Free Alibi by Teri Woods Page A

wonder who did that to her?” said another girl, turning to see Daisy walk into the room. “Oh, hi, Daisy. Did you hear what
     happened to Trixie?”
    “Yeah,” said Daisy, “I heard. It’s just unbelievable.” Daisy didn’t want the other girls to know she had taken Trixie to the
     hotel for Sticks’s little get-together. She didn’t want anyone to know she had anything to do with Trixie’s condition at all.
     Rape and sodomy were criminal activity, and Daisy wanted nothing to do with a criminal investigation.
Damn, did anybody see us leave together last night? Shit, I hope not. What if Trixie phoned a friend and told them she was
     with me? Damn, damn, damn, I’ll be suspect number one before the night is out.
With that cloud of gray news hanging over her head, Daisy just couldn’t seem to get right. All night, she was off her marker.
     Truth was, she just didn’t feel like working. It was too much, the night before, Sticks beatin’ her for her two thousand dollars
     and then Trixie being drugged lay a little too heavy on her mind.
    Quitting time couldn’t come fast enough. Daisy was the first one out the door. Walking down the street to the bus stop, Daisy
     was so lost in her own translation of last night’s events she wasn’t paying attention and bumped into a passerby.
    Her pocketbook fell to the ground and some of the contents fell out. In particular, Sticks’s photo gallery collection.
Damn,
she thought as she quickly bent to pick her purse off the ground.
    “Oh, I’m sorry. Here, let me help,” said a kind voice, as the passerby bent to pick up one of the Polaroids that was lying
     face down.
    “That’s okay,” said Daisy as she slapped the Polaroid back down on the ground and picked up the photo herself. “I don’t need
     any help. Thank you,” she said, making eye contact with a fine-looking brother, wearing a business suit at that.
    “I’m so sorry. I was looking at my cell phone and I wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going. Can you forgive me?”
     he politely asked.
    “It was nothing. Of course, I’m fine. Thank you,” she said as she adjusted her pocketbook over her shoulder.
    “I’m Reggie Carter,” he said as he extended his hand to her.
    “I’m Daisy, Daisy Fothergill,” she answered as she took his hand in hers.
    “You know, I was just getting ready to go over to this tiny coffee shop and get a bite to eat. Would you like to join me?”
     he asked, looking every bit a nerd, glasses and all.
    “Umm, no, no thank you. I must be getting on my way. But the offer is very kind of you.”
    “Well, maybe if you don’t want to grab some coffee or a bite to eat now, maybe another time?” he politely asked, very much
     hoping to be able to share her company.
    “Ummm, why not,” Daisy said after carefully thinking it over. He seemed nice, well groomed, even though he wasn’t very stylish.
     He was attractive, tall, brown, and seemed to be well educated.
    “So, what do you do for a living?” he asked.
    Daisy didn’t have a response. For the first time in her life she felt shame at her occupation. She looked down at the Polaroid
     sticking out of her pocketbook and pushed it back down into the side of the purse.
    “Ummm, I’m a receptionist for a physical therapy center,” she said, lying through her teeth, knowing damn right well she gave
     out naked massages and whatever else came her way all day and night long.
    “Oh, wow, that’s great. I’m a home line of credit specialist for a mortgage company. You wouldn’t need a line of credit, would
     you?”
    “I don’t own a home.”
    “Ooops, can’t help you!” He laughed with her.
    “Well, here’s my contact information,” she said after writing down her telephone number.
    “Thanks, maybe we’ll get together for dinner one night this week?”
    “Sure, that sounds nice, just give me a call,” she said as she realized her bus was approaching the bus stop.
    “Take care,” he said as she hurried