“Mom wants you to pay the rent, that’s what she wants. Anyway, I was thinking we should make up a story for Kiki about what his brother does. Because I don’t think a drug dealer—no, sorry, an executive to the kingpin—is much of a role model.”
“Kiki’s a good judge of character. See whose arms he runs to next time we’re both in the room.”
“Can’t argue with that. You’ve always been the prize around here.”
“What’s going on?” Mom poked her head in. That was a surprise. Usually when Tasha and I fought, she turned up the volume on the TV.
“Nothing new,” I said. “Tasha’s nominating me for Citizen of the Year.”
Mom turned on Tasha. “Stop nagging him. Jessica’s in the hospital, for God’s sake. He must be exhausted.”
“So now I’m the bad guy. What’s new?” Tasha stalked out of the room.
I sighed. “You don’t need to keep defending me, Mom. I can handle Tasha.”
“She doesn’t know when to stop. Never has.” Mom turned to leave.
“Wait.” I took a deep breath. “She told me about Dad.”
Mom nodded. I guess Tasha had already mentioned it. “I did the best I could for you, Darren. I wanted you to have someone to look up to so you wouldn’t get into trouble.”
I had to laugh. “How’d that work for you?”
“It worked good.” She came over and sat on the edge of the bed. “You never got into drugs, did you?”
“ ’Course not. I’m not dumb enough to start using.”
She stiffened. “Your father wasn’t dumb either.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
She was silent for a while, and I could tell she was debating whether to say something. “It wasn’t all his fault, you know. It was the business he was in. Everyone in the music scene was on something.”
That threw me off. “The music scene?”
“Yeah. He used to MC at clubs and parties and all that.”
I couldn’t believe my dad had been into music. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”
“Because that whole scene is trouble. When your dad started using, he was just having fun. Never had to pay for his own booze, crack, nothing. He couldn’t handle the temptation.”
So much about my mom finally clicked. This was why she never wanted me involved in music. “Don’t worry, Mom. That would never happen to me. I see what drugs do to people.”
“Good.”
Mom knew what I was getting at—being a street dealer was a wake-up call for anyone tempted to start using.
Maybe that was why she didn’t stop me from dealing. I wasn’t going to ask.
The Game
She’ll use you
She’ll seduce you
Red carpet of cash under your feet
Sure there’s guns
Sure there’s death
You think you’re strong, you take the heat
It’s about the ca-ching
The glitter of bling
Only problem is
If you live this biz
You rock the lifestyle
And make big plans
Then you look in the mirror
There’s blood on your hands.
THE INTERROGATION
Ray-go was a natural businessman. When we did cash drops together, I let him do the talking. He knew what to say to put the jumpy shop owners at ease.
Sometimes I felt like we were in an old gangster movie. The owners would meet us at the back of their stores and bring us inside for the cash. Most of them didn’t want to be involved with Tony, but they were too scared to speak up. Even though he gave them a decent cut of the money, it didn’t make up for the worry of getting caught.
We finished the cash drops around nine. It was too late to see Jessica. Since she’d been moved out of ICU, I had to stick to regular visiting hours. I went home, hoping that I wouldn’t get a call from one of the executives that night. But it was hard to relax knowing that any day now Tony could give the go-ahead for the Blood bath.
The phone rang. I jumped and grabbed my cell.
But it was the wrong phone.
I scrambled to dig the cell from under my mattress. “Hello?”
“Darren, I’m glad I caught you,” Kessler said. “We found the gun at Tyrell’s place.”
“Is it the murder weapon?”
“Looks like it. The ballistics won’t come back for a few days. We’ve got him here. He’s keeping his mouth shut. I want you to come in and watch us question him. Maybe you can help us figure out what will get him talking.”
Sounded like her optimism of the other night had taken a hit. I wasn’t sure there was anything I could do to help, but I’d try.
“I’m there,” I promised, hanging up.
I took a train downtown and scoped the street before slipping into the police station. Kessler met me right away and brought me to Homicide on the second floor, then to an interrogation room with a small black-and-white TV. On it, there was Tyrell, staring down at a table. A bald detective sat next to the TV, writing down notes.
“Detective Reitz, this is Prescott’s CI.”
“Hello.” His eyes were cold, and he didn’t shake my hand. I knew what he was thinking—a snitch is a snitch.
“Tyrell hasn’t said anything so far but ‘Fuck you,’ ” Reitz said. “Kessler here thinks you might have a strategy to deal with that.”
I watched Tyrell on the screen, noticed the way he hung his head, fidgeted nervously with his hands, and shuffled his feet. He was scared. I knew the feeling. I’d never forget the night Vinny had brought me to see Tony, when I’d expected to die.
I turned to Kessler. “He’s terrified of Tony. He disobeyed him by keeping the gun. You should play on that. Remind him that he must’ve gone against Tony’s orders and that Tony’s gonna be mad. Tell him that Tony won’t risk him talking. Tell him he’s dead even if he doesn’t rat him out.”
Kessler and Reitz glanced at each other. Reitz actually said, “Thank you,” as he got up. They headed for the door.
“One more thing,” I said, and they both turned.
“Remind him that he’s got kids. And that for Tony, no one is off-limits.”
THE CHINA PLACE
Midnight. I was still at Homicide, my head in my hands.
I’d watched Kessler and Reitz play it as best they could, but it wasn’t enough. Tyrell wasn’t going to talk. Despite the fear in his eyes, despite his fiendlike jitters, he wasn’t going to implicate Tony.
My phone went off for the second time in twenty minutes. Vinny. I’d ignored his last call, but this time I had to take it. I didn’t need him getting suspicious.
“Yo.”
“Darren, I been calling you. Where you at?”
“Just got home.”
“We’re about to have a meeting. Nine-one-one, son. Nine-one-one. The China place.” He hung up.
So they’d heard that Tyrell had been arrested.
I glanced at the TV screen. I doubted anything would change while I was gone. Kessler and Reitz would probably throw in the towel soon.
The China place was an abandoned town house in a seedy part of Chinatown. The front steps were crumbling, but the back entrance was usable. I’d been here once before. There was no furniture, just dirt and dust and whatever trash the latest squatters had left behind. I watched where I stepped in case there were syringes on the floor.
Inside, everybody was standing in a circle.
“You heard about Tyrell getting picked up?” Vinny asked.
I acted surprised. “When did it happen?”
“Few hours ago.”
“What they got on him?”
“We don’t know yet,” Marcus said.
Tony cracked his knuckles. “Bitch-ass kept a gun I told him to throw away. I’ll fuck him up.”
“He won’t talk, will he?” I asked.
“Nah, he won’t talk,” Marcus said.
Tony didn’t seem so sure. “No doubt the
cops will wanna make him a deal.”
“It’s on him,” Vinny said. “It’s all on him. You got no worries.”
“Don’t I? I should’ve ended him when he fucked up the Blood bath!”
“You couldn’t have known this would happen,” Marcus said, trying to calm him down. “Tyrell won’t snitch. Not if he wants to live another day.”
I had a strong instinct on how to play this. “I hope you’re right,” I said to Marcus. “But the cops will mess with his head. I bet they’re telling him that Tony’s gonna kill him no matter what, just to make sure he stays quiet.”
Marcus glared at me. He wanted to stop Tony from doing something rash.
“Darren’s right,” Tony said. “Tyrell could talk either way.”
“Unless we get him a message that if he keeps his trap shut, you’re cool with him,” I told Tony.
“Makes sense to me,” Ray-go said. “We could send somebody to see him. Let him know that if he stays quiet, we’ve got his back.”
Marcus thought about it. “Maybe McFadden.”
Damn it. McFadden was Tony’s expensive lawyer. It made perfect sense for him to deliver the message.
Tony shook his head. “This is too steep for him. This ain’t some trafficking case. This is about a cop. We can’t trust some crooked-ass lawyer with that.”
Marcus gave up the point. “Then one of us better do it.”
At that moment, we all looked away from Tony.
“Darren,” Tony said. “It was your idea. You do it.”
“But—” Seeing Tony’s hard stare, I nodded grudgingly. “Okay.”
My fists tightened with satisfaction. For once, Tony had played right into my hands.
THE MESSENGER
When I got back to the station, it was one in the morning. Kessler was still there. She rubbed her temples like she was fighting a headache. “We couldn’t get a word out of him. Not one word. We told him we were picking up his cousin. He didn’t flinch.”
“Where is he now?”
“In Central Holding downstairs.”
“With other guys?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. That’ll keep him on edge.”
“You were right about him, Darren. He’s been well programmed. Walker knows how to choose his people.”
“I want to see him.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“I’m bringing him a message from Diamond Tony. I’ll pay off a guard to let me talk to him. Happens all the time.”
She didn’t deny that. Everybody knew some of the guards took bribes. It was part of the game.
“Maybe it’s safer if we make it look like you got picked up,” she said.
“No. Tony sent me to deliver a message, and I know exactly what I’ve got to do. Trust me. It’s our last chance.”
“Go for it, then.”
Minutes later, a guard ushered me up to the cell. Tyrell was in there with four other guys. Most of them were strung out. Tyrell was slumped in a corner, keeping his distance from the others. When he saw me, his eyes bugged out, and he jumped to his feet.
“D.” He gripped the bars. “How’s Tony?”
He searched my eyes, trying to gauge how much trouble he was in. For a second, I almost felt sorry for him. Then I thought of Prescott.
“He wanted me to give you a message: You know the code.”
“ ’Course I know the code. Ain’t nothing they can do to make me talk. Remy neither. Tony knows that, right?”
I looked away, knowing that what you didn’t say could be heavier than what you did. “I’m just the messenger. That’s all he said.” I started to walk away, but Tyrell grabbed my sleeve through the bars. The guard in the hall barked for him to back off, so he let go.
“You gotta tell Tony he can trust me.” His voice shook. “You gotta tell him. I know it was a big mistake to keep the gun, but it was too good to throw away. I was gonna use it for—you know. It don’t jam, see. I needed a piece like that. One I could depend on.”
I shrugged. “I’ll tell him if you want.”
“The cops are saying he’s gonna kill me either way. But I know that ain’t true. Tony trusts me.”
He was begging me to say something to reassure him, but I gave him nothing. I wouldn’t even look at him.
“Good luck, T.” I knocked his knuckles through the bars, then walked away.
The Snitch’s Dilemma
Every man will have his chance
To place his final bet
Stick to your story, Morning Glory
Cut a deal, slip from the net
Betray the king and then survive
It might be the only way
To save your family and yourself
Go with your gut and make the play.
ICE COLD
That night, I slept like a baby. And when I woke up, the secret cell was ringing.
“Tyrell’s talking,” Kessler said. “Whatever you did worked.”
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. This wasn’t a dream. Diamond Tony was going to get put away for Prescott’s murder. Finally he would get what he deserved.
“I’d like to pick up Walker as soon as possible,” she said. “Word could get out that Tyrell talked, and I don’t want Tony skipping town. Can you locate him for me?”
I checked the clock. It was 9:05 a.m. “He’s probably still at his crib. I think only Marcus knows where it is. Odds are Tony’s going to want to meet with his executives at some point today. I’ll keep you posted.”
“I’ll be waiting for your call. And, Darren—thank you. Ed was right about you. You’re a good kid.”
“Thank me once Tony’s locked up.” I didn’t feel much like a kid anymore. Hadn’t for a long time.
* * *
Less than an hour later, I walked into the China place. Only Tony and Marcus were there. Tony paced the room like a restless cat.
When he saw me, he took off his sunglasses. His eyes were red, as if he hadn’t slept. “Tell me about your meeting with Tyrell.”
Obviously the text I’d sent Tony last night hadn’t reassured him. That suited me just fine. I’d called Kessler minutes ago with our location. The cops would be here any second.
“I told him everything you wanted me to. He knows he’s dead if he opens his mouth.”
My pulse was going crazy, but by now I’d learned to appear ice cold no matter what was going on inside me. I kept expecting the door to get kicked in at any moment. I was ready to hit the floor with my hands behind my back.
“He wanted me to tell you that he’s no snitch,” I said.
Tony stopped pacing. “I bet they’re leaning on him hard.”
I spread my hands. “I told him you’d have his back and take care of his family if he kept quiet. But he was stressed out. I can’t tell you a hundred percent that we can count on him. I don’t know.”
Tony’s jaw flexed. “We can’t have him talking.” He flashed Marcus a look. “You got someone?”
Marcus gave a nod. “I have a couple of possibilities.”
“Possibilities? I need someone who can do the job and not fuck it up. You got someone or not?”
“Yeah. When do you want it done?”
“Yesterday.”
Marcus got on his phone.
Holy shit. Tony really wasn’t going to take any chances. I guess I’d done Tyrell a favor by getting him to talk. If he hadn’t been transferred out of the city yet, it would have to happen right away. I’d tell Kessler as soon as I got out of here.
Where the hell were the police, anyway?
Tony was muttering—to me or to himself, I wasn’t sure. “I wanted one job done, one easy job. Now I have to deal with fuckups like Tyrell. I’m not going down. No way I’m going down.”
“Tyrell will be out of the picture soon,” I assured him. “Marcus is on it.”
“He might’ve already talked. They could have a taped confession by now!”
“I don’t know how it works, but if he can�
��t testify in court—”
“Cops! Cops!”
The shouts came from the back porch. Ashtray ran in. “We spotted the cops a block down. Get out—now!”
RUN
Tony pulled a gun from under his shirt. “Get back out there,” he ordered Ashtray. “Keep them away from the house.”
Ashtray looked panicked, but he followed orders.
Tony and Marcus didn’t hesitate. They bolted upstairs. I went with them, though I had no idea where they were going. I’d have thought they’d make a break out the back before the place got surrounded.
Tony headed for a bedroom cluttered with broken furniture. He tore open a closet door and disappeared inside. Marcus went after him. I stared into the closet. There was a hole in the wall that led into another room.
Into another apartment, I realized. The houses were connected. I crawled through.
“Close the closet!” Tony shouted back to me. We were in another abandoned house. Tony and Marcus ran down a hallway, then crossed to another house through another hole in a bedroom wall.
As I ran with them, my mind reeled. Tony had this escape route planned. That was why we’d met in this building in the first place.
Paranoia paid off.
In the third house, we ran downstairs to the back door. Marcus peered out the dirty, half-broken window. We heard gunshots. Ashtray and the other security guys must have been following Tony’s orders and firing their guns to keep the cops away from the house.
“We clear?” Tony demanded.
“There’s a lot of them out there,” Marcus said, trying to catch his breath. “We should wait till they take the house. If most of them go inside, we’ve got a better chance of getting away.”
Tony pushed him aside and looked out the window himself. “We go now. If we wait for them to get inside the house, we’ll only have a few minutes till they track us here. You go first,” he said to Marcus. “Stay low to those bushes. You’ll make it.”
Marcus opened his mouth to argue, but his gaze flicked down to Tony’s gun. “Okay.”
Marcus slipped outside, crouching low. Tony and I watched from the window as he hid behind some bushes ten feet from the house. Police were all over the place. There was no way I could go out there—the odds of getting shot were too high. The cops wouldn’t know I was on their side. To them, I was just another of Tony Walker’s crew.
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