One Way To Heaven

by J. M. Benjamin

  The girl nodded.

  “All you have to do is answer one question truthfully.”

  “Okay.”

  Saleski handed her the stack of photo’s he held.

  “Have you ever seen any of them in there?”

  “You want me to snitch?” the young stripper asked.

  “No, I want you to do whatever you feel is best for you under the circumstances,” Saleski re-worded.

  “I-I don’t know about this.”

  “Your choice,” Saleski said nonchalantly. He could tell by the way she had looked at the photos she had recognized somebody. “All I need to know is if you ever seen them and with who. No more, no less.”

  “That’s all?” she asked in a skeptic manner.

  “Scouts honor.”

  “I seen her tippin’ Re-Re heavy a few times.”

  Saleski’s eyes lit up as the young stripper I.D.’d Anita Abrams.

  “Is Re-Re inside?”

  “I thought you said all I had to answer was what you asked me?”

  “I did, but there’s no harm in my last question.”

  “Man,” she sighed. “No, she don’t even come in no more, now can I go?”

  “Have a good night,” Saleski replied. When she realized that Saleski was letting her go, she quickly scurried over to one of the other dancers and whispered into her ear. The girl turned around with an astonished look on her face and stared at Saleski. The detective winked at her. She then spoke to another one of the girls, who in turn glanced at Saleski. He blew a kiss at her. The three females informed their other friend and all four females quickly made their way to their respective vehicle parked in the lot. Honey was so caught up with the bouncer that she didn’t notice her friends’ hasty departure at first. But when she did, she sucked her teeth and frowned. “I gotta go daddy,” she said, pulling her hand out of the bouncer’s grasp and removing his other hand from her ass.

  “So when you gonna come through the crib and sit on my dick?” the bouncer asked. “I’d rather sit on ya face,” she answered, descending the steps one by one.

  “Oh you ain’t said nuttin’. We can do that too,” the bouncer said, sticking his tongue out and flicking it back and forth. Honey laughed and shook her head. “One day black ass. One day.” And then she took off speed walking, trying to catch up with her friends. She switched her ass extra hard for the bouncer and Saleski’s viewing pleasure. The bouncer kept his eyes glued to her ass until she was out of sight.

  “Mmm, mmm, mmm,” he moaned. “That girl just don’t know what I’ll do to her.”

  Saleski glanced at him and shook his head.

  “What’chu shaking ya head? Don’t let that young girl shit fool you. These little bitches down here in the dirty is grown as hell. Fuckin’ and suckin’ with the best of ‘em. If they act like they want it, I’ll give it to ‘em. Plus I seen you pushing up on Butter Pecan.”

  Saleski assumed that was the Spanish girl’s stage name. “I never got your name,” Saleski evaded the bouncer’s statement.

  “It’s Blue,” the bouncer boomed.

  Go figure thought Saleski. “So, Blue, tell me about Re-Re.”

  “Bitch used to dance here, now she don’t,” was all Blue offered, crossing his arms across his chest and staring at Saleski.

  “What can you tell me about her?”

  “Not a damn thing. No different than any other bitches that dance here. They wear so many wigs, weaves and extensions and switch they appearance up half the time, I can’t even recognize our regulars. What is this all about officer? Why you out here interrogating me and shit?” Blue asked.

  “There’s no interrogation, you had the right to remain silent,” Saleski said plainly.

  “Ain’t this about a bitch,” Blue cursed under his breath.

  Saleski couldn’t help but laugh. “Is the owner inside?”

  “I’m exercising my fourth amendment.”

  “It’s the fifth.” Saleski laughed for a second time as he made his way towards the battered door.

  As Saleski made his way inside the club, he decided to give the bouncer Blue a pass for the low derogatory comment he had made, just loud enough for him to catch it, for being so helpful out front…

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Heaven slowed up as she approached the tollbooth. A world of emotions builds up inside her as she read the overhead sign. She remembered the promise she had made herself the last time she had seen it. And now, she was that much closer to making good on that promise. Since they had left the Maryland House, they had woken Shell and made her sit up erect. Heaven didn’t want to risk drawing any suspicion from a nosey tollbooth attendant when they reached the turnpike. Now, the four of them all peered up at the New Jersey sign on top of the tollbooth with excitement in their eyes. Everybody pretended to be asleep as they reached the window. Heaven paid the elderly Caucasian attendant and flashed her a warm smile. She extended her hand and accepted her change then sped off.

  “We good,” Heaven informed them.

  The welcome to New Jersey sign off to the right of the turnpike was like a breath of fresh air to them all. Each one of them had missed being on New Jersey soil at some point. It was a good feeling to them despite their reasons for returning. They knew this was not a pleasure trip but rather a business one. While Heaven cruised up the New Jersey Turnpike, each one of them thought about what lay ahead and what all had to be done once they got off on Exit 9…

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Two days later Saleski and Crawford sat at their desks discussing the turn of events of Saleski’s investigation.

  “I was this damn close.” Saleski made an indication with his thumb and pointer finger. He balled his fist and banged down hard on his desk. Heads turn from the echo that traveled through the precinct. He was still heated behind the whole chain of events down south. It seemed he was always just inches away from their trail. When he received the call from Sheriff James about the triple homicide, he had a strong feeling there was a connection to Heavenly Jacobs and her crew. All was confirmed when he tracked down an address to the stripper from the gentleman’s club and discovered her dead body. It came as no surprise when the Sheriff told him one of the male D.O.A’s last name was Abrams. Saleski drew his own conclusion about the connections of the murders but kept his thoughts to himself. He left the investigation up to the locals and high-tailed it back up to New Jersey.

  “Don’t beat yourself up over it,” Crawford tried to console her partner. “At least now you know they’re probably somewhere in the surrounding area up here.”

  “And why is that?” Saleski asked.

  “It’s obvious that they’re bold and take risks. Come on now, they’re not going to be committing murders for Christ’s sake and stay in one place. Just think about it. They killed three men, a stripper and God knows who else, so now they’re wanted in the state of South Carolina. I’m pretty sure they’ve fled the area after that. Besides, you said it yourself that you have a hunch they have some unfinished business here,” Crawford reminded him.

  “Yeah, but it’s a long shot. I don’t know,” Saleski sighed. “I just don’t know.” Saleski sounded defeated.

  It was Crawford’s turn to slam her fist into the desk. “I can’t believe this shit,” the fuming woman hissed. “You sound as if this case is over. Far from it,” Crawford went on. “We’re the smart ones. Not them. They’ve been lucky so far and outmaneuvered us, but they’re criminals and they ain’t no different from the rest of ‘em. Right now they’re drunk off success, but it’s just a matter of time before they slip up. They always do,” Detective Crawford said with emphasis. “And when they do, we’ll be right there to catch them,” she ended.

  All Saleski could do was sit and listen as his partner pointed out the facts and hoped she was right…

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “You sure they got the money?” LaLa nervously asked for the umpteenth time.

  “Yes, I’m sure,” Melissa confirmed.
“My peoples don’t play when it comes to taking care of business. You have something they want and they don’t mind paying for it.”

  “Well, I don’t know your peoples, that’s why I keep asking.” LaLa rolled her eyes. “Shit, I could lose my life over this if anybody found out.”

  LaLa had gotten on Melissa’s last nerve over an hour ago with her questioning and complaining. Had it not been for the pertinent information she possessed she knew she would have already cursed LaLa out and added a punch and a couple of smacks to the face to go with it.

  “LaLa chill,” their mutual friend Cinnamon intervened. She noticed the tension rising earlier between the two and noticed Melissa’s patience wearing thin. The last thing she wanted was for things to go sour. Especially since she was getting a cut of the pay off for setting up the deal. In her mind, she had already contemplated what she was going to spend the five grand on promised to her by LaLa.

  Melissa’s buzzer sounded off, easing the tension in the room. She made her way over to the intercom. Once she confirmed who it was, she buzzed the front door open.

  “It’s about time,” LaLa slyly remarked.

  “Bitch, as if you had somewhere else to be,” Melissa snapped. She couldn’t resist.

  Before LaLa could counteract, Mia came strolling through the door. The sight of her and the knapsack thrown over her shoulder was enough to make LaLa remain silent.

  “What’s good everybody?” Mia greeted. The whole while her eyes were locked on LaLa.

  “Hey cuz.” Melissa hugged Mia.

  “Hey,” Cinnamon spoke.

  LaLa just smiled and waved like a little innocent school- girl.

  The attraction was evident. It was no secret that LaLa was bi-sexual and Mia fit the description she was attracted to.

  “Which one of ya’ll is LaLa?” Mia asked.

  “Me.” LaLa raised her hand, still portraying the innocent school girl roll.

  Melissa rolled her eyes. She wondered where all the sass and hood behavior LaLa was moments ago displaying had gone.

  “That’s wassup.” You would have thought Mia was L.L. Cool J the way she licked her lips while she spoke. “We appreciate you showin’ love and helpin’ us out,” Mia continued. “It takes a lot of heart to do this.”

  “I definitely got a lot of that,” LaLa replied flirtatiously.

  “You got the money?” Cinnamon asked in an irritating tone. She was growing tiresome of the back and forth between Mia and LaLa. Despite the fact that she had messed with LaLa occasional, it was not her jealous side that had her impatient but rather her greed. She was ready to conclude the business deal so she could catch Jersey Gardens mall and snatch up the designer bag she had been dying to get before they closed.

  Mia shot Cinnamon an ice grill. “Who the fuck is you again?” Mia dryly questioned.

  Melissa shook her head. She knew how her little cousin was, because she was the same way. Their bloodline was strong and zero tolerance for bullshit and disrespect ran in their family.

  “That’s my home girl,” LaLa came to Cinnamon’s defense. “She straight. She the reason why I’m here.”

  By now LaLa had her hand on Mia’s wrist.

  Hearing her involvement, Mia sided against smacking the taste out of Cinnamon’s mouth. Instead, Mia checked her.

  “Do me a favor,” she directed her words to Cinnamon. “Sit down and shut the fuck up.”

  The serious look in Mia’s eyes was enough to sit Cinnamon down.

  “It’s all there, 25 stacks. But you can count it though.” Mia handed LaLa the knapsack.

  “No need,” LaLa replied.

  She wasted no time opening the bag. Her eyes widened with joy at the sight of the bundles of rubber ban stacks.

  “Can I have a pen and a piece of paper,” LaLa requested.

  Melissa handed her the memo pad along with an ink pen.

  “This is the new address he texted me,” LaLa spoke as she wrote on the memo pad. “He just relocated there and wants me to come over the first chance I get. Only one other person besides me knows where he is.”

  LaLa folded the piece of paper and stood. She handed the paper to Mia.

  “Pleasure doing business with you,” she cooed seductively.

  “Same here,” Mia matched LaLa’s tone. Mia opened up the piece of paper and managed to suppress her smile at the phone number and message to call later right below the address LaLa provided. She shot LaLa a wink then turned towards Melissa.

  “Cuz, I gotta roll, but this is for you.”

  Mia handed Melissa a bankroll of hundred dollar bills.

  “Shell and Sonya will be thru to say good bye before we bounce. They gonna chill here while we handle things. Heaven told me to tell you thanks for everything. She’ll probably pass thru when this is all over.” Mia ended and then hugged Melissa knowing that may very well be the last time she ever got to hug her first cousin again. Melissa closed her eyes tightly and fought back her tears. She too had felt the meaning of the parting hug.

  Cinnamon could see the gun bulging out from the lower part of Mia’s back as she watched the two family members hug. She was glad she had decided to take a seat rather mouth off the way she normally would at the way Mia had talked to her.

  “Be careful,” Melissa whispered into her cousin’s ear.

  Seconds later, Mia took one last glance back at LaLa and was out the door. If only I had the time she thought as she hopped in the car and headed back to her crew with the final piece to their puzzle…

  Chapter Thirty

  “Good morning,” Detective Crawford turned and heard Saleski announce in a jolly tone. She noticed how his face was lit up.

  “Who’d you wake up next to this morning?” she asked sarcastically as she studied her partner’s unfamiliar behavior.

  “Lady Luck.” Saleski beamed.

  “Do tell.” Crawford smiled. She leaned back in her desk chair and clasped her hands.

  “Well, after the trail down in South Carolina went from warm to a complete cold one again, I got to thinking. I traveled back in time and went back to all of the chain of events before Ms. Jacobs was broken out of jail and fled the state.”

  Saleski pulled up his desk chair and slid beside detective Crawford’s desk. He slapped the folder he had in his hand on the desk and opened it.

  “Okay, so here’s how it went.” Saleski thumbed through page after page as he walked his partner through the history of Heaven’s case and what lead up to her arrest in detail.

  “I don’t know why I didn’t see it before,” Saleski concluded. He closed the folder back up.

  “I follow you, but are you sure you’re right?” Crawford asked.

  “Now who’s the one in doubt, my Latina friend?”

  Crawford rolled her eyes.

  Saleski shook his head and smiled. “Lighten up Detective. If I had to bet on it, I would put my life savings on the fact that Ms. Jacobs and her crew of female thugs have returned to the Garden State.

  “The question now is where and why?” Crawford stated.

  Saleski shook his head for a second time, only this time in disbelief. “As great of a detective as you are, you don’t pay attention very well,” he teased.

  “Well enlighten me then ole’ great detective Obie freakin’ One Kenobe.” Crawford chuckled.

  Saleski couldn’t help but laugh at his partner’s statement. “Let’s just say, if we can locate a certain someone, it’ll be like killing two birds with one stone,” Saleski chimed, smiling from ear to ear…

  Chapter Thirty-One

  “Damn, look at you,” Monty said. He embraced the chocolate dip as she entered the bedroom fresh out the shower. He slid his hands underneath her robe and caressed her baby soft dripping wet skin. Her nakedness instantly turned him on.

  Monty kissed her on the side of her neck.

  “I missed you baby,” she cooed as she ran her hand across Monty’s baldhead.

  “Show me.” Monty licked his lips and rubbed hi
s hands together. The chocolate dip quickly dropped to her knees and began unbuckling Monty’s belt. Within seconds she was showing him just how much she missed him. Monty threw his head back and savored in the moment. The chocolate dip cuffed Monty’s sack and licked him under his shaft then took him into her mouth. She repeated the ritual until she had Monty nearly ready to explode. Monty grabbed her by the face and pulled back. “I don’t wanna waste it like that,” he told her.

  The chocolate dip smiled seductively. Take all of that off,” she requested in reference to his shirt, jeans, which were bunched up around his ankles and boots. Monty quickly stripped down to the nude and wasted no time moving in. He lifted the chocolate dip up in the air and carried her over to the king sized bed. The chocolate dip disrobed and scooted back onto the bed. Monty crawled in between her legs panther like and guided his rock hard dick inside of her. The chocolate dip arched her back and embraced him. She wrapped her legs around Monty’s waist and her arms around his back. Monty slow grinded his hips, plunging deep inside the chocolate dip. The chocolate dip moaned in ecstasy as she felt her juices flowing down. Monty could feel her inner walls pulsating around his stiffness. He rose up and broke free of the leg and arm lock she had him in. His pace quickened as he began to deep stroke her. He watched his full-length slide in and out of the chocolate dip’s sex cave, as she creamed all over it.

  “Yeah, shit, right there,” the chocolate dip yelled out seductively as Monty long dicked her.

  Her request turned Monty on even more. He grabbed her underneath her thighs and bent her back as far as she could go and shifted his body weight forward. His strokes became deeper, shorter and harder with each thrust.

  “Oooh, aahhh!,” The chocolate dip continued in pleasure as Monty manhandled her.

  He roughly flipped her over and into doggy style position. He clamped his massive hands down around her waist, spread and lifted her ass cheeks and commenced to pounding the chocolate dip from the back. The chocolate dip stared back at him with a facial expression of pain and pleasure as his hips slammed into her ass. The sounds from her wetness and Monty’s body banging up against hers had him ready to explode. He squeezed her waist tighter and rammed his dick inside her like a mad man. Seconds later, Monty let out a monstrous cry as he fell on top of the chocolate dip, breathless.