Between Friends by D. L. Sparks

was talking to one of the APD officers. There were a few agents there taking notes and gathering evidence.
    â€œThey found the knife. It’s already been bagged,” the officer said.
    â€œCool. She got a name?”
    The officer answered, “Monique Lewis. Stabbed fifteen times, throat slashed. Apparently, she was running more than drugs out of this nice house.”
    Again I couldn’t help but think about my sister.
    Phil looked at me. “You a’ight?”
    â€œYeah, I’m good.”
    â€œOf course, he’s good. You don’t know? That’s Supercop,” Linc taunted. “Special Agent Orlando Spencer.”
    Phil looked over at him like he was crazy then looked back to me.
    Linc walked up with a sly grin on his face that I wanted to slap off.
    The sound of his voice made me wanna punch a hole in the wall. But instead, I turned around and growled, “Listen here, I’m an agent, not a cop. Matter of fact, why are you even here? Don’t you have a speeding-ticket quota to meet?”
    â€œI see they called in the Top Cop, all the way from New Orleans.”
    I laughed. “As long as you notice.”
    It was no secret that Lincoln and I didn’t get along, but we had managed to find a way to coexist back in college for Idalis’ sake. We’d both known, since the day we met in Idalis’s dorm room, we were oil and water. We didn’t mix. And I was sure he hated me being back in Atlanta, almost as much as I hated being there. I knew me being DEA and digging up dirt in APD’s backyard, his stomping ground, was pissing him off even more, but I didn’t give a fuck.
    â€œWell, I for one am glad to have you back in town,” he said, sarcasm hanging on every word. “Does Idalis know you’re here?”
    With the mention of her name, my body got tense. “Why don’t you ask her?” I shot back.
    â€œI’ll do that, Trip, when I get home. Right before bed.”
    Our eyes locked in a hate-filled stare until someone called him name getting his attention.
    â€œThey need you in the back, Lieutenant Briscoe.” An APD officer came up and said.
    â€œDuty calls. It was good seein’ you,” he taunted, as he walked away.
    â€œYeah, give Idalis my best when you see her,” I said, cracking a smile. “If you can.”
    I was about to head for the door when I got a call from Clayton County.
    â€œSpencer,” I answered.
    â€œHey, this is Morgan. We’re following a lead on the stabbing out here in College Park. Some girl named Santee Mitchell.”
    â€œA’ight, keep me posted.”
    I went and found Phil in the kitchen. “They got a lead. Some chick in College Park.”
    â€œCool, they don’t need us then. Let’s be out then.”
    We were about to head out, when an officer came in and stopped us. “Hold up. We found a girl hiding in a closet downstairs.”
    We watched as a female officer led a thin, terrified girl into the crowded room. Her wide-eyed expression let me know that she’d seen way more than she ever wanted to see in her lifetime. Someone had covered her scantily clad body with an over-sized blanket. The room was silent as she sank down on the couch. I walked over to her and crouched down and got eye level with her.
    â€œHi, I’m Agent Spencer. I’m with the DEA. What’s your name?”
    She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out at first. So she tried again. “Mya Delowe.”
    I looked back at the officers in the room. “Did you see what happened here tonight?”
    This time she didn’t even try to speak she just nodded.
    â€œWe’re gonna need you to give a statement, can you do that?”
    Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded again.
    I tapped her lightly on her leg and thanked her before standing up and making my way back to the door.
    Just then Lincoln stepped in the room.
    â€œThere you go, Lieutenant