When Travis arrived at the hospital, he looked around for Me’shelle. The duty nurse led him to Brandy’s room, where he found Me’shelle sitting quietly at her door. Travis sat down next to Me’shelle and the two sat quietly in the hallway holding hands. Me’shelle began to cry again, and Travis squeezed her hand a little tighter. Her thoughts were on Bruce and Natalie. Where were they, and why hadn’t either of them come to the hospital to see about their daughter? Probably off somewhere getting high.
When her aunts arrived, Me’shelle cried as she told them how Brandy was doing and what she knew. Travis stayed back and allowed the family their space. “Has anybody heard from Bruce?” Juanita asked.
“Nothing. The police said they were going to send a car by the house, but I haven’t heard anything else about that either,” Me’shelle replied.
“Him and Natalie are probably off somewhere getting high like they always do,” Miranda said, then she cried. “Can we see her?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to check with the nurses. They said that Brandy was very agitated and they had to sedate her. They wanted her to rest.”
Juanita started walking toward the nurses’ station. “We’ll see her.”
While Juanita went off to talk with the nurses, Me’shelle introduced Miranda to Travis.
“I’m sorry to have to meet you under these circumstances. Me’shelle talks about you and her aunt Juanita all the time. She has a lot of love and respect for you both,” Travis said.
Miranda looked at Travis and rolled her eyes. “Did she teach you to say that?”
“No.” Travis laughed a little. “She really does talk about the two of you all the time.”
Juanita returned from the nurses’ station. “We can see her now, as long as we don’t wake her. I promised to call one of them if she wakes up.”
“Aunt Juanita, this is Travis Burns, the man I’ve been telling you about. Travis, this is my aunt Juanita.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I was just telling your sister that Me’shelle talks about the two of you all the time, and how she has so much love and respect for you both,” Travis said
Juanita rolled her eyes just like Miranda did. “Huh. So you’re the reason that Me’shelle can’t come have Sunday dinner with us old ladies anymore,” she said, looking at Me’shelle. “You know, the ones that she has so much love and respect for.”
“I guess I am,” Travis said softly.
“Let’s go see Brandy, Juanita,” Miranda said. Juanita followed her to Brandy’s room. Before they entered, she stopped and turned back to face Travis. “I guess that means that you have to come to Sunday dinner with her now, since she can’t seem to do anything without you,” she said.
“It may be the only way we get to see her again,” Juanita added then the pair disappeared into the room.
Travis turned around and reclaimed his seat. “That didn’t go well.”
“Yes, it did,” Me’shelle said as she sat down next to him. “I think they like you.”
“What makes you say that?”
“When they first met Trent, Aunt Juanita told him he had a big head, and Aunt Miranda, well, she didn’t even speak to him. They were both looking forward to meeting you. I told them that you were the perfect gentleman and that you know how to treat a lady.”
“I’d never have known it from that response.”
“They invited you to dinner, Travis.”
“So they can fatten me up for the kill. A punishment for taking their Me’shelle away from them.”
As the day wore on, Me’shelle left Travis sitting in the hallway while she went in the room to be with her family. When she came out and sat down, Me’shelle noticed two men at the nurses’ station. The nurse pointed in her direction and the two men came down the hall.
“Who are they?” Me’shelle asked.
“Cops,” Travis answered.
“How do you know?”
“I can spot ’em a block away.” Travis wasn’t really feelin’ being this close to the cops, but he didn’t want to leave Me’shelle’s side or look suspicious to the cops. They both stood up to meet the officers.
“Ms. Lawrence?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Detective Richards, and this is my partner, Detective Kirkland. We just came from your brother’s house, and I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Ms. Lawrence, but your brother and sister-in-law are both dead,” he said
Me’shelle fell into Travis’s arms and began to cry.
“They were murdered sometime last night, we believe,” Richards continued. “The murders may be drug-related. I understand that your niece was raped. Do you know if she was in the house last night?”
“I don’t know. The doctor told me she’s in shock and hasn’t told anybody anything,” Me’shelle answered.
“Yes, I know, but I thought that maybe you could tell us something.”
“I don’t know,” Me’shelle said tearfully. “I don’t know.”
While Detective Richards tried to get answers from Me’shelle, Detective Kirkland stared at Travis. He couldn’t help but wonder if there was any possibility that this cop recognized him. Travis avoided making eye contact with Kirkland, choosing instead to focus his gaze on Me’shelle and Detective Richards. The detective’s eyes on him made Travis nervous, but he tried not to show it.
Kirkland put his hand on his partner’s shoulder. “I know this is a bad time for you, Miss Lawrence, but we’re going to need you to come in and talk with us.” With that, Richards took out one of his cards and handed it to Me’shelle. “So, when you feel up to it, please give me a call.”
Kirkland continued to stare at Travis as Richards turned and walked away. “Don’t I know you from somewhere?”
“No. I don’t think so,” Travis answered.
“What’s your name?” Kirkland asked. Richards turned around and returned to his partner’s side.
“Travis Burns.”
Kirkland looked Travis up and down then finally walked away.
Me’shelle looked curiously at Travis. “What was that all about?” she asked, wiping away her tears
“I have no idea,” Travis answered as he watched the two detectives leave. But now he was worried.
Me’shelle called her aunts out into the hallway and told them about Bruce and Natalie. They cried together while Travis looked on helplessly. He was really shaken by his encounter with the detective. The thing to do now was to remain calm and call Freeze. He would wait a half an hour before he got up and left the area.
“What was that all about?” Detective Richards asked when they got on the elevator. “You know that guy?”
“Nah,” Kirkland answered. “Never seen him before in my life.”
“You think he might be involved?” Richards asked.
“I don’t know, and to be honest, I really don’t think he is. But you know how these things are, Pat. At this point, we don’t have shit. So, sometimes you gotta shake shit up and see what falls out.”