“Anytime that's good for you.”
“Where are you staying?”
“I've rented an apartment on St Charles off of North Highland.”
“Really. Well, I'm not too far from there; I'm in Little Five Points. I could be there in ten minutes.”
Carmen looked at her watch; she had plenty of time before Marcus arrived for dinner.
“That's fine, India. I'm cooking dinner for a friend tonight, so we can talk while I get things ready.”
“See you in a few,” India said and hung up the phone.
Carmen turned off her laptop and prepared to greet India. She thought about changing into something a little more presentable, but she just wasn't feeling it. Carmen was still quite shaken by Desireé's letter. With each word, she felt her pain.
Why didn't you tell me little girl? I would have been there for you if I knew you were in that much pain.
As promised, India rang the doorbell in exactly ten minutes. Carmen opened the door for India. She was a tall, dark skinned woman, dressed in white shorts and a white nylon blouse. It was obvious to Carmen that she wasn't wearing a bra, as she could see her dark erect nipples pressing against the nylon.
“Carmen?”
“India, Please come in.” Carmen led India into the living room. “Please have a seat and thank you so much for agreeing to talk to me.”
“Thank you, Carmen. And it's no trouble at all,” India said as she sat down on the couch and crossed her legs. “Like I said, I always wanted to meet you. I would have preferred to meet you in a more social setting, but this
is fine. I like what you've done with this apartment.”
“Actually, it’s a furnished apartment; it was like this when I got here. I just moved in today. I don't like living out of a suitcase, so I got this place until I find something more permanent.”
“So, what can I tell you about Desireé?” India asked.
“How long did you know Dez?”
“We'd known each other for three years when it happened.”
“Were you two very close?”
“I'd say we were,” India said and smiled. “I thought Desireé told you about me?”
“No, I'm sorry, Dez never mentioned you to me.”
“Really, I was sure she had.” Carmen could see a little hurt in India's eyes when she told her that. “Well, even though she didn't tell you, we were very close.”
“I know she had planned to meet you the night before she was murdered.”
“You mean before Roland killed her,” India said.
“How do you know Roland killed her?”
“Who else would have?”
“That's what I'm trying to find out. Did you meet her that night?”
“I did. We had dinner at The Food Studio. Then we went to the Alliance Theater to see a play. I can't remember the name of it, it was terrible. We had drinks at Justin's and then we went back to my place to,” India smiled at Carmen. “To talk.”
“You were one of the last people to talk to her then?”
“Yes, I suppose I was.”