Page 30 of A Trial of the Heart

Chapter

Thirty

Shiloh:

“Good morning. My name is Shiloh Monroe, and I’m trying to reach Anita Robinson.” I spoke into the speaker of the phone.

“Ms. Robinson is no longer with us.”

I gasped. “Oh no. When did she pass?” I asked, sitting behind my desk.

“I didn’t say she died.” The person spoke roughly.

It was crazy how my mind instantly went to her not being alive anymore. “My apologies. Do you happen to know a way I could reach her?”

The lady on the phone sighed. “I do. However, that isn’t information I can give out.”

After finding out that Rashad dated Arthur’s daughter, it was imperative I spoke to Anita because it was something she knew and hadn’t told me.

“It’s very important… almost like a life-or-death situation.” I exaggerated.

The sound of the phone rustling paired with low annoyed grunts came from the receiver.

“You can reach her at 757-389-2388.” Her voice was just above a whisper. Seconds later, I was met with a dial tone. She had hung up.

Pressing the button to silence the noise, I let out a low sigh before saying a silent prayer.

I really needed Anita to open up to me because something was terribly wrong with the case.

Seeing that picture of Rashad and Lauryn put a lot of why Rashad’s case seemed off into perspective.

Lauryn was a biracial woman that came from one of the multiple affairs that Arthur tried his best to hide.

Arthur was ashamed of Lauryn, but secretly, he spoiled her rotten, even at her grown age.

One time when I was in the office after hours, I overheard him and Lauryn talking.

Neither of them knew I was there, but Arthur had said some vile shit.

He loved Lauryn but not enough for the world to know it.

He’d never admit it, but his pale ass loved the chocolate but didn’t feel we upheld the image he imagined. The situation was very complex.

Taking my chances, I picked up the office phone and called Anita’s number, hoping she’d answer and agree to talk to me.

“Hello?” she answered on the first ring, sounding exhausted.

I cleared my throat “This is Shiloh Monroe. I w—”

“Didn’t I tell you not to contact me again?”

I heard the phone rattling. “No, wait. Please, don’t hang up,” I begged.

There was silence between us. I almost thought she had hung up until realizing I never heard a dial tone.

“I know you asked me not to contact you again, and I’m truly sorry.

I am. It’s just… I really need to speak with you.

Someone’s life as they know it is on the line. ”

“What does that have to do with me?”

What exactly did it have to do with her? I wasn’t sure, but I needed to find out.

“It may not, but I’d like the opportunity to meet with you again so I could ask a few questions.” The line was silent once again. “Please?” I would beg if I had to.

“I will meet you one last time. However, if you don’t have what you’re looking for after this, you’re out of luck. If you contact me again, I will press charges for harassment.”

Hearing her agree to meet me caused a smile, but the last part of her statement forced it to drop fast.

“Understood.”

“Come to 987 Parks Ave and come alone.”

I couldn’t even say thank you before the call was disconnected. There are some weird and disrespectful people in the world, I thought, leaning back in my chair. I truly hoped that after meeting with Anita for a second time I’d have the answers to this mixed-up puzzle.

“Come in.” I spoke in an already annoyed tone because I knew it was either Arthur or William.

I wasn’t in the mood for either of them. The door swung open, and Isla appeared. I sighed softly, grateful I didn’t have to deal with the other two when I was trying to get out the office.

“Hey. You okay?” I asked with a raised brow. Her expression was off putting.

Isla walked further into my office, her heels tapping the floor lightly with each step. “Girl, do you have a tampon? My cycle decided to show its ass early, and I can’t leave the office at the moment.”

I smiled. “Girl, yes.” I pulled the bottom drawer to my desk open. “Here you go.”

“Lifesaver.” She did a happy dance.

“You want to grab lunch in a bit?”

“I actually have to make a run. Rain check?”

“Of course,” Isla said, backing toward the door. “Thanks again.”

Preparing to push my drawer closed, I stopped and glared down at the box of tampons. I bought them during my last cycle, and as my eyes stayed glued to them, I realized it had been some time since I’d needed to use them.

“No way.” I spoke out loud, grabbing up my phone and going to the calendar. I wasn’t trying to get pregnant by any means, but I tracked my cycle each month. “Oh fuck.”

I cupped my hand over my mouth, seeing that my cycle was three weeks late.

I’d been so caught up with things I hadn’t had the time to realize.

I sat in my thoughts about the situation, but I had to get to Anita before she changed her mind.

Dealing with my late cycle would have to come later.

Slamming the drawer shut, I grabbed my things up before heading out the door.

In the parking garage, I started my car before quickly putting the address into the GPS. I backed from my personal parking space and headed to the address Anita had given me. I processed the questions I’d ask once I reached Anita while coasting through the streets of Williamsburg.

Turn left in one thousand feet, and your destination will be on the left, my GPS indicated.

The drive that was supposed to take only ten minutes took close to thirty since I ran into some traffic from an accident.

I pulled to a slow stop next to the curb reading the number on the house; I had made it.

With a long exhale, I killed the engine and climbed out of my car.

Ambling slowly up the rocky driveway, I hit the lock button on my key fob, and my car’s horn beeped.

With each step I took, the crunching of the pebbles against my four-inch heels sounded.

Once I reached the front door, I raised my balled fist and knocked lightly before stepping back.

My nerves went into overdrive. I knew I was the one that had asked to meet Anita, but she acted so strange on our last encounter that I was having second thoughts.

Moments after knocking, the door slowly crept open, and Anita’s small head poked out from the side before she slowly opened the door.

“Hi,” I mumbled.

Anita didn’t speak. Instead, she pulled the door open wide, gesturing for me to enter. Once inside, she quickly closed the door, and the sound of it latching caused me to jump because it closed so hard.

“Would you like something to drink?” Anita asked, facing me.

We stood in the middle of her place. The house seemed so serene and welcoming. It had a boho theme, and the soft colors just made me feel at peace. The smells that filled the place were intoxicating.

“No, thank you.”

“Okay.” She gave a weak smile. “You mind taking your heels off? I kind of have a no shoe rule in my house.”

I understood that people wanted fresh carpet and things, but it always bothered me that people really asked their guests to remove their shoes. Shoes may carry bacteria, but so did people’s unkempt toes. Either way, I always respected people’s homes even if it was something I wouldn’t do.

“This way.” Anita was already walking away, so I followed her.

I trailed Anita into this room that was even more beautiful than the one we’d walked from, and it smelled like heaven.

“You can have a seat.” She gestured to the oversized, fluffy beanbags.

Adjusting my skirt, I slowly sat on the floor, tucking my legs slightly under my butt ensuring I did not flash Anita in any way. As I sat, Anita flopped down on the beanbag chair opposite of me.

“So why the need to continue to harass me?” she half joked.

I nervously laughed. “I really need to know about that friend of yours that was involved with Rashad.”

I had kind of put two and two together after seeing that photo of Lauryn and Rashad that Lauryn was also the friend that Anita had referred to.

“You sure? Because once you know, you’re involved, and those people are some grimy individuals.”

My interest was piqued, but did I really want to get involved? I mean, after all, I was on the opposite side of Rashad anyway, so why did I care so much?

“I’m sure.” My integrity wouldn’t let me turn a blind eye to a man that was possibly innocent. Plus, I actually did like Rashad.

Anita sat back, sitting Indian style while placing her hands in her lap. She sighed lowly, so I knew I was about to be in for a story.

“Lauryn and Rashad dated for a few months. While Lauryn seemed more invested than he did, Rashad was also nice and seemed to care for Lauryn. The thing is, though, no matter how nice a person was, Lauryn suffers from DID and schizophrenia disorder.”

“DID?” I knew what schizophrenia was, but I’d never heard of the other.

“Dissociative identity disorder… previously referred to as multiple personality disorder.”

“Wow,” I whispered.

I always felt things were off with Lauryn the few times I did encounter her, but I assumed it was her trying extra hard to be white for her father’s love.

“So how was their relationship, and what made it take a turn?”

“At first, it was like any other normal, healthy relationship until Lauryn’s true colors started to show.

She would pick fights with Rashad for no reason.

She accused him of sleeping with other people.

If any female looked his way, she was ready to fight because she felt they were trying to take him.

Rashad handled her with care most times, but I guess he got tired of coddling her, so he ended things. ” Anita shrugged.

“Why did the two of y’all stop being friends?”

Anita’s eye twitched as she uncrossed and quickly recrossed her legs.

“She accused me and Rashad of sleeping together. When we both assured her we hadn’t and would never, she tried to fight me.

Once I left the long-term friendship she and I built, she started harassing and stalking me.

The stick that broke the camel’s back was when she flattened all of my tires and busted out my windows.

I had to press charges and get a restraining order.

Sadly, the charges didn’t stick because of who her father is. ”

Lauryn was more unstable than I knew. “Can I ask you something?”

“Kinda been doing that already.”

“Touché. Do you think Rashad is guilty of what he’s been charged with?”

“What are his charges?”

I gave Anita the rundown of Rashad’s charges, and the more I told, the more scrunched her nose became.

“I didn’t know Rashad well, but what I did know was anything dealing with those kids and his center… he wouldn’t jeopardize losing it all for no amount of money.”

“What do you think may have happened?”

“Did you not hear me? Lauryn is bat shit crazy and will do anything to get Rashad back or even make him pay for breaking things off. I’m positive that she didn’t take the breakup well, so she had her fat ass father to help get a case against Rashad.”

My thought process was all over the place, but it made sense why Arthur pulled me from the case. He knew from my reports that I was on the fence of Rashad being guilty. Arthur knew that had I represented for the office, I’d tell the judge my findings, and he couldn’t have that.

“So, Lauryn caused this?”

“I’d bet my last dollar she did. She’s done worse and has gotten away with it, so her causing Rashad to go to jail due to lies doesn’t surprise me. Lauryn just does not care.”

“That’s crazy.” I was so flabbergasted that I couldn’t say anything else.

“Very. I don’t know how important Rashad is to you, but Lauryn, her father, and even her brother don’t play fair. They will go through great lengths to ruin someone’s life. Look at me for example.” She seemed to get sad instantly.

My brows dipped in confusion “What do you mean?”

“I guess me staying away from them all this time wasn’t enough. They put out lies and had me fired from my job.”

So, that’s why she’s not with the company, I thought. “How do you know they were the reason?”

Anita scoffed. “I have been with that company since college. I moved up in positions quickly because I knew my job and could do it in my sleep. I have never been late, never called out, and never missed a beat in all those years…” Her words trailed off.

“I had been the perfect employee, yet I was let go as my position was no longer needed at the company. I even volunteered to work in another position since I knew how to do the duties. They came at me with budget cuts, offered me a huge severance, and saw me out the company without a second look.”

I didn’t have to question whether or not Anita was telling the truth. For one, I knew Arthur would go above and beyond to ruin a person’s life if needed, and two, Anita had no reason to lie to me.

“Any idea what you’re going to do about the situation?”

Anita sucked her teeth. “What is there I can do? I mean, you work for her father, so I am sure you have seen firsthand how they get down. I’m educated but have no connections.

Anything dealing with them is always not about what you know.

Instead, it’s who you know. So, there is nothing I can or will do. ”

The more I listened to Anita, the sorrier I felt for her, her life, and Rashad’s life. More than likely, mine had been ruined because of racist people.

“Is there anything I can do?”

Anita’s eyes had been shifting everywhere but on me as we talked, but that quickly changed. For a brief moment, she only stared at me, causing things to feel a little awkward.

“Nothing you can do for me, but for you… like I said before, get away from those people and never look back. Also, I’m not sure what the relation or level of care for Rashad is, but he’s an innocent, upstanding guy. He doesn’t deserve what they did to him. If you can, help him.”

I had already concluded that Rashad wasn’t guilty of any of the charges. Anita confirmed it once again.

“I’m going to try my best.” I didn’t know how I was going to pull it off, but my ultimate goal was to prove Rashad’s innocence and expose the office.

“Good.” Her voice was just above a whisper. “Is there anything else?”

My welcome was over. “No, no.” I stood. “Thank you for giving me the time. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out, no matter the time.”

Anita smiled weakly. “Thanks.”

I headed for the door; I was almost positive that thanks Anita tossed out was her saying she’d never contact me. Even if she didn’t reach out, my focus now was all on Rashad.