Chapter 1 #4
The lost expression on her face as she searched his eyes for answers was a display of pure confusion and fear.
“That reaction. That right there. You don’t know anything.
You say nothing. You don’t know how to answer that question because you were not there.
You have no idea what happened to the Fredricks.
The last time you saw Bash, you two decided not to see each other anymore.
You left, moved back home for a bit because your family is going through a medical emergency, and you haven’t heard from him since.
You can’t tell them what you don’t know, Mo,” Ethic reminded.
“Don’t make up any extra details. Don’t say more than what’s necessary.
All you have to do is tell your truth, which is that you don’t know anything.
When you try to make up things to cover other people, that’s when the story can be broken down into lies.
Don’t lie. Your truth is you don’t know.
I have a safeguard that will turn suspicion away from you, but we’ve got to play this correctly, though.
Everybody has to approach this with precision.
Everyone is trained for this except you, but you can’t run from it.
Your face is all over the news as a person of interest. If you act guilty, you are guilty.
An innocent woman would be concerned that her ex-fiancé is missing.
An innocent woman is insulted and angry that her name is in the news as a person of interest. You don’t know anything, and you’re distraught over your daughter and the fact that they’re keeping you from her.
They touch one hair on your head and let them know that you’re coming for badge numbers.
Be powerful. Be assertive. Be certain. Control the room.
Move with privilege because I’ve raised you with privilege, Mo.
You aren’t the average Black woman. It’s time to exploit your money and your power. ”
“My power?” Morgan questioned.
“Me,” Ethic informed. She nodded as she tried to retain everything he was saying.
“Your body will be in flight mode. You will be scared. Tuck that, Morgan. I need you to fight. I don’t know how they’re going to spin this, but know that I’m coming for you.
They’ll try to stall me out. They’ll try to interrogate you as long as possible before bringing your lawyer in.
Not one word until he arrives. You know nothing. You understand me?”
Morgan was trembling, but she nodded. “That entitlement that you walk around with is your superpower right now, Mo. Your answer to everything is I want my lawyer. I don’t know, and I want my lawyer.
I can’t be here right now. My daughter is sick, and I want my lawyer.
Say nothing else until Einstein enters that room.
Don’t mention Bash putting hands on you.
Don’t mention anything other than you decided to remain in the States and he wanted to go back home to London, so you both decided to end the relationship.
Be concerned and gracious, but stern about not having the information they’re looking for. ”
Morgan was skeptical. “But what about Yolly? She needs me. They need to run tests and…”
“We’ll stay here. We’ll take every test and wait for the results over the weekend. I’ll call and have Einstein set up a time to be interviewed when we’re ready. On our time. The interrogation will be difficult. They will be aggressive. You have to be ready, Mo.”
“I can’t leave, Ethic,” Morgan stated.
“Then we’ll get you ready here,” Ethic asserted.
“This isn’t going to go away on its own, Mo.
And you can’t be questioned without being prepped.
They eat girls like you alive every day.
All it takes is one slip of the tongue to give them what they need to lock you up.
To lock me up. Messiah. Meek. Isa. You cannot crack.
You won’t crack. If you listen to me and do everything I say. ”
Morgan loved every single person he had mentioned, and their freedom rested in her ability to perform.
“Everything is going to be okay,” Ethic reassured.
“It doesn’t feel like it,” Morgan answered. “Everything is falling apart.”
“I’m never going to let anything happen to you, Morgan.
If anybody has to sit down for this, it won’t be you,” Ethic stated.
Morgan ached because she knew that she was the one who had brought this problem to their doorsteps.
There were so many moments where Morgan felt like she wasn’t enough over the years.
She had questioned her value to Ethic. She had doubted that he could love her as much as Eazy and Bella, but he had proven time and time again that he would lay down his life for her.
She was old enough now to know her actions should never lead to his consequences.
“I got you, Mo,” Ethic asserted. “You worry about Yolly. It’s my job to worry about you. Let’s go see what’s going on with her. We’ll deal with that tonight. I just needed you to know what was at stake.”
“Everything,” Morgan replied. “Everything and everybody is at stake.”