King Divas by De'nesha Diamond

all, I have a complicated relationship with the woman—even though she doesn’t know me from Adam. Since she escaped from her troubled sister, Maybelline Carver has looked into my face several times and never once recognized me. I kept waiting, since I look a lot like my father, but it never happened.
    Surely Python didn’t shoot his own aunt. I’d heard for years from Isaac how close the two were. No. That puzzle piece doesn’t fit.
    â€œSo . . . what’s the theory? She walk in on something or was she the intended victim?”
    â€œAt this point, it’s anyone’s guess. The shooting was called in by several people in the neighborhood, but so far—”
    â€œNobody saw a damn thing,” we chorus in sync.
    â€œOf course,” I add.
    â€œPastor Hayes is en route. I spoke to him over the phone and he said that he saw Maybelline before heading out to the hospital. We’ll get a full statement when he gets here.”
    â€œAll right.” I glance over at Fowler. “Are you going in to talk to Ms. Blackmon?”
    â€œYep. It’s how I make the big bucks.” He winks and heads into the interrogation room. “Watch and learn.”
    â€œWill do, Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
    Fowler smirks as he opens the door.
    I lean back against the wall and watch my former partner go to work.
    â€œSorry to have kept you waiting, Ms. Blackmon,” Fowler says, handing the shaken woman a can of Diet Coke. “How are you doing?”
    â€œFine, I guess,” Cleo says, shifting in her chair. “Do you know how much longer this is going to be?”
    â€œNot much longer,” Fowler reassures her. “I want to confirm that your statement is that when you arrived at the church you didn’t see anyone else there and that you weren’t witness to the actual shooting. Is that correct?”
    There’s a beat of hesitation. “That’s correct.”
    She’s fucking lying. I step closer to the two-way mirror and study her expression.
    â€œYou also said that you knew our victim,” Fowler says. “Do you know if there’s anyone who may have wanted to cause her harm?”
    Another beat. “No. Everyone loved her—except maybe you guys. It’s well-known that the po-po has been harassing her for decades.”
    â€œMaybelline Carver has quite a police record, but surely you’re not insinuating that the Memphis Police Department had anything to do with her death?”
    Cleo flashes a flat smile. “I’m answering your questions.”
    The observation door wrenches open. “Oh. Fowler is still interviewing?”
    â€œYeah. What’s up?” I turn away from the mirror.
    â€œPastor Hayes is here.”
    â€œAh. Okay. I’ll talk to him.” I march out of the room behind my colleague. It isn’t too hard to spot the anxious pastor out in the hall.
    â€œPastor Hayes?” I offer him my hand. “I’m—”
    â€œCaptain Hawkins. Yes. I know. I’ve seen you plenty of times on TV. I, uh, came here as soon as I could. I can’t believe that this has happened. Peaches, er, I mean, Maybelline—had recently joined the congregation.”
    Peaches. “Was she a personal friend of yours?”
    â€œShe was an old friend. She’s lived in the neighborhood for at least fifty-odd years. Plus . . . I wasn’t always a pastor,” he says sheepishly.
    I reach for my notepad again. “What time was it when you last saw her?”
    â€œAbout two hours ago.”
    â€œAnd how was she?”
    He hesitates. “To be honest with you she seemed . . . troubled .”
    He has my full attention. “Troubled? What do you mean?”
    â€œI don’t know if you know, but Peaches had been through a horrific experience recently. She’d been kidnapped by her baby sister, Alice.”
    â€œYes. I do know all about that.”
    â€œI had gotten the impression that