by Deja King
By the time the police finished getting me and Maya's statements, I was exhausted. They continued to ask us the same questions over and over again as if we would change our story-to what, I had no clue. At this point I was tired of the damn po-po. With each passing day they brought no new information to the table or had any leads. I was beginning to believe they were incompetent, and that's why I held back on giving them the license plate number I wrote down. It was the only potential clue I had, and I wasn't going to let the LAPD fuck it up. "Maya, it's cool if you want to stay at the house with me and Supreme." After mentally recovering from the ambush, I called Supreme to come pick me and Maya up. My Bentley was destroyed in the one-sided gunfight, and I wasn't about to take a stroll in a cop's car. "I know, but I want to go home, take a bath and get in my own bed. Clip will be home soon too, so I'm good." "I feel you. But yo, I still can't believe didn't nobody from the video shoot hear those guns popping." "What about the neighbors? They didn't hear nothing either?" Supreme asked. "Every rich motherfucker on that block was either out of town or just not home." "Precious, did you see the look on Clip's face when I went back to the house and told him what happened? He thought I was gaming him until he came outside and saw how fucked up your car was-I mean is." "That car ain't nothing but some metal that can be replaced. The most important thing is that neither one of you got hurt." "You right, Supreme, but I know how much my girl loved that ride. Precious, remember when you called me on Christmas bragging about the new whip Supreme got you?" "Yep, that seems like yesterday when my life was a freakin' fairytale. It's banoodles how much can change in a few months. Now I'm living in a nightmare," I said solemnly. "We at my place already," Maya said, shaking me out of the dark place my mind had gone. "Let me walk you to your door." "I'm coming too," Supreme volunteered, turning off his Range. "Dang, I feel mighty important. I get two escorts to my front door," Maya joked. "I want you to be safe. It's my fault you got caught out there." "Precious, you can't blame yourself for this craziness." "The shooter was trying to kill me. If you would've taken a bullet in the process, I couldn't forgive myself." "Then imagine how fucked up I am knowing my brother is probably responsible for all of this. So please don't blame yourself, because then I'll have to blame myself too," Maya said as we stood in front of her door. "I get your point. We can finish this later. You go inside and get some rest." "Maya, hold up for a minute while I go inside and make sure everything is straight." Supreme turned on the lights and did a walkthrough. "The place looks intact." "I doubt anybody's coming up in my crib, but I appreciate you looking out, Supreme." "You my peoples." "Yeah, so if it gets too late and Clip isn't home, call me. I'll have one of the bodyguards come over and bring you to our house," I said. "Thanks, Precious," Maya said, giving me a hug before going inside. "Speaking of bodyguards, from now on you're going to have one with you every time you leave the house." "Supreme, that's somewhat drastic." "I don't need your opinion because this isn't up for discussion," he said, slamming the car door shut. Instead of arguing with him, I remained silent the entire ride home. I had other pressing issues, like tracking down that car. I was so pressed that when Supreme pulled the car into the garage, I couldn't even wait for him to turn off the engine before I unlocked my door and ran upstairs to our bedroom. I went straight to my walk-in closet and picked up the Louis Vuitton Sac Chasse luggage I took on my flight to New Jersey. I reached in one of the inside compartments for the burner I purchased in Harlem. I slipped it in the left pocket of my velour hoodie before exiting, only to find my entrance blocked by Supreme. "Are you going to move out my way?" I asked casually. "Why were you in such a rush to get upstairs, and what did you get out the closet?" "Wow, why do I feel like you're interrogating me?" "Because I am." "If you must know, on our way home I realized I didn't have on the diamond tennis bracelet you bought me and panicked. I couldn't remember if I had it on before I left home today and lost it while ducking for cover trying to stay alive. But fortunately I found it," I said, pulling it out my right pocket. "I forgot I left it in the luggage I took with me on my trip." "Why did you put it in your luggage?" "I took all my jewelry off. Those metal detectors at the airport are so unpredictable, you never know what's going to set them off and I wasn't in the mood for any hassles. Now, are you done with the twenty questions?" I brushed past Supreme, sensing his reluctance to accept my explanation. It was the best I could come up with on a whim. Luckily I remembered putting the bracelet in my pocket after the drive-by because somehow during the commotion I broke the clasp. I ran with the story, and if Supreme didn't believe it, I could honestly care less. All I wanted to do was get out of his face and make my phone call." "So where are you going now?" "To the kitchen. I'm starving. I'ma get a few snacks. Would you like something too?" "I'm straight. If you need me I'll be in my office. I have to make some calls." "Okay." I waited for Supreme to leave before digging in my purse for the piece of paper I wrote the license plate number down on. I made a quick stop in the kitchen and grabbed some random goodies just in case Supreme came sniffing around playing eye spy again. For privacy purposes, I opted for the gazebo outside hoping it would keep Supreme off my trail, at least for a little while. I twisted a strand of my hair around my index finger counting each ring. I took the phone away from my ear and double-checked to make sure I dialed the right number. "What's good?" I breathed a sigh of relief when at last I heard a voice on the other end of the phone answer. "Hey, is this phone cool to talk on?" I asked, wanting to be cautious. "That's why I gave you the number. What's up?" "Ricky, I need your help. But first, thanks for the other shit. It worked perfectly." "So I heard. I also heard about your daughter-I'm sorry. I had no idea until they showed a picture of you on television that you were married to Supreme. I knew you looked familiar, but my sister didn't tell me that much about you." "I asked her not to. Besides, I didn't even tell her that my daughter had been kidnapped." "So you think that Mike fella you went to see in jail is the guilty party?" "I don't think, I know. The story is long and complicated, but I don't have the time to discuss it right now. I need to find my daughter and finally I might have a lead." "I'll do whatever I can. What is it?" "You have a pen?" "Always." "Write this license plate number down. 5JLE290." "What state is it issued in?" "California, but I'm sure the plate number is going to come up stolen." "Why do you say that?" "Because I got it from the car that was used in a driveby shooting today, and I'm sure they were wise enough to use some bogus tags. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you can come up with something I can use." "You have reason to be optimistic. Rarely are plates randomly stolen for no reason. Most of the time if it's still being used, the number can be traced back to somebody in the know. What's the model of the car?" "I don't know the exact year, but it was an old model, four-door dark gray Acura." "I'll be at my spot shortly and run the information. I should have something for you within the next hour." "Good, so I'll call you back in an hour." I hung up the phone and went back inside the house to check on Supreme. His office door was closed, but I could hear him having a heated conversation with someone. I put my ear closer to door to get a better listen. "...Fuck the cost! Just keep that nigga away from my family by any means necessary." "Does that include making him disappear permanently?" a man asked whose voice I couldn't distinguish. "Do I really need to define `by any means necessary' to you?" "No sir." "Good, now make it happen. I don't want to discuss this again until you've gotten the job done. Now excuse me, I have some phone calls to make." Supreme dismissed the man, and I made myself ghost by hiding on the side of the wall. The medium-height, husky-framed man had on all black, including his baseball cap. I was unable to get a clear view of his face, but his skin color ran concurrent to the color of his clothes. As I thought about the conversation I overheard, I assumed Supreme had put a hit out on Mike, which I one hundred percent cosigned on. I just wanted Aaliyah to be back in my arms safely before doing so. Understanding what page Supreme was on made me want to move even faster. His intentions were good, but until we got a break in the case, Mi
ke was the only link to Aaliyah I had. I eyed my watch and I only had another half hour before it was time to call Ricky back. I used it to take a shower and then mellow out by having a glass of wine in the den. I sat back in the whiskey-colored, aniline dye full-grain leather recliner, pouring my second glass of wine. When I looked up at the clock on the wall, I was fifteen minutes late with my call. "I was starting to get worried," Ricky said when he answered the phone. "Sorry about that." "Don't be, the extra time was helpful." "So you found something?" "I did." "What is it?" The high pitch of my voice divulged my anxiousness. "The plates but not the car was reported stolen about a month ago. It was registered to a 2007 Yukon Denali. I then ran a check on the newly issued license plates for the Denali, and as expected, both are registered under the same name and address. I then ran every older model dark gray Acura. That took some time-there are a lot of Acura's fitting that description registered in California. I had the system run a check and flag any name or address from the Acura's list that matched the one for the Denali, and I got a hit." "Who is it?" "The Denali is registered to a Vernika Chavez, and the Acura was registered a couple of months ago to a Donnell Graham. Two different names, but they share the same address." "This is good... this is really good." "It gets better. This is what I found out during that additional fifteen minutes you gave me." "You have more? What is it?" "Guess where Donnell Graham just finished doing a seven year bid at?" "Clinton Correctional Facility," I answered slowly, shaking my head from repulsion. When did he get out?" "Three months ago. I'm sure he and Mike started coming up with their plan months before that." "Where does the Vernika chick fit in?" "Her record came up clean, but my guess is that her hands are as dirty as the rest." "Wait, when Aaliyah was kidnapped, they said a light-skinned or Hispanic woman was seen leaving with a baby. I bet my life that woman was Vernika." "What's your next step?" "I'm about to make a house call." "I hope you're not going alone. These people are obviously dangerous." "Who am I going to take-the police, so what they can fuck shit up?" "I understand if you want to leave them out of it, but at least tell your husband. He'll know how to handle it. Whatever you decide, please be careful. You're not only risking your life, but the life of your daughter." "Let me get that address." I wrote down the information as my mind created several different scenarios for taking down Vernika and Donnell. Each one seemed risky with me as a solo act. "Thanks again, Ricky. Do you want me to wire or Western Union the money?" "None of that. Give it to me next time I see you. Hopefully it will be soon, and you'll have your daughter with you. But until then, if you need anything, don't hesitate to call." "I will." After hanging up with Ricky, I had two more glasses of wine while mulling over my alternatives. The police were out of the question. I regulated them to the sidelines until the absolute very last minute. At a moment like this, I wished that Nico had never left my life. He would know exactly what move to make and when to make it. But I hadn't seen or heard from him since that time we made love before he bailed out of New York. Even with all the charges dropped against him he hadn't shown his face. It was as if he'd vanished. I promised myself that once I got Aaliyah back and this nightmare was over, my next mission would be to locate Nico. Right now, I had to figure out a way to bring Supreme on board without him cutting me out the loop. No way would he allow me to play a part in getting Aaliyah back. He would say it was too risky and to let him take care of it. I wanted to be there when he confronted the two people who played an intricate roll in my daughter's kidnapping. I had to find a way to make Supreme comprehend that. When I got upstairs, Supreme was stepping out of the shower. "Where were you?" he asked, drying himself off. "I was in the den having a couple glasses of wine, trying to relax, if that's even possible during a time like this." "No, I don't think it is possible." Supreme got into bed and turned on the television without so much as a glance in my direction. I wanted to confide in him about what I had learned, but the wall he put up was so thick. There was only one way I knew to break it down. Although I had already taken a shower, Supreme wasn't aware of it. It would be the perfect opportunity to get naked and seduce my husband without being obvious. I dropped my bathrobe and turned on the water, waiting a few minutes before entering the shower. I knew that Supreme could see the reflection of my body through the glass wall that divided the bedroom and bathroom area. The hot water doused over my body. After ten minutes of re-cleaning my body, I turned off the water and stood in front of the floor-length bathroom mirror. I moisturized my skin with Supreme's favorite body oil, Satisfaction. With ease and precision I massaged every curve, as if pleasuring myself but in reality showcasing for my husband. Like a snake sneaking upon its prey, I slithered past my husband as if oblivious to his presence. I let my body melt into the silk-sheeted bed, and when I felt Supreme roll over, his view was of my backside silhouette. I could feel his eyes canvassing over every inch of my body, but he refrained from touching and shifted his body away from mine. Defeat crept over me until the tip of his fingers danced through my damp hair. He latched my waves in a tight grasp, exposing the outline of my slender neck and sprinkling it with purposeful kisses. "Don't say a word, just let me fuck you," he whispered in my ear as he put one finger over my lips. What started off as a seduction to gain power over my husband so he would be my co-conspirator, turned into untainted lust. He gripped my firm butterscotch mounds and tweaked my hardened nipples causing shivers to ripple through my body. As his tongue traveled down my abdomen making its way to his domain, my sweet juices welcomed each scrupulous stroke. I clenched the silk sheets, wanting to scream out his name, but remembered that he told me not to say a word. Once he inserted his rock-hard manhood, I had to bite down on his shoulder in an effort to keep my vocals in check. My walls compressed around his hardness with each thrust, sending my wide hips into overdrive. I invited the pleasurable punishment my clitoris endured as his tool propelled deeper inside of me. I buried my face in the masculine scent of Supreme's body when the orgasmic sensation ricocheted through each element, leaving me wilted in his arms. Soon after, Supreme reached the same level of pleasure and released himself in me, sending us both into a sex-induced sleep. A few hours later I woke up to use the restroom, and to my surprise Supreme was sitting up in bed watching television. "How long have you been up?" "Not that long. I couldn't sleep." I went to use the bathroom and decided that maybe now was the right time to have that talk with my husband. I took my time washing my hands so I could decipher the correct approach. "Supreme, we need to talk." "About what?" His eyes remained fixed on the mounted sixty-inch screen. "Aaliyah." "I don't want to talk about Aaliyah," he said with an aching in his voice that I had never heard from him before. "I know how you feel, it's tearing you up inside, but..." "You don't know shit, about how I feel!" Supreme yelled, cutting me off. "How am I supposed to be a man if I can't even protect my own damn family? This shit ain't tearing me apart, it's ripped out my fuckin' soul!" he howled pounding his chest with a closed fist. "I want to break down and cry so fuckin' bad, but I know if I start I won't be able to stop, so I refuse to shed a tear. This shit is worse than death, because you're alive and helpless. So no, I don't want to discuss Aaliyah until I can figure out how to bring her the fuck home." "Baby, I think I know how." "What do you mean you think?" Supreme remained even-toned, not willing to show any signs of optimism. "I took down the license plate number of the car that tried to take me under. I had a guy that I know in New York trace it, and after some thorough investigating, he came up with an address." "Is it linked to Mike in any way?" "Yes, the guy, Donnell Graham, just got released three months ago from Clinton Correctional before Mike escaped. And the woman's name is Vernika Chavez. Remember a witness said a light-skinned or Hispanic woman was seen leaving with a baby? Well, Chavez sounds like a Hispanic name to me." "Why didn't you give this information to the police?" "Because I know they'll fuck it up." "Yeah, I'm wit' you. And we can't afford to take that chance. Alright, I'ma get my people on this, but our plan has to be bulletproof. Everything has to be lined up correctly before mak
ing a move. This might be our only chance to get Aaliyah back." "Supreme, I want to be a part of this. Don't ask me to stay in the background. I'll let you handle it your way, but I'm going with you." "Okay, first thing in the morning I'm getting everybody together to iron this shit out," Supreme said, reaching over to grab his cell off the nightstand. "Who are you calling?" "It might take a couple of days to orchestrate this plan correctly, but until then my people will have their eyes glued on that crib, starting tonight." I told Supreme the address and listened as he gave the person on the other end strict instructions. A tranquil wave went through me, and I knew I'd done the right thing by sharing the information I got from Ricky with Supreme. He hung up the phone and a gleam I never thought I would see in my husband's face again appeared. "They're on it. We're bringing our daughter home, I can feel it." "Me too, baby." I wrapped my arms around Supreme, and for the first time since this shit went down my husband held me back. Hope was once again alive for us. WRECKLESS LOVE