Page 7 of Crown: Phase 4

Lawson looked up from his notepad.

“Family shit?”

“My mother’s death anniversary was coming up. His aunt. He came to check on me, then he left.”

“Did he say where he was going?”

Maino shook his head.

“Nah. I figured he was headed back home.”

“Have you heard from him since?”

“Nah.”

Lawson scribbled a few notes before looking back up.

“Mr. Calloway, our investigation shows Boris’s phone was last active in this area before it went silent.”

And there it was. The truth. The truth Maino already knew they had.

“Like I said, he was here, then he left. I don’t know shit else.”

“When he was here, did anything seem off? Was he nervous? Looking over his shoulder? Did he mention someone being after him?”

“Nah.”

“Did he mention having any problems with the police or anyone else?”

Maino’s expression never changed.

“He ain’t mention none of that. I told you, we kicked it for a couple days, caught up on family shit, then he went on about his business. That’s all I got. Cousin or not, I wasn’t keeping tabs on a grown-ass man.”

Lawson studied him for a moment.

Maino met his stare without blinking.

“If that’s all, detective, you can get the fuck off my porch.”

Just as Lawson was saying he wasn’t finished yet, Smoky’s attention shifted past him. A black van had just turned onto the street, creeping. Whatever was said faded into the background. Smoky’s eyes met Crown’s through the window of the driver’s side. For a split second, time stood still.

∞∞∞

By ten p.m., rain had settled over the city once again, pouring steadily against the floor-to-ceiling windows of Crown and Nivéa’s bedroom. From the second floor, the windows offered a clear view of the circular driveway and grand entrance at the front of the mansion, where Crown would pull up whenever he came home. Nivéa stood near the glass with her phone in hand, staring outside while she waited for him.

She had been trying not to think too much about Crown, but after not seeing him since he dropped her off that morning, worry had started creeping in despite her best efforts. She had already given in and called him twice, but both calls went unanswered. After the reception, she’d hoped they would have more time together, but they hadn’t. She wasn’t mad at him for that. She’d come to understand that his life came with responsibilities that could pull him away without warning. Still, knowing that didn’t make it any easier to quiet her worry or ignore the little bit of sadness she felt.

Inside the nursery, Kerri gathered her things after successfully putting Nyla to sleep. She had spent most of the day there, bonding with her daughter-in-law and grandchild. When she stepped into the hallway, she noticed Nivéa standing by the window. She walked over and softly knocked on the open doorway.

“Hey, you. Mind if I step in?”

Nivéa turned from the window to face her. “Of course not. Come on in. You don’t have to ask.” She immediately turned back toward the glass.

Smiling, Kerri took one look at her daughter-in-law standing there with her phone in hand, staring out at the rain, and immediately understood what was going on.

“Girl, you look like me many years ago, up and waiting for that man to come home. At least you ain’t waiting in the hood.” She glanced around the luxurious bedroom before looking back at Nivéa. “And you look good. Baby, that robe is just as nice as that damn view.” She admired the luxurious Dior silk, trying to lighten the mood.

“Thank you. Ahmad bought it for me in Vegas.” Nivéa snickered and shook her head. “I can’t help but worry.”