Caught Up

Chapter 10

Like a deer in the headlights, both Taj and Laynaa’s eyes were fixed on the door. Time seemed to stand still.

*BOOM BOOM BOOM*

The deafening bang on the door jolted them both out of their trance. Laynaa grabbed Taj by the arm and dragged her into her bedroom.

“What are they doing here?!” Taj harshly whispered.

“I don’t know. How they even find out where I live??” Laynaa whispered back. “Get in the closet!”

Within seconds Taj was shoved into the lavish walk-in closet behind a bag of shoes. Laynaa softly shut her bedroom door and walked toward the front door, straightening her clothes on the way. She slowly unlocked the door, leaving the chain on, and opened it just as much as the chain would allow.

“Yes?” Laynaa said with much attitude.

“Ma’am, there was an incident at a club u may have been at. We just want to ask you some questions. Can we come in?” the cop said through the small space.

“What do you mean?” Laynaa retorted.

The officer held up Laynaa’s ID for her to see. “Can we come in?”

Feeling like she had no other choice, Laynaa closed the door, unhooked the chain and opened it again to allow the two officers to come in. She stood nervously near the door with her arms crossed, waiting for the cops to talk. She couldn’t help but think that the officer looked like a sloppy version of Carl Winslow from one of her favorite TV shows Family Matters.

“I’m Officer Myers, this is my partner, Officer Martin” Winslow said. “Earlier today there was a fire at club Phoenix downtown. There was a Chevy Impala left at the scene of the crime and your ID was found inside. We traced the tags and it belongs to a Miss Taraji Thomas. We have reason to believe she was involved. Have you seen or spoken to her today?”

“No, I haven’t talked to her since I caught a ride with her to the club. I left early with someone else” Laynaa said with a straight face.

Winslow jotted something down in his notepad. “and who did you leave with?” he questioned.

“My friend Keisha” Laynaa lied.

“We questioned a miss Kerri Washington and she told us that you and Taraji were close. Why didn’t you leave with her? And why haven’t you contacted her since your ID was in her car. Did you not want it? You were just going to leave your identification in her car and not ask about it?” Winslow asked accusingly.

“Look, I didn’t know my ID had fallen out of my purse. And I had been busy all day so, no, I haven’t talked to her yet.” Laynaa said annoyed.

“Miss Washington also said there was an altercation. Wanna tell us anything about that?” There was something green stuck in Winslow’s teeth and it was all Laynaa could stare at as he talked. Everything about his demeanor screamed lazy, no-good cop. She was disgusted that he was even in her apartment.

Snapping herself out of her thoughts, Laynaa replied, “Is she pressing charges?”

“YOU FUCKED HER SHIT UP!! She aint say nothing bout pressing charges but she should!” Officer Martin interjected.

“MARTIN! How many times do I have to tell you to watch your mouth on the job?!” Winslow scolded his partner.

“Man, I HATE bitches like her, always got an attitude, always fightin and never getting thrown in jail where they belong!” Martin yelled.

“Bitch? Who the FUCK you callin a bitch? You in MY house callin ME a bitch??” Laynaa said raising her voice.

“You’re interfering with the investigation Martin!” Winslow yelled.