by Glenn, Roy
"Mrs. Black, are you all right?" the receptionist asked.
"I’m fine."
"Where are you?"
"I’m on 34th street outside the Garden."
"That’s good. Stay right where you are, Freeze is on his way to get you. Hold on and I’ll find out how long he’ll be."
"Thank you, but please hurry, I’m on somebody’s cell phone."
"I won’t be long, I promise," the receptionist said and put Shy on hold.
"No need to rush. Take your time, honey. I know how niggas get when you don’t give them what they want. I saw them push you out that cab. Niggas ain’t shit," the woman continued as Shy held on.
When the receptionist came back on the line she told Shy that Freeze was on the Westside highway and should be there in ten minutes. Shy thanked her and handed the woman back her phone. "Thanks for lettin’ me use your phone. My ride should be here in ten minutes."
"No problem, honey. Like I said, I know how niggas get when you don’t give them what they want. They buy you a drink or take you to dinner and they think that’s supposed to make us throw our legs open. I think not!"
"Tell me about it." Shy smiled and sat down next to the woman.
It wasn’t long before Shy heard her name called and she saw Freeze waving to her from his truck. Shy thanked the woman for waiting with her and walked toward the truck, knowing that she was safe now.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Mike opened the door for Shy, she practically fell out of the truck and into his arms. As tears rolled down her cheeks, he kissed her. "Are you all right?" Mike asked with his lips still close to hers.
"I’m fine now." Shy kissed his lips again. "I thought I’d never see you again."
"Did they hurt you?"
"No, they didn’t hurt me. They kept me blindfolded and tied to a bed for a while. Then they moved me to a room with a TV and a shower."
Mike looked at his watch. "You have any idea where they were holding you?"
"No. Like I said I was blindfolded whole the time," Shy told him.
"Hello Shy. I’m glad you’re okay," Bobby said.
Mike turned to around. "Bobby," he yelled. "Go straight home."
"Yes, daddy," Bobby said as he walked away laughing.
Mike hailed a cab. "Marriott on Ditmars Boulevard," Mike told the driver.
"By LaGuardia?" the driver asked.
"Yeah," Mike said and avoided making eye contact with Shy. There was a part of him that wanted Shy on the first plane out of New York in the morning.
"Marriott, huh? By the airport, huh?" Shy said and moved closer to Mike in the cab.
"Yeah, it’s a nice place and it’s close by," he said and put his arm around her. But then there was a part of him that never wanted her out of his sight. He wanted Shy to be happy and if she would be happy in New York then he would have to make it happen.
"You’re sending me back, aren’t you?" Shy asked with her head on his chest.
"Oh, I don’t know," Mike said, feeling the warmth of her body against his. "You be real nice to me at the Marriott and I might let you stay a few days."
"Hmm," Shy purred. "That sounds so good, baby. I promise to be really, really extra nice to you, cause I don’t wanna go back," she said knowing that Mike didn’t want to hear that. But she was home now, and she wanted to stay.
"I know," Mike said and kissed her on the forehead. "But let’s not talk about that now. Right now, I’m just happy you’re all right. And that you’re here with me."
They made love as soon as they got to the hotel, and then drifted off to sleep. Mike didn’t stay in bed long, he spent most of the night at the window, thinking. Having Shy back was only part of it. He still had Diego and the DEA to deal with. He turned her lose for a reason. Mike thought as he tried to figure out Diego’s next move. Mike got back in the bed and Shy immediately moved closer to him. He put his arm around her. When Mike woke up it was a little after noon, Shy was already up and dressed. "Hi," Shy said, flipping channels on the edge of the bed.
"How you doin’?"
"I’m fine. Glad you finally got some sleep."
"How do you know I hadn’t slept?"
"I can always tell when you’re not in the bed with me."
"How?"
"I just can," Shy smiled and turned off the TV. "Are you taking me back today?"
"No. You can stay for a while. At least until we work out everything that’s been goin’ on while you’ve been laying around at cheap hotels watching TV."
"What been goin’ on?" Shy asked.
Mike took his time and broke it all down for her. From Nick in South America, to her being kidnapped, to Senator Marshall to Diego and those papers. When he was done, Shy said, "Wow. I know that you have a lot to do, so what’s on your agenda for today?"
Mike sat up in the bed. "Shopping."
"But you hate to shop."
Once Mike was ready they went downstairs and caught a cab to Macy’s on 34th street. Along the way Mike explained that they were going to see Angelo, but he wanted to stop a few times, just in case someone was following. "By the way," Shy said. "how long was I gone?"
"Four days."
"Four days. Oh yes, I really do need something else to wear."
Since Shy knew how much Mike hated shopping, and because they had things to do, she agreed to get one outfit and come back for more clothes some other time. When they got to Macy’s, Mike grabbed a pair of black pants and a shirt. Shy bought a Calvin Klein stripe blazer and cropped pant and a pair of Kimel Efik slide shoes and they were out of there. On the way out Shy took her old clothes and threw them in the garbage. "I’ve had those clothes on for four days. I don’t ever want to see them again. I don’t need anything to remind me of that experience." Mike kept his old clothes.
After leaving Macy’s, Mike and Shy caught another cab to Harlem. Along the way, Shy looked out the window enjoying the ride through the city, and thinking about turning herself in and serving her time if necessary. Now that she was finally back in New York, she found it was a lot easier to sit in her own island paradise and talk about going to jail. Being in the city was forcing her to realize that she didn’t want to do time at all.
When they got to 125th street and Malcolm X they exited the cab and lost themselves in a sea of people. They didn’t buy anything, Mike thought that if anyone was following them that they would be easier to spot. Half an hour later, they were back in a cab and heading uptown through the Bronx on their way to Yonkers.
It was late afternoon when they got to Angelo’s place, and to Mike’s surprise, Angelo was sitting outside. "Angelo hates the sun." Mike got out of the cab and extended his hand for Shy.
Angelo stood up. "Mr. and Mrs. Black, this is definitely my lucky day. Jimmy, was I just sayin’ I feel lucky?"
"Yeah, you was just sayin’," Jimmy agreed.
"Shy," Angelo said and hugged her. "It’s good to see you’re all right. They didn’t hurt you or nothing?"
"No, Angelo, I’m fine. And thank you for helpin’ out. I really do appreciate it."
"Forget about it. Anything you need, ever, I’m here for you, the both of you. Now, have a sit down, and let’s enjoy this beautiful hot-ass day."
"What’s up with that anyway? You hate being out in the sun," Mike said.
"I thought, you know, I could sit out here, maybe I could work on my tan or whatever. But the truth is Mikey, you got your problems, I got mine. Better we talk out here; if you know what I mean?"
"I may have those same kind of problems, but I’m sure we’ll talk more about that at another time," Mike said.
"To be sure. You still a Yankee fan?" Angelo asked.
"Til they bury me."
"Let’s go to a game while you’re here."
"A night game."
"Of course. Hey, we could sit out in the bleachers like we used when we was comin’ up," Angelo said and turned to Shy. "Me and this guy, we used to go to the stadium, drink all the beer we wanted, get drunk, wa
tch a ball game. Those were good times, huh Mikey?"
"Life was good then, Angee. Look at us now, both of us business men with problems."
"Nothing we can’t handle."
"That’s why I came to see you." Mike leaned close to Angelo and spoke softly. "What can you tell me about this five mill that Diego is here for?"
Angelo looked at Mike for a second and then he smiled. "That’s why I love you, Mikey," he said and then said softly. "You know Diego owns a pharmaceutical company, Frontier pharmaceutical is what it’s called? But in addition to their legit business, they also manufacture all kind of other drugs. You know like Valium, Viagra, Prozac, Paxil, Xanax, shit like that. Well the way I get it is that he’s got a deal with some people from one of the old soviet republics, Lithuania or someplace like that. Anyway the deal gets done in a couple of days. Now, let me ask you something?"
"What’s that?"
"Why you wanna know?"
"I think five million dollars will make this right."
"You gotta love this guy, but it ain’t gonna happen. What, you think you was gonna walk in there, take their money and walk out with it?"
"Something like that," Mike said confidently. "Unless you got some reason why I can’t."
"It ain’t gonna happen ’cause there’s no money to walk out with. The five million gets transferred from one account to the other. It’s all done with computers, gives it an air of being a legit transaction."
Mike sat back and thought for a second. "How’s Gomez? He still live the same place?"
Chapter Thirty-eight
It was a little after seven when Nick parked his car on 74th street and walked up to Amsterdam. When he got to Citrus, Nick noticed that there was a limo parked out in front and a man that he thought he recognized was getting in the back seat. Nick remembered the place from the old days. The last time he and Mike were there, they threw somebody out the restaurants front glass window.
When he got inside he, Mike and Shy were seated at table in the back. When he saw Nick come in, Mike stood up and motioned for him to join them.
"Hello, Shy. It’s good to see that you’re all right."
"Thank you, Nick. I’m just glad it over. You look nice," Shy said of Nick, who was dressed in a tuxedo.
"Thank you, Shy," Nick replied graciously as he sat down. "Wasn’t that Gomez I saw gettin’ in that limo?"
Mike looked at Shy and smiled. "Was it? I didn’t see him."
"Must not have been him. You couldn’t miss him a place this size."
"Guess not," Mike said.
"Where you goin’, Nick?" Shy asked.
"I’m goin’ to meet Wanda. We’re goin’ to a party at Martin Marshall house."
"What are you gonna do? Walk up to him and ask if he had that reporter killed?" Mike asked.
"Something like that."
"Handle your business," Shy said.
"How’s your partner, Monika?" Mike asked.
"She doin’ a lot better. She’s coming with us tonight, were gonna set up a little something on Marshall tonight," Nick said as Travis, Jackie and Vonda walked in restaurant.
Mike stood up. "Hello, Jackie," he said and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Shy rolled her eyes and Jackie returned the favor by rolling her eyes right back at her. "Travis," Mike said and extended his hand. "It’s good to finally meet you."
Travis accepted his hand. "Good to meet you too, Mr. Black."
"Black will do. This is my wife Cassandra, Travis Burns and Jackie Washington."
"Please call me, Shy," she said.
Mike turned to Nick. "Have you two met?" he asked and pointed at Travis.
"No," Nick told him. "Nick Simmons." The two shook hands.
"I know you gotta go, Nick." Mike paused. "Why don’t you take Travis with you tonight. From what I hear, Mr. Burns is very good with computers. He might be useful."
"Yeah," Nick said nodding his head. "I think we can find some use for him tonight." Nick turned to Travis. "You ready?"
"Yes," Travis said and followed Nick out the door. He was excited just to be invited to meet Mike Black and to have him say that he might be useful made his night.
"Don’t worry, Jackie. Nick will take good care of your boy."
"Travis is a big boy. He can take care of himself," Jackie said and started to sit down.
"Who are you?" Mike asked as Vonda was about to take a seat.
"Black, this is Vonda. She’s the new member of our team."
"It’s good to meet you, Vonda, but why don’t you wait over there?" Mike said and pointed at the bar.
While Vonda walked toward the bar, Jackie sat down. "Can I order you something?" Mike asked and signed for a waiter.
Jackie picked up a menu. "I’ll have Hennessey on the rocks and some Shrimp Dumplings," she told to waiter.
"And the lady at bar," Mike said to the waiter and pointed at Vonda. "Put whatever she orders on my check." Once the waiter was gone Mike said, "I heard that you were very valuable to Freeze the other night."
"I just did what I had to do," Jackie replied.
"I appreciate that," Mike said and discreetly handed her an envelope. "I won’t forget what you did."
"Thank you." Jackie put the envelope in her purse.
"I may have some other things that you could do for me." Causing Jackie’s mind to wander to the things she’d like to do for him. "but we’ll talk about that some other time," Mike said and turned to Shy.
"You used to work at Frontier pharmaceuticals, right?" Shy asked.
"I sure did. I used to be a chemist, until they fired me for insubordination for refusing to work on a project on my own time."
"That’s not right," Shy said. "What I need Jackie is for you to tell me everything you know about Frontier."
While Jackie sipped on Hennessey and munched on her Shrimp Dumplings steamed in a jalapeno sauce, she told Shy what she wanted to know. Once Jackie was finished Shy told her exactly what she wanted her to do.
Chapter Thirty-nine
At the home of Martin Marshall the party had begun. The house was packed to overflowing with his guests, talking, drinking, and snacking on finger food. Marshall’s guests were the rich and powerful. The political crowd for the most part, a few wealthy campaign contributors, and the usual array of hangers-on who always seem to show up at these types of events.
Earlier in the evening, when Nick and Travis picked up Monika, she came out of the house dressed in beautiful electric blue silk gown by Stephen Yearick. It had a straight neckline, multiple beaded straps over the left shoulder, low asymmetrical back, asymmetrical beading in silver and midnight blue. She had wrapped her head with a scarf that matched her dress to cover her bandages and a patch over her eye. The sight of her walking toward the car caused Nick to laugh at her struggling to walk in heels and Travis to sit up straight in his seat and take notice of her hips swaying from side to side. "Only for you, Nick," Monika said as she got in the car. "And not a word about these heels. I don’t know how I ever got anywhere in these things."
After Nick filled Monika in on the details of the job they were going to run, they went and picked up their surveillance van. While Monika gave Travis a crash course on the equipment and what he had to do, Nick caught a cab to pick up Wanda and Glynnis.
Once they were inside, Glynnis drifted off to socialize with her colleagues leaving Nick and Wanda alone. Wanda looked at Nick. "You look very nice in a tux, Nick."
"I was just about to tell you how beautiful you look tonight, but you always look beautiful."
"Well thank you, Nick." Wanda blushed. She wore a black crepe gown with a sweetheart neckline with beaded straps from the center bust and sheer insets at the waist. "I thought that you were going to bring someone else with you. I was hoping to meet her."
"She’s here. I saw her wondering around when we first got here. I didn’t want us to be seen together, you’ll meet her soon enough. She’s checkin’ out the house to get the lay out in case we need to come ba
ck again. In fact, do you see that woman over there with the blue dress?"
"The one with a patch over her eye?"
"That’s her," Nick said.
"She pretty, Nick."
"You’re not jealous are you, Wanda?" Nick hoped.
"No, of course not. Why should I be jealous?"
"Why should you?"
Truth be told, Wanda was beginning to enjoy Nick’s company and was just a bit jealous, but she wasn’t ready to admit it, not even to herself, so she changed the subject. "Have you spotted Marshall yet?"
"No, not yet," Nick replied and looked around the room. "But he’s here somewhere, I don’t think he’d miss his own party."
While Wanda and Nick waited for Marshall to show himself, Travis sat outside in the van. It was like being a kid on Christmas morning, as Travis played with all of the devices that Monika had introduced him to. His assignment in this operation was to watch and listen. Monika explained that the image on screen before him was a satellite generated, 3-dimensioal thermal image of Marshall’s house. She told him that the red lines represented wall so he could see each room in the house. "What are those dots in each room?" Travis had asked earlier.
"Those represent everybody in the house. But we’re not gonna use that this time," Monika said and turned that function off. "Once we get inside you’ll see two moving indicators. One will be me and the other will be Nick. Are you familiar with the Greek alphabet?"
"Yes."
"Nick is alpha, I’m beta and you are omega. Once we identify Marshall, I’ll tag him and you’ll be able to track him too. He’ll be gamma."
The other device that Monika had Travis monitor and was a parabolic microphone. That device magnifies distant sounds allowing them to locate the source of sound and suppress background noises. "Because of its special design, it is capable of picking up and magnifying signals up to 75 times that of a normal omni-directional microphone," Monika told him.
While he waited for Monika to tag Marshall, Travis was amusing himself by listening to different sounds and conversations going on around the house. He listened to a couple of boring conversation at the party, picked up and identified where the kitchen and the bathroom were, he even overheard a couple having sex in one of the rooms on the second floor.
