Brooklyn's Song Read online

  She tried to get from beneath him as she yelled, “Dad, Dad!”

  After a minute or two, the security guard sprang to his feet and helped Brooklyn up. He yelled “Stay back!” Brooklyn was frozen in place. She stood and watched as wait staff, police officers and emergency personnel attended to her father and Lydia.

  Brooklyn heard a guttural, piercing scream and then realized it was coming from her mouth. It was as if she was moving in slow motion when she ran over to her father. He lay there motionless with blood dripping from his temple. Lydia was lying a few feet away; beneath her, a scarlet pool was starting to form. An officer rushed over and tried to console Brooklyn as she screamed, “No! No!”

  Chapter 4

  “Song, the TV has gone out again,” Mrs. Kai called.

  Song rushed into the room and dried his hands on the blue apron he was wearing and then picked the remote up from his grandmother’s TV tray. He pressed a few buttons and Vanna White appeared on the screen.

  “Grandmother, you must remember to look at the channel list I taped to your tray. You can only watch the channels we actually have.” He reached in his apron pocket and took out a pill and handed it to her. “It’s time to take your medicine.”

  Mrs. Kai took a sip of the water from the glass that was sitting on top of the taped channel list and swallowed her pill. Her eyes were riveted to the screen as a contestant picked a letter trying to solve the puzzle.

  “Buy a vowel!” Mrs. Kai shouted, still staring at the TV.

  Song smiled to himself as he watched his grandmother. Seven months ago, while going to the laundry room, she missed a step, fell and fractured her hip. After the surgery, the doctor advised that she stay off her feet as much as possible until she healed. Although she was 78 years old, less than five feet tall and weighed about 100 pounds, she was a force to be reckoned with. Song pleaded with her to heed the doctor’s advice.

  He told her in the most respectful way: either she followed the doctor’s orders or she would have to be moved to a rehabilitation center…Where there was no TV and she wouldn’t be able to watch Wheel of Fortune. He hired a nurse’s aide part time which was all he could afford on a detective's salary. Sometimes his neighbor, Bernice Williamson from across the street, would sit with his grandmother when he had to work late nights. Tonight was one of those nights. He received a call from the police chief that they needed “all hands on deck”; there was a shooting at a fundraiser for Governor Sage Pierce.

  Song went into his bedroom, checked and holstered his weapon and slipped his sports coat on. He kissed the gold wedding band that he wore on a long chain around his neck, closed his eyes and muttered, “I’ll make it home tonight.”

  Chapter 5

  “Yo, Song!’ his partner Mattice called, rushing over to him as he got out of his Ford Taurus.

  “So here’s what we know: the governor and his fiancée were working the rope line, shaking hands and kissing babies and shit, when shots rang out. We heard unofficially that Lydia Carmen, his fiancée, was hit once in the left shoulder and once in the thigh. As of now we are unsure if and where the governor was struck, we’re still awaiting updates from his doctors. During the shooting all hell broke loose and people were running for cover, we don’t know if anyone saw the assailant.”

  ”Let’s keep our fingers crossed that someone saw something.” He looked over at Mattice while they approached the entrance to the ER. What’s with the snazzy duds?” Song said, with a grin.

  Mattice Blake was a stocky African American man. He carried around a few extra pounds, but that didn’t stop him from being a ladies’ man.” In his late 40’s, he wore his hair in dreads. Mattice had a face that looked as though it had been lived in. A former boxer, his nose had been broken more times than he could count. He often said, “I like fine wine and my women even finer.” Tonight he was dressed in a burnt orange colored suit with a black tie and crushed velvet loafers. He looked at 30-year-old Song as more of a little brother rather than a partner.

  “I knew it! I knew you were going to give me some shit about the suit!” he said, with a chuckle. “I was waiting in line to see the Broadway production of the Lion King when I got the call to get to the ER ASAP. I was on a date; you should try it sometime, you just might like it!”

  After Song’s wife was killed by a drunk driver six years ago, he had one steady girlfriend for about ten months, but after being pressured to commit, he walked away.

  “I’ll take that under advisement,” Song quipped.

  A police officer led the two detectives through a swarm of reporters and into the ER.

  “Detectives, here are a few preliminary findings,” the officer said, handing Song the report.

  Song scanned over the pages and then passed the report to Mattice.

  “Who are they?” he asked, as he looked over at two very attractive women trying to console each other.

  Song couldn’t help but notice the diamond choker around the neck of the pregnant woman; it sparkled when the light hit it. He thought the woman in yellow was absolutely beautiful. She was tall and thin, but she had curves in just the right places. Her body was tight and well toned. He could tell she worked out. Her smooth dark brown skin had radiant copper undertones. She reminded him of an exquisite Egyptian statue.

  An officer approached Song and said, “The woman dressed in black is Jules Price; she’s the governor’s oldest daughter. The other woman is her sister Brooklyn. The guy on the phone is Jules’s husband Dan. And I’m sure you know Terry, the governor’s aide.”

  “Thanks,” Song replied.

  “I have to get back outside, sir; there are some reporters trying to break through the lines. Is there anything else you need, Detective Kai?”

  “No, thanks for everything.”

  Mattice had just finished looking over the report when he noticed Brooklyn and Jules. He smiled and said, “What do we have here? And you thought it was a bad idea to come here dressed up…Damn.” His eyes started at Brooklyn’s feet and worked their way up.

  “Cool your jets…What we have here is the governor’s family, and one of us needs to interview them. Why don’t you go outside and interview some of the officers that were in attendance.”

  “How about I interview the family and you go interview the boys in blue,” Mattice said.

  Usually Song would have gone along with Mattice’s request, but tonight, something told him otherwise. “Let’s flip for it.”

  Mattice looked surprised. “Fine, I got heads,” he said, and then pulled a coin out of his pocket. With complete confidence, Mattice tossed it, caught it, and slapped it down on the back of his hand. He stared blankly for a moment in disbelief. “Shit,” was all he could muster.

  Song smiled and patted Mattice on the shoulder, “I’ll meet up with you in a few and we can compare notes.”

  “Alright,” Mattice replied, “I’ll be outside shooting the shit with the uniforms.” As he headed out the door, he smiled to himself staring at the coin one more time… Both sides were heads.

  Brooklyn held one of Jules’ hands while her husband held the other. “Jules, you have to sit down…Come on”, Brooklyn said. They walked Jules over to a wing backed love seat. When Dan sat down beside her, Jules rested her head against his shoulder and silently wept. He rubbed the side of her face and whispered confronting words.

  “I’m going to get some water; would you guys like a coffee or something?” Brooklyn asked.

  “Thanks, water is fine,” Dan replied.

  Brooklyn heard a male voice from behind, “Excuse me,” he said.

  Brooklyn turned and saw a strikingly handsome Asian man dressed in a tan sports coat and black slacks. He had a chiseled jaw line, well defined cheekbones and broad shoulders. He wore his jet black hair cut into a short spiky pompadour. He was statuesque with an athletic build.

  “May I help you?” she asked.

  Her eyes were red and puffy; Song could tell she’d been crying.

  He showed her h
is badge. Terry quickly rushed over and stepped between Brooklyn and Song.

  “Listen, Officer-“

  “It’s detective,” Song said, keeping his tone cordial as he corrected Terry.

  “Right!” Terry said, dismissively, “I realize you’re just doing your job, but the governor’s daughters will not be giving any statements tonight. This is a very stressful time and we’re just-“

  Brooklyn respectfully held her hand up to quiet Terry’s tirade.

  “Terry, it’s fine. I’ll talk to him, if it will help find the guy that-“

  A doctor dressed in scrubs interrupted, “Good evening folks, I’m Dr. Larson. May I please see the family?”

  Brooklyn turned to face Song, “Please excuse me,” she said, hesitantly, “I would like to make a statement after meeting with the doctor.”

  “Of course, I’ll be waiting out here.”

  “Thanks,” Brooklyn replied, before she turned and walked away.

  Chapter 6

  Brooklyn felt fear wash over her as she tried to read the doctors face; his expression was stoic and unreadable. Dan helped Jules to her feet.

  “Please follow me,” the doctor said, as he escorted them through the swinging doors.

  Realizing that he would have to wait to interview the family, Song decided to go catch up with Mattice. Seeing Terry up-close and in action, he now knew why the press had nicknamed her the “steamroller.”

  Once through the doors, Brooklyn, along with Jules, Dan and Terry, were ushered into an empty waiting room. As everyone took a seat, Doctor Larson filled them in on the condition of the governor and Lydia.

  “Luckily the gunshot wound wasn’t penetrating; it was a longitudinal furrow; what we like to call a bullet slap or graze. Right now the governor is resting comfortably. He did receive a mild concussion from the fall, so we would like to keep him overnight for observation. Miss Carmen is stable in the ICU. We went in and removed both bullets. Thankfully, there was no major tissue or muscle damage. She’s heavily sedated and should receive no visitors at this time.

  There were audible sighs of relief throughout the room. Terry held Brooklyn's hand as she began to cry. Throughout the night, Brooklyn was trying to put on a brave face for Jules, but the depth of terror and joy was too much for her to bear.

  “May the governor’s daughters go in to see him?” Terry asked.

  “He’s resting, but I’ll give them a few moments alone with him.”

  Brooklyn and Jules followed behind as the doctor led the way to their father’s room. Only one of them could go in at a time, so Jules’s insisted that Brooklyn go in first. Brooklyn stood beside the bed and looked down at her father as he lay still. His head was wrapped in a bandage and he had an IV line in his arm. Brooklyn closed her eyes tight as images of her mother’s lifeless body lying in the hospital bed flashed through her mind. She knelt down beside the bed and brought his hand to her lips and kissed it. She could still smell the scent of his favorite cologne on his skin. It was a brand that she and Jules’s had given him for father’s day years ago.

  She reached and gently stroked his cheek, “Dad, I love you so much. Lydia is going to be fine too, I just know it. You rest, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Brooklyn walked out of the room and gently closed the door. Jules was standing against the wall; she looked exhausted.

  Jules nervously twisted a tissue in her hand and asked, “How is he?”

  “Dad looks good, “Brooklyn replied. She quickly wrapped her arms around her sister. Thank God,” she cried, “Just pray for Dad and Lydia..." Her voice broke.

  Jules spoke softly and gently held her sister. “It’s okay, Brook, it’s okay.”

  Brooklyn began to cry. “Jules, I saw him.”

  Jules looked confused for a second. “What do you mean? “

  “I saw the guy who shot Dad and Lydia. I was standing a few feet away; he looked out of place; I knew something was wrong. I tried...I tried to let security know...I even tried to let Dad know, but I was too late; I just couldn’t get to him, I-”

  “Brook, stop!’ This isn’t your fault. You hear me?” Jules lifted Brooklyn’s chin up and stared into her eyes, “This is not your fault.”

  Brooklyn slowly nodded her head, as if she were trying to let Jules words sink in.

  She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “Look, I’m going to go talk to that detective, I want to make a statement while things are fresh in my mind. Are you going to be okay?”

  “Yes, I’ll be fine. Go give your statement,” Jules said.

  Chapter 7

  After getting an update from Mattice regarding the interviews that he conducted with security, Song was sitting at a table in a small conference room reading over Mattice’s notes. He looked up when he heard a knock on the glass pane of the door.

  “Detective, Miss Pierce would like to make a statement; is it okay if I show her in?" a Police officer said.

  “Sure, thank you.”

  Song stood when Brooklyn entered the room.

  “I’m Detective Kai; please, have a seat,” he said, gesturing to a chair across from him.

  “Thank you.”

  “Before we get started, would you like a drink or a bite to eat? I realize it has been a long night.”

  “No, thanks, I’m fine.”

  Song reached and turned on his digital recorder that was sitting on top of the table, then opened up his laptop and began typing.

  “Please state your full legal name.”

  “Brooklyn Sage Pierce.”

  “Miss Pierce, please tell me what you witnessed tonight.”

  Brooklyn swallowed hard and then began to relay her account of the attempted assassination.

  “I noticed the guy right away; he looked out of place.”

  Song looked up from his keyboard, “Out of place…How?”

  “He was wearing sunglasses inside the ballroom and wore a baseball cap. I saw him pushing his way towards the front of the rope line and then he pulled out...”, she hesitated, tears began to roll down Brooklyn’s face as she thought about how close her father and Lydia had come to being killed.

  Song pulled a few tissues from a box and handed them to her. “I know this is difficult," he said, "please take your time.” It broke his heart to see the sadness and aguish in her eyes. It was a look he’d seen many times, and knew all too well. Song could tell the moment the realization began to set in. He watched as she tried to maintain her composure.

  “I’m sorry,” she softly said, then touched the tissue to her cheeks and continued. “He pulled out the gun and I saw a flash of light and people were pushing, shoving and running, trying to get out of the way. I was knocked to the floor and a security guard shielded me.“

  “Do you think you can describe the guy; maybe to a sketch artist?” Song asked.

  “Like I said, he was wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap. I’m not sure how good my description will be, but I’ll give it a try.”

  “Good, will you be available tomorrow?”

  “I can come in before class.”

  “Are you in college?”

  The thought of her students brought a smile to her face. “No, I teach kindergarten.”

  Song stared at her for a moment and realized that it was the first time he saw Brooklyn smile. It was radiant and beautiful, he thought.

  “Oh, I see. Here’s my card; just give me a call tomorrow and I’ll set you up with the sketch artist.”

  Brooklyn opened her purse and placed the card inside. "Thank you, I wish I could have been more help.”

  “Miss. Pierce, considering the circumstances, you’ve done very well. I’ll walk you out.”

  Mattice nodded and said hello when Brooklyn walked passed him. His eyes stayed on her until she went through the automatic door.

  Song shook his head and smiled. “You just can’t help yourself can you?”

  Mattice sighed loudly. “Man oh man! That girl is a certified dime piece.”

  “A dime
piece?” Song asked.

  Mattice looked at Song as if he were trying to explain the theory of relativity to a small child. “I see having a brother for a partner for the last four years hasn’t taught you anything. She’s beautiful, hot and sexy...You know, a ten...A dime piece....Oh, never mind.”

  Song laughed and held his hands up in protest. “I got it, I got it. Now back to the case; what did you find out?”

  “There’s some security footage we need to take a look at, and we think we found the perp’s baseball cap in the lobby.”

  “This is good; was there hair in the cap?” Song asked.

  The crime lab is looking at it as we speak. The governor’s security detail hasn’t been the most cooperative. I’m thinking they know they fucked up and would like to handle everything in house.”

  “I want us to do a thorough investigation because, once the feds take over, we’ll be stone walled. It won’t matter to them that the crime happened on our turf.”

  “True. You know what my grandmamma always says: ‘Too many cooks in the kitchen will spoil the fucking soup.’

  Song laughed. “Now I see where you get your colorful language.” He looked at his watch. "We have a long night ahead of us; let's move.”

  Chapter 8

  Before leaving the hospital, Terry insisted that both Brooklyn and Jules have security detail until the perpetrator was apprehended. Brooklyn reluctantly agreed to a security guard stationed right outside her loft. This wasn’t the life she wanted, she liked the fact that she could come and go as she pleased without the fanfare. Yet, she knew she would be on the edge until the gunman was caught. After saying goodnight to Jules and Dan, she made Terry promise her that she would call right away if her father or Lydia’s conditions changed.