his throat. The man was short and slightly obese. He wore a gray suit that was ill-fitting. He was sweating profusely, his eyes darting around the room. He was clearly uncomfortable and he refused to look directly at her. His gaze finally rested somewhere on the wall behind her head. “For the moment, we just need to ask you some questions, Ms. Barnes, and under the circumstances we need to do that down at the station.”
Joanna could feel herself nod but everything seemed like an out-of-body experience. Her arms and legs were heavy and she was shaking. Her nerves felt completely fried. The wave of shock that had washed over her was consuming and, for a moment, Joanna wasn’t sure she could keep her emotions in check. She took a deep breath and then a second, filling her lungs with air as she struggled not to cry, or worse, rage aloud.
The detective rose from his seat and gestured for Joanna to do the same.
“I have my car...” Joanna started. “I can meet you—”
The detective shook his head. “I need you to ride to the station with me, Ms. Barnes.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t... I can’t... I need to...” she stammered, suddenly unable to complete a coherent sentence.
“It’s not an option,” the detective added. “Right now, this is just a formal questioning and I’m willing to spare you the embarrassment of handcuffs as long as you cooperate.”
Joanna stood. She took another deep breath. “I need to make a call,” she said, her voice a loud whisper. She reached into her handbag for her cell phone. “Please? I need to call my attorney to meet us there.”
The detective nodded. “That is your right.”
* * *
Mingus Black rolled his eyes skyward, not at all amused by his sister Simone. The sixth child and the youngest girl in his family, Simone Black was being a proverbial pain in the ass as she pranced around his office, giving orders to his staff like she paid the bills. Despite him being older, his attorney sister was notorious for bossing him around, wielding control when it was least wanted. She got that from their sister Vaughan. He was grateful when her cell phone rang, announcing an incoming call, because he was just seconds from throwing her out the door on the heels of her Manolo Blahniks.
“I need to take this,” she said with a light laugh. “But when I’m finished, we need to talk about you incorporating this business. You can’t keep running it all willy-nilly like you’re doing.” Mingus rolled his eyes a second time as she depressed the talk button on her phone. He went back to signing the checks his secretary had dropped on his desk earlier that morning.
Simone’s lighthearted expression suddenly deflated like air being sucked from a balloon. Her brow furrowed, shock and concern flooding her face. She was listening intently and from where he sat he could sense the anxiety of the person on the other end of the phone line.
Mingus met his sister’s stare as he shifted forward, lifting himself upright. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice a loud whisper.
Simone held up her index finger, still listening attentively to the party on the other end. Rising, Mingus rounded the desk and moved to stand beside her. He brushed a large hand against her back and shoulder when he realized she was shaking, something having moved her to distress.
“Everything’s going to be fine,” Simone said, clearly fighting to contain the worry in her voice. “I will meet you at the police station. Don’t say anything to anyone. Don’t answer any questions until I get there. I’m on my way.” There was a moment of pause, the other person speaking, and then Simone said, “It’s going to be okay. I promise,” before she disconnected the call. “Mingus, I need you to come to the police station with me.”
Mingus eyed her with a raised brow. “What’s going on?”
“Do you remember my friend Joanna Barnes? She and I went to Western Illinois for undergrad. Joanna is one of my sorority sisters. She went to the Center for Teaching at the University of Chicago for her graduate studies.”
Mingus shrugged, having no real interest in putting a face to the name. “Sorry, it doesn’t ring any bells,” he said as he moved back behind his desk and sat.
Simone frowned. “Well, she’s been picked up for questioning. They’re alleging she had a sexual relationship with one of her students.”
Mingus shot his sister a look. “She’s a teacher?”
“High school, and she didn’t do it,” Simone said matter-of-factly.
“How do you know that?”
Simone scowled. “I know her. Joanna is not that kind of woman.”
“Are you sure you know...” he started.
Simone waved her index finger at him a second time. “I know.” She reached into her purse and pulled a dollar bill from inside, dropping it onto his desk. “I need to hire you to help prove she’s innocent.”
Mingus laughed as he picked up the currency, smoothing it between his fingers. “You really don’t expect me to work for free, do you?”
“Of course not. That is just an unofficial retainer. We’ll work out the details later.”
He laughed again. “I’m not an attorney, Simone. I’m a private investigator. There’s no privilege that needs to be established.”
“I know that,” she answered, irritation rising in her tone. “I just need you to come to the station with me. Please.”
Mingus blew out a heavy sigh. He had a lengthy list of things he needed to complete and taking on another case was not something he had planned to do. He watched as Simone headed for the door.
Simone tossed him one last look over her shoulder. “So, are you coming?”
Mingus tossed up his hands in frustration, knowing that if he were honest with himself, he really didn’t have any other options. His sister knew there wasn’t anything he would not do for her. Even when she irritated him. She had already banked on him saying yes. He’d follow her to the station and he would work whatever case she needed him to work. She had him wrapped tightly around her little finger and, despite his best efforts, he had yet to unravel the string to set himself free.
“I’ll meet you there,” he said, reaching into the desk drawer for his keys. “I need to drive my own car.”
Despite his reservations, Mingus was at least willing to show up. He didn’t know Simone’s friend, but her relationship with the woman was already a cause for concern. He always kept his distance when dealing with people he knew personally in a professional capacity and knew that friends weren’t always truthful if there was something they didn’t want you to know. He didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news if Simone’s friend wasn’t everything she believed her to be.
Mingus shifted into fourth gear, his Nissan 370Z Coupe picking up speed. He’d kept straight instead of turning right when his sister did, Simone believing the shortcut through downtown would shave some ten minutes off her travel time. He knew they’d
