embarrassing truth from
him. Not hard since Mr. F. and the kid can’t stand each other. Her
husband is glad not to see the kid.”
“Shut up. You don’t know anything about my
family,” Mrs. Forstall hissed at him, a look of upper-class scorn
twisting her mouth down.
“Anyway, Mr. Forstall, Hamilton, his buddies
call him Ham. So good old Ham is just as happy to be away from home
and ignorant of what all goes down around here. Except he loves his
baby girl, the kid; not the wife.” Darrius got up and refilled his
drink. He still held the gun expertly to show he could plug both of
them for moving the wrong way.
“What’s that?” Mrs. Forstall said, her voice
shaky as she looked at the open door.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Charmaine replied.
Still she glanced around the room checking for strange
movement.
“Hey, don’t interrupt. I’m getting to the
good parts. See, the first born might not be Ham’s kid. But Ham, he
don’t know this or even suspect.” Darrius gave a grunt. “Loretta,
you need to ease up on the drinks when you party with us ghetto
rats. I wasn’t so high I didn’t remember the juicy details.”
“Hey, I found it. Damn, you was right. But
it’s too much to move by myself,” Zed called from upstairs.
Darrius rolled his eyes and walked to the
library door. “Don’t be a dumbass. I can’t leave these two
alone.”
“Tie ‘em up then. This shit is heavy,” Zed
complained with a loud grunt.
“Make extra trips, man. We can’t take no
chances.” Darrius looked at the women and lowered his voice. “See
what I gotta deal with?”
Charmaine snorted. “Yeah, I’m feeling so
sorry for you.”
“Hey, D. I’m tellin’ you, there’s more up
here than you thought. Hell, just go ahead and shoot up now so we
can get outta here fast.” Zed’s voice faded as he moved away. A
loud thump and a dragging sound followed.
“Quit whinin’ like a lil’ bitch and get the
stuff,” Darrius yelled back. He turned his attention back to the
ladies. “Even with you killin’ my girl, I still kinda like you
Loretta.”
“I didn’t kill Shawntelle you idiot. Listen
to me before we’re all dead.”
“And Miss Charmaine, you fine as hell. But
thing is y’all what they call a liability right about now.” Darrius
shrugged an apology.
“We’ll be a death penalty liability if you
make your situation worse by killing us. You’ve got reasonable
doubt on your side with Shawntelle’s murder. The police can’t place
you near the house the day we found her. Get some of your friends
to alibi you,” Charmaine said.
“Hmm, good points. Except we need time to
get away with our property,” Darrius said.
Charmaine started to finish her argument to
save their lives when a strangled squealed cut through the air. A
gurgling noise filled the house. More thumps. The squealing rose to
a pitched keening. Darrius looked at the two women as he moved to
hallway.
“Zed, quit messing around and get your ass
down here. Zed!” Darrius licked his lips when an object thudded
down the wide staircase.
“You have a gun. Go help your friend before
it’s too late.” Mrs. Forstall’s voice shook.
“What are you talking about?” Charmaine felt
a cold chill spread from her neck down her arms. “Uh, Darrius,
let’s follow Mrs. Forstall’s advice and leave. Now.”
Darrius waved the gun at them. “You two move
over here where I can see you. Close together. Try anything and
I’ll shoot you both.”
They did as he demanded, though Charmaine
didn’t want to stand close to Mrs. Forstall. Not because of the
gun. Something strange and malevolent emanated from the woman. Or
maybe she attracted evil. Dread crawled up Charmaine’s spine making
it hard for her to concentrate enough to read Mrs. Forstall.
Nothing. She couldn’t “see” the woman’s thoughts. Fear blocked
Charmaine’s psychic ability. Mrs. Forstall gripped hers arm with a
hand like biting cold ice.
“We have to get out of here or