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The Knife In My
Back Stacey Covington-Lee
Xpress Yourself
Publishing, March 10, 2009
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The Knife In My Back: Also available in major bookstores everywhere.
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rook Mansfield was born into a life of privilege. She had a family that loved her and all of the advantages that came from being rich, smart and beautiful. She also had friends, one of which was Tameka Williams. Tameka was a desperate woman looking to gain fortune, fame and love at any cost. It didn't matter who she hurt or used as long as she got what she wanted in the end. Despite the warnings from others, Brook took Tameka in and tried to love her as a sister. However, after taking the one thing that meant the most to Brook, it was time for the tables to turn. Tameka had used and betrayed her for the last time. |
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Stacey has always had a passion for literature and a desire to write. She has written several short stories over the years and is continuously reading material from all genres. Her first novel, The Knife In My Back, was released by Xpress Yourself Publishing in March of 2009. Stacey is happily married and the mother of one awesome son. She continues to live in an Atlanta suburb with her family and is currently working on her next novel.
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“Oh my, God, answer the phone…please answer the phone.” “Hello.” “Brook, he’s dead! I killed him. Tell me what to do?” “Slow down, Tameka, who’s dead? What are you talking about?” “Titus, the guy I met tonight. We came back to his place to have a couple of beers and he started doing some freaky shit! I was so scared; I just wanted to get him off of me. I didn’t mean to kill him. help me!” “Okay, I’m calling the police.” “Hell no, I can’t go to jail…I gotta get out of here! I know we’ve had our problems, but now is not the time to turn on me. I shouldn’t have even called you.” “Just calm down and give me the address. I’m coming to get you.” After hanging up the phone, Brook called Rodney. He was a good friend that wanted to be more, but Brook just couldn’t make herself go there with him. Friends were all they would ever be. Rodney came right over in the campus security car and Brook knew then that he couldn’t drive it to pick up her friend. She explained the situation knowing that she could trust Rodney with her life and then she gave him the keys to her Benz. Within the hour, Rodney returned with a shaken Tameka. He gave Brook her keys reassuring her that no one saw him and he then handed Brook a paper bag. He gently whispered, “This is for you and your protection should anything ever come up.” Rodney kissed Brook on the cheek, turned and walked away.
* * * * CHAPTER 1
Graduation day! This was indeed the biggest day in the girls’ lives. They worked so hard to get to this point, or at least one of them had. Brook was steadfast in her studying and work ethic, while Tameka got here by hook or crook. But now all that mattered was that they were here. And who would have ever guessed it by the way they started out. Four years ago, Brook arrived on the Spelman campus with her parents in tow. She tried her best to convince them that she could make the drive alone and get her room situated without their help. But she knew they would never go for that. She was, after all, their only baby. They planned and prayed for her since their wedding night and when she finally made her entrance into the world three years later, they were overjoyed. They provided her with everything a child could ever need or want. Brook wore the finest clothes, lived in the most affluent neighborhood in Baltimore. She attended prominent Christian schools, but that was just the material. The best thing about Brook’s parents was that they taught her about love, respect, family and loyalty. Above all, this child knew she was loved. And the way her parents loved one another taught her how marriage was supposed to be. Even though she would never come right out and tell them, she was glad that Mommy and Daddy were there to see her as she stepped into the next phase of her life. After retrieving the keys to her dorm room, Brook and her parents began to unload her belongings and set up the side of the room she had chosen. After all, the first one there got to pick the side they wanted…right? They arranged her stereo, television, refrigerator and other belongings just as she’d wanted them. Katherine, Brook’s mom, even purchased matching bed sets so the room would be well coordinated. A little presumptuous, she thought, but what the heck, she wanted it to look nice. Just as they were putting the finishing touches on the room, Brook’s roommate appeared in the door. “Well, I guess you decided this gon’ be your side—no scissor, paper, rock or nothing, huh?” “I’m sorry, did I miss something? Do I know you?” “Don’t be sorry, I’m your roommate, Tameka, and I just meant that you didn’t give me no say in what side of the room would be mine. Looks like you just took over.” “Well, Tameka, I’m Brook and these are my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield. I didn’t mean to take over, but you know how it is, the early bird gets the worm.” “Yeah, I guess. Snooze you lose. Well, it’s nice to meet y’all anyway.” From Tameka’s entrance, Katherine wished they had private rooms available. Why Brook wanted a roommate in the first place, she didn’t quite understand. You could still make friends and bond with others in a private room. Not that Katherine was a snob—far from it—but this girl just seemed real rough around the edges and she didn’t want Brook to have any unnecessary conflicts. As Tameka dragged her two duffle bags and backpack into the room, it was clear to everyone that she was not as privileged as Brook. She was dressed well enough in her jeans, halter top and K-Swiss sneakers but her luggage wasn’t exactly a matching Gucci set. Tameka was about five-foot-seven inches tall and a perfect size six. Brook couldn’t help but admire her well-proportioned body. Brook also took notice of the smooth Hershey chocolate complexion that covered Tameka and her almond shaped eyes and high cheekbones. Although Tameka seemed to be a little tough and rough, she was a lovely girl who could probably make a fortune as a model. “Do you need any help with your things young lady?” asked Martin, Brook’s father. “No thank you. I’ve got it.” Tameka thought it was nice of Mr. Mansfield to offer but she didn’t want anybody thinking that she needed help with anything right now, especially someone she perceived as “snooty.” As Tameka began to unpack her things, she would sneak glances over at the perfect little family, but she mostly concentrated on Brook. She first noticed the long, dark hair flowing down Brook’s back. She estimated Brook to be about five-foot-five inches tall and a slim but well put together size five, with very soft, feminine features, gentle eyes and a flawless honey complexion. She was beautiful and classy, a combination that could easily make a girl jealous. As the Mansfield’s prepared to leave, they reassured their daughter that they were only a phone call away. They made sure that she had her emergency credit card, spending money and a blank check from Dad’s business account to cover her books. After several hugs, kisses and a few tears, they were off. But before leaving, they each gave Tameka a soft, kind hug and permission to call them if the need ever arose. This behavior from strangers was new to Tameka, but she found it to be quite comforting. Once alone in their room, the girls started talking and attempting to learn a little about one another. Surprisingly, the conversation flowed easily. Brook learned that Tameka was there on a full scholarship and had a work-study job to help earn spending money. Although she arrived alone, Tameka stressed that she was not alone in this world. Her mother would be by later after work. Tameka was one of four children, same mom but all different dads. Her mother was by no means a whore or a loose woman, just a hard working woman that made a couple of bad decisions in her quest for love. Alone, she raised her kids in a housing complex in the heart of Atlanta. So far, Tameka was the one that her mother was hanging all her hopes on. She was the first to graduate high school and was now attending college. Tameka’s three older brothers decided to live by the streets. One is now serving time for armed robbery, one is a known drug dealer and the youngest boy died two years ago when the cops busted a street fight and one of their stray bullets hit him. Obviously, Brook found this all nothing less than amazing. She was hearing things that she’d only read about or seen on the six o’clock news. She couldn’t help but admire Tameka for making it this far. As months and years passed, Brook learned things about Tameka that she didn’t admire. Most things she learned, she despised. After coming up with ground rules they both agreed to, Brook often called Tameka to the carpet for breaking one rule or another. Tameka was constantly in Brook’s clothes (a huge no, no), interrupting Brook’s private moments and hitting her up for cash, as if she were the local ATM. And for the life of her, Brook could not understand why someone as smart as Tameka was constantly cheating on tests and trying to buy mid-term reports instead of studying and doing work that mostly came easy to her. Brook threatened many times to move to a different room but since they bonded on a real friendship level, Brook couldn’t bring herself to move out. Just when she was convinced that Tameka was using her, Tameka would do something like giving Brook a beautiful ballerina figurine to add to her beloved collection. It was a friendship she just hadn’t been able to terminate. But now here they were. Graduation day. Ms. Williams, Tameka’s mom, was so proud. She was running around helping the girls get ready. She always treated Brook as if she were her daughter too. Ms. Williams was more than happy to fill in until Brook’s parents arrived. Brook was a little surprised and started to feel disappointed. She had spoken with her parents no more than three hours ago and they assured her that they would be there on time. Nothing would stop them from seeing their baby girl walk across that stage and receive that hard-earned degree. The door swung open, pulling Brook out of her thoughts. There stood Mia, another one of Brook’s good friends dressed out in her cap and gown. She was all smiles and advised the girls that it was time go. Brook walked over and gave her a big hug and Tameka gave her an ugly eye roll. Mia was not one of Tameka’s favorite people because she seemed to be on to every scheme Tameka tried to pull and often warned Brook about her so-called friend. But this was graduation day and Tameka shook off the bad vibes, ready to be nice to everyone, even Mia. After the ceremony, everyone began to disperse and the graduates sought out their families in the crowd. Brook still hadn’t seen her parents and just as she started to walk toward another crowd of people, her path was blocked by two uniformed police officers. “Ma’am, are you Brook Mansfield?” “Yes, is there something I can help you with?” Brook’s mind immediately went to the night of Tameka’s accidental murder. She couldn’t believe that after all this time this was coming to haunt her on the happiest day of her life. “Miss Mansfield, is there somewhere we can talk?” “Um yes, let’s step over here where there’s less traffic. Now, how can I help you?” “We hate to inform you that there’s been an accident. Approximately two hours ago your parents’ car was hit by a truck that lost control on the highway. They were taken to Grady Hospital’s trauma unit…” “So they are still alive?” “Ma’am, I’m sorry. The doctors did all that they could. Their injuries were just too severe. I’m so sorry.” |
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