I’ll kill for my shit.” He replayed the scenario – him aiming a gun at RJ’s face. His finger slid around the trigger. “I won’t let anybody take it from me.” His finger inched back.
Bang.
The roar lasted several seconds before he recognized that it was coming from him. Without warning, gravity tugged at him, pulling him to his knees. Chest heaving, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “Fuck.”
Eralia remained on her stomach. She was still, except for one trembling leg.
A series of beeps prompted Reginald to his feet. He staggered to the side of the bed, his phone lighting up. “Hello.” Looking at the screen, he saw that he had missed the call.
“You leaving?” Eralia rolled onto her back.
“Business.” Phone in hand, he limped toward the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
After starting the shower, Reginald called the number back. “Something wrong?”
“Nah,” Titus said. “I just wanted to let you know that Operation Chanel is a go. RJ just called me. I’m on my way over to his house.”
“Good. Keep me updated.”
“When are we gonna tell Constance and Lawrence?”
“I was actually just getting ready to head to Constance’s,” Reginald said. “Everything is coming together. We just have to be patient. This is the part where things usually go wrong. People get greedy, they rush, and that leads to mistakes being made.”
“Which is why I’ve always allowed you to lead.”
“That and if it goes bad it’s all on me.”
“That too. I’ve never been good at taking blame,” Titus said with a chuckle. “I’m working on it with my therapist.”
“Good for you.” The doorknob jingled. “Call me later.” He unlocked the door from the toilet. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Just wanted to know if I could join you.”
Detective Jordan’s eyes burned as he rubbed them. His nearly gagged when he tasted the cold coffee. A paper cup magically appeared in front of him. His partner, Jasper Mackenzie, sat across from him. “Thanks man.” He massaged his temples. “I can’t think straight to save my life.”
Mackenzie pointed to the cup, “I figured you could use some decent coffee, so I stepped out for a minute.”
Jordan swished the hot liquid around his mouth before swallowing it down. “I’m gonna need more than one of these.”
“Then I’ll get you more when you need it.”
He swept his fingers through his hair and leaned back into his chair. “Where are we on the Sainte case?”
“That’s actually why I came in here. Remember all those weird names in Destiny’s phone?”
“Please don’t remind me.”
“Well, it wasn’t hard to figure out who most of them were thanks to the club she worked at,”” Mackenzie said. “Turns out they have security cameras in the private rooms. That girl had a stable of men.” He threw a planner onto the desk. “This girl was organized. There’s appointments, vacation time, holidays, and cancellations.”
“She wouldn’t want someone showing coming to see her when they’re not supposed to.”
“Exactly. Well, there were two numbers that weren’t saved and they didn’t match any of the men on the security tapes. So I had the techs triangulate the positions of both her phone and the other one whenever they were in contact with one another.” He stood and opened the door. “Wanna see something cool.”
