“Raf, enough. I know you’re aren’t jealous,” Mimi said.
“No, I’m not jealous. Can’t be too careful. Stray men walking into my daughter’s room. You aren’t the stalker?”
“What?” John asked. He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. “Look, I came by to check on your wife and daughter. Truth of the matter, we did run into each other a few days ago.” Raf lifted his eyebrow. “I was out for a jog and ran into an old schoolmate,” John continued. “Life happens, man. You need to lighten up.”
“Is that so?” Raf said. “I don’t know if Mimi told you, but I was on my way to a war zone. This wasn’t my first but third time. Excuse me if I seem uptight because I am. My little girl is lying helpless in that bed and they haven’t found the son-of-a-bitch who’s done this. Let’s start over. Nice to meet you, John.”
John took Raphael’s hand with some reluctance. “Nice to meet you, too. Glad to see you’re doing better, Mimi. I’ll check on you all later. If there’s anything I can get you, Raphael, let me know. Maybe we can go and get some suds—get your mind off things.”
“Now that’s the second nicest thing I’ve heard today. I’ll take you up on that offer, but later.”
“All right. Will see you later.” And John was gone.
“And who the hell was that, Mimi?”
“I told you. An old college friend.”
“Uhm, hmm.”
“Remember, we’re here for Afrika.”
BRENDA TURNED OVER AND LOOKED AT THE CLOCK. IT WAS ONE IN the afternoon. She’d overslept; the morning had disappeared, and as much as she’d wanted to go the house of the Lord today, it was past too late. With arms outstretched, she yawned, closed her eyes, returned to her fetal position, and pulled the comforter up high. She stuck her arms underneath her stomach and began to doze off.
Within a few minutes, Brenda’s eyes popped open. She released one of her arms from underneath her and felt for the place that was usually occupied by her husband. The sheets were cold and hadn’t been parted, an obvious sign that Victor had not come home or had chosen to sleep somewhere else in the house.
Brenda willed herself to sit up. Her eyes and ears met a silent, still room—no evidence that anyone had been there other than herself in the last eight hours. Brenda wasn’t sure what to make of it, but her mind started spinning and every conceivable negative thought she had about Victor raced to the forefront.
She pulled back the covers and placed her feet on the floor. Brenda felt gloomy like the day outside. Her thoughts turned to Mimi and Afrika…praying that Afrika would recover and Mimi wouldn’t hold her accountable if indeed this was the work of Victor. Then Brenda’s subconscious went to rewind as she replayed Mimi’s story about Victor raping her over and over. Mimi’s words marinated in her soul, and Brenda couldn’t let go…and then the visual.
Jumping up from the bed, Brenda balled her fists. “Why, Jesus? Why is this happening to me? God, I want to believe Mimi, and in my heart of hearts I know she’s telling the truth. But Victor is my husband…and…and, he wouldn’t have done that to me…hurt me that way.”
Brenda sighed. The place was too quiet for her. She put on her robe and went in search of Victor. Surely he was in another room.
Brenda went from room to room but no Victor. She opened the door to Trevor’s bedroom. There was evidence Trevor had slept in his bed, but he was not there now.
“Trevor!” Brenda yelled.
“Down here, Mom!” Trevor yelled back.
“Is your dad down there?”
“Do you mean, did Dad come home?”
“Don’t be a smart mouth, Trevor.”
“Haven’t seen him.”
“Thank you.”
Brenda retreated to her bedroom. Before she could close the door, the doorbell rang.
“Get that, Trevor!”
“Yeah, yeah!”
Trevor went to the door and opened it. He stared into the faces of the detectives who had graced their presence on the Christianson’s doorstep yesterday.
“May I help you?” Trevor asked, his head cocked to the side.
“Detective Samuels and Detective Marshall,” Marshall said. They flipped their badges.
“I know who you are.”
“I’m glad we made an impression,” Detective Samuels said. “Son, is your dad here? We need to talk with him.”
“Nope; he didn’t come home last night. Haven’t seen him since yesterday.”
“Is your mother here? We would like to talk to her.”
Trevor stared at the detectives. “Wait here. Let me see if she’s up.”