Speaking of the devil

Prologue

Twelve years ago

Chloe forced a smile as she hugged her cousin Devon at yet another family gathering. She could swear Smiths had family gatherings after every two weeks as if to keep track of the ever-multiplying nieces and cousins etcetera. The only thing Chloe enjoyed about these gatherings was talking about everyone on the way home, Her father was one funny man and he always had something to say about Uncle Malcolm and Aunt Lashante who were the most successful family members. So basically all the gatherings were the same but this one was an exception though, It was a last-minute get together at their house to celebrate her mother's successful LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure). Her mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer two years ago and everything had gone haywire since then. They went in and out of the hospital weekly for a year and a half to visit her mother after a doctor had confirmed the severity of her case so this event was a really big deal for everyone.

''LOE!!!'' Ava screamed while holding an empty cone. Ava was Chloe's younger sister and she had trouble pronouncing Chloe's name."My ithee-cleam fell down" she cried. Chloe picked her sister up as she stifled a laugh, Ava always dropped her ice-cream so everyone who really knew her knew not to indulge her whenever she asked for one. Sophia, Chloe's older sister gave a knowing smile as she saw Ava's telltale pout. Chloe smiled sheepishly as she looked at her sister who was arguing on the phone with yet another boyfriend. Her parents were dancing on the tabletop a routine they had been doing together ever since they started dating way back in high school.

Chloe was not a hopeless romantic but her parents' kind of life pulled at her heartstrings, they someone to act like they were lovestruck horny teenagers even on their 35th year of marriage. The image of her parents dancing was going to be forever etched in her mind because she did not know it then but it would be her last happy memory of them.

The wail of sirens was audible over the loud music as it drew nearer. The crime rates in Del Paso Heights were unbelievably high so the sound was not foreign to her. She put Ava down as she helped her parents clean up the party. Only a few guests were still lingering inside the house when a police car pulled over in front of their house. Chloe's stomach turned as a white cop exited the car. A Latino one remained in the car, clearly drunk on the job.

''What do you want officer?" Devon said dryly, as an African American teenage boy he had 'not so friendly' past encounters with the police.

"Watch your tone kid, one of your neighbors complained about a weed party and loud noises so if you could point to the responsible adults here," the cop said.

''It's not here sir, somebody been pranking you" Devon scoffed. The cop turned red in the face clearly agitated,'' Look here kid you might want to shut the fuck up okay? I had a long day and the last thing I need is some kid talking smack to me" the cop retorted as he held Devon's collar 

"Hey, leave the boy alone he is a minor"Chloe's dad said as he gently grabbed the cop's arm. Chloe's mother held on to her dad in case things got ugly because white cops plus black people always equals ugly.

Ava began to scream as the cop tried to push Chloe's dad back. Chloe began to panic because the situation was only going to end badly for them if her dad and the cop fought. Ava ran towards their mother when a loud bang silenced her screaming, another bang two more, three more and Chloe lost count, all she could do was scream as the cop, Officer Carson as Chloe would later find out, held his shoulder and shouted," What did you do Garcia!!?" as he stared at the Latino cop who was shaking while he pointed his gun at Devon who was now standing near the back door apparently having mustered the courage to run as soon as the shots were fired.

Ava lay still on the floor, Chloe's mother clutched her stomach as she writhed in pain and her father, much like Ava, lay still his unblinking eyes looking upwards. 

''What did you do'' Officer Carson kept yelling at his partner while he called for back up,'' What did you do?"