ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND (11 page)

For real!

Yeah! They called me around noon and were slapping me around just the same way they questioned you; what was the party for? What did you see? What did you do? And all kinds of stuff, but I wasn’t just talking a lot. I’ve seen this kind of thing before and I know how you get in trouble if you open your mouth so wide with those guys in uniform, so I didn’t say much. I advise you to be careful too!

Sure! You are damned right Isabel! Did they say anything about your roommate? Carissa asked.

You know they did! Isabel continued.

And what was it they said about me?

Some shit like, do you live alone? And I answered no. So they kind of probed more but I shut them down on that. I just didn’t wanna talk about it and they let it pass, Isabel said.

If they talk to you again remember I was never at the party, okay? Tell them we don’t get along so I wasn’t invited. I know they gonna talk to me again, I already prepared what to say and you better be ready too ‘cause they surely will talk to you again too. Girl! I tell you some; it is been one hell of a long day. All that was not even supposed to happen, get what I’m saying? It was just a birth day party and all we did was have fun with our friends and now this! Can anybody say we were doing anything wrong? Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here? Wherever I go some kind of hell goes with me! Isabel you see what I’ve been talking about?

I’ve told you many times to stop saying that shit Carissa? I know the whole thing happened on my ticket but I don’t think I’m worked up as much as you. Calm down babe! We’ll probably understand this whole thing better when it comes up on the damned TV this evening? Isabel said.

Yeah! That’s what Tasha said. They always have this kind of thing on TV and since the time says few minutes after six, I could as well turn the damned thing on right away! Carissa said and switched on the TV. It wasn’t too long before what they were looking for came up on the 6pm news.

Here we go! I told you so. Isabel said as she adjusted for what was coming.

Shit men! The police taking some questions from the paparazzi folks. Babe looks like this is gonna be one hell of a big issue. Carissa said as she too took to a vantage position.

Sir! Do we have further updates on the Wilkinson street party shootings? One of the paparazzi was asking.

Miss Beth, all I can say for now is that investigation is continuing on the matter and the police is never gonna hang their boots until we find who did this. No stones will be left unturned. That’s my promise!

Are you guys pursuing any specific lead right now; I mean any person of interest? The Paparazzi guys continued.

None as I’m talking to you but I’m putting out appeal to anyone who might have seen or heard anything he may consider useful in solving this crime to come forward. And I assure you that any information received will be handled as confidential. We’ve very good reputation with our informant protection policy so nobody who wants to assist us needs to fear.

Is the victim in this case dead? Other paparazzi asked.

No, but in critical condition. As at this moment Doctors are not so happy with progress he made so far but we keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. I want to add also that right now no body is being charged for murder ‘cause it’s still a case of an attempt to commit unless faith works against us and we lose the young man involved in this incident. That’s why I encourage whosoever did this to talk to us. Thank you. The Officer responded.

What’s the name of the young man that got shot? Someone asked him.

Teri’s! Teri Parkinson! That’s the name of this young man.

At the mention of Teri’s name, Carissa lost her cool. What!!! Can’t be! Not Teri’s! Isabel did you hear that? I kind of had the feeling that something wasn’t right with Teri’s ‘cause he has not been picking up his calls. Yes! I knew it! Oh my God who did this to him? Who? Carissa was shouting, acting out of control and crying out so loud. Isabel tried to calm her down but she was so grief stricken that she couldn’t be persuaded. After lots and lots of crying and lamenting it began to down on her that indeed something dreadful has happened to a guy who was really close to her at some point in her life. Even though she did not fall in love with Teri in the true essence of it, she did like him in some ways. She now wished she was more cooperative with the Police or at list told them she was at the part because she wanted nothing in this world as much as rush out of the house, go to them, find what hospital Teri is at and go be by his side. But the way things stand right now, she will have to continue to stand by her lies. She had nothing to do with Isabel’s party or whatever it brought forth. Is he gonna die? She managed to ask Isabel after a long time.

How am I supposed to know? Isabel snapped.

But who did this to him? Carissa thought. Instantly she began a recollection of the events of that night Isabel threatened Teri with a gun and somehow her mind began associating that incident with what happened last night. Is Isabel really capable of murder? Did she shot Teri? What is she hiding in that back-sack she carries all over the places and never allows anyone else to touch? She then turned and took a more critical look at this roommate of hers whom she has come to love like she would a sister. All the wired things Isabel does and how she never says anything about her past crossed her mind, all trying to convince her that Isabel was connected in some ways with what happened to Teri but it was a convention she was not ready to accept ‘cause Isabel will never do wrong in her eyes. Whatever happens, she will stand by her roommate and wither the storm with the only sister she will ever know since the only future she could see for now is that with Isabel. Whit this decision, Carissa calmed down but chose to have a heart to heart talk with her Isabel. All she wanted now is the truth, a sort of confession that will do nothing else but restore her confidence on her roommate.

Isabel!

What! She was a little jumpy with her response.

You know how we like sisters, share and do everything together. Carissa said in subdued manner.

Ehen! What has that got to do with what is going on? Isabel reacted spontaneously.

You know we only have each other, you know that right? And we are supposed to be honest to one another and not hiding anything no matter what, Carissa continued trying to cajole her roommate

I understand all that shit, okay? Come-on now, quit running round in circles and say what you wanna say ‘cause I ain’t got the whole night, understand? Right now I’m really tired and wanna go get me some sleep so just say what you wanna say and let me go, Isabel snapped.

Please tell me the truth like a sister would! Did you do this to Teri?

What? Carissa, are you out of your mind or something? What made you think I did it?

May be I can’t think of any other person who might have done this, understand? I kinda remember what happened that night you wanted him to leave and he refused and you threatened him with that gun. That kind of bothers me and I’m like maybe he showed up at the party, you got mad and did something to him, continued Carissa

Well you are wrong roommate! Come to think of It, the only question you should be asking right now is what Teri was doing at Isabel’s party even though he was not supposed to be there. Is not to say I did it though, but why did he show up uninvited? Is he crazy or something? Anyways, I did not shot Teri, okay? Does that make it better for you, ah?

Ok! That’s fine! It is ok Isabel! But listen to me, no matter which way it goes I’m gonna stand by you. I believe you’ve told me the truth, but if at any time you want us to talk about it again, feel free, okay? But don’t forget, I’ll stand by you no matter what!

I did not shot Teri, okay? Can we go to bed now? Look at the time, it’s almost past 10. Remember we didn’t get to sleep last night and have had no rest all day yet we have to go to work tomorrow, Isabel continued.

You can go to bed if you so wish, as for me, I don’t think l can sleep in my state of mind.

Have a troubled night then, Isabel said, went to bed and lay in a heart that bugged her down till dawn.

Chapter Five
 

G
ary Hanford was alone in his room watching the TV while the LAPD interview with the paparazzi was on and the outcome did provide some kind of relief for him. The part of the news which said the victim to last night’s shooting was still alive served as a tonic to his conscience torn between going to the police, telling them what he saw at the party and withholding the information so as to keep someone whose friendship meant a lot more to him out of jail.

Lucky mother fucker, he uttered. Come to think of it, this Teri of a guy actually deserved every bit of what he got, Gary continued thinking. Walking into someone’s party and running wild like that? Damn! That could push anyone to the edge! I would have done same thing as Isabel if any one dared me in same way. He now wondered why Isabel had not called him since the event of yesterday ‘cause she used to call every day. May be it was deliberate, who knows, ‘cause that babe is something else. The way she tackled that guy Saturday night, is something of a professional touch and I envy her for that, Gary contended further. Suddenly it occurred to him to dial her number but he quickly discarded that idea. She’ll probably be at work tomorrow so I’ll see her, he concluded. And with these thoughts in mind, he went to bed. He was up earlier than usual the next day and equally prepared and got to work earlier.

Isabel got to her job early too. She had taken enough time last night while in bed brooding to prepare her mind for what she anticipated would happen at work. She knew a lot of colleagues would be probing with all sorts of questions and she prepared herself on how to deal with the situation. She also rehashed the kind of affect to sport before she left home.

It was a very sober but confident Isabel colleagues saw at work on Monday morning and most of them tried to feed their curious minds.

Isabel! What is going on? I was gonna be there at your party myself but my little boy started running this unexpected high temperature and I was so scared he will go into convulsion so I took him to the hospital. I’m so sorry you‘re going through this ‘cause I’ve been there and I understand. There was a time someone got killed by some idiot on our building and I know what we went true. Oh yes! It was a very difficult time for everyone on the entire block ‘cause the Police was everywhere and every person in the area a suspect. The thing consumed our lives altogether that we had little time of our own and I was so frustrated and stressed out by all the drama. Meanwhile I wasn’t even close to the sport where the shooting took place and didn’t even know the fellow that got killed so I couldn’t understand why the Police was on me and my family the way they did. As you can see, I know how you feel. Anyways, what I learnt from my own experience is to be patient. Sooner or later, everything will be sorted, okay? Jessica one of her friends and co-worker was speaking. I know the Police must have talked to you, right?

Ehen!

And what did you tell them?

I ‘don’t wanna go into that, okay? I don’t even know why everyone is so much interested in this matter. May be people think talking to me about it makes me feel better but that’s a mistake ‘cause I’ll prefer to be left alone! Isabel reacted.

The harshness in her tone kind of startled Jessica but she took it she was venting her frustration. Take it easy, okay? I’ll be upset too if it happened to me. I’m just trying to find out if they know who did this to you, understand? She said.

I don’t care anymore, continued Isabel. I just wanna get on with my life ‘cause I’ve cried and worried enough. Like I said, yes, the Police did talk to me but there wasn’t much I could tell them simply because I’m in the dark over the whole mess as much as everyone else. That this happened at my party doesn’t mean anything, understand? After all, it was just a birth day thing like always and some people did whatever they wanted to do for who knows why. What am I supposed to do about that, ah? Does it mean I did some wrong? I don’t even know what people want from me!

I understand Isabel. I felt exactly the way you’re feeling right now when it happened to me. If you need me for any reason just let me know, okay? Don’t let this whole mess stress you out or affect you in any way ‘cause that’s what those that did this would like to see. Anyways I know you can take care of this.

Thank you! I’ll be fine! Don’t worry, alright? Isabel said.

That was just one of the numerous of such encounters that faced Isabel all through the day and she gave every one the kind of response she thought that met his need.

From his stand, Gary watched as Isabel continued to put up her acts and gave faked answers to so many curious coworkers and he waited for his time to be with her at lunch break.

Lunch soon came and as usual Isabel and Gary left the store together headed for their favorite restaurant. Gary didn’t want to start anything first, so he talked about other issue as they walked towards McDonalds until at a point where Isabel said; Gary! You saw something that Saturday night, didn’t you?

What are you talking about? He asked acting like he was in the dark.

Come-on now Gary! You know what I’m talking about so stop acting like I’m one hell of a crazy girl or something. You saw what happened at my show, right? I know that ‘cause I saw you staring at me in wild open eyes while all that was going on. You saw the guy wanted to kill me first and I had to defend myself ‘cause I had no choice, right? I’m talking to you as my best friend Gary and I want you to talk to me in the same manner too. You gonna be on my side while I’m going through this, right? You won’t let me down now ‘cause friends stick together and a test of true friendship is with something like what I’m going through now.