by Roy Glenn
“Enough!”
After that, I made it a personal mission to find Anastasia. It took me five month to find her. Her and her new man relocated to Dallas and got into the game. With a quality product that they didn’t pay for, they were able to be very competitive on price. Anastasia and her new man were living the life.
The life she sucked out of Herman.
One night me and Freeze paid them a visit. It was hot as hell down there. We didn’t kill them; I just wanted the money. Freeze tied up Anastasia and held a gun to her head.
“Now, if you don’t give me my hundred grand, he’s gonna kill her. But we’re gonna fuck her first cause I hear she got good pussy.”
We stayed down there for two days; eating their food and sucking up there air, but we didn’t fuck Anastasia. It took him that long to get up the money.
I’ve always regretted killing Herman. No matter what he said or how he felt, he didn’t deserve to die. Thinking back, I really don’t think Herman was gonna shoot me.
It stops here.
He wanted me to kill him. I wonder if it was because I was going after Anastasia, and he thought I would hurt her or because he just wanted to die. Either way, I didn’t have to kill him. And whatever this is about, they didn’t have to kill my baby.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Despite the fact that Black was in jail and Shy was dead, business still had to be done, and that included Cuisine. Freeze entered the club through the back door and went through the kitchen to the office. He unlocked the door and when in. This was the first time Freeze had been in there since it became Shy’s office. In spite of the fact that Freeze had the office swept for bugs once a week, Shy would never talk in the office. After their experience with the DEA and the surveillance, she felt it was safer if they’d always met outside. They would meet in plenty of deli’s, diners and pizza shops, because Shy loved to eat, but couldn’t cook.
Freeze always thought it was funny how Black would sit quietly and eat, while Shy told him exactly what Black told her to say. Black’s puppet was what Freeze used to jokingly call her. He told once Nick that Black was the world greatest ventriloquist, because Black’s mouth never moved, but you know it he’s talking.
There was a knock at the door. “Come on,” Freeze said.
Lexi the clubs manager came into the office. “How you doing, Freeze?” she said and sat down in front of the desk.
“How is it you always know when I’m in here?”
“You really wanna know?” Lexi asked.
“Yeah, I really wanna know.”
“My nipples get hard whenever you’re in here,” Lexi said and smiled shyly.
Freeze gave her a look. “You serious?”
“No,” she giggled. “I just do that’s all.”
“Somebody’s coming to see me tonight. I told her to ask for you. Her name is Aynna Thomas. Now listen, when she gets here; tell her to meet you at the back door. Then you bring her here to me.”
“Not a problem,” Lexi said. “Any news about Black?”
“No. I haven’t heard from Wanda all day.”
“You think he did it?” Lexi asked reluctantly.
When Shy came and took over the club, first person she came to was Lexi. While she was working for Freeze her title was hostess, but Lexi ran things.
When word started to get around that Shy was taking over the club, Lexi really didn’t know Shy. Of course, she’d met her when Shy first became involved with Black. But shortly after that, Black took Shy away to the Bahamas, and to Lexi, Shy became nothing more than at work gossip about the adventure the she and Black had. Now here she was, her new boss.
The idea that Shy was in charge and would more than likely bring in somebody to run the club or worse, she would try to run it herself, wasn’t something that she was looking forward to. Lexi liked working for Freeze, he let her run the club for him and do pretty much whatever she wanted.
That first day, Shy sat where Freeze was seated and explained to Lexi that, “I know you’ve been running this place,” Shy told her at their first meeting. “And everybody says you’re doing a good job.”
“Thank you,” Lexi asked graciously.
“I know your probably thinking that I’m gonna come in here and change a whole lotta stuff, but I only want to make one change and it involves you. So I wanted to sit down with you first.”
“I understand. What type of change do you have in mind?” Lexi asked thinking, no this bitch don’t think I’m gonna train somebody to take my spot. That bitch is crazy. I’ll quit first.
“I worked with Michael, running the Paradise before we moved back up here. My first thought was to manage the club myself.”
Lexi thought, I knew it.
“I would have to rely on you for, well, for everything, cause I wouldn’t know anything,” Shy laughed out loud. Lexi laughed too, but hers was a guarded laugh. “I mean I would have to ask you where do we keep the silver ware, I wouldn’t know prices, menus, and then there’s the staff. And I don’t even wanna think about the vendors.” Shy rolled her eyes and shook her head. “So, the only change I’m gonna make is a new manager, Lexi and I’d like you to consider taking the position, with an increase in pay of course.”
So it was set, Shy wondered around the club and played hostess, making sure the guests were having a good time, while Lexi ran the club. Over time, Lexi had come to not only like, but respect Shy. She couldn’t stand Shy at first, but as you got to know Shy, you start to like her. That was just the way she was, and now she was gone.
Freeze looked at Lexi. To him it didn’t matter if Black was guilty or not, Freeze would still be fiercely loyal to him. But the question still stood and deserved an answer. Did he think Black killed Shy?
“No. No, Lexi, I don’t think Black killed her. I don’t think a nigga could kill something he loves the way Black loved that woman,” Freeze said, and Lexi stood up.
“I’m gonna get back on the floor. I’ll bring that woman back here as soon as she gets here.”
“A’ight.”
Lexi started to walk out, but she stopped. “You gonna be here until we close.”
“Doubt it.”
“Okay,” Lexi said quietly with her head hanging low.
About an hour later, there was a knock at the door.
“Come on!” Freeze yelled.
When the door cracked open, Lexi stuck her head in.
“I have Aynna Thomas to see you.”
“Bring her in.”
Lexi opened the door and into the office came Sergeant Tamia Adams, walking nervously past Lexi wearing an auburn wig and dark sunglasses. Freeze laughed a little when he saw her. Feeling like her plans for an evening with Freeze were dead, Lexi excused herself politely and left the office.
“Sit down, Sergeant Adams. Welcome to Cuisine.”
“Thank you,” Tamia said, choosing to sit down on the couch instead of one of the chairs in front of the desk. “You just don’t know how long I’ve wanted to come here.”
“What stopped you?”
“I’m a cop, and this is the so-called legitimate front of an illegal gambling, loan sharking and prostitution operation.”
“I guess you’re right. So what brings you here today? And by the way, the wig is a nice touch. I think I like your hair that color.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’m dying it tomorrow,” Tamia said definitely. Even though she was a cop, Tamia was madly in love with Freeze and would do anything to make him happy.
Freeze laughed. He knew how Tamia felt about him but discouraged it. All he really saw in Tamia was inside information on what the cops were doing. That was how it began between them. Tamia was his very well-paid confidential informant. That arrangement was mutually beneficial to the two of them and lasted in that manner until one-night Freeze got a call from Tamia saying that she had some important information for him.
Freeze was in the area, but he was drunk. He never lik
ed taking care of business when he was drinking, obviously, because it impairs your judgment. That night was no exception. It was late when he got to Tamia’s apartment, and she was dressed in a big t-shirt and flip-fops. Nothing else. Well the next thing you know, Tamia was bending over her dining room table, and Freeze was standing behind her, wearing that ass out.
It’s not that Freeze minded fucking Tamia, she was an attractive woman, in fact, he enjoyed it. He just didn’t like the mix of business and pussy. Freeze would want information, and Tamia would wanna fuck. She’d called him that evening and said that she needed to see him, rather than her usual, I got something for you.
“What are you doing way over there?” Tamia said. “Why don’t you come sit over here next to me?”
Freeze glanced at his watch. He still had time before Nick got there. Freeze came from behind the desk and walked toward the door and locked it. When he turned around, Freeze saw Tamia doing a silent clap. Freeze shook his head and sat down next to her.
“What’s up, Sergeant Adams? Tell me what brings a cop to the den of thieves?”
“I got something for you.”
“Let’s see it.”
Tamia reached in her purse and showed Freeze an evidence bag that contained Black’s gun. “You got what I want?”
Freeze stood up and went to the wall safe. Once it was opened he gladly counted out ten thousand dollars. When he returned to the couch, Freeze handed Tamia the money and she give him the gun. It would be very difficult to convict Black of murder without the murder weapon.
Tamia put the money in her purse, while he walked toward the desk with the gun.
“So about what time should I expect you?”
“Not tonight, I got something to do.”
“See, I knew you was gonna say that shit!”
Freeze came at Tamia quickly. “What did I tell you? I said we had a deal, right?”
“Whatever,” Tamia said quietly, but his aggression always made her wet.
“I gave you my word. You did your part and I’ll do mine. Just not tonight Tamia! I got something to do later.”
“Okay. What about now?” Tamia stood up and stepped out of her panties. She turned around and bent over. “How about a down payment.”
Freeze laughed; however he did comply with her request.
After about fifteen minutes, there was a knock at the door. “Freeze! You in there?” Nick yelled as he rattled the doorknob.
“Yeah!” Freeze yelled. “Wait for me outside, I’ll be out when I’m done!”
Nick walked away shaking his head and waited outside. After Freeze finished off Tamia, they left the club through the front door. Freeze introduced Tamia to Nick as Aynna Thomas, even though Nick knew who she was. Freeze had told Nick about his police informant and that was the name she chose as cover. After Freeze walked Tamia to her car, he came back to Nick.
“Fuck you been all day, nigga?”
“I told you, I had something real important to do.”
“Damn, Nick, don’t you think whatever that shit was it coulda waited. We need to find the mutha fucka’s that killed Shy and you out fuckin around.”
“I need to talk to you about that,” Nick said, but Freeze continued his rant.
“Both you and fuckin’ Wanda pick today of all days to decide y’all gonna just disappear.” Freeze stopped and looked at Nick. He knew Wanda had cleared her schedule for the day. Then it came together. Nick and Wanda both disappeared. “Were you with Wanda all day?”
Reluctantly Nick said, “Yes.” He did give some thought to the fact the maybe Wanda didn’t want everybody to know. But Nick was proud as hell and wanted everybody to know.
“Y’all niggas fuckin’. Black in jail and y’all niggas fuckin’! If it was any other time I’d be happy for you, but this ain’t the time for it,” Freeze said very seriously. “Let’s ride, we got business.”
As soon as they turned to walk away, Freeze saw a car coming at them fast. Once he saw two guns come out of the passenger side windows, Freeze yelled to Nick.
“Get down!”
Nick and Freeze dropped to the ground, as bullets rained over their heads. Once the shooting stopped, they got to their feet and fired back, but the car was too far away to even give chase.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“What the fuck was that all about?”
“Something happened today,” Freeze said as he reloaded and put away his gun.
“What happened?” Nick demanded to know, as Lexi and two of the club security guards came running out of the club.
“Freeze!” Lexi yelled. “Are you all right?” she ran up and hugged him.
“Yeah,” Freeze said still looking around in case there was a second wave. “I’m fine. We’re both fine.”
“Is everybody all right inside?” Nick asked looking at the bullet-riddled front of Cuisine.
“As far as I know everybody’s fine,” Lexi said as guest began to trickle out of the club. Lexi immediately turned her attention to her guests, and their attention away from Nick and Freeze.
“We gotta get outta here, Nick,” Freeze said and started toward his truck.
Once they were in the truck and away from the club, Nick turned to Freeze. “What happened today?”
“I shot two of Birdie’s boys.”
“What? Why?”
“There’s something I gotta tell you.”
“Just tell me why!” Nick shouted.
“That’s what I’m trying to do!” Freeze shouted back.
“All right, all right, let’s both calm down,” Nick said as Freeze drove. “Just tell me what you gotta tell me.”
“It’s my fault she’s dead.”
“Who, Shy?” Nick looked curiously at Freeze. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Shy called me that night, and asked me to come over there, but I never went.”
“Why not?” Nick thought for a second. Then he looked at his friend. “You didn’t go because you don’t like the way she talks to you?”
Freeze looked over at Nick but didn’t answer.
“Before me and Black went to Mexico I talked to Shy about that,” Nick said.
“What you do that for?”
“Because you’re my friend,” Nick answered. “I told her how you felt about it. She had no idea. She called you over there to apologize to you.”
Freeze didn’t say a word.
“So tell me what that got to do with you killing two of Birdie’s men?”
“I fuckin’ lost it! I was mad and I fuckin’ lost it!”
“Just tell me what happened,” Nick said.
Freeze explained to Nick how he saw Lonnie and Smiley parked at a red light and he shot them. Nick shook his head in disbelief and looked out the window.
“What?” Freeze asked.
“I don’t think Birdie had anything to do with Shy’s murder,” Nick said calmly.
“What you talking about?” Freeze asked.
“I talked to Kirk, he said whoever did it, it took a lot of planning. That shit with Shy happened the day before. Ain’t no way Birdie could act that fast. I don’t think he had anything to do with it, he couldn’t have,” Nick said as Freeze pulled up in front of Wanda’s house. He wasn’t looking forward to having this discussion with Wanda, but Freeze knew it had to be done.
“Let’s get this over with,” Freeze mumbled as Nick rang the bell.
“You know what she’s gonna say,” Nick said.
Wanda looked through the peek hole and smiled when she saw Nick standing there. Thinking that he had come back to ravage her again, Wanda swung the door open.
When she saw Freeze standing next to Nick, Wanda’s entire facial expression changed. She looked at Nick and noticed the frustration across his face.
“What’s wrong?” Wanda asked.
“Freeze got something to tell you,” Nick said as he walked passed Wanda and headed straight for the bar to pour himself a drink.
“Make mine a double,�
�� Freeze said.
“Okay, what happened?” Wanda asked as she took a seat in her favorite chair.
“I shot two of Birdies boys today,” Freeze answered and followed Nick to the bar.
Wanda dropped her head into her hands. When she finally looked up she mumbled, This just keeps getting better and better. “Nick could you make me an Apple Martini please?” Wanda turned her attention back to Freeze. “So tell me, why you shot ‘em?”
Nick handed Freeze his drink and he drained it before he started talking. “Shy and Birdie got into it at Cuisines while Nick and Black were in Mexico.”
Wanda rolled her eyes, and then she sighed. “When you first told me about this, it didn’t sound all that serious, when did things change? Did you talk to Birdie?”
“No!” Freeze snapped.
“Well, what changed things?” Wanda asked.
Freeze didn’t respond.
“I’m going to assume since you can’t tell me what changed, that nothing changed. You just saw these two people and shot them. What were you thinking?”
“I had to do something,” Freeze said softly.
“Birdie didn’t have anything to do with it. You know he couldn’t have. He ain’t that smart, and he definitely ain’t that gangster, so again, I ask, what made you believe that he killed Shy?”
By this time, Nick had finished the drinks. He walked over to Wanda and placed her Martini in front of her. They exchanged knowing glances, but Wanda was still mad.
“Were you with him when he did this?” she asked even though she knew exactly where he was and what he was doing all day.
Nick took a swallow of his drink. “I ain’t had shit to do with this one.”
“It happened this afternoon.” Freeze smiled at Wanda. “I don’t know where Nick was all day.” Even though he knew.
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe you should check with someone other than yourself before you do something like this? What the fuck were you thinking?” Wanda yelled.
“I had to do something!” Freeze yelled back.
“Great,” Wanda said. “This is just fucking great! You know they’re gonna have to do something about it, you know they’re gonna come after us. Mike’s been in jail two days and you’re trying to take us to war!”