Chapter two of the detective thriller Lost in America. Book can be read free if you are a Kindle Unlimited member.
Chapter 2
The meeting room was located near the top floor of the Sears Tower in downtown Chicago. There was an oval-shaped oak table in the center of the room. Six people were scattered about the table, each with folders, papers, and notes resting before them.
The lone black man in the group was Morris St. John, a dark-skinned man with bright eyes, arching thick eye brows, and a bushy mustache. His stocky body was encased in an expensive dark gray suit. He was a congressman from a West side district in Chicago and part of a bordering suburban community.
The lone woman, gray-haired with thick glasses, said: “It seems as though we may have a problem with this little suburban group that doesn’t like the idea of scattered site low income housing.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised. It always happens with these types of projects.”
“Some of them can be quite relentless,” a smallish balding man said. “How would it affect federal funding if they succeeded in squashing the scattered site project?”
Morris leaned back in his chair. “It would blow a big hole in the whole damn thing. One of the members of my approval committee has ties to HUD. They really want this housing to go through. It could very well be a deal breaker.”
“How soon will the vote come up?”
“I’m trying to get a delay. One of my top supporters has a bad case of the flu. That’s how close the voting will be. We’ll just have to cross our fingers and knock on wood.”
Morris was now driving south from the Loop in what he called his inconspicuous ride, a light green mid-sized Toyota. He made a right turn at a major thoroughfare that would take him west. At a traffic light he took out a cell phone and called his wife.
“Hello.”
“Hey. My meeting let out on time.”
“Will you be home for dinner?”
“No. I just got a call from one of the minority contractors that may be working on the redevelopment project. He insists on meeting now at his house. I’m on my way there now.”
“All right. I guess you have to do what you have to do. I’ll keep your dinner warm in the oven.”
“Thanks baby. Love you.”
Love you back.”
“Bye.”
The unassuming brown brick house was located in a blue collar far South side black neighborhood. It was positioned fifteen feet from the alley and enclosed by a wire fence and gate.
Morris exited his car. On the way over he had changed into a black oversized sweatshirt, dark glasses, and a backwards baseball cap. He entered the yard through the gate and knocked on the door.
In a few moments a buxom, tall young black woman with big hair and hoop earrings answered the door.
“Baby. What a surprise. Come on in here.”
The woman, Kenesia Wright, stepped back and let Morris inside. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a smacking kiss on the lips.
“I’m so glad you decided to surprise me.”
“I took the chance that you would be home since you don’t have any classes today.”
“Come on in. Do you want something to drink?”
“I could use one. It’s been a rough day.”
The way the house was laid out one room let to the next one. The back door opened into the kitchen and it led on to the living room.
Morris moved into the living room and sat on the sofa. In a few seconds Kanesia followed him in carrying a pair of cups containing red wine. She sat down next to Morris and handed him one of the glasses.
“So, tell me all about your day.”
“Aw, I just had a lot of things to deal with. I went through a bunch of letters from people wanting me to help them out. And I had a meeting with the redevelopment committee. Dealing with white people can trip you out sometimes.”
“If anybody can do it, you can baby.”
Morris sipped from his wine and gazed at Kanesia.
“What is it?”
“Oh. Sometimes I look at you, and wonder why you want to have anything to do with me.”
“Because. You’ve helped me so much. Getting me this house almost rent free. And getting me a good part time job so I can go to school. Plus you’re my cute little teddy bear. Just let me relax you.”
Kanesia placed her glass on the coffee table in front of the sofa. She unzipped the back of her dress and pulled it down off her shoulders, revealing a pair of thirty-eight floppy type boobs with nipples the color of raisons. Morris placed his glass next to Kanesia’s. He licked first the right, then the left breast with his tongue.
“Oh, that’s so nice,” Kanesia purred. “Finger me right now. Finger me.”
She slid up the hem of her dress. Morris eased two fingers in her vagina.
“Oh baby. Oh baby. I love this stuff.”
The St. John home was a two story townhouse of dark brown wood paneling and tan and gray stone first story walls. It was located in the ritzy suburb of Winnetka.
Morris left his car and moved up the walk to the front door, a briefcase clutched in his hand. He searched his pockets for his keys until he realized he had forgotten them once again. He rang the doorbell.
In a few moments Morris’ wife, Annie, answered the door. She was a petite woman under five-five, just slightly overweight, with the features of a perky young woman now closing in on forty.
“Hi. Forgot your keys again, huh?”
“Yeah. I must be turning into the absent-minded professor.”
“Are you ready to eat now?”
“You know me. I’m always ready to eat. But I need to freshen up a little first.”
Morris bee-lined from the living to the hall that led to the down stairs bathroom. Kanesia never wore heavy perfume, but he was paranoid about cleansing himself of any foreign smells as quickly as possible.
In the bathroom Morris took off his clothes and dumped them into the hamper. He hit the shower right away.
Annie was present in the kitchen when Morris stepped in, having changed into a white T-shirt and light blue slacks. She went to the stove and removed a plate filled with strip steak, green peas, and mashed potatoes. She removed a glass of iced tea from the refrigerator and placed it near Morris’ plate before sitting down opposite him.
Annie inquired about her husband’s day. He recounted his redevelopment meeting, and even fabricated a credible story concerning his non-existent contractor confab.
Morris drank from his iced tea. “Anything new on Laura?”
“No. I didn’t get anything new from the detectives today.”
“Maybe something will break tomorrow.”
“I strongly doubt it. Since I let them go today.”
“You fired them. Why?”
“Because.” Annie leaned back in her seat. “They had the same problem as the first agency we hired. They got a few leads, and then ran into a brick wall. We need somebody that can walk in the black and white world with no problem. L.L is who we should get.”
“I hate to bother him. He’s always so busy. Or out of the country working.”
“Well he’s here now. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to him.”
“I suppose not. Maybe I’ll give him a call.”
From my brief experience with the city, your description of Chicago is credible along with your description of Morris and the perks that come along with political office. For some reason, I can't remember chapter 1 and may have to go back and read it.
Following several murders, means, motive, and opportunity all point to out-of-work actresses Bootsie Kittredge and Babs Harrison. Their claims of righteousness and lack of guilt seem fabricated, thanks to a cheerfull announcement made to the patrons
Do you love a Mystery? How about a Ghost Story? Grab some pure entertainment! Enter the world of “Nancy Drew Meets CSI”. Follow the new girl detective, Annie Tillery, as she navigates her way through intriguing plots with good forensic science, narro
