Page 56 of Love & Vendettas

I didn’t go to Essence Hamilton right away because I have to tread lightly where she is concerned. There’s too much danger in that approach, and while I really don’t give a fuck when it comes to Bayleigh, I also know that I have to make sure that I get my answers without tipping my hand.

Telling anyone that she’s missing who doesn’t already know it could be like signing her death certificate. So, I’ll get whatever information that I can, in any way that I can, before I go to Essence.

Cameron Ryland is a disgrace to any and everything. His office smells like someone took a dump in here. There are grease stains on his yellowed, white shirt and flecks of food in his beard. The crotch of his white pants is saturated with the red juice he’d been drinking when we barged in.

File folders litter every surface, and books are stacked haphazardly on the two lone chairs.

“I’m gonna tell you one last time, if you don’t have a warrant, and you don’t because you damn sure ain’t no cop, then you can get the fuck out of here with that,” he replies.

I punch the obese man in his jaw, knocking him over in his chair. His face instantly splits in the crease between his nose and cheekbone.

“Zaire,” Janel warns behind me.

I ignore her in exchange for pounding the shit out of his face. I’m instantly pulled back.

“Let us handle this, G,” Ghalen states.

“Not when it comes to her,” I say, shaking my head and glaring at the piece of shit who’s trying to pick his bulk up from the ground.

“Listen, dude. I suggest that you give us access to your video cameras if you don’t want a bullet in the center of your forehead. A bitch is tired and hungry. I don’t have time to beat your fat ass, and my boy ain’t really interested in that. This big ass nigga behind me gon’ do the same thing that I am gonna do, except that he might torture you first,” Janel warns.

Cameron wipes his lips with the back of his hand and looks up at the three of us in confusion.

“It’s on my computer,” he answers, pointing at the old, outdated system.

I walk over to the computer and find that it’s not locked. I push a couple of keys on the keyboard and then scan for the security system.

“Flight Time. It’s that app,” he states.

I push the one that he indicates and jab a finger at it. “I need to see your footage from yesterday when the man rented the car.”

Cameron runs the video back to the requested date and time for us to review. I recognize the man. He’s one of the men from the club the night we celebrated Hakeem’s birthday.

I also recall seeing him on TV a few years back as a member of Essence’s security detail.

After reviewing the records that he left as a mailing address and job, I ask, “The fuck kind of business are you running here?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Cameron grumbles, rolling his eyes at me.

“At what point did you or your staff realize that one-two-three Candyland Lane wasn’t a real address? Or Parker Brothers on one-one-one Monopoly Way wasn’t a legit job address?”

“The fuck.” Janel snickers.

“You’re lucky I don’t have your business shut the fuck down. Ghalen, let’s bug. This was a waste of time.”

“All right, Bossman.”

“Janel, stay on this muthafucka,” I order, glaring at Cameron Ryland. “Ghalen and I have a very special visit to make.”

“Gotcha, Bossman,” she replies, smirking at Cameron.

He has no idea his ass is in hot water.

The drive to Essence’s office takes less than twenty minutes with the way Ghalen floors it. We pull up to the small firm that Essence has been working from since she left the DA’s office.

Her car is the only one parked in the lot, surprisingly. When we step inside, I don’t even see anyone at the receptionist’s desk.

I don’t have time for niceties or etiquette. I shove the inner door open, leading into her office, and find her on the phone.

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