Page 73 of Breeze and Melodie

“Some of the wildest shit that’s ever happened to me. I left out of the building to go to the grocery store, and out of nowhere, I was attack by some crazy ass woman. She jumped from behind the bushes and said she’d been waiting to get me alone. I was startled and didn’t have time to brace myself, so when she jumped on me, we fell to the ground.”

“What the hell? This doesn’t make any sense,” I offered.

“No, it doesn’t, but it gets worse. I managed to roll over and get on top of her. She kept swinging, so I matched her energy. The whole time, she was shouting something about me paying for what I’ve done, and how I wouldn’t get away with it. Luckily, there were people who witnessed her attack me, and I was only defending myself because I beat the bricks off that ho.”

“As you should have, Sis. Who is this woman?”

Just as I asked that question, another officer, who looked vaguely familiar, approached us and said, “Mr. Foster, Ms. Norwood, it’s good to see you again, although these aren’t the best circumstances. After some digging, we found out her name is Arielle Maxey.”

When he spoke, I remembered why he looked familiar. He was the officer who came to the hospital with Breeze after Sean attacked me.

“What’s good, Officer Downing. We don’t know anyone by that name,” Breeze said. “Maybe she mistook Harmonee for someone else.”

I wasn’t sure why he didn’t mention our connection to her, but I followed my man’s lead.

“Yeah, I don’t know anyone by that name.”

“Neither do I,” Harmonee added.

“Based on the conversation I tried to have with her, I believe there could be some mental instability. I’m not certain, but I will have someone check her out when we get down to the station,” Downing said.

“We appreciate that, sir. Is there anything we can do to ensure this doesn’t happen again?” I asked.

The expression on both officers’ faces gave me my answer.

“Once she’s released, we’ll inform you and have some units circulate the area for a while. Make sure you pay attention to your surroundings when you come and go. Once charges are filed, there might be enough evidence to get a restraining order, but if she has mental issues, as Officer Downing suggested, a restraining order won’t mean much.”

A few minutes later, the first officer left with Arielle in the back of his squad car. Harmonee and I headed into the building while Breeze remained outside talking to Officer Downing.

“Is this the same Arielle who was dating Sean?” I nodded. “The same one that came to the shop asking about him?” I nodded again. “The one who tried to attack you at the doctor’s office.”

“The same woman. She blames me for everything and definitely thought you were me. She’s obviously a bit more disturbed than I thought.”

“Why do you think Breeze denied knowing her?”

“I’m sure he has a good reason, and I didn’t want to counter what he told them.”

“True.”

I pressed the elevator button, and we waited. “I’ll find out his angle when he comes up.”

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside. “Like you said, he probably has a good reason.”

“Shit! I never did ask if you’re okay. Did she?—”

“Sis, I beat her ass. Okay? I didn’t know what the hell was happening and was fighting for my life.”

“It doesn’t look like she touched you.”

“She might have landed a few body blows. Had the police not gotten here as quickly as they did, she might not be among the living.”

“I’m glad you got hands, Sis.”

“Me too. I’m licensed to carry now, so if she runs up on me again, it might end differently.”

“Say that shit again. I think we should go back to the range for more practice, just in case she didn’t learn her lesson. I’ll have Breeze set it up.”

“I guess I’ll go grocery shopping tomorrow. I’m going my ass to bed.”

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