Bryce laughed. “They couldn’t even do that. I’m the brains of that place. Fire me and you might as well lock the doors. But we do work for some heavy hitters. I think I might have taken something from one of them and they ain’t happy about it.”
“What happened, Bryce?”
“I was on my way home and got jumped by some weird shit.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Bryce took another toke. “It means just that. I don’t know if they were men or dogs or what. All I know is they were strong as hell and trying to kill me.”
Malik scratched his head. “This has something to do with genetics.”
Bryce nodded.
“Look Malik, I figured you could look ‘em up, then threaten them so they leave me alone.”
Malik cursed the day he let Bryce know his profession.
“It doesn’t work that way, Bryce. I can’t just terrify folks just because you’re in trouble.”
Bryce seemed distracted.
“Shit, I need something to drink. Clarence!”
Bryce assumed that was his cousin’s name.
“Clarence!”
“Look Bryce, I …”
Bryce stood up, then stormed by Malik. He was pissed, no doubt about it.
He pushed the door open then turned to face Malik.
“Why you come here? Huh, Malik? You come all this way to tell me you can’t help me?”
Malik walked outside.
“Look, man. I’m…”
He saw Bryce’s cousin lying behind him in a pool of blood.
“Bryce get back in!”
“What are you talking about, fool?”
Bryce’s head exploded into flesh and bones. Malik ran into the building when something hot streaked across his forehead and threw him inside. He hit the ground hard on his back, slamming his head into the floor. His world was heat and stars just before he passed out.
When he finally came back to the world his head throbbed, light flashing in his head with each pulse. He couldn’t move; his eyes were open but he could not see. He didn’t know how long he lay there until his sight returned. The building was black except for a faint beam of light entering through an open window. He moved his head and pain flashed but he was determined to move. He slid his hands to his sides, then pushed himself upright, his eyes clenched to the pain. He touched his head; the wound had stopped bleeding, the blood caked over the crease.
Malik grabbed the door, then stood. Bryce lay before him, his head destroyed.
Malik opened the door then stumbled to the nearby building. He needed a weapon, something to defend himself. He opened the door, revealing stacks of weed. He searched it from corner to corner but found nothing. From there he went to the next building, searching it as well as he could. He paused, sitting hard as his head spun, making him nauseous. He was about to continue his search when he heard voices.
“Make sure they’re dead!” the voice said. “Every last one of them.”
He had to escape. If he killed any of these men, whoever sent them would know the job was not complete. He eased to the ground, then crawled across the dirt into the nearby foliage. Malik continued to crawl deeper, flinching every time he heard a shot. They were shooting everyone again to make sure the job was complete.
“Burn it,” he heard someone say.
Malik continued to crawl away. The sound of crashing wood was replaced by the roar of a huge fire. As he reached the top of the wooded hill, he dared to look back. The entire compound was in flames. Malik took a hard look at every person involved. He wanted to remember every face so there would be no doubt in his mind when he hunted them down and killed them. One man stood out, tall with sickly white skin, gray eyes and red hair. Malik couldn’t be sure, but it looked as if his hands were glowing.
Malik faded into the brush. He had to find out what the hell Bryce did to bring a high level hit down on him. This wasn’t underworld; this had the precision of a military operation. The only way he could find out more would be to reopen old contacts. He’d be reneging on a promise, but he had no choice.
“Damn you Bryce,” he whispered. “Damn you to hell!”
Ten
Kandace checked her phone again as the RV pulled into Smit’s Garage. It had been two weeks but still no word from Bryce. He told her to run, but he didn’t tell her what the hell she was running from.
“That’s your baby,” the man standing next to her said. “I told you it was sweet.”
Tamarious’ hand brushed her ass. She elbowed him hard in the ribs.
“Shit, girl!” he said through his clinched teeth.
“Watch your damn hands,” Kandace said. “I paid you, and money is all you gonna get. Unless you make me shoot your ass.”
“Aight, aight,” Tamarious said as he rubbed his side. “She’ll be ready in two weeks.”
“Two weeks? Mothafucka you told me one week!”
“I lied,” he replied. “Really though, we had some parts come in late. Ain’t never done a mod like this one.”
“Well, hurry up,” Kandace said. “I got places to be.”
“Where you trying to go?”
“None of your damn business. Just fix the bus.”
“Aight, aight.”
Kandace strode back to her car. Her phone played Bryce’s song. She pressed the phone to her ear.
“It’s about damn time! Where the hell you at?”
There was silence for a moment.
“Who is this?” the unfamiliar voice asked.
Kandace pulled away from the phone, her face crinkled.
“Who is this?” she asked.
“Are you Kandace?” the man asked.
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but if you stole my boy’s phone…”
“Shut up and listen to me very carefully. Bryce is dead. The people who killed him are coming after you. If you want to stay alive you’ll meet me as soon as possible.”
“Bullshit!” Kandace said. “I’m off the grid. I don’t need no help.”
“Yes, you do. If you don’t come to me, I’ll come to you.”
“Try it,” she said. She dropped the phone on the pavement then stomped it to pieces.
Kandace marched back to Tamarious’ office.
“Change of plans, I need that bus right now.”
Tamarious took off his headphones. “Really? I’m still fleshing out the interior. Wait till you see the bed!”
Kandace tossed the backpack on his desk. “Here’s the rest of the money. Give me the keys, now.”
Tamarious unzipped the bag, then took out a handful of hundreds.
“I need to count this,” he said.
Kandace whipped out her P90. “Give me the goddamn keys!”
“Shit!” Tamarious tossed Kandace the keys.
She scrambled into the cab, started the RV, then barreled out of the parking lot, sideswiping two cars along the way. She didn’t give a shit. She was sure Bryce was dead and whoever killed him was coming for her. She would head west; yes, that’s what she would do. She had no family out there so no one would know to look for her. As soon as she was settled she’d change her hair, change her clothes then leave the country. She had enough money to lay low for a few years and let things settle, whatever ‘things’ were. Or so she hoped.
“Fuck you, Bryce,” she yelled. “Fuck you!”
Malik watched the RV careen out of Smit’s Garage, into the street, then onto Interstate 20. He stuck his phone into his pocket and then pulled down his helmet’s visor. He knew the call would cause her to panic and run. He started his Harley then eased into traffic. There was no reason to hurry; the RV was as conspicuous as a cherry in a bowl of milk. As he exited onto the highway he felt his phone vibrate against his thigh. A wave of guilt caused him to shudder. It was either Tisha or Sheryl and he couldn’t speak to either one. He’d called Sheryl as soon as he got out of Jamaica and asked her to trace Kandace’s phone. When Sheryl asked why, he wouldn’t give her any
details. Sheryl did it anyway but made him promise to fill her in as soon as he confirmed the threat. Tisha was a deeper matter. Someone tried to kill him, and when they discovered he was still alive they would try to kill him again…or someone he loved. He had to find out who killed Bryce and why before they discovered he was still alive.
He trailed the vehicle for ninety miles before it exited in Oxford, Alabama. Malik followed it to a hotel parking lot, then watched Kandace scurry into the hotel. He cruised up to the RV; it took him 5 seconds to unlock the door, then climb inside. He settled behind the driver’s seat then waited. Moments later the door opened and Kandace climbed in.
“Shit!” she said. “That damn bathroom was nasty as shit!”
Malik reached around the chair, then grabbed Kandace’s throat.
“Motha…”
Her voice faded as she fell unconscious. Malik eased her out of the seat, tied her hands and legs, then propped her up in the passenger seat. He found the key in her bag and then hurried outside to his bike. He wiped it clean, then re-entered the van. Before he could get in, two feet smashed into his face. He fell out of the van and his head struck the pavement hard. He lay stunned for a moment, then sat up shaking his head.
“Help! Help!” Kandace screamed. “This motherfucka is trying to kidnap me! Help!”
Malik climbed into the van again, anticipating the same attack. He wasn’t disappointed. He dodged the kick then caught Kandace’s legs under the knees. He flipped her into the space between the seats. As he sat in the driver’s seat he pulled out his gun.
“Stop moving or I’ll kill you.”
Kandace struggled to sit up.
“Bullshit! You gonna kill me no matter what I do! Just like you killed Bryce.”
Malik lowered his gun. “I didn’t kill Bryce. If I had come to kill you, you’d be dead already.”
“How do I know? I don’t know who the fuck you are,” Kandace spit back.
“I’m a friend. Someone he knew much longer than you,” Malik said. “So what are you to Bryce?” Malik asked.
“A business associate,” Kandace said.
“What kind of business?”
Kandace sat up then grinned. “So you his boy and you don’t know?”
“No,” Malik said. “All I know is that whatever it was made him run to Jamaica and get killed.”
Kandace’s smirk faded. “Bryce was a thief.”
Malik sat silent for a moment, letting the words sink in.
“What kind of thief?”
“Bryce had this kind Robin Hood shit going on. He stole from the rich and gave to himself.”
“What rich?”
“Drug dealers mostly.”
“So what part did you play in this?”
“I scoped out his hits. I also kept the gear in shape.”
Malik looked puzzled. “What gear?”
Kandace hesitated. Malik raised his gun.
“What gear?”
“It’s in the back,” she said.
“Show me.”
Kandace rolled her eyes. “My goddamn legs are tied.”
“Hop,” Malik said.
Kandace glared at Malik as she stood then hopped to the rear of the RV.
“In there,” she said, gesturing with her head. “He calls it Ghost.”
Malik shoved her to the floor, then opened the door. A grin came to his face as he looked inside the room.
“A stealth suit,” he said.
“What you know about that?” Kandace said.
“More than you realize,” he answered. The agency was testing prototypes. Apparently Bryce figured it out. Which was probably why he was killed.
“So, who killed him?” Kandace said. “I figured one of the drug boys figured things out.”
Malik stepped into the room to inspect the suit.
“It wasn’t a drug hit,” Malik replied. “Too professional. I’ll bet money it had something to do with this suit. Bryce had to steal some deep tech to make this. Whoever he stole it from killed him. And now they’re looking for you.”
“You ain’t them?” Kandace said.
Malik came out of the room with the suit.
“No. Like I said, Bryce was my friend. I’m going to find out who did this and why.”
“And what about me?”
“I don’t know.”
Malik stepped back into the room.
“Don’t go anywhere,” he said.
“Fuck you,” Kandace replied.
Malik closed the door, then took off his clothes. He and Bryce were about the same build so the suit slipped on easily. There was mesh where his eyes and nose were located which allowed for easy breathing. He looked into the mirror; the suit’s construction reflected light in a way that made him invisible, at least visually. Malik was about to take off the suit when he felt a slick secretion flow between the suit and his skin. It was immediately followed by the sensation of a million tiny needles pricking his flesh. He hurriedly unzipped the suit and began taking it off. By the time he was done, he was exhausted and bleeding all over. He wiped himself off before dressing, then opening the door.
Kandace grinned. “You put it on, didn’t you?”
Malik nodded.
“Felt like it was eating you?”
Malik shook his head. “Bio-attachment. This is some real advanced tech. I wonder where Bryce got it?”
“From work,” Kandace said. “He called one day, excited about some modification he wanted to make. Gave me the formulation.”
“So, you’re a scientist?”
Kandace grinned. “A biologist, to be exact. Masters in Microbiology. Don’t let all this fool you.”
Malik looked over Kandace with new respect. He’d let his prejudices get in the way. He thought, at the least, Kandace was Bryce’s lookout, at the most, another one of his conquests. However there were more pertinent questions. Why was Gentech developing this type of tech? Most importantly, who were they developing it for?
“I need to make a call,” he said. He took out his phone and dialed Sheryl. To Malik’s surprise she answered him immediately.
“Malik, get off this line,” Sheryl said. “Your friend was in some real deep shit. Get another phone and call Moses.”
The line went dead. A tightness formed in Malik’s stomach. What he feared was probably true.
He untied Kandace. She immediately tried to hit him; he blocked the blow, then wrapped her in a painful strangle hold.
“Listen to me carefully,” he said. “Both of our lives are in extreme danger. If you want to survive you’ll stay with me until I figure this all out. If not, I’ll let you go and walk away. Do you understand?”
Kandace nodded her head. Malik let her go and she rubbed her neck.
“You’re not going to kill me?” she asked.
“No,” Malik said. “Bryce dragged us both into this in his own selfish way.”
“So what do we do?” Kandace said.
“We follow your plan. We head west until I hear from my contact.”
Kandace climbed into the driver’s seat. Malik took the passenger’s seat, tucking his gun in his holster as he sat. Kandace started the RV then drove to the I-20 exit. As they entered the highway, Malik tried to understand how this was happening. The life he planned was now on hold until he could figure out this mystery. He was on assignment now; he slowly blocked Tisha and the girls out of his mind. There was no future now, only the mission. He looked at Kandace.
“So tell me about Ghost,” he said.
CAPES AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Rorie Still
I’m sitting on top of the world,
sitting on top of the world,
sitting on top of the world.
And I don’t know what to do.
They didn’t figure out a way,
to remove the bomb or stop it from exploding.
We have 48 hours.
What do you do when your job is to save the world
and you can’t?
At what point does it seem foolish
to be a hero?
We’re all going to die anyway;
whom am I trying to fool?
Somebody save me!
What do you do when you have an endless night?
Not one where the stars shine bright,
But your nightlight is broken and you’re drowning in shadows?
What do you do when your twinkling star has burnt out and died?
What if you were that star?
Why didn’t I stop them from setting the bomb?
Why didn’t I stop the bomb?
Why can’t I stop it now?
I just can’t.
No one can.
We are all going to die.
Seriously, like all of us,
I’m a superhero,
And this is the end of the world.
With my purpose gone,
what is my worth?
Someone once asked me:
“What would the end of the world feel like?”
Well, when your job is to save the world–
This end of the world mess;
This crap feels a little personal
I need a oneness
Because right now my mind is split to death, split to grips.
I just watched arson go down
It was an empty barn that the girl set on fire,
But it was still a crime.
Yet
I felt something close to nothing.
My guilt was buried deep
I need to get loose Woman!
Woman, if thou art loosed?
Can I follow thee?
Free me from this pit of agony
I’m sorry to be kvetching for my last two days on Earth.
It’s supposed to not just be about me
But like I said,
This crap is starting to feel really
Personal
Like it’s-all-my-fault-Personal,
Like God-kicked-me-out-the-wrong-side-of-the-bed
And-then-dragged-me-down-a-flight-of-stairs-Personal.
I thought about starting to drink after I got the news about the bomb.
I was in Tokyo then.
Blabber Buddy was supposed to have the bomb thing.
However,
she was only one person.
She couldn’t take the guilt.
I wonder why I can?
My guilt is not direct guilt;
Black Power- The Superhero Anthology Page 9
