by Nene Capri
Rock sat in an interrogation room surrounded by two-way mirrors. He had been sitting there for an hour without any explanation. His mind was racing, thinking about why he had been hauled down there.
A few minutes later, in walked two detectives in suits. “Hello, Mr. Davis. We are agents Malone and Sanders from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. We need to ask you a few questions.” They flashed their badges and sat down.
“Is my lawyer here yet?” Rock asked and folded his hands.
“Not yet. But if things go the way we think they will you won’t need one,” the black agent said as he pulled out a folder and slid it in front of Rock. The white agent folded his hands and sat up in his seat.
“What the fuck is this?”
“This is what we’re hoping you can help us out with.” The black agent opened the folder, revealing a photo of KoKo. “Do you know this woman?”
“I might.”
“How about now?” He flipped through the folder, stopping at a picture of Rock and KoKo together. Rock looked up and then back down. The agent continued to show him pictures of KoKo coming and going to his office, house, and several other spots around the city, mostly her club.
“I sell her property. Is that a crime?” he asked, trying to remain calm.
“Yeah, it’s a crime. Did you know that all the houses she brought are with fraudulent information and fictitious paperwork?”
“So what does that have to do with me? I’m a businessman. I sell houses. If the paperwork checks out, then I put the deal through. I don’t have shit to do with what people do with it after I sell it to them.”
“Really? Well, you might want to look at these.” He pulled out another file that had all the checks KoKo collected and signed with his signature and all mortgages with his name listed as the co-signer.
“I don’t know anything about this. I can’t help you, and I ain’t got shit to tell you. My lawyer will be here in a minute and I’ll walk. Y’all ain’t got shit on me.”
“How about murder?”
“Murder? I ain’t saying shit else. I need to see my attorney.”
“I figured you would say that. Look, the house fraud is enough to get her on. However, we want her bad. She has been slipping through the cracks for years, and this paper trail is what we need to put her away for a long time. Now, you can either help us or become an accomplice to murder.”
The agents stood up and Malone said, “We’re going to leave you alone with your thoughts for a little while.” Then they both exited the room, leaving Rock sitting there with all the photos and paperwork. Rock started to go through everything, keeping in mind that he was being watched. He couldn’t believe how KoKo had all the paperwork hooked up. His name was on everything. He closed the folder and then went through the one with the photos. The evidence was overwhelming. Not only did they have her and him, they had pictures of him doing business with other clients that he was keeping under wraps. KoKo was bringing heat on his hustle. Rock started to close the folder when he saw an envelope behind the pictures. He opened it up and was floored. Pictures of that cat named Boa, whom Rock had seen at Golden Paradise showed Boa meetings up with some foreign-looking guy. In a few photos, money exchanged hands and documents were being signed. Rock didn’t know what it was about, but he easily figured out that the Feds had some major shit on KoKo and Boa.
As soon as Rock closed the folder, in walked his lawyer and the two agents. Rock thought about the murder and fraud and then those pictures. The fact that he stood to be tied into it all had him ready to see what deal was on the table.
It’s Our Anniversary…
“Where is KoKo?” Savage questioned Boa as he walked into the basement of the pool hall.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen or heard from her in days,” Boa answered.
“I’ve been calling her phone and no answer.” Savage looked at the monitor, walked to the intercom, and buzzed in Mugsy.
When Mugsy walked in, Savage sat back down and started the same line of questioning that he had just put on Boa’s lap. “You seen the Boss?”
“Nah,” he answered as he hit fists with Boa and then reached out to Savage. “I talked to her about three days ago. She sent me to take care of something, but that was the last time. I figured she was outta town.” He took a seat next to Boa. Savage turned in his seat, propping his fist under his chin and putting on a serious thinking cap.
“Boa, I need you to go to this address.” He wrote something on a small piece of paper and handed it to him. Then he reached in his pocket, grabbed his keys, and handed him a single key. “Hit me when you know something.”
Boa stood up, ready to carry out his mission. He picked up the paper and the key.
“Nah, memorize the address and leave the paper,” Savage instructed.
Boa looked it over for a few seconds and then bounced. Savage picked up the paper, grabbed his lighter and set it on fire. “Go make the rounds,” he said to Mugsy, not even looking in his direction. He was focused on KoKo.
Boa hopped on I-280 West toward the Poconos and followed the directions he was given until he reached exit 277. He pulled off and stopped in McDonald’s to use the bathroom. Then he hopped back in his car, steering onto the Pennsylvania turnpike, and driving about another twenty minutes. When he got to exit 105, he got off and pulled through the tollbooth and continued down the winding mountain road. Arriving at his destination in Dallas, Pennsylvania, he pulled into a long driveway and next to a silver Infiniti. He grabbed his gun out of the hidden compartment, checked the bullets, deaded the engine and stepped out the car heading for the door.
The house was huge. He looked through the window and saw no movement, just flickers of light. Boa put the key in the lock and turned the doorknob slowly. He pushed the door open and adjusted his eyes to the darkness, and then proceeded inside. As Boa moved through the house, what he saw was unsettling. Drawing his gun and stepping carefully over the shattered glass, he followed the trail of clothes that were certainly KoKo’s. Moving alongside the wall, heading in the direction of the room with the flickering light, he stood at the cracked door and peeked inside. Hearing music and very low mumbling, he slightly pushed the door open.
Sitting on the floor up against the bottom of the bed in her bra and panties, Koko held a tall bottle of Absolute Vodka. She looked up at him, but didn’t say a word.
“You a’ight, KoKo?” Boa asked, squatting beside her and taking inventory. His first motive was to see if she was all right. All he could see was that she was fucked up and had been crying, as there were tissues all around her. Upon a closer look, he saw a picture of her and Kayson and then one of a baby. KoKo slowly moved the pictures behind her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, wiping her nose.
“Savage was worried. He sent me up here to check on you.”
“Well, you checked. You can leave now,” she said, taking the bottle to her mouth.
“I’m not leaving you here like this, ma.”
A single tear fell from her eye. She caught it with the back of her hand. “I need to be alone right now,” she slurred.
“I understand, but I’m not leaving.”
KoKo chuckled. “You don’t understand.”
“Make me understand.”
KoKo ran her hands through her hair and slowly rocked back and forth, thinking about all the shit she had been through, accompanied by the things she had done, the worst being taking her sister’s life. “I did some shit that I will be paying for, for the rest of my life.” She looked at Boa like a hurt child. He pulled her into his arms.
“Let me have some of that pain tonight.” Boa held her tight and rocked her in his arms. “Come on, let me get you straight.” He stood and then picked her up from the floor, taking her to the bathroom. Boa placed KoKo in the shower and washed her from head to toe. He dried her off, got her dressed, and put her in the bed.
“Thank you, Boa,” she whispered.
“No thanks necessary
, Boss,” he said, playfully. KoKo cracked a smile.
“I’ll be back.” He left her and called Savage to confirm she was good. Then he proceeded to clean up the mess. Once he was done, he ran out to his car and grabbed his little black bag. He took a shower and changed and then sat in the chair across from her bed and lit up. Taking deep pulls and watching KoKo sleep, he wondered what the fuck was haunting her soul.
Right Place… Right Time…
Baseem emerged from the search area, panning the room and walking past the many rows of visitors heading to the back of the visit hall. When he got to KoKo, he went straight to business.
“I see you looking real relaxed,” KoKo said with a little smile on her face.
“I’m good,” he said as they sat down.
“Whatever. Just watch yourself. New pussy makes niggas act crazy.”
“I got this.”
“Give me the math,” she said, taking a seat.
“That nigga over the edge. Everytime he come back from seeing old girl, he run his mouth. I found out that a female helped out with the hit.”
KoKo’s brow wrinkled. “What you mean?”
“Like I said . . .”
“Did he see who it was?”
“Nah. But he said she had a slick tongue and before she left she said, “If you know a man’s weakness you can do anything you want to him.” Baseem watched KoKo carefully to see if any guilt arose in her face or body language. “So what you think?” he asked.
“Nothing yet. I got some homework to do.” KoKo got up. “Anything else?”
“Not right now,” Baseem stated, maintaining eye contact. Just as he got ready to say something else, he rose to his feet and gave KoKo a hug. As he leaned in, KoKo whispered in his ear. “Pull that nigga’s plug.” Baseem nodded and let her go.
He watched KoKo exit the visit hall, praying that she was not the one behind Kayson’s death. He vowed right there that she was living on borrowed time.
****
It took three days for Baseem to get everything lined up. Once it was straight, there was no turning back.
“What we eating tonight?” Curt asked Baseem as he laced up his boots.
“I don’t know yet. We can plan it when we get back from counseling.”
“Yeah, we should be good and hungry when we get back. She’ll work a nigga’s appetite into overdrive,” he stated with a sneaky grin on his face.
Baseem just nodded in agreement. As they walked the halls toward the offices, Baseem thought over the plan. He knew everything needed to be calculated right up to the second. They walked up to the desk, signed their names, and took a seat.
After about five minutes, she called Curt into the office. “Did you miss me?” she asked as she closed the door.
“Hell yeah,” he responded, looking at her ass as she switched to the other side of her desk.
Curt followed and took his position right between her legs.
Zori began to kiss and suck on his lips as she released his dick from his pants. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
Curt grabbed her by the waist and sat her up on the desk. “I want you to make a nigga cum hard,” he said as he eased inside her.
“No problem,” Zori said as she began to squeeze her muscles around his dick.
Curt hissed with every thrust. Zori continued to squeeze as she grabbed his ass, pulling him in deeper. “Gotdamn!” he moaned.
He closed his eyes and enjoyed her wetness. Within minutes, he was ready to bust, picking up speed as he bit down into her shoulder.
When Zori heard the series of moans Curt would make right before he came, she slowly reached for the razor Baseem made for her. Curt was breathing heavily and pumping faster, and just as he released, Zori grabbed him by the back of his head and slit his throat. He grabbed his neck and fell up against the wall. She jumped up and put a few more lashes on his chest and arms. He slid down the wall, gasping for air, looking utterly confused.
Zori cut open her blouse, making a small incision on her chest. She then slightly cut her hands and forearms. Lying on the floor, she pulled him on top of her and began to scream for help.
Baseem burst into the office, grabbed Curt, and stabbed him twice in the chest before the guards came and wrestled him to the floor.
“No. Wait! He was helping me,” she pleaded.
The guards pulled Baseem to his feet and handcuffed him. Three more guards rushed in checking Curt and then Zori. “Are you okay Miss?”
“I think so. I don’t know what happened. We were talking and then he attacked me,” she said as she burst out in tears.
“I need a medic in the counselor’s office,” one of the guards radioed in as the other guard lifted Zori off the floor and placed into her chair. Baseem was hauled off for questioning. Zori watched as Curt leaked blood all over the floor. Tears of joy rolled down her face as she thought, Mission accomplished.
-41-
I Got Your Back
KoKo cruised the city looking at all her old spots and reminiscing about the good times when she, Wise, and Aldeen used to hurt the streets during a time when all she had to worry about was making sure the count was right. Those times were a distant memory, however, it felt good to her spirit to recall those days when hustling was what she lived for. Then she got a phone call from Rock, interrupting her nostalgia.
“I need to see you,” his harmonious voice rang through her phone.
“I won’t be back down there for a couple of days. Can it wait?”
“I’m in the city. When can I meet you?”
“I will be in my office in about an hour. I have to meet with a few people, but then I will be free. Is six good for you?”
“Is it the office I came to before?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, I’ll see you at six.” He hung up and handed the woman at the counter his credit card to pay for his room at the Aloft hotel in Harlem. After getting his keys, he headed up to his room to get ready to have this sit down with the woman whom the FBI called ‘The Boss.’
Six O’clock . . .
“A’ight, y’all gotta put the squeeze on them niggas. I have to meet with someone.” KoKo looked at her watch, ready to dismiss the crew when she looked at her monitor and saw Rock exiting a cab and heading to the door. He walked up and hit the buzzer. KoKo buzzed him in and watched him enter the building and then the elevator. “Anything else?”
“Nah, we good,” Night said as he rose from his seat.
“I need to holla at you,” Boa replied.
“It will have to be later. I have to handle some business real quick.” Just as she finished her sentence, a few taps came on the door. She buzzed Rock in the room and everyone greeted each other, except Boa. He didn’t even speak. KoKo watched as frustration set in on Boa’s face.
“Good evening, gentlemen,” Rock said as he put his hand out to greet each man in attendance. Boa turned his back and walked to the wet bar. Rock ignored his banter and moved on to KoKo. “Hey sexy.” Rock walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.
“Hello, Mr. Davis,” KoKo responded. “So what’s up?”
“I need a private moment of your time,” he said, looking KoKo up and down.
“I’ll see y’all later.” KoKo dismissed everyone except Rock.
Each person nodded in agreement and began exiting the room. Boa tossed back his drink, gave KoKo a cold stare, and shook his head and then headed to the door.
“I’m going outta town. I’ll catch up with you in a couple of days,” he spat.
KoKo watched Boa leave the office with evil in his eyes. She wanted to check him, but she had other business at hand.
“So, what’s so important?”
Rock took a seat and started his spiel. “Some people came to see me.”
“Is that right? What did they want?” she asked, but already knew from the tone of his words.
“They think they have something on you. Mostly property shit. But I think some dirty shit wen
t on, and they want to tie it in to build a case. But I know you will do your research.”
“What role do you play in all this?”
“I’m good. You ain’t got to worry about me. But I think you need to check your boy.”
“Which one?”
“The one with the attitude—they got more shit on him than Al Capone.”
“Fact or fiction?”
“Real fact in color.”
KoKo processed his words. She knew exactly what was going on, and she was going to do more than research. “I thank you for coming to see me in person.”
“You know by now that I got you.” Rock stood up and KoKo followed suit. He walked over to her side of the desk and looked into her eyes.
“You know we need to cut ties, right?” KoKo advised.
“Look, I care about you, no doubt. But I am no fool. I knew what type of person you were the day you walked in my office. I loved every minute we spent together, and if the circumstances were different I would make you my wife. However, our paths crossed in war time.” He smiled and KoKo returned the gesture. “You have my word. I will protect you at any cost. If you ever need me for anything—anything, I’m here.” Rock pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight.
“Thank you,” she said as they stood for a few more seconds in their embrace.
“Now, can a man at least get a meal out the deal?” he asked, pulling back.
“Hell yeah, you just saved a bitch a whole lot of footwork. That’s the least I can do.”
Rock and KoKo exited her office for what would be their last time together. On the way to the elevator, KoKo’s mind raced. She now had to make sure Rock was a friend and not an enemy.
Night on the Town…
KoKo had Boa meet her on the side of the Hudson River. He pulled up next to her car and got out. She exited her car and leaned up against it with folded arms.
“You got something to tell me?” KoKo asked.
“No. Why?” Boa replied.
“It’s too much shit going on, and I don’t know what the fuck you doin’,” she stated.