Like a Sister(100)
Mel kept talking. “It sure as hell isn’t because of that other one.”
When I opened my eyes again, he’d turned around. “And now you made me wake up my daughter. Tell him he can come up now.”
Conversation over, he pressed his earpiece to hang up the call. He walked right up to the standard-issue hospital table next to me and took me in. Smiled. I tried to speak, but my mouth felt like cotton.
“You need water.” He put his phone down and grabbed the pitcher from the table.
He poured me a cup and handed it over. He’d gone a bit too hard with the ice chips, but it tasted good. Better than the four-hundred-dollar bottle at his apartment. I finished the whole thing, even though it hurt to swallow. Mel’s phone rang again. He ignored it—too busy watching me. He moved only when someone knocked on the door. “Come in.”
Detective Green. The concern on his face morphed into relief. Made me realize I needed to do my own self-evaluation. My left foot was in a cast and both wrists were bruised. My throat felt raw. I raised my right hand to take stock of my head. Found it was bandaged.
But at least my left wrist didn’t itch.
Mel barely greeted Green, sharing not more than a nod before refilling my plastic cup.
“You look great, Lena,” Green said. I’m sure it was a lie but one I appreciated nonetheless. “I just wanted to come check on you. Give you an update.”
“And thank you,” Mel said.
“Yes. And thank you.”
I nodded, took a drink. I finally got one word out. “Stuart.”
“Dead.”
I’d gotten my wish, but it sure didn’t feel like world peace. If anything, it just felt like more chaos. He’d played the Magical Nonthreatening Negro role to a tee. The suits. The smile. The “I’m on your side.” Like Desiree, I had fallen for it. It would take a long time for me to get over that.
“We do consider Desiree’s case closed. Now a homicide. Same with Denise Paterson.”
I nodded. I couldn’t think about that now, and wasn’t sure I’d forgive myself later.
I thought of seeing her body, then being in that car. The chase and then: “Erin.”
She had to be okay. The Caddy was as big as the MINI Cooper was small. She had to have braced herself. There had to have been an airbag.
“We think she’s alive.”
“Think?”
I tensed, and some machine in the room beeped faster. She saved my life. Mel touched my hand holding the cup, led it to my mouth. “Drink, Melina. Erin was okay enough to walk away from the accident.”
Green nodded. “No one’s seen her since. We’d like to talk to her if she does reach out to you.”
I hoped she would. But despite this peace treaty, I doubted I’d tell them.
“We did arrest Neil Marks, so thank you for that.”
I nodded. I’m sure Naut’s arrest was front-page news, though I wondered who wrote the article. I hoped he got a shitty-ass headline.
Mel’s phone went to his lock screen. The photo was the one of the three of us. I looked at it, at Desiree smiling at me. She wasn’t perfect. She’d made mistakes, especially at the end of her life. But she’d died because she wanted to do the right thing—or at least her version of it. The guilt about not being there for her when she needed me would never go away, but I was happy that I was able to prove this for her—even if it had landed me in this hospital bed. I was exhausted, too tired to take in any more updates. Green got the hint too. “I should probably go.”
His exit was swift, leaving just me and Mel. I pretended not to notice him staring at me, as if I’d up and disappear right in front of his eyes. Finally, I looked at him.
“Drink,” he said again, and I did as told. “Aunt E was with us all night. Eventually I had someone take her home. We need to call her.”
I nodded.
“And I still think you should move.” But he’d smiled when he said it.
“No.” But I smiled too. At least tried to.
“You’re gonna be okay,” he said.
“Of course I am,” I said, my voice finally strong. “I’m a Pierce.”
POSTED JUNE 30, 2016,
11:30 a.m. Eastern @TheDesireePierce212
A close-up of Desiree Pierce looking flawless. A waiter in a dress shirt walks behind her holding a bottle of champagne.
“You guys, I have the most amazing news. Zarah’s show got picked up. I’m gonna be on TV! Ahhhh.” She fake screams, then turns the camera to her right and leans toward Lena Scott so they’re both in the frame. “Say hi to my big sister. Lena.”
But Lena’s not paying attention. She casually holds a mimosa as she stares intently at someone next to her, ignoring the eggs and bacon on the expensive-looking plate in front of her.
“Lena!” Desiree’s voice is louder.
Lena finally turns.
“Say hi!”
“Hi!” But she’s already looking back at her neighbor.
Unbothered, Desiree pans more so we see who has Lena’s attention: Mel Pierce. “That’s my dad,” she says to the camera. “What are you two talking about?”
Mel looks at Lena conspiratorially. ”Nothing,” he says.