Destroying Carter

by W. S. Greer

  “Like you took care of Derrick in the projects?” I almost regret it when the words come out of my mouth. My father and Uncle Clarence look at me with detestation. I can see the wheels spinning in their heads, wondering what the fuck I’m thinking bringing up Derrick right now, especially in front of two people I’ve never even seen before. As all four of them stare at me, I feel my heart rate starting to pick up, and my body temperature beginning to climb.

  My father clears his throat and leans back in his seat. “That’s all we need for right now,” he says to the accountants. “I appreciate you coming by to look into this, Eric. You too, Chris. We’ll stay on schedule for next week, and I’ll let you know if I need you to come by or if we can just handle it over the phone.”

  “Sure thing, Mr. Carter,” Eric replies with an understanding smile. “Thanks for your time. We’ll be in touch.” The two of them get up at the same time. Eric leans over and grabs the papers off the desk, while Chris stands there looking around. I catch him glancing around the room like he’s looking for something, then he looks over at me. When our eyes meet, he quickly looks down at the table and waits for Eric to be finished stuffing the papers inside of a brown folder. When it’s all done, the two of them nod to Uncle Clarence and my father, and then quickly stride out of the door.

  Once the two accountants are gone, I lean back in my chair and wait for my dad to scold me. He hesitates a moment, thinking about it, then he gets up from the table and walks towards the bar.

  “Alright, Junior. First off, don’t ever mention our business in front of anyone who’s outside of this family, ever again. Those guys are my accountants. They don’t have a clue about how I get money, they just know that I have a lot of it, and that’s all that they need to know. I don’t need a couple of bankers catching wind of anything that we have going on in our family because you decided you’re feeling sensitive about handling a little business.”

  “Is that all that was to you? Business? Having someone killed is just business?”

  My father grabs a bottle of Hennessy and begins pouring it into a small glass cup that he’d already dropped two cubes of ice into. “Business is all I care about… and I didn’t have anybody killed. I don’t know what you’re talking about with all that. Sometimes things get a little… messy. I have no control over that, I just adjust and keep it moving.”

  I sigh loudly as my father sits on one of the barstools and takes a tiny sip of his drink. He grunts and frowns as the liquid burns his throat on the way down.

  “You’re fucking unbelievable, you know that?” I snip, shaking my head at his arrogance. “What, are you preparing yourself for the moment that you’re being questioned by the police? You think I’m wearing a wire or something?”

  Dad looks over at Uncle Clarence and tilts his head like he’s confused. Uncle Clarence smiles in response, then my father turns his attention back to me. “You lost me. What are you talking about?”

  “You know what I’m talking about. Derrick! The shit you told Uncle Clarence to do, but not without bringing me along for the ride.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Junior. If something happened to Derrick, that’s unfortunate, but it definitely doesn’t have anything to do with any of us. Or you.”

  I feel my face frowning all on its own. Even though I know he’s a complete piece of shit, and probably the most untrustworthy man in the world, my father never ceases to amaze me. His level of narcissism and egotism is almost jaw-dropping. As he sits there on that barstool, all I can think is, Wow, what a fucking asshole. I’m so glad I didn’t turn out like you. However, because I understand my situation, I don’t say that.

  “I see. I must be mistaken,” I reply, forcing myself to play along, and realizing that this is the game I have to play—but I can’t just play it, I have to live it if it’s going to be believable. My father raises his eyebrows like he’s surprised by my response. “I think I’m starting to get a clearer picture of how things work around here. I see how it is.”

  “Do you?” Uncle Clarence interjects. “Because it’s important that you really do understand how being a part of this family works. It’s a necessity.”

  “I hear you, and I do get it. I understand.” I put my head down and embrace everything that I know is about to happen. I have to make them believe. “I understand one-hundred percent, for the first time in my life.”

  “Well, that’s music to my ears, Junior,” my father says with a smile. “You see, if we’re gonna take steps towards you owning the Red Chip, then it’s really important that you have a thorough understanding of how we do business. I remember a while back when you and I were having one of our legendary arguments, I told you that you weren’t really a part of this family. What I meant when I said that was that you talked about being a part of The Family, but you didn’t really understand the way things work. You were on the outside looking in, yet you thought you understood what was going on inside. Up until this moment, I was wondering if you could ever understand how we did things on the inside of The Family, but I see that you’re finally starting to catch on. So, I’m glad that things went down the way they did tonight. You needed it. It was good for you, and it was the first step to you fulfilling your dream of owning the Red Chip. Don’t ever forget that I’m the one holding the keys that unlock that dream. I’m a proud father tonight. Welcome to The Family, Junior.”

  “It’s me.”

  “Goddamnit, Russell. It’s been two fucking weeks. What took you so long to get back to me? I thought they might have chopped your ears off and threw you in the middle of Lake Michigan.”

  “I’m sorry, Captain. Needless to say, it’s been a little crazy living in this world. Things get a little tense, and sometimes I don’t feel safe making phone calls. It takes a while to build up my confidence.”

  “You can’t do that shit to me, Agent Jenkins. You gotta remember that I’m the only person who knows you’re in there. You need to keep me posted at all times throughout this whole deal. You’re killing me over here.”

  “Well, it’s nice to know that you care, Captain.”

  “Oh please. Miss me with the sensitivity, Russell. You’re my best field agent and I have to look out for you. Alright, so what’s the latest? Fill me in on the last two weeks.”

  “Well, it was much of the same for a while. Going from place to place, meeting up on and off. Nothing major.”

  “Oh, okay. Yeah, that’s exactly the kind of shit that I don’t want to hear. It’s been six fucking months and we haven’t come up with anything to bring Kelvin Carter down. I’m starting to wonder if all this is worth it. You need to give me something.”

  “Well, if you would give me a second to finish, I was trying to tell you that I might have a little something. I need you to look into a guy named Derrick.”

  “Derrick? Okay. Got a last name?”

  “Well, no.”

  “What the fuck? What am I supposed to do with a name like Derrick? You know how many Derricks there are in Chicago? Hmm, I guess we’ll start with Derrick Rose, and then work our way through the phone book. What the hell?”

  “Cut me some fucking slack, I’m doing the best I can. These motherfuckers are good at what they do, alright?”

  “No, Agent Jenkins, it’s not alright. You, living everyday of your life next to the most notorious mob family in the Midwest is not alright. Me, lying to the brass, my bosses, that you’ve taken a leave of absence is not alright. We’re supposed to be bringing these motherfuckers down. It’s not alright that you’re still undercover, and it’s not alright that Kelvin Carter is still on the streets pushing heroin.”

  “I know that. Which is exactly why you need to look into this guy Derrick, because I think Senior may have had him killed.”

  “Really? You think he put a hit on this guy? I mean, is he somebody big, or what?”

  “I don’t know. I just need you to look into it.”

  “You’re not giving me anything to look into! I’ve got
his name and the fact that he may or may not have been killed. That’s crap, Russell. I need some evidence.”

  “I know, and I said I’m working on it, but for right now, all I have is the name Derrick, and the fact that he lives in the projects.”

  “Which projects?”

  “Fuck, I don’t know. Just start on the south side and work up the city.”

  “Looking for what? A dead body lying in the middle of the street, with a sign on it that says Kelvin Carter had me killed? Keep in mind, even if Senior had him killed, it won’t mean shit in court. The money would’ve been cash, and there won’t be any trace of a transaction. It’ll never hold up.”

  “It would if it was Clarence Carter and Kelvin Carter Junior who made the hit.”

  “Ah… Now we’re getting somewhere. I take it you don’t have any hard evidence that proves your theory.”

  “Not yet, but I’m working on it. The first thing we need to do is find the body. More than likely it had something to do with drugs or money. You know, the same old gangster shit.”

  “Right. Alright, Russell, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and throw some resources at this, which means I have to have the approval of the brass up top, which also means that this theory better pan out. Once I let them know you’ve been undercover for all this time, they’re gonna be pissed and looking for any reason they can find to shut this shit down. They’ve tried to go against this guy too many times and it never works out. We’ve gotta give them something they can hold on to. So, are you sure about this?”

  “Fuck. We can’t do this without involving the brass? This is my first lead and I don’t want to blow it by pressing too hard. Just put a few patrols out, at least until we get some confirmation that I’m on the right track.”

  “What? No fucking way.”

  “Come on, Captain Perez. I’ve been undercover for six fucking months. This shit hasn’t been easy. Just throw me this one bone. It’ll work out, I promise. I just need you to trust me.”

  “You love making me put my job on the line, don’t you? Alright, Russell. I’ll put a few patrols on it and throw some feelers out there, but if this doesn’t turn out the way you say, I’m shutting this shit down. I’m not gonna keep risking my job, and your life for this. Do we understand each other?”

  “Yes, sir. And when it does pan out, then we take it up to the brass and get permission to go full throttle on this investigation. Wire taps, surveillance, more agents… the whole nine, and I want full control. An entire task force under my command. Deal?”

  “Well, you drive a hard bargain, Agent Jenkins. Fine. A full investigation, a full task force, and you get command. I’ll have patrols start on the south side first thing in the morning.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Hey there, sexy, I didn’t even hear you come in last night,” I say with a giddy smile as Kelvin steps out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, and his tattooed, sexy body dripping wet from the shower.

  “Oh, yeah,” he responds nonchalantly. His face has an unusual tension in it that I notice right away.

  “Long night last night?” I inquire, sensing his standoffishness.

  He walks over to the closet without even looking at me. “Uh, I guess. You know.”

  I sit up in the bed and admire his sexiness from afar, with an uncontrollable smile on my face. “You’re so fucking sexy, baby,” I chirp.

  Kelvin glances over at me, but only for a second. “Thanks, babe.” Then he quickly turns away and continues his hunt for something to wear.

  My smile is now a tiny frown as I look at him with confusion. “Is everything okay?”

  Kelvin pauses like he’s getting tired of me talking to him, and I hear him exhale before he answers. “Yes. Everything’s fine.”

  “No it’s not. You seem all pissed off. What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing’s the matter, Lily. I’m just tired, that’s all.”

  “Lily? You never call me Lily.” I pause for a minute to let my words linger, and Kelvin doesn’t even respond. He’s always been so open with me, now he’s obviously all bottled up, and that can only mean one thing. “What happened with your uncle last night?”

  Kelvin stops moving completely, like my words have frozen him solid. I can hear him breathing, but that’s the only sound coming from him as he stands there holding a red button-up.

  “Hey,” I continue, trying to make him snap out of it. “Whatever it is, you know we’re in it together. We always have been.”

  Kelvin finally turns around, and his face is completely blank. He doesn’t look directly at me, however. Instead, he takes the red button-up off the hanger and slips his thick arms through the sleeves. “Nothing happened last night, babe. Nothing worth mentioning, really.”

  I watch him skeptically as he buttons up his shirt and walks over to the dresser. He pulls out his black boxer briefs and starts to put them on, but I can tell that he’s trying to avoid eye contact with me. I don’t think men realize how intuitive women are.

  “Okay, then what exactly did you have to leave with Clarence for?” I ask, eagerly awaiting his answer.

  “I really don’t want to talk about it. Seriously, it was nothing. I was thinking we could go downstairs and get some breakfast from Peggy’s. We have to hurry though, because they stop serving it in, like, half an hour.”

  “Breakfast? You’re trying to avoid my questions by playing to my hunger?”

  Kelvin finally forces a wide smile. Even though he’s forcing it, when I see his beautiful grin, I can’t help but smile with him.

  “I’m not trying to avoid your questions. I’m just hungry.” Kelvin holds on to his smile and even forces out a little chuckle. I don’t buy it, but I realize it’s early and I might be being a little pushy, so I choose to back off—for now.

  “I’ll go to breakfast, as long as you promise that you’re okay, and that nothing happened last night that I need to know about,” I say.

  Kelvin walks over to the side of the bed and leans over to give me a kiss on the cheek. “Nothing happened that you need to worry about, I promise. So, get your sexy ass up and get dressed so we can go eat. I hear a ham and cheese omelet calling my name.”

  “No steak and eggs this time, huh?”

  “Nah, I woke up thinking about this omelet.” Kelvin flashes one last smile and then turns on his heel and walks out of the room.

  I take a second to think about the way my morning has started. As sexy as Kelvin was getting out of the shower, I can’t ignore the fact that he was obviously stressed out about something. He even called me Lily, which I’m pretty sure he hasn’t done since he first learned my name. I trust Kelvin, and I know that if something serious was going on, he would tell me, because that’s all I’ve ever known him to do. Since I found out that his father was a mob boss, Kelvin has been straight up with me, and there’s no reason for that to change now. However, I know Kelvin, and I know something’s off.

  I have to hurry with my shower and getting dressed so that we don’t miss breakfast, even though Kelvin could get the restaurant to make us breakfast whenever he wants. On our way down to the restaurant floor under the lobby, Kelvin is pretty quiet, but still doing his best to mask his emotions. I think about pressing the issue some more, but decide against it as the elevator doors slide open and we’re greeted by a hostess, wearing a black skirt with a white button-up and red tie.

  “Welcome to Peggy’s… oh, hi, Mr. Carter,” the cute blonde says, recognizing Kelvin. She smiles a flirtatious smile, but it quickly evaporates when she sees me standing next to him.

  “How are you doing, Laura? Is my usual spot available?” Kelvin says kindly.

  “Yes, sir, it is. Right this way.” Laura the Hostess leads us through the maze of tables to a spot that sits in the back corner of the restaurant. It’s not VIP, but it’s obviously not for regular customers either.

  She hands us our menus and saunters away. The second the menu is in his hand, Kelvin dives into it and cove
rs his face. I almost laugh at how absurd it is. It’s almost too cute to get mad at, but I manage to speak up anyway.

  “Are you seriously covering your face with your menu?” I snip.

  He lowers the menu and looks up at me like I’m crazy. “What? You’re kidding, right?”

  “Are you kidding? Seriously, it looks like you’re covering your face with your menu.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Of course not. I’m just checking out the omelet selection.”

  “I thought you were going with the ham and cheese?”

  “I still want that, but am I not allowed to look to see if there’s something else that might make me change my mind? Geez.”

  “If you say so, babe. Are you sure there isn’t anything you need to tell me?”

  “Ugh. I’m telling you, Lilliana, there’s nothing. You’re paranoid, babe.”

  “I don’t think I am. I just feel like something’s off with you this morning,” I respond just as our waiter approaches the table. When he arrives, Kelvin and I stop talking.

  “Hi there. My name’s John, and I’ll be serving you this morning, Mr. Carter. Can I start you two off with something to drink?” our extremely young server says politely.

  Kelvin orders coffee for the two of us and we don’t wait for the drinks to come back to order our food. Kelvin orders the ham and cheese omelet just like he said he would, and I decide to stick with our favorite, steak and eggs.

  As we wait for our food, the time is filled with our silence. The restaurant is fairly empty, so I know it won’t take long for our food to come, and for the first time in our relationship, I find myself out of words. It isn’t that we’re going through some overhyped rough patch, it’s just that I can’t shake the sense that he’s lying to me, so I find it hard to spark up a conversation when his demeanor and obvious distance is all I can focus on. The fact that he isn’t trying to start a conversation himself is just a clearer sign that something is wrong, but asking doesn’t seem to be getting me anywhere. So, we just sit there, surrounded by other restaurant goers who are carrying on regular conversations. I hear joking and laughter behind me, a friendly political debate on our left, and a play-by-play rerun of the Blackhawks game from last night. But, at our table, in our little world, there’s nothing but silence.