Whew! Instead, it was a candid shot of a newborn child.
He flashes the phone toward me, “Isn’t she a precious little thing?” He shakes his head in admiration as he puts it away. This man is really full of melodrama. I wasn’t prepared to speak yet, so I remained silent. I wanted to know why he was here.
“I see you were bright enough to rise from the ashes of the projects in New Jersey and despite your humble up-bringing, was formidable enough to go to school and obtain a lofty and stable career here,” he waves at the room again. “But just as I imparted into Divine, I did the same for my little girl. I told her when she was a little girl to only end up with a man that can provide for her and her children…and well. Now she has a little girl...just like her. And so soon her family is in a disarray.” Harrison sets his glower on me, “I can’t have that in my legacy. Remember, it was I who told her how to choose her man.” He paused while searching the corner of the room. “Well, she did that. Not only did she choose well, but she chose a man of my sculpting and mentoring, honey. It doesn’t get any better than that. Divine is young, calculating, intelligent far beyond what he’s credited for, collected, connected...and rich, something I’m quite sure you’re aware of.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I get the allure.”
He was taking this too far and taking too long to get to the point of him showing up at my job!
“The point of your visit to my workplace, Mr. Harrison?”
He hiked his brows, “That’s Detective Harrison to you, sweetie!” he hissed.
Excuse me? I froze in place. Where was this going? I was getting upset and feeling threatened. It was only a matter of time before I would go off.
He continued, “I’m here to start repairing my family. As you can imagine your presence in it has caused a bit of trouble. A man in my line of work has many resources that stretches far and wide considering I began my career on the East Coast, coincidentally where you’re from. It’s my job to discover things...less than favorable things that people want hidden. For instance, an Akeem Brimm who is a resident of Caldwell prison. I know who he is and why he’s there.”
I lost my breath. My body stiffened like a board. Did he just mention my...?
“Yeah, baby girl. I know all about J-Boog and O and how your little fast ass was at the center of the shooting of that innocent little girl. Just like you’re at the center of my little angel’s family.”
Breathe, Rayna...breathe!
“But I think I can help. The lawyer you have working on his appeal can use a little help from my people out there. I can have him freed in a few short months. It only takes a couple of calls on my part. The discharge paperwork would take longer. I can even throw in a…let’s say, sixty grand to help with your moving expenses back home.” He pauses to catch a reaction from me. I couldn’t believe what was happening. He continued, “You’re young, smart, and determined. You can stay in your field out there and start all over. Hey...you may even find someone better than Divine. He’s a very complicated man with demons you would never believe.”
Harrison evaluates my process again. I remain stoic, giving nothing away. I slowly started to regain my wits.
I can play chess, too.