NIYAH
“No, problem, Doc,” Christian, the tall one, responded. That was all she knew about him; his name and that he was tall.
“Fucked up world we live in.”
“And then you die.” Bella finished the saying. “But… I have good news.”
“Yes. I have a suspect.”
Niyah used a paper towel to dry her hands. “Well, that is good news.” She knew her tone was dry, but she was tired of the cat-and-mouse of it all. Bella was a better detective than Niyah was a liar.
“And you know what else, friend?
Niyah sighed. “What’s that, friend?”
Bella pulled an evidence bag from her pocket. “I got something to test that unknown male DNA against.”
Niyah tossed the paper towel in the trash and turned to face Bella. “Now, how did you manage that?”
“I followed my suspect around until she disposed of this little guy.” Bella held up an evidence bag containing a popsicle stick.”
“Bomb Pop...” Niyah whispered. They were Naomi’s new addiction. “You gonna run that popsicle stick to match the DNA of an unknown male?
Bella nodded. “I am.”
Niyah exhaled a harsh breath. “So, you clocked my sister’s tea?”
“I did.”
Niyah crossed her arms. “What did my sister ever do to make you suspect her of committing multiple homicides.”
“Not a thing. It was your behavior that made me suspicious. From the very beginning, I knew you were hiding something.”
Niyah sighed. “Not from the very beginning...”
Bella closed the distance between them. “So, you knew that your sister was killing people, and you thought you’d help her get away with because we’d be looking for a man?”
For a few seconds, Niyah had an inner debate about how to respond. She decided honesty as a last resort. “I did.”
Bella glared at her like she was Charles Manson. “You tampered with evidence?” It was definitely more of an accusation than a question. Either way, she’d already shared enough.
“She’s my sister,” Niyah affirmed. “You don’t know what they did to her.”
Bella grabbed her by the collar. “Does whatever they did justify murder?”
Niyah matched her energy and got in her face until they were nose to nose. "Why don’t you tell me?” she challenged with an accusatory glare. “Whatever happened to that preacher that shot your daddy?”
Bella looked away, but she couldn’t hide the flicker of guilt in her eyes. “I don’t know.” Her lie was obvious.
Niyah snatched away from Bella. “Get the fuck off me!” She walked over to the door and locked it. “I speak for the dead, Bella. I guarantee you had that motherfucker ended up on my table, he would’ve been screaming your sister’s name!”
“Well, he didn’t end up on your table,” Bella hissed. “And he didn't talk to you. So, all that bullshit is irrelevant.”
Niyah inhaled a deep breath and held on to it for a few seconds before exhaling. “I’m not saying what she did was right. I’m saying they hurt her, and they messed her up real bad.”
Bella relaxed her shoulders and leaned against the wall. “Hurt her, how?”
Niyah’s face warmed instantly. Tears welled in her eyes until they spilled down her cheeks. “They brutalized her, Bella. They raped her. And… t-they... they infected her.”
Bella ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. “What am I supposed to do with this, Niyah?”
Niyah walked over to Bella and grabbed her hand. “Be my friend. Burn that fucking stick!”
Bella pulled out of her grasp and walked toward the door. She opened it and turned back to Niyah. “You coming to the compound for election night?”
An election party was the last thing on her mind. “I don’t know. I told Xander I’d go with him. But…”
“You and Xander getting serious?” Bella questioned.
Niyah shrugged. “We’re getting something.”
Bella grinned. “Niyah and a white man... I never thought I’d live to see the day.”
Niyah chuckled. “He’s not that white.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Bella agreed with a soft laugh. She dropped the popsicle stick in the trash by the door. “Family is important, especially ours. We have to protect each other.”
When she left the room, she said, “I’ll see you Tuesday.” Those words echoed from the hall.
The door hadn’t closed from Bella’s departure before Katima stuck her head inside. “Doctor Reed, do you need my help in here?”
Niyah smiled and waved off her eager intern. “No, Dr. Leer. I’m finishing up. Thank you."
“Okay, I’m headed to the lab if you need me.”
Niyah nodded and grabbed a fresh set of protective equipment so she could finish her last autopsy of the day.