Read Online Boss Divas by De'nesha Diamond - Free Book Online Page B

to find the woman who did this then, we’re going to need some more information. Do you remember what she looked like?”
    There’s a long pause before Christopher nods. “S-she . . .” He licks his dry lips. “She said that she was my grandmother.”
    â€œWas she? Have you ever met her before?” I ask.
    The little boy shakes his head.
    â€œOkay. Let me ask you this: what’s your father’s name?”
    Christopher’s eyes grow as large as two silver dollars. “I’m not supposed to talk about him.”
    I frown. “What do you mean?”
    â€œMom said that I’m not supposed to tell anyone about him. Nobody—not even granny and grandpa. She said that they would get mad.”
    â€œDid she say why?”
    He pauses and then shrugs. “She said that grandpa wouldn’t like it.”
    â€œOh.” I let that rotate in my head. Was this whole thing a family drama on steroids? “It’s okay now to tell me who he is—so we can call and talk to him. Maybe you can stay with him for a while—”
    â€œNO!”
    The outburst startles me.
    â€œI don’t want to go back there! They’re mean and awful and . . .” He’s trembling harder.
    â€œAnd what?” I press, even though I just want to take him in my arms and wipe away his fears. Instead, I remain professional and keep my distance.
    Christopher’s war between what he should and shouldn’t say plays on his face.
    â€œIt’s okay. You can tell me.”
    He shakes his head.
    â€œI can’t fix anything if you don’t share with me,” I tell him.
    Christopher swallows so hard that he actually makes a gulp sound—but he keeps his secrets.
    Giving up, I back away. “You don’t have to tell me now if you don’t want to. I’m not going to force you.”
    â€œDon’t make me go back there. I don’t want to go back there. Please. Please. Don’t do it,” he cries.
    Go back? “All right. All right. You won’t have to go,” I say, desperate to calm him down.
    Knock. Knock.
    I glance over my shoulder toward the bedroom door in time to see the chief enter.
    â€œWe have to go,” she announces before tossing a casual glance at the kid in the corner. When her gaze swings back to me, I read the invisible question: How’s it going?
    I answer by shaking my head.
    â€œWe may have a lead,” she says, changing the subject.
    I stand as she motions for me to follow her. However, before I step away, I flutter an awkward smile at the kid. “I’ll be right back.” Walking to the door, I can feel his large eyes track my every move.
    In the hallway, Chief Brown fills me in on the latest. “You need to get over to Baptist Memorial. Two women were admitted, telling the staff and security over there one hell of a story. One woman claims that she was abducted from here tonight.”
    â€œWe have names?”
    â€œYeah. Barbara Lewis and Maybelline Carver.”
    Carver? There’s a click in my head and a kick in my gut. “I’m on my way.”

11
    Ta’Shara
    F uck sleep.
    The way I feel right now I’ll probably never sleep again. In the meantime, I have to force myself to lie next to Profit in his king-size bed and stare up at the ceiling. He can’t sleep either, I can tell by his breathing. Maybe he’s waiting for me to have another breakdown. Hell. I’m not too sure that I won’t.
    What am I going to do now? What’s going to become of me? I’m supposed to be smart. Why don’t I have an answer? Why have I never developed a plan B or a C? I was supposed to go to college and then medical school. I was supposed to become Dr. Ta’Shara Murphy —now who am I going to be?
    Profit squeezes my hand and I sneak a moment to study him. He’s no longer the thin, cute hottie I met at the mall almost two years ago. He’s packed on muscles