by Lydia Rose
Chase laughed. “Never going to happen.”
“Why don’t you introduce us to Silver?” Angie asked.
Again Chase laughed. “That ain’t going to happen either. Silver don’t want to be bothered by a couple of chicks.” Chase walked away from their table.
“After Chase is occupied, let’s walk by Silver’s table.”
Erin nodded.
An hour later, they got up. “Follow my lead,” Angie said as they walked toward Silver’s table.
As Angie neared Silver’s table, she swayed and almost fell into his lap.
“Watch where you’re going, bitch.” Silver grabbed her arm.
“Sorry, man, but you should be nicer to one of your customers.” Angie answered angrily.
The table of men laughed. “Yeah, I can tell how much you use. You wouldn’t be bad looking if you eased up on the junk.” Now his attention was on Erin. “Who’s tall, dark and brooding?” He laughed. “Your girlfriend?”
Angie ran her finger down Silver’s cheek. “I’m not into girls.”
Silver grabbed her finger. “So what is she, your body guard?”
“Just a friend and business partner,” Angie answered.
Silver laughed. “What kind of business are you two in? Can’t be prostitution because no one would pay either one of you a nickel.”
Angie leaned closer. “Drugs.”
Silver now grabbed Angie’s hand roughly. “Are you selling in my territory?”
Erin started to intervene when Angie spoke again.
“Hey, man. Calm down. Do I look stupid?” Angie pulled out of his grasp.
“Yeah. So where are you selling?”
“Philadelphia.”
“Who do you buy from?” Silver was getting angrier by the minute.
“Chase.”
“Hey, Chase.” Silver yelled across the bar.
Chase walked over and looked at the two women. He was angry and didn’t try to hide it. “What you need, Silver?”
“Are these two customers of yours?”
“Yeah.”
“How much do they buy?”
“A lot.”
“Did you know they were reselling the stuff?”
Chase flashed a scowl at them. “No, Silver, I didn’t know.” Fear was in his voice.
“Get out of my sight. I’ll deal with you later.”
One of Silver’s men pushed Chase away from the table.
“I should teach you both a lesson.”
“What do you care if we sell? We’re not stepping on your toes.” Angie got right back in his face.
“I want a cut of what you two are selling.”
“Hell no,” Angie said pushing forward.
“Bitch, you don’t have a choice.”
“We don’t buy enough stuff to pay you.” Angie’s voice softened. “You’ll have to give us more.”
“Give?” Silver laughed.
“The deal will work for both of us. You give us the stuff and we make you a lot of money.”
“I have a lot of money now.”
“Yeah, but you can expand on your territory.”
One of the men leaned over toward Silver and whispered in his ear.
“Come back and see me tomorrow night.”
Angie nodded and they both walked away. Outside, Erin said, “I think his man was reminding Silver that he wasn’t the boss.”
“Yeah, but Silver seems greedy enough to easily forget that,” Angie added.
“Let’s hope you’re right.”
They were on the way back to their apartment, when Erin said, “I’m going to go back to my apartment to get some more clothes.”
“I’ll go with you,” Angie said and they got into the car.
Erin was in the bedroom getting some more clothes when a knock on the door startled Angie. She looked through the peep hole and saw a woman standing there. Slowly she opened the door. “Can I help you?”
Jane was standing there shocked that someone other than Erin answered. “Hi. I’m looking for Erin.”
“Who are you?” Angie asked and then recognized her face. “Oh, you’re Jane.” She opened the door wider for Jane to enter.
At that moment, Erin came out of the bedroom carrying a pile of clothes. She almost stumbled over her feet. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you. Can we talk? Alone,” she said looking at Angie.
“I have to go to the restroom.” Angie walked away.
Jane looked closely at Erin seeing her condition since she first walked in. “You look terrible.” Erin had lost weight and her blond hair was dirty and matted. The blue eyes she loved so much were sunken and hollow. The spark that had once been there was gone.
Erin shrugged. “How did you know I was here?” Erin asked, ignoring the comment about her condition. Yes, she looked and felt terrible, but she was going to see this assignment through to the end.
“The lights,” Jane answered.
“Are you staking out my place?”
“No, but someone called me to let me know the lights were on.” Jane stood near the door as she spoke. She was just so unsure if Erin would allow her even a hug. Taking a deep breath she walked over to the clothes that Erin had put down. “So I guess you aren’t back?”
“No.”
“I’ve missed you,” Jane said softly.
Erin sighed. “Jane, I’ve got a job to do. I don’t have time to…” She didn’t finish her sentence and if she did what would she tell Jane.
“I know.” She moved closer to Erin. “I just had to see you. It’s been so long.” Her hand went to Erin’s arm.
Erin moved away from her tender touch. “I can’t deal with this right now, Jane. I’ve got a hard job to do and that’s the only thing I need on my mind.”
Jane walked toward the door. “I’m sorry,” she said as she reached for the handle.
Erin rested her hand on Jane’s shoulder. “We’ll talk when I get back,” she said finally relenting.
Jane’s head nodded up and down and then she was gone.
The bathroom door opened and Angie returned to the room. “So that was her? She’s even more beautiful in person then on TV.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Erin said, grabbing the clothes before they left the apartment.
Angie called their contact. “I think Silver is going to go for it. We’re meeting him tomorrow.”
“If he gives you the drugs,” FBI agent Richard Davis said, “Go to that warehouse in Philly that we’ve used in the past. I doubt Silver is going to let those drugs out of his sight. Your contact will be Arnie. He’ll have the money waiting in exchange for the drugs.”
“Got it,” Angie said. She hung up and turned to Erin. “We’re set.”
“How long do you think it will be before Silver’s boss catches wind that he’s started a side business?”
“Not long. Someone is bound to talk.”
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
The following morning, the two women went to the bar. Silver wasn’t there, but one of his men took them to see Silver.
“Ladies,” he said when they walked in. “Ace, is going to go with you to Philadelphia.”
“We don’t need babysitters,” Angie said angrily.
“I don’t care what you think. I’m not letting you two take this stuff and run off,” Silver smirked. “Take it or leave it.”
“Where’re the drugs?” Angie asked.
“Patience, bitch. Where’s your car?” Silver asked.
Ace answered, “At the bar.”
“Give him your keys.”
Erin handed over the keys to Ace. She knew they were going to check the car for anything that might show them this was a trap.
When Ace returned with the car, he went over and whispered in Silver’s ear. “Load the car.”
Within the hour, Erin, Angie and Ace were on the road. Angie knew their vehicle was being followed by her team.
They arrived in Philadelphia and Angie drove to t
he warehouse.
“You wait here,” Ace pointed to Erin. He followed Angie into the warehouse.
Angie knocked on the door and called Arnie’s name.
“Hey, Red,” he said when he opened the overhead door. “Who’s this?”
“My bodyguard,” Angie said sarcastically.
Arnie checked the area and then allowed them into the warehouse. “Do you have the stuff?”
Angie nodded. “A large shipment. Can you handle it?”
“Of course, Red.” Arnie grabbed his keys. “Let’s get your car inside to unload.”
“So let’s see it.” He moved to the back of the car.
Angie opened the trunk.
“That’s all you got? I thought you said it was going to be a big shipment.” Arnie complained.
“Hey, man.” Ace moved closer to Arnie. “This is a big shipment.”
“Well, I could use twice that much.”
“If you don’t like it, we can take it back,” Ace was in Arnie’s face.
“I’ll take it, but I want more.”
Ace laughed in his face.
“Tell your boss to call me.” Arnie wrote down his phone number and stuffed it in Ace’s pocket.
“Give us the money,” Ace said before he would allow the drugs out of the trunk.
Arnie reached for a bag and handed it to Ace. He looked in the bag. “It’s all there. You can count it if you want.”
Ace counted every dollar that was in the bag. They were back in New Jersey later that afternoon. Ace told them to drive to the bar.
The bar was empty when they walked in. Silver came out of the backroom and Ace handed him the money.
“It went smoothly?” Silver asked.
“Yeah.” Ace pulled out the piece of paper. “The guy wants more.”
“Does he?”
“Yeah, says he can handle twice what we gave.”
“Have a drink, ladies,” Silver said as he and Ace went into the back room. “So what did you think?”
“The guy seemed okay, but pushy. Tried pushing me around.”
“So was this guy in charge?”
“Seemed that way. Are we going to give him more stuff?” Ace asked.
Silver rubbed his chin. He wanted to do this, but he was also worried about Ramos. If Ramos found out he had branched out, he would be a dead man.
“We can make some good money here, Silver. Ramos will never find out,” Ace said as if he were reading Silver’s mind.
Silver rubbed his chin again. “Go back with them tomorrow.” He counted out five thousand dollars and went to the front of bar. “Good job today,” he said as he handed them the money.
“That’s it?” Angie said taking the stack.
“It’s a finder’s fee,” he said laughing at them. “You two are going back tomorrow with Ace.”
“How much are we going to get?”
“Same amount.”
Angie crossed her arms across her chest. “No.”
“I could call your man and cut you two out if you want.”
Erin leaned over to Angie and whispered something in her ear.
“Listen to your girlfriend. You two will make ten grand for two days work.”
“Okay,” Angie finally agreed. “How many times a week are we going to make the run?
“Twice. We can’t draw attention from the cops.”
Or your boss, Angie thought.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
Over the next three weeks, Erin and Angie made the trip to Philadelphia. They both realized that it wouldn’t be long before the leader found out.
Angie’s phone rang one evening. “They’re on the way to your place,” the voice said. “Turn your tracking device and microphone on. When they are close, I’ll call you to come outside.”
Angie hung up. “Grab your gun,” she said to Erin and put on the jacket with the hidden equipment. “Tonight looks like the night that this all comes together.”
Erin tucked her gun into her ankle holster and took a deep breath. She watched as Angie answered her phone again.
“Let’s go,” she said as they went out to the street.
As soon as they stepped onto the sidewalk a black SUV pulled up to the curb. Two men jumped out and pushed them into the car.
“What’s going on?” Angie asked one of the men as he patted her down, but never going as far as either woman’s ankle.
“Just shut your mouth.”
They drove to a large building and got out. The men pushed Angie and Erin inside. When they got there, Silver was there and another man sitting at a table.
“So these two bitches are your contacts?” the man asked snarling.
Silver quietly nodded.
“How long did you think you could steal from me?” Ramos asked Silver.
“I wasn’t stealing. I was going to give you the money.”
“You think I’m stupid, Silver,” the man spat. “Get him out of here.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” Ramos said to the two women.
“Find out what?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. You and Silver stealing from me.”
“Silver told us he was the boss. Who are you?”
All the men in the room laughed.
“This is my territory.”
“So you’re the boss? Not Silver?”
“The light bulb finally went off,” he snarled. “Yeah, I’m the boss.”
“So do you want to work with us?” Angie asked.
Ramos laughed. “I don’t need you two. I’ve already talked to your man in Philly.” He moved closer to them. “I already made a deal with him. He doesn’t care what I do with you two.” He signaled to his men. “I don’t want them found.”
Two men grabbed the women and began to drag them from the room, but the doors burst open.
“FBI. Everyone on the ground.” The room filled with at least twenty men carrying automatic weapons. All hell broke out.
Shots rang out as Angie and Erin ducked for cover. Erin grabbed her gun and shot one of the men that had been holding her. She and Angie were shooting along with the FBI. Erin spotted a man in the corner as he aimed at Angie. She jumped in front of Angie and blocked his shot. As she did a bullet cut through her leg. Angie was now dragging Erin behind some crates before she was shot again.
“You took a big chance there to save me, Erin,” Angie said looking at Erin’s wound.
“That’s my job,” Erin grinned, remembering her battles in the desert in Iraq. Being shot was nothing new to Erin either.
Finally, the shooting stopped and the FBI agents were leading Ramos and his men from the building.
“That could have gone a little better,” Agent Davis said as he helped Angie lift Erin up. “Let’s get you to the hospital. Good work, you two.”
“Thank you, sir,” Erin said grinning.
“She was a natural, Richard. You should offer her a job,” Angie said smiling.
****
The bullet had gone through Erin’s leg and she was told that she wouldn’t have any residual effects. By the end of the week, Erin was on her way home. Her captain wanted her to take a couple of weeks off before reporting for duty again.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Erin had been home for a week now. She spent time with Casey and Susan. They even through her a party to celebrate her return. Everyone was surprised that Jane wasn’t with Erin. They tried talking to her about it, but Erin wouldn’t listen.
Monday morning Erin walked into Jane’s store. “Erin,” Hazel called out. “Where have you been hiding?”
“I was away with work.”
“Ooh, sounds secretive.”
Rita called out now, “You here for your usual?”
“Of course. I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed these burritos.” Erin licked her lips as she spoke.
“Hazel, I don’t think we have any left,” Rita said with a nod of her head. “Check in the back.”
Hazel smiled knowing w
hat Rita was hinting at. “Someone’s complaining about us running out of breakfast burritos,” Hazel said sounding serious.
“I just took some out of the oven. Grab some for the front,” Jane said pointing to the tray.
“I think you should bring it to calm the customer down.” Hazel left the kitchen.
Jane sighed and wrapped one of the burritos. “Who’s waiting for a burrito?” she asked at the counter.
Erin spun on her heels and stared at Jane’s face. “What are you doing here?” she asked stunned.
“I work here.” Jane handed Erin the wrapped sandwich. “When did you get back?”
“A week ago.”
“So your assignment was a success.”
“Very much so.”
“You look better than the last time I saw you.”
“Thanks.” Erin moved closer to grab the cup of coffee Hazel held out. As she moved forward she limped still favoring her right leg.
“What happened?” Jane asked seeing Erin limp.
She looked down and back into Jane’s face. “Just a scratch.”
Jane came out from behind the counter. “You were shot?”
Erin shrugged.
“You could have been killed,” her voice showed her emotions as she held onto Erin’s pant leg.
“I’m fine. It’s not the first time I’ve been shot.”
Jane’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “Did the redhead get shot, too?” Jane asked.
“Nope, she’s fine.”
The store began to get crowded. “Why don’t you come on back and have your breakfast here?”
Erin nodded and followed Jane into the kitchen. The moment she stepped through the door, Denny was on her.
“Erin, it’s so good to see you again.” He turned to Jane. “This one has been worried for months. Especially the way she described seeing you a few months ago.” He now noticed the limp. “What happened?”
“She was shot.” Jane answered before Erin had an opportunity to speak.
Erin rolled her eyes as Jane told him. “It was nothing.”
“I don’t think getting shot is nothing,” Jane insisted. “Sit down and eat your breakfast.”
Erin took a seat and unwrapped the top of her sandwich. As she took her first bite, she moaned, “I’ve missed these.”
Jane smiled at her as she began chopping vegetables, but stopped to bring a tray of food out to the front of the store.