Chapter 17
There was no way I could take another day of soup. Day one, tomato soup. Day two, beef soup. Day three, chicken noodle soup. Day four, potato soup. Day five, taco soup. Day six, broccoli cheddar soup. Day seven, vegetable soup.
I was in the hospital for two days for observation. There was no internal bleeding or any other complications, so they sent me home. My mama had been cooking a different soup every day and freezing what I didn’t eat to rotate it again next week. If I saw another bowl of soup, I was going to throw a temper tantrum like a kid. There was no way she could think that was helping. Granted, the first day, I was still a little nauseated from the pain meds. However, after that, I was ready for a real meal.
Genesis seemed to think the shit was funny. The only thing that saved me was the daily breakfast from Grandma Jean. Genesis brought it over every morning before going to work. The past week had gone by in a blur. It wasn’t much different from being confined to Grandma Jean’s place. Genesis had gotten my things from her house and brought them here my second day back. I started back with where I left off in my investigation yesterday.
After Gamble questioned me about why I left Grandma Jean’s house, I believed he knew that I knew something. I wouldn’t give him straight answers. That wasn’t a good thing. One thing that I wasn’t good at was lying. I was a horrible liar, which was why I was always in trouble as a kid. My mama would stare at me after I told her a lie, and I would end up fessing up before she could even verbalize that she already knew I was lying.
Johnson had been texting me daily to see how I was doing, letting me know she was still digging to try to find something that would stick. I was looking over paperwork to see if I could somehow connect Samuel to all of this. I was hoping I couldn’t. Genesis looked to be on the verge of tears just verbalizing what she thought may have been going on. Johnson had access to camera footage, though, so hopefully, she would find something questionable that led us in the right direction.
Lieutenant Gamble was pissed that I’d gone home. He was playing his role well. That was clearly his handwriting on those documents. According to other business documents, Darlene Doll’s signature was bigger and was sort of like bubble letters in a way. This was noticeably different, and I wasn’t sure how it went through as many hands as it did without anyone questioning it.
As I sat in the bed, propped up on pillows, I decided to let my mind rest for a moment. I’d been at this nearly all day, stopping only to eat, and we were approaching dinnertime. I hadn’t heard from Genesis since lunchtime, but she’d been busy this week, asserting her authority. One guy at work was giving her problems because he was trying to get the appointment. He’d already tried to start mess about the mayor pro tem being biased because he and Genesis went to the same church.
He had a few people following his stance, but for the most part, the people that could make a difference didn’t care to listen to his outrage. So, basically, he was having a meltdown because he couldn’t have his way.
“You ready for some more soup?”
I rolled my eyes as my mama stepped inside my bedroom. “Mama, I cannot tolerate another bowl of soup. I need some food. I’m going to go get it myself in just a minute.”
“Kyrie, you know I’m not letting you leave this house. Don’t say I can’t stop you either. You’re wounded, and I have a belt that I will swing like a whip. You gon’ eat what I fix you. I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
She walked out of the room and slammed the door, leaving me with my mouth hanging open. I couldn’t believe she was treating me like this. I literally wanted to call for help. I grabbed my pill bottles from the nightstand, preparing to take them and be sick because I didn’t have enough substance on my stomach, when the door reopened.
I wanted to have an attitude, but I checked myself before she came into the room. Something smelled like barbeque though. If she’d found a way to make a damn barbeque soup, I was gonna go off. When Genesis walked in with a brown bag, instead of my mama, I wanted to hop up from the bed and pick her up and spin her around in joyful jubilation. Apparently, my relief was evident on my face because she laughed.
My mama was right behind her with a smile on her face. “Relax, grumpy. I asked her to go to Charlie’s Barbeque to get you some food. I talked to your doctor, and he assured me you could eat food… since whenever you could tolerate it. I’m sorry. I just wanted to be careful and not make you sicker.”
When Genesis got close, I nearly snatched that bag out of her hand without speaking. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey.”
I kissed her lips then immediately reached for the bag. She bit her bottom lip, trying to stifle her laughter as my mama rolled her eyes and left the room. Genesis grabbed the bed table she’d bought for me and set it up across my lap. I didn’t care if I had a table or not. I would have barbeque sauce all over the bed and go to sleep just like that without issue. At least I would be full and happy.
Genesis took the bag from me and pulled out a couple of containers. “That smells so good.”
“I know. I felt for you when you kept saying she would only give you soup. When she called me to pick up some food from Charlie’s, I told God thank you.”
“My sentiments exactly when you walked in with that brown paper bag. I thought she’d found a way to make barbequed soup. I was annoyed as hell.”
She laughed, and it was the most beautiful sound. “I could tell by your initial facial expression. You looked over it, babe.”
I chuckled as I practically inhaled the link. “This is so good,” I said with my mouth full of food.
“Slow down before you give yourself heartburn or indigestion. Then you won’t be able to sleep tonight. Imagine having to throw up and not being able to move fast enough to get to the bathroom.”
“Point taken,” I said as I slowed my pace. “How was work?”
She huffed. “I had to write his ass up today. I couldn’t figure out why he wouldn’t just transfer. Then, I found out that there aren’t any openings to fill, and no one wants to switch locations with him. So now he’s saying that’s because no one wants to work under my leadership. I used my authority to write his ass up for insubordination, and he refused to sign it. So, of course, we now have to have a meeting with the highest-ranking chief. I’m technically a battalion chief. There are a few of us. I believe AJ will be in that meeting as well.”
“I hate you’re dealing with that. I don’t see the meeting going well for him though. AJ was against him from the beginning. What do you know about the big boss?”
“He doesn’t play games. Chief Carrier has been the chief for years. He’s seen a lot of people come and go. So I can’t see him agreeing with Bransford.”
I nodded and took another bite of my link. She started to eat her food as well. We made small talk about my day and how much I’d moved around today, when my phone rang. When I saw it was Detective Johnson, I quickly grabbed a napkin and wiped my fingers. “Hello?”
“You’re at home, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m on my way over.”
I took a deep breath and winced as I ended the call. “Johnson is on her way over. That can’t be good.” I looked at my fingers to see they were sticky. “Ugh.”
Just as I was about to lick them, Genesis grabbed my hand and sucked one of my fingers. My eyes widened slightly as what was once dead stood straight up. She stared into my eyes as she did my next finger. “Genesis, maaaann, you gon’ have me reinjuring myself. I don’t know why you wanna play with me like this, knowing I can’t do anything about what you just did to me.”
“I can help you with that later if you think you can handle it.”
“I already know I can’t. I’ll be taking deep breaths and panting, causing myself more pain for the sake of an orgasm. As soon as I can get at you, be ready though. You gon’ have to take off work, because you won’t be able to walk when I’m finished with you.”
She giggled. “So what was the call about?”
“Johnson is on her way over. That’s all she said. So whatever it is must be bad.”
“Okay. Well, let me take my food to the kitchen so the two of you can have privacy to discuss things.”
I closed my eyes and said, “I want you to stay.”
When I reopened them, her eyes were wide. “What?”
“Stay.”
“Kyrie, I understand some things are classified.”
“Genesis, I trust you with my life. I want you in here with me.”
She smiled slightly and took another bite of her link. Deciding to pick with her, I said, “Plus, I know you’re nosy. You won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t give you a hint of what’s going on.”
“Hush your mouth,” she said, then laughed. “You’re right though.”
I chuckled slightly, doing my best not to laugh too hard to cause me pain. I ate more of my food then closed the container to save the rest for later. I drank a bottle of water and finished it off just as the doorbell was ringing. Genesis helped me get situated and removed my food from the bed table. Once she was done and about to take our leftovers to the kitchen, there was a knock on the door.
When she opened it, my mama was standing there with a seemingly frazzled Detective Johnson. She had a folder in her hands, and when I glanced at it, I could see her hands were trembling. My mama took the leftovers from Genesis and left the room, giving us privacy.
Detective Johnson glanced over at Genesis, as if waiting for her to leave as well, but I said, “It’s okay, Detective Johnson. She can stay.”
“I told you to call me Stephanie. Are you sure?”
I nodded. She nodded in return and began by saying, “It’s not Lieutenant Gamble.”
I frowned. “That was his handwriting.”
“I thought so, too, but I had it analyzed by an artist. The person who did this wanted their handwriting to look like his. They wanted to take him down unjustly, making it look like he was the one forging Darlene’s signatures.”
“Who would want to take him down?”
She glanced at Genesis again, and I knew this wasn’t about to be good. “Samuel Farris.”
Genesis stood from her seat and started pacing then went to the en suite bathroom and closed the door. “How did you figure it out?” I asked.
She handed me the folder. I opened it as she answered my question. “So while I was analyzing the signatures, he came to my desk to sign off on documents regarding an arrest he made. When I grabbed the paperwork, something in his signature stuck out to me. Gamble’s first name is Scott. They sign their S’s similarly, but Samuel’s has an extra curve where Scott’s is a little more pointed. I tried to ignore it, thinking I was overthinking things.”
Looking through the folder, I could see that he and Gamble didn’t have the greatest relationship. Samuel had been disciplined quite a few times, mostly for insubordination. There were complaints in his file from other cops as well as citizens, but somehow, he still had a job. I didn’t understand why he hadn’t been fired a long time ago.
I looked up at Stephanie as she said, “My gut won, so I gave his signature to the artist to analyze, and he said that it matched all the records that we thought Gamble had signed. Samuel is a low man on the totem pole though. He’s only part of the battle. If I can get a warrant, maybe he will start talking.”
“Maybe. So why did he get Grandma Jean involved in his foolishness?”
She slid her hand over her face as Genesis came out of the bathroom. She probably should have stayed in there for this, because it didn’t look like Stephanie had any good news at this meeting. “She knew he was in trouble, as far as getting in trouble at work and financially as well. She asked him if there was anything she could do to help him get back in the department’s good graces. I don’t think she knows about the corruption, but I can’t be sure just yet.”
Genesis glanced at me, and I could tell she had been crying. “Is there anything I can do to help things along?” Genesis asked Johnson.
“If something comes up, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I’m still handling Gamble gingerly. While we cleared him on this, it still doesn’t mean he’s totally innocent. I don’t want him to know more than what he has to know. That’s why I came over versus calling. I think my phone may be bugged.”
I slowly shook my head. “Is there anything else I can contribute?”
“Do you remember the case where the ex-marine assaulted a cop? I think you gave him like thirty years.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I have reason to believe that someone connected to him is helping out too. I think he’s the one who was leaving notes on your car and sending text messages. As soon as the phone company cooperates with us, I’ll be able to track it down. Have you connected any dots on your end?”
“No. I was actually trying to exonerate Samuel. So basically, he’s involved in this mess because he was having money issues.”
“Yes. His dedication to sabotage Gamble is personal, and technically, has nothing to do with this enterprise. I’m almost afraid to find out who else may be involved. Oh, and the good Samaritan got a plate number from the SUV that hit you. That car is registered to someone by the name of Brad Coler.”
I frowned slightly. “Why does that name sound familiar to me?”
Genesis’s eyes widened. She clearly knew who it was. “Who is it, baby?” I asked.
“The man that introduced you at the memorial in New York.”
I frowned hard. “What? He’s from Beaumont?”
“No. He lives in Virginia. I think Alexandria,” Johnson said.
I closed my eyes. That was where we were from and had lived before moving to Beaumont. What in the hell did he have to do with all this? This puzzle was getting more and more complicated the more we found out. Why was he involved in shit happening way out here if he didn’t live here? By his introduction of me at the memorial, I thought he had a personal issue with me, but I brushed it off because I didn’t know the man. Well, clearly, he knew me. I would have to spend the next few days getting acquainted with just who he was to level the playing field.