Chapter 19
Rated "M"
XIX - Jackson
We had traveled separately, met up at the hotel, and made our way to the rich community that was on the outskirts of Jackson, which also housed Dallas, the man who had been supposedly killed by purple drank instead of heroin and/or cocaine, and his parents. Or just his parents would be more appropriate seeing that he had been living with his girlfriend up in Queens. Everything about driving came back to me when I got in the drivers seat of the rental car and drove toward our destination. I glanced over at Roxanne momentarily, hoping to see something other than her staring out the window in a daze. I turned back almost reluctantly, my eyes being forced to look back at the road instead of the woman next to me. It was getting harder and harder not imagining that Roxanne was truly gorgeous. It took all my strength to not give in to Zak's previous comment."You're quiet..." I commented, my eyes focusing on the road. Roxanne huffed at my statement and I could see her shake her head from the corner of my eyes.
"Yeah. And you're an asshole, so I guess we're even."
"What? How the hell is that even?" I asked. "And why am I an asshole, exactly?"
"You know, you could've just said that you were busy or said that you had work to do instead of getting on a fucking plane." She said, arms crossed and eyes staring out the window. I rose a brow to her sudden statement.
"So basically you're calling me an asshole because I came with you? Great. What's next? You're going to accidentally punch me in the face?" I said. Roxanne laughed with a smirk.
"Call me a bitch behind my back, I'll call you an asshole to your face. Deal with it." She said. I couldn't stop my eyes from widening as I listened to her.
"How the hell did you know that? And is that what this is about?"
"You should probably get a new best friend. One that doesn't say everything underneath the sun."
"Great. What else have you heard from Zak?"
"A lot of things."
"Which are...?" I continued, even though Roxanne looked like she didn't want to talk about it. I waited for a moment for Roxanne to reply as I drove through the neighborhood. I was shocked to see mansions on every corner of every street in the gated community. Bright green lawns, colorful flowers, delicate-looking trees, huge houses... I could almost imagine Roxanne living there, at least by the look of her own home up in New York.
"Third house on the right. Don't park in the driveway." Was all she said as she ignored my question. I parallel parked on the side of the road in front of the house. It was a beautiful home. The outside was painted with whites and beiges and the front step was decorated with white pillar columns. Delicate trees with pink and white flowers were placed expertly in correct places. It was beautiful.
I turned the key in the ignition and got out, locking the vehicle before slipping the keys into my pocket and following Roxanne to the front of the house. I knocked on the door politely and noted that Roxanne had taken a step back and had pulled out her phone for the moment to probably text someone. She quickly put it away when the door opened.
"Uh, hello. Can I help you two...?" A middle aged woman asked in a thick, southern accent. She wore a bright pink floral dress and her blonde hair was in a confusing updo. She glanced from me to Roxanne, her eyes lingering on Roxanne for a few awkward seconds before tuning back to me.
"Alexander Sempers, NYPD. This is Roxanne Winston, FBI. May we come in, we need to speak to you and your family immediately." I said pulling out my badge to show her that I was, in fact legitimate. She nodded slowly and opened the door wide to allow us into her home. It was gorgeous inside. Antique décor, silver and glass, paintings and pictures. It was beautiful.
"Uh, please, take a seat. I'll go get my husband and daughter. I'm Isabel, by the way." She said holding out a hand. I took it and shook it politely, nodding as a sign that I was listening. "I'll be right back. Y'all take a seat, won't you?" She said before she left, pointing to the couch in the living room. I looked over at Roxanne to see her standing still, arms crossed, icy blue eyes colder than ever. It was almost frightening to look at her in such a state.
"Excuse my daughter's slowness, she'll be down any minute. This is my husband, Sterling." I shook hands with the man in the military uniform. He was taller than me, at least six foot five. I could feel the tension as Sterling and Roxanne exchanged glances. What was with Roxanne? Not shaking any hands, being ice cold, being, well, ... a bitch? I was more confused than ever at Roxanne's attitude.
"Mother! Seriously? I was busy!" A young woman said. Her blonde hair was curled and messy as she straightened her skirt and buttoned her shirt. I could only imagine how she had been busy and how she got away with it.
"Not when we're in the house, Krystal. This is Alexander Sempers, NYPD, and this is... Roxanne Winston, FBI."
"NYPD? Do they treat you well?" Krystal smirked, missing a button as she bit her lip. I swallowed nervously at her awkward question.
"Sit down." Roxanne said coldly. Krystal turned to her and smirked again, but not in the same way she had done looking at me. She looked barely Roxanne's age, but somehow seemed older. Like my own age.
"Don't a bitch too early..." Krystal replied as she sat down, followed by her parents on the couch in front of us. "I thought you were dead. You've surprised me." She looked at Roxanne. I turned to the blonde I knew so little of but yet so much, but she didn't move. Her features didn't change, her eyes didn't soften. She stayed the same.
"I thought you'd be pregnant by now. You've surprised me." Roxanne replied. Krystal laughed.
"I'm not that ignorant. You of people should know that."
"You could've fooled me by the amount of men you seem to have been sleeping with."
"How do you know that?"
"The back door opened and closed approximately three times. Evidence says everything."
"Oh, really? Well, I-"
"Krystal." Isabel spoke in a low tone. Krystal stopped talking and looked at her mother's cold features. She sighed as if she knew exactly what Isabel was telling her.
"Yes, mother..." She spoke, sitting up straight and crossing her legs.
"Go on. Please."
"Uh... Yes..." I muttered as I pulled out a manila folder and opened it. I silently choked on my voice as I saw the records. I had never seen them before, not till then. Hell, I hadn't even known the victim's first name until that moment.
Dallas Thomas Winston
I turned to Roxanne, but she made no movement.
"Just give them the damn report, Sempers." She spoke coldly, staring at Krystal with her eyes narrowed. I placed the folder on the glass table silently and watched blankly as Sterling read it. He bowed his head as he showed Isabel. Tears ran down her face at lighting speed, the same could be said for Krystal when she stood up to see the paper, collapsing at her mother's feet when she realized what had happened.
"You could've prevented it..." Krystal said, her eyes glued to Roxanne and her southern accent strained along with her voice. I looked at the blonde who was still standing still, arms crossed, eyes cold.
"I believe that's my line." She said coldly. "After all, your the cause, he's just the effect." Roxanne said nothing else as she left the room. I heard the front door open and close and I knew Roxanne had left the house.
"Dustin and now Dallas?" Isabel muttered. I swallowed as I looked at Krystal. She had dazed off after Roxanne had left, and now was looking at me.
"What the hell happened to my sister?"
"Why the hell didn't you tell me?" I asked Roxanne as soon as I got outside. She was leaning against the car, texting someone like she had when we had first got to the door.
"Why the hell should I? We're partners, not friends." She said, not looking up from her phone.
"You know, some things just need to be said. Like when your brother dies and your family hasn't seen you in forever!" I sighed and swallowed as I walked around the car.
"We are not friends, Sempers. I don't have to tell you anything about my personal life. We only work together. That's how it is. So don't go and get pissed off because I didn't tell you something like this. We're not friends. Remember that."
Again, R&R!
Read and REVIEW!
✌lustfuleyes100
https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3259077/1/Poison
No comments:
Post a Comment