Status Quo_The Last Ones Standing

by Monique Chanae

  “Listen, I know being solely in charge is new for you, but you have to learn how to adapt to it and in this life, you’ve got to adapt fast. Your life ultimately depends on it… First things first, if you have leads on the people involved, make your presence felt. Once word hits that they’re out of the equation the true masterminds have no choice but to expose themselves and when they do, trust me you’ll be more than ready for them. I got your back whenever you need me, just say the word and I’m there.”

  “I love you, Will.” Nefertari hugged her brother tightly and immediately felt safe in his arms.

  “I love you, too, T.”

  Chapter 17

  “Baby Girl, I almost thought you forgot about me.” Skip chuckled as he sat cleaning his pistol while talking to Nefertari on the phone.

  “I could never.” She laughed. “Are you still babysitting for me?” she asked in code referring to him keeping a watchful eye over Nehemiah. It had been a few days since her walk in the park with Will and as much as she might hate to admit it, he was right. She had let this situation simmer for far too long and now she needed to get things on her end back on track.

  “You know it. I’ve been waiting for you to tell me when you want to come and get this little runt, though.” He laughed keeping up with the coded conversation.

  “You know I’ve been really thinking about it… I think it’s time you shipped him off to boarding school.” She said referencing Skip to ready him for his casket.

  “So, you’re finally ready to part ways, huh?” Skip asked a little surprised by her request.

  “Yeah, it’s honestly been a long time coming and I’ve kind of been putting it off.”

  “Say no more. I’ll call you when I get his stuff together, so he can say bye.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  Skip disconnected his call with Nefertari and sat his Glock on the table in front of him. For a minute, he had started to think that she was having second thoughts on being the boss because she had been laying low and was making no head way when it came to taking care of their little problem but with the phone call she just placed to him, she sounded more than ready and to be honest, his trigger finger had been itching since they had gotten info on Nehemiah’s whereabouts.

  Tonight is going to be his last night so he had better make it the best night of his life, Skip thought as he got up from his seat on the couch and prepared to ready himself.

  Pulling up to the pool hall around 11 o’clock that evening, Skip put his car in park and watched the goings on outside of the spot. Per usual, Nehemiah’s old school Chevy was parked out front which let Skip know Nehemiah was inside gambling his life away like he normally did. Skip had even joined in on a few of his gambling bids, close enough to rip the soul out of his body but Nehemiah was none the wiser. In fact, Nehemiah had grown close to Skip who was perpetrating under the alias Rock.

  “Ay Rock! You trying to get in on this?” Nehemiah asked once he spotted Skip walk through the doors of the pool hall.

  “Who’s up right now?” Skip asked walking over and joining the table game.

  “Fat Tony but you know I’m about to make my comeback.” Nehemiah boasted while waiting his turn at the table.

  “Yeah I’ll put two on you.” Skip said adding two-hundred dollars to the table as Nehemiah prepared to take his shot. After positioning himself, Nehemiah took the shot and landed it. The patrons in the pool hall all exploded in applause at his shot and the love he was getting from everybody around him seemed to give him an adrenaline rush. For the next couple of rounds, Nehemiah played a beautiful game. He had gained almost three times the amount he had initially lost and his winning streak seemed to have no end.

  Halfway through his gameplay, Nehemiah’s phone began to ring incessantly and every time he’d look over at it he’d grow annoyed and ignored it. Skip immediately made a mental note to check out the caller id the next time it rang. A few moments later, the phone rang again and Nehemiah quickly snatched the phone up and walked off into a corner while Skip tried his best to listen in on the one-sided conversation.

  “Yeah, man. What you want?” he asked the caller on the other end of the phone.

  “I told you I don’t move without my cousin Al. Somebody did my cousin dirty after that last job we did for you and your peoples. You on your own, fam… What? Real shit, the ‘hood talking and they saying your crew keep coming up short every time they go after them big dogs.” Nehemiah began to chuckle as he insulted the caller’s efforts.

  “Yeah whatever fam. The way you and your gang move, you’ll be six feet deep in no time.” And with that he disconnected the phone call and rejoined the table. Skip noticed the immediate change in his demeanor and asked him if he was good. Nehemiah assured him that he was and continued to play.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  “Sounds like there’s some trouble in paradise... Maybe your luck in the Chi has finally run out.”

  “Nah, never that. I don’t think that clown knows who he’s messing with.” Trent’s killer paced the floor wrought with anger and murder on his mind.

  “Or maybe he does, and he doesn’t think you’ll do anything that’ll cause havoc. I’ve seen enough. I see I have to take down that Sven Power regime on my own.”

  “No! Sven is mine! I put in too much work for that shit!” he shouted out in frustration.

  “Then bring me the head or start picking out your casket.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  About an hour or so later, the pool hall began closing for the night and one by one the patrons began to disband, and everyone gathered to call it a night. The parking lot was nearly empty with few patrons lingering around but they were all pretty consumed with their own goings-ons.

  “Hey, Rock!” Nehemiah called out to him as they walked towards their respective vehicles. Skip stopped his stride and turned to face the young cat.

  “What’s up young?”

  “Nothing… I just kind of got a lot of my mind and I wanted to rap with you for a bit.” Skip listened as Nehemiah spoke and almost thought this moment was too good to be true.

  “Yeah I got some time. Come take a ride with me to this after hours spot I know.” Skip suggested, and the two men hopped in the car and drove off unaware of the set of eyes that had watching them from the shadows.

  Skip pulled up to the storage facility in Bedford Park a short while later and stopped.

  “Why we here?” Nehemiah asked confusedly.

  “Relax, young. I just came through here to get something. You coming or you just gone sit in the car?” Skip asked as he got out of the car and began walking. Not wanting to sit in the car alone, Nehemiah got out of the car and followed behind Skip.

  “What did you want to talk about?” Skip asked as he lit up a Newport and began smoking.

  “I may have gotten in way over my head with this cat and I think it’s about to catch up with me?” Nehemiah was slightly swaying back and forth, a sign that he was flustered and somewhat nervous about the whole thing.

  “What do you mean?” Skip probed for him to go into further detail.

  “Like this cat paid me and my cousin some good bread a while back to rip off this gun shipment and later that same day I found my cousin dead at his house. I know the job we pulled that day is somehow connected to it and now this nigga keeps blowing me up to do another job for him but the cats he’s trying to take out aint no small-time movers and I know going up against them for a second time is a suicide mission. Before my cousin was murdered, two other cats we used to kick it with went out the same way and I’m not trying to be the next one somebody find slumped you feel me?”

  “Yeah I feel you but that’s all a part of this game we call life. When you are living, and I mean really out here living, sometimes you have to take the good with the bad and hopefully you wind up on top.”

  “How do I shake this nigga though, man? I first linked up with him through those dudes I used to run with back in the day. They said
he used to have major clout out here in the Chi and I was just trying to stack my paper. I didn’t know shit would get this heavy. And he’s a ruthless dude too. His crew is vicious.”

  “Oh yeah? Who’s his crew?” Skip asked still puffing on his cigarette leisurely.

  “Guerilla Cartel; they’re trying to strong-arm this weapons clique.” Skip’s brows furrowed in confusion at the mention of the crew and before he could react to it, a single shot flew and hit Nehemiah in the throat.

  “Motherfucker talked too much.” The shooter said through clenched teeth as he stepped from the shadows and revealed himself.

  “You shady Motherfucker!” Skip shouted as he got ready to let off a shot in his direction, but the shooter was too quick and shot Skip twice in the chest. Now standing over both men, the shooter blessed Nehemiah with a final shot to the skull before escaping into the night.

  Once the shooter was safely in his car he picked up his phone and called his partner.

  “Time for phase two.”

  Chapter 18

  “Detectives, I understand it is your job to interrogate all patients who come in with gunshot wounds, but this man has been unconscious for several hours. When he does awaken, I will be the first to call you all.” The nurse said as she ushered out the two adamant detectives who had been hovering around Skip’s room door since he was brought in. The nurse was an older woman, about fifty years of age or so but she held onto her youth like a champ. She had been a nurse for over twenty years, but she had had a life before then and that is where she knew her current patient from.

  Checking his vitals, she made sure he was a-okay before rubbing her hand gently across his beard.

  “Oh Skip Townsend, when you finally wake up we have so much to discuss.”

  Nearly twelve hours later, a slight stirring in the bed grabbed the nurse’s attention. Her shift had been over, but she had come back and slid the floor nurse a $100 to act as if she hadn’t seen her.

  “Where the hell am I?” Skip asked aloud groggily, unaware that he wasn’t alone.

  “I’m glad to see you’re awake.” The nurse said as she stood from the couch and walked over to his bedside. Squinting his eyes as if they were playing tricks on him, Skip couldn’t believe it – his ex-fiancée was staring him in the face.

  “Fallon Porter.”

  “In the flesh, old man.”

  “What are you doing here? Better yet, where am I?”

  “How about we get to the Q and A segment after we get you out of here? Can you stand on your own?” She asked reaching her hand out to assist him out of bed. Once he rose to his feet completely and began to walk, she stopped him and passed him a baseball cap and dark colored hoodie.

  “Put it on and move fast.” Fallon searched the hallway for the nurse she had tipped earlier and when she spotted her, she made her move.

  “Get that tape deleted for me and there’s more in it for you.” She said sliding the young girl another hundred-dollar bill.

  “Oh, that won’t be a problem. Shawn is down there doing security, I’m sure I can persuade him one way or another.” She said seductively, and Fallon immediately caught her drift. Once out in the parking deck, Fallon helped Skip over to her car and made him get in.

  “Why are you helping me, Fallon?”

  “Because we have unfinished business, Skip. Believe it or not I just risked my job for a man who left me at the altar and had me thinking he was dead for the last fifteen years. You owe me at this point and I’m going to make sure I get my just due.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  By the time Fallon arrived at her home in Claredon Hills, Skip had fallen back to sleep.

  "Come on, old man, we're here." She said nudging his leg to awaken him. Groggily Skip fluttered his eyes opened and got out of the car. Once inside, Fallon offered him a seat on the couch while she made coffee.

  "How'd I end up at the hospital, Fallon?" He asked, his mind still foggy from tonight's events.

  "You honestly don't remember how you got there?"

  "No."

  "To be honest, I'm not sure what happened to you but all I do know is that you're about to be wanted for questioning. You may be the lead suspect in a homicide that happened tonight."

  "Wanted for questioning? For what?"

  "There was chaos when you were brought in. Apparently. you were found shot at some storage facility and mere inches from you was a murder victim. I know what kind of man you are Skip so I'm just going to be frank, did you kill that boy?" Fallon raised an eyebrow as she looked over at Skip. Years ago, she had fallen in love with him and she already knew all the things he was capable of. Murder was on the short list and tonight’s scene fit his M.O.

  “Fallon, I honestly don’t remember.” Skip ran his hands over his face in frustration. As bad as he wanted to remember, he honestly couldn’t and to think that he may have his face plastered on the news as the prime suspect in a murder investigation didn’t sit well with him either.

  “Do you at least know the name of this murder vic?” He asked with a pounding headache approaching. Fallon thought for a moment as she remembered the name that she overheard the officers say.

  "Um, I think it was a Biblical name... Nehemiah I think it was.”

  “…Nehemiah." Skip mumbled as images of the night of the murder flashed on his mind. Scenes from the pool hall, the car ride and their arrival at the storage facility all played out in his mind as the last face he remembered appeared as if he had seen a ghost.

  “Fallon, give me the phone.” He ordered gesturing for her to place the phone in his hand.

  “What is it? Do you remember something? You need to tell me what it is, Skip.”

  “Fallon, give me the damn phone! This is life or death.” Fallon saw the look in Skip’s eyes and knew he was serious. Grabbing the phone off its receiver, she handed it to him and watched from the couch as he placed the phone call.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  “What’s the word, Skip? Tari said she’s been trying to get in touch with you all night? Tell me something, man.” Terrence said answering his phone on the second ring.

  “T, tonight went completely off course. A new player stepped up to the plate and by 8 a.m. I’m going to be considered a wanted man.”

  “What are you talking about, Skip? What happened?”

  “You need to put in a call to the Vineyards.” Skip said all laughter gone from his voice.

  “The Vineyards? Skip, what the hell is going on?” Terrence’s voice started to rise and the guard he had watching his cell motioned for him to keep it down.

  “Terrence, call the Vineyards and get Tari some protection as soon as possible.” Skip relayed what he remembered to Terrence and once Terrence heard who had shot his friend he agreed that this situation just got direr. After instructing Skip to lay low with Fallon, Terrence readied himself for his next phone call.

  Chapter 19

  Terrence sat back his cell thinking hard about the current circumstances and how he had let them get this out of hand. The moment he got Skip’s phone call he knew they needed to move at warp speed not only to protect their business but their lives as well. He had already given the guard on duty the heads up that he’d be making a few calls while the lights were still out, and while he was to be slid another burner phone and have another guard posted on his corridor who would serve as a lookout. Dialing the telephone number he knew from memory, he sat and waited as the phone rang about three times before someone finally answered.

  “Borelli Vineyards.” A deep voice answered.

  “Give me two bottles of the strongest shit you’ve got on deck.” Terrence said in a stern voice followed by momentary silence on both ends of the phone. The silence only lasted for about two seconds before both men burst into laughter.

  “Terrence Stevens!” The voice on the other end of the phone blurted happily as he took a seat in the chaise lounge chair in his in-home study.

  “Stepan Romanov, still using the same fa
ke ass Italian alias I see.” Back when Trent was just a pre-teen, Terrence used to head one of the only international weapons circuits in the Midwest. It was because of this that Stepan sought out Terrence’s business and made Terrence a deal he’d be a fool not to take. Working with Stepan and his family proved to be beneficial for Terrence because that one deal Terrence made in his late twenties – made him a millionaire in less than five years. From that they bonded on a deeper level than business, they became friends.

  “It still works like it did yesterday.” Stepan replied still laughing. He hadn’t heard from Terrence in a few years and didn’t know what to make of his old friend. But Stepan was no fool and he knew if Terrence called him, something had to be wrong.

  “Now tell me, what’s going on, my friend?” Stepan asked in his thick Russian accent. Terrence washed his hand over his face before briefly detailing Trent’s murder and Nefertari and Jason’s current issues on the outside. After he finished explaining it to his old friend, Stepan paused for a moment before he began to speak on it.

  “I’m not sure why you didn’t call me sooner, but I’m glad you did now. You say this trigger man is out for blood right; and Trent’s wife is more than likely number one on his hit list? I think it’s best if you get yourself a shooter who doesn’t miss.” Stepan stated matter-of-factly.

  “You remember my old squad, Step. Those guys have been shooting their whole lives.”

  “Yeah but sometimes you have to go off the radar. Put a natural born killer in plain sight dressed in sheep’s clothing.”

  “Oh yeah, well what do you suggest?”

  “My baby girl, Cori. I trained her myself. And don’t tell her I told you, but she may just be better than me.”

  “Oh yeah? Put me in touch with her.” Terrence said sitting up in his bed and listening intently as Stepan gave him Cori’s information.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Terrence wasted no time contacting Cori Romanov. He had let Nefertari run the show her way thus far but now he had to help kick it in gear. The stakes were too high now and he refused to watch them all fall. Terrence could tell from his conversation with Cori that she was the no-nonsense type and would handle business just like her father and she would be the perfect person to not only assist Tari but help get her head in the game.