The Murder of Rayshawn Louis
After all of these years. I find it awkward and a bit funny how I ended up dealing
with this case. Well, more weird and sad than awkward and funny. Who would have
thought? After eight years, Rayshawn Louis, my first love, would be dead. Yes, it's me
again, Shayla Thorn, now known as Debbie. Debbie McCooberfelt. Excuse me,
DETECTIVE Debbie McCooberfelt. Directly after high school, after my Macking
Business went downhill, I looked into becoming a detective. So here I am pursuing my
dream. But enough about me, let's move on to the real problem here. Who in the world
would kill Rayshawn?
There I was, just a few days ago. June 16, 2000, to be exact. I was enjoying the
summer breeze and my own company at the poolside of my new house in Manhattan,
when I got a phone call on my cell phone. It was a strange number that I didn't recognize,
but I answered anyway. I haven't gotten a call about any cases in the past month, so I
was a bit excited.
"Hello?" I answered while I sat my Appletini down on the table beside me.
"Hi. Yes. This is Jennifer Louis. I heard you were the best detective in New
York," the woman said.
"Yes, I am indeed. How may I help you?" I said, quickly getting to the point.
Her voice sounded so familiar, but I couldn't quite figure out where I had heard it before.
Ms. Louis began to tell me the basics of her story, "Well my son Rayshawn was
tragically murdered about two days ago. The police say it was a pretty clean and smart
killing, but they can't quite put their finger on who the killer could be. So I need your
help."
"Rayshawn, huh? Rayshawn Louis?" I said to myself out loud.
"Yes, that's correct," she responded.
I mumbled, "Damn. What the ---"
"What? Does that name ring a bell or something? Did you know my baby?" Ms.
Louis interrupted.
"Oh no. Not at all Ms. Louis. But I'm pretty sure I can help you out with this
case. How much are we talking here?" I said getting back to business.
"How's a grand?"
"A grand? Hold up lady, this could take me weeks! Lets make it three and it's a
deal."
"Fine. Three grand. Anything for my baby."
I finished off our conversation and went back to relaxing. But I could barely sit
still, I was still in shock. How did she find my number? My ads are only published out
here in New York. You would have thought that moving out here was a great idea. Guess
not. As I reached for my Appletini, I heard my cell phone ring again. What is this? A
damn hotline? With no hesitation, I took a few sips of my drink before I answered the
phone again. I needed it after hearing the news about Rayshawn. Hoping it wasn't Ms.
Louis calling back, I looked at the caller ID and seen it was only my best friend Ashley.
"Hey, girl! You will not believe what I'm about to tell you!" I said without even
letting Ashley say a word.
"Uh oh...What now?"
***************
The next morning I got up at he crack of dawn to fly out to Oakland, California to
meet with Ms. Louis. I was pretty nervous to see her. I mean, she never really liked me.
And I was sure after all these years she wouldn't even recognize me when I saw her.
As I prepared myself to hop out of the taxi, I looked out of the window and saw
Ms. Louis patiently waiting at the bus stop where I told her to meet me. I took a deep
breath and approached her. Acting as if I didn't know, I asked, "Excuse me miss. Would
you happen to be Jennifer Louis?"
"Why yes I am, young lady. And you must be Debbie. Very nice to meet you."
Ms. Louis replied. She looked a bit happy to see me. Maybe she was just a bit anxious to
hurry up and solve the case. But for some odd reason I thought she had recognized me.
As we walked down the busy street of International Boulevard, I decided that we
should sit down and talk for a minute. So we stopped at the nearest KFC on 98th street
to grab a bite.
"So is there anything else in particular that you think I should know about this
case? Is there anyone I should interview? Things that need to be researched?" I asked as I grabbed my order from the counter and sat down at the two-seater table near the window.
She sluggishly followed right behind me, watching my every move.
She sat down on the opposite end of the table and grabbed her drink, took a sip
and said, "Once I bring you to the crime scene, I'm pretty sure you'll have this case
solved in no time."
" How can you be so sure? I mean, like I said Ms. Louis, this could take quite a
long time. I’m good, but not that damn good." I chuckled.
"I understand. I just thought I was working with the cream of the crop," she said
as she took a bite of her chicken sandwich.
"Yeah, well, when do you think you can take me to the crime scene? You said it
was off by the Berkeley Marina right?"
"I’m pretty sure we can swing by there tomorrow night if that's fine with you."
Ms. Louis said as she developed a strange look on her face. "Wait. I didn't tell you about
the Marina. How'd you know? Oh yeah, that's right. Silly me. You must have done your
research."
"Yup. That's my job." I said as I took a breath of relief.
"Well I had a wonderful time getting to chat with you. I’m looking forward to
tomorrow. I can't wait until you get down to the nitty gritty."
I thought to myself, who the hell talks like that? Nitty gritty? I chuckled a bit and
said, "Yes. It was a pleasure meeting you. See you tomorrow." I then leaned over and gave
Ms. Louis a hug and walked out of KFC.
Awhile after we went our separate ways, I decided to call up Ashley to finish our
conversation we had the day before. "Yeap. She just left. She ain't changed one bit. Still
bitter as hell. Same ol Mama Louis. It’s just a damn shame she ain't caught on to me yet. I
don't look that fuckin different from when I was 17. Just a new name and hair cut." I
explained to Ashley as I rode the bus to the closest hotel I knew of.
"Girl, she too damn concerned about who killed Rayshawn. She ain't worried
about you. Just keep actin like you don't know shit. And everything will be kool."
"Yeah. I hope the fuck so. I ain't tryin to get caught now. But lemme call you back
when I get settled in the tele. Love you sis."
"Love you too. Tata."
**********
Finally, the day had come. It was about five o' clock in the afternoon and there I
was in the deserted marina, waiting in the car I had rented, for Ms. Louis. While I was
patiently sitting and listening to the silence in the air, I kept hearing strange noises
surrounding me, as if someone was hiding in the bushes or something. I didn't pay it any
mind for a while. But once I got a little bit curious, there was Ms. Louis. She had just
pulled up in her car right next to mine. We greeted each other and quickly got to work.
I looked around for a while. The yellow caution tape still surrounded the crime
scene. In the water, sat Rayshawn's green Nissan Altima. As I scoped out the premises,
Ms. Louis began to tell me how Rayshawn's body was found in the passengers seat and
that it was suspected that someone else was driving his car, ran them into the water and
got away. Smart lady, she's catchin on.
As I begun to get into the water and examine the car a little closer, I noticed that
there was a shadow that crept upon me. As I slowly turned around, there stood Ms.
Louis with a huge garbage bag in her hands. Next thing I knew, she begun to lift the bag
over my head. Damn, I thought. She's got me.
Right when I thought my life was going to be over, all I heard were gunshots.
Bang. Bang. Bang. I thought I was the one getting shot at. I felt all over my body and I
was fine. But it was Ms. Louis who was lying on the ground bleeding to death. In a hurry,
I ran to her body and begun to cry, I knew that she was dead and there was nothing I
could do about it. Thank goodness. I then got up from the ground, whipped my eyes
from the tears, walked to the bushes by my car, hugged and kissed Rayshawn and said,
"Everything went as planned, baby."