by Kyle West
Keith reassures her, “I promise, this will be over real soon. So what we really need to do now is go through Jesse’s bag again. Something might be there that we are missing.”
Vivian says, “We did that last night and we didn’t find anything.”
Keith pays the check, then they walk to Keith’s car which is parked around the corner on Madison Street. As Keith and Vivian walk to their car, unbeknownst to them, McKenna and Barone slowly follow them in their Suburban. When Keith and Vivian arrive at their car, McKenna and Barone proceed down Madison Ave.
6:05 pm - Keith and Vivian are driving in East Carrollton, which is in Uptown New Orleans. Keith asks Vivian if she is hungry. Vivian says yes. Keith rubs his hands together and adds, “I’ve always wanted to go to Mahony’s on Magazine. I hear they have this Chicken Club, with Root Beer Glazed Ham Po-Boy. I been dying to try that!”
Vivian questions Keith’s judgement, “Is it safe for us to sit out in the open?”
“Don’t worry about that. I don’t have to meet with those guys until 8pm. But I gotta wait for their call back at the room in an hour. But we can eat and be back at the hotel by then, no problem.”
Vivian responds, “Look at me. I look a hot mess.”
“C’mon now. I got knots and bruises on top of my head and I ain’t worried about none of that. Plus, you look very nice tonight. C’mon girl…let’s get something to eat.”
As Keith drives down Maple Street he pulls into a Wawa gas station to get gas. He asks Vivian if she wants a snack or anything.
Vivian humorously responds, “Oh no, you about to buy me a Alligator Sausage Po-Boy, brother-in-law dear. You can keep your snacks! C’mon hurry up!”
Keith tells her, “I'll go in and get us some Evian water.” As he goes inside to pay for the gas…while inside Keith pays for the water, not the gas and asks the cashier where the bathroom is. He is directed to the back of the store. Keith walks to the back, stops before the bathroom and takes out his cell phone. He dials his call. Keith doesn’t reach the person he is calling, he leaves a message on voice mail, “Okay we playing phone tag now. Just letting you know I will have that money Wednesday. Don’t call me back, I’ll call you some time tomorrow. Later man.”
Starr and Rome are driving along Airline Highway in Metairie, having a conversation about the lengths they would go to for three hundred million dollars. Both men humorously make it clear that they wouldn’t let anything or anybody get in the way of their fortune. They pull up into the parking lot of the Sonic restaurant on Veteran’s Blvd., alongside McKenna’s Suburban. McKenna and Barone are eating chicken fingers, when Starr playfully yells to them, “You girls sure look hot tonight. Y’all looking to kick it tonight?!”
The men laugh and acknowledge each other. McKenna asks Starr, “Marlon I wanna get over to the meeting point early and make sure nothing is waiting for us over there.”
Starr responds, “Greg we can just move them both tonight and just handle this.”
“No. We don’t have any heat on us. Let’s see what this Keith guy actually gets done.”
Starr continues with his thoughts, “I don’t wanna be down here dicking around with this
guy. We gotta get moving here. Look what if this guy can’t produce?”
Rome interjects, “Then we fucking ‘do’ them both and figure this shit out later!”
McKenna adds, “That’s why we’re in this situation now Jerome. If you would’ve just gotten Jesse to tell you where the money was first, before you iced him, we’d be downin’ gallons of Pisco on some beach in Chile right now!”
Rome takes a second to respond, “Yo Greg, What the fuck are you talkin’ about? I didn’t kill Jesse.”
As Rome is about to continue Barone interrupts, “It doesn’t fucking matter now who whacked Jesse. He’s dead! Let’s just get our money and get outta here! This waitin’ around shit is really pissin’ me off!”
McKenna turns around to look at the busy and crowded Sonic parking lot and comments, “This isn’t the time or the place guys. We gotta deal with this shit the hard way for now. You guys want this money or not? Let’s roll men, it’s 1820 Juliet (local time).” McKenna and Barone then quickly pull off, screeching tires and all, onto Veteran’s Blvd.
7:45 pm - Keith and Vivian are back at the Westin, in their room. Keith has been waiting for a phone call from McKenna since 7 pm. In the meantime…Jesse’s travel bag is open with all of the contents emptied onto Keith’s bed. There are personal grooming and hygiene items, clothing, an IPhone, various mix tape CDs, the newest issues of Source and Maxim magazines. There are also various travel brochures as well as some personal letters. Keith goes through these items while he and Vivian converse about where Jesse went, who he called and what he talked about with Vivian during those three days after he returned to New Orleans before his murder. Keith picks up the letters. He reads the names and addresses of the people the letters are from. Keith asks Vivian if she recognizes any of the names, she doesn’t. She tells Keith that Jesse received no mail at home and that he had all of his mail sent to a post office box downtown. Keith looks at his watch and sees that it is 8 o’clock, the post office is obviously closed. He plans to go to there the first thing in the morning. Keith tells Vivian he is not sure if he will be returning to the room after the meeting with the former M.I.C.O. soldiers still alive or unharmed. Vivian says, “You sure you don’t want to re-think this?”
Keith tells Vivian that he has to meet with them and asks Vivian to get his watch from the bathroom for him. She walks to the bathroom and responds, “Keith this money won’t do you any good if you are dead. Remember that. The room telephone rings. Keith tells Vivian, “I got this. Vivian can you see if my watch is in the bathroom, on the sink please?” As Vivian walks to the bathroom, Keith answers the phone…it’s McKenna. Keith is simply told. “First level of the garage, way in the back.” The call ends. From the bathroom, Vivian inquires, “Was that them? Hey, I don’t see any watch in here.”
Keith doesn’t respond.
He makes sure Vivian isn’t looking as he stuffs the letters from Jesse’s travel bag inside his jacket and zips it up.
7:53 pm
Ronelle is at home watching TV while her son, Alex is in his room watching you tube videos with blasting music. She bellows…
“Alex, turn that music down! Damn, you’re gonna wake the dead!” Alex turns down the music then comes out to the living room and apologizes to his mother.
“Yeah my ears are bleeding listening to those guys! Boy, go put on Al B. Sure, some Donell Jones or some Jodeci! Real music! You finish your homework?!”
Alex answers, “Yes Ma. Did you see other CDs out here? Reese is coming to pick them up.”
As Ronelle fusses at Alex, the doorbell rings. She yells at Alex about having his friends coming to their home at this hour. Alex again asks him mother about the CD’s as he opens the door. At the door, is Det. Roussel.
7:57 pm
The elevator at the Westin New Orleans Hotel opens in the lobby. Keith exits the elevator, and carefully walks around the lobby not quite sure what he is looking for. He looks at his watch it now reads 7:59. Keith didn’t take the elevator to the garage because he thought the soldiers might be laying in wait to ambush him as he stepped from the elevator in the garage.
Keith cautiously walks to the stairway leading down to the garage. As he enters the dark, expansive, lifeless, parking area, he immediately looks for the men, but sees no one.
8:04 pm
Back at Ronelle’s house Det. Roussel asks her questions about Vivian’s whereabouts, actions and behavior over the last two weeks. Ronelle is not welcoming or cooperative with her answers.
Det. Ellis asks, “Did the Baylor’s have a good marriage?”
“Yes, very happy.”
“Where did Jesse Baylor work? What did he do?”
Ronelle answers very short, “I don’t know.”
Det. Roussel frustratingly looks at Ronelle for a few seconds,
then asks, “Did the Baylor’s have money problems or anything like that?”
Ronelle sharply responds, “How would I know. I guess the bills were paid on time.”
Alex comes out of his bedroom into the living room. Det. Roussel cracks a rare smile as he looks at Alex and says to him in a very friendly manner, “Hey little man. How are you tonight? I see you’re a Pelicans fan.” Referring to Alex’s NBA pajamas.
Ronelle quickly turns to Alex and snaps, “It’s bedtime. Playtime is over and that homework better be finished son!” Alex turns and walks back into his bedroom and shuts the door.
Det. Roussel says, “Good lookin’ boy. How old is your son?”
Ronelle again, answers very shortly, “He’s eleven.”
Det. Roussel isn’t surprised and actually expected Ronelle’s rudeness, “Miss Carter, I’ve been over here the last three days and honestly, I’m tired of your attitude. I’m just doing my job here!”
Ronelle starts walking towards her front door, giving the detective the hint that she wants him to leave, as she responds, “Excuse me? You asked me whatever questions you had and I answered them! What’s the damn problem? No, no. I’ll tell you the problem. Since day one it seems like you police are trying to pin this on Vivian! This isn’t right sir! Not right at all! What you are trying to do to Vivian?! This is the toughest time in her life and you are just piling on with this bullshit sir! Det. Roussel responds, “Honestly Ms. Carter I am sorry about that, I met with Mrs. Baylor this morning and seems like a really sweet lady. But she’s not helping herself with me one bit! This is no bull shit excuse my language! Your friend and her husband were into something serious, that much I know and it got Jesse Baylor killed! I have proof something here stinks and I think I’ve been pretty nice to not put that ‘medicine’ on Vivian Baylor! I’m tired of the run around and disrespect I get from you both! I know you are her best friend. You need to get her to understand that she’s going to wind up in prison if she keeps playing with me!”
Det. Roussel walks out the door. As he passed by Ronelle, she softly says, “Vivian couldn’t hurt a fly”.
Det. Roussel doesn’t respond as he briskly walks to his car.
8:05 pm
Keith stands alone at the elevator door in the hotel parking garage looking for the four former M.I.C.O. soldiers. He starts walking slowly, walking in between the parked cars. As he comes from between a few cars, he suddenly can see a car, with the headlights turned on in the back of the parking level. Keith stops in his tracks as the car comes speeding toward him. Keith stays still as the speeding car stops inches from him. The driver while revving the car engine, leans his head out of the car window and yells, “Get in!” It’s Marlon Starr. Keith coolly walks around the front of Starr’s Mustang and cautiously gets in on the passenger’s side.
Even before Keith closes the car door, Starr speeds off, tires wailing, down the ramp to the lower levels of the hotel parking garage.
Keith calmly asks, “Where are we going?”
Starr sarcastically responds, “Where do you wanna go my brotha?” Keith doesn’t answer, as he quickly fastens his seatbelt. Starr reaches the bottom level of the garage and sees McKenna’s Suburban idling in the distance. Starr speeds off towards McKenna parked about forty yards away. Starr screeches to a stop alongside the Blue SUV and tells Keith to get out.
McKenna rolls down the driver’s side window and tells Starr, “Bring him around to the other side.” Both Starr and Keith walk to the passenger side back door. Starr opens the door and makes Keith slide in first, right next to Rome, who is already inside. Keith finds himself sitting uncomfortably between Starr and Rome. Barone is in the front passenger seat.
McKenna quickly turns around and tells Keith that he is late. Keith looks at the clock on the car radio and it reads 8:14 pm. Keith sarcastically responds, “The connecting elevator was delayed due to weather.” McKenna swings around and points a pistol in Keith’s face and says, “Dude, I have this feeling that you aren’t gonna make it out of this alive!” Rome then punches Keith in the face and Starr elbows him in the chest. Keith doubles over in pain.
"Seriously your ass would be on the bottom of the Mississippi right now if it wasn't for me my friend! Do yourself a favor and keep your mouth shut!" Keith is coughing and spitting blood from his busted lip, on the floor of McKenna's truck. Starr grabs Keith by the back of his jacket and pulls him upright.
McKenna quickly asks, "Alright, alright. Where’s the money? We’re spending serious coins stayin’ here in New Orleans. We’re ready to go buddy, give us the money and we are on our way. Where is it.”
Keith grimacing in pain, replies, "I need two days man, the money is out of state and it won’t get here to New Orleans until tomorrow."
Barone responds, "Two days? What the fuck?!"
Starr asks, "Wait. Wait. Where is it coming from? Why two days? Is it cash? A check? Oh, hell no!"
Keith nervously continues his lie, "I don't know man. My sister didn't tell me. She just told me that it will be here by tomorrow. That's all she said."
Barone kicks the glove compartment and shouts, "Let's pop his ass right now and go get Jesse’s wife!" Barone then pulls out his pistol.
McKenna tells Barone, "We can't! We have no lead on the money! None! Nothing! We need this guy breathing guys!"
Rome says to McKenna, "Greg, he's fucking with us! We need to smoke this motherfucker, grab Jesse's wife, and jet! He don't even know where the cheese is, she does!
We don't need his ass!" Barone adds, "He’s right Greg. This guy doesn’t even know where the money is! Plus, we can't stay here! The feds are on our ass, man!"
McKenna takes a moment to think, and responds, "I know, I know. You guys are right. But the police are on Jesse’s wife. We snatch her, we got heavy heat. This guy(Keith), we gotta let him do the leg work.”
Barone tells McKenna that they might not even have two days before the authorities catch up to them. McKenna simply tells the others, “Guys, we have no choice…” Barone and Rome are not in agreement of the decision, but McKenna and Starr pull rank as if they were still in the service. Rome storms out of McKenna's truck, slamming the door. Starr asks Rome where he is going. "I'm hungry, is that okay with you motherfuckers?!"
Starr angrily grabs at Rome to keep him in the truck. McKenna motions to Starr to leave Rome alone to cool off. Rome walks up the garage ramp, disappearing into the darkness. McKenna turns back, leans over the front seat and pulls out his pistol. He grabs Keith from behind his head, pulling his head down. McKenna sticks his pistol in
the back of Keith’s neck and tells him. “I really want to blow your fucking head off right now, but I can’t. You hold the cards here tonight guy. But this is what we’re gonna do, listen. Tomorrow night, I want to see you and your sister tomorrow night, right here at 9.
Keith struggles to tell McKenna that Vivian is very afraid of them and that she would probably go to the police before she would agree to meet with them.
McKenna presses down harder on Keith’s head and says, “Oh no, that’s on you my friend! You figure out how you both are gonna be down here tomorrow night at nine, or seriously, you’re in a body bag by 9:30!”
Keith says, “Ok can we at least meet somewhere more public, to make her more comfortable? Like the bar in the lobby or something like that?"
McKenna pauses a few seconds, allows Keith sit up and looks at Barone and Starr. Barone tells McKenna that he’s ok with that plan, stating meeting in the bar is safer for them than going up to their hotel room. He also says that just McKenna and Starr need to be there, not all four of the commando soldiers. McKenna then tells Keith, "Okay then. Up at the bar, tomorrow night, 9 o'clock. Listen dude, we feel any heat, you and your sister will have seen your last sunrise. And I repeat, do not come without your sister.
Keith repeats, "9 o'clock, at the bar."
Starr tells Keith, "Now get the fuck outta here." As he leans over, opens Keith’s door and pushes him out the door. Kei
th quickly stands up from the ground and stands in place.
Keith starts to walk towards the garage ramp as Starr gets back into his Mustang. As the battered and bruised Keith walks up the ramp, McKenna and Starr drive dangerously close to him as they pass. Keith continues walking up the ramp. He looks behind him to make sure no other cars are coming as he pulls out his cell phone. Holding a tissue under his bloody eye, his side of the phone conversation sounds like this, "What's happening man? Not good. There's gonna be dead bodies out here in a minute…. Yeah, no doubt. No doubt in my mind somebody here is holding that money. I don't know if it's Vivian or not to tell you the truth. But I will find out. I will get that money. I'll call you tomorrow and let you know what's up. Later." Keith ends his conversation.
Chapter 8
9:05 pm
Vivian is up in the room sitting on her bed paying her personal bills from her IPad. Vivian takes a look at her and Jesse's joint checking account balance, it says twenty-three thousand dollars. Vivian then checks their joint savings account, then her personal checking and savings accounts.
She feverishly looks at her stocks and bonds portfolio, and finds no conspicuous financial activity other than her direct deposit from her job, but definitely no three hundred million dollars.
Vivian takes a deep breath while nervously running her fingers through her hair. "Lord, give me strength."
Vivian’s cell phone rings startling her. Its Inspector Clark, he says, "Mrs. Baylor, I have some information about your husband's murder that I wanted to share with you. Are you still in town? I really do need your help with this investigation. Has New Orleans Police kept you up to date?"
Vivian responds, "Yes, I'm still in New Orleans. Honestly, I'm scared out of my wits Insp. Clark. Det. Roussel and the entire police department seem to figure I killed my husband. Please help me.”
Insp. Clark responds, "You got to be kidding but I’m not surprised? They close cases here with false evidence. Rampant corruption. They're trying to pin the case on you because they have no other suspects. That's where my investigation comes in, so don't worry about them." He continues, "I have evidence that will definitely clear you. That's why I want to meet with you. Have you been contacted again by any of Jesse's partners?"
