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  ***

  Detective Hart pulled up to the security center at the front of campus. It was 7PM and had started to snow. He walked in and saw two security officers leaning in their chairs. Detective Hart didn’t need to show his badge, they recognized him. They all nodded their heads at each other in greeting. He turned to a open walkway where he saw Angel sitting on an old dirty love seat.

  He was so engaged in his text conversation he didn’t noticed the Detective walking in. “Angel Hernandez?” Detective Hart asked as he reached his hand out to shake Angels.

  “Oh, yeah, Detective Hart.” He said startled by the other presence in the room. “My bad man, was texting my shawty.”

  Detective Hart raised his hand up as to gesture he understood. “So you wanted to meet with me? I’m here.”Detective Hart said sitting in the chair across from Angel.

  “Yea, man, listen.” Angel leaned in as if he was about to tell a secret. “I know you’ve spoken to Antonio already, right?”

  “Pittman?” Detective Hart asked knowing the answer. “Yeah what about him?”

  “I’m starting to question his actions. He’s been acting real shitty since he got Bryce’s position.” Angel continued. “Like, before Trey was quiet and just hung around, now he’s cocky and arrogant.”

  Detective Hart smiled in agreement. It was as if Angel was a fly on the wall in the break room as he watched the interview. “So, you think Trey killed, or got Bryce killed?”

  Angel shrugged and kept his eye on the door as if someone was going to walk in on the meeting. “I’m starting to think so. He got all defensive and shit on me earlier. Plus I had heard him and his ex girl arguing in the rec room.”

  “What was being said?” Detective Hart shift in his seat, now intrigued with Angel’s tale.

  “I couldn’t make anything out, but the way she screamed, I thought he had hit her or something.”

  “So he’s abusive to his girl?”

  “Nah, she’s not his girl no more, and I ain’t saying he beat on her or nothing but,” Angel leaned in more, “Look, she tried to sleep with Bryce and Trey caught them.”

  Detective Hart raised his brow. “So, you think Trey killed Bryce over a female?”

  “I don’t know. I think he was jealous of him. Bryce was the man!”

  “Yeah, so I’ve heard.” Detective Hart chuckled. “You told me before that the night of Bryce’s murder you ran over to get Trey, do you think he had someone waiting for Bryce at the party?”

  “I have no clue, for all I know he could’ve did it and ran out before everyone saw him.”

  Detective Hart raised himself from his seat, he got all he could get out of Angel for the evening. As he walked out of the room he paused and turned to Angel, “Pittman said he was the last to speak to Henson on the phone. Did you see a phone at the time you guys found him, you know before the police arrived?” Angel looked puzzled.

  “Nah.” Angel responded.

  ***

  Trey set up on his bed recovering from his drunkenness. Michele sat on Bryce’s bed across from him. “You good now?” She asked him trying to keep from laughing at his crisis. She had to follow him into the mens bathroom to hold his locs while he vomited, Trey wasn’t a drinker. “Drinking won’t change how people view you, you know?” She added.

  “Thanks, Chele.” He slurred. “I’m just over this whole Bryce thing.

  “What do you mean you’re over it?” Michele asked suspiciously.

  “I’m over it. Like, come on he’s dead. He’s not coming back!” He managed to shout.

  “Wow, of all people, I would’ve never thought I’d hear this from you.” Michele responded in disgust.

  “From me? From me? I’ve lived in his shadow for 3 fucking years, Michele!”

  “Drunk men tell no lie!” Michele said throwing her arms in the air. She pulled her self off of the bed and grabbed her bags.

  “Seriously, you gonna to leave?” Trey yelled.

  Michele ignored him as she walked out of the door slamming it behind her.

  0:12

  “Michele?” Detective Hart called out to her as she walked out of the dorm hall where Trey stayed.

  “Yeah?” She answered looking confused, all she could see was a shilouette of a man walking towards her in the snow and dim lights of the front of the hall. “May I help you?”

  “I’m Detective Hart of-”

  “I know who you are.” Michele cut him off mid sentence.

  “You just leaving from seeing Trey?”

  “Yes. What’s this about?”

  “Well one why are you about to walk across campus alone?” He asked in concern of her safety. “Let me escort you across campus.”

  “Thanks.” She said unmoved by the Detectives kind gesture. “ So you still looking for leads in Bryce’s case huh?

  “Yes, I am. I haven’t had the chance to talk to you since that week. How are you holding up?”

  “I guess as well as a girl can.” She said with a soft smile.

  “How about Trey?” Detective Hart asked slyly as if he was snooping for answers.

  “Humph. I guess he’s okay.” She rolled her eyes thinking back to the incident that had just occurred. “Look Detective, I’m not trying to get in the middle of this. I wasn’t at the party.”

  “I understand. Have you heard anything new around campus?”

  “Some things that I wasn’t ready to know, but yeah.”

  “What does that mean?” Detective Hart asked stopping in his tracks. Michelle looked nervous as if she was saying more than she needed to. She looked around campus nervously as if someone would be spying on her and the detectives conversation. “So, I found out that Trey was jealous of Bryce.”

  “Wow.” Detective Hart responded surprisingly unsurprised by her answer.

  “I’m guessing you’ve talked to someone about this?” She asked with a side smile after noticing his reaction.

  “Yeah, this Pittman, Trey, does he have a bad temper?” He asked digging deeper into the conversation.

  “Sort of.” She said looking around.

  “What happened in that room just now?” Detective Hart stopped again, this time looking Michele in the eyes.

  “He’s drunk that’s all.” She said “I went to check on him.” He wasn’t satisfied with her answer, he needed more.

  “So, how did you find this out, you know Trey being jealous of your boyfriend?”

  “Just around campus. This is my building.” She said pointing to the door of her hall.

  “Thanks, Michele. Take care!” Detective Hart said walking away.

  “Thanks for walking me over!” She yelled back before closing the door.

  ***

  Detective Hart headed back towards Trey’s hall. He wanted more answers, he wanted them from the horses mouth. He banged on Trey’s door. He heard scuffling and voices behind the door.

  “Who is it?” Trey yelled out.

  “Detective Hart, open up!”

  “Shit!” Trey mumbled before opening the door. “Yeah?”

  “Am I interrupting something?” Detective Hart asked sarcastically looking behind Trey at the young woman on the bed.

  “Yeah, you kind of are.” Trey answered in the same tone.

  “I would be nice to me if I were you Mr. Pittman.” Detective Hart grinned. “Young lady could you wait out in the hall for a few minutes while I speak to Trey?” The young woman rolled her eyes while she grabbed her hoodie and brushed pass both of the men in the door way. Before she could say anything Detective Hart closed the door in her face.

  “So wassup?” Trey asked flopping on his bed.

  “You tell me?” Detective Hart stood.

  “What you mean? You knocked on my door,sir.”

  Trey responded slickly with a slight slur from his drinking earlier that night.

  “Well I’m hearing you’re going around campus beating on women-”

  “Now hold the fuck up! Who told you that shit? That bitch Sevynn?�
� Trey asked angrily.

  “Watch your goddamn tone!” Detective Hart barked back at Trey as if he was his father.

  “Dog, I ain’t hit no bitc-female on this campus.” Trey said watching his tone and glancing over at the gun on the Detectives hip.

  “I am just going off of witness’ my man!” Detective Hart said watching Trey’s eyes in slight fear of his weapon.

  “You need to watch your ego, Pittman.” the Detective mentioned after a 15 second staring contest with Trey.

  “What?”

  “You heard me. You got people suspicious of you.”

  “Because I’m confident!?” Trey scrunched his face up.

  “No, because you suddenly became confidentafter Bryce died.” Detective Hart reminded him. Trey sat in silence for a few seconds playing with his hands like a child being scorned by their parents. He didn’t know what to say. Detective Hart glanced around the room and looked down at his phone for the time.

  “Who’s, Sevynn?” Detective Hart asked walking out of the door.

  “My ex. She tried to sleep with Bryce. She was the last to see him that night. Thought I told you this before?” Trey asked looking confused.

  “No, I don’t recall.” Detective Hart said closing the door.

  0:13

  “Yo, Trey.” Coach Booker called out as he walked into the locker room. “Hey, man are you cool? I’ve been trying to call you.”

  “Yeah Coach, I’m good. I lost my phone.” Trey said while snapping his chin strap to his helmet.

  “Listen, there’s a scout out there today looking at you. He’s real interested in working with you.” Coach Booker whispered. “Play your ass off!”

  “Don’t I always!” Trey responded. They both laughed. Trey expression changed when he saw Angel walk in the room. They hadn’t spoken since the day he and Sevynn accused him of killing Bryce. They grilled each other like enemies as he walked behind the lockers. Trey also remembered what Detective Hart said about his ego.

  “You and Hernandez beefing?” Another teammate questioned.

  “Nah.” Trey lied.

  ***

  It was the end of the season for S.U. The CSA Honey Bowl. They went an undefeated season and was happy to be back in the Championship again. Trey looked around the stadium, it was thousands of fans in the stands. He smiled to himself, at how far he had come. ‘Damn, wish you could see this bro!’ He thought to himself as he imagined Bryce standing beside him on the sideline. He missed his friend. He looked to his left and saw Michele in her cheerleading uniform, they locked eyes. She still had a look of disgust on her face. He nodded his head at her gesturing ‘I know I fucked up’.

  ***

  “Look at that kid move!!!!” The commentator shouted over the speakers in the stadium. The crowd jumped and yelled. Trey made it down to the 10 yard line. They were down by a touchdown.

  “Trey, we gonna run this in, then go for the conversion!” The quarterback called out the play.

  “Why you can’t pass it to me, why he get to have the glory?” Angel asked.

  “Yo, What’s your problem?” Trey snapped. “You never had a problem when Bryce took the glory.”

  “You’re my problem and you’re not Bryce, pussy!” Angel argued back stepping in Trey’s face. Trey grabbed the cage of Angel’s helmet and swung him to the ground. The two players wrestled while the officials blew their whistles and threw out yellow flags.

  “Looks like we have a scuffle amoungst teammates!” The commentator shouted sending attention to the fight on the field.

  “What the fuck is wrong with ya’ll!?” Coach Booker hollered as he ran on to the field. “What the fuck happened?”

  “He was talking shit Coach!” Trey said still trying to push pass the officials and other team mates to get to Angel.

  “Hernandez, on the bench!” Coach Booker yelled.

  “Are you fucking kidding me, Coach, come on!” Angel said with his arms stretched out. “You gonna take me out but let this bitch finish playing?”

  “NOW, Hernandez!” Coach Booker shouted again ignoring Angel’s rant.

  When Trey finally calmed down, they began the play again. The quarterback, waited til the play clock marked 0.2 then hiked the ball. He tossed it to Trey, who got hit hard from the side. He stumbled to get up for a few seconds and then got back in formation with his team mates. It was 20 seconds on the game clock, at 2nd and goal.

  “Hike, Hike!” Trey got the ball again he shot up the side of the field, leaped over the lineman coming towards him and flipped into the endzone. The crowd roared! “Touchdown! S.U.”

  The team hurried and lined up to make the 2 point conversion. The quartback faked the throw and handed it to Trey once more. They had won the Bowl game!

  ***

  “Congratulation boys!!!!!” Coach Booker clapped and cheered while he was drenched in green energy juice. “Game ball, Pittman!”

  Trey grinned as he leaped over his teammates to grab the football from his coach. He held it in his hands admiring it before he spoke.

  “This ball is for Bryce. He would’ve earned it.” He said sadly holding back tears. His teammates all nodded their heads and agreed in unison, except for Angel.

  “You’re full of shit Antonio!” Angel blurted out before slamming his helmet into the locker. “Now you want to acknowledge your boy, huh?!” He mimicked.

  “Dog, chill, you fucking up the moment.” Another teammate yelled out.

  “Fuck this moment. Fuck you. Him. Coach Booker. Fuck this whole team!” Angel shouted pointing at everyone. They all stared at him having a tantrum. Some of the guys put their heads down to keep from laughing.

  “Hernandez, in my office!” Coach Booker commanded.

  “Have a seat.” Coach Booker said slamming the door to his office. “What’s the matter with you, Hernandez?”

  “Trey, he’s fucked up.”

  “How!? He didn’t do anything but win. He won us the Championship for heavens sake.”

  “Yeah, but not for Bryce’s sake.” Angel mentioned looking the coach in his eyes.

  “He just acknowledge his friend. What you want the boy to do?”

  “I want him to stop acting like a stuck up bitch and admit he killed Bryce!”

  Coach Booker sat back in his chair in dismay. He couldn’t believe the words that had come out of Angel’s mouth. “You’re saying, he killed Bryce.”

  “I’m not saying shit.” Angel sat back but then continued. “All I am saying is, your super star wasn’t shit til’ his homeboy died.” Angel push up out of his seat and stomped out of the office.

  0:14

  Sevynn gathered her things to get out of the car. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She turned it on to see who the message was from. It was Trey. “Ha, I knew he wouldn’t stay away too long.” She smiled to herself.

  ‘Hey’

  ‘Hey Wassup! U not mad anymore?’

  A few seconds later. Another message came through.

  ‘Nah. Let’s meet up at the park by your apartments at 6.’

  ‘Cool!’

  Sevynn felt satisfied that she lorded Trey back to her. “he must feel guilty.” She laughed to herself restarting her car.

  ***

  Detective Hart was, once again, back on campus. This time he searched for Sevynn. He didn’t remember seeing her in the early parts of the investigation. After speaking with Trey he wanted to know more about the night Bryce died, since she was the last to see him alive.

  He asked around campus about Sevynn for almost 20 minutes. Finally someone coming out of the library told him she didn’t live on campus but the apartments were on 5 minutes away.

  Just as the student at the library said it took him a little under 5 minutes. He rang the intercom for the front desk.

  “Yes?” An older sounding voice spoke through the speaker.

  “Yes, ma’am, I’m Detective Hart from PPD, I am looking for a Sevynn Baker?” He responded. He then was buzzed in.

 
“Sir, I haven’t seen her this afternoon.” The woman immediately began conversation as the Detective walked in the door.

  “Would you mind if I went up to knock on her door?” He asked politely.

  “Is she in any trouble because I don’t want touble in my building?” The woman spoke quickly and defensively.

  “No ma’am, just have to ask her some questions about the incident that took place in October.”

  “Oh with that boy?” The woman said with a bit sass as if she was bothered by the murder. “All this investigating, he probably just commited suicide!”

  “I doubt that ma’am.” Detective Hart chuckled at the old woman’s conclusion. “Room number?”

  “Room 407.” She pointed him in the direction of the elevator.

  “Thank you!” He said and smiled politely at the woman.

  Sevynn’s apartment was right there as he stepped off of the elevator. He could here the sound of the television mumbling behind the door. He first knocked with a few taps on the door. But after 30 seconds he knocked harder. Still no answer. He listened with his ear to the door. He wanted to see if he could hear movement in the apartment. None.

  “Any luck?” The old woman chirped.

  “No, no luck. Can you do me a favor?” He asked pulling out his business card and handing it to her. “Could you give this to Sevynn when she gets in. Tell her to give me a call.

  ***

  Trey walked over to the Learning Center to look for Angel. He asked a few people if he had seen him. “Yeah he’s in the rec room.” Someone pointed out. Trey looked through the small glass window on the rec room door. Angel sat in the room alone with only half of the room’s lights on and the television on CSC. Trey tapped on the door while welcoming himself in.

  “Angel.” He called out and then cleared his throat. He looked up on the screen and it was a replay of his interview.

  “What?” Angel said low almost a mumble.

  “Look man, I want to apologize abou-”

  “You see this dickhead on T.V.?” Angel cut him off speaking to an invisible person in the room.

  “So you not going to let me apologize?” Trey asked getting angry. Angel put the T.V. on mute and faced Trey.