“Hi, honey,” his wife chirped back. “I’m catching a movie with Karen tonight. The kids are with my parents.” “Have a good time.” Diana was always good about making sure he knew her precise whereabouts, and Dr. Banks appreciated that. Now that he was free for the evening, the thought of arranging another hookup with Clarence crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed the thought. He was not a greedy man.
He never prowled for sex and the thought of going to a gay bar disgusted him. Only gay men did that, and he wasn’t gay. His lunchtime excursions were just a freaky little hobby. Nothing more. Nothing less. He was a fanatic about safe sex and always chose partners who were family men with as much to lose as he had. Dr. Banks even required his sexual partners to periodically produce written proof that they were HIV negative, and he gladly did the same.
He loved his wife too much to demand anything less. In the twelve years since he’d said I do, there had only been five other men besides Clarence. Dr. Banks turned left into the parking structure, made his way to the second level and backed into a stall that bore his name in neat block letters. He hummed his favorite Temptations song, My Girl, as he took off his shades and clipped them onto the sun visor.
Pushing open the car door, Dr. Banks planted his left foot on the ground at the same moment that a bullet pierced his cheek, just below his right eye. The force of the shot sent his head hurtling backward, then slowly forward, as a splash of crimson darkened the car’s pristine beige interior. As the second and third bullets entered his neck and chest, Dr. Banks’ body fell sideways toward the open car door. His hand reached out for something to grasp, but found nothing to break his fall. In what looked like a slow motion videotape, Dr. Banks tumbled onto the dirty garage pavement, head first.
Every time I read a novel by this new writer, for me, I finish and want to continue on to the next book... This is the Vernetta Henderson Series Book 3... I'm a fan of legal novels, but when a writer takes on issues from today's headlines, then I find them even more intriguing...and, additionally, a learning experience. While this book was published in 2008, we are still, unfortunately, seeing the same types of hate that have been around for decades and more... I don't even attempt to get into a discussion on one's sexuality. I think that if God has created us in His image, then it is not up to us to judge whether any given individual is "not" how God had created that person. It works for me, but nosomuch for many... In fact, I want to share the author's addition at the end of the book related to why and how she came about writing this book. I certainly learned a lot, but I'll highlight, for me, her most important words...
In this book, Vernetta's best friend, Special, takes center stage as she mourns the death of a cousin who has died... According to announcements, she died from pneumonia, but this was not the truth and Special was first upset and then became angry. In her opinion, Maya was...murdered! And she felt that her fiancée should be made to pay for her death! In fact, she became more and more obsessive as time went by, even to making a public announcement during Maya's funeral...
To everyone’s amazement, including Vernetta’s, Special sidestepped two ushers, shrugged off a funeral director and charged straight into the pulpit. The mourner who was speaking stumbled aside as Special snatched the microphone from its stand. “Everybody thinks Maya died from pneumonia,” Special said, choking back a sob. “Well, she didn’t.”
Vernetta shot out of her seat and was at Special’s side in a flash. “What’re you doing?” she whispered, covering the mike with her hand. “Don’t do this!” J.C. followed after her, and the two of them formed a tight half circle around their distraught friend. Reverend Jones took a half step toward them, but froze when J.C. shot him a cop glare that didn’t require any verbal instructions.
“People need to know the truth,” Special replied in a weak but angry voice. Nichelle had also joined them, which was a surprise considering how much she hated confrontation. She stood off to the side, still dabbing her eyes with the tattered Kleenex. Vernetta placed a hand on Special’s shoulder. “Maya’s family doesn’t want people to know.” “I’m her family, too,” Special replied stubbornly. “And I think they should know.” A muffled clamor drew all eyes to the front pew. Maya’s mother slowly rose to her feet. Pearl Washington was a young woman. Just over fifty. But the weight of her daughter’s death had added a good ten years to her otherwise flawless face. “Special’s right . . . ” Mrs. Washington said in a weathered voice that had Maya’s feminine raspiness. “People should know. Let her speak.”
After a long, uncertain moment, J.C. took a step back. It took another few seconds before Vernetta reluctantly did the same. As the congregation waited, Special dropped her head as if she had suddenly lost her nerve and was searching for it on the floor. But in an instant, she straightened into a lofty, almost regal pose. “Maya wasn’t just my cousin,” Special began, fighting to control her emotions. “She was like a sister to me. And she shouldn’t be lying in that casket. The only reason she is, is because somebody deceived her. And it would be a crime to deceive all of you.” She stopped and rubbed her right eye with the heel of her hand. “Maya didn’t die of pneumonia. Maya died of AIDS. And Eugene Nelson was the man who infected her.” An elderly woman gasped from the back row, and a teenager sitting up front cupped his mouth with both hands.
“Maya didn’t know that Eugene was gay or on the down low or whatever you want to call it,” Special continued, ignoring the waves of shock ricocheting through the church. “Eugene needs to pay for what he did. And I promise you . . .” Her lower lip began to quiver and for a second it seemed as if she would not be able to go on. “I plan to make sure that he does.” Special let out a loud, agonizing wail as her three friends rushed over to her. Reverend Jones waved frantically at the pianist, whose fingers hit the wrong keys, then broke into Amazing Grace.
Vernetta wasn’t sure what emotion she felt as they escorted Special from the pulpit. But she didn’t blame her friend for what she had just done. It didn’t make sense for Eugene to be walking around looking like the picture of health when Maya was dead. What was God’s lesson in that? Special was absolutely right. Eugene had to pay. As a matter of fact, they had already come up with a plan to make sure that he did.
Realizing that you've been infected of a deadly disease by your beloved surely must be the worst thing that could happen to many women... At least that is how Special, Maya's mother and her closest friends decided... They were beginning the plans for suing Maya's husband for wrongful death and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
While this very personal trauma was being felt by Maya's family, there were other families experiencing similar losses... But from a different perspective, As an investigation started, it was discovered that there had been four murders of prominent Black men and, when Eugene was also killed, Vernetta began to think that there was a serial killer working in the area... It was bad, but not something she would become involved with, until, when Eugene was murdered, the police immediately began to build the case to arrest Special, who from the very first, had talked about Eugene needing to pay the penalty...and she just might be willing to see that happen... At least that was how the local police were justifying her arrest...all on circumstantial evidence... And, yes, some of the acts done by Special were illegal, but she was not responsible for his death...
In fact, as readers continue, we are faced with a whodunit that is extraordinarily well written and, ultimately, a shocking and climatic ending! Well done, Ms. Young!
The merge of homosexuality within the religious part of our lives is prominently addressed, but not from the usual perspective. Ms. Young points out that if those who are gay were not forced to be closeted, for fear of being harmed, that the activities of having sex on the "down low..." would probably not occur. That is, gay men would form open relationships and not be forced, sometimes, to be in a heterosexual marriage. The topic is sensitive as, it seems, all sexuality issues are as it relates to religion... For surely, the church has not been successful in dealing with the many issues that need to be addressed in the real world, post-Biblical times...
As we have seen, given the Supreme Court actions and discussions recently, the nation has been forced to look backward related to issues that we all once thought had been settled... The fact that religion has been used to incite hate, division, and prejudice is once again alive and active due to the maga influence. People are dying, again... And use of scripture is being used by those who "hate" for their own personal goals. From 2008, when this book was published, to 2022, today, we are once again questioning who can love who...
This book is an excellent exploration of the topic within a fantastic and compelling legal suspense story that will keep you on edge until the final chapter! If you see yourself as some of the characters in this novel, take a moment to see which of them reflect your own opinions, and whether that was a "winning" choice for the way the book concludes... Me, I'd place myself as one of Maya's friends...and I'd be doing whatever it took to seek...accountability! At this time, it is much more important day after day after day...!
