“Where I’m assuming you’ll have the place guarded to the hilt?” Jordan asked, with a
knowing smile.
“Like Fort Knox. Man I hope I’m not making a mistake by not forcing the issue.” Mark
ran a nervous hand down his face. “I’ve got to catch this bitch before she sets her sights higher, and decides it time for Maya to be eliminated.” Mark told his partner grimly.
CHAPTER 48
“Arlinda says Maya is disappointed over the decision to postpone the fundraiser,” Jordan
told Mark, around a mouthful of a massive ham sandwich. “Actually, what she said, is ‘Maya is pissed the hell off that she had to postpone the fundraiser,’” he amended.
Over the last few nights, they had stayed late into the night working on the investigation, and tonight both men had stayed even later, trying to find overlooked clues, or missing angles.
“Yeah I know it was really hard for her. This fundraiser one of her main sources of
revenue for her programs and you know how important Imani House is to her.”
“Man as loaded as your family is, you should be able to write a check that would carry
the tab for her programs. Don’t you have a trust fund or something?” Jordan laughed as he went over to the small refrigerator in the corner of the precinct, and withdrew two cold drinks, and tossed one to Mark.
“I’ve thought about it believe me, I’m not sure how to ask without offending her. Imani
House means everything to her. One of the main things she strives to teach the residents, is self-sufficiency, so I don’t know what she’d say if I offered her the proverbial blank check.” Wearily rubbing the back of his neck, Mark raised the drink to his mouth and took a long swallow.
“Imani House means so much to her, and all of her staff and residents are incredibly loyal
to her. That’s one of the main reasons I have some comfort in her working there, and not locked away somewhere in a safe house.”
“That and the small army you’ve hired to protect her,” Jordan reminded him.
“Well yeah that too,” he admitted sheepishly. “But seriously, they look out for each other
which is a rare quality. You know I’ve met all of her staff and they all seem to genuinely care about Maya’s vision for Imani House.”
As he thought back to her staff, the conversation he had with the new counselor surfaced
to the forefront of his brain. There was something that nagged him, something familiar about the man he couldn’t put his finger on.
“The only one I’m not too sure of is that new guy--what’s his name … James. James
Smith, shit shit shit!” Mark exclaimed, dropping his sandwich and throwing the empty soda in the trash.
“Man what is it? What is it?” Jordan asked as Mark picked up the phone and dialed his
home number.
“Damn it! She’s not fucking there.” Frantically he dialed another set of digits and waited
for Maya to answer, and felt himself nearly pass out with relief when she did.
“Imani House this is Dr. Richardson.”
“Maya what the hell are you doing at the House? You promised me you would stay the
hell away from that place at night. What in the hell are you doing?” He yelled into the phone.
“Why in the ‘hell’ are you yelling at me? I know what I promised you, but I need to go over the House budget and since we’re putting off the fundraiser. I have to see where we are fiscally in case I have to supplement some of our programs myself. And let me tell you
something, I don’t appreciate being cursed out, I…”
“Baby I’m sorry but this is really important that you do what I ask. Is James Smith
working tonight?” He impatiently cut in the middle of her tirade.
“No he’s taking the night off because of his job.” She took a deep breath into the phone,
and he tried to calm his racing heart.
“Where’s your personal guard-please tell me the man is there with you,” Mark both asked
and pleaded. He hoped she hadn’t somehow convinced the guard he didn’t have to go with her to Imani House.
“He’s right here. Well, actually he’s waiting in Dalia’s office for me.”
Mark let out a sigh. “Baby could you put him on the phone?” He asked and waited for the
guard to pick up the receiver before he spoke again.
“We think we have a suspect in the case. Under no circumstances are you to leave Maya
alone. And neither are you to allow James Smith to enter Imani House under any circumstances,”
his instructed the guard. “The police will be there shortly.” After he’d received the guard’s word, he asked to speak to Maya once again.
“Okay, Maya, this is really important. I want you to stay put. I need for you to basically
shut Imani House down until I send reinforcements.”
“You’re scaring me what’s going on?”
“There is nothing for you to be afraid of. I’m taking every precaution I can, and you’re safe. I think we may have a suspect.”
Mark didn’t want to voice out loud his gut belief that her counselor James Smith, and the
evidence room clerk J. Smith were one in the same, and both personas were connected with the San Antonio Slayer.
“You stay there with the guards and you’ll be fine sweetheart.”
“You think the counselor and the slayer are connected?” Jordan asked, as soon as Mark said good-bye to Maya.
“I’d bet money on it being a real possibility.” As he spoke, Mark placed a call to the
department operator. After giving the operator his name and badge number, he requested to be transferred to the evidence room.
“Detective Halstan? It’s me Jack.” The operator identified himself.
“Hi Jack.” After the operator said his name, Mark instantly placed the retired officer, and asked for information on James Smith.
