ODDS OF LOVE : ONE MOMENT

Episode 5

Friday August 30 , 2024 ( Texts )

Faith: You told Pamela. About what happened between us. You told her.

Melinda: Of course I did. Why shouldn't I have? She was only rebound. I knew we were meant to be. It's why I couldn't stay in Colorado. Did she move out yet lol ?

Faith: She's dead. She's dead , you bitch. She died last night in a car crash she should never have been in if it wasn't for you and me. Fuck you and your damn text to her. Stay the hell away from me.

                   ----------

Detective Nita Browne sat at her cluttered desk in the Sex Crimes section of the Special Victims Division of the Prince George's County Police Department. She was holding up one of the pictures taken of Dr. Spencer Norland -Lane last night. The man looked so sweet and vulnerable.

( " I'm fine. Nothing happened. " )

She didn't believe that one. Because she had looked in his eyes. She saw the fear there. The man was deeply terrified. But of what ? Her partner Wally thought it might be the husband he was protecting but Nita didn't believe that either. She was a good judge of character and nobody could fake the level of love and devotion she had witnessed between those two men last night. DuBuis Lane wasn't the attacker but Spencer had been attacked. And it was her job to find out who had done it. Even if the actual victim was very uncooperative. It wasn't like she hadn't faced difficult victims before in her many years doing sex crimes. Rape and sexual assault was not exactly a premium club anyone wanted to join. Especially not a man.

She sensed someone standing beside her desk. Someone who was practically shooting out many rays of sadness so bold that it nearly put tears in her eyes. She looked up and saw Deputy Faith Lane before her. Word was out that the brass had cleared her on the Klein shooting and put her back on the streets where she belonged. Everyone knew the shooting was righteous anyway. Word also said that her girlfriend had died in a car accident last night. And that she was Nita's current uncooperative vic's sister in law.

" Morning, Lane. Heard about your girl. My condolences. "

Faith's beautiful brown skinned face remained expressionless as she shrugged her shoulders and said," Thank you. I'm here because I heard you caught what went down last night at my brother's place. To his husband. "

" I did. "

" Spencer is still saying nothing happened. Don't believe him , Browne. He's scared. We can all see that. Even more scared than he should be right now. Someone has him fucking shaking right now. I think it might be connected to his shooting. "

Nita doubted that but she was willing to hear the woman out. She did think Lane was a good cop if a bit reckless at times. And hotheaded. " One is dead. Homicide has zero leads on the case so it's destined to be a cold case. The other is in hospital and about to be discharged for arrangiment today I hear. "

" True but there is one more out there. And we still don't know who did the actual shooting in the store that day. Klein is still claiming innocent but my source put him dead in the store at the time. "

Nita nodded briskly. " I'll consider it, Lane. "

Faith Lane opened her mouth as if to say more but then closed it with a sigh and turned to leave the squad room with a resigned air.

" Lane, you ever need to talk I'm here. "

Faith said simply," Why would I need to talk? "

Then she slipped on her black mirrored sunshades.