Travon shook his head
Travon shook his head.
I’m afraid not.
We have witness statements and the victim’s own testimony.
Dcoin Towers shot his fianceé and fled.
We need to find him as soon as possible.
Travon ran his hand over his face as if trying to comprehend what he had heard.
He called me late last night.
He was very upset and talking incoherently.
All I could understand was that something bad had happened to Chanel.
I asked if he needed help, but he refused and hung up.
Do you know where he might be now? Trayvon hesitated.
He was clearly torn between his loyalty to his friend and his duty to the law.
Mr. Barkley Dcoin is armed and dangerous.
He has already tried to kill someone.
If we don’t find him, someone else could get hurt.
Maybe even him.
That seemed to convince Trayvon.
There’s a cabin on the eastern edge of the reserve called Pine Creek.
Dcoin hangs out there a lot.
If he wanted to hide, that’s probably where he’d go.
Can you take us there? Yes, but we’ll need an off-road vehicle.
The road is washed out after the rain.
While the arrest operation was being prepared, Gamble decided to check Dcoin’s phone.
The police had a warrant to access his phone records and messages.
A police technician provided him with a printout of the messages between Dcoin and Travon from the last month.
Among the usual exchange of work information and friendly banter, Gamble found several interesting messages.
Three weeks ago, Dcoin wrote, “Bro, I’m going crazy.
Chanel is standing firm.
No sex before marriage.
We’ve been together for a year and she’s still saying no”.
Tvan replied, “Respect her decision, bro.
Decent girls are rare these days”.
“Two weeks ago.
I can’t do this anymore.
Either we finally get together for real or there’s no wedding.
That’s harsh, bro.
But maybe you should compromise.
It’s not that long until the wedding”.
a week ago.
It’s decided on Friday I’m going to make Chanel a real woman whether she wants to or not.
I bought her favorite wine and something else.
She’ll have a glass and she’ll be as smooth as silk.
Dude, this is beyond the pale.
Don’t do anything stupid.
We’re engaged.
It’s my right as a man.
The last message was sent last night around midnight.
She cheated on me all this time.
She’s not a woman.
She’s a damn man.
I’m furious.
I think I’ve messed up.
There was no reply to this message from Trevon.
Gamble showed the print out to Trevon as they drove to the cabin accompanied by four armed officers.
“What do you think?” asked the detective, pointing to the messages.
Trey looked confused.
I could tell he was upset about not being intimate, but I didn’t think he would actually put something in the wine.
Deco sometimes brags to seem cooler.
As for the last message, I was in shock.
I didn’t know what to say.
I tried calling him back, but he didn’t answer.
Did you know that Chanel was a transgender woman? No, I swear.
It was as much of a surprise to me as it was to him.
The road was becoming increasingly difficult to navigate.
They were deepening into the forest on a muddy track that could hardly be called a road.
Pine and cyprress trees towered overhead, and the morning light filtered through, creating a bizarre play of shadows.
About a mile to go, Trevon said.
The cabin is behind that hill.
Gamble signaled to stop.
We’ll go on foot from here.
We can’t let him hear the engine.
They left the cars and moved through the forest, trying not to make any noise.
The officers spread out, surrounding the cabin in a semicircle.
Gamble took up a position on a small hill with his binoculars.
The Pine Creek cabin was a sturdy log house with a porch and a small chimney from which a wisp of smoke was rising.
A battered pickup truck was parked nearby.
The same one registered to Decoan Towers.
“He’s there,” Gamble whispered to Trayvon.
“See the smoke coming from the chimney”.
Trarevon nodded.
“What now? What? We’ll surround the cabin and ask him to surrender.
If he refuses, we’ll act according to the situation”.
Gamble radioed the officers and gave the signal to begin the operation.
They silently took up positions around the shack, weapons at the ready.
Decoan Towers.
Gamble shouted through a megaphone.
This is the Baton Rouge Police Department.
You are surrounded.
Come out with your hands up.
There was silence.
A few seconds later, the door of the shack slowly opened and Dcoan stepped out onto the porch with his hands up.
His face was haggarded, his eyes red as if he hadn’t slept all night.
“I give up,” he said quietly.
“I knew you were coming”.
Gamble signaled to the officers who quickly approached Decoin, pinned him to the ground, and handcuffed him.
The detective searched himself and found a Smith and Wesson revolver in the suspect’s belt.
Decoin Towers, “You are under arrest on suspicion of the attempted murder of Chanel Devo.
You have the right to remain silent”.
While Gamble read Dewin his rights, Travon looked at his friend with an expression of pain and disappointment on his face.
Dcoin avoided his gaze.
As the suspect was led to the car, Gamble asked, “Why, Towers, why did you shoot her?” Dcoin looked up, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and pain.
“She lied to me.
She lied to me for a year.
I loved her.
I wanted to marry her and she turned out to be”.
He didn’t finish his sentence.
“That doesn’t justify attempted murder,” Gamble said harshly.
“I didn’t mean to shoot her.
I was in shock, enraged.
I had the gun with me because I had just gotten off duty.
I don’t even remember pulling the trigger.
He was put in a police car.
Trayvon approached Gamble.
Detective, how’s Chanel? Is she going to live? Yes.
The doctors say she’s out of danger.
She was lucky.
The bullet missed her heart by inches.
Trayvon shook his head.
What a tragedy.
And all because of what? Because of some old-fashioned prejudice.
Gamble didn’t answer.
He thought about the correspondence, about Dcoin’s words about it being his right as a man, about the sleeping pills in the wine.
The story wasn’t just about Dcoin learning the truth about Chanel, but about his attempt to control the situation, about his disrespect for her choice.
The police convoy headed back to the city.
Gamble had a long interrogation and paperwork ahead of him, but the important thing had been done.
The suspect in the attempted murder had been arrested and the victim was safe and on the road to recovery.
Dcoin Towers sat in the interrogation room at the Baton Rouge police station staring at the steel surface of the table.
His wrists were handcuffed, his face gaunt, his eyes frozen in an expression of devastation.
Across from him sat Detective Lewan Gamble with an open folder containing photos from the crime scene in Chanel’s medical report.
Mr. towers.
We found an empty sleeping pill bottle in your apartment,” Gamble began, placing the plastic bag containing the evidence on the table.
Analysis of the wine from the bottle showed the presence of an active ingredient.
“You spiked Chanel’s wine with sleeping pills.
This was a deliberate act”.
Dcoin looked up, his lips trembling.
I just wanted her to relax.
Not to pass out, just to stop being afraid.
Afraid of what? Closeness.
She always avoided real closeness.
She said she wanted to wait until we were married.
I respected that for a whole year, but then I began to suspect that it wasn’t her religious beliefs.
And what did you suspect? Dcoan looked away.
I don’t know.
Maybe some kind of trauma from her past or a physical flaw she was ashamed of.
I thought if we had some wine, if she relaxed a little with a sleeping pill, she would overcome her fear.
Don’t you think that slipping someone a sleeping pill without their knowledge is a crime? I didn’t think of it that way.
I just wanted to help her and myself.
I loved her.
Wanted to be with her really.
Gamble made a note in his notebook.
Tell me about that evening from the beginning.
Dquain took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.
I invited her to dinner at our place.
I cooked her favorite dishes and bought some good wine.
She seemed tense but happy.
We had dinner, talked about the wedding, about our future.
Then I opened the wine.
When she turned away, I added the crushed pill to her glass.
He paused, remembering.
We drank.
15 minutes later, she started to relax.
She said she felt light and warm.
I kissed her and she kissed me back.
Everything was going well.
I took her to the bedroom.
Gamble watched his face change as he delved deeper into his memories.
I started to undress her.
She didn’t resist, just whispered that she loved me.
I was in seventh heaven.
Then when I took off her underwear, Decoin’s face contorted with pain and anger.
I saw that she he Chanel was a man with male genitals.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
I thought it was a nightmare or that the wine had affected me strangely.
But it was reality.
What did you feel at that moment? Shock, complete incomprehension, then anger so strong that my vision went dark.
I yelled at her, demanded an explanation.
She cried, tried to say something about being born in the wrong body, that she had had breast correction surgery, but hadn’t yet completed the full transformation.
I couldn’t hear it.
When did you get the gun? It was in my jacket, hanging on a chair next to the bed.
I always carry it with me, especially after night shifts at the reserve.
I grabbed the gun.
I don’t remember what I was thinking at that moment.
I just wanted it all to stop for this nightmare to end.
Do you remember the moment you fired? Dcoin closed his eyes, his hands trembling vaguely.
I remember Chanel screaming when she saw the gun.
I remember her reaching out her hands, begging me to put it down.
And then there was a bang and blood.
Lots of blood.
What did you do after the shot? I panicked.
I realized what I had done.
I dropped the gun, grabbed my jacket, and ran out of the apartment.
I got in my car and drove to the nature reserve to the cabin.
It’s the only place where I feel safe.
On the way, you wrote a message to Trayvon.
Yes.
I was in shock.
I didn’t know what I was writing.
Gamble nodded and flipped through a few pages in his folder.
In your previous messages, you wrote that you were going to make Chanel a real woman.
What did you mean by that? Dcoin looked embarrassed.
It was just bravado.
Talk between men.
I didn’t mean any harm.
But you planned to slip her sleeping pills beforehand.
You bought them 3 days before the incident.
Yes, I’m not proud of it, but I wasn’t going to rape her or anything like that.
I just wanted her to relax.
If she had said no, I would have stopped.
Even under the influence of sleeping pills, her consent would not have been valid, Mr. Towers.
Dcoin lowered his head.
I didn’t think about it that way.
How did you know that Chanel survived? I didn’t know.
Or rather, I guessed.
If she had died, you would have charged me with murder, not attempted murder.
Gamble gathered the documents back into the folder.
Decoin Towers, you will be charged with attempted murder.
unlawful use of a weapon and use of substances without the consent of the victim.
I recommend that you hire a lawyer.
Decoin nodded without looking up.
I deserve to be punished.
I made a terrible mistake.
As Decoyn was led back to his cell, Gamble went to the adjacent interrogation room where Trayvon Barkley was waiting.
Mr. Barkley, I need to ask you a few questions about your relationship with Decoin Towers and what you knew about his plans.
Trayvon looked tense but willing to cooperate.
Dcoin and I have been friends for 5 years.
We work together at the Nature Reserve.
He’s always been a reliable guy, a little old-fashioned but kind.
When did you find out about his relationship with Chanel Dero about a year ago? He was very excited after their first date.
He said he had met a special woman.
Did Dcoin tell you about any problems in their relationship? Yes.
In recent months, he often complained that Chanel didn’t want to be physically intimate.
She said her religious beliefs prevented her from having sex before marriage.
Dcoin seemed to respect that, but he was becoming increasingly impatient.
Did he tell you about his plans to slip sleeping pills into Chanel’s wine? Travis grimaced.
Yes, he did.
About a week ago, I tried to talk him out of it.
I told him it was wrong and possibly even illegal, but he dismissed me, saying it was his right as a man.
Do you still have those messages? Yes, Trevon said, pulling out his phone.
Here, you can see for yourself.
I told him it was crossing the line and asked him not to do anything stupid.
Gamble looked through the messages, confirming Travon’s words.
Did you ever meet Chanel? A few times.
We had dinner together, went bowling once.
She seemed like a nice woman.
I never would have thought she was transgender.
Yes.
It was a complete surprise to me, just like it was to Dcoin.
How did you react when Dcoan texted you last night about what happened? Trey rubbed his face with his hands.
I was in shock.
At first, I didn’t even believe it.
I tried to call him back, but he didn’t answer.
I didn’t know what to do.
I wasn’t sure if he really shot her.
I thought maybe he just got angry and left.
Why didn’t you call the police? I should have.
I know.
But I wasn’t sure what really happened.
And to be honest, I didn’t want to turn on a friend if he was just drunk and exaggerating.
Gamble nodded understandingly.
Mr. Barkley, at this point, we have no reason to charge you with anything, but I may need your testimony in court.
Of course, I’ll cooperate.
Trayvon paused, then added, “Detective, can I see Chanel? I want to make sure she’s okay”.
And he hesitated.
Show her our correspondence with Dcoin so she knows I tried to stop him.
Gamble thought for a moment.
That’s an unusual request.
Why is that important to you? Because I feel partly to blame.
I could have tried harder to talk him out of it.
I could have warned her.
I just want her to know that not everyone is like Dcoin.
That I’m on her side.
All right.
I can arrange a meeting, but only in my presence and only if Miss Dero agrees.
3 days later, Gamble accompanied Travon to the hospital.
Chanel’s condition had improved significantly, and she had been moved from intensive care to a regular ward.
Gamble had spoken to her beforehand and obtained her consent to meet with Travon.
Chanel sat in bed, leaning on pillows.
Her face was still pale, but her eyes were clear.
Nooxia sat next to her, holding her sister’s hand.
“Hello, Miss Deero,” Gamble began.
“How are you feeling?” “Better, thank you.
The doctors say I’m on the mend”.
This is Trevon Barkley, a friend of Dcoan’s.
He wanted to talk to you.
Chanel tensed, her fingers tightening around her sister’s hand.
Hello, Trevon.
Why are you here? Trevon looked uncomfortable, shifting from one foot to the other.
Chanel, I wanted to apologize for not warning you for not stopping Dcoin.
I knew he was up to something bad, but I never thought it would go this far.
You knew he was going to spike my drink? Yes, Trayvon said, lowering his head.
He wrote to me about it.
I tried to talk him out of it.
Told him it was wrong, but I wasn’t persistent enough.
He took out his phone.
Detective Gamble, can I show Chanel our correspondence with Dcoan so she can see that I really was against it? Gamble nodded.
Yes, I can confirm that in the messages, Mr. Barkley did indeed try to talk Dcoan out of his plans.
Trayvon handed the phone to Chanel.
She read the messages silently, her face expressionless.
“Thanks for showing me,” she finally said, returning the phone.
“I believe you tried to stop him.
I didn’t know you were a transgender woman,” Trayvon said cautiously.
“But that doesn’t matter.
What Dcoan did is unforgivable either way”.
Chanel looked at him in surprise.
“Really? Many people think otherwise.
Many people think I was cheating on him, that I deserved it”.
That’s not true, Trevon said firmly.
No one deserves violence, and I want you to know that I don’t share Dcoin’s prejudices.
To me, you are the woman you’ve always felt you were.
Tears welled up in Chanel’s eyes.
Thank you, Trevon.
That means a lot to me.
Gamble watched the conversation with interest.
There was clearly a connection between these two people, a mutual understanding that was unusual in such a situation.
A week later, a preliminary court hearing was held at which Dcoan Towers was formally charged.
He pleaded guilty to attempted murder and agreed to cooperate with the justice system.
He was facing trial and probably a long prison sentence.
For Detective Lewan Gamble, the case was closed.
All the evidence had been gathered, charges had been filed, and the criminal had been arrested.
But something bothered him, a feeling of incompleteness.
Exactly one year after those events, Gamble received an unexpected envelope.
Inside was a wedding invitation for Chanel Devro and Trevan Barkley.
Attached to the invitation was a short note.
Detective Gamble, you saved my life and helped me find new happiness.
Without you, this wedding would never have happened.
Please share this special day with us.
Gamble smiled as he put the invitation away.
In this strange world full of prejudice and cruelty, sometimes there were happy endings.
At that moment, he thought of the words his old mentor had once said to him.
“The truth can hurt, but it also heals”.
Chanel had paid a terrible price for her truth.
But in the end, it was that truth that led her to a man who could accept her for who she was.
Perhaps, Gamble mused, pulling a photo album of his long departed wife from his desk drawer.
That was the meaning of a detective’s work.
Not only to punish the guilty, but to help people find the truth, their own truth.
