The Question of Him

can handle it

December 19th, 1996

"What happened after you got in the car?"

"I told Amiyah that everything would be okay and that we were going with Michael until her dad came to get us. He drove us around for an hour until parking in the Century apartments in St. Paul. His fiancée was there waiting on us and she looked about 20. Michael kept threatening to hurt me and take Amiyah- I couldn't risk it."

Agent Cull nodded in understanding, "You did the right thing, none of this is your fault. Grant is the one responsible... Now, did he tell you what to say when you called?"

"Yes, he made it clear he wanted me to say I needed the money. We used the phone booth four blocks away from the apartments, by the river. Then the second time, we went into the city about twenty minutes."

"Did he say anything specific that sticks out to you. He may have given himself away and hinted on where he was headed."

I think hard, going through everything that he said to me. "Something about someone threatening his life and doing this because he was desperate."

"Take your time, if there's anything you may not think is important or something you brushed off, it may help us.."

"There was something...Marie said she would be happy to be home. Maybe she's going back to where she's originally from? Michael frequented Columbia University, that's where I met him-he probably met her there too."

"That's a great lead Phara. We can get your sketch to the administrators on campus and ask around. I promise, we'll get both of them." He stood and reached his hand out to me. I accept it, "Thank you."

When I exit Agent Cull's office, Prince stands up from the table he was sitting at with Amiyah. I give him a smile so he would relax and thanked Cull again. "No, thank you. We'll be in touch."

All of my memory came back yesterday evening and I didn't want to wait to talk to him. The doctor said it was probably the combination of the sedative and stress that caused the amnesia, and that it was unlikely to happen again. Prince was a little worried about me, but making sure Amiyah stayed safe was the only thing on my mind.

Thankfully it was the holidays and the press was focused elsewhere. Even though my case is sealed, Prince still threatened legal action against the police departments if any of this information got leaked. That's how I know he was serious. If anyone found out about him paying 500 grand to get us back, that would put everyone around him life in danger.

That's why I wanted to let Denise know for Khaled's sake. We both agreed that the children should have security when going back to school, especially with him going public in February. Franco was glad to put a team together with JJ, who is the very serious security at Paisley's gate.

But after all this, I just want to spend time with my family for the holidays and not think about Michael Latrell Grant until it's time for me to testify against him.

•••

December 24, 1996
Christmas Eve

"No peeking!" Amiyah warned while Prince and I sat on the couch with our eyes closed. "I'm not peeking!"

Her and Khaled wanted to surprise us with the finished product of her collage. "Okay..open your eyes in one, two... three!" She shouted. I opened my eyes and was surprised at how different it was from the last time she let me peek at it. I'm guessing this is what they've been doing for the last few days. The pictures were rearranged and put together to look like a tree.