Affinity

Chapter 34: Pop-Up

" Ms. Ever is right this way." I heard a coworker intone my name as her voice grew louder along with the  steps of her and at least one other individual.

" Hey Ab, this detective asked to speak to you." Harmony looked at me with a confused expression as she lifted her eyebrows to the detective who flanked her right side.

" Ok, thanks Har, I'll be in Trish's office if you need me. Detective, this way." I gave a cursory glance to the detective and recognized him as the one who'd interviewed us the morning after Travis' murder. Needless to say I was none too amused by his appearance at my place of business.

" Ms. Ever I don't mean to interrupt your morning, just wanted to check in with you." I caught his gaze lingering on Travis' name wrapped around my neck, I adjusted it's length for added affect.

" I'm fine, but let's not pretend this is a goodwill call detective. I would appreciate if you laid out your true intentions." I crossed my legs at Trish's desk and steeled my gaze in his direction. It was now Friday and I had nearly finished my tenure in Trish's stead. I didn't need this unnecessary ass motherfucker putting a blemish on my track record.

" There's just a few anomalies that have popped up that I would like to discuss with you." He leaned further towards the desk as he angled his body at the edge of his seat so his words wouldn't have to travel far to reach me.

" Detective.....Jensen is it?" I knew his damn name but waited for his head nod in the affirmative before I continued, " Is this line of questioning about Travis' murder, or me, personally? Don't think I'm too dull to realize you were trying to casually steer the conversation towards me after his murder." I put emphasis on the word 'murder' as I caught him looking at my necklace once more.

" Attached to him were you?"

" Stupid ass questions won't warrant answers. That was my blood through and through no question. Now I'm tryna take ya constant gaze below eye level to be your remembrance of a great man when you look at the chain that bears his name, because otherwise that's ya ass." Jensen raised his hands in surrender as he sparked a cheshire smile; he was beginning to irritate me.

" All respect, scouts honor." Now that's some white shit if I ever heard it.

" Do you know who Travis was employed by?"

" No. We always stayed on more social or familial topics, he was a family man after all." Short and sweet, I was done with the monologues.

" See..that's interesting...because I  know what he did."

" Would you like a cookie for that?"

" Seems he was a low level drug dealer under a mister.....Hakim Ever." Bullshit, he could never know that, I kept a straight face as I waited for him to continue.

" That's your brother isn't it?"

Motherfucker. " Don't play with my emotions you know that's my brother. But if you knew shit about shit you would know I haven't spoken to him in years and I know nothing about him past the time he left."

" See, I find that hard to believe seeing as how you're now opening up businesses, who else would have the capital to afford you such ventures?"

" Alright, catch up time over. It's called loans and inheritances, none of which are any of your business. I'm letting you know now you better refrain from ever talking to me, digging into my business, or finding your way into my places of business. Your excused." I saw the pull of a smug smile under the catch of his hand as he opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it, and imparted a final grin to me before walking out of the office.

" Fuck, man!" I sat down in the chair frustrated with all of life, maybe Jay was right in saying the cops weren't the way to go. It was time for another family meeting. 

Will Ab have to scrap her plan to go to the cops?

Is detective Jensen gonna be a problem?