The fresh air was needed. Step thought about walking to the door and making an announcement. Maybe lying for them would fix everything, but she and Time were too close and that would not be fair. Time would have to just be fucked up about it. Step was watching the apartment for a sign when suddenly a light came on. Quickly, the light went back out. Step looked around the apartment complex surprised there wasn’t anybody else outside on the cool summer night. That only encouraged her to creep to the window. After she looked around one final time, her feet began to move where her mind told them to go. When Step made it to the window, she learned a curious ear to the pane. The apartment was quiet.
Step was about to change her position when suddenly, she heard the back door open. She was frozen into place thinking she had just been caught. First, there was laughter. Then Step heard them distinctly. It was Monique and Skillz. They were talking about something that she couldn’t quite register. Her heartbeat was now racing. Tip peeped around the corner. When she did, Monique and Skillz were walking away in the other direction. It appeared they were carrying something. Soon they vanished around the corner. Step tiptoed to the place where the two were previously at. When she peaked around the corner, Monique and Skillz were heading to what looked like a small play area. There was a swing set, a merry go round, and a slide. She assumed it was for the kids in the apartment complex. Skillz and Monique got on the merry go round. At first, they began to fondle one another. After this went on for some time, Monique dropped on her knees in front of Skillz. Monique then looked up and said something to Skillz. Skillz nodded his head. Monique then began to unfasten the shorts he wore. When they suddenly fell to the ground, Monique looked up at Skillz. She said something indistinct to him again. Step couldn’t believe it. Seconds later just as she thought, Monique had taken him in her mouth.
“Damn,” the word escaped Step’s lips in a whisper. “Time had been right,” Step thought. It was all she needed to see. She started to head back to the car but she had become drawn to the scene. She watched while Monique slowly pulled on Skillz’s manhood. When she had been satisfied with her efforts, Skillz joined her. He laid down on his back while they played with each other. When he was comfortable in position, Monique climbed on top and straddled him. Step could see that Monique wore a skirt and she was positive that she didn’t wear any panties underneath. Their first movements were slow, almost inconspicuous. Then they formed a rhythm. Step had seen enough. She pulled herself away and ran back to the Lexus. Once she made it home, she knew she and Monique would never be cool again. Things were about to change.
*****
Monique was sitting at her workstation bored just as Deidra had said she would get. Last night with Skillz had been one of their best moments yet. She could not get it out of her mind. When she finally returned home three hours later, Time had been asleep on the sofa. At least that’s the way it appeared. Actually, she didn’t care. She was at the point where she wanted to leave. And if he initiated a break up, all the better. Skillz had her open. Monique came back to the present moment. She then redirected the mouse across the screen until she came to the name Victor Scott. After she entered her password. She went through the file again until the computer asked if she wanted to review the additional files. Monique entered C.L.U.S.T.E.R. and waited. Seconds later, a murder case popped up on the screen. It read, “Young boy witnesses the murder of his father.” Monique started to read.
“James Scott and Victor Scott, father and son were leaving O’Neal’s corner store Saturday morning when the father was gunned down.” Monique paused with her mouth open. She looked at the date of the incident. It was August 18, 1988. Monique then started counting the years.
“Damn….” she cursed. He was only four years old. Monique leaned back in her chair. He had never told her.
*****
Tip sat at her desk awaiting 3:00. At the time, it was only 2:20 and she was feeling bad about the last two couples she had to deny for a loan. She looked out at the traffic that passed by on the main drive. A lady passed walking a small dog. A van then passed claiming you could get up to 75% off at Rooms to Go. When a man appeared with a vase of flowers, Tip smiled. When he entered the loan office, her smile broadened. He approached the desk in a normal manner.
“Are you Tiffany Berry?” He asked.
“Who,” she replied.
The man smiled. “Are you Tiffany Berry?”
Tip smiled, “Yes I am.”
“Well these are for you.”
“Who sent these?” she asked enthralled. It was the first time she had ever received flowers.
“I can’t say. We have a policy.”
“Tell me if he was dark skin and built.”
“I can’t say.”
“Where’s the card? I like words of expression.”
“There was no card sent.”
“For real?” She eyed the man with a smirk.
“I’m sorry. Please sign here.”
He handed her a clipboard. On the clipboard was a form. Tip quickly signed where there was an x. Step then passed him the clipboard back. “Thank you,” he said politely.
“No, thank you. Tell Nano I love him.”
The man smiled and turned away. Tip watched him until he left the building. She then sat the vase on her desk. Tip glanced back at the clock. It now indicated that it was 2:25. The deliveryman had taken five minutes off the clock. It was time to make a phone call. Tip dialed a number and waited. “Hello, Kizzy?”
“Tip, this you?”
“Yeah! What you doing?”
“Nothing, what’s up?”
“I was calling to see if you could watch Dice for us.”
“You know I will. When?”
“Wednesday.”
“How long?”
“Well I need you to stay and drop him off at school.”
“Ohhh…”
“Please…”
“Girl stop all that. I’ll do it.”
“And drop him off?”
“And drop him off,” Kizzy repeated. “Can we have pizza?”
“You got it girl! I’ll buy you anything you like.”
Chapter 15
When Ace stopped by Mr. Dunlap’s pawnshop, a black Porsche just happened to be parked out front. He jumped out of his Silverado admiring the car. It gave him new ideas on what he was going to do with his part of the money.
“Damn that shit’s nice,” he said upon closer inspection of the car. He had to walk inside and see who owned it.
Inside, Mr. Dunlap was speaking to a man with Jewish traits. He had on a pair of Cartier shades to conceal his eyes. The suit he wore probably had a price range of 10,000 dollars. There was also another man in the pawnshop. From the way he stood close to the man in the expensive suit, Ace determined he was the man’s protection.
“How are you Ace,” Mr. Dunlap began. “I was just talking about you. This is the friend I’ve been telling you about.”
Ace stepped forward.
“How you doing?” Ace asked.
The Jewish man simply crossed his arms. Ace now realized he was in the presence of a true businessman. Without any warning, the other man stepped forward and extended a hand. He was white and built like a body builder. “I’m sorry, but my boss has no reason for small talk. He is here about the diamonds.”
“Alright,” Ace said shaking the man’s hand. He was immediately intimidated by his strength.
“Mr. Dunlap tells us, you can get the old lady’s diamonds.” Ace looked at Mr. Dunlap; he then looked back at the two strangers. He felt uncomfortable leaving his gun in the truck.
“Yeah… me and my bro going to get them.”
“When?” the Jewish man asked.
“Thursday.”
“Are you certain?”
“We got this.”
“So the fee for bringing me the diamonds will be how much?”
Ace thought quickly. Craig had said they were cutting Mr. Dunlap out of the deal. Craig had wanted to put T
ony down. Ace didn’t care. “That’s what I came to see Mr. Dunlap about.”
“Speak, if you don’t mind speaking freely.”
Ace looked at Mr. Dunlap. “It’s like this, we have a problem. You see, there’s more people that want to bid on the stones.”
“Like who?” the Jewish man asked.
“Tony.”
The Jewish man removed his shades. “Tony?”
“Yeah… he owns the strip club.”
“What strip club?”
“Club Delights.”
The Jewish man looked to the bodyguard. Ace continued. “We were offered a better deal.”
“What is better?”
“My brother and I walked away with six mill each.”
The Jewish man smiled. “I like the way you try to negotiate with no guarantees. But I respect your business skills. So are you saying you wish to cancel Mr. Dunlap’s proposition?”
“I just want the best deal we can get.”
The Jewish man then turned to his bodyguard. With this motion, the bodyguard pulled out a gun equipped with a silencer and dumped two rounds in Mr. Dunlap’s chest. Mr. Dunlap fell backwards clutching his chest. The man then looked back at Ace. “As you’d wish. Now I’m in a position to negotiate. I have a briefcase with one million dollars cash in it.” He turned to the bodyguard, “David, please show Ace the money.”
The bodyguard walked behind the counter where Mr. Dunlap usually stood and returned with a briefcase. He smoothly opened it for Ace to view. “If you would like, we can finish this in the back. David close the shop while Mr. Ace and I finished business.
*****
“Yo. Nano! The supervisor wants you.”
“Me?” Nano pointed to himself.
“Yeah you.”
Nano set the emergency brake and jumped off the forklift. He then headed to the main office, which was around the corner. When Nano made it, Mr. Yarbough indicated with a hand for Nano to enter. He walked in and took a seat facing him. “Is there a problem?”
Mr. Yarborough looked fragile on the other side of the desk. He was a black man probably in his late sixties in need of a pair of glasses from the way his eyes continuously squinted.
“I have reasons to believe you are under the influence.”
“Under the influence?”
“Yes. I received a phone call about you and your behavior. It’s irrelevant what you do when you are not here. But when you are, safety is the number one priority in this facility.”
“I’m not under the influence.”
“Nothing whatsoever?”
“Nah…”
“Do you mind taking a test?”
“No I don’t mind,” Nano said casually. He’d taken the test numerous times in prison, what could be so hard now. “Where’s the cup?”
“We don’t use urine samples here. The infirmary will retrieve a hair follicle from you. We do our test therally here Mr. Whatley. Now please go, we still have work to do.”
Nano nodded his head and walked out of the office. The infirmary was located at the front entrance to the plant. It was the first door on your left. Nano headed out thinking about what would he tell Tip. He considered himself dead with the test. When he made it to the infirmary door, he continued walking until he was in the parking lot. Nano slid in his Chevrolet Avalanche. Before he went home, he had to go tell Mr. Jones what had happened.
Chapter 16
Time was seriously considering about not going through with fucking over the group. The more he thought about it, the more he realized Skillz was the only snake. It was him that had been doing the fucking all along. He turned into the driveway on the corner of Riverdale. It was the white house where he did the majority of his hustling. After Tuesday, his hustling days would be far behind him. He would get his diamonds, and tell Nique and Skillz to get the fuck on. He jumped out of the Donk just as a black Cadillac Seville parked at the curb. He looked at his watch out of curiosity.
“How’s it looking?” he asked when the man made his approach. “It’s looking good,” Twin said flashing a mouth full of various metals. His teeth were gold, rose gold, and platinum. Twin was his man on the streets. Anything he placed in his hands disappeared rapidly. “It’s been dry over here. I hope you straight.”
Time looked around and threw him the keys. It was how they always made the deal. Twin walked to the trunk. Once he opened it, he reached in and pulled out a bundle wrapped in plastic. It was then that someone in a Mustang with 22-inch rims began taking pictures.
*****
Ace walked out of the pawnshop with the million dollars in the briefcase. On his way out, he had politely grabbed a diamond bracelet and a nickel-plated .38. They were two of the items he always wanted from the old man. He knew Mr. Dunlap wouldn’t miss them. He had made an agreement, that he could deliver the diamonds. If so, the Jewish man promised him another ten million. They agreed with a handshake.
In his white Silverado, Ace felt like he had hit the lottery. He was an instant millionaire. Craig would be proud of him there was no doubt about it. He was driving at a safe speed looking both ways. The last thing he needed was to get pulled over. He was kind of wishing he didn’t have such big rims on the truck. If he did get pulled over and the police found the money, they were going to categorize him as a kingpin. If not, they would probably kill him, take the money, and etcetera. He now had a .38 to go with the .380 he had gotten from Mr. Dunlap’s pawnshop. If he had to, he would probably make a go for Craig’s detail shop just to get the money into his hands. Ace turned on Bethea Street. Usually he would have the system cranked up, but the two 12-inch woofers were still behind the seats. He needed to display common sense since he was downtown and police headquarters were downtown. He was passing by Club Delight when he spotted Cherry and two other strippers standing outside. They already had plans to go out. However, she didn’t know what type of vehicle he drove. “Why not impress her when the sun is out,” he thought. He turned into the parking lot that joined Club Delight with a Japanese restaurant. Slowly he pulled to where the girls stood with their eyes glued to the truck. Ace stopped right beside them and leaned out the window. “What’s up Cherry? he asked with the bracelet glistening in the sun.
*****
Nano walked into the red brick parole offices on Simpson Street disturbed. He told the receptionist it was important that he see Mr. Jones.
“Can you wait?” she asked.
“Not really.”
The receptionist picked up the phone and started to speak indistinctly into it. She then returned it to the base. “Go right ahead,” she stated. Nano walked to the door with the nameplate Tyrone Jones on it. He was just there two days ago. He knocked once. “Come in,” the voice said from inside. Nano stepped in. The first thing he noticed was the girl.
“What’s up Nano?” Jones asked.
“What’s up?” Nano asked.
“Close the door,” Jones said smoothly. Nano softly pulled the door closed.
“Nano this is Tracy. Tracy this is my man Nano.”
“Hey Nano,” she said in a sultry way. Tracy had her hair dyed burgundy. It was short and stylish. She sat properly in a Fogel skirt and H&M pointy black boots. She looked like a girl from a video with her thick thighs and nose ring.
“What’s the problem?” Jones asked. Nano was hesitant to speak in front of the girl. He didn’t know if Jones was cool with everyone or just him.
“It’s alright, Tracy is cool,” Nano nodded.
“Alright then, this is what happened. I got a call from my supervisor to take a drug test.”
“So what happened?” Jones asked concealing his smirk.
“I left. I can’t beat no drug test with the hair follicles.” Jones looked at Tracy suddenly, they both burst out laughing.
“He can’t beat one,” Jones said to Tracy.
“Nano I told you, you was good. You’re going to have to find you another job, that it. As a matter of fact, I might have you one.” Nano looked confu
sed, nevertheless, he was smiling.
“You serious? I’m not out here trying to kill no one. “
“Listen here, I was just about to step out. You want to roll with Tracy and me?” Nano looked at Tracy who had winked at him.
“Tracy is a sweetheart, tell him baby.”
“Umm hmmm,” she smiled.
*****
When Tip turned into Hillcrest Elementary school, she found Dice in his usual spot with Dontae. A few girls had the two surrounded. Dice looked up to see the red BMW as he gave Dontae a pound and walked away. Tip waved to the group and the girls appeared embarrassed. “Bye,” some of the girls said upon Dice leaving. Dice slid into the car and threw his book bag on the floorboard.
“Hey Ma“
“You didn’t tell the girls bye. “
“I did. I did like this.” Dice nodded his head. Tip pulled away.
“That’s not how you tell a lady good-bye.” Dice looked to his mom curious.
“With a lady, that will not work. She will want you to be a gentleman. Look at your mom.” He looked at her questionably.
“Ain’t nobody get me by being cool. Not that they never tried. Ask your father. You didn’t come along because your father was cool. You came along because your father was himself. Cool ain’t what you do, it’s who you are. You understand?”
“Not really.”
Tip sighed. “I’m going to let your father explain it to you.”
“So what you do have on your player? Can we ride out before we go home?”
“Ride out?”
“Yeah. We can turn the music up and ride out.”
“Ride where?”
“Through the hood.”
“We’re not going to turn the music up, but we’ll ride for a little while. I’ll show you where I came up.”
Killer Diamonds Page 7