Hoodlum

by K'wan

  “You make it sound so easy, J.”

  “Actually it is, Tone. These punks ain’t smarter than us. I remember when police work really meant work. These kids are getting themselves caught by being so damn disorganized. Lately, we don’t have much to do. It's all a matter of being in the right place at the right time.”

  “Whatever, man. Let's just go pick this kid up so we can call it a night. One more killer off the streets. Hooray for us.”

  “It might run a little deeper than that.”

  “Here we go again,” Brown said, slapping himself in the forehead. “What is it now, Sherlock?”

  “I’ve been going over this in my head for a minute and it's still not adding up,” Alvarez explained. “Heath was a well-connected guy. Ordering his execution took balls and money. These two dicks we’re chasing don’t strike me as the type to plan something like this on their own. Somebody else is tied up in all this and just using those dumb fucks as pawns.”

  “A conspiracy?” Brown asked.

  “Isn’t it always, partner?”

  “Why did you do that?” Honey asked.

  “Do what?” responded Shai.

  “You know. Why did you kiss me back there?”

  “Because I felt like it.”

  “So, do you always do what you feel, Shai?”

  “Pretty much. I like to think that I’m in control of my own destiny.”

  “Well, I like to feel that I’m in control of my own body. Besides, what if your girl or someone she knew would’ve seen it?”

  “Ain’t got a girl.”

  “I find that hard to believe, Shai.”

  “I don’t. But if I did, it wouldn’t bother you that much.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “You’re in the car with me, aren’t you?”

  “You think you’ve got all the answers, don’t you, Shai?”

  “Not all of ‘em, just some of ‘em. So where do you wanna go and eat?” he asked, changing the subject.

  “You’re the one with all of the answers,” she said sarcastically.

  “I know a spot. Hold tight, ma.” Shai headed east toward the FDR and merged with the northbound traffic. Shai had been with plenty of women in his young life, but Honey was unique in her own little way. She wasn’t the prettiest girl that he’d been with, but Honey had her own style.

  While Shai was making a mental assessment of Honey, she was doing the same. She couldn’t help but admire his style. He was thuggish, but classy with it. Shai was one of those dudes that would look just as good in a pair of whites and a T-shirt as he would in a business suit. She was very much attracted to the young man, but her motivation was what he could do for her. Shai was born to money and she had to have some of it, if not all. Honey was ‘bout her paper.

  “So,” Shai said, breaking the silence. “You have a good time at the club?”

  “It was a’ight,” Honey said, pulling a cigarette from her white leather purse. “Too many thirsty niggaz.”

  “They be on ya, huh?”

  “Stop acting like you don’t know, Shai.”

  “Never that,” he said, taking her cigarette. “The kid got too much class.” Shai lit the cigarette and handed it to her.

  “You’re so full of yourself, Shai Clark.”

  “Why, because I’m confident? Honey, if I don’t believe in me then who will?”

  “Please, Shai. You know that even if you didn’t play ball, you’d still be straight.”

  “I don’t follow you.”

  “Shai, your father is a successful businessman. You’ve got a legacy and a half waiting for you.”

  “Honey,” he said seriously. “It ain’t even that kinda party. Some cats would be content with a handout, but not me. I’ll make my own fortune, by my own means.”

  Honey was a little thrown off by the passion in Shai's words. Her friends had told her that he was a spoiled rich kid, but he didn’t seem to be so at all. Shai was a pompous bastard, but he seemed to be very independent and focused.

  “Damn,” she said, patting his thigh. “You ain’t have to get all sensitive about it.”

  “I’m too loose to be tight, ma,” he said, placing his hand over hers. “I just wanted to let you know where my head was at. How about you? Tell me something about Honey.”

  “Me?” she asked, a bit startled. “What you wanna know about me?”

  “I dunno.” He shrugged. “Just tell me something that sums up who you are.”

  “Well . . . I’m twenty-one and originally from Queensbridge. I’ve been living in Manhattan for like . . . two or three years now. And I like strawberry ice cream.” She giggled. “I guess that sums it up?”

  “A lil’ bit. Is the name Honey on your birth certificate?”

  “Nope.”

  “So?”

  “So what?”

  “Are you gonna tell me what it is?”

  “Not on the first date. I can’t give you all of my goodies at once.”

  “I hear that,” he said, getting off at the 96th Street exit. “So, you got any kids?”

  This question must’ve caught Honey off guard because she hesitated before answering, “Yeah … a little girl.”

  “I see,” Shai said.

  “Is that a problem?” she asked defensively.

  “Easy, ma.” He grinned. “I didn’t say anything of the sort. I’m actually pretty good with kids.”

  “Do you have any?”

  “No, but I’ve got nineteen years of experience.”

  “You’re silly.” She giggled. “I think I can fuck with you.”

  Shai pulled the GS in front of a little diner on the East Side, not far from the movie theater. Honey eyed the diner nervously as Shai killed the engine. Of all the places to eat, he had to bring her to that one. Shai opened the door for Honey and she stepped out onto the curb.

  “I like this lil’ spot,” he said, taking her by the hand. “They make a pretty good steak.”

  Shai led Honey into the small diner. As soon as they entered the place, the staff was greeting Shai with smiles and shakes. Honey had never received that kind of reception at the establishment with any of the other men she frequented the place with in the past.

  . Shai and Honey were escorted to an out-of-the-way booth in the back of the diner. She scanned the few faces that were gathered in the spot to see if there was anyone that could identify her. Luckily for her, the diner wasn’t crowded.

  CHAPTER 13

  BONE HOPPED OUT Of- the cab and almost fell against the hood, as he struggled for control of his equilibrium. The bottle of Hen- nessy that hung at his side was only half full. The other half was integrating with his liver. He and some of his friends had just come from the strip club downtown and broke luck.

  The first girl was a real Amazon-type chick. She was about six feet tall with caramel skin and high cheekbones. She had legs like baseball bats and an ass shaped like a Valentine heart. The second girl was black as tar and thick as hell. She was short with a huge ass and big breasts. The yellow lipstick that coated her big lips made them look like a landing zone for penis.

  The five of them staggered and laughed their way into the diner, with Bone bringing up the rear. The host looked at them warily and led them to a booth. Bone happened to look toward the back and saw the kid from the other day sitting with a girl that bore a striking resemblance to Honey.

  “Geez, Mike,” Nicky Tulips whined. “We’ve been riding around for hours and ain’t seen one hair on that shine's ass.”

  “Just drive the fucking car,” Mike barked from the passenger side. “The sooner we get this thing solved, the better. That package is as hot as a fucking Roman candle and we gotta get it moved before you-know-who starts getting wise.”

  “Okay, Mike. You say we gotta find him, so we’ll find him. But what if he tries to give us the old fuck you, like he did Freddy?”

  “Hey,” Mike said, pointing a chubby finger. “I ain’t Freddy. One of those fucks raises a hand to m
e and I’ll shove it up his black ass. You gotta know how to deal with these people, Nicky. Tommy ain’t like the rest of these humps. That kid is a gorilla to the heart. He's done a couple of jobs for us on the side and let me tell you, Tommy is a vicious son of a bitch. You gotta schmooze someone like that. Ya know? Make ‘em think their opinion counts worth dick. Throw ‘em some crumby perks and they’re happy.”

  “Mike,” Nicky said, stopping at a red light. “You already spoke to Poppa about it, so why we still looking for Tommy?”

  “Because we still gotta move this package,” Mike informed him. “Pull up across the light at that diner. I wanna get a sandwich.”

  Nicky was relieved to be stopping somewhere. Mike had been riding like a madman for the better part of four hours trying to hook up with Tommy, never once considering Nicky's bladder. He had to take a serious leak.

  Nicky double-parked the car outside the diner and moved around to help Mike out. The big man waved Nicky off and hauled his bulky frame from the car. The two Mafia men cautiously moved the few paces to the diner entrance. When they got inside, they were given the same toothy greeting as Shai. The owner, who was a small balding man, came from whatever he was doing in the back to greet Mike.

  After the exchange of a few pleasantries, Mike was offered a booth. He was about to decline and sit at the bar, but something inthe back of the diner caught his attention. At first he had thought the young man sitting in the rear booth was Tommy, but as he looked closer he realized that it was the younger of the Clark boys. Shai was sitting in the back with a young lady and appeared to be having an exchange of words with a street punk Mike knew as Bone. A wicked plan began to form in the fat man's brain as he headed in their direction.

  “You come here a lot?” Honey asked, as she slid into the booth.

  “Only when I’m in town,” Shai responded with a smile. “My pops put me onto this place a few years back. It's a nice atmosphere, but the food isn’t outrageously priced.”

  “So, you dine based on price?” she asked.

  “Not at all,” he chuckled. “I think of food as I do women. You can’t put a price on quality. I feel that the finer things in life are worth spending a few dollars on.” Shai was about to go on when he saw a familiar face headed in his direction. It took a while to register but Shai put a name with the face sneering at him: It was the kid Bone. Shai knew from the look on Bone's face that he was out for trouble. He reached under the table and pulled out the Glock that he had “forgotten” to return to Tommy's car. Shai placed the gun on his lap and kept an eye on the approaching Bone.

  Honey must’ve noticed the change in Shai's facial expression because she looked over her shoulder. When she saw Bone approaching them, she wanted to get up and run. But she couldn’t play herself in front of Shai. Honey turned her attention back to the menu and tried to stay cool.

  “What's really good?” slurred Bone. “You can’t speak, Honey?”

  “Oh,” said Honey, faking surprise. “Hey, Bone. What’re you doing here?”

  “Shit,” he snapped. “I should be asking you the same thing.”

  “Nothing much. Just came to get something to eat after the club.”

  “I’ll bet,” said Bone, staring at Shai. “So what, you sliding with this cat?”

  “Knock it off, Bone,” she said, with a wave of her hand. “Me and Shai are just chilling. Besides”—she glanced over at the two strippers—”you don’t look lonely.”

  “Don’t try to change the subject, Honey. You just trying to cover your own ass. Don’t try and make this shit about me.”

  “Excuse me,” Shai said, cutting in. “Do you two need a moment alone to talk?”

  “Hell no,” Honey snapped. “Bone is doing him. We ain’t got nothing to talk about.”

  “Oh, I was just making sure that I wasn’t causing a problem between you?”

  “Nah, you’re good, Shai. And Bone,” she said, addressing him, “you need to stop trying to act like you’re my man or something. If I want to have dinner with a friend, that's my business.”

  “Bitch,” Bone snapped. “It's damn near daylight. This shit is more like breakfast.”

  “Hold on, player,” Shai interjected. “There's no need for name- calling. I’m sure this can be resolved in an adult fashion.”

  “Oh, so you trying to be funny?” Bone asked, shooting Shai a cold stare.

  “Not at all. I just ain’t wit’ all the conflict. If you wanna talk to Honey, be my guest. But keep the names to yourself. At least while she's with me.”

  “Ain’t this some shit,” said Bone, waving his friends over. “This nigga wanna play Captain Save-a-Ho.”

  “You must got me twisted with some other nigga,” Shai said, fingering the gun under the table. “My name is Clark. Shai Clark.” He looked Bone dead in the eye. Shai's voice was calm but his nerves were tingling. He kept wondering if Bone was gonna flex.

  “Fuck you,” said Bone, slapping their water glasses from the table. “You think ‘cause ya last name is Clark you’re some kinda don? Nigga, I’ll twist yo’ shit.” Bone took a step toward Shai but stopped short when Shai placed the Glock on the table.

  “Look fam’,” Shai said very calmly. “I’m trying to be the bigger man about all of this. But if you wanna keep with all this gangstashit, I’m wit’ that too. What's good?” At the sight of the young man's gun, other diners began to exit the spot. No one wanted to be the recipient of a stray bullet. Shai's face showed no emotion but his heart was beating out of his chest. Word on the streets was that Bone was crazy and down to bust his gun. Shai wasn’t a killer or anything of the sort, but fear had forced his hand. If Bone made a move, Shai would air him out.

  Suddenly Bone was very sober. He had been feeling himself for a minute but seeing that Shai was strapped changed all that. Bone didn’t really know Shai, but he knew Tommy. If the two brothers were anything alike, Shai would surely kill him.

  “So it's like that?” Bone asked, still trying to sound tough.

  “It ain’t like nothing,” Shai said, never taking his eyes off Bone's hands. “I told you I don’t want trouble, but you don’t seem to hear me. I’ve tried asking you, so now I’m telling you. Leave us the fuck alone.”

  “You lil’ punk-ass nigga,” Bone began. “I’m gonna—”

  “Hey, hey,” Mike said from behind them. “Fuck is going on back here?”

  At the sight of the made man Bone calmed down a little bit. He knew that this was a Mob-owned joint, but he didn’t realize that there was any Cosa Nostra about. If he had, then he probably wouldn’t have gotten so rowdy. Unlike Shai, Bone knew just who Mike was, and what kind of power he held.

  “Nothing, Mike,” Bone said humbly. “Just a lil’ misunderstanding between me and my girl.”

  “I ain’t ya girl,” Honey barked.

  “Bitch, stop fronting,” said Bone.

  “I ain’t gonna be too many bitches,” Honey shot back.

  “Listen, listen,” Mike said, waving everyone silent. “You guys know better than to bring this kinda shit into my spot. If you wanna bicker then go outside. This is a diner, not a fucking wrestling ring.”

  “Let's go, Honey,” demanded Bone.

  “Please.” She waved him off. “I ain’t going nowhere with you. Burn it.”

  “Fuck you think you’re talking to?” Bone reached out to grab Honey's arm, but Shai was a little quicker. He grabbed Bone's arm with his free hand and placed the gun to his head with the other.

  “Fuck,” Shai began. “You got a learning disability? She doesn’t wanna go with you, kid.”

  “Are you crazy?” asked Mike, getting in between them. “I told the both of youz to cool it.”

  “Check this out,” Shai said, addressing Mike. “I don’t know who you are, and I ain’t got no quarrel with you. But if this is a friend of yours then you might wanna take him for a walk.”

  “Okay, kid,” Mike said, trying to contain his smile. “Just put the pistol away. Bone, why don’t you
take the ladies and go?”

  “Mike,” Bone asked, still at Shai's mercy. “You gonna side with this cat over me?”

  “It ain’t about siding, Bone. I just don’t want this kinda heat in my joint. Do me a favor and take a walk.”

  “A’ight,” said Bone, jerking loose. “I’m gonna bounce, but this shit ain’t over, Shai. Not by a long shot.”

  “Take a walk, Bone,” Mike reiterated, only this time his tone was much harsher.

  Bone caught the look in Mike's eye and decided to let it go. He gathered up his team and headed for the door. He spared one last glance at Shai and bit down on his lip. Swan said that Shai was a civilian, but the youngster had put himself out there on some gangsta shit. If that's how he wanted it, then Bone would be more than happy to give it to him.

  “You’re Tommy's kid brother, right?” Mike asked, inviting himself to a seat.

  “Yeah,” Shai said, with a bit of an attitude. “Why, you got a beef with me too ‘cause my last name is Clark?”

  “Hardly,” Mike said, putting his hands up in a submissive gesture. “You probably don’t remember me. Mike, Mike Tessio?”

  “Oh, yeah,” Shai said, relaxing. “I’ve seen you at the housea time or two. You’re in business with my brother Tommy, right?”

  “Something like that, kid. Me and your brother do a little something from time to time. So, you’re home from school, huh?” asked Mike, changing the subject.

  “Yeah,” replied Shai.

  “I’ve seen a few of your games. You’ve got a jump shot like a white boy.”

  “Thanks, I think.”

  “Sure, kid. You know you put braces on my little girl?”

  “How do you figure?”

  “That game against Duke. Nobody expected NC State to have a snowball's chance in hell at winning that game, but old Shai Clark came through in a pinch.”

  “Dropped about thirty in that game, didn’t he, Mike?” asked Nicky, speaking up for the first time.