He ran back to the kitchen, and once there realized the rest of the group must have exited through the backdoor. Nano quickly rushed out into the night. Usually, they would walk away from a job, but the old man had botched that plan. He thought fast. Distinctly, he could hear the sound of footsteps approaching. He saw a flashlight just as someone yelled, “Freeze!”
Nano took off running. He ran through the neighbor’s yard and scaled the wooden fence. He looked behind him and saw that a uniformed officer had done the same. Nano’s adrenaline began pumping faster knowing he had a runner behind him. Nano ran faster. He figured he was at least two seconds in front of him and with the sound of the officer’s keys and handcuffs jingling he felt as if he couldn’t shake him.
The lick had gone wrong. He was running from the police with a duffle bag filled with twenty kilos of cocaine, and a .357 with two bodies on it. Nano made a left. He had to get rid of the gun. He flung it over a fence as hard as he could. He then took off his gloves and flung them over another fence never losing his stride. He knew Tip was a half block away waiting on him. Hopefully, the rest of the crew had gotten away. His thoughts were focused on everyone else when the next fence came into view. It was much taller than the last one he jumped and he had to be sure he made it over. When Nano slowed down to time his jump, he miscalculated. He had to spring off his left leg instead of his right, and coming down the fence caught his thigh.
With his balance thrown off and when he landed, he had to do something he knew he’d regret. He had to drop the duffle in order to regain control of himself. “Fuck,” he cursed looking back. Maybe he would be able to shake the police officer and circle back for it. Nano continued to run until he came to a clearing. He looked left, and then right. Immediately, he felt relief seeing the Explorer parked on the other side of the street.
Nano took off running towards the Explorer. Just as he started to cross the street, two police cars turned on the street. As he looked the other way, another two pulled onto the street from that direction. He thought about making a run for the SUV, but he didn’t want to jeopardize Tip. There was no way he could do that. Nano accepted the fact that he was caught. He stopped, threw his hands in the air, and dropped to his knees. Seconds later, he was drilled to the ground. In an attempt to fight of the police for Tip’s sake, he refused to be cuffed. It was then that they started beating him. Dizziness overcame him. He refused to pass out until he knew Tip was ok. He looked at the Explorer pleading with it to pull away, and finally it did.
Chapter 1
Present Day
The group was seated at the large round wooden table in silence. The only thing they shared was the assorted drinks they had in front of them. Some of the glasses contained alcohol, others were merely flavored water. Hitman had called them in for a meeting. He was their organizer. They’d been waiting impatiently for the news he had to share with them. They knew they were going back to work, and going back to work could only mean one thing, they were about to get paid.
“What’s up with Tip? She’s late,” Skillz asked the room. The anticipation was killing all of them. However, he was the only one to break the silence. Everyone else appeared agitated, but they stayed mute.
“She’ll be here,” Hitman said. He was sitting at the head of the table. His glass was filled halfway with Absolute. His clean-shaven head gave off a radiance even in the dimly lit room. Everyone knew Hitman was the Godfather to Tip’s son. Skillz turned away realizing it wouldn’t be a smart idea to press about her whereabouts. Suddenly, a horn blared from outside. “That’s her right there,” Nano said. His voice was filled with certainty, in defense of his son’s mother.
A full minute later Tip appeared. She walked into the room wearing a pair of Obey pants that matched her white Aether hoody. She took the chair next to Nano and looked at the group around the table. “I’m sorry everybody,” she said sincerely.
Skillz sighed in an exaggerated manner triggering an outburst from Nano. “Man chill out with that! You know we have a son we want to be responsible for!”
“Ah dawg, you saying that cause that’s your baby mama. If that had been one of us, you’d be pissed too.” Skillz looked around the room waiting for someone else to agree with him. The rest of the group didn’t comment. They were more interested in what Hitman had called them there for.
Nano quickly came to his feet. He was wearing a blue fitted cap that had “NY” on it. “It ain’t none of your business what she is to me! Let me know if you got something on your chest.”
“Alright people,” Hitman said. “We came here for this money, so let’s talk about it.”
Tip could feel the tension in the room and felt obligated to explain. “I had to wait for the babysitter,” she said trying to apologize again.
“Pssst,” Skillz said looking to Time for some assistance.
“It’s all good,” Hitman interrupted holding up his hand. He looked at Nano indicating he needed to calm down. Nano beamed at Skillz and then took his seat out of respect for Hitman. They had been best friends since they were young. The room was silent. Hitman, Craig, Ace, Nano, Tip, Time, and Skillz all looked around the table at each other. It was time to discuss business. If they chose to go to work, it would be their twelfth lick together, with the exception of Nano who missed the last two while incarcerated.
“Ok boss, what’s the big secret you got for us,” Skillz asked.
Hitman casually looked around the room at each of their faces. He did it slowly seeing the anticipation in their eyes. “The Sanco diamonds,” he finally said killing the suspense. The group stirred in their chairs. A few glanced down at their hands; some took a drink from their glasses. It was as if he’d just given them bad news.
“Shit… that lady’s protected like she’s the president. How we gonna pull that off,” Ace responded to Hitman’s statement.
“Easily.” Hitman slightly raised his voice to make sure everyone was paying attention. “Every Thursday, Amanda Sanco’s bank transfers large amounts of money to other businesses. That’s how.”
“I heard you say diamonds,” Time countered.
“I did. This Thursday Ms. Sanco is having a public auction. The diamonds will be the biggest attraction. We will place a bid on them.” Hitman looked around the room knowing they weren’t following him.
“What do you plan on doing,” Ace asked. “Are we going to snatch the diamonds?”
Hitman didn’t immediately respond, he continued to look around the room raising the anticipation. “We’re not going to snatch the diamonds. They will come to us.”
“We don’t have to go in,” Nano asked, his mood visibly lightening.
“Nope.”
“Ah man, I like that,” Skillz said his attitude changing. Tip’s late entry forgotten.
“How much are these diamonds worth,” Tip asked taking a drink from Nano’s Crown Royal Black.
“Sixteen point five million dollars,” Hitman answered obviously excited.
“Whoa!” Tip’s eyes became large; she leaned back in her chair, and looked at Nano.
Hitman slid his chair from the table. He then stood and walked into the adjoining room. When he returned, he threw a folder on the table. Nano grabbed it. When he open it, he found it contained photographs.
Hitman continued to explain. “These are the drivers for Ms. Sanco. The white man you see is Mr. Rogers; he lives with his wife, no kids. Time I would like for you to hold that residence down for the group.” Hitman grabbed his drink from the table and continued. “The black man you see is a man named Mr. Davids. He lives with his girlfriend and thirteen-year-old daughter. Nano and Tip, please take his residence.”
Skillz chuckled leaning back in his chair. “We all knew they would be working together.” No one else expressed an opinion on Nano and Tip working together.
“This is it everybody. If y’all want the diamonds, we have one week to come up with a plan. There’s only one shot to take them.
“I thought you and that
lady were cool,” Tip asked smiling.
“We are,” Hitman said as if the question surprised him.
“So what are we going to do,” Ace asked wearing a pair of Oakley shades to conceal his lazy eye. “If this lady has diamonds, then she has cash too.”
“There’s cash,” Hitman confirmed.
“How much dough is this lady holding,” Skillz asked.
“It varies. Sometimes they’ve been known to move a mill or two. Listen…” He looked around the table at their faces. “All of us can walk away millionaires and never look back again. This is who we are and this is what we do. Who’s in?”
Everybody began to look around the room at each other. Ace broke the silence first. “You got me boss.”
“I’m in,” Tip said and turned to Nano smiling. Everyone waited on him to respond. “If my baby in, y’all know I’m in.”
“I’m in too,” Time said looking at Nano.
“Bling! Bling,” Skillz chimed in.
“How about you,” Hitman asked looking at Craig. He was the quietest of them all. He surveyed the room and everyone that he considered to be his family. He then began to twiddle his fingers. “Shit, I always wanted to travel the world. I’m gonna need me a yacht to get across the water.”
Everyone burst out in laughter at that.
“Alright y’all, that make us a full circle. The group has voted,” Hitman said with a smile.
Chapter 2
“Dice! Get up! You have to get ready for school!” Nano shook Dice for the second time. He had recently been released from prison and wanted to make an impression on his son as a father who was involved and cared.
“Aw Nano, do I have to go?”
“Yeah you got to go. You’re going to need an education to make it in the world.”
“A what?” Dice fought against the blankets to sit up.
“Just get up and don’t take that Gameboy to school,” Nano said as he walked towards the door.
“Man… shit…,” Dice grumbled barely audible.
Nano looked back sternly, “What did you say Dice?”
“Ain’t say nothing but dawg.”
Tip was on Ridgeway leaving the better part of East Memphis where they lived. She had to drop Dice off at school for the second time and she was running late again. “What’s wrong baby? Are you mad at me,” Tip asked looking over to the passenger seat.
“No Ma’am.”
“Well you’ve been quiet all morning. I thought we were cool.”
“We are. It’s just…,” his words trailed off. Dice turned and looked out his window.
“It’s just what,” she asked concerned.
“It’s just that Nano is mean to me.”
Tip giggled to herself. “Is that why you’re so quiet?”
“Uh huh!”
“Ah baby, your father is not mean to you. He’s just trying to have a relationship with you and be the best dad he can.”
“Relacion ship? What he want that for?”
“First, let me explain what a relationship is. Ah… relationship is like what you and I have. Except his relationship with you will be man to man, or father to son.”
“So he’s like me God dad Hitman?”
“Something like that. His relationship with you will be different though because he’s your dad.”
“He don’t give me money like Hitman.”
Tip was overcome with laughter at that one. It took her a minute to gather herself. “A relationship is worth more than money. When you get older you’ll see.” She gave him a promising smile and turned her attention back to the road. She made a left turn on Hillcrest and Hillcrest Elementary came into view. She slowed down and pulled to the curb behind a blue Ford minivan. At least she wasn’t the only mother late she thought to herself. Tip surveyed the school. The last time she was late; two teachers had remained outside even though the school bell had already rung for class. She didn’t want to become known as the “late mom.”
To her surprise, she spotted her son’s best friend. He was standing alone off to the side. “There goes your friend. I guess he’s waiting for you.” Tip pointed at the boy standing in between two bushes. Dice quickly looked up. His friend Dontae was wearing a white V-neck sweater by Brooks Brothers. His 514 Levis were dark blue and actual fit properly. Tip thought he look adorable.
“I like that outfit Dontae has on.”
Tip made the statement hoping it would encourage Dice to change his clothing style. Dice was only interested in Coogi and Akoo. He’d pretty much adopted Hitman’s way of dressing. “Don’t even think about it Ma.” Tip sighed with her moment of hope gone.
“Okay, you have your lunch money?”
“Hitman gave me some money. I’ve got like fifty dollars.”
“How much of that did you put up,” she asked testing his math skills.
“Twenty-five. I can count Ma.”
“Okay, I’ll see you after school. Hurry up now, you’re already late.” Dice slid out of the two-door coupe BMW. “Hey, you forgot something,” she called after him. Dice was reluctant to look back; he figured she was talking about giving him a kiss in front of Dontae. When he looked back though he saw she was holding out his Gameboy.
“Nano said I couldn’t bring my game.”
“Nano doesn’t have to know everything.” She smiled and raised her brow.
Dice grabbed the game with a smile. “Dang Ma, you’re the coolest.” Tip almost melted at that. “Well give me a pound then.” Dice’s small fist met his mother’s well-manicured hand. He turned and dashed off. Tip waited until he covered the short distance to where Dontae waited. She could faintly overhear the conversation and Dontae asking Dice if he brought something. She heard him brag that his mom had snuck it out of the house for him. Dontae peered around Dice and smile while telling him he had the coolest mom. No one else’s mom would sneak out toys and give pounds instead of kisses. Dontae and Dice both waved at the BMW and Tip waved back. She knew that Dice bragged on her to his friends. She waited until the two had disappeared into the school building before pulling off. Next week, she decided; if everything went according to the plan, she would buy him something he could really brag about.
Chapter 3
“I have a job interview at the police department. I don’t want to pull up in no damn Chevy with rims. Those people will turn me around at the door. You should’ve bought a damn Cadillac or something, instead of throwing your money away on them wragley ass cars. You need to get some class,” Monique said with a hand on her hip.
“I know you ain’t up in here insulting me in front of my people. You’ve been in the them Chevys since you were walking around in them wragley ass Reeboks. Now you’re too good for my shit! You can drive my shit or pay for a cab.”
Monique looked at Time, and then she turned to look at Skillz who had a smirk on his face. Monique grabbed the keys to Time’s blue Caprice and stormed out the door. She would rather drive the Caprice than his Florida orange Donk.
“What’s up with her,” Time asked with a bewildered look on his face. “You just can’t satisfy women these days.” Time took a seat on the couch next to Skillz. “So what do you think about the lick,” he asked him.
Skillz sat up excited. “Boy, if we come off with that one, ain’t no looking back.”
“I know right. I’ll leave Nique’s ass with those Chevys she’s always complaining about.” They both laughed at that one.
“I feel you on that. I don’t see why you put up with her.”
“We got a daughter! That’s why I put up with it.” He was quiet for a minute before he continued. “She ain’t really a problem, it that’s Tip.”
Skillz already knew how Time felt about Tip. “You’re just saying that cause you want to fuck her.”
Time grabbed his crotch, “Damn, you’ve seen that ass on her!”
“Oh hell yeah! She super fine, I ain’t gonna lie. I wonder if that pussy any good.”
“You know it’s good. You see how Na
no be about to get at you.”
“Nah, he be ready to get at you. You know, if Nano hadn’t come home, I would have had her.”
“Man, that girl wasn’t about to do nothing. You were wasting your time.”
“You think so?”
“I know so,” Skillz stated.
Time was lost in thought when Skillz broke in. “What do you think about keeping the diamonds?” Time looked at Skillz surprised by the notion. “What do you mean?”
“I mean us taking the diamonds from the group. That’s what I mean. You up for it?”
Time pondered on what Skillz had said. He looked at him wondering if he’d been planning the scheme since the meeting. “Tell me what you have in mind,” he told him.
“This is 95% official,” Hitman said.
“You know I can’t catch another strike. Those people are going to strike me out. That five-year bid almost ended Tip and me. It’s hard to keep a family together behind the fence.” Nano took a sip of ginger ale in the passenger seat.
“I had your family covered.”
“I know man. Tip is like your sister and my son is like your son. Do you know how Dice handles me?”
“Don’t tell me.”
Nano ignored Hitman’s request. “He don’t call me Dad, Pops, or old man. He calls me Nano like the streets do. You know what he did this morning?”
“What,” Hitman asked already smiling. He knew Dice had some blunt remarks.
“The nigga cursed me.”
Hitman threw his head back in laughter.
“That ain’t funny man. He ain’t nothing but six years old.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry man.” Hitman grabbed his belly he was laughing so hard.
“You like that shit don’t you?”
“I do.” Hitman smiled. “You gotta love him. That’s my man.”
Killer Diamonds Page 2