Page 125 of Lau Ahi
I wasn’t even going to ask him to elaborate on that. “And yet you think that Asha Avery isn’t like that?” I continued to track the traffic below hoping to find peace.
“She’s… studious. Wiz her big glasses and beautiful face, I do not believe zhat she could hurt a fly.”
“I’ve seen how she moves. She’s got stealth. She isn’t afraid of death like she’s faced it before and won.”
“And zhat has you zhinking she’s been the dealer of deazh instead of a survivor of it? Come now, Ori, it is far more likely zhat a woman is a survivor of harm not zhe inflictor.”
Again, points were being made but I still didn’t think he was seeing the big picture. “Have you forgotten the women we know?”
“No.”
“I’m sure you’d say the same thing about Frankie who is the modern-day equivalent of Malinda Russell and B. Smith but can bust her guns with the best of us. But you want me to underestimate the person I’m going to be lying next to every night?”
“You make her sound as zhough she’s running around zhe city, murdering innocent people. Is zhat what you’ve found?”
I wanted to tell him about the case but there was no need because I had no proof of her involvement. Just my gut that something wasn’t what it seemed. “No.”
“I’m going back to bed, Ori. Call Priest so he can pray over you and hop a flight to knock sense into you. I do not have zhe patience for zhis.”
“You just gone leave me in my time of need?”Was I whining? What the fuck is this?
“When you’re being ridiculous? Hell yeah. You need to be nicer to her. Get to know her better. You both danced around each ozher at zhe wedding so much no one could tell that you were even together. Where is her ring?”
“I gave it to her already. See, I do actually listen.”
“I doubt you actually listened to me. Besides, it should have been on her finger before you brought her to an event. Zhe last zhing you want is for people to zhink you aren’t serious. Or zhat zhey have a chance to break up a happy home.”
“What happy home?”
He huffed and I heard him moving back around yet again. “And zhat’s more to my point. You might not love her but zhere still needs to be a reason for her to be in zhis beside her family.”
“I’m not going to lie to her.”
“No, but it is clear you’re lying to yourself. You wouldn’t have agreed if you didn’t care.”
“I did this so that you could be on the phone with me right now pissed that you’re not in bed with your soulmate.” I felt like I’d run a mile in three minutes flat while holding my breath. My chest was heaving and my pulse raced.
“True. And my debt to you is sitting here listening to you bitch and pretend zhat you’re not interested in her besides zhese contractual obligations you have.”
“You calling me a liar?”
“When you’re lying, yes.”
I cracked a smile because he answered so flatly which was a sign he was tired of my shit. “Whatever, Xerx.”
“It is not whatever, my friend. It is a fact. Open your mind to what could be. And if she is a serial killer, you do what you must to ensure zhat she is never caught.”
ASHA
I stretched in my seat my eyes feeling like they were going cross - eyed from reviewing the information that Alec and Ori provided. Their excursion into Natalie’s personal life had opened up a long list of potential suspects and I’d narrowed it down to a few. I knew that things were going to get bad because none of them were those who fit the description of those who were supposed to be the traditional criminals. The rumblings had started; the warning coming directly from agent Cochran that some people felt as though the investigation being headed by three peoplewith Black ancestry could have possibly been skewing the evidence. I was grateful that Ori had taken that call at the office because the way his fist went through a wall at his integrity being called into questions I would’ve made him bleed for causing that type of damage in my home. Cochran and Alec both seemed unbothered by his reaction and although I could understand his reasoning for being angry I still felt the need to watch him more carefully. I could tell he realized his behavior disturbed me but he didn’t offer apologies. The look on his face then silently communicated that I would never be in the crossfire of his anger and I believed him but I still wasn’t going to take my eyes off him.
The three of us had been working tirelessly for the last few hours to ensure that we hadn’t missed anything. From reviewing witness statements taken by police to crosschecking cellphone records of the few early suspects, we wanted to make sure that there was no way for them to leverage those accusations at us. We all silently understood that the accusation had come from someone who was working on this with us and all knew who was guilty without us having to say much.
Agent Anderson.
It made me wonder if he was angry about the questioning of his character or them thinking that Anderson’s word held more weight than his.
Or maybe it was about you.
