Magic Touch

by Treasure Hernandez

  Simmy stared at her as she got closer, dumbfounded for a minute. Damn. She looks like she could be my older sister, Simmy thought as the girl got right up on her and Alex. The girl bore a striking resemblance to Simmy. In fact, she had the exact honey complexion, long, dark hair, and hourglass build. She looked like an older version of Simmy.

  “Alex! Are you serious right now? This is the thanks I get? I’ve been trying to reach you all night! I’m out here working for you and you out here doing this?”

  Simmy clutched her bag and was immediately on the defensive. Clearly, the girl had the wrong idea, and she looked like she came to fight. If confronted directly, Simmy was prepared to tell this chick that she wasn’t trying to get with Alex if that’s what she was thinking and that this was all about business for her. Simmy would let the girl know she simply wanted to get to the money. She didn’t want to have to take out her pepper spray and go to work.

  “Ay. Vee, what’s up?” Alex sang nonchalantly like he didn’t notice that the girl appeared ready to attack. “I thought you would’ve been here earlier. You must’ve been working hard. I missed you tonight.”

  “Don’t fucking try to play me, Alex! What is this?” the girl asked, pointing at Simmy like she was a thing and not a person.

  Simmy wanted so badly to tell the girl that she was a woman, not a “this.” She thought better of making an already contentious situation worse. Besides, Simmy found it amusing that this older chick was feeling insecure or threatened by her. It kind of made her feel powerful.

  “Veronica, don’t start this bullshit. I already told you about her. This is Simone. Last week, Nassau County,” Alex said like the girl was dumb for not remembering.

  Wait, they talked about me?

  The girl’s face didn’t ease any. “Oh, really, Alex? You made it seem like she was some desperate, young girl, not this,” Veronica snapped, looking Simmy up and down again.

  She got one more time to refer to me as “this,” Simmy thought, tapping her foot and blowing out heavily. She climbed into Alex’s passenger seat and closed the door. She didn’t want to hear or see anything else going on with Alex and his girl or whatever she was to him. Their issue had nothing to do with her and was none of her business. She thought it’d be best for her to just get in the car and wait to be taken home before she heard that woman say one more rude thing about her. She knew she was liable to punch Veronica in the face if she didn’t remove herself from the situation. Unfortunately, though, Simmy could still hear everything Alex and Veronica were barking at one another.

  “C’mon, Vee. Get off this already. You always acting jealous when a pretty one comes in the family. That shit is getting old now. Stop bugging,” Alex said, waving at Veronica like she was being stupid.

  Veronica folded her arms across her heaving chest. “Just remember who made me like this, Alex. Just fucking remember how much I’ve been through with you. I’m always the one who gets played in the fucking end, Alex,” she pouted.

  Simmy thought Veronica looked on the verge of tears. She would never let herself be made to look crazy in front of a crowd like that. She would never be that girl looking stupid chasing down her man at all hours of the night. Simmy shook her head in disgust. Better her than me.

  “Man, listen. Get over the past. Stop holding on to that shit. It’s giving you wrinkles,” Alex said facetiously. “Now. Come over here,” he said, tugging on his passenger door and opening it, “and meet Simone. She’s part of the family now, and you’re going to teach her everything she needs to know about the business. Like I told you already, she got a lot of potential.” Alex grinned.

  Then he turned toward Simmy and winked. “Simone, this is Veronica. She’s one of my more seasoned workers and very good at what she does. She’s going to train you and show you the ropes of the business, inside and out. And, Don’t worry, you’ll get used to her attitude and her antics. She’s a little jealous because she’s an old head now and young girls like you make her feel threatened.” Alex laughed, but Simmy and Veronica didn’t. The two women stared at each other for a few uncomfortable seconds.

  “Nice to meet you, Veronica,” Simmy said, nodding.

  Veronica didn’t say anything. She turned toward Alex and squinted her eyes. “You’re going to get enough of using me. One of these days you’re going to turn around and I’ll be fucking gone,” Veronica spat.

  Alex laughed. “Yeah, a’ight, Vee, whatever you say. Until that day you work for me. Remember that. Be ready to start training this young’un very soon. I’ll hit your phone with instructions.” With that, Alex walked around to the driver’s side and climbed into his SUV, leaving Veronica standing there brooding.

  Simmy hoped this chance meeting hadn’t set the tone for the rest of her dealings with Veronica, especially if she would have to depend on Veronica to get her to the money.

  Chapter 13

  Training Day

  It took Alex two days to call Simmy. She spent two uncomfortable days of worrying, pacing, and going crazy about whether he’d call so that she could learn his method of making money. When he finally contacted her, Simmy had tossed and turned all night, anxious. She was ready bright and early the next day waiting for him. When Alex pulled up in front of Jayla’s building to pick her up, Simmy’s smile faded when she saw Veronica perched in the front passenger seat. Not this crazy chick again. She respectfully climbed into the back and played her position.

  “Hey,” Simmy said with fake cheerfulness as she got into the car.

  “What’s up, young’un?” Alex greeted her. “You looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this fine day,” he said, smiling as he winked at her through the rearview mirror.

  Veronica didn’t say a word. Simmy shifted uncomfortably in the seat as Alex pulled out from where he was parked. She could already tell it was starting off to be a rough day.

  “First, I’m going to take you to get some pictures taken by my man in Brooklyn,” Alex announced. “He’s my ID guy. He’s the fucking best.”

  “Okay,” Simmy replied apprehensively. Pictures? ID guy? Her mind raced. She didn’t ask any questions, though. She would not rock the boat at all. She was there to learn.

  “Then, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running. How much money you make out there depends on how well you do, how smart you are, and how much you can level up. I think you’re smart, Simone. So, I think you’ll do fine.”

  Simmy just nodded. She sure hoped Alex was right.

  Alex, Simmy, and Veronica rode to Brooklyn without saying another word to each other. When they pulled up in East New York, Simmy looked out of the window at the run-down little house they’d parked in front of, confused.

  “This is it,” Alex said. “I know it don’t look like much, but that’s the point,” he said, noticing Simmy’s crumpled facial expression. “Niggas gotta stay low-key to make it out here. Feel me?”

  “Now you gotta explain everything to her?” Veronica grumbled.

  They all exited the car and walked up to the little ramshackle house. Alex pounded on the dirty white door like he was the police. When the door swung open, Simmy was surprised to find a young kid standing on the other side. The boy looked to be no older than Simmy. He had a boney chest, a protruding Adam’s apple that bobbed when he spoke, and the longest, skinniest arms Simmy had ever seen. Simmy thought he was more suited to be a water boy for a basketball team than anything else.

  “Jeff,” Alex sang, rushing into the skinny kid for a hug. “What it do, baby? You good? You know why I’m here. As usual, I need the hookup,” Alex continued with his slick lingo as the kid allowed them all inside.

  He’s the ID guy? He looks like he’s seventeen! Simmy couldn’t believe it.

  Jeff led the way, and Alex, Veronica, and Simmy trailed in a line down a long, dark hallway until they reached a door.

  “Don’t mind the mess,” Jeff said, pushing the door in.

  “Man, you say that same shit every time I come here.” Alex laughed. “You�
�re one of the smartest kids I know, but damn if your ass ain’t junky as hell. That’s from all that homeschooling. Shit, your mother turned you into a genius with these computers but a complete hoarding-ass hermit.”

  Jeff shrugged.

  Simmy paused when she stepped inside. The space was cluttered from floor to ceiling with boxes, papers, magazines, books, and probably every type of computer and digital equipment that had ever been sold. There had to be at least fifty Apple computers set up on a back wall. There were big screens, smaller screens, and all sizes of laptops. There were digital cameras, high-resolution printers, professional-grade scanners, color copiers, video equipment, and even a plotter. You name it, Jeff had it in that little apartment. Even the kitchen had computer monitors set up. Simmy didn’t even see a bed or a space that Jeff might have used to eat a decent meal in there. Jeff was clearly a computer geek who could probably hack into computers all over the world.

  “So, what can I do for you, Alex?” Jeff asked.

  “My man. Good ol’ WikiLeaks,” Alex sang, clapping his hand on Jeff’s boney shoulder. “I need a driver’s license and six new cards for my new girl Simone here. She’s the newest member of the family.”

  Simmy couldn’t stop gawking. She was literally in awe of what she was seeing. There were stacks of credit cards, passports, driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, paystubs, and even college IDs on a long folding table against a wall. Simmy thought stuff like this only existed in the movies and on TV. Someone could literally come there and buy an entirely new identity. It was fascinating and scary at the same time.

  “C’mon over,” Jeff said to Simmy. He pointed to a white wall with a small piece of square blue material taped on it. “Stand in front of the blue square,” Jeff instructed. “Don’t smile.” He took four pictures of Simmy.

  “Okay, now sign here,” Jeff said, passing Simmy a small, flat black machine with a tiny rectangular digital screen and a special pen to use to sign on the screen. Simmy scribbled her signature in the designated space.

  “Okay, she’s all set,” Jeff told Alex.

  “How long? And don’t forget to apply my family discount. Shit, I been giving you mad business lately,” Alex said all in the same breath.

  “About thirty minutes,” Jeff replied. “I would tell you to make yourself at home, but the way my clutter is set up . . .” he joked, emitting a snorting nerd laugh after.

  Alex laughed. “That’s all right, man. Just get that ID and them cards right. We’ll be back in thirty. I’ll have your money, too, with the discount applied.”

  Simmy had so many questions floating around in her head. How old is Jeff? How did he become a counterfeit ID guy? How much does he charge? What if I get stopped with the fake stuff? Will the cops be able to tell? But, she didn’t dare ask one.

  She listened to Veronica and Alex speak about which mall she would take Simmy to, how she would have Simmy dress, what names they would assign her, and how things would go. Simmy didn’t utter a word. She felt like she was training with Jayla all over again with someone showing her how to dress, act, and get items. Despite how uncomfortable she felt though, again, she kept convincing herself that she was just trying to get to the money and this seemingly weird crew was going to help her get there.

  * * *

  Alex dropped Simmy and Veronica at Veronica’s smoke gray Mercedes-Benz C350.

  “Take care of her, Vee. I know you don’t like her, but this benefits all of us,” Alex whispered to Veronica. Simmy heard him.

  Once inside the car, Simmy tried to lighten the tension between her and Veronica with small talk. “This is a really nice ride. I love this car,” Simmy said in a soft voice.

  “I’m sure you do,” Veronica grumbled in response.

  “How long have you been doing this stuff with the cards and IDs and stuff?” Simmy asked, ignoring Veronica’s snide reply.

  “Look, little girl. We don’t have to do this. I don’t need you trying to be friendly with me. I’m here to show you the job because Alex is forcing me to and I don’t have much of a choice or say in it. This is a job for me so I can continue to feed myself. Outside of that, I don’t want to get to know you. I have friends, and I don’t need new ones,” Veronica said flatly. Veronica had never been one to beat around the bush. She was a straight shooter.

  Simmy sighed. At first, she was going to just shut up, but the little ticking time bomb of anger that was building inside of her finally went off.

  “You’re right, Veronica. We don’t have to be friendly, but I was trying to be cordial because it’s the mature thing to do. I don’t know what your problem is with me considering you just met me but, to me, this whole being mad at me for no reason other than your own insecurity is stupid.”

  Veronica grunted. “No. Me having to take some little girl out, to me, is stupid.”

  “You don’t even know why you don’t like me. You don’t know me. And, just so you know, I don’t want Alex. If that’s what you were thinking, you have it all wrong. I have a boyfriend. He’s locked up right now, and I took this job so I can support myself and make money so I can help him. This is all about making money for me. I’m not here to take your place, Veronica. I can tell you love Alex. I don’t know your story, but I plan on riding out my man’s bid with him. Besides, Alex is way older than me from what I can tell. He probably sees me as a little sister anyways.”

  Veronica seemed to soften a tiny bit after listening to what Simmy said. “Okay, I can respect that. Look, Simone, I’ve been doing this for years. Money keeps you in this life like a locked box that you don’t have the keys to. Every time you try to walk away, you get sucked back in because the thought of not having it makes you crazy. It becomes an addiction, all of it, especially being in love with the wrong person. That fucks you over every time. So, if there is one thing you learn from me let it be this: don’t plan to stay in this business longer than you need to. And, never let the fear of being broke keep you chained to a situation that leaves you broken in the end.”

  Simmy nodded. She turned her head and looked out of the window, letting Veronica’s words sink in. She made a silent promise to herself not to get caught up with the money and to stay true to herself.

  * * *

  Just like with boosting, Simmy and Veronica ended up in a department store. This time it was the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. They didn’t put on disguises or shades. In fact, when they walked in, the sales associates rushed over to Veronica like they knew her very well.

  “Ms. Brim, you came back to see us,” a tall, anorexic white chick sang, smiling brightly at Veronica.

  “Yes, and today I have my baby sister with me. She’s home from college for a weekend and Daddy said she can have whatever she wants,” Veronica replied, suddenly speaking such proper English, Simmy had to do a double take.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” The white chick extended her hand to Simmy.

  “Tia,” Veronica filled in the name.

  “Tia,” the white chick repeated. “Oh, my God! That is such a unique name!” the bubbly girl exclaimed.

  Simmy just smiled like Veronica had instructed.

  After three hours in Saks, Simmy and Veronica had been served fresh fruit, wine, and imported chocolate while they shopped. Simmy was amazed when Veronica sat back in a lounge area, handed her credit card to the white chick, and just waited for the chick to return with a receipt on a silver tray. Veronica quickly scribbled her signature and waited. After about fifteen minutes, several other store clerks returned with about twelve huge bags with bows tied on the handles, and they set the bags at Veronica and Simmy’s feet.

  “Will you be needing us to call you ladies a taxi?” the original one asked Veronica.

  “Oh, no. You know my father always has a car waiting for me,” Veronica replied, using her same proper English voice.

  “Wonderful. I’ll see to it that your bags make it outside to the car.”

  Once Simmy and Veronica
were settled into their awaiting car, and all doors were closed, Simmy let out a long exhale.

  “Oh, my God. That was so fucking boss,” Simmy said excitedly. “I have never experienced anything like that.”

  “Shh,” Veronica hushed her and nodded toward the front of the car at the driver. “We’ll talk once we get out of here.”

  Simmy snapped her lips shut. Her insides were exploding. She would’ve never imagined that she would have an experience like that in her lifetime. It was like being a celebrity or a rich person. With Jayla, she only got to pretend for a little bit until the clerk was distracted and they could take what they needed. But with Veronica, she had been able to get the full treatment.

  Simmy had been given an American Express plum card with the name Tia Brim on it. The card looked and felt authentic. For the rest of the ride back, Veronica took the time to teach Simmy how the business worked. She explained to her that the strip on the back was the important thing. The strip was tied back to the credit card of a real person. Simmy had learned fast that one of Alex’s businesses was using authentic-looking counterfeit credit cards with high limits. Alex would send his crew of girls out with the cards, and they’d buy expensive high-end clothes, electronics, jewelry, and gift cards from the most sought-after stores. They’d also use other people’s identities to obtain store credit accounts in high-end and big box stores. This was so they could service all types of clients, high-end and hood clients alike. Simmy thought Alex was a genius.

  Chapter 14

  In Deep

  Simmy sat on Jayla’s bed, where she’d been sleeping since fully taking over the apartment, and she counted up the money she’d made in a week. $8,000 was nothing to sneeze at for the easy work of using fake credit cards. She stuffed a few dollars into her pockets, grabbed her newest Chanel purse, and headed out the door.