Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

SEER

T he rain beats down on the windshield, making the wipers groan as I work to navigate the flooded streets of New Orleans on our way to the police station.

"This is crazy," Leah says, looking out her window.

"Baby, this is nothing. Just a regular rainstorm. Wait until the first bands of that hurricane hit. Then you'll see some epic flooding.

I pull into the parking lot and shut the car off.

"Ready to make a run for it?" I grab the handle of the door and look over at Leah.

She's biting her lip as she watches the sky.

"Sure, let's go." She flings open her door and slams it shut, with me following behind her.

We rush inside and shake off the rain as we approach the desk. The police officer manning it has seen one too many beignets. His middle is fat and round, making it impossible to lean against the counter we're standing at.

"We're here for Kai Thorton." I try not to sneer at him, but powdered sugar is all over the front of his uniform, making me think of other bad habits he might be involved in.

It wouldn't be the first time Parrish police had dipped into the evidence room to have fun with cocaine.

"You are?" I bite the inside of my cheek to remind me of what Ma always said.

Sugar, not Vinegar, Baby.

"Fabien Fukuma, sir." I tack that on at the end and swallow the bitter taste of showing him any respect.

He rolls his eyes at my tone as he walks away without a single word to us.

"Rude," Leah hisses under her breath, and I nod.

"Are they even here yet?" I tuck her hair beyond her ear and shrug.

"No telling. I'm sorry about our evening." Her smile tells me it's ok, but honestly, it's not.

None of us have been able to get a single moment of alone time with her in the last few weeks. It's like the worst case of bad luck, and I'm sick of it. First, her date with Phoebe was ruined when a trolly hit the coffee cart. Kai hasn't been able to take a day off since one of the beer stills sprang a leak, and we can't get the parts in to fix it for another week. That has left me short-handed at the bar, meaning we only see each other at work or before we pass out at home.

How can you live with someone and never have time alone with them?

Tonight, we were all supposed to have time off to relax and chill, but now we stand in a police station waiting for information while a superstorm is barreling in. We haven't even gone supply shopping. My phone buzzes, and I chuckle.

"Phoebe's making a store run. Do you need anything?" Before Leah can answer, the potbelly cop calls my name.

"Fabien Fukuma, come with me." I frown, handing my phone to Leah.

"Whatever you want, Baby. I'll be right back." I kiss her forehead and follow the short officer into a back hallway.

He opens a door and ushers me in.

"The Detective will be right with you." The door closes and locks.

"What the fuck?" I try the handle, but nothing happens.

I take a seat and stare at the mirror opposite me. I feel like I'm being punked. The room is empty except for a metal desk and two chairs. On the surface is a yellow notepad and pen. I pull out the chair and face the mirror.

I quickly pick up the notepad and pen and write three words. Then, I lift the pad to the mirror, smile, and wave.

I see you.

A few moments later, a door slams before the one to my room flies open.

"Cute, Mr. Fukuma. I see you enjoy writing notes." I'm taken aback by this man's immediate attitude toward me.

"Please excuse my partner. He's tired." Another man comes in and closes the door much more calmly.

"I see you've mastered the good cop bad cop routine. I'm not impressed. Why am I here? My counsel is going to love to hear why you lock visitors in." The bad cop slams a piece of paper on the table.

"You're an active suspect in our investigation, and you're a flight risk." I sit back and cross my arms.

"Am I? Funny, I don't remember being arrested or charged with a crime. I was asked to come down and make a statement. I came in good faith, not knowing any other information. So franly, this is all new to me, Cher." His face turns red as his partner, a good cop, pats his back.

"Mr. Fukuma, do you recognize this?" He taps the paper trapped under his partner's hand.

"Paper?" It's the obvious answer and enrages Tomato's face even more.

"Did you write this?" He flips the paper over, and I frown.

Your time is coming.

It's clearly not my handwriting. I push the notepad next to it and tap it.

"I'm no handwriting expert." They can both see the difference in the writing.

"Did you send this?" I stand and lean over the table like he is.

Our height difference makes him look up at me while I sneer down my nose at him.

"I sign all my threats. I want you to know I'm coming." His eyes widen, and I turn to his partner.

I don't see a signature. Do you?" I straighten and move around the table to the door.

"We aren't done!" The bad cop yells, and I laugh in both their faces.

"Yes, we are." I open the door and find my mother standing with her arms crossed.

She's pissed, trapping her high-heeled foot on the dirty linoleum floor.

"Gentleman," she greets all of us at once without taking her eye off me.

"Lady, how did you get back here?" I bite my lip.

Fucking fool.

"Detective?" She prompts him for his name, but he lacks the brain power to understand what she wants.

"What is your name, child?" Annoying my mother is never a good thing.

"Detective Charles, ma'am." I hang my head to hide my laugh.

"I am Mrs. Davenport-Fukuma. I'm representing Mr. Thorton. Where is my client?" With that, my mother has dismissed me entirely.

I kiss her cheek and wave at the Detectives.

"I'll wait out front, Ma." I walk past her and return to Leah, who's pacing the waiting area.

"Did you see him?" I shake my head.

"No, they wanted me to look at a note. They're acting really weird, and it makes no sense." I hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

About two minutes later, Kai and Ma walk out with a fuming bad cop following.

"This isn't over!" He yells at her back, and I growl.

"Are you threatening my mother?" Kai grabs my arm as I try to get past him.

"Cher, outside. Now!" Ma turns to the cop and looks him from his toes to his head.

"You haven't been in this position long enough to have learned your place yet, boy. If you want to keep your job, I suggest you act like the public official you were hired as and not like the two-bit criminals you're supposed to protect us from. You haven't learned the difference, and I, for one, would love to know why. I'll ask the mayor when he's at my house for Sunday supper. Good day." She spins on her high heels and pushes us all out the door.

Once we're in the parking lot, she lets out a few curses in English and Creole before addressing me.

"Fabien," she's staring at the ground with her hands on her hips.

"That ain't good," Kai whispers to me.

"No shit," I walk over to her.

"Yea, Maman?" It takes her a few deep breaths until she can look up at me.

"Why do they think you killed Charlotte Monroe?"