Black Girls Must Die Exhausted: A Novel

Tabby and her team catch Daequan as he leaves the hospital. She approaches the family and is touched by the visual protective gestures that Daequan’s mother and grandmother display. Tabby assesses Daequan’s appearance and realizes that he looks younger than he is. Daequan recognizes Tabby and agrees to the interview. With cameras recording, Tabby asks Daequan to share what happened from his perspective. Daequan explains how scared he felt when the off-duty police officer approached him with his gun aimed. His grandmother interrupts to explain that Daequan is a straight-A scholar, and the new neighbors who called the police on Daequan made no effort to get to know her at all.

Daequan recognizes that the police were trying to protect his grandmother’s house and expresses gratitude for that. However, he asks the police to think about their own sons and how they should be treated if they are found in similar circumstances. Tabby finishes the interview and thanks the family. As they leave the hospital, her junior team member supplies her with Officer Mallory’s phone number.