by Sa'id Salaam
'Money is more addictive than any drug.' Her father's voice reminded.
I know daddy. I got this." She told his memory.
****
Angela sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes when she pulled the condo door open and saw who rang the bell. Not wanting to get in trouble, she stepped aside so the guest could enter. The driver/body guard, Manny stood with a scowl that quickly turned into a smile.
"I'm fine thank you. And you?" Cameisha teased as she stepped inside. "Hola Manny, como esta usted?"
"Tabien" Manny smiled back.
"Bien, que es mi hermano?" She replied, causing Angela to suck her teeth again.
Angela frowned and pointed to the den. She was too jealous to even let her man have a sister. Cameisha couldn't help but admire her outfit as she stormed off.
"Hey mamcita." Juan gritted through his wired jaw but still managed to smile.
"Sup big bruh?" Meisha replied with her own smile and tossed him the bag of pills.
"You bout ready to step up again huh?" He asked knowing she knocked off ten pounds in four days.
"Yeah that's what I need to talk to you about." She said sheepishly. She knew she was about to cross a line with what she was about to say, so she inhaled and deep breath, exhaled and then crossed it.
"I need some coke. Not a lot, just enough for a few customers then I'm done."
"You really believe that?" Juan grimaced. Had she said yes, he wouldn't have given her any. That would mean she was far too naïve for the cocaine trade.
"No." Meisah twisted her lips and admitted. "So many people asking for it. I can't keep letting all that money get by me.”
"That's the curse of a hustla. So what we talking a key? Two?" Juan asked.
"Nah, a couple ounces should do. It’s just for the kids at school."
"No problem. Are you still riding the bus with drugs?" He frowned.
"Sure. I'm a college kid with a book bag." Cameisha laughed. It was foolish but worked as police never gave her a second glance, except to check out her ass.
"You need a car. I'm gonna give you a car. You can pay me when you get the money." He said adding the last part knowing the proud girl wouldn't take it otherwise.
"I can't drive." She admitted with her head lowered.
“Manny! Ouch." Juan yelled, then grimaced from the pain. He rubbed his sore jaw as the driver rushed in to answer his summons. "Wires come out next week."
"Yes boss." Manny said appearing in the driveway.
"Teach my sister to drive. Let her drive to her house then deliver my white car from the yellow house." Juan instructed.
"No problem boss." The obedient man replied and took his leave.
"You have your eyes on our two friends." Juan asked managing a vindictive smile.
"Umm, it's only one left." Meisha admitted like a child about to be scolded.
"What happened to the other one?" He asked.
"I shot him in his head. I saved one for you though." She said proudly. "The main one so you can have your Qu...um...qo...that word you said."
"You are too much." Juan laughed shaking his head. "Qisas"
Chapter 27
When Cameisha got to the apartment, she gave the large package of weed to Aqua to start bagging up. She would make quarters and dimes for the apartment and separate ounces for Jackie.
Dasia watched Cameisha curiously as she removed items from the local head shop that sold items for freaks and drug dealers. She and Lisa had just been picking up accessories for their freaky session.
Instead of a two headed dildo or pinna colada pussy gel, lactose, and a digital scale came out of the bag. Next all things needed to package cocaine for street level distribution.
"I see smart ass sent an eight instead of an ounce." Cameisha grumbled when she pulled the cocaine out of the bag. She weighed it by eye accurately guessing the four and half ounces.
Dasia felt her stomach churn at the sight of the cocaine. She could smell it through the bag and when it hit the table it was all she could do not to drop her face into the pile and inhale. She knew that was against the rules because cocaine use and cocaine sales didn't go well together.
"A-yo. This shit so pure, we can cut it in half and still have the best blow around." Cameisha marveled at the glistening fish scale.
Cocaine gets stepped on at every step it makes coming to market. By the time it reaches nostrils, its usual cut to oblivion. Twenty to thirty percent pure at best but getting it directly from the horse's mouth meant 100% pure cocaine.
"Measure out four, no three ounces of cut." She ordered and started putting chunks of coke into a grinder.
Dasia complied and took out three ounces of lactose and put it on the table. She began folding it into the powder. An hour into the mixing that ensured a good quality the door bell rang.
"Yo get that." Cameisha told Aqua who quickly got up.
“Shh!!" Juan shushed holding a finger to his lips wearing a mischievous smile. "Come on."
Aqua smiled and crept out behind him to see what he was up to. She saw the surprise when she got outside and went back to get her.
"A-yo Meisha, come out here." Aqua said sticking her head in the door. She quickly retreated before Cameisha could question her.
"This girl probably seen a damn butterfly." She sighed and got up. The exact second the door closed behind her, Dasia scooped a heap of coke in each nostril.
"The fuck!" She exclaimed when the superior grade coke hit her throat. It was a far cry from the stuff Lisa brought over. That shit had more cuts than a D.J. battle.
Moving quickly, she removed half an ounce of the mixture then mixed in another half ounce of lactose. Even still it would crush the competition.
"Oh my God! That's me?" Cameisha clapped when she saw Juan sitting on a nearly new Acura.
"Yup." He replied tossing her the keys. "No driving until you get your license though."
"I did good, tell him Manny." She cheered.
"She did." Manny co-signed honestly. Like most things she tried, Cameisha picked up on driving immediately. She merely mimicked what she'd seen for years and followed Manny's directions.
"Oh and what's up with that O-Z?" Meisha asked twisting her lips.
"Either you in or you out. Don't play with it." Juan said answering the question about the extra coke. He didn't want her fooling herself and running back and forth flipping ounces. That was junky logic, buying twenties all night. Why not keep it real with yourself and spend what you're going to spend.
"You ready to run that 10k race?" He asked requesting his ten thousand oxy pills.
"Yup. Couple of days, it'll probably take till the weekend to finish." She grossly underestimated.
"See you then." Juan agreed. He accepted a hug from Meisha and Aqua before joining Manny in the Range Rover.
****
"Wow! This shit is that shit!" Cynthia cheered as she hit the blow. Cameisha had given her one of the 180, one gram fifties they bagged.
After paying Juan two thousand for the coke, they would profit 7 grand. It would be evenly split between the whole crew.
"Told ya." Meisha said proudly. “Spread the word but it goes through you.” She told Cynthia.
"Give me another one!" Cynthia demanded and produced a fifty dollar bill from her purse. "Got a hot date tonight."
"With um… what's his name again?" Jackie asked trying her up. The moment she let on that Dre was Dro, she was going to kill her.
"His…” snort “…name..” snort…is…” snort “…Dre." She replied between snorts. "He's taking me somewhere special tonight."
****
"This is the special place I told you about." Pedro said proudly as he led Cynthia into his first apartment.
"Don't look so special to me." Jackie quipped as she followed them. Since she already had her license she drove while they tailed him.
"Bum ass nigga." Meisah snarled. She hated him for all his treachery but watching him palm Cynthia's ass as he led her inside
added to her feelings. She knew first hand that a good dicking down waited inside. "Can't wait till Juan murders his ass."
"Let me find out you jealous about a dead man and a junky! Let me find out." Jackie said as she pulled off.
Before leaving the rundown apartment complex, Jackie drove around to scope the place out. They took note of both entrances and exits, as well as, a security guard driving around looking for trouble. Trouble was coming too, more than he could handle.
Inside the apartment, Pedro asked subtle questions about Cameisha, letting the dimwit snort, smoke and drink. She could only relay the false information the girls fed her. He was able to gleam that Meisha had access to the good coke Cynthia produced. He refrained from taking a hit since he needed his dick.
Cynthia had plans for it too. She pulled it free from his sweaty boxers and kissed it fully erect. Then she put hits of coke on it and either snorted or sucked it off. Pedro's dick was hard and numb when he led her into the spare bedroom. An air mattress was the only furniture in the room but that's all that was needed. He fucked her every which way but loose as plans were made to end his miserable life. Qisas!
Chapter 28
Once the team made the jump to coke, there was no turning back. Coke heads came from every direction for the superior grade product. Athletes, cool kids and even the nerds. The coke sold so fast it scared Cameisha. Making that much money that fast is a life changing experience. It's as addictive as the blast of a crack pipe and just a powerful.
Everyone agreed to invest a part of their earnings to get more coke. Cameisha was the boss but the operation was cooperative and they shared all profits equally. Of course that only works if nobody gets greedy or strung out.
Juan played his role as watchful big brother and gave them a generous four thousand dollar ticket for nine ounces of 98% cocaine. If they sold it raw it would net 12 grand but cut, over twenty racks. Cameisha collected everyone's share and prepared to go make the buy but had to make a stop along the way.
****
"A-yo, remember to use your mirrors. Oh, and hands at 3 and 9 position like this." Jackie instructed and demonstrated as she drove them to the department of motor vehicles.
"I know, I know, I got this." Meisha shot back confidently. She had aced the written part of the test and Manny had given her lessons every day. She was ready.
When they arrived at the crowded building, they took a number and then a seat. Jackie whipped out her kindle and began cracking up. She was laughing so much, so loud that people stared over at her. Curiosity caused Cameisha to look over at the device.
"What you reading yo?" Meisha asked craning her neck to see.
"Yung Pumpin by Sa'id Salaam. This shit is crazy yo!" Jackie answered and went back to reading and laughing.
Cameisha went inside her head and thought about her present and future. A smile spread on her face as she decided to treat herself for passing her test. The thought had her so happy she danced in her seat.
"Number one thousand sixty four." A digital voice announced over the P.A. system. Cameisha checked the number on her ticket against the voice and number flashing on the wall to confirm her turn.
"This me yo!" She jumped up and tore off.
She was met outside by a plain Jane, forty something license examiner. Jackie pulled up, got out and handed over the key. Cameisha tried to butter the lady up with a smile but she showed zero facial expression.
Meisha got in, buckled up, adjusted her mirrors and followed directions.
"Left here, right here, merge into traffic." The woman ordered jotting notes as they rode. Cameisha nervously followed directions and trying to get a peek at the notes.
"Pull over there and parallel park between the cones." The examiner said announcing the final task of the test.
Cameisha pulled over and executed a perfect three point maneuver. The woman scribbled furiously then got out without a word. Meisha was on the verge of tears as she got out behind her.
"So when can I take it again?" She pouted.
"No need, you passed." The woman replied with what may have been a smile.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Meisha cheered. She rushed around the car and hugged the woman so tightly she squeezed a real smile out of her. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Cameisha broke off the awkward embrace and launched into the fat-fat dance; the original. Jackie saw the commotion and came over to congratulate her friend. After doing her dance, she went back inside and took a cute picture for her driver's license.
With that out of the way, it was time to see Juan. Ironically, Juan wasn't the only one getting a drug related visit.
****
Bilal was happily humming along with Sade as he cleaned up his condo. He shot a glance at the velvet box on the coffee table and smiled. Inside of it was a one carat solitaire that he planned to give Cameisha along with his last name. A pounding on his front door rudely interrupted him. He snatched it open and was met by a badge.
"And how can I help you?" Bilal demanded to the man behind it.
"By being completely honest." Detective Walton quipped and barged in. The pudgy middle aged black cop wore a look on his face as if something stunk. He was a piece of shit and probably smelled himself. "I see crime pays."
"Crime? I'm a doctor! You obviously have the wrong unit. Check your warrant again." Bilal huffed indignantly.
"No warrant. This is a social call." The cop said and plopped down on the sofa like he was invited. He tossed a manila folder on the coffee table knocking a picture of Cameisha down.
Bilal decided to ignore the slight in favor of seeing what was in the file. The cop was too smug and it worried him. He flipped through the file with a frown that got deeper with every page.
"Good shit huh?" Walton laughed.
"But I, I don’t understand?" The doctor stuttered.
"What's to understand? You got greedy and got caught."
"I have nothing to do with this!" Bilal proclaimed and tossed the file back on the table. The detective quickly picked it up and went through it.
"Ok, let's see. This is your pharmaceutical account, your IPO address, your approval codes. You approved a pill mill that doesn't exist. No physical address, just a P.O. Box. Really, really sloppy." He chided.
While those things pointed squarely at Bilal it didn't mean much in itself. If he could get a confession out of the nervous man, he would have a case. After letting him absorb the facts, he pressed on.
"Help yourself while you can. Who are you selling the pills too? Are you working for someone? Ever been fucked in your ass? A pretty guy like you is gonna be a hit in prison." Walton teased.
"I can prove I have nothing to do with this." Bilal said clinching his butt cheeks tight, real tight. The thought of being violated propelled him into the room to retrieve his laptop. The cop wasn't sure what the sudden departure was about and put his gun under his thigh just in case.
"Here is my account!" Bilal said as he pounded in the password.
His jaw dropped when he saw that the orders did indeed came from his computer. All late at night at times he never did business. All on dates he had dates with Cameisha.
"I…I..um, I think I know who did this?" He croaked.
****
"Watch this." Cameisha giggled to Jackie as she rang the door bell to Juan's condo. High heels could be heard click clacking on the marble just before the door was pulled open.
Angela sucked her teeth loudly at the sight of Cameisha. She tossed her head and spun and stormed off. Both girls admired the Diva's clothes, hair and shoes as she marched away.
"That's a bad bitch." Jackie said honestly.
"So am I, just wait til I get my paper straight." Meisha promised. "And I'ma get my own."
Having been here enough to know where Juan would be, Cameisha led the way to the den. Inside they found Juan and Manny making small talk.
"Hola popi." Meisha sang announcing her presence as she entered the room.
"Hola!" Juan cheered
. He stood and opened his mouth wide to show off.
"Ooh, they took the wires out!" She cheered and rushed over. Angela did a drive by teeth suck as Cameisha touched his face.
"It's still a little sore but I am ready to handle that business." Juan vowed with a glint of murder in his eye.
"We ready too." Meisha said smiling at Jackie.
"Sure am." Jackie co-signed.
Cameisha passed off fourteen thousand dollars to Manny. It was for the purchase of 9 ounces of coke and twenty pounds of weed. He passed a tote bag containing the work and the deal was done.
"Sup with my 10k? I need as many of them as I can get." Juan asked.
"I'ma order it when I get back. Me and my girls taking a quick road trip tomorrow." Cameisha replied.
"Oh?" Jackie asked hearing the plan for the first time herself.
"Yup, trust me. Ya'll gone love it!"
Chapter 29
"You sure?" Cameisha pleaded as Dasia begged off the trip.
"Yo, we can afford to miss a day. Besides, what's the point of getting money if we can't get the shit we want?"
"I'm cool yo, plus my period just came on. I aint tryna be stuck in no car bleeding. I'll just hold down the fort." Dasia shot back convincingly.
"True hustla for real!" Jackie laughed and gave her a pound. The tension between old and new friend had dissipated once they started getting money together. Only fake niggas fall out over money. It brings real ones together.
"Aight yo, I'ma brang you one back then." Meisha said mixing accents.
"Brang!!" Aqua laughed at her country grammar.
"And where we going anyway?" Jackie demanded again for the umpteenth time.
"And why?" Aqua added.
"The where is Mississippi and the why is a surprise. Trust me yall gone love it!" Cameisha cheered and led the way out of the apartment.
The crew minus Dasia loaded into the Acura and set off. They hadn't even reached the expressway before Dasia snorted her first line. By the time the girls merged on I-20 West, she had inhaled large lines up each nostril. She was buzzing when she picked up her cell phone and made a call.