On the Other Side(53)
“You can make fun of me all you want. I’m merely stating the obvious. They haven’t made the pussy I would chase after like that.”
“Well, good for you. I’m glad to hear it. But, you and I both know this isn’t about pussy. It’s about power and control. That’s exactly why I’m going to have a little talk with Mr. Westman. He needs to know who is really in control.”
Derrick and his partner first went to Neal’s apartment and when they didn’t find him there they went to his office. They got out of the car and went up to Neal’s office.
The detectives showed their badges to the receptionist when they arrived.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“Can you tell Neal Westman that Detectives Simpson and Palmer are here to see him?”
“I’ll let him know you’re here.”
Mr. Westman’s secretary came out to the reception area and brought them to Neal’s office.
“Denise, please don’t go to lunch until I’m done with my meeting,” Neal said to his secretary.
Derrick watched as Denise left the office. Just looking at her he could tell there was no love lost between her and her employer.
“Denise, shut my door,” Neal barked, before turning his attention to Derrick and his partner. “Is Damita okay?”
“She’s fine, Mr. Westman. She would be even better if you stopped harassing her,” Derrick responded.
Neal flashed Derrick a feigned look of surprise. “Harassing her? I’m not even living with her. My wife has left me to go live with your girlfriend. Strange, don’t you think? Tell me, Detective Simpson, you ever wonder if those two have more than a simple friendship going?”
“No, Westman, I never wonder about that. I’m here to tell you that you will leave Ms. Whitmore alone or you will have me to contend with.”
Suddenly Neal started clapping. “Bravo! Did you get that from a script somewhere? That was pretty good. You ever think about trading in your badge for a card from the Screen Actors Guild?”
Detective Palmer looked over at Derrick and laughed.
“Real funny fucking guy, huh, Simpson?”
“I’m glad to see I amuse you. Now, get the fuck out of my office! I can do whatever I want to do. She’s my wife. I would strongly suggest you and that whore girlfriend of yours stay out of our relationship.”
Neal’s last words were barely out of his mouth when Derrick reached out and dragged Neal over the top of his desk. He slammed him against the nearest wall and punched him several times.
When Palmer thought Neal had enough, he intervened. “Simpson, that’s enough, man.”
Both Derrick and Palmer expected Neal to immediately shout police brutality, loud enough for everyone to hear. Instead, he began laughing. He laughed hysterically, until both detectives had left his office.
“I’ll drive,” Palmer offered, once they were outside.
“Did you see his reaction? I hit him and he stood there laughing. He’s completely insane.”
“You’ve got that right.”
As soon as the detectives left, Neal picked up the phone. “I’ve got a job for you. This one I think you’ll enjoy. And Jeffrey, I want it done tonight.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
After a long day of work, Damita stopped by Wendy’s office to say goodnight.
“I’m heading out,” she said.
“Look at you, taking advantage of the perks of being a VP.”
“What perks? It’s nearly eight at night.”
“Like I said, you have to love those perks. Grunts like me, on the other hand, will be here until at least midnight.”
Damita looked at Wendy with a fake pout. “Poor baby; maybe I’ll take you out for a drink later this week, so you can drown your sorrows.”
Wendy waved her hand at Damita, shooing her out of the office. “You better. Now go home.”
Damita wanted to stop at a home furnishings store in Midtown to pick up a vase Carmella mentioned she liked, so she took the subway to Fifty-ninth Street. She was happy that the subways were running quickly, since the store closed at nine o’clock. Once she got out of the train she walked toward the First Avenue store and under an overpass. She glanced at her watch and it was only eight twenty-five. She was glad to see she had time. She thought she felt someone walking behind her. She quickened her pace to get out from under the overpass as quickly as possible. As soon as she had cleared the overpass and was about to cross the street, a van pulled up in front of her. The van door opened up and the person behind her shoved her toward the van. Two sets of hands grabbed her and pulled her inside. Damita put up a fight but there were too many of them. They were all wearing ski hats. Damita could see there were three men in the back of the van with her, including the one who had pushed her in. She tried to scream and fight, but one of them pulled out a gun and put it to her head.