Page 67 of Breeze and Melodie

“Yes, he’s in custody.”

“And the charges?”

“No charges listed as of now. The system hasn’t updated yet?”

Harmonee and I quietly watched as Mr. Lincoln spoke to the woman. However, when she said there were no charges after two hours, I got fired up.

“You’re holding him with no charges. That doesn’t make any sense,” I said.

“And who are you?” the woman asked with an attitude.

“His fiancée. Why are you holding him with?—”

“I told you the system probably hasn’t updated.”

“Because there’s nothing to update. My man ain’t done?—”

“Ms. Norwood, can you and your sister go have a seat over there?” Mr. Lincoln suggested, nodding his head toward the waiting area.

Before I could say anything else, Harmonee looped her arm through mine, pulling in that direction.

“Mel, you gotta stay calm. These people barely want to help us, and if you give them attitude, you can forget about it. Chill out.”

I begrudgingly sat down and folded my arms across my chest. If somebody didn’t tell me something soon, I might lose it.

“I know what you’re thinking, Mel. This ain’t the place to crash out. Breeze would not be happy if you and his babies got locked up because you showing your ass in the police station.”

Harmonee was right. I would be of no help to Breeze if they locked me up. I closed my eyes and took slow, deep breaths until Mr. Lincoln’s voice got my attention.

“I’m headed back to see him. Don’t do anything to make matters worse while I’m gone.”

I nodded while Harmonee assured him that I would behave, . . . and I did, until I heard a familiar voice nearby. I looked around to see where the voice was coming from. It was right outside the waiting area in the small hallway with vending machines.

“Harm, I need you to go to the vending machine right around this corner and record the two people talking.”

“What?”

“Gimme your phone.”

I held my hand out and waited for her to place her phone in my hand after unlocking it. I swiped until I found her voice memos and pressed record.

“Now go. Take your time deciding what you want.”

She nodded and casually walked away. I was already seated in the chair closest to the opening of the area and peeked around the corner. Just like I thought, it was Tia. Her back was to me, but I still recognized her. The man she was talking to wasn’t much taller than her, and I was sure he couldn’t see past her, so I pulled out my phone and quickly snapped a picture.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked her.

“He needs to pay for playing in my face for six months.”

“I’m putting my job on the line for you. This better work.”

“How could it not? The only alibi he’ll have is that raggedy ass Melodie, and you cops know how often women lie for their men.”

“She won’t be lying because he really ain’t do shit.”

“That’s not the point.”

“We can only hold him for seventy-two hours without charging him with something.”

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