“Can I ask you something?” Time began.
“If you keep paying for my food, I guess you can.”
“How cool are you and Nique?”
“We cool, not like you and me though.” Step had a where is this going look on her face. She then opened the box and removed a wing smothered in sauce.
“If I tell you something, you think you can keep it quiet?”
“Boy quit playing. I work for a law firm. The first thing you learn is attorney-client confidentially.”
Time look at her closely. “I guess that will work. How about I tell you, Nique don’t want to hook you up cause she fucking Skillz.” Step gasped almost choking on the chicken. “What! Get the fuck out of here! That’s your boy.”
“I know right. My boy and my girl.”
“Time… are you sure? I mean you could be tripping, do you have some proof? Cause I don’t think that sounds like Nique. Let alone with Skillz.”
“I can’t prove it yet, but I will. I was thinking you could help me.”
“Well… I don’t know Time. How about you’re wrong and Nique finds out we’ve been keeping a peep on her?”
“She ain’t going to know.”
Step looked at him thinking. “Alright… I’ll help you.”
“Okay, give me your number and I’ll call you.”
Step called out her number. Time recited it to make sure he had it right.
“You make sure you holler at me. I’ve got to get back to work.”
“Do y’all got some good lawyers over there?” He asked.
“Time don’t start acting crazy on me. Wait until you find out something before you think about retaining a lawyer.” Step walked back to where he was standing and looked into his eyes. “You haven’t gone crazy on me have you?”
Time smiled, “I ain’t crazy yet.”
Chapter 11
“You got some homework?” Tip asked as she and Dice walked into the house.
“No ma’am. Ms. Gregory said we were good today so I don’t have any. Can I download some songs for Dontae?” he asked.
“Do you know what you doing?”
“I got this Ma.”
Without any warning, the doorbell buzzed. Tip was in the process of removing her earrings when it happened. She signed loudly and sat them on the kitchen table. “Who is it,” she called out.
“Mr. Jones… Nano’s probation officer.” Tip opened the door with a peculiar feeling. “Is Nano in?” Jones asked.
“No… but he should be soon.”
“His home visit is next week, but since I was in the area, I thought it would be alright if I stopped by.”
Tip glanced at the diamond-clustered watch she’d received from Hitman on her last birthday. “It’s not a problem, come in.” Tip stepped to the side for him to enter. The first thing she noticed was the heavy scent of marijuana. It was reeking in his clothes.
“Please call me Ty,” he told her.
Tip closed the door. “May I offer you something to drink? We have tea and lemonade.”
“Tea would be nice.”
Tip was heading for the kitchen when she was interrupted. “Ma,” Dice said as he came running into the living room. “Do you see your dad’s P.O.?” she asked him.
“Hey Mr. Jones!”
Jones laughed. “I see why you and Dontae are friends. You’re both are so energetic!”
“What do you want?” Tip asked Dice.
“I’ll wait till Mr. Jones leaves.”
Dice then made a quick sprint headed to the computer room.
“Nice young fella,” Jones said.
“Amazing,” Tip added. She headed into the kitchen and fixed the glass of tea. When she returned, Jones was looking at her the same way he watched her at the school. “You okay?” She asked trying to get his attention. He was more interested in the way she walked.
“Never better,” he said as he redirected his eyes.
Tip cleared her throat. “Nano tells me you and him are alright.” Jones chuckled. “We have a good understanding.” Tip nodded and asked, “So… what does this home visits consist of?” Jones took a sip of the tea. “Very good,” he complimented. “Well… I just come around and check out the environment, make sure everything is good. Cool son, beautiful lady.”
“Wife,” Tip corrected even though there had been no ceremony.
“Wife,” Jones acknowledged her.
Tip held out her arms. “This is the living room, as you should know. “ This is where we have our family discussions.” Tip left the living room and headed down the hall. Jones followed. Tip stopped at the first door in the hall. “This is the computer room. We all come here for business or leisure. As you can see, Dice is at leisure.” Dice was at the computer and he didn’t look up at them. Tip moved on to the next door on the right. “This here is Dice’s room.” She pushed the door open. “As you know, he’ll be cleaning it after you leave.” Jones laughed, “There’s nothing wrong with it if you ask me. You should see Dontae’s room.” Tip continued. Next, she stepped into a small room with a desk. “I call this my office.” Tip exited that room and pointed to a door in the hall. “That’s the hallway bathroom.” She moved to the last door at the end of the hall. “And that is the room Nano and I share. It’s small but it’s enough room for the two of us.” Jones took a few steps brushing pass her. “Excuse me,” he said. He then looked inside the room. When he did, Tip could see that he had gained an erection. It was bulging out in the pants he wore. Tip quickly turned away. He must have gotten aroused when she was showing him the house.
"That’s about it, she said. She quickly headed back to the front room knowing he was getting a view of her ass.
“Well… everything seems good. A very nice house for a family to grow in.
Jones held out his hand with his dick still protruding against his clothes. It was awkward gesture. Nevertheless, Tip took his hand knowing it would be his last visit. Jones walked out the door and jumped into his Toyota Sequoia. Before he pulled away, he was thinking about a way to sleep with Tip.
*****
Nano pulled into the rim shop in Germantown as he always did and parked in the manager’s parking spot. This was a place of business he had actually helped open up.
“What up Danny?”
“What’s good Nano,” Danny replied. “He’s in the back.” Danny was a white dude and the only person that ever worked at the rim shop. Nano walked down the small hall that led to the office. He knocked once out of respect.
“What you knocking for?” Hitman asked through the door.
Nano walked inside. “How you know it was me?”
Hitman pointed to two cameras. “The place got broken into when you were doing your bid.” Nano took a seat in one the identical chairs that faced the desk. “Can I ask you something?”
“Don’t start that,” Hitman said as looked up from something he had laid on the desktop
“Why you keep Danny working for you and not a sister or brother?”
“It’s a good image for the business. So... what brings you here?”
“I was looking for my son, is he here?”
“I wish he was.” Hitman grabbed the sheet of paper and placed it in one of the desk drawers. “Anyway… I’m glad you came. Yesterday, I had lunch with Mrs. Sanco. You know my pops used to work for her.”
“Hit it too,” Nano reminded.
“Yeah, he was definitely doing that, but check this out. Lady told me some shit that fucked me up. I’m going to tell you something and only you. You listening?”
“Hell yeah I’m listening.”
“I found out that my old man planted his seed in that lady.” Nano started to laugh. “I’m for real man… the lady has a daughter. Yo, like I got a sister. You ever wonder why Tip’s eyes are gray?”
*****
“What you doing?”
“Who’s this?” Craig asked the female voice. “This Chell. You busy?” Craig laughed. “I had to plead with Tony to get your
number. I hope that’s alright?”
“It’s cool.”
“Well… the rumor in town is that you’re the man if you need to get your car detailed.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep! As of right now, I hope you’re hungry because I’m bringing you something to eat.”
“Hold up… You don’t have to do that.”
“I lost the bet, remember?”
. “Was it a bet?”
“Somewhat. Do you eat sub sandwiches?”
“I wouldn’t turn one down,” he said with a laugh.
“That’s good; I’ll be there in ten minutes.” The phone suddenly went dead before Craig could reply. He realized she had forced a date on him.
CHAPTER 12
“Deidra when I was on the computer yesterday, I tried to check some of those additional files. I entered my password and the computer stated that I didn’t have clearance. Why’s that?”
“The files you tried to review are classified by the department. The people in them are basically CI’s and witnesses. Do you know somebody whose file has that restriction on it?”
“My cousin.”
“Don’t worry. You can use my password to peep.” Deidra winked. “It’s C L U S T E R.”
“Cluster?”
“Yeah… cluster.”
“Why Cluster?”
“I don’t know. But do you think you’re going to finish that?” Deidra looked at the salad Monique had lost her appetite for. “No… you can have it.”
Deidra took the salad without hesitation. “So, how do you like the job so far?”
“I’m going to stay with it. I like it.”
Monique took a sip of her Dr. Pepper through the straw. They were eating at a small café down the street from the police department.
“Do you have children?” Deidra asked out of the blue.
Monique smiled, “I have a daughter. Her name is Candy and she’s four years old.”
“That’s nice. The Department has good benefits. Especially for childcare. Deidra, can I ask you a dumb question?” Deidra leaned across the table. “Go ahead; the police do all the time.” Monique smiled again. She was really starting to like her. “Have you ever been in a situation where…,” Monique looked at the ceiling searching. “Where you got this person and you wish he was somebody else?” Deidra scoffed, “I’m doing that right now.”
“Are you serious?” Monique asked surprised. “Yes… I got a dog and a man. I just don’t know which one to get rid of.”
This made Monique laugh. “I’m serious Deidra!”
“I’m serious too, but go ahead girl, Let me hear it.”
“My boyfriend, we don’t share the same interests anymore.”
“Okay… you’re having an affair. This is sooo juicy. Hold up!” Deidra forgot about the salad and grabbed a cigarette from her leather case.
*****
Ace pulled into Craig’s detail shop with a set of 30” rims on his Silverado truck. The truck was now taller than the stripper he has last night. Craig quickly approached him. “What’s this?” he asked.
“What’s what?”
“Don’t get funny on me Ace. We got this thing coming up.”
“Craig you got a detail shop. Ain’t nobody going to trip on that.” Craig sighed knowing his brother was right. “Just don’t get flamboyant on me. Tonight Hitman wants to see everyone. There might be some changes in how we are going to do this.”
“Changes! What changes?”
“I don’t know. But it might be good on our part. We might be the ones to touch the diamonds first. If so, we straight lil bro.”
“Dang… this is going to be easy as hell.” Just then, a car pulled up. They both looked to see who it was since it was around closing time. “Craig, you bout to close right?” asked Ace. “Yeah… this is something else though.” Chell jumped out of the car with a big bag and a two-liter of Pepsi. The first thing Craig noticed that he didn’t see the night before was the dimples. Maybe because he wasn’t close to her when she had smiled. Now she had a huge grin on her face and it made her sexy.
“I got a Supreme and a Teriyaki chicken. Which one do you want?”
“I’ll take the chicken.” Craig looked at Ace. “You remember my brother?”
“Yes, Cherry’s friend. I would have brought extra, but I didn’t know you were around.”
“That’s cool. I’m good.”
Chell looked at the Silverado. “Nice truck, is that yours?” Ace smiled, “Yeah that’s me.”
“Cherry know how you rolling?”
“She’ll know tomorrow. We’re going out.”
“That’s good. I wish y’all the best.”
“Okay, I’ll see you tonight Ace,” Craig told him. Ace knew that was a hint for him to peel off. He nodded his head and headed for the truck. “He’s sweet,” Chell said.
Chapter 13
“Why did you want to meet me here?” Step asked.
“Cause something came up. This is what I want you to do.” Time walked into Krispy Kreme with Step right behind him. “Tonight, I want you to follow her!”
“That’s stalking.”
“Listen… It’s all coming to me now; lately she’s been making it her business to get out at night. I wasn’t thinking this way about it though.”
“So… you want me to follow her and then what?”
“She’s going to see him tonight.”
“How do you know?”
“Cause I’m going to give her that room.”
“Boy… I can’t believe I’m doing this shit. When you’re proved wrong, you’re going to give her an apology.”
“Okay… if I’m wrong, I’ll do that.”
*****
The group had been waiting on Time for the last forty-five minutes. When he finally arrived, they didn’t show any signs of agitation. He took a seat and looked at each of them. “My bad, I apologize.” Tip nodded her understanding.
“You getting your rest?” Hitman replied. Hitman came to his feet, still looking at Time. “I’m asking are you getting enough rest, cause you will be there by yourself at the Roger’s residence.
“I’m not going to let anybody down.”
“Good,” Hitman stated. “Alright y’all, I done gone over this whole thing. This is it. Nano and Tip, the two of you will hold down the David’s residence. If y’all don’t have no problems with that.”
“Nah…,” Nano said, Tip only shook her head. Hitman looked back at Time. “Bro… you probably need to shave before you go to the Roger’s residence you’re be their pizza man.” Everyone laughed. Hitman turned to Skillz. “You’ll be dropping everybody off at these places. You will drop Time off first between 3:00 and 4:00. Wait until Time gives you a signal.” Hitman looked back to Tip and Nano. I’ve got some USPS uniforms for y’all.”
“The post office!” Tip smiled.
“Yeah the post office.” Hitman looked to Ace and Craig. “I want y’all at the drop site. We’re gonna get our hands on a commercial van. It will be up to y’all how much cash the group gets. Y’all will have five minutes to snatch as much cash as y’all can, but make sure we get diamonds first.”
“Get that bread,” Skillz said happily.
Everyone began to laugh again. “Remember… we ain’t greedy. The main focus is those diamonds and then we will be straight for life. This is history.” Everyone stood excited. The hard part was now over. They would now rendezvous over drinks. Time approached Tip and Nano. “Tip, can I apologize for being an ass?”
“We good, you don’t have to apologize to me.” Time nodded and turn to Nano. He then held out a pound to him. “There ain’t that many niggas round like you. I can’t do nothing but applaud you. You took a hit for us and I never told you thanks. Thanks man.”
Nano smiled. “Don’t thank me yet. Wait until we become millionaires.”
“Bet!”
“You ready?” Nano asked.
“I’m ready if y’all are.”
Nano and Tip looked at one another. “We ready.”
“Good… now I feel like we are a group. I’ll holla at y’all.” He gave them another pound and walked away. “Hey Time,” Tip’s voice distinct called out to him. Time turned around to face them. “Make sure you get some rest,” she told him with a smile.
“I’ll do that.”
*****
When Time arrived at the house he and Monique shared, she was in the process of getting dressed. The first thing he smelled was the scent of the perfume she wore. “Damn,” he thought, “when you aren’t aware of your surroundings you miss everything.” Now that he knew about her, he could see it all. At that moment, he vowed to never be played again. “Why you so quiet?” she asked more conscious than concerned.
“Nothing.”
“You sure?”
“I’m good,” he said barely audible. He dropped down on the sofa in front of the television. He knew she was about to go out to someone else. It was then, that he realized he still cared for her. It was killing him. “Where you going?” he forced himself to ask. Step and I are going to Wal-Mart. Time closed his eyes knowing he’d just been lied to.
“I thought… maybe you and me could chill.”
Monique turned to him surprised. He never asked her to chill. At least not recently.
“Chill? We’ll chill when I get back.”
“How could she lie to him?” he thought. Many questions suddenly bombarded him. How? Why? When? She was a baby’s mother.
“You have to go?” It was definitely over.
“Boy we’re going to be alright.” She was looking at him the same way she did when they first met. Innocent and sincere. She then grabbed the last of her things and approached him. “I’ll be back.” Time could do nothing but bite down on his bottom lip. Monique headed towards the door. When the door had closed, Time closed his eyes, he felt crushed. he opened them and grabbed his cell phone. Step seemed to answer immediately. “Hello?”
“She’s on her way to see him now.”
Chapter 14
Step sat at her desk inside the powerful Stokes and Hudson law firm. She still could not believe what she’d seen last night when she followed Monique in Time’s blue Caprice straight to Skillz’s apartment. Parking in a vacant parking spot, about three parking spots away, she waited until Monique went inside. It was then she started contemplating on what to do next. Was it enough to conclude that the two were fucking? What else would Monique go to her man’s best friend house for? Betraying Time was so wrong. When her nerves settled, she slid out of the Lexus 350 and made her way to the hood.
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