In a volatile time when political leaders race to make America great again, the nation finds itself judging one another. Jonathon Marcel’s novella crime series dares to confront racism and examine diversity in a way that will leave readers questioning their own beliefs and political views. Get ready for an action-packed, coming-of-age crime story that tackles the issues of social injustice, interracial relationships, police misconduct, political influence, and sexual exploitation.

A high-school graduation party has ripped apart the lives of two young lovers after a rich white girl is fatally injured during a night of drinking and sex. Her black boyfriend is arrested by white cops, only to be released by the town’s black mayor as their quiet Kansas City suburb erupts in racial protests.

As the lines are drawn between black and white, private investigator DeShawn Mills arrives on the scene and finds himself on the wrong side of the fight. All around him, hostile emotions are quickly boiling over. If there is any chance of discovering what happened and who is to blame, DeShawn must act fast before the student body burns down the town.

The Senior Bash

Chapter 1

“It won’t matter,” Hailey Sanders said slurring her words, lying naked in her girlfriend’s bed. “He’ll never go for it.”

Heart-pounding music and teenage cheers vibrated the bedroom door and walls from an excited cadre of graduating seniors partying it up in classmate Wendy Masden’s family home.

Hailey dragged her fingers up her soft, coppery-colored skin then rubbed her palms over her buxom chest as her inner-thighs pressed together. Her flowing, golden-blond hair laid spread over the pillow.

Quentin Mathews pulled on his jeans then sat on the edge of the bed to lace up his shoes. Hailey’s foot snaked around his ebony torso. Her luminous, sapphire-blue eyes glimmered on a stream of alcohol as they soaked up her boyfriend’s athletic build.

She cocked her head and shook it. “You can talk to my father until you’re blue in the face. He isn’t going to let his privileged white daughter date some black guy.” Her words morphed into giggles. “Why do you think we’ve been hiding our relationship all this time?”

“Some black guy, huh?” Quentin huffed and buttoned his shirt. “Sometimes I think your privileged white ass is ashamed to be seen with me.”

Hailey jerked the bed sheet up over her goddess-like body then reached for a Dixie cup of some orange concoction of spirits.

“You gonna try and hide inside your booze from the truth?”

“Screw you. I’m not hiding from shit.”

“Except your dad, your mom, teachers, friends— ”

“Friends? You think no one out there knows what’s going on between us?”

“Not really. Most of them think the beautiful rich white girl is just occupying her time having fun with her black boy toy.”

“Maybe the haters do, but not my friends or your friends.”

“Actually my friends do, except for Trevor.” Quentin eyed Hailey through the dresser mirror as he straightened the cuffs and collar of his shirt. “You hide us so well, sometimes I don’t know what to think.”

Hailey flung her arm out over the mattress. “And the way you come and go makes me think I’m just a conquest for you to brag to your friends about.”

“You know that’s bullshit. You know I love you. I don’t hide what we have from my mom like you do. Yeah, she’s against it as much as your parents, but for different reasons. She seems to think I’m going to get hurt when it doesn’t work out because your parents aren’t going to let you bring some mixed-race baby into their family.”

“Is that why your mother hates me?”

“She doesn’t hate you, she digs the hell out of you. But she knows your father and she hates him.”

Hailey shimmied out of bed with the sheet draped over her like a toga and staggered into the bathroom, then squatted on the toilet.

“What’s really bugging you?” Quentin asked.

“That my only worth in life is my good looks and my father’s money. No one cares what I think, or believes I can be in love with a black man. My parents, my aunt Barbara, my grandmother, they all want me to be what they want me to be. Date and marry who they pick for me.” The toilet flushed. “I got news for them. I’m going to live my own life and be with who I want to be with.”

When Hailey came back out, Quentin tossed her her clothes. “You don’t want to be with Lord Barren Lacy?”

Hailey rolled her eyes, “Oh, please,” and slammed back the rest of her orange cocktail.

Quentin laughed. “Don’t be so harsh now. Barren comes from good white stock. His family is richer than yours, and he’s got a hard-on for you. Think how privileged your little Aryan babies would be with both your bloodlines combined.”

Hailey slung her underwear at Quentin. “I loathe his family. They’re snakes, all of them.”

Quentin grinned and tossed her underwear back. “Get dressed before the next loving couple barges in for some alone time.”

“Why do you have to leave? It’s still early. Stay here with me. I don’t want you to go.”

“I promised my mom I’d go by my aunt’s to make sure she’s okay and the house is locked up. You want to come with me, or are you going to stay here and get shitfaced with everyone?”

Hailey stumbled backwards in her bra and jeans, smiling, waving her empty Dixie cup around. “I’m already shitfaced.” She wrapped her arms over Quentin’s shoulders. “Kiss me.”

Quentin brushed Hailey’s bangs back, and gave her a long slow kiss.

*****

The majority of the senior crowd was gathered in and around the dining room, cheering five of their classmates playing Quarters.

Alexis Davies and a few girlfriends had commandeered a corner of the living room. Alexis held up her digital camera and interviewed her friends on what they were planning after graduation, and where they thought they’d be ten years from now.

The biggest nerd in the class, Myles Anderson, was also the hippest and the party’s DJ mixing tracks from another corner in the living room. A small group of inebriated teens danced and gyrated in the middle of the room.

Quentin passed through the kitchen and said goodnight to his partner and lifelong friend, Trevor Ratcliff, then slipped out the backdoor.

The popular clique of kids swam in Wendy Masden’s swimming pool. The pool’s natural rock construction, cobalt-blue liner and lighting created a Mediterranean vibe under the moonlight with a mild scent of chlorine blowing in the breeze. Another group of classmates circled around a keg on the back deck.

Quentin headed out through the side gate.

Leaning against the stone privacy wall with a beer in hand, chatting with friends, Barren Lacy perked up when he spotted Quentin sneaking off. He licked his lips then finished his beer.

“I’m going to get another beer. I’ll be back.”

Barren glided inside. Standing a head above most, he twisted and turned his sinewy build through the crowded house without bumping anyone or spilling drinks, and crept into the hallway.

He opened Wendy’s bedroom door and snuck in, closing the door behind him.

The sight of the messed-up bed and Hailey’s blouse hanging over the back of a chair sent a tingling sensation throughout his body. He closed his eyes and inhaled Hailey’s scent still lingering in the air.

Barren pulled out his camera phone and slinked toward the bathroom. He swallowed the build-up of moisture in his mouth and licked his lips.

Hailey leaned on the vanity in a purple bra and tight unbuttoned jeans, scrutinizing her appearance in the mirror as she reapplied a bit of makeup.

“Do you have any idea how hot you are?” Barren held his phone out in front of him.

“Barren, you asshole. Get out.” Hailey kept applying mascara, too drunk to care she was half-naked.

“Show me those big, beautiful tits and maybe I’ll go.”

Hailey glanced sidelong at him through the mirror. “Are you recording me, you creep? Turn it off or I’ll scream.” She tried pushing past him to escape his lust.

Barren blocked her path, laughing.

Hailey put her hands on her waist and kicked out her hip. “Are you really going to keep recording after I told you to stop?”

“Show me your tits and I’ll stop.”

“I’m not showing you shit. And you wonder why I chose Quentin over you? It’s because you’re a pig.”

“Me, a pig?” He focused his camera phone on the bed. “Who was wallowing in that bed like a pig? Wasn’t me.” He turned the camera back on Hailey. “Somebody was having a pretty good time judging by the mess in there. Was it you?”

“You’re such an asshole. It’s none of your business. Now move or I’ll scream.”

“You scream and I’ll show these pictures to your dad and everyone he works with, and let them know you’ve been screwing a colored boy. We all know what your dad and all his friends think about race mixing.”

“Don’t call him a colored boy. His name is Quentin. And he’s a better man than you.”

“I’m sure your dad will think Quentin is a better man when he sees all these wholesome photos of his daughter.”

Barren started texting and reciting: “Dear Mr. Sanders...”

Hailey lunged to snatch Barren’s phone, but her clumsy, drunken effort only succeeded in knocking her makeup off the vanity.

Barren raised his arm to put his phone out of reach. “Be nice or I’ll tell Daddy.”

She slapped him and hammer-punched his chest. “Give me the phone.”

“What are the pictures and my silence worth to you?”

“Just delete them, asshole.” She pushed him.

Barren backed out of the bathroom, tapping his phone to his puckered lips. “No. I want something in return for keeping quiet and protecting your fragile reputation.”

Hailey followed him out with her arms crossed tight over her chest. “What do you want?”

“A taste,” he said, flicking his eyebrows up.

Hailey gasped and shook her head. “Forget it. It’s not going to happen.”

She reached for her blouse on the back of the chair, but Barren snatched it first and slung it across the room.

“Dammit, Barren. I’m not doing this.”

“It’s your choice. I can only imagine what your dad is going to do when he sees all this. He’s going to cut you off, kick you out, and who knows who he’ll send after Quentin.”

Hailey’s feet felt rooted to the bedroom floor. Her eyes dampened. She squirmed as Barren stepped close.

“I just want a taste. It’s nothing we haven’t done before.”

Hailey sobbed. “Please, don’t make me do this.”

Chapter 2

Trevor Ratcliff bailed from the hall bathroom with a cloud of marijuana smoke riding out with him. Four of his classmates lagged behind with a large bong. Red thin-lined tendrils snaked across his watery eyes. He pinched his nose and twitched his pencil mustache, then rubbed his hand up and down his chest as he rested against the hallway wall.

Three girls having a twerking contest in the living room drew Trevor’s attention. Alexis Davies was laughing hysterically, recording her girlfriends and anyone else who would stop long enough to be interviewed.

A bedroom door opened at the back of the hallway.

Trevor’s head rolled around loosely.

Barren Lacy’s white, preppy ass gallivanted out with a cheesy grin, tucking his shirt into his pants. He pressed the tips of his fingers to his nose and inhaled, then ran his hand through his jet-black hair.

A pinched expression washed over Trevor when Barren strutted up the hallway. The muscles in Trevor’s right arm tightened and his hand balled up as he thought of stealing the rich punk’s pretty face.

Trevor never cared for the smug white boy, who carried himself like he was tough just because his family had wealth and status. Trevor still owed Barren for a week’s worth of in-school suspension from their sophomore year.

“Piece of shit, rat,” he mumbled.

An inch taller than the white boy, Trevor remained leaning against the hallway until Barren was out of sight.

No one followed Barren out of the back bedroom, but he had been messing with someone back there.

Trevor edged his way down the hallway and pushed open the bedroom door. His eyes bulged feeling a sudden coldness rip through him.

“You gotta be kidding me.”

His best friend’s girl was hunkered naked in a fetal position against the headboard of the bed, weeping.

Trevor turned away for a split second, but then his head whipped back to stare incredulously at Hailey’s silky smooth body.

“Get out!” she screamed.

“What?” Trevor slammed the bedroom door closed. “Girl, put some clothes on, and please tell me you didn’t put out to that punk who just left.”

“Is that why you’re here?” Hailey sniffled and sobbed. “Hoping you can get a taste too?”

Trevor tipped his head. “A taste? Do what?”

“Well you can forget it!”

“I can’t believe you, acting like a straight ho.” Trevor’s ringing voice climbed an octave. “Why are you cheating on my homeboy? I thought you loved him.”

Hailey rolled to the edge of the bed and hid her face under her long locks. She pressed a palm over her lips to hold back the crying.

“What am I suppose to tell Quentin? I ain’t lying to my friend for some white girl who can’t keep her legs together.”

Hailey slipped on her underwear for the second time in an hour. “Is that your game? To tell Quentin I fucked Barren unless I fuck you?”

“Girl, you are drunk and acting straight mental.” He pointed toward the bedroom door. “Why did you hook-up with that punk? Who else are you putting out to?”

“You want me to put out to you?” Hailey charged Trevor, hammer punching his chest and clawing at his face. “I’m not doing this anymore.”

“You crazy bitch.” Trevor grabbed Hailey’s shoulders and shoved her away.

Hailey fell backwards and smacked the back of her head on the bed’s ovoid footboard. A dull thud sounded off the thick oak wood.

Trevor loomed over Hailey. “Girl, quit playing and get up.”

She didn’t move.

He bent down and jostled her shoulder. “Come on, Hailey. Get up. You ain’t that drunk.”

Trevor dropped to one knee. He took hold of Hailey’s arm and reached around to hold her head. “Come on and sit up. Quit playing.”

He felt a sticky wetness glaze his palm and jerked his hand away. Blood coated the bulb foot of the bed leg.

A limpid look set into Hailey’s eyes, and foam began to bubble behind her lips.

Trevor dashed into the bathroom for a washcloth but froze in the mirror, seeing two fingernail scratches streaking across his cheek. His heart felt like it was going to explode. The police would blame him. Quentin would hate him. Enough of his classmates already thought he would wind up in prison.

He paced back in forth in the bathroom with his hands laced on top of his head, then peeked out at Hailey’s listless body. He spun violently and kicked the bathtub.

Think, you idiot. Think!