The Conglomerate: A Luxorious Tale

by Santiago, Danielle

  “Just because I say shawty is pretty, don’t mean I want her. I hate both them bitches.”

  “I know baby. I’m just playing with you.” She stood up, a turquoise lace bra and matching thin v-string thong was all that she donned on her smooth mocha skin. “Told you that you would love it,” she said crossing the room. Reaching up she powered the plasma off. “Enough of this.”

  “You did a good job. You always do. Come here,” he patted his thighs.

  Obliging she sat on his lap and locked her arms around his neck, “what’s up boo?” she asked sexily anticipating and hoping that he was ready to have sex. She loved making love to him.

  “Like I was saying you have been doing your thing. Without you none of this shit would be going as smooth as it has. I think it’s time for you to have a little break from it all. We’re going to take a long vacation and spend some of this money,” he picked up a stack of money and fanned it.

  “I don’t know if I can get vacation time off this soon and we have a few big events coming up.”

  “Man, listen it’s not like you’re going to be working there much longer. After I get the rest of my money and kill Evan, we’re done here!”

  “Yeah, in order for the plan to work I need to keep my job.”

  “Tell them someone died in your family and you need some time off.”

  “Yeah, that will work. I think in my contract I get two to four weeks of bereavement leave.”

  “I’m going to take you to Vegas and Beverly Hills,” he scooped up ten banded stacks of money and laid it on her lap. “I want you to spend all of this on yourself.”

  “Thank you, but I don’t need to do that. I just want to be with you.”

  “That’s why I’m going to spend on you, because I know that you don’t care if I do or don’t, you’ll be with me. That’s why I love you so much Isadora.”

  Chapter Ten

  “You expect us to believe you don’t know anything about the disappearance of Dawhar Bradley.” a tall white detective with a buzz cut stated to Zay, who was seated across the table from him in the small interrogation room.

  “I don’t have any expectations. I told you I don’t know anything about that man or where he is.”

  “Detective McIntyre,” Scott Fleishman, Zay’s attorney stepped in. “my client has been more than cooperative in speaking to you when you didn’t even have sufficient evidence to bring him in for questioning.”

  “Your client threatened to kill Bradley in room full of police officers.”

  “That may be true indeed, but we’ve already given you his alibi and a complete list of respectable people to confirm with for the time that you’re saying he disappeared.”

  “And when my partner gets done running them down we’ll be done here.”

  “Are you charging my client?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Well we’re done here then, let’s go Mr. Tappens.” The door opened and in walked Detective Wells, a medium height man with bulging muscles.

  “I just spoke with three senators, a governor, two mayors, and a police commissioner who all vouch for this guy for that whole week!”

  “Senators and a governor,” Det. McIntyre scoffed. “It must be some type of prank.”

  “No it was the real thing,” Wells replied. “We are done here now and thanks for your time.”

  Fleishman and Zay left the room. Shortly after the original investigators on the assault case, Detectives Robbins and Blankenship filed in.

  “What is so special about guy that he has politicians and a commissioner alibiing for him?” Robbins wanted to know

  “I don’t know,” Wells replied. “But they all said that he was at the same week long golf tournament with them that closed out with some ritzy gala.”

  “I want to know more about this Zavian Tappens,” Robbins said. “Something about him just doesn’t pass the smell test.”

  “Would you give it a break already Robbins,” Blankenship said. “You’re still pissed that your football hero was exposed for the rapist that he is.”

  “Excuse us ladies,” Wells laughed. “I would love to stick around for this little marital spat, but we followed the lead. It was a dead end and we have to go look for people that are really missing.”

  On the way out McIntyre stopped and told Robbins, “Dawhar Bradley may be just a fugitive on the run. I know his wife thinks he’s missing.”

  “How is he on the run when he hasn’t withdrawn any cash, used a credit card, and his car hasn’t been seen.”

  “The guy is a multi-millionaire, no one know how much cash he had on hand. At the end of the day this guy is a rapist and if those girls had been a year or two younger he’d be a pedophile. Let the fugitive task force locate him.” he patted Robbin’s on the back, “ok buddy?”

  “That’s fine, but I’m still going to look into this Zayvian Tappens.”

  As soon as Joey saw Zay and his attorney step off the elevator into in the lobby of the Trade St. police department lobby, she went over to him. “Are you okay? What did they want?” Zay wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Not here baby, let’s get in the car first.”

  It had been a contentious two and a half weeks for the couple. Since she’d revealed Evan’s secret to Zay he’d barely spoken to Joey. If and when they did speak it was with regards to their children or the welcome home party for Zay’s older brothers that was less than twenty-four hours away. Joey’s home was not the only place filled with tension as a result of the revelations of Evan’s past. At the Luxe the three former best friends were not speaking. All business was handled by the managers underneath them.

  “Let me drive,” Zay said as the couple approached Joey’s Panamera that was parked on the street a few blocks from the police station. “I have places I need to go.”

  A nervous wreck, Joey happily turned the keys over to him. She would not be able to calm her nerves until she knew what the police had brought Zay in for. When Joey arrived home from dropping the kids off at school, Zay was being placed in the back of an unmarked Dodge Charger. Immediately calling his attorney she’d followed the car all the way down to the station and waited with no knowledge of what was going on. Joey fastened her seat belt.

  “What is going on Zay? What did they police want with you?”

  “They questioned me about Dawhar.”

  “Oh my God are you serious?”

  “Yes, but they don’t have anything.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Cause there is nothing to have and those detectives were from missing persons, not homicide.”

  “When I saw them putting you in the back of the car I didn’t if was the narcs, the feds, or the DEA. I thought I was going to have an anxiety attack.”

  “I didn’t know you cared.”

  “What in the hell does that supposed to mean?”

  “You haven’t had much to say to me since we got back from Miami, like you got a reason to be mad. Like I hid something from you and your spots got robbed.”

  Joey was tight. Inhaling deeply she folded her arms across her chest.

  “You shut me out. Every time that I try to make small talk you give me the cold shoulder. The only time you’ve said more than three words to me is tell me something you want at your brother’s party. I only respond to the way you treat me. I’m not going to beg and grovel for you to talk me.

  “You should try it sometime instead of being so stubborn.”

  “You’re crazy as hell Zay. I’m your wife and I’m scared as hell of this maniac that’s stalking Evan. He’s saying I owe him money. What if he tries to do something to me next? This is a time when we should be banding together instead we’re at odds. I’m confused and I’m lonely. I need you to tell me it’s going to be alright. I need my husband.”

  Hearing that she needed him was always enough to melt him. Zay never wanted her to feel as if she needed him and he wasn’t there. He reached over and held her hand.

  “I apologize. I should�
�ve never let it go this far. This shit is stressful though, trying to find this nigga that robbed my spots is like chasing a ghost.”

  “I know. Evan has tracked down every dealer that they robbed and even put a private investigator on them and it’s not any of them.”

  “What do you think about Reza?”

  “What do you think about him?” Joey shot back. “He’s your dear old friend.”

  “I think he’s on the up and up. If he wanted revenge he would’ve just beat the hell out of her or killed her.”

  “Whenever I see them together on the property, he seems like he’s really into her.”

  “Every time I try to figure this shit out my damn head start hurting and it’s banging extra hard now right ‘cause I haven’t eaten today.”

  Joey reached over and massaged his temples. “Why don’t you stop and get something?”

  “I don’t have time I gotta meet with this man and sign this paper work so everything will be straight for my brothers when they get out this evening. After I’m done with him we can go to the crib and you can whip me up something good.”

  “I wouldn’t mind doing that, but I gotta get to the Luxe. There is a lot of work to be done to prepare for your brother’s party tomorrow tonight. Isadora won’t be back until tomorrow, so I’ve had to help Bev with every little thing.”

  “I’ll only be a second in here,” Zay pulled into an office development and parked the car. “When I’m done we can swing by the house so I can get my truck and you can go on to work.”

  While waiting for Zay, Joey went through her business emails and returned calls. A group text popped onto the screen of Joey’s smart phone, she opened it and was shocked to see pictures of her children at school. Pictures of Zay and Jason out and about came across the screen, followed by shots of Joey, Evan, and Cee inside different areas of the Luxe. The message beneath the photos read: PAY ME MY MONEY… Or ONE Of THESE PEOPLE WILL BE HURT.

  Joey got out the car, rushing toward the office building she stumbled and fell onto the concrete. Bursting out the glass double doors in hurry after receiving the same message, Zay came to her aide.

  “How did you fall?”

  “I was running to show you this,” she held out her phone.

  “I saw the text already.”

  “What are we going to do?”

  “I’m about to send him a message back.” Zay typed and sent a text.

  Joey read the message when it popped up on the screen: My wife don’t owe you shit. I’ve never been extorted in my life and I’m not about to start getting extorted by a text message gangster.

  “Zay do you think that was the right thing to say? This lunatic could go after the kids.”

  “We could pay money that you don’t owe and he could come after us or the kids.”

  “Oh God he’s sending another message.” Joey read it: Send $2,000,000 dollars to this account #234878956010 at the Caribbean National Bank. Cayman Island’s Country Swift Code FCIBKYKY by 5pm TOMMOROW or else.

  “This nigga is out his mind.”

  “Zay take me to get the kids, I wanna make sure they’re okay. I’ll take them to work with me until we figure this thing out.”

  “Ain’t nothing to figure out we’re going to have to go on extra guard ‘til we find this nigga. We not paying that money. Evan can pay it, this is her problem and she can pay it again and again when he decides that he wants more money.”

  “I think there may be someone who can help us.”

  “Who?”

  “Kane told me about this chick whose real good at finding people. I think it’s time I reach out to her.

  ***

  After retrieving the kids from school, Zay drove to the Luxe Enclave to drop his wife and their children off. Before pulling off, he asked Joey, “You feel okay here? I know the pictures of you inside your office shook you up.”

  “At first I thought that he’d gotten inside and took those pics, but I can tell by the angles that they’re from the security cameras.” Joey waved at two security guards who were patrolling the property on a golf cart. “I called the tech guy who installed the security system; he said it sounds like we were hacked. He’s already in there trying to see if we were. If so, he can trace it.”

  “Cool. When I get with Jason I’ll bring your car back, but I still want you to call me when you’re ready to leave so I can follow you home. Give me a kiss.”

  Joey leaned into the driver’s window and kissed her husband passionately; happy to be on one accord again. “I love you.”

  “I love you too baby. Call you in a little while.” Zay drove away.

  “Ewww Mommy you kissed Daddy in the mouth!” Joey’s daughter, McKinley, sang out teasingly. “Yuckey!”

  “They had to kiss for your big head to get here!” Joey’s oldest son, Braden, said.

  “What do you know about kissing?” Joey quizzed.

  “He kisses his girlfriend after school,” the youngest boy, Axle, said.

  “Oh so mister Braden has a girlfriend,” Joey smiled at her blushing son.

  A white BMW 750 pulled up to the curb and out jumped Dawhar’s wife, Leska.

  Joey looked to the sky, what now?

  “You slut whore,” Leska screamed coming at Joey. “What did your husband do to my Dawhar?”

  “My husband didn’t do shit to that rapist. He should have, but he didn’t.”

  “My husband is no rapist all you whores seduced him and then screamed rape!”

  “I have no time for this non-sense I don’t argue with fools. Bye Felicia get the fuck off my property.”

  “Who is Felicia?”

  “You bitch! Now, bye.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until you give me some answers.”

  “Leska, for real leave before I beat ya ass worse than Cee did the last time.

  “Ain’t going down like that this time,” a tall, stout woman said emerging from the passenger seat.

  “That’s right,” another tall, clearly overweight woman said, getting out the back seat.

  “Braden,” Joey said to her son, “take your brothers and sister inside now.” She looked around for the patrol guards that she’d seen earlier, but they were nowhere in sight. “Hurry get them inside.”

  Braden picked up McKinley, “Come on Axle. Run Daire go to Auntie’s Cee’s.” The kid’s ran into the spa. Once inside, Braden put his baby sister down and ran room to room until he found Cee in her private suite, styling a client.

  “Auntie Cee they’re going to hurt my mommy you have to call for help!” he screamed.

  “Calm down Braden, who’s going to hurt your mommy?”

  “Three ladies,” he held up three fingers, “and two of them are really-really big.”

  Cee looked over and saw Joey’s other three kids standing in the door way. She quickly grabbed her purse from under her station, telling her client, “I’ll be back and you kids stay right here. Do not move.”

  Outside Joey was not cowering away. She was an experienced fighter. She knew whenever it went down to grab Leska and do her dirty.

  “What you thought Leska? That bringing these two big country biscuit eating bitches with you was going to scare me?” Joey asked. “You still going to get your ass molly whopped, so I suggest you burn the road up.”

  “You got a real smart mouth,” the big boned passenger said.

  “Do something about it.”

  The big woman charged Joey, but stopped about a foot away when she saw Cee aiming a .380 right at her.

  “Back your big ass up. What the fuck is going on out here?” Cee asked.

  “Not shit,” Joey replied. “This bitch up here tripping again.”

  “Leska,” Cee shook her head. “You again? The last ass whipping wasn’t good enough.”

  The big woman backed up toward the car. “Leska you my lil cousin and I love you. But I’m not down to die behind this shit.” Both passengers got back into the car.

  “I just want her to tell me where
my husband is,” Leska cried out. “Her husband did something to him that’s why the police picked him up today. Now tell me where he is.”

  “Look bitch, that nigga ain’t here,” Cee said.

  “I would think as a woman who’s lost her husband you would have some sympathy for me.”

  “Don’t you dare compare our situations. My husband died a real man with an impeccable reputation. Your husband is a rapist who left your dumb ass to go on the run instead of standing to face his charges.”

  “This is far from over,” Leska seethed at Joey then got into her car and sped away.

  “This day just cannot get any crazier,” Joey said aloud.

  “What was that about?” Cee asked.

  “The police think something happened to Dawhar. I guess he’s missing or something. They picked Zay up for questioning, but he don’t know nothing about where Dawhar is.” Joey lied, protecting her husband’s secret. “I’m glad those two big bitches didn’t get a chance to get some licks in on me. Thanks for saving my neck that was big considering.”

  “Considering what?”

  “The last thing you said to me was you fucking hate me.”

  “Yeah I did, sorry about that,” Cee blushed. “I’m past that though I was so angry at y’all that day. All I could see was red.”

  “I couldn’t tell that you’re past it, this is the first time that you’ve spoken to me in over two weeks.”

  Cee put her gun into her purse. “I was going to talk to you today. I’ve been dealing with a lot. I had to get myself in order first. I had to get my little cocaine issue under control. Even though I was beyond pissed with y’all that day… I could see the hurt in your eyes when the coke spilled out and I felt ashamed. I went to a meeting and I haven’t gotten high since that day.

  “That’s so good,” Joey hugged Cee. “Snorting powder is not a good look for anybody.”

  “I know I’d been binging out for a couple of weeks just trying to absorb the pain.”

  “I wish you would’ve come to me, but that’s neither here nor there now. If you ever need to talk or want me to go to a meeting let me know. I’m here.”

  “I know that you are.”

  “How are you feeling about Evan right now?” Joey asked Cee. “Have you talked to her?”