Joslyn (Women of Privilege Book 3) Read online

  I’m trying to read Detective Sawyer’s expression. I guess she’s not too bothered that I don’t know Davian’s username and password for Facebook. Maybe, I’m overthinking and blaming myself for no reason. I answer, “It’s in the truck.”

  “I’ll make sure the forensic team grab those. Does Davian have a cell phone? Have you tried calling him?”

  “He does, but it’s broken, sitting in a drawer in the kitchen at our house. He dropped it in the toilet a week ago, and I haven’t gotten around to replacing it yet. God, now I wish I had of.”

  At this point, I want to ball up in a corner and just cry. What good am I? I let those people take my son. I didn’t fight hard enough. I didn’t scream loud enough. I’m horrible. I’m so incompetent.

  “Joslyn, it’s going to be alright.” Detective Sawyer remarks. She sees the mental fight I’m going through, but I find no comfort in her words. Still, the gesture is better than nothing at all.

  “I wish I could give you more information.”

  “The description of the male is a great start, and we’re going to scour that crime scene for every bit of evidence. I’m going to find your son. I promise.”

  “Okay,” I hiccup. I believe her. She’s the police, a detective. She’s the expert.

  “What is your cell number?” she asks.

  “It won’t do you any good. The woman threw my cell phone into the grass, and I couldn’t find it. I’ll give you my sister’s house number. That’s where we’re staying.”

  “Did you just say the woman threw your cell into the grass? The same woman that took your son?”

  “Yes,” I say with a nod.

  “Where the SUV is located on Ferguson?”

  “Not exactly at the SUV, but it’s somewhere down the street from there.”

  Detective Sawyer makes a phone call and tells someone on the other end to search for my cell at the scene and call her the moment it’s found. She speaks with controlled confliction, but she’s on the verge of being frantic, or is it excitement?

  Jackie comes into my room, drawing my attention away from the detective. I go to her, feeling like a kid that needs to be rescued, and I hug her as tight as I can. Seeing my sister gives me some sense that all is not lost. Long before Harlan became my foundation, Jackie was the nurturing soil I took root in. I need her now more than ever.

  The tears come easily for the both of us, but this time it’s different for me. There is comfort where there wasn’t before. So glad my sister is here. Lord, I’d be lost without her.

  Chapter Four

  The news spreads quickly. Terrence, Harlan’s brother, is the first to arrive. Their father, Oliver Montgomery, comes in the door like a hurricane a few minutes after he does. Oliver demands answers from me. By that time, I’m done regurgitating the nightmare. Oliver barks at me, like he’s the king and all of his questions require answers. I can’t take his overbearingness. Jackie shows up just in time and takes over at that point, content to being as loud as he is. I let them have the drama. I’m too tired, too much in pain to deal. The last to arrive is Harlan’s mother, Sarah and her husband, Jeremiah. They come in like a soft wave lapping on the beach, hardly a sound, but waiting anxiously for word.

  I go outside and take in the fresh air. I feel helpless and utterly responsible for everything that has happened. What if Gia Briggs sent those people to try and kill Harlan and to kill...Lord, have mercy. She can’t be that diabolical.

  “Mrs. Montgomery,” a man says.

  The gentleman is tall, dark-skinned with a half inch high afro and big brown eyes. He seems to have an aura of authority. A dark tan suit with a brown tie and a tan shirt puts a hefty price tag on him. Even his shoes are polished. He offers his hand to me while stepping in my direction. “Detective John Richardson. I’m here to speak with you about the shooting. How is your husband?”

  “Still in surgery,” I answer. “I’ve already spoken to another detective. Why are you here?”

  “I’m working the shooting side of the case while Detective Sawyer works on the kidnapping. We’ll be working with each other. I think two eyes on this case will help bring your son home faster. Don’t you agree?”

  “Yes,” I reply. I’m feeling kind of special. Two detectives. This means finding my son is a top priority to the police in Savannah, just as it should be.

  “I wanted to ask you a few questions.”

  “Okay.”

  “You told Detective Sawyer about hearing three pops. Would you say they were gunfire?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Did the male assailant have a weapon?”

  “I didn’t see him with one.”

  “But the woman definitely had a gun?”

  “Yes, she pointed it right at my forehead.”

  “Did the assailants say each other’s names at any point?”

  “I don’t remember,” I respond shakily. “I don’t think so.”

  “And there was no plates on the car?”

  “No plates.”

  “Nothing stood out about it? You don’t remember the make or model?”

  “No,” I answer. Why couldn’t I remember? Everything else, I can recall without a problem. Everything that really doesn’t matter or count for anything. I mean, who cares whose grass hasn’t been cut? Or who had their garage door open for most of the day? Who hadn’t paid their association dues? Worthless, meaningless information, and when it really counts, I can’t even name the model of the car or describe the people that took my son.

  “Will you be willing to give a short statement to the press about Davian?”

  “Of course.”

  “The press is at your home, and we are trying to set that up as soon as possible. Now, Detective Sawyer has a picture of him, and she’s circulating it around to the press. We have officers at your house on Privilege Place and at your sister’s house on Prosperity, just in case a phone call is made for ransom. We need you there at your sister’s house right now, actually.”

  “What about Harlan?”

  “Do you have family here at the hospital?”

  “His family is here. My sister is here.”

  “Have one of them stay with your husband.”

  “I will,” Oliver says, coming through the entrance.

  “Joslyn, I’ll go with you,” Jackie replies. She’s right with him.

  “What do you want me to do?” Terrence asks, stepping outside, as well.

  “Will you go with me? I hate to take you away from your brother, but-”

  “I don’t mind, Joslyn. I’ll go with you and Jackie; no problem.”

  Oliver says, “We’ll call the moment we get an update on Harlan.”

  “Thank you,” I remark, looking at him weirdly. He’s never been so willing to help before, but I’ll take his offer now.

  Jackie, Terrence, and I follow Detective Richardson to the parking lot. My heart is torn about leaving my husband, but it’s like what Detective Sawyer said earlier. There isn’t anything I can do to help him. It’s all on the doctors, but I can help my son. All of a sudden, I don’t feel so helpless.

  Chapter Five

  Savannah police has pretty much taken over my sister’s house. There are cops standing outside in the street, on the sidewalk, in the yard, and inside the house. News crews are parked outside with their vans and their satellites. Looks like an outside concert area, minus the stage and band. Police keeps the reporters at bay as my sister drives up the road and turns into the driveway. The lights from their cameras and the yelling is overwhelming. It feels like I’m under attack.

  We get into the garage, and I let out a breath of relief. I can still hear the noise from the reporters, but it’s muffled. Jackie and I get out of the car and enter into the library. Detective Sawyer is in the center of the room speaking with Detective Lucas Parker. He’s the officer that arrested Gia Briggs before she could get out of town. Now, I’m really convinced she’s involved with the incident this morning.

  “Detective Parker
,” I call to him as I go around the leather sofa. “Is Gia Briggs responsible for taking Davian?”

  “Ah, no,” he says. “I’m afraid not.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “I asked Detective Parker to come over,” Detective Sawyer answers. “He was updating me on her case.”

  “Okay. So, does Gia know those people?” I ask.

  “We don’t even know who they are yet,” Detective Sawyer replies.

  “Well, I bet she does. I mean, she was out to destroy my family and my home. This is not a stretch for her.”

  “Have you ever seen Gia around the man and woman you saw this morning?” Detective Parker asks.

  I don’t want to respond to that question because it doesn’t favor what I think, but I answer it, anyway. “No, I haven’t seen her around them.”

  “Has she ever spoken to you about them?” Detective Parker says.

  “Like I told Detective Sawyer earlier, I have no idea who those people are.”

  “Then we can’t say for sure if Gia Briggs is indirectly or directly responsible for what happened to your family,” Detective Parker replies.

  “But you must speak to her, nonetheless.”

  “She lawyered up,” Detective Sawyer adds quickly. “We’re not allowed.”

  “That is insane! This is about the life of a child, of my son, and no amount of lawyering up should stop you from speaking to her.”

  Jackie firmly states, “It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are-”

  “It does matter!”

  “She has her rights,” Jackie responds, “and they’re not allowed to question her.”

  “That’s BULLSHIT!” My body trembles from saying those two words. I hate cussing. It’s not what I do. It leaves a foul taste in my mouth. I close my eyes, fighting to keep my composure. After inhaling and exhaling, I continue. “Detective Parker, you have to go to the prison and try, at least for my son. She knows those people! I’m telling you, she knows them!”

  My anger is boiling again. It just upsets me that they put that criminal’s rights over the life of my son. Where are the priorities in the justice system? The victims have no say so, but the criminal does? They kill and take and get rewarded for it?

  “Joslyn,” Detective Sawyer calmly says, “we have to move on. I need for you to prepare to speak with the press. We haven’t gotten a phone call from the kidnappers, and we need to get the word out about Davian as soon as possible.”

  I cover my face, searching my mind for peace. She’s right. Obviously, the kidnappers are not in jail with Gia.

  “I’m ready whenever you are,” I respond, “but I still think that you guys need to speak with Gia Briggs. And it needs to be done today. If she had nothing to do with it or claims she doesn’t, then I’m sure someone that knows her boyfriend did. Joshua Davis could be related to the guy with the dreads some kind of way or even the girl.”

  “I’ll go check it out right now, Mrs. Montgomery,” Detective Parker responds.

  I nod; glad to be finally getting through to one of them.

  Detective Parker caught Gia before she could leave town, and I know he’ll find something else on her or her boyfriend. The connection will be made, and she’ll go down for kidnapping along with attempted murder and murder, as well.

  Detective Sawyer touches my arm and leaves out of the library with Detective Parker into the great hall. I flop down on the sofa and fists my hair. It seems like the only sane thing I can do. Jackie sits down beside me.

  “Are you okay?” she asks.

  I look at her like that’s the stupidest question I’ve ever heard. It is the stupidest question I’ve ever heard.

  “Sorry,” she says sheepishly.

  “I’m so angry, Jackie, and I hate feeling helpless. I hate that I can’t find my son and bring him home.”

  “Joslyn, you’re not helpless. We’re about to do something about it right now. We’re going to write out this speech, and you’re going to do great in front of the press. He’s going to make it back home. You watch.”

  She gets a spiral notebook for her desk and sits back down next to me. Together we work out a couple of paragraphs. Terrence arrives with coffee and donuts when we’re almost about done. He’s always so kind, thinking of the little things no one else does.

  “There’s a lot of news people outside,” he says, placing the tray of coffee and boxed donuts on the table.

  “That’s a good thing,” my sister says.

  Right as he’s handing me a cup, his cell phone rings on his belt. I take the cup and set it down, not really thirsty for java, and he rushes to answer his phone. Sarah is calling. Terrence paces while they talk. From the conversation he’s having, Harlan is still in surgery, and I can hear Sarah sobbing over the phone. I’m glad Terrence is talking to her. I don’t think I can handle my tears and hers at the same time. That’s all I know for certain is that Harlan is alive, and that gives me strength at the moment.

  Jackie and I finish the speech, and I begin to rehearse with her. She scratches out sentences on the paper, adds something else more important as we go through it several times. With each passing moment, I’m getting more anxious to get in front of the cameras because the longer the public doesn’t know about my son, the more I feel I won’t see him again. The wait is excruciating.

  “Joslyn.” The voice is familiar. It’s Charli Love, Queen of Tudor Estates, or so lots of the ladies call her.

  She’s looking elegant in her light pink dress suit. I’m surprised to see her, but I’m also not too happy about her visit. Her reason for being here is more on the nosy side. If there’s anything going on in the neighborhood worth knowing about, she wants to be square in the middle of it.

  “Charli, what are you doing here?” I try to sound surprised and not so irritated.

  “I saw the commotion outside, and I was worried. Is everything alright?” She knows what’s going on. Why is she acting so dumb? I narrow my eyes at her.

  “How did you get by the police?” Jackie asks pointedly.

  “I know one of the police officers. I told him we were family.”

  “You’re not family,” Jackie says hotly. “And you’re not welcomed here.”

  “Jackie, don’t,” I reply with a cordial smile at my sister. “This is not the place or time.”

  “So, what’s going on?” Charli is not bothered one bit by Jackie’s harsh words. That’s good, actually, because I don’t need those two fighting on top of the craziness that’s already going on.

  “Harlan has been shot,” I answer, “and Davian was kidnapped.”

  “OH MY GOD!” Charli gives me a look of shock. It comes off real fake. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, she is,” Jackie flatly answers.

  “When did this happen?”

  “This morning,” I answer. I’m trying so hard not to push Charli away. I can’t stand it that she’s playing stupid. Does she not know what I’m going through? I don’t have time for her games and flippant attitude.

  “I am so sorry, Joslyn,” Charli remarks with open arms. “That is just awful news.”

  I don’t really want to hug her, but I accept her show of kindness. After that quick superficial gesture, she steps back like I’m the plague.

  “You know, I have the phone number for the chief of police,” she says. “I can get him out here in no time and get everything moving faster than lightning.”

  “The chief is aware,” Detective Sawyer chimes in as she walks into the library. “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe I know you.”

  “Detective Sawyer,” I reply. “This is Charli Love, a friend of mine.”

  “She’s not family?” Detective Sawyer asks.

  “No, not at all,” Jackie answers.

  “I am…sort of,” Charli giggles. “And if you don’t mind me asking, who are you?”

  “Detective Athena Sawyer. I’m in charge of this case. I’m sorry, Miss Love-”

  “That’s Mrs. Love, Officer Sawy
er.”

  Is Charli trying to piss off the police? What is wrong with her?

  “Detective Sawyer is my name, Mrs. Love. If you’re not family, you need to leave. It’s important that we keep traffic to a minimum in this house. Unless you’re involved with the events of this morning, and you’re here to give me a statement.”

  “Are you insinuating something?”

  “No, Charli, she wants you to get out,” Jackie snaps.

  Charli clears her throat. I shake my head. Always drama, doesn’t matter what’s going on, Charli must carry it with her.

  “Well, I guess I better get going. Don’t want to step on anyone’s feelings.” Charli is perturbed, but I’m kind of glad. She’s only here to be nosy, not to be helpful. “Joslyn, call me when you get a chance.”

  “I will. Thanks for coming by.” I try to sound cordial and grateful.

  She adjusts her jacket and walks out with her chin up in the air. She can’t stand being shut out. Under different circumstances, I’d let her stay, but this is definitely a family and police matter. Charli will have to deal with her feelings on her own. My family is first.

  “Can’t stand her,” Jackie sings under her breath.

  “She is a prize, isn’t she?” Detective Sawyer says. “Alright, back on track. Joslyn, we’re waiting for Lieutenant Hughes to arrive before we go outside. He’s going to brief you on what he’s going to do and say, and then he’ll let you know what to do next. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll be there, and so will Detective Richardson.”

  “By the way, where did he go?” I ask. “We were following him over here, but then he made a U-turn.”

  “I’m not sure, but he should be here shortly.”

  “Is it alright if I have Jackie out there with me?”

  “Yes, it’s fine. We recommend that you have family with you during your statement.”

  A few minutes later, a man in a dress uniform comes through the entrance. He has an officer’s hat under his arm, and he’s standing straight as an ironing board. The flood lights in the ceiling makes his bald head and the brass on his shoulders gleam. The man obviously has more authority than Detective Sawyer, Parker, and Richardson. I’m thinking he must be their lieutenant. He greets me with a very sorrowful look of concern, which pisses me off, – can’t explain why – but it does. I pain a smile as his huge, warm veined hands cover mine.