Street Chic

by Anthony Whyte

  “I think the stores have seen enough of us for one day,” Claire said. It was officially time to end the boosting spree.

  “You think?” Candace chimed in and jumped into the driver’s seat. Buckled up safely, they peeled away in laughter.

  The sisters relaxed inside their Beverly Hills apartment, Candace poured gin and tonic for herself and Claire.

  “Make mine on the rocks,” Claire said.

  Candace gulped the drink down. She mixed another while Claire slipped out of her clothes and busied herself going through the bags. She found a short mini skirt and put it against her hips.

  “These will fit me nicely.”

  “I think they’re too short,” Candace said, handing her another drink.

  Claire strutted around the apartment buck naked as if she was on a runway. Then she changed outfits and sashayed through the place.

  “Smile for the cameras…” Candace laughed, drinking. “Damn you’re the best booster. I still wanna know how you get the locks off?”

  “That’s for me to know and you to find out. I know we didn’t get caught,” Claire laughed.

  “One day, I’m gonna find out,” Candace answered with a wink.

  She picked out a see-through, silk blouse and put in on. Her hands were massaging her perfect breasts while she stared in the mirror.

  “I’ll wear this without a bra,” she smiled devilishly.

  Claire drank before both sisters fell back in the plush leather sofa, laughing and toasting.

  “This is the life,” Claire said raising her glass.

  “To the life… Ah the bliss,” Candace said, smiling.

  They finished drinking and unpacked the rest of the day’s bounty. Carefully packing their closet filled with clothes.

  “I can’t believe that store wanted that much for this jacket,” Claire said.

  “Four thousand dollars, big sis… Whew,” Candace whistled.

  “That’s simply insane, Candy...”

  “Claire, you’re not trying to answer my question, huh big sis?”

  “What was that, Candy? I forgot?” Claire asked.

  “Removing the sensors… Okay, you did it in Gucci and Giorgio’s today. Last week when were in Theodore’s. You did it a couple of times last week too. Please stop frontin’ on your sis. C’mon Claire you know we always share and share alike,” Candace said.

  “I done told you Candy, if I tell you I gotta kill you,” Claire laughed, staring at the overcrowded closet.

  “We’re running outta space, right?”

  “Yeah, let’s do what we always do and donate some of these clothes to the Salvation Army,” Claire suggested.

  “Okay, we can do that tomorrow. Right now I wanna hear some music,” Candace said.

  The exclusive surround sound of a Nakamichi stereo, with built-in wall speakers, hummed a song familiar to both girls. The Osorio sisters sang along with Jay-Z and Pharrell’s Change Clothes.

  Cause the proof is back just go through my rap/ New York New York yeah where my troopers at/ Where my hustlers where my boosters at/ I don’t care what you do for stacks/ I know the world glued you back to the wall/ You gotta brawl to that/

  Reminiscing brought back anxiety that Jacque couldn’t deny. He was beginning to show his feelings when he spoke to Street.

  “Mimmy always thought that they were fashion models and that’s how they were making their bread. She didn’t know anything else, until you and your cop friends blew them the fuck outta that meat warehouse in Miami,” Jacque said. “If I knew that was how it was gonna end, Sheryl, I wouldn’t have helped you.”

  Street could hear the sadness mixed with his frustration. Jacque couldn’t hide his emotions and tears streamed down his cheeks. She reached out to hug him, this time he pushed her away. The sound of clearing throat was heard. Jacque and Sheryl turned to see Melanie. She put a cigarette to her lips and her crony rushed to light it.

  “Melanie, how nice of you to join us,” Jacque deadpanned, wiping tears from his face.

  “She wouldn’t have known anything and would’ve been spared the embarrassment of knowing her two lovely daughters were murdered by a person who should be looking out for them. A person she took in and showed love to when she was homeless. Come see me when ya get back to Florida. I got some people who will be happy to meet ya.”

  “C’mon Melanie, it’s not Sheryl’s fault, they were boosting and were on the run after the killing out in…”

  “Oh yeah…? And their father wasn’t around—” Melanie started but Jacque quickly interrupted.

  “Their father was molesting Candace and Mimmy kicked him out. Could it be his fault too?” Jacque asked.

  “They started their life of crime on their own. Nobody forced them to do it,” Sheryl said.

  “Nothing was proven in a court of law, Jacque.”

  “They never gave the law a chance,” Sheryl said.

  CHAPTER 31

  A couple of weeks later in Miami, Melanie sat at a table in her Bar and Grill. A bottle of cognac and a glass still half filled sat on the table in front of her. A folded newspaper was also on the table. A handful of patrons sat in the sparsely crowded place.

  Across the street from the parking lot, Claire and Candace Osorio sat disguised as men. They readied their weapons and were about to walk across the street to Mel’s Bar and Grill.

  The girls saw both Pauli and Goldie walking with bulges under their jackets. They were heading inside the same spot. The sisters stopped and lit a cigarette as both Pauli and Goldie whisked by them.

  “Let them go right ahead,” Claire smiled, nodding to Candace.

  “They musta been in a hurry, huh? They didn’t even shoot us a look,” Candace smiled.

  “Well one thing’s for sure, these disguises are working just fine,” Claire said.

  “Just you remember to make your voice a little bit deeper, like I’m doing,” Candace said and choked on the cigarette.

  “Steady yourself, little sister. We don’t need to talk to no one. When we go up that club, we should just start shooting. Here finish this cigarette and let’s go shoot up the place,” Claire smiled.

  “I so wanna let that bitch Melanie see my face when I shoot her fucking ass, for setting us up with the feds,” Candace snarled.

  The girls continued smoking outside the club long after Pauli and Goldie had walked inside the Bar and Grill. Inside, the atmosphere was light with a small lunch crowd and a couple of strippers. Three men sat at the small bar and three others sat in booths with girls entertaining them.

  Melanie relaxed and dipped a taco in a bowl of jalapeño sauce. She was about to put the chip in her mouth when Goldie and his goon walked in. She quickly opened a Chloe silver reptile tote and released the safety off her gun. Cocked and ready, Melanie stood and welcomed the mobster.

  “Goldie, I’m so glad to see ya,” Melanie said throwing her arms around the big intimidating frame of the mobster.

  “Hey bring glasses for our guests and more ice, please,” she shouted and motioned for him to sit. “Goldie, please join me and have a drink,” she said.

  “I’ll deal with this one alone,” Goldie said, waving his goon off.

  The mob henchman went to the bar. He quickly became enchanted by the dancers performing on stage. A topless woman rushed over with two more glasses. She poured the drinks.

  “Get some girls and entertain his friend over there at the bar,” Melanie said and winked at the waitress.

  They waited until the waitress was out of earshot before they spoke.

  “What’re we drinking to?” Goldie asked, raising his glass and throwing the liquor down his throat. The goon did so also. “Not bad. Let’s have another,” he said pouring.

  They drank another two rounds before Melanie responded.

  “I know you’ve got a lot of good news, huh, Goldie?” she asked.

  “I know you’ve got good news,” Goldie smiled.

  “I didn’t get a bigger territory on account of an
yone’s demise…” she started.

  Goldie reached for the newspaper and opened the page to an article showing the drug dealer’s death in the hotel. The story revealed the connection of the dealer to organized crime and related the death to the hit on Maurice Tines. The case was closed.

  “What about this?” he asked, staring at Melanie. “Somebody’s has got to pay. He was carrying my money and my coke.”

  “How can ya be sure I was involved in…this?” she asked, throwing the newspaper down. Goldie watched as the pages fell out. The faces of the Osorio sisters were on an exposed page, a caption written below their mugs. Goldie picked up the paper and read a few lines. He threw the newspaper on the table next to Melanie’s

  “It just so happens that I now own the judge who gave you the information. I put two and two together and remember that you said the Osorio sisters were working for you. So I did some more poking around. Do you want me to continue?” he asked, pouring another round.

  “Well you shouldn’t go poking around so much. You liable to find things you don’t want to,” Melanie said, gulping the drink.

  “Such as how you were using all the information the judge gave you to carve out your own little empire…”

  “C’mon Goldie, ya can’t possibly be holding anything against me. The Osorio sisters waltzed right passed ya and drove away with over a million in diamonds after they hit Mo and me. How do we get it back after the police put an end to their run? And I mean no thanks to ya! So, we all made mistakes, Goldie my love. Ya were supposed to get the ice off two broads and did ya? No. Do I run arguing with ya? No.”

  Goldie gulped another shot. His eyes wandered around the club and then settled on the two dancers doing a slow gyration center stage.

  “He was corrupt and a faggot and we all hated him but somebody’s gotta pay for the death of Mo Tines. Besides being a loud-mouth, sonofabitch, he was a made man. To off a made man, well ah… That indeed cannot go unpunished.”

  “Well, honey the Osorio sisters, they got their punishment already. And it was at the hands of the law. So that should be that.” Melanie swallowed her liquor and poured another for herself and Goldie.

  “Any woman who would set up her fiancée is not worth her salt,” Goldie said, watching a dancer’s legs now spread as she slid up and down a pole. “When we first met, you were just like her,” he said and drank.

  “Yeah, but I fell in love with the right man, didn’t I Goldie?”

  “You were young and poor. You came from New York and had nowhere to else to go. I bought you a condo. I gave you credit cards. I even gave you your own business and now you’re no longer pure. Money has spoilt you. It’s made you greedy.”

  “It was my greed that made me build this place to what it is. See, now it’s a first class joint. Take a look around ya Goldie. Me-Me Sunshine danced her ass and built this by her own sweat,” Melanie said, beating her chest. “It was my legs that ache from dancing, and these men they came out to see my ass. My ass… Night after night... I did my part, Goldie. I did my part. I finished the job just like we all wanted.”

  “Then there was absolutely no reason for you to be making plans behind my back. The judge you’re milking, I own him. The first thing I hear is that you’re making secret deals, ripping off drug dealers who are carrying my shit. My shit!” Goldie shouted and slammed the glass so hard, the table rattled.

  “Slow down, baby, before ya blow a valve,” Melanie coldly said.

  “If its one thing you should remember it’s this; never steal from family, they know all your dirty secrets.”

  “Goldie, I had no idea that it was yours. Ya know I wouldn’t… It was those greedy Osorio sisters.”

  Melanie started to speak but swallowed hard when she saw Goldie eyes twitching. She put her hand in the bag and deftly coiled her index finger around the trigger.

  “At this moment it seems neither of us likes each other very much,” Melanie said, looking in Goldie eyes as she spoke. He stared her down, looking directly in her brown eyes.

  “You’re right on that account.” He poured two drinks and handed her one.

  “What are we gonna do about this situation, Goldie?” Melanie asked, sipping.

  “Unfortunately for you, Melanie, I’m in a position to enforce my dislikes.” He pulled out a forty-five and put it down on the table as he spoke.

  “I see what ya trying to say,” Melanie said, calmly nodding her head.

  “Yeah, you got it. Now, you have to pay. There’s just no other way. You understand my position on this?”

  “Goldie, I can’t believe you’re accusing me of doing anything wrong, when you know I’ve always done right by ya,” Melanie pleaded, and coyly fixed the Chloe Tote with the gun centered on her target. “I had to sleep with that lil’ dick-homo Mo Tines, and had to stomach him rubbing all over me, just so you could inherit all that was his. And now ya do this? Ya come to me with all this hate in your talk. I don’t care if ya kill me. I did what I had to do, but I always loved ya… It was always Goldie.”

  Melanie spoke while sliding her purse towards Goldie chest. He was moved by her act and he relaxed his fingers. The gun sat on the table pointed at her. Goldie poured two glasses of liquor. His goon sitting at the bar was totally distracted by the dancers rubbing his dick and plying him with liquor. With this wave of pussy-popping strippers parading around him, he was in no position to see what was happening with his boss.

  There was a loud bang. Goldie smiled then slumped over the table. Pandemonium broke and patrons ran screaming. Melanie tried to get away from the scene as quickly as possible. Pauli pulled out a razor and slashed her throat as she tried to run by him. Melanie kept running a few more steps and collapsed center stage. Blood oozed from her neck and mouth. Melanie legs kicked and her body was in the throes of death’s dance.

  Pauli walked over to where Goldie was slumped and checked him. He had cashed in. There was no breathing. People were running everywhere, leaving the scene. Amidst the chaos, Pauli quickly made his way out of the strip club. He didn’t see Claire and Candace in their disguise waiting for him.

  “Here he comes. Remember, just start shooting,” Claire ordered.

  “Allow me,” Candace said. She immediately raised her automatic weapon, pumping off two rounds into Pauli. He froze, grabbing his bleeding stomach. There was a look of surprise on his face. “You’re a bastard, Pauli. You cheated me out of killing my double crossing lover,” Candace said, firing again.

  Candace pulled the mustache from her lips and threw it at her fallen victim’s face.

  “You always hate mustaches, huh?” Claire said.

  “I hated him more for killing my girl,” Candace said.

  “C’mon get over it, Candace. There’ll always be others.”

  “Yeah, you’re right, but Melanie was special.”

  “Aw, let’s head down to Mexico. I’ll find you some replacements.”

  Fifteen minutes later, the police arrived, swarming the scene. Detective Street strutted into the strip club. She looked at the body of Goldie slumped over at the table and made a few notes. Street walked over to the stage and saw Melanie’s body. She looked at her face and saw the creepy, cold smile hanging from her lipstick-stained lips.

  “Well, what’re you looking at her like that for? She probably deserved it,” Street shouted to a uniformed officer.

  “Yes, you’re right lieutenant,” an officer said to her.

  “Lt. Street, there’s another body in the parking lot. I think you should come and take a look at it.”

  Sheryl Street walked outside to the parking lot and immediately saw the body of Pauli lying cold, bleeding.

  “Is he alive?” Street asked the uniformed officer.

  “No, he’s had it, lieutenant. But his fake mustache was lying next to his body. It’s as if the killer ripped it from off his face.”

  The officer put his gloves on and picked up the fake mustache. He stashed it into an evidence bag and handed it to Street. S
he examined it carefully.

  “Hmm… Why would his mustache be ripped from his face?” Street asked aloud.

  “I really don’t have any clue except he grabbed it off in an act of frustration.”

  “Or maybe his killer or killers just don’t like mustaches. No…”

  Lieutenant Street handed the plastic bag containing the evidence back to the uniformed officer and walked away, shaking her head. She headed back inside the club. Just before going inside, Street smiled, still shaking her head.

  Epilogue

  Sheryl Street, dressed in civilian clothes, walked to the entrance of the mental institution on her way to visit her mother. This time, she told herself, she would go completely through with the visit. She had with her a Barbie doll and sugarless candy. Sheryl straightened the collar of her pastel colored blouse and walked into the center. Dr. Katz smiled when she came inside.

  “I’m glad you’ve decided to come back and visit,” the doctor said.

  “It’s been sixteen years. I’ll be visiting my mother regularly,” Street said with a soft smile.

  Claire and Candace sat eating in a parked Chevy truck. They had ditched the guns and the male costumes. They were ghost to everyone but themselves. The sisters ate and drank then smoked a cigarette in silence before Claire spoke.

  “You know I really feel like going to Mexico, but I feel we got some unfinished biz to take care of in New York. Do you know what I mean, Candy?”

  It seemed like minutes passed and Candace had said nothing. She continued eating her Subway sandwich and staring from out the truck’s window. Candace turned to see her sister starting the truck and then turning it around, heading in the other direction.