Tess was watching Mike from her bedroom door. Once she heard the bathroom door slam, Tess sprang into action. Creeping down the hall with cat-like quietness, she headed straight for the kitchen. When she came to the enterance Tess took one look at the table and her eyes became bright as headlights. Mounds of crack, more than she had ever seen in her life, just sitting there on her kitchen table, Tess took a helping.
In her mind, the amount she took was too small to be missed from this huge mound. It was her kitchen table. People shouldn’t leave things on her table. It will eventually belong to her. Cautiously she made her way back down the hallway to her room seemingly undetected. .
Mike Copeland had finished taking his dump. Relieved, he cleaned up, washing his hands in the dirty sink. Placeing the gun back in his waistband, Mike exited the tiny bathroom.
The moment he walked back into the kitchen, he could tell that something was wrong. Although Tess had tried her best to straighten up after the theft, Mike knew the order he had situated the product.
“Fuckin’ Tess!” Mike swore.
He did an about face, and ran straight to Tess’ room. Running at full speed, Mike rammed the door with his shoulder, and it flew open.
“Bitch, where is it?”
“Wha-what…” Tess stuttered. “What you talkin’ bout?”
“Bitch…!” Mike roared. “Do not play stupid. Ya know what da fuck I’m talkin’ ‘bout. Da muthafuckin’ crack you stole. It was about an ounce of my drug, bitch. Don’t dis bizness!”
Mike slowly strode over to where Tess stood across the room. Inching closer and closer toward her, his voice dripped venom. Anticipating violence, Tess began backpedaling.
“Bitch, I know how I left my shit. I can tell that ya took sumthin ya fuckin’ crackhead. Now I’m givin’ you one mufuckin’ chance to give it back, I’m not askin’ you no more,” Mike barked.
“Mike, I really don’t know what you talkin’ bout,” Tess said, backing into a corner of the room. “I been right here in this room the whole time you were in the bathroom. I swear, Mike. God knows… for real, for real.”
Those were the last words that escaped her mouth. Mike Copeland struck quickly, slapping Tess repeatedly across her face, whipping her head from side to side like she was in an automobile accident.
“You better gimme my shit, bitch! I’m gonna kill you up in dis piece,” he angrily shouted.
Returning the piece of hardwhite never crossed Tess’ crack ravaged mind. She figured Mike would soon get tired of asking, and this entire ordeal would be over. All she had to do was convince him not to beat her to death. Then she could smoke the rock.
Soon the sting from the slaps turned into pain from punches. From every possible angle Mike rained down punches on Tess face and frail body. Tess tried to defend herself. Her wild swings caught Mike by surprise. He backed up off her and Tess charged him. Mike wasn’t a big guy, and she was able to knock him off balance.
This infuriated Mike. After staggering, he went down on his ass. Mike quickly jumped back on his feet. He swiftly drew his gun. It was already too late by the time Tess saw the weapon. Mike fired quickly. The gunshot hit Tess in the chest. She collapsed flat on her back to the floor and died instantly.
In a mad rush, his rage subsided. Mike froze, surveying the damage. He grabbed his head, in disbelief. Blood oozed from her lifeless body. Mike continued to stare dumbfounded by the fact that he had just killed Tess.
“Damn! Look what you done made me do, bitch.”
The sound of the door opening brought him back to not only reality, but severity of his situation. It got worse when he heard the voice.
“Mom…!” Sheron called out, feeling pain.
Mike Copeland was spooked and ran out the room. Guilt filled his eyes when he bumped into Sheron in the hallway. He made brief eye contact with the kid, before his street sense kicked in. Gathering up all the crack, Mike fled out the door.
Puzzled, Sheron watched Mike running out the apartment before he continued the search for his mother. Although her bedroom door was wide open, Sheron’s attention was immediately drawn to the bathroom.
“Mom…” he said, pushing the door open.
He was surprised to find the bathroom empty. She was always in here when at this time when I’m home, Sheron was befuddled. Considering how much time his mother spent in there getting high it was strange that she wasn’t in there. Sheron turned his attention to her bedroom. Half expecting to find his mother not in there, maybe she was high and fell asleep. Sheron’s young eyes weren’t prepared for what he saw.
“Mom..?” Sheron cried in agony over his dead mother. “Mom…”
Chapter Twenty Six
Dead Right
A frantic 911 call came into the police dispatcher. Squad cars from the 47th precinct and the housing police responded with the quickness to the call. Mike Copeland was the prime suspect and he was considered armed and dangerous.
Cops swarmed the projects on foot. There was a police helicopter hovering overhead. The building Mike Copeland resided was where the police concentrated their main effort. They stood outside in assembly then they rushed upstairs with weapons drawn.
A battering ram smashed through the apartment door of Mike’s grandmother. Seconds later, dozens of New York City’s finest entered the apartment with their guns at the ready. The sight of the officers nearly caused the elderly woman a heart attack. Knowing his grandmother had a pre existing heart condition, Mike surrendered. The police threw theshackles on Mike in a hot second. He was taken downstairs to where a fleet of squad cars were parked. Scared and watchful eyes recorded the moment when the cops took Mike Copeland out of the projects.
“You have the right to remain silent… Anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law…” the arresting officer said, serving notice on Mike Copeland.
“Save that bullshit! I ain’t tryin’ a hear that! I’m innocent!”
“Hey Tommy, I think we caught a real tough guy…” one of the cops said.
“Funny, but he don’t look that tough to me,” Tommy said, smiling.
They led Mike Copeland to a parked car. Before they shoved him inside, one of the arresting officers leaned over to Mike.
“Hey Mike, take one last look at these projects. By the time you get out… Provided that you do get out, the projects will be all condos…”
Laughter erupted and they shoved Mike Copeland into the backseat of a squad car. They packed up equipment and although a few remained, most of the officers instantly exited the projects.
All the commotion from the heavy police presence had many residents watching closely. They gathered by the dozens. Nashawn was amongst them. Puffing on a cigarette, he was grinning from ear to ear.
“Ha! Ha! Mike Copeland got arrested. Good for that nigga! Y’all know what that means… This whole fuckin’ projects belongs to me!” Nashawn loudly proclaimed.
It was fifteen minutes later when Melquan entered the projects. He had purposely taken his time after being notified of Mike’s arrest by one of the workers. There was nothing he could do for Mike at the moment. People were still up talking about the raid by the cop’s on Mike’s grandmother’s apartment. The police showing up in great numbers would be the talk of the projects for some time.
“It was like they brought da whole four-seven. Yo Melquan, cops were up in here like roaches. I don’t know how or why Mike ended up in his grandma’s crib. Why that nigga just ain’t bounce up outta Dodge is beyond me,” a worker reported.
“Did he say anything when they bought him out…?” Melquan asked.
“You know Mike? He was spazin’ on da cops. He went out like a soldier,” another said.
Melquan heard the taunting behind him when he turned to walk away. There was no need to panic he had the strap on him. Melquan listened to Nashawn shouting over his shoulder without looking back.
“It’s over, nigga! Ya finished muthafucka! It’s my turn to rock now!” Nashawn shouted above th
e buzzing crowd. “I’m gon’ make my run, hope ya lil’ niggas had ya fun!”
Very nonchalantly Melquan pulled one of his workers to the side and whispered in his ear.
“Go git that,” he ordered.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
My Love Is Strong
Catholic school had just let out. Jose Jr. and Maria were walking home. Jose Jr. was ready to cut across the horseshoe driveway, but Maria stopped. She remembered the admonishment her father had given her brother and refused to go any further.
“Jose, what are you about to do?” she asked with concern.
Her brother turned around and stared at her. Shaking his head, Jose walked back to where his sister stood.
“Maria—”
“Jose, you made a promise that you wasn’t going to hang out in the horseshoe anymore. You said if I didn’t tell daddy, and I held up my side of the bargain. If you—”
“You don’t have to remind me, Maria. I didn’t come here to hang out. I came to see somebody, okay?”
“Who Jose? You ain’t got no business with none of these boys. We’re not even supposed to be here, Jose.”
“I know, I know, but I just got to ask him something real fast then we can go. I promise you. Now c’mon already…”
“Okay Jose, you remember your promise though. And I’m watching you. Hurry up!”
Jose Jr. and Maria entered the horseshoe drive. He ran off and left his sister standing on the curb. He was searching for his connect, and asked Rodney,AKA Young Feddi, the rapper.
“A yo, Young Feddi, where Mike Copeland at…?”
“What up, Jose…? Oh, ya ain’t heard?”
“Nah, I didn’t. What happened?”
“Mike Copeland killed some crack head bitch. Mad Po-Po came and arrested him. That shit happened earlier today.”
“Damn! I don’t believe that shit. That nigga owed me money for working,” Jose said.
“I don’t know how ya gonna get paid, Jose. I already told you what happened. So you might as well take that as a loss…”
“Who out here you know can pay me, son?”
“I seen da nigga, Melquan. He was out here a few minutes ago. I think he went into one a da building. See him maybe he might hit you off, son.”
“That nigga don’t even know me,” Jose said, sounding frustrated.
“True that. But it don’t hurt to ask.”
Not far away in the horseshoe, a crack addict was out chasing a high. He was walking toward the other side when a street dealer stooped him.
“What you doin’ servin’ my customer?” Sylk Smooth shouted.
“Nigga, I don’t give a fuck. I was here first. And I’m gonna serve him,” Rodney said.
The crack addict made the transaction, and quickly left the area. The verbal confrontation between the two dealers continued. Nashawn saw the commotion, and walked over to check it out.
“What da fuck is y’all arguin’‘bout?” he asked.
“This nigga just cut my throat on a sale. He knows that was our custie he just served,” Sylk Smooth argued.
“Didn’t I tell y’all niggas to stay on y’all side of the fuckin’ drive, huh?” Nashawn angrily asked. “Fa real fa real, y’all niggas shouldn’t even be out here.”
Nashawn and Sylk Smooth jumped Rodney, and a fight ensued. Together, Nashawn and Sylk Smooth, were too much, and easily beat down Rodney.
“Them niggas over there wildin’,” Jose said excited by the action. “Da nigga, Nashawn is gonna kill that boy, son!”
Someone ran in the building and informed Melquan of the skirmish that had developed. He quickly rushed out the door with gun in his hand. Maria saw the dustup and immediately wanted to leave the area.
“Jose, Jose, c’mon let’s get out of here. Let’s go, Jose,” Maria shouted.
“Yeah okay, Maria, I’m coming. I’m coming!” Jose shouted back.
In a flash shots rang out, Melquan came running across the drive. The guns started blazing when Nashawn pulled out his gun, returning the fire. A reckless shootout ensued and Jose was smack dab in the middle of it. He hit the ground to avoid being shot.
“Jose, Jose c’mon…” Maria shouted.
She was screaming for him to get out when she saw her brother risking his life. Unfortunately for Maria she had no street instincts to rely on. She stood erect as bullets wizzed by her.
“Maria get down, get down,” Jose shouted from his position on the ground.
It all happened so fast. Everything seemed to be a blur in slow motion. Bullets from an automatic weapon ripped into her body. With a thud, Maria fell immediately. Jose ran over to where she hit the ground.
“Maria… No-oh-oh-oh…” Jose screamed.
Bullets continued to fly in every direction and Jose got up off the ground. He ran to his sister, despite the imminent danger he had just placed himself in. Once Jose reached Maria, he dropped to his knees and tried to console her.
Jose looked around him and saw bullets flying everywhere. People were running in pandemonium. His sister was bleeding and not moving. Her face was contorted and her eyes were shut tight. Jose could tell his sister was in a lot of pain. Blood leaked profusely from her body.
“Jose, it burns. I can’t keep my eyes open,” Maria said, struggling to speak. Then her body went limp.
“Maria…” Jose cried. “Don’t close your eyes!”
The gun battle continued despite the casualty. Both combatants were still shooting, and manuerving deadly closer to each other. Miraculously neither man was hit. Finally ceasefire, they both ran out of bullets.
They both fled the scene in opposite directions. Melquan ran by Jose and saw him cradling his bleeding sister. He wasn’t sure what the boy was doing but he didn’t stick around to find out. Racing to his vehicle, Melquan jumped in, and peeled off.
“Somebody help me! Please call an ambulance…! Oh my God! My sister been shot! ” Jose screamed.
Melquan swerved recklessly through the city streets. Later he pulled into a dark corner of the valley. He turned off the lights and exited the vehicle. All of sudden, the urge to urinate swept through him and he did it right there. He felt like crying and bit his lips hard until he tasted blood. Pangs of nervous thoughts caused his stomach to tighten. He tried to make sense of what had gone down.
Jumping back in the Range, he drove and his mind wouldn’t stop spinning. He envisioned the discharge of ammunition, bullet after bullets leaving his gun. He never saw the shot that hit the little girl. He only hoped he wasn’t responsible. It could have been Nashawn’s weapon that did the damage. Melquan remained unsure. Replaying the deadly exchange in his head, Melquan continued to drive aimlessly.
He sat outside on the bumper of his vehicle and dialed India’s number. Melquan listened as the phone rang. India calmly answered the phone with tranquility that Melquan now wished he possessed.
“I need to see you and…”
“I’m home so you may come by, Melquan.”
“Nah, I can’t.”
“What?” India exclaimed. “Melquan you ain’t makin’no sense.”
“Meet somewhere…”
“Why…?”
“Not now, India,” he found himself whispering. “Just do as I say and I’ll explain everything when you get here.”
“Okay Melquan, I’ll meet with you, but this better be real good.”
“Meet me on…”
Melquan ended the call immediately. He went to stake out the rendezvous before India made it there. Driving slowly, Melquan began thinking about all the wrong moves he had made in the game. The realization dawned on him that some of his decisions were unavoidable. In the streets the rule was simple, kill or be killed.
When India arrived at the designated spot in New Roc City’s parking garage, Melquan was waiting in paranoia. He watched every car that passed with great interest including hers. India climbed out of her car and entered his.
“Melquan, what the hell is going on? Why we had to meet all the
way up here? What’s wrong why you look like that?”
Melquan heard the questions coming like bullets at him. He couldn’t get out the answers fast enough to satisfy India’s curiosity.
“India, I think I just accidently killed somebody,” he suddenly blurted.
“What? Melquan what do you mean, you accidently killed somebody?” she asked with deep curiosity.
“I got into a shootout. It was with this other kid name Nashawn. A lil’ girl got in the way and was shot. I’m not sure, but I think she’s dead,” he said, his voice starining with emotion.
He could feel her eyes staring at him. Melquan looked away. Everything he believed in was summed up in India’s eyes. They used to be beautiful now they seemed afraid. He felt like he had let her down and turned into some kind of a monster. Nothing made sense anymore.
“Melquan, you’re scaring me. Do you realize what you just said? You killed somebody? Melquan, I got my son to think about. What if some of your enemies come to my door looking for retaliation? And now you’re here playing some type of cloak and dagger game with not only my life, but my son’s as well.”
“But India it wasn’t my fault. I don’t even know for sure if it was me who killed her.”
“Melquan I don’t know how you’re going to take this but you’ve got to go. I can’t have you endangering me or my son’s life. Melquan it’s over. Melquan you’ve got to turn yourself in and get yourself a good lawyer.”
“So it’s like that? It’s over just that easy, huh? You ain’t even gonna support me on this one. Stand by my side while I fight da case…?”
“I’m sorry, Melquan. I can’t do that.”
Melquan stared at the woman he loved in disbelief. Their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity. When they broke off stares, he knew what he had to do.
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