Sugar & Spice by Keith Lee Johnson Read Free Book Online Page A

a Red Cross volunteer, and how everyone loved her.
    â€œThen, you know what the DA will do, don’t you? Yeah, you know. They’ll put up the autopsy photos. They’re going to show her back all cut up, her black and blue wrists from being tied so tightly that her circulation was cut off. Then come the photographs of her vagina that had been ripped up from repeated rape. They couldn’t get O.J. But they’ll get a drug-dealing nigga like you. They’ll come back with a conviction in ten minutes. Don’t throw your life away, son. Confess and make it easy on yourself.”
    Blake looked at his diamond-studded Rolex like he had all the time in the world and said, “I want an attorney. Can I make my phone call now?”
    Detective McDonald was about to say something more when Blake put up his hand and said, “Unt-uh, detective. The second I ask for a lawyer, all questioning stops. And by the way, the District of Columbia doesn’t have the death penalty. I’m surprised a seasoned veteran like you would try some shit like that. Now, be a good little boy and get me a phone.”
    McDonald mumbled something before leaving the room. Blake looked at the two-way mirror and winked. Kelly and I stared at him. He knewwhat I knew. The police didn’t have anything on him. No drug dealer would leave the money and the drugs. McDonald was convinced that Blake knew something, and had gambled that he could get Blake to give up information to save his own skin. It didn’t work. Back to square one. If Blake didn’t do it, who did? And if money wasn’t a motive, what was? I wondered.
    Detective McDonald came back into the interview room with a phone. He plugged it in. Blake picked up the receiver and hit the buttons on the phone quickly, as if he’d made the call every day of his life.
    â€œYeah, Jimmy,” Blake said, still looking at the two-way mirror. “Nelson Blake here. Is the boss in?” A few seconds later, Nelson was speaking again. “Yeah, man, this is Blake. I’m in a jam. Can you talk to your brother for me, man? Easiest money he’ll ever make.” He looked at Detective McDonald. “The nation’s capital is full of stupid cops. They think a lowlife like me would kill a prison warden, rape his white wife, and leave the goddamn money and drugs.”
    Blake laughed loudly. I could only assume that whomever he was talking to was laughing as well.
    â€œYeah, man,” Blake continued. “I guess these muthafuckas gotta justify their salaries somehow.” He laughed again. “So, brotha, you think you can get him to take my case, or what? So, he’s already in D.C.? Call his cell, man. I wanna be outta this muthafucka by six.” He looked at his Rolex. “It’s one-thirty now.” Blake was quiet again. “Uh-huh, yeah man. It’s bullshit. They don’t know who did it, so these dumb bastards come after my ass.”
    A few seconds later, Blake hung up the phone and smiled at Detective McDonald who was seething.
    â€œDon’t even think about it, man,” Blake said in a cool street tone. “If you touch me, here’s what’s going to happen. First, I’ma end up kickin’ yo’ ass, then I’ll sue you for that cheap-ass house you live in.”
    McDonald flung the table out of the way and had Blake, who was laughing hysterically, up against the wall. Kelly and I raced into the room.
    â€œSomebody better talk to this man.” Blake laughed. “He ‘bout tuh fuck around and lose his pension.”

CHAPTER 22
    Sterling Wise was already in the D.C. area, attempting to work out football contracts for a couple of players for the Redskins. Kelly and I were surprised to see him. When I asked him how he knew the defendant, he told me that his older brother, Jericho, had called him from the Caymans and asked him to defend Nelson Blake.
    Kelly and I were sitting in the last row of the