by Jacob Spears
“Back up, Hamilton,” Sgt. Running Man ordered, sensing that Ham was lying to him.
The sergeant artistically removed his Glock .21 and flashlight and aimed it at Ham’s chest.
“I’ma tell you one more time, Hamilton! Back the fuck up before I blow your damn head off!”
“Sergeant, I don’t want no problems! I have my gun in my hand, sir. Please don’t shoot me,” Ham begged.
“Drop the gun asshole!”
Ham did as he was ordered and then put his hands in the air.
“Sergeant, I don’t want no problems! Tina’s not here with me no more,” Ham informed Running Man.
“Boy, if you didn’t have a job to do, I would have had your ass in a box somewhere!” the sergeant told him.
“I know, sir. I’m just trying to be in my own world,” Ham said.
Sgt. Running Man reached down and picked up Ham’s gun. He released the clip and let it fall to the floor, and then he tossed the gun across the living room floor. He then shined his light into the dark kitchen, which made Ham even more nervous. The sergeant looked around the kitchen and then took a tour of the apartment, with Ham on his heels. Like Ham had told him, Tina was nowhere to be found.
The bitch isn’t here for real, Sgt. Running Man thought.
“Get this place cleaned up, Hamilton! When your kid comes, DES could take him away. You don’t want that to happen,” Sgt. Running Man told Ham as he walked toward the front door to make his exit.
“I will, sir. Today I will do it,” Ham replied, happy to see Sgt. Running Man leaving.
“And do me a favor. Don’t let me catch you high again, and get rid of that gun. I need you to be clean for court. Don’t make me look bad, or I’ll have you rotting in prison,” the sergeant promised.
“I got you, sir. I will straighten up!”
“See you around, Hamilton,” Sgt. Running Man said as he walked out to his unmarked SUV, never noticing the black SUV parked a couple apartments down and the man watching his every move.
“Snitching-ass nigga!” Tic said as he pulled off, after Sgt. Running Man drove out of the apartment complex.
* * *
It was bothering China that she hadn’t heard from Smooth all day. She had missed his calls in the morning, and she had been waiting for a call ever since. Once ten o’clock came around, she knew that the inmates would be locking down. At twelve o’clock, China waited for Spencer to arrive, and he showed up one minute later. She then hopped inside the stolen Dodge Ram pickup truck with him.
It was forty-five minutes later when Spencer pulled up to the trap house on 12th Street in Little Haiti. The house was active, and a television could be heard and seen illuminating the living room.
“Give me ten minutes once I’m inside,” China said to Spencer.
“Okay.”
China pulled down her mini jersey dress, grabbed her Prada purse, and then exited the truck. China walked up to the house in which she knew only four men were inside. Any more than that would be unexpected.
China climbed the steps and then listened attentively for any signs of surprises. She had purposely approached the Jamaican named JoJo earlier and gotten him to agree to a late-night visit, but only if the cash was right. She specifically told him that she wanted a four-man setup for $3,200. The deal was sealed.
China knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. When the door opened, she saw that it was JoJo, who was smoking a phat kush blunt.
“I’ve been waiting on you, mami!” JoJo said as he blew smoke in China’s face.
“I’m sure you have. Can I come in?”
“Come on, beautiful. The others are asleep. How about me and you go first?”
“That’s not part of the deal. And if that’s the case, I’ll go and give your money back. I know what I came here for. There’s plenty of niggas who know how to pay for the pussy,” China said with an attitude.
“Feisty mami. Just how me like it!” JoJo said as he ran his hands down China’s hips and ass.
“Come upstairs,” JoJo said and then led the way.
When they got upstairs, JoJo led China to a master bedroom and let her get comfortable.
“Anything to drink?”
“Yeah. Jamaican nut all down my throat!” China replied.
“Damn, mami! Let me get the rest!” JoJo said as he walked out of the room.
When he arrived with the rest of his team, the room was completely dark.
“She likes the kinky shit, mon!” one of them said.
JoJo tried to flick on the light in the room but got no illumination, because China had removed the light bulb. The room was too dark for any of them to see China aiming her two Glock .40s at them.
“You four snitched on Stone, man?” China shouted.
“This bitch is crazy, mon!”
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
China squeezed the trigger of both Glocks, hitting the four Jamaicans in their torsos and faces. JoJo was lucky to escape the face shots and was still breathing when China walked up on him.
“Stone told me to tell you, suck his dick and welcome to hell!” China said to JoJo as she squeezed off two shots to his face.
China ran back into the room and grabbed her purse off the bed. She then ran downstairs, leaving the chilling scene behind her.
Stone’s worries are now taken care of, China thought as she hopped back inside the Dodge Ram.
“That’s good timing,” Spencer complimented China.
“What if I was a minute later?” she asked.
“Then I would have come to get the Jamaican men off of you,” Spencer replied.
“That’s why I like you, Spencer. I can really count on you.”
“The same here,” Spencer responded sincerely.
They rode to China’s house in silence. China realized that Spencer was like her in a lot of ways. After a murder, silence was needed to replay every detail. It was the fun part to China and Spencer. If not replaying all the details, they were planning their next kill. When Spencer made it to the house, China felt the need to offer him a drink.
“Do you want to come inside for a drink?”
“Nah, sorry. I gotta get rid of this truck,” Spencer said.
“I understand,” China replied as she exited the truck and headed inside.
21
IT SEEMED LIKE the moment her head hit the pillow, it was dawn. Hearing her iPhone ring at 8:00 a.m., she knew it was no one other than Smooth. She answered, eager to hear his voice.
“Hello.”
“This is a collect call from the Martin County Jail.”
China pressed 0 to bypass the prompts and accept his call.
“Smooth?”
“What’s good, baby?” Smooth’s voice said sadly.
He knows about Guru, China concluded. “Are you okay, baby?”
“Yeah, I’m cool.”
“So I’m guessing you’ve heard about Guru.”
“Yeah, and I still can’t believe that he’s gone, China,” Smooth said. “Then Landi completely lost it.”
“No one can believe it, baby. But we know what is possible out here in these streets,” China reminded Smooth.
“So, when will I see you?” Smooth asked.
China didn’t want to tell him over the phone that she would be in Martin County on Sunday, plus she had plans to go see Jefe and Jenny.
“I’ma try to slide through Monday sometime, baby,” she said.
“Okay, I’ll be waiting.”
“Smooth, can I ask you a question, and I want an honest answer from you.”
“What is it, baby?” Smooth replied, expecting China to drop another bombshell in his life.
He was HIV positive, and he had just found out on the local news that Meka, the woman who had probably given him the virus, was killed by an unknown assassin.
“Smooth, when you was out in this world and I was incarcerated, you were fucking any bitch that opened her legs.”
There it goes! he thou
ght.
“And I respected the game, right?” China reminded him.
“Yes, you did, China. Where is this going?” Smooth asked.
“So what if I meet someone that I just want to have fun with?” China asked, getting a line of silence in response.
She wants to mingle, Smooth thought.
“China, if you want to have fun, go ahead. I can’t get mad at you. I can only advise you to use protection,” Smooth said, wanting to inform her of his new status.
But he couldn’t bring himself to do it as much as he couldn’t see China with another man. He knew that he would be being selfish if he snapped on her about something he was doing while she was in prison.
“Baby, I love you so much. You’re too real. You’ve just agreed to let me mingle out of respect. Why is it so easy?”
“Because I know no matter who comes into your life, it’s only for the moment. But we’re forever!” Smooth replied, causing China to tear up.
“Baby, you need to come home,” China choked up on the tears she could no longer control. “I miss you so much.”
“I’m coming, baby. Just give the process time to develop, and make sure that you guys handle business,” Smooth said.
“So tell me. Who’s the lucky guy?” Smooth asked.
“There’s no lucky man, Smooth. Just you and me,” China replied, drying her eyes.
“No woman?”
“Not if she’s not Jenny,” China informed Smooth.
Wow! So she’s just testing me to see what a nigga’s answer would be, Smooth considered.
“Baby, we stand together in loyalty, and I never forgot that. Yeah, my dick may have gotten tender, but no woman has had enough pussy power to make me leave my wifey!” Smooth informed China.
“Baby, can I ask you a question?”
“What’s up, China?”
“Did you and Amanda have anything going on other than business?”
Damn! I can’t lie to her. It’d be foolish, especially if she has some kind of proof, Smooth thought.
“Yes, China,” Smooth sighed. “We were friends with—”
“You have sixty seconds left,” the automated voice announced.
“So that night you called me her name. You were thinking of her, huh?” China asked with an attitude.
Smooth did not want the call to end this way.
“Baby, listen. I love you. No woman has ever made me change or hurt.”
“Thank you for using GTL,” the automated voice said.
“I knew you two were fucking around, Smooth! Thank you for being honest,” China said as she then called Sue Rabbit, who picked up on the second ring.
“What’s up, China?” Sue Rabbit answered.
“How much do you need? I’m taking a trip in two days,” China informed Sue Rabbit.
“We need three hundred of them. I want to make this the last trip until Smooth touches down.”
“Okay, that sounds smart,” China agreed. “Hey, let me ask you a question.”
“What’s up, China?”
“Where can I find Amanda?”
“No one knows where’s she’s disappeared to, and I find it fishy, especially when she’s suspect.”
“Why do you say she’s suspect?” China inquired.
“She was with Smooth when he got knocked off. She walks in the store, and bam, feds swarm Smooth,” Sue Rabbit explained, filling China’s ears with new devastating news.
He took that bitch to New York with him! she concluded.
“China, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has a part in setting him up. I’m judging this by her sudden disappearance, feel me?” Sue Rabbit said to her.
“So she’s AWOL?” China asked.
“AWOL. Completely off the map,” Sue Rabbit replied.
“Yeah, that does look fishy. Well, get back with me if you do see her,” China informed Sue.
“I will, sis!”
“Thanks! Where’s Roxy?”
“She went over to GaGa’s to drop her off a plate of breakfast.”
“Okay, Sue Rabbit. Stay safe!” China said as she hung up the phone.
This nigga took this bitch to New York with him. That’s why he avoided all my calls that weekend. Why do I even accept this shit, Smooth? China asked herself.
Before the tears could fall, she caught them and wiped them away with her hands.
“I’m done crying, Smooth. Two can play that game,” China said as she walked downstairs where she found Amber
feeding a bottle to Lucky.
“Good morning, China.”
“Good morning to you too, Amber. How is he?” China asked.
“He’s having fun today,” Amber said as she pulled the bottle from Lucky’s mouth and then picked him up to burp him.
“I’ll do it. Let me see him,” China asked.
“Okay,” Amber said as she handed him over to China.
When China put him in her arms and began to burp him, she noticed the increased weight that he had put on.
“He’s definitely put on some pounds,” China said as she burped Lucky while he still badly shook.
“Yeah, he has! He’s growing stronger every day,” Amber informed China.
“Thank you for all your help, Amber. I wouldn’t know what to do without your help,” China admitted.
“I’m glad to be able to help you, China. I want you to take a look at his belly cord. It’s getting infected.”
“Really?” China exclaimed in panic.
She was worried about the way she cut the cord. When she lay the baby down on the sofa and checked his navel, she laughed. Amber became a little perplexed as China continued to laugh.
“Amber, you almost scared me. There’s nothing to worry about. He just has a big-ass belly button,” China said.
“So he’s alright?”
“Yes, Amber. He’s fine,” China reassured her as she handed him back to her.
“I have to run a couple errands, but I’ll be back before ten o’clock tonight.”
“Take your time, China. I’m okay. I love this place,” Amber said.
“Okay, see you later then,” China said as she walked back upstairs.
China took a shower and then put on a pair of skintight H&M jeans. While she was combing her hair, her phone rang. When she checked to see the caller, it was Smooth. Not wanting to hear shit from him, she answered and refused the call so he would get the message.
“I have no time for games and to waste my life missing out!” China said as she resumed combing out her hair.
* * *
“Damn it!” Smooth exclaimed after hearing China refuse his call.
He knew China was upset about Amanda.
So why ask a nigga for the truth if you can’t handle it? he thought as he tried calling her back again but got no answer.
He had no female companion to turn to. Meka was dead, Amanda was AWOL, and now China was upset about him keeping it real with her. He thought about what China asked him about mingling.
She can’t deal with being alone, just as much as I couldn’t when she went to prison. How can I get mad and be selfish? he thought as he walked back to his cell.
Rosco and Baby Dread were already playing chess. To clear his mind, he leaned on the wall and watched the two contenders go at it, move after move, five minutes ahead of each other.
Just like I failed to do. If I was playing five moves ahead of the game, I wouldn’t be HIV positive, Smooth thought regretfully.
He had a hard time trying to figure out if it was Jane or Meka who could have given him the virus. He even thought that Amanda herself could have given it to him and pretended to be infected by him first. He was confused and didn’t know how to tell China. He was afraid of her reaction and afraid that he would lose her. He knew that he couldn’t infect her by being selfish.
She just doesn’t deserve it, he thought.
“Check!” Baby Dread shouted, putting Rosco in check.
Rosco moved his king, and Baby Dread
pushed his queen up for another check.
“Check!” Rosco moved his king out of check again, and Smooth immediately saw the checkmate move, but Baby Dread himself didn’t. He moved too fast and moved the wrong piece. His queen allowed Rosco to swindle out.
“Rosco makes all his foes slip,” Rosco said as he showed Baby Dread his mistake.
“Moving this knight for checkmate would have been a game for you,” Rosco said before he made a power move that put him in good position.
Is that what happened to me? I saw the best move but took the wrong one? Smooth asked himself. I gotta keep it real with China. I fucked up. I can’t ruin her life for my mistake.
He loved China too much to ruin her life. She had to know that her childhood sweetheart was now HIV positive.
* * *
When China pulled up to Smooth’s apartment complex, she saw that Sue Rabbit was at the trap apartment.
He’s probably cooking up the last of his product, China thought as she parked next to his Range Rover.
She was coming to collect Jane’s rent money before she drove over to GaGa’s to eat lunch with her. Before she walked over to Jane’s, she decided to stop in and check up on Sue Rabbit. She got out of her Benz and walked up to his door. Before she could knock, the door opened, and she saw that Sue was on the phone. He waved her in and then walked back into the kitchen. The smell of cocaine being cooked lingered strongly in the air.
I can’t stay in this bitch too long, China thought as she closed the front door and locked it.
“Yeah! Ummm, we still gonna do that, bro, like I said? Just give me a couple hours,” Sue Rabbit said to the party on the phone. “Okay, hit me in one hour.”
When China looked in the kitchen, she saw an old-school woman at the stove cooking up the cocaine.
Amanda is definitely not cooking. That’s why I came in here, huh? China thought, catching her curiosity.
“What’s up, China?” Sue Rabbit asked, after hanging up the phone with his client.
“Just dropping by to pick up rent money from next door. I didn’t know that you would be over here,” China replied.
“Yeah, trying to make room. Like I said, I want this to be the last run until Smooth comes home. This shit is getting old, and we have money to just fall back on.”
