The Corner III (No Way Out)

by Alex Richardson

  She stopped at pump number nine, and before she got out, she set the alarm on her iPhone so she could get a little sleep. She went inside, bought some Skittles, a bag of cool ranch Doritos and an Arizona Iced Tea. As she pumped her gas, she thought about heading to the rest area she’d passed about ten miles back, but figured that would be stupid. To head there to lay her head, she’d be adding twenty miles of driving and couldn’t do that since she wanted to sleep for a bit. She decided she’d park in one of the parking spaces on the side of the station since she was planning on sleeping only thirty minutes.

  Cookie stretched out in the backseat, using her coat as a blanket. The engine was running, and the heat was on low. Her cell was on the floorboard and as soon as she closed her eyes it started ringing.

  “Who the fuck is this calling me at damn near two in the morning?” she hissed.

  * * *

  Teresa was a nervous wreck. Her man had been cheating on her. All that flowed through her mind was visions of him with a white woman. She wondered was her foreign sex better and if Shaun liked the fact that she was of another race. She wondered was it something she wasn’t doing when she failed to realize that she was simply with a man who loved sleeping with different women. And even though Teresa was hurt, she felt as if she’d done wrong by calling the FBI. Shaun was part of a crew and by getting the feds involved could mean things could come back on her. She had delivered drugs for Shaun and could be implicated if he decided to flip. But she knew Shaun wasn’t cut like that—he wasn’t a snitch, but she felt as if she’d done the wrong thing and had tried reaching him several times, but he never answered his phone. She figured she’d call Cookie. She usually transported the drugs, so she knew Cookie would know the number of the phone they used when traveling.

  Teresa waited, and on the third ring Cookie answered.

  “Girl, do you know what time it is?” Cookie asked sounding irritated.

  “I know girl it’s…it’s just…that I—”

  “Girl, are you okay?”

  “No, I’ve been trying to reach Shaun and can’t catch him. He’s not answering and I need to know the number of the phone you use when traveling to Tennessee.”

  “Girl, he ain’t with me.”

  “What do you mean? I’m trying to catch up with him, he’s on his way to see DC. I have to warn him about something,” she said as the guilt of snitching to the feds was overwhelming her.

  “Girl, he’s out with Reese and them niggas. I’m making the run as usual. Oh Shit!” Cookie yelled.

  Red and blue lights illuminated the darkness and they had closed in on Cookie quickly.

  “Cookie, what’s wrong?”

  “Get your hands up! Now, get ’em up let me see them.”

  When Teresa heard those words she dropped her cell, and it bounced off the bed and to the floor. The words she’d heard through Cookie’s phone were those of the law. All she could hear were men yelling their police lingo and Cookie begging that they were making a mistake.

  Teresa picked up her phone and pressed the end button. She ran to the bathroom and threw up what little food she’d eaten earlier. She was sicker than before and realized she was in trouble. Shaun would have held his own not knowing who made the call to the feds, but Cookie, nah, she would flip in a minute once she realized from Teresa phone call she’d been set her up.

  Teresa gathered herself and made a decision to flee. She’d head to her cousin’s house in Silver Springs, Maryland, where she’d be safe. No one in Chicago knew that’s where she was originally from. Everyone knew her as Teresa, her middle name. Her first name was one she seldom used, Esther. A name her mother had given her at birth and that unknown name may be what saves her life.

  Teresa scrambled to pack as fast as she could and within thirty minutes she had two suitcases filled with clothes, all of her personal effects and most important, the fifty thousand Shaun had stashed in the hollowed out wall that he’d collected earlier in the day. He was going to drop it off to Reese in the morning, but Teresa figured she’d need it more than he. She was lugging the suitcase out the front door when the porch light shone on a large white man walking up the steps to the house.

  Before she could say anything he produced a pistol and said, “Ivan would like to have a word with you.”

  She had no idea who Ivan was and couldn’t pick up on his accent, but that didn’t matter, she knew like all people who stayed in the dope game too long—it was her time to pay the piper.

  * * *

  As Reese drove, he and Slim had been talking about what could happen and how to handle different situations, but knew that no matter how they planned, shit changed on the fly because every situation was different. Nevertheless, they were ready for whatever and when it came to getting down and dirty, they had been through the fire with each other several times ever since they were kids. They were no strangers to danger and feared nothing. Not even the Grim Reaper, him damn self.

  When Slim and Reese pulled up at the meat market in Ukrainian Village, a neighborhood located west of downtown and south of Wicker Park, they noticed the black limousine parked in front of the meat market that was owned by Koslov—Dmitiri’s enforcer.

  Slim’s cell rang.

  “Yeah,” he said knowing who was on the other end.

  “Park your car, leave the keys and get in the limousine,” Dmitri said as Slim watched Koslov and another large Russian get out of the limo.

  Reese saw the men get out and asked, “What’s the deal?”

  “I guess we’re going for a ride.”

  Trying to stay loose, Reese said, “Good, I didn’t want to stay here at that meat market. I feel better knowing they’re not thinking about using one of those machines in there to chop our asses up.

  Slim and Reese walked with confidence to the black limo. Koslov held his palm up signaling for the two men to stop. They did and were searched and their weapons were taken from them and given to the driver. They were then let in and they sat with their backs to the partition and facing Dmitri. Dmitri was dressed in a charcoal grey sharkskin suit and black shirt that was buttoned to the top with no tie. He extended his hand toward the men and they shook it. Slim noticed the Hublot Big Bang All Black Carat watch. Slim had heard of the watch and knew this particular model ran close to forty thousand dollars.

  “Thanks for meeting me, Slim,” he nodded toward Reese. “And.”

  “Big Reese,” Reese said confidently.

  Dmitri spoke in Russian telling Kolsov to get in and the other Russian to follow in the suburban Slim had come in.

  They drove off and rode in silence as Koslov poured them all a glass of Vodka. Once each man had a drink, Dmitri asked, “So, my comrade. When were you going to tell me about our partnership going awry?”

  “I wasn’t,” Slim said looking the Russian crime boss in the eyes.

  “No? We are friends and more important we are in business together, so lying to me is not something a man I need to trust should do,” Dmitri said as his grey eyes, that looked more like eyes of a Siberian Husky, than eyes of a man, never blinked as he stared at Slim.

  “We are business partners and friends so I wouldn’t lie to you. I am a businessman, but more importantly I am a man. A real man is a man of his word.”

  “Tell me of your meeting with the woman, Fuentes. You did have a meeting at that Mexican restaurant, no?”

  “We did and it was to straighten out our business. I tried talking to her. She and her people aren’t willing to cooperate. They want out.”

  “Out,” Dmitri said as he lit a cigarette.

  “Yes, out.”

  “She has my five million?”

  “She’s willing to pay but hasn’t, yet.”

  Worry lines formed on Koslov’s forehead as he looked from Slim and Reese to his boss who was sitting beside him. There was silence for a beat.

  Slim said, “I am willing to pay her cost.”

  Dmitri turned his head blew smoke toward the window that was barely
cracked and most of the smoke was sucked out into the Chicago air. “What about the gangster, him?”

  “He’s dead.”

  “That’s too bad. I guess you’re going to pay his share also.”

  “I will have it.”

  Dmitri nodded slowly and looked out the window as the limo exited onto the interstate.

  Slim said, “Dmitri, you had a penalty price for getting out early, and I’m willing to pay.”

  “That would be fifteen million. Five for the three of you. Do you have that? If I was to have my driver turn my limousine around you could get out of this vehicle and have my money by afternoon?”

  Slim could come up with the cash, but ten million from his stash would set him back significantly. There would be no way he could get out of the game, so he was in a catch twenty-two. If he paid the money and got out, he would have what he needed to set every one of his friends up comfortably. If he stayed, the Russian would be his contact. But Slim had already made up his mind earlier in the day, he was done. He was going to pay the fifteen million and the game was history.

  “I’m done with the game so I will have your money.”

  Reese’s face twisted. It was a natural reaction from the shock he just received. If Slim got out the game, then he couldn’t continue hustling on the level he was used to because he’d have no solid contact for drugs like Slim did.

  Dmitri caught Reese’s look. He smiled saying, “I see your friend doesn’t agree. I must say, you would be leaving a lot of money on the table, but that is your choice. Those were our rules, and I am a man of my word. Remember when I said the only way that changes is if you crossed me in any way?”

  “Yes, but that hasn’t happened.”

  “I know my comrade. I know.”

  They drove for a bit, and Slim noticed they hadn’t turned around after passing a couple of exits. He was about to say something when Dmitri asked, “Do you know much about farm animals, pigs to be exact, my comrade?”

  * * *

  Baby G and Anthony were sitting at Baby G’s apartment, relaxing. They had eaten dinner and were playing XBOX for the last five hours, and Anthony was getting tired. Once his Steelers scored the winning touchdown on Baby G’s Lions, Anthony was finished.

  “You can keep playing, I’m going to catch a few Zs. Pay attention to the phone. We don’t want to miss it if Slim calls.”

  “Fo sho’,” Baby G said as he put in a DVD to pass time. He was hoping Slim would call because he needed to get grimy. It had been a minute since he’d got down and if things went right, this job would pay him well and he would be able to kick back for a moment.

  * * *

  The limo cruised up the narrow one lane road, and Reese hated that he didn’t have his pistol. He felt naked and wished Slim had not said he wanted out. No matter what, Reese felt that the Russians were money makers and didn’t want their cash flow stopped. While he and Slim were in the Cayman Islands, Slim had saved Dmitri’s life when his boat had malfunctioned and began to sink. Dmitri and the woman he was with were wading in the water when a shark attacked the woman he was with. Slim was with a guide out on the waters fishing and when they saw Dmitri’s boat go under they rushed to help. As they sped their boat to the area as fast as they could, Slim watched in the binoculars as the shark feasted on the woman. Once they arrived to where Dmitri was, Slim jumped in the blood-stained waters and pulled Dmitri to his boat where he was safe, they watched the fins of three sharks cut through the waters like on the movie, Jaws realizing that Slim had arrived just in time.

  Later that night and the next day, Dmitri treated Slim to dinner when the two hustlers found that they shared the same appetite for money and realized that they were from the same city. After that, a business partnership was born, but like all business partnerships, it was about business.

  The limo rocked a bit as they neared a large farmhouse and they could smell a foul stench in the air. They passed the house and drove about one hundred fifty yards to another house, but smaller. They stopped and no one got out and no one said anything. The mood wasn’t tense, but Slim and Reese wondered what was next.

  Moments later, two vehicles were flying up the road toward them, a blazer and a Volvo. They came to a halt and out of the Volvo’s passenger’s side was Ivan, and the driver’s side, a man carrying a sub-machine gun.

  Koslov, speaking for the first time, told Slim and Reese, “Get out.”

  For the first time, Slim and Reese began to think that this might be it for them, but the south side hustlers showed no fear.

  Koslov spoke in Russian to Ivan who spoke back and Slim could hear the anger in his voice. Ivan glared at Reese as Dmitri stepped out of the limo. Slim thought the man was staring at the both of them, but Reese knew better and had a strong idea of what was going on. He hadn’t heard from Shaun all night, and he had a feeling his friend had not listened to his order to leave the Russian gangster’s woman alone.

  Dmitri said, “Slim, we have a problem. When I talk about respect, it is important in business. It is essential to have that. You agree?”

  Slim nodded.

  That wasn’t good enough for Dmitri. “I asked you a question, my comrade,” he said calmly.

  “I agree. My question is why I am out here standing next to a pen full of pigs?”

  “Ah, that’s where you are wrong, my comrade. They are not just pigs. They are Razorbacks, wild boars and Devons, or what Americans call black pigs, and those males in there weigh close to eight hundred pounds.” Dmitri nodded at one of the men who worked on the farm. The man threw a large piece of beef into the pen and the animals went crazy.

  Dmitri said, “See how crazy they are going. They haven’t been fed in days. Did you know a pig will eat about anything? They are omnivores, and these pigs are fierce and hungry. Anything thrown in there would be devoured without a trace.”

  He stopped talking and studied the men’s faces then nodded at Ivan.

  Ivan walked to Reese, “You have made us money, and I respect that, but what I don’t like is someone disrespecting me!”

  Reese said, “I’ve been straight up with you. If there is a problem with the money it’s not from our end.”

  Slim was hoping that Reese or any of his men had not been shorting the Russians.

  Ivan studied Reese’s face, and his scowl was one that was fierce. Reese can remember the story he’d told when he first met him when they were in his home and knew the small man had a complex about his size, and from what Shaun told him when he ordered him to leave Mariska alone, Ivan was short in another area.

  Ivan barked an order and two men carried Mariska out of the back of the Blazer. Slim had no idea who the woman was but was about to learn.

  Ivan spat, “This whore disrespected me and now she has to die.”

  Slim could tell behind all the bruises and burns to her face, the woman was beautiful, but wondered what the connection was to him.

  Dmitri said, “Slim, your people have not honored the code of business. Your man who was in Ivan’s home had affair with his woman. You sent him to Ivan’s home, and he disrespected him. So you are part responsible. Just like I am responsible for what my men do. But my men know not to do things of this nature because they know of the punishment I can put on a man.” He nodded.

  Mariska cried as they drug her toward the pig pen. The muscular men picked her up, threw her in the pen and the fourteen hogs went wild as they feasted. The tape that was over her mouth muffled her screams for about ten seconds then she was gone.

  “The other two,” Dmitri said and when Slim saw a naked, battered and bruised Shaun, he knew what time it was, but when he saw the young lady he’d met only a couple of times he felt bad, but the game has no feelings. Teresa had indulged in all the good the game had to offer. But in a way, the game had gotten her back. It had given her the finer things in life, and she decided that she wanted to call the feds on her man, knowing that most men in the game had other women no matter how she or any woman tried to ration
alize that it wasn’t right. That’s for normal people, civilians—not hustlers. After hanging up the phone from the feds, karma came knocking at her door in the form of a large Ukrainian man brandishing a pistol. Once they had Teresa, they took her and the fifty-thousand she had taken to a house where they had Shaun, Petra and Mariska. Ivan had raped Teresa in front of Shaun as payback and had one of his men rape Mariska. Petra, they killed, when she tried to make a run for freedom. And Shaun, even though he was a man, got raped also—by Ivan.

  The men drug Teresa and Shaun toward the pen and the blood stained hogs stirred wildly, anticipating another meal. Shaun begged, “Slim, do something. Don’t let them do me like this.”

  Teresa said nothing. She was in shock and tired. The rape had taken a lot out of her. Dmitri said, “Even near death, the woman has more heart than you.” He looked at Slim and Reese. “I’ve learned over the years that men who fuck other men’s women are weak. The women offer themselves and they take. Weak bastards. With all the money he was making he could have had almost anyone, but he takes another man’s. Toss her and make sure he watches.”

  They threw Teresa in the pen as another man held Shaun’s face forcing him to watch the hogs eat her alive. They then threw Shaun in and within minutes the hogs had eaten all the flesh of the three people and were fighting each other for the bones.

  Dmitri said, “Now that thing about you getting out. That is not possible right now.” He stared at Reese. “Your people fucked up, and now you owe me. The year starts over and you owe me the ten million for the gangster, Bone, and the woman, LaTanza. My people got fifty thousand from the woman,” he nodded to the pen where they threw Teresa. “I’m a fair man so you can deduct that from the ten million, my comrade. I expect my money by nightfall. Your truck is over there. See you when you bring me my money. And remember Slim, in the game, sometimes there is NO WAY OUT.”

  All the Russians entered their vehicles, Slim and Reese got in Reese’s SUV that the Russian drove to the farm. As he followed the caravan of vehicles down the narrow road he said, “Slim, I didn’t know that fucker Shaun was—”