Murder on the Down Low Read online

  “For your information, I’ve been home since four-thirty.” She waved her hand from side to side, motioning for him to get out of the way. “Move. You’re blocking the TV.”

  He stepped aside, then scanned the coffee table. It was littered with an empty bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, two Almond Joy wrappers, and a half-empty Strawberry Snapple bottle.

  Jefferson picked up one of the candy wrappers. “Are you okay? Did somebody die?”

  Vernetta answered his wisecrack with narrowed eyes. “Very funny.” She sat up and stretched. “Just another wacky day at the wonderful offices of O’Reilly & Finney. I couldn’t take it. So I left.”

  Jefferson plopped into an adjacent chair and started untying his work boots. “So what happened?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary. Just more crap from Haley. She basically showed me up at a very important client meeting. Let’s just say she came off looking like the senior associate, not me.”

  “I don’t know why you let that girl get to you.”

  “She doesn’t get to me.”

  “Sounds that way to me.”

  Vernetta shrugged. “So how was your day?”

  “Same old, same old.” He kicked off his boots, laced his fingers behind his neck and sank down in the chair. “How’s Special doing? Any better?”

  “Nope. I talked to her earlier today. I don’t think she’ll get a peaceful night’s sleep until Eugene gets hit by a bus.”

  “That’s understandable.” Jefferson yawned, which made Vernetta do the same about three seconds later. “That brother better be glad he didn’t date one of my sisters. Special has a right to be hot.”

  “I’m okay with her being hot, but I’m beginning to think she may need professional help. The idea that Eugene could possibly live another fifty years is killing her.”

  “If I were him, I’d be packing up and moving out of state ’cuz Special ain’t about to forgive or forget.”

  “I think she will,” Vernetta said, “in time.”

  Jefferson stuck out his hand. “Bet.”

  “Bet what?”

  “Bet she goes after him.”

  “Special is all talk. Her anger will pass.”

  “No way. Special’s the kind of woman who won’t rest until she gets her revenge. Don’t forget about that guy whose tires she slashed. All he did was cheat on her.”

  “I really regret telling you about that,” Vernetta said. “She was young and crazy when that happened.”

  “And now she’s older and crazier. You should tell that brother to pack up and get the hell outta Dodge.”

  “She’ll be alright.”

  “If I had to be on your bad side or Special’s, I’d choose you any day.”

  “You act like she’s going to start stalking him or something.”

  “I wouldn’t put it past her.” Jefferson stood up and picked up the trash from the coffee table. He couldn’t stand untidiness. “What’s for dinner?”

  “It depends. What are you cooking?”

  He smiled down at her. “I want you to know that I resent that bait-’n-switch scam you pulled on me.”

  Vernetta laughed. When they first started dating, she regularly treated him to home-cooked meals. Now that they were husband and wife, home cooking was reserved for special occasions.

  “You women are experts when it comes to deception,” Jefferson said. “That’s how I know your girl’s got something off the hook in store for that dude Eugene.”

  Chapter 15

  Marvin Dobbs drummed his fingers on the table and wondered what was keeping Nathaniel. A loud group of unruly students cheered at the two flat screen TVs hanging over the bar at the Trojan Horse Grill across from the USC campus. Monday night basketball always brought in a nice crowd.

  Just then Nathaniel “Breakaway” Allen entered the bar. A slight buzz whizzed about the room as eyes turned and fingers pointed. Nathaniel wasn’t even a Trojan yet, but people treated the young running back like he was a million-dollar player in the pros.

  Nathaniel slapped his books on the table where Marvin was sitting. “Hey, dawg. What up?”

  Before Marvin could answer, a busty blond pranced over and purred at him. “Hi, Nate. I hope you can make my party tonight.”

  Who had time to party on a week night? The lust glistening in the woman’s eyes disgusted Marvin. If Nathaniel had given her the go-ahead, she probably would’ve spread her legs and let him do her right there on the table.

  If you only knew, Marvin thought.

  Nathaniel promised to drop by, then pulled the girl into his lap and started feeding her lines Marvin hadn’t heard since junior high.

  Marvin didn’t have time for this nonsense. For the past six months, he had been tutoring Nathaniel, a student at Fox Hills Junior College, so that he would have a head start on his course work when he transferred to USC in the fall. But Marvin had his own school work to get to if he planned to graduate in June. Of course, English and biology weren’t the only things on their agendas tonight.

  Finally bored with the girl, Nathaniel booted her from his lap. “Let’s get over to the library, dawg.”

  As they made their way to the door, Marvin’s eyes were drawn to a jock sitting at the bar. Damn! The guy had just clocked him. Marvin knew the man would keep his secret, just as Marvin would keep his. Still, he hated being exposed.

  Marvin listened to Nathaniel rattle on about himself as they trudged across campus.

  “A sports reporter from the L.A. Times is interviewing me next week,” he bragged. “They’ve got their eyes on me for the Heisman Trophy.”

  Marvin nodded like he was impressed, but he really didn’t give a shit. He hated sports.

  They climbed the steps of Doheny Library and took the elevator to the stacks on the fifth floor. They found a deserted area of the library near the back. Marvin plugged in his laptop while Nathaniel dumped his books on an adjoining desk and pulled out a notepad and pen. It wasn’t likely that they would be interrupted. Thanks to the Internet, few students took the trouble to traipse to the library. But if some librarian happened to interrupt, at least it would look like they were there to do work.

  Marvin hit the switch which controlled the lights in the left quadrant of the floor and the area went pitch black. He made his way back to the desk, careful not to bump into the book cases. Without discussion, Nathaniel unzipped his fly and Marvin dropped to his knees.

  When they were done, Nathaniel callously pushed Marvin away. More and more now, Nathaniel turned cold within seconds of coming. But Marvin didn’t care. He had something that Mr. Big Man On Campus couldn’t resist.

  “We ain’t doing this no more!” Nathaniel growled as he hurriedly zipped up his pants. “And I don’t feel like studyin’ tonight.”

  Marvin didn’t respond. They’d been hooking up for close to four months now. Every other week, Nathaniel proclaimed that it would be their last time. Then, a week later, he would call, begging to see him again.

  “Whatever, man,” Marvin said.

  “No, I’m serious this time. This is getting too risky. I got somebody else. An older dude. He has a place where we can kick it without getting caught.”

  Fear rose in Marvin’s throat. Nathaniel had never mentioned having anybody else before. Flipping on the lights, Marvin watched as Nathaniel grabbed his books and stalked off.

  Marvin hated to admit it, but he had fallen in love with Nathaniel. He knew he would always be the man on the side, but he didn’t care. He was exactly what Nathaniel needed, a partner who was masculine enough to never raise anyone’s suspicions about his sexual preference and discreet enough to keep his mouth shut.

  After leaving the library, Marvin headed back to the apartment off Vermont that he shared with his girlfriend. Jana was nice enough, but she didn’t turn him on. Sex with most women bored him and it took all the mental energy he could muster to force himself to get off. With Jana, it was easier than with some, but still nothing he looked forward to. But she was saf
e because she trusted him completely and didn’t ask a lot of questions.

  When he opened the front door, he saw her sitting on the couch in a pink, frilly teddy.

  Damn.

  “Hey, sweetie. I was waiting up for you.”

  He gave Jana a quick peck, then headed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She followed after him, throwing her arms around his waist and standing on her tiptoes to give him a wet kiss on the back of the neck. He could feel the two sunny side-up eggs she had for breasts pressed against his back. She was a beautiful girl. She was a beautiful redbone with long thick hair. But she had the body of a twelve-year-old boy. Marvin preferred men, not boys.

  “I missed you, sweetie,” she squealed in an annoying, high-pitched voice. “Did you miss me?”

  Marvin did not bother to turn around. “Of course.”

  He pulled away, lifted his T-shirt over his head and stepped out of his jeans.

  Marvin resigned himself to having to make love to her, but he needed a few minutes alone to psyche himself up for it. He turned around and kissed her pancake-flat breasts, then ran his hand between her moist little stick thighs.

  “I see you’re already nice and wet for me.” He rewarded her with a long, passionate kiss. “Why don’t you go pour me a glass of wine and wait for me to finish my shower so I can give you what you need?”

  Jana grinned excitedly and scurried away. Marvin stepped into the shower and turned on the water as hard as it would go and soaped himself down. He hoped Nathaniel didn’t have another dude. He did not want to lose him.

  Back in the bedroom, Jana had turned out the lights and placed scented candles on both nightstands.

  “Here’s your wine, sweetie.”

  Marvin took the glass from her and chugged it down, wishing he had asked for something stronger. He sat back against the headboard as Jana did a cat crawl from the foot of the bed and took him into her mouth. Her blow jobs did absolutely nothing for him. He closed his eyes and thought about Nathaniel. That image immediately brought him to life.

  “That’s my good boy,” Jana cooed, taking credit she didn’t deserve. She slipped out of her teddy and was about to climb on top of him when he turned away and pulled a condom from the nightstand.

  “Sweetie, I already told you, we don’t have to use protection anymore. I’m on the pill and we’ve been together long enough to trust each other.”

  That made the third time this month that Jana had protested when Marvin reached for a condom. He’d be able to come faster without it, but he wasn’t about to play Jana’s little game. She was on academic probation for the second time and would almost surely be kicked out of school next semester if she didn’t get it together. Getting pregnant would mean child support payments for the next eighteen years. He wasn’t about to fall for that.

  Marvin tore open the condom wrapper with his teeth, slipped it on and gave the girl what she wanted. He never took his eyes off the clock on the nightstand. It took her exactly seventy-eight seconds to come. He didn’t bother to.

  The next morning, while he lay in bed, Jana ran out for coffee and croissants. Neither of them had classes on Tuesdays, so Jana had dubbed Tuesday mornings their cuddle time. Marvin had gone along without a fuss. They usually spent the morning watching movies recorded on TiVo. It was one of the few times that Marvin actually enjoyed Jana’s company.

  Despite his indifference, Marvin knew that he might actually end up marrying the girl. Having a wife who was as trusting as a two year old would make things much simpler. As long as he paid the bills, pampered her with flowers and expensive gifts, and dicked her good a few times a month, she would have no complaints. He could keep Nathaniel on the side and they could all live happily ever after.

  Marvin heard the front door open and slam shut. Jana bolted into the bedroom, a stricken look on her face. She was panting like someone in need of a respirator. She had a copy of the L.A. Times in hand, but no coffee or croissants.

  Marvin sat up. “What’s the matter?”

  Jana held up the newspaper and pointed to a large headline across page one. “Somebody shot him.” Her face crumpled into tears.

  “Shot who?”

  “Your friend. Nathaniel Allen. He’s dead. Somebody shot him last night.”

  Marvin tried to stand up, but his equilibrium was way off kilter. The floor actually seemed to be swaying. He grabbed the newspaper from Jana and read the first paragraph, then read it again. When he finished the entire story, he dropped the paper on the bed and brushed past Jana into the bathroom.

  Marvin locked the door and turned on the shower to drown out the sound. Then he sobbed.

  Chapter 16

  Eugene drove his BMW into the underground parking garage at Ramsey & King and turned off the engine. Everything was going well in his world and he refused to believe it was anything but the grace of God.

  He’d seen the doctor the day before and his T-cell count was still strong. He’d been taking a combination of several new AIDS drugs which gave him a lot more energy. He’d also given up beef and pork and limited his alcohol intake to red wine. He was basically turning into an all-around health nut.

  Eugene had actually enjoyed his first new members’ class at Ever Faithful on Monday night and was feeling as if his life was finally back on track. And Belynda was absolutely incredible.

  For the first time in his life, he felt comfortable enough with a woman to tell her everything about his past. His attraction to men, his promiscuity, even Maya’s death. Belynda had listened without comment, clearly in shock at first. But later, she told him she truly believed that he was ready to commit himself to God. The fact that he was being so honest with her was proof of that. If God could forgive him, so could she.

  Turning off the engine, Eugene pulled his cell phone from his shirt pocket and dialed Belynda’s number. He couldn’t believe how he had connected with her on such a strong, spiritual level in just two short days. They had talked on the phone for nearly three hours after brunch on Sunday, and last night after class, she had invited him over to her place.

  When Eugene heard Belynda’s voice on the phone, he grinned. “I just wanted to be the first to tell you good morning. I really had a nice time last night.”

  “So did I,” Belynda said. They had read Bible verses, then gone for a long walk at Fox Hills Park. Belynda was deeply religious and did not believe in sex or even intimate kissing before marriage. With everything going on in his life, Eugene welcomed her rules.

  “I’m wearing that lapel pin you gave me.” He glanced down at the small, gold circle with a mustard seed glued to the center.

  “I didn’t expect you to wear it to work.” Belynda was obviously pleased.

  “I plan on wearing it everywhere I go.”

  “Just remember what it represents,” she said. “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, God will do the rest.”

  “You have no idea how much your support means to me. I just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you. I’ll call you later.”

  Eugene opened the car door and removed his jacket from the back of the headrest. His buttoned-down Hugo Boss was the most expensive suit in his closet and wearing it always made him feel like a million bucks.

  He stepped off the elevator onto the twenty-first floor and waved at the receptionist, a Filipino chick who had been hitting on him since the day he’d joined the firm.

  “Good morning, Marci.”

  She frowned and turned up her nose.

  What was that about?

  He strolled down the hallway, past cubicle after cubicle where the secretaries sat. Either he was being paranoid or all of them were shooting him hateful looks. When he passed an older black woman who’d always been chatty with him, she rolled her eyes. The woman in the next cubicle looked away.

  What was going on?

  When he reached his office, his secretary wasn’t at her desk. He set his briefcase down and turned on his computer. While it was booting up, he checked h
is voicemail.

  “Hey, man, call me as soon as you get this message. It’s extremely important.” It was Liam, an associate in the Tax Department. The urgency in Liam’s voice concerned him. Liam was the only openly gay associate in the firm. His partner was HIV positive. They had spent many hours talking about Eugene’s situation.

  He dialed his coworker’s extension and Liam picked up on the first ring. “Have you read your email?” Eugene sensed panic in Liam’s voice.

  “No. I just turned on my computer.”

  “Well, you should check it. Right now.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “You’ll see in a minute. I’m on my way down.”

  Eugene typed in his password and waited for access. There were ten new email messages. He opened the one that read, “Important Alert—Read Immediately!”

  When the words of the email hit him, he felt like someone had bashed him in the head with a baseball bat.

  Did you know that your coworker Eugene Nelson is a murderer? His beautiful fiancée, Maya Washington, recently died after a long, painful battle with AIDS. Eugene’s story about her dying of pneumonia is a big, fat lie. Maya died because Eugene is a closet homosexual who failed to tell her that he was HIV positive. Maya would be alive today if Eugene had told her he was running around having sex with men. Do you really want a liar and a murderer working at your law firm?

  Liam charged into his office just as Eugene finished reading the message.

  “Are you okay?” Liam closed the door.

  Eugene’s cheeks burned with rage. He did not deserve this. How could he continue to show his face around the firm? Now the nasty looks from the support staff made sense.

  “Did everybody in the firm get this email?”

  Liam nodded and sat down. “I think so. Who could’ve done this?”

  Eugene knew exactly who was responsible. He had no idea how the crazy bitch had been able to hack into his law firm’s computer system, but there was no doubt in his mind that Special was the culprit. No one else held this kind of animosity toward him.