Free Godsend 6: All Jokes Aside by K. Elliott Page B

interrupt.”
    “This is my house. I invited you in and I can ask you to leave.” Etceterra said, “If you ask us to leave, then your daughter’s coming with us. The car she parked out there twenty-five minutes ago is a stolen vehicle, courtesy of her boyfriend, and she knows it. We can either continue the interview or take this loose whore to jail.”

Chapter 3
     
    GLORIA STOOD BY the door with her arms folded below her breast. She would have nothing else to say.
    Brian said to Wendi, “Who else was Ramona fucking?”
    “Ramona was going through something. She didn’t really know what she wanted. She told me she had sex with a black guy just to experience the feeling.”
    Derrick said, “And what was the feeling? Did she tell you?”
    “She said it was . . . different, in a exotic way, but it was only meant to be a one-night stand.”
    Brian said, “Who was the guy?” “Zavius Grant.”
    Brian and Derrick concurrently said “Shotglass?” Then Brian added, “The comedian? The funny-ass stand up?’
    “Yes, but that was before anybody knew him.”
    Derrick said, “When the police first questioned you, why did you not mention Shotglass?’
    “Well, you guys are definitely not asking the same questions the police asked me three years ago. They asked questions like when was the last time I saw her; who was she with at the time; did I know anybody who might want to hurt her . . . You know, questions like that. They knew she was seeing Don, so they talked to him and the boyfriend she had before Don. They didn’t ask if she was sleeping around, and I didn’t volunteer it because they questioned me and her mom at the same time.”
    Etceterra said, “Plus, they never took the case seriously. The files show that they believed Ramona may have run off with someone or on her own. She was twenty-four and had a right to do so.”
    Wendi said, “Ramona dropped off the face of the earth. No way she would run away and never contact me or her parents.”
    Brian said, “The woman was twenty-four; at what age was she planning to leave home? Hell, her parents admit that they argued sometimes; maybe you weren’t as close to her as you think. Would you bet your life that Ramona would tell you everything?”
    “Yes. She wouldn’t keep a secret from me.”
    Derrick said, “How did she feel about oral sex and swallowing?’ Gloria’s face creased up. She headed for the den.
    Wendi remained standing near the hallway entrance. “She tried oral sex but we never talked about . . . swallowing.” Derrick smiled. “So she kept that a secret?”
    “No. You’re assuming that she swallowed and didn’t tell me.”
    “No, I assume that she kept you out of that much of her business.” Brian said, “You and her ever shared the same man?”
    “What do you mean by ‘share’?”
    “What do I mean? Did you and your best friend Ramona ever fuck the same guy?”
    “Yes but not together. She didn’t know.” Brian said, “Who was the guy?”
    She hesitated. “Zavius.”
    Etceterra said, “Stockton seems like a nice place to live.”
    Derrick said, “You kept secrets from her, but she would never do that to you.”
    Brian said, “When you were with Shotglass, did you swallow?’
    She traded stares with him. “What does that have to do with Ramona’s disappearance?”
    “Nothing, but if I can tell when you’re lying, then your ass is going to jail for possession of a stolen vehicle. Most women would lie about that. What’s your answer?”
    Wendi looked away. This was absolutely embarrassing to her.
    “Yes.”
    Brian said, “Yes, what?”
    She sighed. “Yes, I swallowed.” She felt like Shotglass would tell them anyway.

Chapter 4
     
    ECHO WAS DRIVING Sheree’s Mercedes while Kiandra sat in the front passenger’s seat. He said, “Now you see why I have to park a block away sometimes?”
    “Yeah, but Don is still handcuffed to the bathroom sink. How is he supposed to get free?”
    “He’ll either break the sink