More Lies and Alibis (Using Lies as Alibis #2) (8 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Sydney

I hold Stephanie’s trembling hand as the police question her about Jewel’s death.  She’s lucky to be alive herself, and I think she knows that.  She hasn’t stopped crying since she got out of surgery.  She’s in a lot of pain too.  All because she wanted a bigger booty.

I’m late leaving the hospital, and Dionne is going to kill me!  I’m supposed to be at her New Year’s Eve/Baby Shower helping her
make her final preparations and greet her guests.  She’s just going to have to be mad though, because Stephanie needs me here.  I have my outfit ready so I can leave as soon as the police officer is done with questioning Stephanie.

“
I’m Officer Clancey, and I know you’re trying to recover, but we’d like to catch the people responsible for this happening to you.  Do you mind answering a few questions for our investigation?”

Stephanie nods slowly.  She squeezes my hand and I squeeze hers back.

You said the woman who gave you the shots is named Keke?  Do you know her last name?”

Stephanie shakes her head.  “No.  She strips with me at the club.”

“Club Hurricane?”

“Yes, sir.  She’s the shot girl.”

“How many other women have received these injections?”

“Ummm….I’m not sure,” Stephanie says.  “Maybe five or six.”

“And where were the injections administered?”

Stephanie looks at me
with concern in her eyes.  I give her a nod of assurance.  “It’s okay, Stephanie.  Just think about Jewel. She didn’t deserve to die.”

Tears flow from Stephanie’s eyes. 
“She didn’t.”

“The location?” The officer seems impatient, so I squeeze Stephanie’s hand again.

“There’s this downstairs room, at the club.  She does the shots in there.  There’s like a doctor bed and IVs and stuff.”

“It’s set up like an operating room?” I ask.  “Do they use anesthesia?”

“No.  She wipes you down with alcohol, and gives the shots.  It burns really bad.  And you have to stay face down on the table until the glue dries.”

“How many shots?” I ask.

“I had ten in each side.  I think Jewel had about twelve in each butt cheek.”

I stand to my feet and grip Stephanie’s hand tightly.  They have to catch this woman.  She is recklessly injecting poison into unsuspecting girls.

“Did Keke accept money for the shots?” the police officer asks.

“
Well, we had to pay five hundred dollars, but I don’t know if Keke was the one getting the money.  Nobody before me and Jewel got sick, and the real plastic surgeon charges ten thousand dollars for butt injections.”

Officer Clancey’s eyebrows come together in a frown.  “Why do you think Keke wasn’t receiving the funds?”

“I never actually paid her.  We paid at the club’s business office.  Sometimes if a girl doesn’t have enough money to get the shots, they take it out of her tips.”

“The money in the business office goes to whom?  The owners?  Do you have their names?”

Stephanie shrugged.  “I’m not sure who owns the club exactly.  I’ve never met the owners.  Only the bouncers, Lou and Phillip and the manager.  Her name is Princess Sims.”

Officer Clancey scribbled furiou
sly on his little notepad.  “I think I’ve got everything that I need.  I’m going to leave my card so that you can call me if you think of anything else you’d like to share.”

“
Okay.  Um, Officer Clancey, are you going to tell anyone that I gave you information?  I don’t want them to know that I’m the one who told.  I-I still want to work at the club once I get better.”

“I can’t promise that.  If we make an arrest, you may be called upon to testify.  We can offer you protection if someone threatens you.”

Stephanie stares at me with panic in her eyes.  “Can I take back my statement?” she asks.

“Don’t worry.  They’re going to put Keke in prison and anyone who helped her with this,” I say.  “Isn’t that right, Office Clancey?”

“We’re going to try and make sure of that,” he says. 

Officer Clancey doesn’t sound too confident.  Honestly, if I was Stephanie
I would be recanting my statement too. 

I walk Officer Clancey out of Stephanie’s room.  He hands me one of his cards too.

“Call me, if you discover anything else.  Or, in the event that Stephanie’s injuries become fatal.”

“Her injuries are not going to become fatal.  She’s going to live.”

Officer Clancey nods and shakes my hand.  “Thank you for your time.”

I guess it’s time for Dionne’s push party now.  I still giggle when I think of her saying that.  I frown when I see Lucas walking toward me, still wearing his scrubs instead of the winter white suit I picked out for him.

He kisses me on the cheek.  “Turn that frown upside down.  It’s New Year’s Eve.  You get to kiss me at midnight.”

“Why aren’t you ready for my sister’s bridal shower thing?”

“Oh, that.  Well, I was going to tell you…”

“Seriously, Lucas?  I never ask you to show up anywhere, and the one time I do, you stand me up?”

“Oh,
Fatima is doing a double amputation on a patient infected with a flesh eating bacteria.  She asked me to scrub in.”

He’s spending New Year’s Eve with the girl who ruined our relationship the first time.  Why do I have to explain what is wrong with this picture?

“You don’t want me to have this amazing surgical experience?” Lucas asks.

I was planning on giving him a different kind of amazing experience.  In that room at the Ritz that he promised me.

“Of course I want you to do the surgery,” I say.  “We’re here to save lives, right?”

He nods.  “I’m glad you under
stand.  Send my best to Dionne.”

“Lucas!” I call as he rushes away.  “So no Ritz Carlton?”

He runs back and kisses my other cheek.  “Rain check?”

I watch Lucas as he hurries into the on-call room, probably to catch a few winks before he operates.  Then, I consider my options.  I can miss my sister’s baby shower and probably have her not talk to me for the next year.  Or, I can go to the party and leave my man in Fatima’s clutches.
  Neither option is ideal.

I want to stay at the hospital, but if I do, I’m going to seem like a desperate and insecure woman who doesn’t trust her man.  Oh…who am I kidding?  I am completely insecure, especially when it comes to Fatima.

Then, I have an idea. 

When my favorite intern Jillian walks past me, chewing gum and texting, I grab her arm and yank her into the supply closet.  She looks very shocked.

“Um, Sydney, I-I don’t…I don’t like girls.”

I scrunch my face into a frown.  “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you know what shenanigans take place in the supply closet?” Jillian asks.

I shake my head.  Freaky interns.

“That is not why I pulled you in here.  I need you to do me a favor,” I say.

“What kind of favor?”

“I need you to scrub in on a surgery with Dr. Jeffries and Dr. Graham tonight.”

Jillian pouts.  “My shift is over in like fifteen minutes!  We’re having a New Year’
s Eve sleep over.”

“It’s a cool surgery, though.  It’s a double amputation.  Flesh eating bacteria!”

“I have never participated in anything like that, but Malachi is going to be at the party, and I really, really want to hang out with him.”

“Are you saying that you don’t want me to owe you one?” I ask.  “Think long and hard before you turn me down.  I’ll ask Candice or Peter to do it, and then I’ll owe one of
them
instead of owing you.”

I can see the possibilities sink in.  There are many ways an intern can benefit from a resident owing him or her a favor. 

“Why do you want me to scrub into the surgery anyway?”

“This is the part that’s between you and me.  If it gets out, then I’m going to feel like I don’t owe you anymore.”

“No!  I promise you can trust me.”

“When we were in college, Fatima tried to steal Lucas from me.”

Jillian’s eyes light up.  “I
knew
it!  I could sense the sexual tension when they’re in the room together.”

I lift an eyebrow, and wait for her to elaborate. 

“Oh, I didn’t mean it was coming from Dr. Jeffries.  The tension was all from her.”

“Mmm-hmm.  Well, I don’t want to accuse my man of anything, so I was hoping you could be my eyes and ears in the operating room.  I just want you to make sure Dr. Graham isn’t trying to act on any of that tension you see.”

“So, you trust Dr. Jeffries, it’s Dr. Graham that’s the problem.  You don’t trust her.”

“Now, you’ve caught on.  Can I count on you?”

She nods enthusiastically.  “You sure can!  Does that mean we’re friends?”

“We’ll see.  Keep me posted on any intel you come across.”

Jillian snatches her hair up into a getting-down-to-business ponytail, and speed walks down the hallway like a girl on a mission.  It looks like I’ve accomplished mine – insecure girlfriend spying on boyfriend – check!  Awesome little sister showing up at her sister’s all-white push party – on my way.

Chapter Eighteen

Dionne

I think Hailey is right on target when she says we ought to start a party planning business, because this party is spectacular.  I can’t wait to see all the cell phone pictures that are going to show up on trueblackgossip.com tomorrow.  Even though that Makenzie Bryant is the worst type of hater alive, she won’t be able to resist blogging about this A-list shindig.

Half the Atlanta Falcons and their wives/girlfriends/boo-thangs/jump-offs are here along with the Atlanta Hawks.  And everyone knows that Atlanta is the black Hollywood!  There are more actors and actresses than I can count.  Let’s not even get into the
music royalty that’s in my ballroom.  Rappers, singers, producers and their protégées have flown in from all over the country to celebrate our bundle of joy.

Rod walks up behind me and rubs my back.  “You did a good job, Dionne.  This party is the business.”

Very inconspicuously, I remove his hand.  “It is, isn’t it?  Too bad, I don’t really feel like celebrating with you.”

“So you just gonna stay mad?” he asks.  “I’m here with you.  Isn’t that good enough?”

I shake my head.  “No, Rod.  It’s not.  Where are my sisters?”

I leave Rod standing at the entrance of the ballroom and try to find Sydney and Camille.  Sydney texted me and said she would be a little late leaving the hospital, but I haven’t heard from Camille all day.  If she doesn’t show up, I swear I’m not speaking to her for a year. 

There’s Sydney, at the door, arguing with the security guard.  I rush over to them.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, as I pull Sydney indoors.

“She’s not on the guest list,” the big goon says.

“She’s my sister.  She doesn’t have to be on the guest list.  And by the way, write my other sister’s name down too while you’re at it, Camille
James.  She’s a hundred times meaner than this one.”

Sydney laughs at me and then hugs me.  “You look so good, Dionne.  That white is working for you.  What did Grandmere say?”

“She said when you’re A-list there is no such thing as a fashion faux-pas.  She said I make the rules.”

Sydney rolls her eyes.  “As if you needed anything else to blow your gigantic head up further.”

Sydney’s eyes land on the super-sized portrait of our family, and forms her lips into a small ‘o’.  “Is that Rod’s daughter?” she asks.

“Yeah, that’s her.  She looks just like him, doesn’t she?”

“She really does.  Oh my goodness, it’s like that stripper didn’t have anything to do with it.”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.  “But she did.  Let’s not forget that.”

“Who could?”

“Has anyone said anything?  Like everyone sees the picture, right?” Sydney asks.

“The blogs already put it out there, so it is what it is.”

“She’s a pretty little girl, and I know you picked out that outfit.”

“I did.  Let’s change the subject, though.  Where’s your boo?”

Sydney tightens her lips.  “At the hospital.  Doing a surgery.  With Fatima.”

“Are you serious?  Now he knows that’s a violation.  It’s New Year’s Eve.  I hope he doesn’t plan on kissing her when the clock strikes midnight.”

Now, Sydney’s nose flares in addition to her tight lips.  “He better not.  If he does, I’ll know.”

“How will you know?”

“I have a spy watching him.”

I burst into laughter.  I knew I would feel better once my sisters got here.  Now, all I need is Camille to tell me that God’s going to fix everything that’s broken and that I’m the head and not the tail.  Every now and then her scripture quoting serves a purpose.  I sure could use it tonight.

“Have you talked to Camille?” I ask.

“Not today.  I talked to her yesterday.  She didn’t sound right.  She said she was looking for her happy place.”

Now this really makes me laugh.  “When she finds it, tell her to let me borrow her map.”

“I thought you and Rod were okay.”

“We’re not.  But let’s talk about it later.  Now it’s time to open the push gifts!”

I grab Sydney’s hand and pull her into the ballroom, and leave her next to Hailey.  They can keep each other company while I pretend to like my husband while we open all these presents.

The D.J. stops playing and I pick up a microphone.  “Rod and I want to thank each and every one of y’all for ce
lebrating our new addition.  We’re about to open all of these wonderful gifts now!”

I open the first gift and it’s a custom Mercedes Benz stroller from Rod’s business partner in Knight Time music.  I like him, but his wife is a whole other story.  They didn’t even show up at the party, though. 

Rod hands me another package and it’s a Hermes birkin diaper bag!  This had to cost about forty thousand dollars.  I hope Rod gets his act together, because I definitely don’t want to have to give up friends with deep pockets like these.

The next package is huge, so I’m excited to open it.  Once I get the wrapping paper off, I’m confused.  It’s a gigantic, custom made doll house.

“This is beautiful,” I say.  “We’re having a boy, but sometimes boys play with dolls too, right?”

“Not my son!” Rod says.  He looks for the card to say who the gift is from, but there isn’t one.

Maybe it’s from a business or a vendor that wants Rod’s endorsement.  I shake my head and take the next gift.  I open it and bite my lip.  It is a collection of designer toddler dresses and pretty shoes to match.

“Um…okay, so I don’t know…”

I don’t get a chance to finish my uncomfortable sentence, because there is a commotion in the back of the room.

“Let me by!” a woman’s voice says.

I look at Rod and he closes his eyes and throws his head back.  Wait a minute.  I know that ratchet voice. 

Peach!

This heffa has somehow gotten past the security that wouldn’t even let my sister in, but he was probably mesmerized by the amount of breasts and behind that is on display.  I guess the outfit is technically white, but you see more of her brown flesh.  She looks like she’s on her way to work.  And she has the audacity to have a sidekick with her.

I stare at Rod, because he needs to handle this.  His sideline hoe walking up in my party is a violation that I won’t accept.

“I’m so glad y’all bought some gifts for my baby!” Peach says.  “Keke look!”

She walks up and snatches the dresses right out of my hands. 

“These will fit Rodeisha perfectly!  And look at this dollhouse.  Keke, she’s gonna love this!”

“She shole is,” Keke says.

Rod takes the gift from Peach.  “I guess you think this is funny,” he says.  “Escort her out of here, please.”

“You keep trying to erase me, Rod! 
You got that picture over there with my child and
your wife
, like I don’t exist.  Unfortunately, I do.”

“Man, get out of here,” Rod says.  “This ain’t no episode of Love and Hip Hop.”

The security guard tries to remove Peach, but she slips loose from his grasp.  “Don’t do this Rod!  We were supposed to be a family!”

I am not going to stand here and watch this meltdown.  Very calmly, I walk out of the room, with Sydney on my heels.  We head straight for the serenity room.

“He not gone stay with you!” Peach yells.

Her voice echoes through the mansion, but I don’t respond.  I’m nearly ready to give birth, and my child is not about to pay the price for Rod’s and Peach’s foolishness.  Not tonight.

Sydney closes the door to the serenity room while I slowly lower myself onto the couch.

“Are you okay?” Sydney asks. “Do I need to do anything?”

I shake my head.  “No, and no.”

“Well, don’t worry, ‘cause I called the police as soon as they walked in the room.”

“What?  Why did you do that?”

“Because that girl Keke is a wanted woman.  She killed one of my patients with butt injections.  The police are looking for her now.”

I put one hand on my forehead and close my eyes.  The police are going to be at my party.  My classy, all-white, push party.  It’s eleven o’clock.  I can’t take all of this drama into the New Year.  I won’t!

There’s a knock on the door.

“Go away!” I bark.

“It’s Hailey!  Let me in!”

I nod to Sydney and she opens the door. 

“Are we sure Peach is even a woman, cause it took a massive pair of balls to show up here tonight,” Hailey says. 

“I know right!” Sydney says.  “Looking like she left residue on the stripper pole.  Just nasty looking.”

“Are those police sirens?” Hailey asks.  “I thought Rod was going to let his security handle this.”

My baby boy is kicking the heck out of me right now.  He must feel the stress that I’m feeling.  Rod is going to flip out when the police come to our door.  If he wouldn’t call them when Rodeisha was in a possibly dangerous situation, I know he wouldn’t call them for this. 

“Do you want to go out there and see what’s happening?” Sydney asks.

I shake my head.  “No.  I’m staying in here.  You two go.”

Sydney’s phone buzzes and she pulls it out.  Her face immediately forms a frown.

“What is it?  Is it Camille?” I ask.

“No.  I have to go back to the hospital.  Are you okay here?”

I nod.  “Yes, I’m okay for now, but please come back later if you can.  Or see if you can get a hold of Camille and send her over.”

“Okay.” 

Sydney gives me a hug and kisses my forehead.  “It’s going to be all right.  I don’t see what Rod saw in that piece of trash.  Thank God he got amnesia.”

I let out a huge sigh.  “Yeah.  Thank God for that.”

Sydney leaves so quickly that I want to ask her what the text was.  Knowing her, it’s some patient she left hanging on to life by a thread.

“Do you want to go see Peach and her friend dragged out of the party by the police?” Hailey asks.

“No.  You go ahead.  I’m staying in here.  This is too stressful.”

“Okay, but you’ll see the pictures in the blogs anyway, you might as well see it up close and in person.”

I wave a hand at Hailey.  She shrugs and leaves the room with the camera on her phone set to record.

I
lean back on the couch and close my eyes.  Since Rod’s whore decided to ruin my party, he owes me an exceptional push gift.  I was just going to ask for a car, but now I think I need a month long sabbatical on a Greek isle, or maybe the Amalfi Coast.  Just me, the baby and a nanny.  He can stay here and throw dollars at fix-a-flat booty for all I care.  My deep breathing is helping, because my little man is calming down too.  He was way too excited and my contractions were coming fast and furious. 

“Dionne!”

I hear Hailey scream my name, but before I can pull myself up from the couch, she bursts back inside.

“What, girl?” I ask.

“They takin’ Rod too!  Said they have a warrant for his arrest in connection with some murders that happened at Club Hurricane.”

My heart drops.  A murder?  What has Rod done now?
  He told me that his nose wasn’t clean, but a murder?

Do you have to have a gunshot wound to fake amnesia?  Because I think it’s my turn to put on a show.