“What’s the deal-you won’t go away until I do?”
Yolie crossed her big arms in front of her chest. “Pretty much.”
“Well, okay,” Kinitra said defeatedly. “But if you repeat one word of this to my sister I’ll swear you made it up. There was… this boy in Glen Cove over the summer. That’s where we were living before Tyrone got suspended. A whole bunch of his teammates lived in the same neighborhood. It was really fun. Somebody was always having a barbeque or showing a movie. Raymond Harris, who plays strong safety, lived right next door. And a boyhood friend of his named Lonnie came to stay with him for a few days. Lonnie Berryman. He plays linebacker for the University of Georgia. He’s a junior this year. Big and strong and so cute. The first time he smiled at me, I swear, all of the breath just went right out of my body. I played him some of my music. He liked it. He liked me. And one thing led to another. You know how that goes. Jamella has this idea that I’m some kind of virgin. I’m not. Boys like me. And I like them. Lonnie… he was definitely a little rough. But I’m cool with that. He also liked to do certain things that some girls don’t like. But I’m cool with that, too, if I really like the guy. And I really liked Lonnie.”
“Let me make sure I’m hearing you,” Yolie said. “You had consensual vaginal and anal sex with Lonnie. He got rough with you but you didn’t mind. And he’s the father of your baby.”
Kinitra nodded her head vigorously. “That’s right.”
“Why didn’t he wear a condom?”
“He doesn’t like to. He says they diminish his pleasure.”
“Why didn’t you insist? I haven’t known you for very long but you don’t seem like a total idiot.”
“Stuff happens,” she answered with a shrug.
“It most certainly does. And where’s Lonnie at now?”
“Back down in Athens playing ball. He was just visiting Raymond for a few days, like I said.”
“Does he know you’re pregnant?”
“No.”
“Why haven’t you told him?”
“We hooked up is all. No promises.”
“Do you do that a lot?” demanded Toni, who’d apparently had her fill of listening and learning.
“Do what?” Kinitra asked, frowning at her.
“Get skanky with guys who you barely know.”
“I like to have fun. And why are you being so nasty?”
“I’m just trying to figure you out.”
“Well, talk nicer to me or I’m going to make you leave.”
Yolie shot a chilly look at Toni, who promptly backed off. Then Yolie softened her gaze at Kinitra and said, “Let’s talk about that party last night.”
“I’ve got nothing to tell you. I didn’t go. Just stayed inside and worked on my music all evening. Little brother Rondell was right across the hall in his office until he went up to bed. By then the party was over and everyone had gone home. But I was totally wired, like I told Trooper Mitry. So I drank me some wine. And smoked some reefer I found out on the patio.”
“You had no trace of alcohol or drugs in your system,” Des reminded her.
“I can’t help what some stupid test says. I’m telling you I got wasted, okay? Then I went for a swim and got swept up in the current.”
“What about those wraparound bruises you’ve got?” Yolie asked.
“Talk to the people who revived me on the beach.”
“I have,” Des said. “They told me you had those when they found you.”
“And you believe them?”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“Because they’re just covering their booties. That little old man put his hands all over me. That much I remember.”
“That little old man happens to be my fiance’s father.”
“Sounds like you’re the one who has the problem, not me.”
Des gazed at Kinitra Jameson sternly, wondering how many hurtful lies she was prepared to tell. Who was she so afraid of? “Do you wish to lodge a sexual assault complaint against him?”
“No, I’ll let it go if you don’t tell Jamella about Lonnie.” She hesitated, lowering her eyes. “Will you be talking to him?”
Yolie frowned. “Why are you asking?”
“Because if you do, tell him I said ‘hi,’ okay? Not ‘hi’ like I’m missing him. Just ‘hi’ like from a friend.” She sounded like a twelve-year-old passing messages in class. “Know what I mean?”
“We’ll play it just right,” Toni promised her, girl to girl.
Kinitra smiled at her. “I like you much better now.”
“I think we’re all done here,” Yolie said. “Thank you, Kinitra.”
She reached for her iPod earbuds. “Sure thing.”
They went back out into the hall, closing the door behind them.
“What do you think now?” Yolie asked Des.
“I think she was play acting. I didn’t believe a single word that came out of her mouth.”
“Me neither,” Toni agreed. “She was spinning a total schoolgirl fantasy. I know she’s pregnant, Loo. I get that. But, trust me, that is a full-time practicing virgin in there. Plus she’s way immature. My fourteen-year-old sister is more grown up than she is. Your average college horn dog would know that in less than thirty seconds and hit on some other girl. Especially a big-time football star like this Lonnie Berryman is supposed to be. Guys like that do not waste their time on dreamy little teeny-weenies. They don’t have to.”
Yolie nodded. “Agreed. So let’s say she was raped…”
“Oh, she was definitely raped,” Des said.
“Are we looking at two different men or did the same man who got her pregnant two months ago in Glen Cove come after her again last night?”
“Two different men is so much more of a long shot,” argued Toni, who Des was starting to think had some game. She was definitely smarter than her cousin Rico. Then again, so was a rutabaga. “If it’s different men then that would make her a full-time hurt-me machine.”
“I’ve seen it happen,” Yolie countered. “Especially with cutesy girlie-girl types like her. There’s a certain breed of guy who loves to pound the crap out of that. Des, what do you think?”
“I think you’d better smile,” Des answered as Jamella waddled down the hallway toward them, her sandals clacking on the polished floor.
“Did you find out anything?” she asked, her brow creasing with concern.
“Your sister told us she was in a consensual relationship this summer,” Yolie answered.
Jamella flared instantly. “Who with? Did she give you his name?”
Yolie nodded. “In confidence.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means she chooses to keep his identity private. And we’re obligated to respect that.”
“This is crap,” she fumed. “Was it Clarence? Because he’ll hit anything that moves. I swear, if he touched my baby girl, I will cut his-”
“She didn’t name Clarence,” Des told her.
“Then who did she name?”
“We’ll keep you posted,” Yolie said. “Just be patient, okay?”
“Don’t you tell me to be patient! Somebody attacked my baby sister!”
“And we will find out what happened,” Yolie said calmly.
“You’d better,” warned Jamella. “Because if you don’t, then Tyrone will-and heads will get busted. Trust me, you do not want to go there.” She turned her back on them and went in Kinitra’s room, shutting the door behind her.
They rode the elevator down to the cafeteria in silence. Shared the ride for two floors with an orderly who was transporting an old, old man in a wheelchair. The old, old man was hooked up to an IV. Looked as if he had about a week to live. Des had to avert her eyes. She hated hospitals.
