Once inside he saw two people, one a woman looked to be early 40’s hair pulled back in a ponytail, Asian, even sitting she looked to be under 5’5, she had freckles and wore thin wired glasses, and she had on similar colored khakis and a black tank top, she also wore a gun holstered to her hip. She sat with two computer monitors in front of her from a quick glance Black could see that one had a layout of the neighborhood the other had a split screen, one part was the interior of an office, the other was an alley way. The other was a 6’11, 350 lbs., blonde haired, Nordic looking white guy with a crooked nose that looked like he had his share of fights on the losing end. He was dressed in the same khakis as the others and also wore a Com-Ed shirt, he also wore a gun and a walkie-talkie on his hip. Black glanced down at his hands, his mitts looked like he could palm bowling balls as easy as palming a tennis ball, his knuckles were bruised also giving Black the impression he had also given as many ass kicking’s as he had taken, possibly more. He stared at Black with his arctic blue eyes sizing him up.
“How’d you come across my name counselor?”
“Believe me it wasn’t intentional.”
Bosselait sat down in an empty chair next to the female officer. He motioned for Black to sit in the seat across from them. Black sat, the female officer still had yet to speak she noticed Black looking at the monitors, she swiveled the desk the computers were sitting on so that he could no longer see what they were looking at.
“Get on with it counselor.”
“Need information on an old case of yours.”
“What case and why?”
“The Rhodium case, it’s for a friend.”
“You keep some rotten friends counselor.”
“The name is Black, and rotten or not a friend is a friend.”
Bosselait looked to the woman then back to Black, he grimaced.
“Black, what kind of name is . . . never mind. Who’s this friend?”
“Parker Harris.”
The woman stopped looking at the monitor and looked at Bosselait, she still remained silent shaking her head.
“The guy we busted?”
“One and the same.”
“What’s he doing, trying to sue the department or something for wrongful. . .”
Black cut him off mid-sentence.
“No, something else altogether, mind telling me how you cracked the case?”
Bosselait grunted, crossed one leg across the other and folded his arms across his chest, blue eyes trying to cut into Black, see if he would show some sign of weakness. Black stared back all emotion removed from his eyes he was used to this show of male macho bravado had been dealing with it all his life. Being a man of a smaller stature he was always being tested, many would find out the hard way he wasn’t an easy take down, big and small he would take on all challengers.
“You know what Rhodium is?”
“No, what is it?”
“Number 15 on the list of the world’s most valuable substances at $45 dollars per gram or $1,270 per ounce let’s just say it ain’t like selling meth in a park.”
“That much huh?”
“And your boy and his cronies stole enough to fill Wrigley Field.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“Not by much. The stuff is mostly used in three-way catalytic converters, reduces carbon emissions. You going to get to what you want or what? Only talking to you as a favor to D.A. Malone.”
“I thought Edwards reached out to you.”
“He did, but I don’t know him from one yahoo or another him being a cop makes me no never mind so I asked Malone about you she vouched and here we are. But favor or not I am trying to work here.”
“Understandable, so how did you crack the case?”
“Pure fucking accident, I go into a repair shop on Halsted just before you get to the hundreds forget the name some real shit hole. In between a shift change on a stake out I was working needed to check on a part for my kid’s car I reached into my breast pocket for my wallet guess he must have seen my badge on my belt or something I don’t know out of the blue this jack ass bolts to the back now I gotta chase dip-stick through the store, out the back through alleyways and what not catch him then drag him back to the store now I have probable cause to search the place. I find pallets upon pallets of stolen catalytic convertors all drained of the rhodium, look in another room its barrels of this stuff. Come to find out asshole ran cause he had a warrant, get this, for skipping a court appearance for failure to show proof of insurance.”
The female officer chuckled. Bosselait, chuckled himself and shook his head in disbelief.
“You believe that counselor? He’s sitting on millions of dollars’ worth of product and runs over a traffic warrant. I almost peed my pants laughing. He was really easy to flip, got him in on a sting sets up Harris, the rest of the case was in the bag.”
“So Harris was an informant? He turned state’s evidence on the rest of the crew?”
“That’s confidential.”
“That’s not a no.”
Bosselait stood, his nonverbal way of saying the Q&A was over.
“That’s a none of your damn business, what’s it to you anyway?”
“Harris is a friend of mine.”
“Yeah, so.”
“So he stood up like a man and did his time and came home, now he’s catching heat about giving up one of one of the crew and another safe house where more of the rhodium was kept.”
“Again why do you care? And what do you want me to do about it?”
“Like I said just an old friend I’m trying to keep alive or keep from going back throw me a bone, I’ll owe you one. Ask around about me, I stand on my word.”
The detective eyed the monitor before responding.
“I have, it seems your racking up the I owe you’s in the favor department counselor.”
“My debts, my problem.”
“See the thing is, I tell you I burn my C-I.”
“If I figure it out on my own he’s still burnt, at least this way you’ll have a favor in the bag.”
Bosselait shook his head no.
“I’ll point you in the right direction, all I can say is it’s always the one who has the most to lose.”
Black stood.
“That’s all you can give me? Why so cryptic?”
“Trust me, read the case file and think about what I said, if you’re as sharp as they say you are, you’ll figure it out.”
Black paused. Why did he know about the case file? True, Valerie had to have told him but why? He reached out his hand gave Bosselait a firm shake.
“Just curious, what’s this stake out about?”
“Asian crew out of New York mostly high end robberies, art galleries, jewelry stores. Looking to take over the action over in China town small numbers as far as we can tell not plugged with the Triads or the Yakuza. Dip shits, if anything we take these clowns down we’d be doing them a favor it’ll be a hell of a lot better than the rivals getting their hands on em.”
Black looked back to the silent officer.
“Detective, I’m going need for you to not be so talkative next time okay?”
The female officer rolled her eyes and continued eyeing the screen. Black nodded at Bosselait and exited the truck.
Chapter Fifteen
Back in his car Black reclined in his seat turned on the A.C. and headed towards the highway. Wind chimes again, he maneuvered the steering wheel as he read the message on his phone it was the phone number to Nunez Seshat had come through. He placed the phone on speaker phone and dialed the number it rang twice then was answered.
“Hello.”
“I speak to Crape Nunez?”
“This is Crape, who is this?”
“Black.”
“Black?”
“Yeah.”
“Black Love from off 109th?”
“Negro you know any other Black Love’s in Chicago?”
“What you want? How you
get this number?”
“Want a sit down, and you know I make shit happen, that’s how I got this number. Wanted to be respectful and ask before I came through but you know it’s nothing to get the address.”
“I know you’re an important man Black and wouldn’t waste my time if it wasn’t important and I appreciate you respecting me enough to not just slide through, situation might have turned unpleasant. I’m going text you the address, I’m in Dolton.”
“I’m already in route to the e-way I’ll see you in a good hour.”
The call ended, a few seconds’ later wind chimes again. Black looked at the phone it was Nunez sending his address Black turned on music, hit the cruise control and made his way to the address Nunez provided.
Chapter Sixteen
Getting off of the highway Black drove for another 15 minutes down a two lane street until he came upon a gated community, a security guard stood inside a small room guarding entrance into the gate. Black pulled up to the gate and rolled down his window the security guard looking to be Mexican maybe Puerto Rican late fifties, silver beard, silver mane, five foot even so he was shorter than Black, but 200 lbs give or take a few pounds, rotund and squishy looking like a tele tubby. Black gave the man his I.D. he made a phone call to Black presumed was Nunez, gave him his card back, opened the gate and gave him the direction to drive with in the community. Black thanked the man and continued on his way. Once inside the community Black admired the homes he rode past, all looking to cost no less than $500,000. When he reached Nunez home it wasn’t hard to guess which was his. Black crept along the winding driveway to be greeted by Nunez personal security team it was a three man unit all Hispanic wearing black suits and ties over white shirts, with black shades covering their eyes. They stopped him before he reached the home. Black didn’t see any weapons, but he didn’t need to he knew they were there. One of the guards was carrying a long handled mirror used to check underneath vehicles for explosives, as he checked underneath Black’s car, one of the other two asked Black to pop his trunk. Black did as he was asked after checking underneath the car and in the trunk he was ushered along to continue his path around the winding drive-way until he finally reached the home where he parked, he left the engine running and climbed from the car he made sure to have his pistol concealed before exiting the vehicle. Standing at the stairs to the entrance which was still at least a quarter mile from getting inside of the home. The stairs reached up to a lawn that looked as if it were a mini golf course. Another set of three in black suits were there, this trio were two white guys and a black guy. All three similar height and weight upper parts of 6’, 200 plus pounds the two white guys stood at the top of the stairs both wearing Heckler & Koch MP5K machine guns dangling from their shoulders. The black guy wore a radio and a side arm he kept holstered underneath his suit jacket, Black stole a peek from his open jacket as he approached. He also carried a wand metal detector. Black stood with his arms to the side as the guard ran the wand from his head down to his feet, the wand made slight beeping noises as it past various small pieces of metal that black had on, his watch, his phone, and his belt. It beeped louder as it passed the gun in his belt. The guard gave Black a knowingly look, Black raised his eye brows.
“Are you armed?”
The guard asked.
“Yes, just my side arm.”
“You’ll have to leave it here, it’ll be returned when you leave.”
“Bullshit, get on your radio and ask your boss about me.”
The guard didn’t waste time with a stare down, he removed the radio from his belt and relayed the message that Black refused to leave his weapon. Black heard the voice from the other end of the radio as he responded telling the security guard to stand by. Black sat on the hood of his car for about seven minutes when he looked up and saw Crape Nunez coming down the stairs smiling. Black stood from the car and began approaching Nunez. He looked older than Black remembered but it had been ten years since he last seen him. Crape Nunez half Black half Mexican, skin tone and facial bone structure he got from his mother’s side of the family the Ebony side and his hair, culture, and criminal affiliations from his father the Chicano side. Nunez was the same height as Black both 5’3 inches yet Nunez had a more solid structure about himself 200 lbs, muscular, with a gut from years of fine eating and alcohol, his once long shiny black hair was now receding to the point where it was hard to distinguish where his forehead ended and his hairline began the hair he did have remaining he still wore in a ponytail. His skin tone was the color of black sand with deep set craters in his jawbones, when he smiled he revealed that his two front top teeth were missing. He wore a white wife beater that revealed sleeves of tattoos on both of his arms the initials LRZ emblazoned down his left arm colored in green, white, and red. Down the other arm the Mexican Flag with a cross and six point star. He wore a pair of black silk dress slacks and Gucci penny loafers. He embraced Black in a strong hug.
“How you doing brother?”
Black hugged him back just as strongly, it was good seeing his old friend.
“Good, man no complaints.”
Nunez stood back and examined Black from head to toe.
“Good, good don’t complain get money.”
“Don’t complain get money, that’s right.”
Black laughed as he followed Nunez up the stairs to the lawn where a golf cart was waiting, Nunez climbed into the driver’s seat and Black sat next to him as they drove the rest of the way to the house. Black shook his head and kept smiling.
“What?”
Nunez asked eyes still focused on their destination.
“Can’t believe you still remember that shit, don’t complain get money.”
“How can I forget it? That was our mantra back in the day.”
“I remember, we were 12 years old breaking in houses for your uncle.”
“Ah Uncle Luis.”
“How is Luis anyway?”
“Uncle Luis dead bro.”
“Straight up? What happened?”
“Cancer, it’s okay he’s with the saints now.”
There was an uncomfortable silence, Nunez spoke.
“How’s pops?”
“Pops is real good man.”
“That’s what’s up, heard about Ally man, sorry I didn’t make the funeral but you know how I am about that shit.”
Ally was Black’s sister, she had been killed a few months ago.
“Yeah I know.”
Silence again. Black took this time to admire the landscape. They pulled in front of the massive home where another security guard stood at the door a black man almost 7’0, 175 lbs or so, wiry frame, curly hair, also wearing dark sunglasses, he wore a champagne colored polo shirt tucked into his black trousers with a glock holstered to his belt. He nodded at Black as they climbed from the golf course and he climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled off. As if on cue the massive Victorian style doors opened as they approached and Nunez led the way in standing in front of them was a Spanish woman wearing a maid’s uniform.
“Mr. Nunez can I get a drink or something to eat for you and your guest?”
“Si madre, can you make us some of your wonderful carne and black bean chimichangas and rice?”
“Si senor.”
Black shook his head no.
“No ma’am, it’s too much I’m fine thank you.”
Nunez looked at Black as if he were offended.
“Come on bruh, I ain’t seen you in ten years, you call me out the blue and you can’t stay and have lunch with me?”
Black smiled.
“You’re right, I apologize it was rude and disrespectful. Madame I would be honored to taste you’re cooking.”
“Si, senor.”
“Mi madre, can you bring us cervezas to my den when you have the time?”
“Yes sir.”
And she was off. Standing in the foyer Black let his eyes roam the walls which featured an old style Mexican architecture and
décor. Various paintings of Mexican revolutionaries Francisco Madero, Pascual Orozco and Pancho Villa adorned the walls. Black looked down on the floor emblazoned in the center a huge LRZ emblem the same as the one tattooed on Nunez arm colored in the same green, white, and red the colors of the Mexican flag was etched into the floor. LRZ were the initials for the La Raza Nation, a Mexican gang in Chicago. Black continued walking about the home leaving the foyer he entered a living room that off to his left were a set of spiraling stairs that led to a second level of the home. The stairs were made of a pale brown marble, the floor in this room were the same the marble floor stretched from the stairs to another set of stairs in the middle of the room that dipped down into the room and housed a suede and leather upholstered furniture set of the same color. Black stepped down into the sitting area and the first thing that he saw was a 50 foot tall painting of Nunez mother and father on their wedding day. Black looked back to Nunez.
“This painting is hot.”
“Thanks, had the frame handcrafted from a wood made from a rare tree only found in South America.”
“That’s what’s up.”
Also in the room were several tables and chairs, on the floor was an all-white chinchilla carpet that covered the entire floor, a 70’ inch flat screen hung from the ceiling the room also had surround sound speakers. On the other side of the room a set of stairs led to a set of double doors that led outside. Black walked up the stairs and to the doors, opening the doors he found himself standing on a patio deck. Armed guards stood guarding the perimeters of the home. There was an Olympic sized swimming pool, one woman swam laps and two others lay on their backs wearing nothing but sunglasses as the sun kissed their bare flesh. The woman in the pool was a white woman she paused and spoke.
“Bonjour”
The woman said with an authentic sounding accent.
Cannibal in the City (Black Love Book 2) Page 6
