by Mike Sanders
“Nah, you ain’t boring me,” I tried to perk up a little. “I was just trying to figure out why somebody would want to try to rob you, a construction company owner.” I lied.
“I guess they thought we had cash or something of value in the house. They even killed Ralphie.”
“Ralphie?”
“Yeah, my baby pit bull.”
I thought, Baby my ass, that muthafucka looked full-grown to me.
“And they stole the gun my brother had given me for protection.” Tan paused and took a deep breath. “Some protection, huh?”
I started feeling a little bad for this broad. She almost had me ready to call D.C. and tell him to bring me her gun so I could give it back to her.
Damn, we’d went on a dummy mission, I thought. A fuckin’ construction company owner!? I couldn’t get over that shit.
“And those two bitches who knocked at my door…I’ll never forget those faces,” Tan stated with hatred in her voice.
“I know, right,” I agreed while making a mental note to never let her see even a photo of my sister or Phire.
Tan added to her previous statements, “And that voice, that raspy voice of one of the robbers, I’ll never forget that either.” As an afterthought, she said, “Whoever these guys were had expensive taste. I can say that much.”
Out of curiosity, I asked, “Why you say that?”
“Because one of them had on a pair of all black Bapes. Those sneakers cost at least $250 a pair, at least all the ones I’ve seen in Jersey cost that much,” she reported.
Just then, our food arrived and I dove right in with hopes of Tan changing the subject from the robbery. I discreetly slid my right foot from beneath the table so I could look at my sneakers. I was silently praying that I didn’t have on my Bathing Apes. Seeing my Jordans, I exhaled a sigh of relief.
The atmosphere was kind of weird because I was feeling a little remorseful for running up in this bitch’s house and slapping her around. And now here I was sitting directly across from her, having lunch with her. If this broad was in the game I wouldn’t have felt any kind of guilt for what I’d done. And nine times out of ten I would have more than likely been making plans to jack her ass again! But this girl was nothing more than a successful, bi-sexual construction company owner.
During the meal, Tan had mentioned that the police had arrived shortly after her brothers in response to the alarm being tripped. The only evidence the police gathered were two bullets from Ralphie’s skull and the shell casings from the gun that had been fired. At this point my mind started reeling. I was trying to remember who had loaded the gun I’d used that night. I was hoping whoever it had been had at least enough sense not to leave prints.
“Chink, you sure you’re okay? You seem a little distant,” Tan commented.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m cool,” I replied while still trying to remember who had loaded the pistol I’d killed Ralphie with.
After a minute or two of wracking my brain I finally remembered that I had been the one who had loaded the gun that night. I could also remember using a handkerchief. Tan went on to tell me how she had tricked the robber into going to the tool shed where the alarm had been tripped. She was laughing at her brilliance and at the same time she was laughing at our stupidity. I was thinking about how lucky this girl had been that I’d pulled Cross away from the house after that incident. That nigga had really wanted to fuck her up because of that stunt she had pulled. That thought caused me to laugh a little harder. She thought I was laughing with her, but little did she know, I was laughing at her simple ass!
After we finished our meal, we stood out in the parking lot conversing and making plans to see one another again. While we were talking I saw several police cars, an ambulance, and a fire truck race past the restaurant and zoom up the street with sirens blaring and lights flashing.
Damn, somebody must be fucked up, I thought as I watched the ambulance run through the light.
My belly was full and I was nickin’ like crazy so I dug into the pocket of my shorts for a Newport. After the sirens had passed I walked Tan to her Range Rover and noticed how jiggly her ass cheeks were in the thin sundress she was wearing. When she climbed into the truck the dress rose high up on her thick thighs and she saw me staring with lustful eyes. I held her door open and leaned against it while flicking ashes to the pavement.
“So, I still can’t get your number?” I asked.
I knew she was at a vulnerable stage at this point after being scared by a home invasion. I figured she’d want a nigga like me on her team to have her back in situations like that, if it were to happen again.
Tan thought about it for a minute, and then she held out her palm for my cell. I dug it out of my pocket and handed it to her. She commenced to punch in her digits just as I’d figured she’d do.
I smiled and commented, “Your man must be in the dog house, huh?”
She didn’t respond. She only smiled slightly while continuing to program her info into my phone.
When she was done she handed it back to me and stated, “On weekdays call after five, and anytime on weekends.”
I moved away from her door, allowing her to close it while she started the truck and rolled down the window. I was walking towards my bike which was parked a few spaces down from where her truck was parked.
I told her, “I’ll holla at you later, aiight. And be careful ma, ’cause it’s all types of criminals and thugs on the loose out here.”
I was smiling inwardly. I looked at her and noticed a slight smile on her face as well.
When I reached my bike I unlocked my helmet from the side of the seat and saw Tan pulling out of her parking space. She rolled past me slowly and approached the exit.
When she stopped at the exit, she leaned out the window, “And just for the record, I don’t have a man.” She was smiling as she rolled her window back up and disappeared behind the tint.
I watched as she pulled out onto Albermarle Road and blended in with the mid-afternoon traffic while thinking to myself, I know you ain’t got a man, because you got a BITCH!
I smiled because there’s nothing like knowing someone’s most innermost secrets unbeknownst to them. Knowledge is power, especially if you have knowledge of things people have no idea you are aware of.
I slipped my shoe cover over my Jordans to prevent scuffing, then hopped onto my bike with plans of heading to my apartment for a little rest and relaxation before hooking up with Cross and D.C. later for a lick we’d setup. A girl who Cross was fucking had put us up on some out of town niggas and we had planned to touch them later that night. However, curiosity ended up getting the best of me and instead of going straight home I followed the sounds of the sirens to see what had happened up the street from the restaurant since it was so close to my sister’s neighborhood.
I rode up Albemarle Road until it intersected with W.T. Harris Boulevard, then I made a left going towards my sister’s place. When I passed Ice’s complex I kept riding until I reached the Hickory Grove neighborhood, Phire’s neighborhood. I followed the sirens and blinking lights to McAlpine Drive, Phire’s street. My antennas immediately went up when I saw that they had her street blocked off. When I looked down the street and saw Ice’s car parked in Phire’s driveway my heart dropped!
I pulled off to the side of the road and killed the engine. After putting my kickstand down I removed my helmet and watched as police tried to control the small crowd that was milling about. I dug into my pocket for my phone and dialed my sister’s number. When her phone went straight to voicemail three times in a row I started my bike and drove straight through the crime scene tape!
CHAPTER THIRTEEN JUSTICE
Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Slow down, I can’t understand a word you sayin’.” I had a finger in my right ear, trying to drown out the loud noise those big ass tires on J.T.’s Hummer was making as we zoomed down 1-85. My cell was pressed against my left ear as I tried to make out what Sapphire was saying on the other end.
I tried to calm her down, “Take a deep breath gurl and calm down.”
“They shot him, Justice! They shot him!” she was crying.
“They Who? And who got shot?” I asked with concern because she was crying hysterically.
“He’d just left my house. I mean, he hadn’t been gone five minutes. Somebody was waiting for him. Oh my, God.”
“He who?” I asked again because I had no idea of whom she was referring to. At first I thought it was Red because he’d been the last person I’d seen her with. Then I thought that maybe it was that dog ass Travis.
But she shocked the hell out of me when she said, “Cross! They killed Cross!”
“Who? What the hell?”
Now, I was really confused. I started to say something but I heard her speaking with someone in the background.
“Justice, the police wanna talk to me. Please come over here. Please!”
“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in a minute,” I assured her. “J.T., speed up. Damn!”
It seemed as if the truck was traveling at a snail’s pace. I looked over and noticed J.T. looking at me with inquisitive eyes as I ended my call with Sapphire. I knew he wanted to know what was going on.
Just to curb his curiosity I told him, “Something just happened at Sapphire’s house.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” he stated sarcastically.
I looked at him and wanted to say something smart but I held my tongue.
“Who was it?” he asked.
I took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. “You probably don’t know him.”
I was looking out the window. He was still periodically glaring at me so I told him, “It was a guy who used to run wit’ my brother. A guy named Cross.”
As soon as I said the name I felt the truck swerve. I looked over at J.T. and noticed his eyes had gotten wide as hell and the blood seemed to have drained from his chocolate face.
“Damn, you aiight? You knew him or something?” I asked curiously.
“I got a cousin named Ross, he out here wildin’. I hope it wasn’t him,” he replied while regaining his composure.
“I said Cross, not Ross,” I corrected him.
“Oh, okay. I thought you said Ross,” he breathed a sigh of relief.
When we finally reached Sapphire’s neighborhood I saw that two police cars blocked off her street. I could see a taxi cordoned off by Crime Scene Investigators along with a slew of other officials that were checking out the scene. I assumed whatever had happened, happened inside that taxi. I could also see Sapphire’s house from where we were parked and I noticed my brother’s motorcycle parked next to my car in her driveway.
“I’ma get out right here,” I told J.T.
I gathered my handbag and bent down to slide my sandals back on. I was getting ready to exit the truck when J.T. asked if I was gonna be okay. The genuine concern in his voice made me smile. Unlike most men, J.T. seemed to be sensitive to a woman’s feelings and that was one of the reasons why I liked him and why I wasn’t in a rush to let Monk lay him down.
“I’m good, thanks.”
I leaned over and kissed those luscious lips, which were giving LL’s a run for his money. As soon as our lips met, I began to have flashbacks of the previous night. J.T. had done me oh so right! I could’ve sworn that his room had rotated when he’d made me cum. I had to break our lip lock before our hormones got out of control again.
“I’ll call you later, okay.”
I was still rubbing his chest while gazing into his eyes, not really wanting him to leave. But I knew I couldn’t let him stay because he’d probably end up finding out more about me than I wanted him to due to the tragedy that had just taken place.
“Make sure you call me and let me know you’re okay,” he stated as I was exiting the truck.
I closed the door behind me, waved goodbye as I walked down the sidewalk towards Sapphire’s house. I watched curiously as the police did their jobs. They were taking photos of the taxi and the area of the ground surrounding it. At several yards away I could clearly see blood on the windshield and what looked like the driver’s head slumped onto the steering wheel. I felt a shiver run through me as I watched this scene that looked like something straight out of a movie. I looked back and saw that J.T. was still parked in the same spot. He was looking at the taxi as well. When he saw me looking at him he waved at me once more and slowly pulled off.
“Ice!” I heard my name being called.
Looking up, I saw my brother walking towards me looking vexed.
“Why you didn’t answer ya damn phone when I called you? Had a nigga worried about your ass.” He looked at J.T.’s Hummer pulling off and added, “Neva mind, I see why. Let me find out you feelin’ dat nigga.” He looked at me curiously. “Don’t let the dick make you slip.”
I ignored him and thought back to when I’d missed his call. He had called while I was in the middle of having my fourth orgasm that afternoon. I’d planned to call him back later because I didn’t think it was anything important. As I looked around at the scene I was finally seeing what his call had been about.
“My phone was dead.” I lied while approaching Sapphire’s front yard.
I saw her standing on her front porch in a pair of gym shorts, a baggy T-shirt and a pair of flip-flops. Her hair was wrapped in a scarf and her eyes were blood-shot red and very puffy, obviously from crying. She had her arms folded across her chest while talking to an officer who was listening and taking notes on a small tablet.
My brother was at my side and I could tell he was heated. He just kept staring at the taxi and shaking his head. One of his crime partners had just gotten slain and I couldn’t even imagine what was probably going through his mind at that instance. I was somewhat confused and still didn’t know what the hell was going on. As Monk and I stood in the driveway near my car I was trying to piece that crazy ass puzzle together.
“What was you and Cross doin’ over here?” I asked curiously.
“I just got here right before you did. I’on’ know what Cross was doin’ over here. But fuck what he was doin’ over here, that don’t even matter. Somebody slumped that nigga!” Monk was leaning up against my car. He dug into his pocket for a cigarette and lit one up. I could tell he wanted some answers.
The atmosphere was solemn and the ambience of death was in the air. I’d never been afraid of death, but when it hits close to home it makes you think, Damn, that could have been me!
I stood there and watched my girl answer the officer’s questions while periodically glancing at me with a peculiar look in her eyes. The more I watched her, the more familiar that look became. When you wear your heart on your sleeve the look in your eye tells a tale.
“Oh, hell no. I know she wasn’t…” I mumbled as realization dawned on me.
“She wasn’t what?” Monk asked in between puffs of his cigarette.
“She was fuckin’ that boy,” I stated. The look in Sapphire’s eyes told it all and I picked up on it. “That’s why she said he had just left her house. And that’s why she so upset. No wonder she was so hysterical. She was screwing that nigga,” I stated while eyeing her with a knowing look.
“Cross and Phire?” Monk was pointing over his shoulder at Sapphire. “Hell, nah,” he said in disbelief.
“Hell nah” was exactly what I’d thought as well, but my girl’s eyes told a totally different story.
Just then, I saw Sapphire and the officer shake hands, which indicated that their conversation had ended. I walked over to the porch where she was standing and Monk was directly on my heels. I held open my arms and embraced Sapphire with a sisterly hug while she sniffled and let the last of her tears roll down her chocolate cheeks.
Patting her on the back, I whispered, “It’s okay, ma-ma, let it out.”
We held one another for a moment before breaking our hug, then we all went inside. Monk took a seat in the living room while Sapphire and I went into her bedroom. As soon as we entered the room I starte
d with her.
“How long?” I asked.
“How long what?” she asked back while entering her bathroom to wash her face.
I looked around her room and noticed that her bed was sheetless. The unmade bed had confirmed the suspicions that had been swirling through my head.
“How long you been fuckin’ wit’ that boy?” I asked matter of factly.
Sapphire replied from the bathroom.
“Gurl, you know I ain’t did nuthin’ like th—”
“So he just stopped by to say hi?” I asked, cutting here off, yelling into the bathroom. Sapphire knew she couldn’t lie to me without me seeing straight through her game like it was glass. We’d been friends way too long.
She re-entered the bedroom, plopped down onto her bed, and looked at me with that look a person has when they know they’ve been busted.
She let out a deep sigh, then stated, “About a week after we met them that night of the Embassy Suites thing.”
For a slight moment I was in disbelief, but then I had to acknowledge whom I was dealing with. Sapphire’s men magnet always attracted niggas like that so I shouldn’t have been so surprised. She conveyed to me about how she had hooked up with Cross the previous night and how he had called a cab that morning and then was gunned down as soon as the cab left her driveway. I began to become concerned because it was evident that whomever had been responsible for Cross’s death had obviously watched him leave her house. They may have also been watching Sapphire as well. I told her my concerns.
“Oh shit! You think they want me too ’cause he was at my house?” Sapphire was getting scared.
“I hope not. Just stay on your Ps and Qs and if you see anything that don’t look right call the police.”
We went back into the living room where my brother was still seated and I told him what Sapphire and I had discussed. Monk had even more reasons to be concerned about Cross’s murder because he had been hanging with him and had even robbed with him on a few occasions.
Maybe his life was in danger as well.
Monk decided that he would have to be even more on point now than ever before, at least until he could find out the circumstances surrounding Cross’s demise. He even called D.C. and told him everything he’d heard from me and Sapphire. Even I was in a state of apprehension because the two people I cared about more than anything in this world could have possibly been in danger.
