Chapter 56
Before Dawn - L.A...
Oscar stood stretching in his running clothes watching the sun rise, he'd run his usual distance that morning, this time further. He took several deep breaths, checking his watch, his heart was pounding with the knowledge that now was the time to back out, if he was going to. Once he made the phone call on the cheap cell phone with the top-up card, used by men like him for just this purpose, that would be it. He inhaled deep and blew out slowly several times. Seeing his "daughter" in his minds eye. He shook his head, "No... not my daughter. Not mine, not mine." He repeated over and over as he blew out again, his stomach rioting from within. He bent over with his hands braced on his knees. Running the plan through his mind again. Replaying it in his head. Everything had to go according to plan. Once he'd gotten it in his head how he wanted it carried out, he went over the plan with the hired man. To organize it had taken, time, money and many resources. With what it was costing him, nothing could go wrong. He'd seen to all possible angles to assure it looked the way he imagined.
He stood and walked towards the mansion, taking his time - it would be a 3 mile walk, so he made it at his leisure, and did the unforgivable... he dialled the number.
"Yeah..." His man answered at the other end, he'd been waiting in the park across town, using a similar phone.
There was a pause, a distinctive nervous swallow, and finally. "Set it up."
"I've already made the phone calls. Everything is basically in place. I just need to know when?"
Again the silence, then, "I'm trying to make up my mind am I out of town or not. It depends on that."
"What's on your agenda?"
"My wife and I have to be at the opening of a new branch in Texas, we'll be leaving for it Wednesday, returning on Friday."
"Sounds like a good day. Friday nights, you know the types... drinking, drugs, the perfect setting for things to go too far."
"I don't wish to hear anymore. Just take care of it. No slip ups."
"Its done."
* * *
Later in L. A...
Maxwell stepped slowly up the porch steps of his latest. The hood was jumping with his boys scattered about prelude to a get together at the park, but here he was, deciding whether he was going to kiss ass again or not. He knocked on the loose screen door, looking inside and smiling at the senior black man grumbling at his grandson who was begging at that moment.
"Come on gran' gimme the remote. I'on wanna watch this... can't I watch some MTV?" Lil'Kenny asked.
"Hell naw! I'm watchin' dis! Goddamn music don't sound like shit no mo' no way! Hell naw! Gone get yo'lil ass on way from me now! I'm watchin' my moive! Come on in boy - you ain't got to knock if I see's yah! Come on." Mr. Reynolds called out to Maxwell who smiled opening the door to enter.
"Don' nobody wanna watch no ol'black an' white movies gran'... that old stuff - don't even look right... lease you could do is watch somethin' in color!" Lil'Kenny, Maxwell's girlfriend's son complained with his lip poked out. Maxwell leaned in the doorway, smiling down at the arguing two.
"Why you got'ta have color to enjoy a movie? Ain't no good movies now'a'day no way - color o'not! Yah'll got to have all thems o'fects and stuff... can't no body act! Ain't got to, just special o'fect! Whole got'damn brain dead gene'ation! Don't know shit! Can't be tol' shit! Ain't got shit t'learn! An' the shit you do know, ain't shit worth knowin'!"
"Gran' I'on wanna hear dis... can't I just watch my videos?"
"Naw! Sit yo'ass down heah and watch this movie! See dis'? It may be black and white... but it still go on today!" Mr. Reynolds started with Maxwell waiting and listening.
"Ain't no body ridin' 'round on no horses no more gran'!"
"It ain't the horses boy! What you know Max? What you thank?"
"I'on know Mr. Reynolds... what you talkin' 'bout?!"
"The white man, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout! He ain't never changed! See that right there... he still doin' that shit... but yah'll just don't know it. 'Cause yah'll busy watching MTV - and them stupid ass o'fect movies!" He announced.
Lil'Kenny laughed. "Gran' that's special affects!"
"Don't be correctin' me boy! Don't matter... still nonsense! It don't teach yah'nothin'. Just distract you from what's really goin' on." He said peering at the TV screen.
Maxwell leaned to the side and looked at the TV. It was an old black and white cowboy movie, showing Indians attacking a ranch, shooting and killing the land owners.
"I don't get it... its just a'old movie." Maxwell commented gently.
"Thank you... that's what I said!" Lil'Kenny spoke up.
"Both o'yah wrong. Ain't Indians at all... it's white men with Indian clothes on and paint on they faces, pretending to be Indians." He informed them.
"Annnnd - sooo - what's the big deal gran'?" Lil'Kenny asked shaking his head and rolling his eyes with no patience for the older man.
Maxwell looked to Mr. Reynolds for the reply.
"The big deal is... he still doin' it."
"Who?" Maxwell asked.
"The white man! Sabotagin' a whole nation of people... so to get what he want. May be a ol'movie... but they still doin' it, ridin' in wreaking havoc, and leaving behind his crime for some body else t'take the blame."
Maxwell looked at his watch, then at the back of the house. "Where your mama at? She knew I was comin'." Max stated having no comment about Mr. Reynolds thoughts on the old movie, he wanted to get going, meet up with his posse.
"Yeah... don't pay me no 'tention... yah'll just go on wit' muckin' up yo'lives... hanging out like a bunch of know nothin's goin' no where." Mr. Reynolds fussed.
"I'm not ignoring you Mr. Reynolds, I just don't understand what you gettin' at?"
"Watch'yo' back boy! That's what I'm gettin' at! Pay 'tention t'what goin' on 'round here! Ya'damn near thirty if not! What you got goin' fo'you? 'Specially waitin' on that one...she dead end too."
"Thanks gran'... how nice of you to say." Moniqua appeared looking from her son to her grandfather, then turning slanted eyes at Maxwell. "What you want?" She asked even though she knew.
"Keep this shit up and it won't be you." He returned.
Her son and grandfather laughed at the cut.
"Boy that'some cold line shit there..." Mr. Reynolds laughed, unconcerned with his granddaughters displeasure, he didn't much like her anyway, user that she was, always trying to get something out of a man instead of doing for herself. "...Yes - you bes' pay 'tention boy - you might learn somethin'." Mr. Reynolds further chortled. His granddaughter stormed out the door onto the porch so that she and Maxwell could speak privately. Mr. Reynolds wasn't done with him yet so stopped him asking, "So how that brother of yo'in doin'?"
Maxwell stopped before going out the door behind Moniqua, "He's fine Mr. Reynolds."
"Still doin' that lawyer stuff?"
"Yes sir he is."
"Now that one there... he know what goin' on-... bet he be watchin' these black and white movies-..."
"Did you come here to talk to him - or me!" Moniqua snapped from waiting on the porch.
Mr. Reynolds shook his head and looked away from Maxwell - freeing him to go outside.
"Mama... can I come out yet? I ain't got nothing to do." Lil'Kenny whined following Maxwell to the door.
"Boy don't ask me that again! Yo' ass is on punishment until further goddamn notice! Now back in that door... NOW!"
Max stepped out walking pass her to one of the lower steps to look up at her. For all her plump prettiness, she was a constant nagger. Never satisfied, always demanding more, talking to him in her belittling condescending way. It was getting old - fast.
"I'm gone tell you right now... I don't appreciate you dissin' me in front of my son... and my grandfather! Who the hell you think you are Maxwell! You ain't shit! Despite that fact, I treat you good anyway! Um hmm, yeah... that's right - cause you know when you need yo'shit seen to, ain't no woman take care of it like me! You said you was gone start l
ookin' for us somewhere to move! You know I'm tired of living here! Puttin' up with that ol'man! I called you three times yesterday! I missed a goddamn job interview trying to find yo' ass-..."
"Any excuse will do - t'miss a job interview won't it?" He asked walking down the remaining two steps.
"Where you going? Where's the money you said you was gone bring me? You said you'd loan me a hundred dollars to get those shoes and jacket for Lil'Kenny!?"
"Well where the fuck is big'Kenny?! When you gone get money from his ass?" He asked digging in his pocket to peel off the money, giving her a hundred fifty. If she asked for twenty, she really meant forty. He remembered the first few times he gave her exact amounts, she looked at him as if he were being cheap. So automatically, he gave more now.
"If I knew where that sonofabitch was... I would! Don't get all bent out of shape, I'm gone pay you back!" She lied.
"Whatevah... I better see the boy with new shoes and a jacket too! Bet not be no goodwill shit!"
"Ain't nothing wrong wit' goodwill! Where you going? You just got here!?"
"I got things to do... I'll see you later."
"You ain't going no where but to hang with them shiftless, gangbangin' worthless ass niggas! You need to be tryin' to find us a place to stay so we can get the hell up out'ah this goddamn neighborhood!"
"I tell you what, you get a job... we'll get a place." He announced walking to his car.
"Why I got to get a job!? Why can't you pay the rent and shit? I'll be taking care of home, having your kids and shit! That's what's wrong wit' niggas today, yah'll want a woman to do every god-damn thing! Excuse me! I'm talking to you?!" She blasted stepping down off the porch with her hands on her hips. Max held up a hand to her, deciding the visit had gone on long enough, he opened his car door and sat inside with her walking up to it.
"You know what... you ain't right, all you come to me for is a piece o'ass-..."
"What?! I ain't get shit! Gettin' so I don't want shit! Costin' me too goddamn much money anyway! I can get more done from a ho', won't cost me as much and I don't have to listen to all the bullshit with it!"
"Yeah and that's why H.I.V. on the rise baby! That shit ain't nothing to play with! Gettin' this here may cost you more, but you get to keep your shit when you get up!"
"Yeah yeah yeah - whatever... peace - I'm out!" Wasting not another moment, Max started the car and pulled off.
Moniqua turned with a smile on her face, folded her money sticking it into her cleavage and walked back into the house.
"You gone get my shoes now mama?" Lil'Kenny asked, overhearing some of the conversation.
"You gone have to wait boy! I ain't got no money!"
Maxwell went into cruise mode listening to his Tupac's disk mix that he'd made up himself, he was heavy into Tupac, the man and his message always gave him a source for serious contemplation. There were times when he wished he had applied some of the direction Jeremiah gave him. Here he was 32 years old with no direction or course for his life. He drove and studied his surroundings, the people he passed everyday, people who had been there yesterday, and would be in the same place tomorrow if not cut down by a stray bullet. If something didn't change in his life... he'd be in the same place as well existing through each hour of a 24 hour day, waiting for nothing... to happen in his life.
His ring-tone went off, "What up?" He answered.
"Care to meet me for dinner?" Jeremiah asked from the other end.
"Naw... don't feel like no tie-on today B."
"I'll dress down."
"Say what? You lonely for some company? You need to get you a woman."
"Don't have the time for one - so what's it gonna be?"
"Ah'ight - where?"
"What you feeling?"
"Man, how 'bout some rib tips?"
"Max... there's more to food and cuisine than pork ribs. How about seafood or Asian."
"Man! What you ask me fo'then?"
"Alright alright alright -where?"
"Why'on we pick up some and hit the beach to eat?"
Jeremiah sighed, he didn't care for eating in his car or off of his lap, but he needed some family time, he was feeling down. Their mother on his mind constant lately. "Alright, I guess I'd better dress down even more... where?"
"Woody's at the-..."
"I don't think so...you know I don't venture into that part of town. Hit Phillips and I'll pay you back."
"Psh! Man... I got it! Where we meetin'?"
"Venice beach - meet you at Point Dume pavilions."
"Ah'ight - lemme' hook up with my boys, see you there in about an hour?"
"Yes... good enough."
Hour and a half later, the brothers sat next to each other, the cool breeze of the beach, full with beach scents and sounds caressing them as they enjoyed this rare time together. One sucking sauce off his finger tips, the other struggling to enjoy because sauce was getting on his finger tips. "Man just pick it up and eat it! 'Nother black man ruined by the corporate ladder, money and the white worl'!"
Jeremiah cut his brother a sideways glance, watching him as he crunched the rib tip white cartilage, sucking at every bit of juice there, then grabbing three fingers full of greens and corn bread, tossing his head back to drop it into his mouth.
Maxwell could feel his eyes on him, "What? Man don't look at me while I'm eatin'!"
"No... I shouldn't, puts me off my own, fact is... you can take this with you. I'll pick something up later."
"Hey... you know I'ah eat it... leave it, roll up that bag."
Jeremiah did so, using the napkin provided to clean the sticky sauce from his fingers, distaste clear in his expression as he wiped it away. Checking his manicured nails and signet ring for any trace of it.
"So... what's up?" Max asked still munching, his mouth full.
"Nothing much... I needed a bit of a break, thought we could get together. You stayin' out of trouble?"
"'Till tomorrow, or the day it come up on me. Ain't like I'm lookin' for it, shit just be happenin'."
"Still not ready to take my advice hm?"
"Naaaw, can't make up my mind what I want... not yet."
"You're 32 years old, with nothing keeping you from a better life but yourself."
"Em hm, and what's up wit' you? All this shit you talkin' old. What's on yo'mind." Max cut to the quick.
Jeremiah pulled his eyes away to gaze out at the surf.
"I'm trying to think of how to approach Deidre Wherrington. I need to get my foot into that business, something's going on with them - I just know it. For her to move out - I don't know... something's not right."
"Shit, she pro'bly tired of living with mom and pops."
"Maybe... following her divorce, I figured she'd be there forever."
"So what you thankin'? You gone strike somethin' up wit'ah?"
"It's a thought...if she was anything but white, I might... but I don't like white women."
"Yeah right nigga! I know you done had a few... you liked it that much!"
Jeremiah cut him a glance, Max knew what he felt about him using the term,'nigga'.
"Yeah I said, nigga... all yo'goddamn education, money and prestige don't change a thang."
Jeremiah sighed deciding not to get distracted by that, "Look... I need you to tell me what the feeling was when you were moving her into that flat. Did it seem there was a man in her life by anything she said or did?"
"Man how I'm suppose t'know that? I wasn't there long, she was there with another woman, a friend I guess helping her unpack her shit."
"How did she look?"
"Phat! Too fine and preoccupied."
"You hear anything about anything on the business?"
"Naw man, she was movin' in! All I heard was sit that here, put that there!"
Jeremiah's mind was ticking and calculating. "I guess I'm just going to have to bump into her."
Max chuckled shaking his head. "Man you got too much of yo'life wrapped around them people. You need to move on
."
"I'll move on... when everything they have... belongs to me, then I'll move on."
"Mama dead Jeremiah... mama dead. Why don't you let her rest in peace. You talk all that shit 'bout what I do in the street, but you know what... you doing the same shit. No different, we settle shit with guns, you settle with money... either way, its still about ruinin' peoples lives - its all bullshit. 'Till you realize that, you can't tell me shit!"
Jeremiah didn't like mirrors held up before him, especially when Max was holding it. He loved his brother... half brother or not. But there were times, when he resented him. His whole lack of passion on things that should mean something to him, meant nothing. They both stood, they'd never really had a close relationship, although the ties between them kept them in close contact, one watching the others back.
"Look... I'mo get. Meet up wit' my boys, you need me - you know how to reach me." Max leaned to his brother and they hugged.
"Yeah... I know how to reach you."
They parted ways, one stepping with a stride that spoke of his street life, the other strode off with an erect stride that was equally as proud. Neither realizing that over the horizon - a change for them both was about to come.
Chapter 57
Sylvia sat grinning, driving along on the highway towards La Crosse as Angela's head bobbed back and forth to the beat of 'Billi Jean', she was surprised to see that her head bobbing was in perfect rhythm to the song. They had more shopping to do, this time it was coming out of her pocket and not Shawn's. Not that he would have minded, but she wouldn't even consider asking him for his card again. She shook her head realizing they had so much to discuss, having already talked that afternoon about Angela. They were spending and not watching their dollars. Before him, she had lived on a strict budget, carefully counting every dime, nickel and penny. It was necessary if she intended to never have to work for anyone else again. Especially considering that neither she nor Shawn were rich. They're good fortune was that everything they had, was mostly paid for. All of her things were paid for, as well as all of his things and vehicles. But they had taxes, utilities, and maintenance to pay for. She was living off of interest, but she had to be careful because it was easy to slip off too deep into it. She had to live low and careful for the next 6 months and then her interest would have built up enough to generate a weekly amount that she could live off of a bit more comfortably and not worry about working.
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