Thin Ice

by KR Bankston

  “Maybe we’ll have a couple in a few years,” Ian threw out once more wanting to reiterate to Kaitlyn her future was with him and he had no intentions of letting her go.

  “Hmm,” Kaitlyn replied simply as her mind whirled.

  That sure as hades won’t be happenin’ fool, she thought continuing to enjoy her cheetos. She supposed that was as close to telling her he loved her deeply that Ice was going to come. Kaitlyn knew she had to tread very lightly. His emotions obviously ran extremely deep. She only needed to play the role for a few more days and then it would be finished. Ice would be out of her life and she would be free. They finally arrived at Platinum and the conversation died for the moment. Need to call Tweety later, Kaitlyn thought as a final point of reference before gathering her thoughts and heading inside the club with Ice.

  *****

  Ben was on the phone with the District Attorney.

  “So what are you thinking, Ben,” Angela asked.

  Angela Saunders was the newly elected D.A. for the county and was working diligently to clean up the police corruption there.

  “I’m thinking that Giovanni English is on Ice’s payroll,” Ben replied point blank as Angela sighed deeply.

  “Can you prove it,” she asked, making notes on the small pad near her phone as she talked.

  “I have enough links to make the water murky,” Ben replied. “I have a couple of my senior UC’s on his trail though,” he added as Angela grunted slightly.

  “Well you know I have no issue with prosecuting dirty cops,” Angela replied. “But you gotta make it stick,” she added as Ben told her he understood.

  “I just wanted to know you were in, that’s all,” he told her as Angela assured him she was and they disconnected.

  Ben sat back and began going over the case file again. He saw Giovanni’s name on more than ten cases involving Ice or one of his known associates. Each time, the officer conveniently didn’t show up to testify or the evidence was somehow lost or contaminated. This fucker is dirty as hell, Ben thought angrily. There was nothing worse in his mind than a rogue cop. They’d taken an oath to protect and serve, yet the only person this moron seemed to be serving was himself. He’s going down with his boy, and all the other dirty ass cops he got working with him, Ben thought making more notes in his file. They were almost ready; just a few more loose ends to pull together and men to put in place. We are gonna swoop down on his ass like a hawk on a mouse, Ben thought angrily of Ice. He’d watched the man grow more and more powerful year after year peddling his illegal wares. They’d never found anyone willing to help them break his stronghold until now. Guess it’s a good thing Landon fell so hard for Kaitlyn, Ben thought sighing deeply and rising to grab himself a quick bite of lunch. After that he was back to his files, and their plans to destroy Ian “Ice” Bailey.

  *****

  “OK guys, get settled and be downstairs at 2:00,” Landon was telling the team as they sat on the bus inside the parking garage. “We’re going to have a full scrimmage and then you’ll get some time to relax,” he finished eyeing each player carefully. They’d arrived at the Las Vegas airport around ten this morning after taking an earlier flight from Atlanta.

  Everyone departed the bus and began heading for their rooms. He was the last to check in.

  “You hitting any casino’s tonight?” Landon joked with Tony.

  He was the man who replaced Evan, after his death, in the organization.

  Tony chuckled and told him he was going to see some shows tonight. “It’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing,” he clarified.

  Landon chuckled again as they boarded the elevator.

  “What’re your plans?” Tony asked giving Landon a look.

  “To find a woman or two while we’re here and get laid,” he asked chuckling.

  Landon sighed lightly and shook his head no.

  “Well, you could come to the shows with me,” he offered.

  Landon thanked him but told him he’d probably try his luck at a table or two and call it a night. The elevator finally stopped and the disembarked. They were in separate suites, directly across the hall from each other.

  “Well,” Tony began. “If you change your mind, you know where I am,” he told him smiling again. Landon smiled slightly and thanked him. He used the card key and entered his suite, closing the door behind him.

  Of course Landon’s mind went immediately to Kaitlyn. Ben says we’re almost ready, he thought opening his suitcase and taking out clothing. Landon thought long and hard about having to testify against Ice and what it would cost him should the man find a way to walk. He would kill you in a hot ass minute, Landon thought sighing deeply. He couldn’t just stand by and do nothing though. Kaitlyn needed him. She didn’t ask for the relationship with Ice, he forced her into it, Landon thought recalling the things Kaitlyn shared with him during their conversation and her visit. Landon smiled slightly to himself however thinking of Ice in handcuffs. Oh I would love to see the look on that sonofabitch’s face when they slap those iron bracelets on and escort his ass to a federal holding cell, Landon completed his thought and actually did chuckle aloud. Pushing the thoughts from his mind so he could relax and de-stress, Landon grabbed his room cardkey and headed downstairs to the casino, hoping lady luck had pity on him tonight.

  *****

  “Well shit,” Kaitlyn swore aloud as the Blackberry hit the floor and came apart. Ice had dropped her off after their visit to Platinum earlier, saying he had business. Picking up the phone she noticed the small blue chip. What’s this, she thought of the part. It didn’t seem to actually belong to all the others assembled on the floor. Frowning slightly she put them all in her pocket and headed to the cellphone store she’d seen earlier at the mall they visited. Kaitlyn’s mind tumbled as she drove. She’d talked to Tweety last night and the two of them had gone over their plans once more. Tweety told her things were going smoothly on her end and she didn’t foresee any issue. Kaitlyn definitely hoped she was right. They were almost home free. She’d overheard Ryan and Ice talking this morning and neither seemed to suspect anything was amiss. Thankfully for our asses, Kaitlyn thought as she arrived at the mall and parked.

  Getting out she headed inside and to the Verizon store.

  “Do you carry this blackberry,” she asked placing her broken phone on the counter.

  “Yeah, we actually only have a couple left,” the salesclerk replied, looking Kaitlyn over and licking his lips slightly.

  She sighed deeply choosing not to address the obvious sexual innuendo and asked for the phone. After he retrieved the phone and took it out of the box, Kaitlyn produced the chip.

  “Oh, you want your codas chip in this one,” the clerk asked recognizing the chip.

  “Is it really necessary,” Kaitlyn fished having a suspicion about it.

  “Nah not really,” the clerk replied. “I mean if you want to continue to record your conversations for playback later, you still need it,” he added as the light came on for Kaitlyn and she was immediately tense.

  So Ice has been listening to my conversations, she thought worriedly. Damn, then he knows about me and Tweety, me and Tariq, fuck, everything, she was starting to panic before calming herself.

  “How can I tell when the last conversation was checked,” she asked pretending she’d forgotten how the feature worked. The clerk took the bait and chuckled slightly before pulling up her number online in the system and clicking on the Codas tab.

  “Seems like you haven’t checked them for about four months now,” he replied as Kaitlyn let go the breath she’d been holding.

  Damn, that was too close, she thought

  “OK, well go ahead and delete all those,” she told him as he nodded and hit the delete feature.

  Kaitlyn watched all the conversations disappear and then be deleted from the trash bin.

  “Anything else,” the clerk asked smiling at her once more.

  “Yeah, gimme one of those prepaid phones right there,” she told him
pointing to the sleek black model.

  Kaitlyn then handed him the chip and told him to go ahead and put it back in. I got your number now muthafucka, Kaitlyn thought of Ice, smiling slightly. Gathering everything she came for, Kaitlyn told the clerk thanks, giving him her best smile and left him watching her walk to the next kiosk.

  31

  Day Three

  Jaleesa was sipping her tea and thinking about Ryan. They were going out this evening and she was again nervous. What the hell is wrong with me? She’d been in the hustle for the last six years, she’d fucked up plenty of people, but now she was acting like a scared child. This man really loves you, her mind scolded. What did that matter now, she continued to think. She still wanted vengeance for all the pain both he and Ice caused her bringing her to this house and keeping her captive; keeping her away from her family, from KiKi, her sister in every way. Pushing the guilt away, Jaleesa let her mind wander to her beginning.

  Jaleesa was young then, only 19 years old messing around with an older man she really hadn’t taken the time to get to know. They’d met in at the rec center and she gave him her number. Deuce had hella swagger and him being 25 was definitely a plus in her book. She found out he hustled and sold dope. Intrigued Jaleesa began asking questions and observing what he did on a daily basis as they hung out. She’d let him talk her into getting pregnant about 3 months into their relationship That was the worst decision I could have ever made, she thought again, remembering all the drama and violence that the next four months brought.

  Deuce had become even more possessive, not letting Jaleesa out of his sight most times. He beat her regularly just to keep her in line he told her, the small matter of her carrying his child didn’t seem to matter she recalled closing her eyes and frowning deeply remembering. “Oh, you big and bad now huh?” Deuce screamed as he hit her again. Jaleesa was enduring yet another beating at his hands. “Get off me Deuce!” she screamed at him. She had enough and was finally trying to leave, but he’d unfortunately caught her.

  “Bitch, you ain’t going no damned where!” Deuce yelled as he punched her in the stomach. Jaleesa fell to her knees and he kicked her again. She curled herself into a tight ball trying to protect herself from the continued onslaught of punches and kicks he delivered.

  “It’s me or the grave, bitch!” Deuce screamed at her as he began ripping her clothes from her. Jaleesa was too scared and weak to fight anymore, simply choosing to close her eyes and endure the punishment he heaped on her as he undressed himself and proceeded to assault her again and again.

  Jaleesa awakened still naked on the living room floor. She looked around the room with the one eye he hadn’t closed and didn’t see him. She gingerly rose from the floor, trying to make her way to the bathroom. The phone rang, making her jump. She let it ring until it finally stopped, only to immediately begin again. Snatching the phone from its cradle, Jaleesa held it to her ear, but didn’t speak.

  “Tweety?” the voice questioned.

  She recognized it, but still didn’t speak.

  “I know you hear me Tweety” the voice continued. “Listen, I called to tell you about Deuce,”

  Jaleesa finally broke her silence. “What about him?” she queried more out of curiosity than concern. She heard the slight sniffling and assumed the worst. Jaleesa was talking to Deuce’s mother, whom she had absolutely no love for. She’d raised the monster and allowed him to treat her this way. She never took Jaleesa’s side, always chastising her and telling her if she were a better girlfriend, then Deuce wouldn’t hit her.

  “He got locked up last night,” his mother told her.

  Jaleesa sighed lightly. Honestly she was hoping he was dead, but this might be just as good. “For what?” she replied again out of curiosity. She was planning ahead, and she needed to know how much time she had.

  “They say he robbed this store on the South side,” she told her, her voice wavering. “But I know my son ain’t do no mess like that.”

  Jaleesa rolled her eyes, thinking how deeply in denial the woman was. She thanked her for the information and hung up. She sighed deeply continuing to remember the events that transpired after the call. Jaleesa hadn’t wasted any time packing her things and leaving the apartment they shared. She’d called KiKi to pick her up, then they stopped by the bank and withdrew all the money from the account she and Deuce shared. KiKi helped her find a place in Conyers, which was a subdivision well outside of the city of Atlanta, and begin her new life. Though she was almost five months pregnant, she terminated the pregnancy not wanting any part of Deuce to remain in her life.

  Jaleesa later learned that Deuce was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to ten years. She and KiKi began grinding after that, using all the knowledge and contacts she’d made through Deuce; already having spent time doing a little selling and transporting with their ex-boyfriends, Devontae and Poncho. Finally able to push the thoughts from her mind, Jaleesa took a deep breath and steeled her resolved to do what she needed too. No other man is gonna keep me prisoner and abuse me anymore, she finished thinking as Ryan entered the room and smiled at her. Jaleesa smiled back as he headed to the shower to ready himself for their outing. She sighed slightly and recalled her conversation with KiKi. Just a little while longer, she admonished pulling out her make up and putting it on. Tonight was going to be very interesting, in more ways than one.

  *****

  Kaitlyn was looking for her pills. She’d missed two days already. Where the hell did I put them, she thought as she continued to search. Rummaging through her travel bag she ran across the photo she kept of her and Jaleesa from back in the day. Man we were both young and stupid then, she thought. “That drama is ended though,” she mumbled aloud still searching. Ice entered the room moments later as Kaitlyn stood before the mirror with her eyes closed trying to think.

  “What’s wrong,” Ian asked concerned as he watched her.

  Kaitlyn opened her eyes and regarded him for a few minutes. “I’m looking for something,” she replied.

  Ian grunted shortly before asking her what.

  “My pills,” she replied as he nodded thoughtfully. “I know I put them on the counter so I could see them,” she mumbled once more half aloud.

  “I threw them away,” Ian replied calmly.

  What the fuck, Kaitlyn asked inwardly as she turned to look at him. “What did you say,” she asked, hoping she’d heard him wrong.

  “I said, I threw them away,” Ian replied calmly.

  “Stop bullshittin’ Ice,” Kaitlyn replied hoping he was playing around.

  “I need to take a couple,” she told him as Ice rose from the bed, where he’d sat down, and walked over to her.

  “I threw them away,” he repeated, looking directly into her eyes as he stood face to face with her.

  “Why would you do that, Ice?”

  Ian smiled slightly before answering. “Just thinking how nice it would be if we had a child together,” he said softly watching her closely.

  Kaitlyn was absolutely terrified at the prospect of becoming pregnant from Ice. This man has lost his damned mind, Kaitlyn thought as she fought to keep from frowning.

  “I don’t think I’m ready for that right now Ice,” Kaitlyn replied gently.

  “Why the hell not,” Ian threw at her his anger beginning to boil over. “Because I’m not Tariq,” he accused as Kaitlyn remained mute, thinking how right he was. “Would you have a different answer then?”

  “Come on Ice, it’s not even like that,” Kaitlyn tried evenly as he continued to glare at her.

  “Look me in the eye and tell me you’re over that muthafucka,” Ian dared.

  Kaitlyn took a deep breath, blew it out slowly, and looked into his eyes.

  “Ice, I’m with you,” she replied. “I make love to you and no one else,” she lied as Ian watched her every nuance. “I’m just scared of having a baby right now with all the heavy activity we’re into, that’s all, nothing more,” she finished hoping that she’d done a su
ccessful job of convincing him.

  Ian continued to regard Kaitlyn quietly as his mind processed what she’d just said to him.

  Maybe she was actually being straight with him, Ian thought as he sighed deeply and addressed her again.

  “No one is ever really ready, it just kinda happens,” he replied taking some of the venom out of his voice, as he laid her down and began touching her.

  Kaitlyn found herself fighting not to reject his advances. Neither she nor Tweety needed any complications right now. You can always have an abortion if he does manage to knock you up, she thought as Ian began kissing her softly and she kissed him back. After they made love, Ian kissed Kaitlyn gently and looked into her eyes as he spoke.

  “I got everything covered KiKi,” he told her sincerely. “Relax and let this happen,” he added, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

  Kaitlyn forced herself to smile slightly as Ian kissed her again and pulled her close, drifting off to sleep. 4 more days, 4 more days, she kept telling herself to calm the rage inside her at the moment. Finally managing to calm down, she closed her eyes as sleep immediately found her.

  *****

  “Everything’s ready and we can pull out first thing in the morning,” Ryan was telling Jaleesa as they lay in bed together. They’d just finished a few rounds of vigorous lovemaking after returning from a fabulous night out. Ryan was yawning and ready to go to sleep, Jaleesa’s mind was restless and keyed up about the trip tomorrow. They were headed to Florida for the next couple of days. Damn, Jaleesa thought. This was not a complication she needed. Everything was already planned for right here in Louisiana. What the hell am I supposed to do now, she continued to think as Ryan snored lightly next to her. He’d said they would only stay two days, which would be fine. Problem was Jaleesa knew how uncertain these kinds of trips and deals were. They could end up staying days longer. That would effectively ruin the plans she and KiKi had in place.