L Jaye Morgan [Morgan - Of Things Unseen

Copyright 2018 L. Jaye Morgan

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Printed in the United States of America

Morgan, L. Jaye

Of Things Unseen: A Psychological Thriller / L. Jaye Morgan

p. cm.

1. Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Fiction. 2. Psychological Fiction. 3. Serial Killers Fiction. 4. Mental Health Fiction. I. Title.

ASIN: B07HLH3M23

First Edition / November 2018

Cover Art: Coverquill

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a figment of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

For more information, visit ljayemorgan.com.

For all the girls who have felt invisible.

PART ONE

THE HOUSEWIFE

Chapter 1

T HE LAST THING ANYBODY wants to think about at a party is a little dead girl. Its just not proper at a celebration, and even Nikki had to know that. But after years of training myself in the art of conscious forgetfulness and putting her out of my mind, thoughts of my little dead friend popped into my head while I was nursing a glass of cheap white wine in my best friends expensive new Midtown apartment.

It was supposed to be a fun night, and it was before Nikki up and ruined it. Several of us had gathered at her place for a small affair. It wasnt really a housewarming, although that had been the plan before I talked her out of it. She had warmed her last apartment less than two years ago, so my advice was simply that it was inappropriate to have another (my mother considered such things gift-grabby).

Unlike me, a Georgia peach, Nikki was a progressive northerner and not much for the intricate inanities of etiquette. However, for reasons unknown, she had always valued my opinion so the evitewhich I kept my mouth shut aboutdidnt have the word Housewarming on it and the guests brought liquor instead of gifts.

The gang was all there. Nikki Thomas, my gregarious best friend. Rashaun Reese, Nikkis new boyfriend and roommate whom I didnt know well, yet, but he had locs and he always smelled amazing. Toya Williamson, our friend from college, a sorority girl who annoyingly referred to her husband as my husband even though we all knew his name, and Isaac, said husband, who was a personal chef to some local celebrities. And of course, there was my Tony.

There had been other folks there earlier, randoms from Nikkis work and church whose names I didnt bother to learn. I was relieved when they all trickled out and saved me from a night of pointless small talk. Southerners are usually good at it but that particular skill has always eluded me.

I refilled my glass before settling onto the couch. My overarching goal for the night was to get drunk and forget everything that was wrong in my life. And there was a lot. Alcohol is one of my triggers so it wasnt exactly wise for me to be drinking, but Tony was driving and it was as good a time as any to wallow in fermented self-pity. Besides, I had never been all that wise.

I was feeling good, really good, and then Nikki went and asked the question. It wasnt her fault, really. She didnt know. She couldnt have known about the chain of events she would set in motion.

Have yall heard about the missing black girls?

That question. It punctured my happy wine cocoon, and just like that, the energy in the room changed. My buzz was gone as if it had been shot right out of my head, and I had to swallow three times in a row to keep from choking on my saliva.

No, what happened? Toya asked as she settled back in Isaacs arms.

Tony chose that moment to take a puff on his cigar, sending thick white smoke past my face as he exhaled. I had always enjoyed the sweet smell that reminded me so much of my grandfather and the summers I spent sitting, as quiet as I could, watching him smoke and play solitaire at his kitchen table. But tonight, the smoke wasnt sweet and it didnt comfort me, and Tony didnt look grown and sexy. The white wisps curled through the air like ghostly tendrils, threatening and ominous.

Nikki addressed us, her audience, and I tried to use my mind to will her not to talk about it. Maybe that only worked with twins. Okay, so there are a bunch of black girls who have gone missing in the metro area in the past few months. Eastside. She looked around conspiratorially. Keep this between us, okay? Im working on a story. Im gonna break it soon but Im keeping it quiet until then.

Rashaun snickered. Youre doing a great job of that, by the way. Everyone laughed. Everyone except me.

Shut up, she said in Rashauns direction. Anyway, were still trying to pin down which cases are related. The police didnt give any of the cases a lot of attention, of course, so were trying to drum up some interest and get these cases linked. The earliest one that we know of that fits is an abduction about six months ago. Were up to four.

Four? In six months? And the police havent done anything? asked Tony. I cleared my throat loudly but nobody paid me any attention.

Yeah, Nikki continued, but I mean nobody is shocked by that, right? This isnt blonde Natasha Hathaway going missing on a beach halfway around the world. These are just a bunch of black folks. Nobody gives a shit but their families.

I dont think thats true. I think people care, Tony said.

Nikki shot him a look. Okay, let me rephrase. These are a bunch of black girls . Nobody gives a shit.

Tony laughed sarcastically. Oh, you think people care about black men?

Somebody does. How many marches have there been for yall?

Rashaun squirmed in his seat. Here we go, he said, shaking his head dramatically. Its a party, Nik.

She rolled her eyes. Then tell him not to start with me!

Any other time, an argument between my husband and my best friend would be the source of endless hilarity, especially since they had once dated. But not tonight. A feeling of dread was taking root inside of me, and it was both familiar and disconcerting, like the melody of an old song that I couldnt remember the name of or the words to.

Anyway, Nikki continued, Im gonna break it soon but I have a few more threads to follow up on.

Who are these girls? Toya asked.