Ben stepped inside first and Noah followed. It was warm inside the house, almost as warm as it was outside. Box fans blew furiously from their perch in the two living room windows. More dry air was circulated by an upright fan located in the kitchen which they could still see in the open floor plan of the house.
“This is Detective Hannity,” Ben introduced Noah when the woman led them through the living room to the dining room. She motioned for them to take a seat at a table that looked like it was on the brink of collapse from all the cakes, covered bowls of what he suspected was food and jugs of juice sitting on it.
“You investigating what happened to my girl?” the woman asked after she’d taken a seat. One meaty elbow was propped on the table as she reached for a tissue with her free hand.
“Yes ma’am,” Noah said. “Do you know if she had any boyfriend issues?”
Noah would proceed with the investigation as if they didn’t already have a suspect, that was as much to throw off Vegaas to appease the family. If they thought the police knew who committed this murder and wasn’t doing anything to pick the guy up there would definitely be some outrage. Ben knew because he’d been feeling it ever since last night. The difference was Ben knew how the justice system worked, he knew what could and could not be proven in court, what would make or break a case. He knew because he’d used those techniques for the past few years to rise to the level of success he enjoyed. Or at least he’d enjoyed until last night.
“Her boyfriend was here yesterday, first cryin’ his eyes out just like the rest of us. Aunt Mae’ll tell you that once she stops crying for the loss of her only daughter.” This was from a new, younger, woman who had just walked into the room. She was a little taller than the one who’d opened the door for them—the one she’d just referred to as Aunt Mae—with hair the fire-engine red hair stacked on top of her head like a curly beehive.
“Alright, can you tell me his name?” Noah asked pulling out his notepad.
“Ernie Forrester. He works down at the gas station three blocks over. He ain’t do nothin’ to Ebony. Word on the street is it was gang related,” the younger woman continued.
“Stop that foolishness, Jasmine. All that’s gossip and you know it. Ebony ain’t have nothing to do with gangs. And neither did Ernie. He did his time and he’s been walking straight now.”
“So Ernie had been in jail?” Noah asked, looking from Jasmine to Aunt Mae.
“I remember Ebony mentioning that to me when he got out. She wanted to find out how his record could be expunged,” Ben added. “He’d been in for eighteen months on an attempted robbery charge.”
“He ain’t steal that car,” Mae replied. “The girl he was messing with before Ebony, got mad because he was with Ebony and called the police, told them he took her car. But her cousinsdrove that car down a ditch so she could collect the insurance money.”
Ben wanted to say “wow” then again, he didn’t. He’d heard stories like these more times than he wanted to count. Most of his clients had girlfriends, who had families, who came up with scheme’s to get away with everything. Ben had turned his head to all of it, declaring it had nothing to do with his case so he didn’t want to know. It was activity that he couldn’t stop even if he’d tried.
“Okay, I’ll talk to Ernie. Anybody else Ebony say she was having trouble with?” Noah continued.
Mae shook her head, tears pouring out so fast Ben couldn’t help but go to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
“I am so sorry for your loss, ma’am. So very sorry,” he told her.
Mae rocked back and forth, moving her head slightly to acknowledge she heard his words, but she was too upset to speak her own. He looked over to Noah who closed his book. “I can come back later and speak with you.”
“Her name’s Maeretha Reece,” Jasmine added. “And I’m Jasmine Lynch, her niece. Me, my brother Harold and Ebony’s two brothers Bunk and Jay live here with her. We were all here Friday night waiting for Ebony to come over so she could drive us to the market to get more stuff for the cook-out.”
“We couldn’t celebrate with the twins after we heard the news,” Mae finally choked out. “I’m sorry but I can’t do this now. I gotta get to the funeral home and make the arrangements.”
“Please, Mrs. Reece, I’d like to take care of the arrangements,” Ben offered. “If that’s okay with you?”
“You mean you want to pay for everything? Ebony said you was a rich one even without having to represent those criminals,” Jasmine replied looking Ben up and down.
That sounded like something Ebony would say.
“You go on to the funeral home, pick out whatever you want and I’ll take care of it.” Ben reached into his back pocket for his wallet and pulled out a business card. “Give them this and tell them to send all the bills to me.”
“Hmmhmmm, rich just like Ebony said,” Jasmine commented.
Ben ignored her, stuffing his business card in Mrs. Reece’s hand. “And if you need anything, Mrs. Reece, anything at all. Please don’t hesitate to call me. Ebony was like a little sister to me. She was a wonderful employee and I was very proud of how much she’d grown in the last four years. I also want you to know that I’m going to do everything in my power to see her killer brought to justice.”
“How are you gonna do that? He might call you to represent him?” Jasmine asked snidely.
Ben resisted the urge to tell her to remain quiet, even though she wasn’t under arrest.
“I think we should go now,” Noah spoke up. The way he was looking at Jasmine told Ben he wasn’t pleased with the young lady. Noah was most likely considering taking the girl outside for a word or two. And that wasn’t going to end well.
“I am also sorry for your loss, Mrs. Reece. Here’s my card as well. If you think of anything that might help us in the investigation, please give me a call.”
Noah shook her hand after he’d given her the card.
