Page 57 of Dear Mr. Vampire
“No, they told me I might not have to testify. They told me they had all this other evidence against you and I was the last resort. The D.A. said they probably would never, ever call me to the stand.”
“Why are you shaking?”
I looked down at myself, and I was trembling. “Killing a witness is automatic life in prison. You know that, right?”
“So, are you a witness or not? You just said you weren’t. Do you think that would stop me?”
“No, I don’t, I don’t know. I don’t know you. I thought I did.”
His hands were clasped in front of him and hanging below his waist.
I wanted to run, but I didn’t have anywhere to go. I couldn’t fight this man. He was six-two and over two hundred pounds. I did not prepare my mind and body with an exit strategy.
He took two steps into my bedroom. “Hey.” His single words came out so smoothly you would think he hadn’t threatened to kill me.
“Coco!” His baritone traveled across the room and smacked me in the pit of my stomach.
“Yes.” I whimpered.
“Coco, that dress, I could just rip it off of you and fuck you face down, ass up.”
His words were vile. I held my breath because I knew I had to hide the disgust I felt for him. I was going to have to act nice.
“Are you really that surprised to see me?” He unclasped his hands to ball them at his sides. “Hello, I’m talking to you! Are you happy to see me?”
My knees buckled a little, but I was able to remain standing. “I’m surprised. Really surprised.” I mumbled after a wave of heat invaded the inside and outside of my body. I was sweating under my armpits and above my top lip.
“You’re surprised. What, did you think I was your new boyfriend?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“No, you don’t, because we never broke up. I just went to jail. You are still mine.”
I didn’t know how to respond to this, so I stood frozen in place and melting with sweat.
“Coco, you know you’re dressed like a high-class hooker.”
I shook my head no, then stopped when I recognized I was doing it.
“I love it when you dress like this. I thought this was all for me, but you dressing like a slut for that other muthafucka. I saw you with him. You got you a cracker now. He can’t protect you from me. Fuck him. Let’s catch up. How are you doing here in Chicago?”
I knew he wanted that question to be answered. “I’m working.”
“Yeah, you’re at Advanced Pediatrics. You just love working with kids. I probably should’ve made you a baby mama. Are you going to ask me how I’m doing?”
“Lonzo, how are you doing?” My voiced trembled, but I got out the full sentence.
“I’m happy you asked. As you know, I went to jail. I bonded out. I wasn’t supposed to leave the state of Minnesota, but nothing can stop me. They put on ankle bracelet on me but those things are a joke. One of my boys wearing that shit like hoes wear gonorrhea.” He chuckled.
I didn’t find it funny. All I could think about was the police officers that were going to find my dead body in this tight black dress. I didn’t want to die in this dress. It seemed inappropriate and almost offensive. I preferred to be murdered with pants and a thick cable-knit sweater.
“Coco, stop spacing out on me. Oh, wait. Are you planning your getaway? I see you looking around.”
Something snapped inside me. “Where am I going to go?” Being nice and docile would not stop him from murdering me. I was trapped, and I needed to figure something out.
“I really missed you. I haven’t seen you since you ran away from me.”
“I didn’t run away. You were in jail. What was I supposed to do?”
