Summer's Heat

by Mahogany Star

  “Summer this is Amy. Amy this is Summer, she’s an old friend and business partner.” Ty knew that cold introduction would be a jab to me.

  “Hi Amy. Nice to meet you.” I said as I picked up my menu hoping to end the conversation at hello.

  “Amy was just telling me about herself. She’s a part-time actress.” Ty said trying to get my attention.

  I studied the menu not making eye contact with Ty. Amy was not Summer’s Heat material; she wasn’t what my clientele liked. She wasn’t what Ty’s original clientele liked either. I wondered who Ty was trying to attract with chicks like Amy. While she was a beautiful girl, she wasn’t what they would typically ordered from Summer’s Heat Inc.

  Ty must’ve sensed my lack of enthusiasm as he ended his exchange with blushing Amy with the swapping of phone numbers. The little restaurant that he chose wasn’t the best in terms of a place to discuss business as the tables were very close in the dimly lit establishment.

  “This is not the best place to talk business.” I said slightly annoyed that my time was being wasted. I had put off a date with Dre to have this meeting with Ty.

  “It may not be a good place to discuss business but it’s damn sure a great place to scope out new and improved talent.” Ty said as he looked around and licked his lips hungrily.

  “You sure about that.” I said with a bit of tude in my voice. If Ty was going to be snide tonight, then I was willing to leave his ass sitting right there. I could find food somewhere else.

  “Listen Summer, you may think you better than everyone else right about now. But you can be brought down off of that high horse you’re on too.” Ty said rudely.

  “You know what Ty? Call me. We can discuss business over the phone. Matter of fact, if you need to see me then use Skype mothafucka!” I said as I put my menu down, snatched my coat and left Ty sitting there at the table. Besides Amy was still there; he could now pick up right where he left up from.

  I didn’t give Ty a chance to respond and I didn’t turn around to give him a second look but I could feel the heat on my back as I made my way out the door. I took a deep breath when I hit the cold January air. It was a new year, I was intended on leaving Ty and the rest of Summer’s Heat behind I just had to figure out how.

  I pulled the mink fur on my wool collar up close around my neck and gripped my expensive bag close. I wasn’t walking with my usual steel; I was left to protect myself with a small container of pepper spray that I kept on my key ring. Even though this part of Brooklyn had since become different in its population, I was a Brooklyn girl at heart and felt I always had to be ready for whatever. I picked up the speed my high heels making a loud clicking noise as my foot made its way to the cement. As I got to the parking lot that housed my car near the Barclays center. There was no big event for that night so the parking lot was less than busy. I picked up speed my senses telling me that I had eyes on me.

  Just as I reached the handle of my door I turned and saw two men right up on me. I instinctively had my hand on the button just about to release the pepper to buy myself a few seconds to hop in my car. Just before I pumped the spray I heard the tall slightly attractive blond man say “Summer. May we have a word with you.” I was frozen in position wondering who these men were and how they knew my name.

  “A word with me? Who are you?” I asked already knowing that they were blues. Despite their casual attire, the prick haircut, the Long Island accent gave away the one who spoke quickly.

  “I’m Detective John O’Keefe and this is Detective Rich Maccelli.” The blond one spoke for them both. The dark haired Detective didn’t say a word as he eyed the surroundings like he was expecting someone.

  “What do you want with me? Is my mother okay?” I knew they weren’t there about my mother.

  “You mind coming down to the 79th Precinct with us. We just have a few questions and then you can be on your way.” The blonde one stated in a tone that told me I really didn’t have a choice.

  The dark haired Detective Maccelli, who favored a young Al Pacino finally spoke. “Nice car you have here. You must have a good job or a sugar Daddy.” He snickered.

  “Excuse me, is that part of the questioning? And are we doing that here or down at your station? Which is it?” I asked letting him know I wasn’t the one. Try that sarcastic bullshit with the next chick not me.

  “No offense doll face.” He said with his Italian accent.

  I rolled my eyes as they led me to their charger. I tried to display a look of confidence but my belly was going crazy with my nerves all over the place. I put on my poker face as I felt the detective who was driving’s eyes on me in the rearview mirror. When we got to the Precinct I could smell the stench of dilapidation. Prostitutes, thieves, murderers, scammers, the criminally insane. That’s the pictures I saw on the wanted posters as I walked up the stairs and followed the Detectives into a dimly lit room for questioning.

  “Do I need to call my attorney?” I asked as I took my seat.

  Detective O’Keefe spoke. “Do you think you’ll need an Attorney Ms. Doucette? We just have a few questions and then we’ll drive you back to your car.”

  Detective Macelli sat across from me as he pulled out a little pad that had some notes on it.

  “Do you know an uh Carmen Rodriguez?” He asked plainly.

  “Yes. I grew up with Carmen. Why is she hurt?” I tried to sound worried.

  Detective O’Keefe smirked at me or rather my question before speaking.

  “No Carmen’s not hurt. We’re in the middle of an investigation into a uhh… prostitution ring being run out of Carmen’s apartment. The way Carmen’s explained it, she’s a victim. She claims you are the brains behind the operation and that you organize, run and profit off of these gals.” Detective Maccelli leaned in forward like he was trying to get a crack out of me.

  I laughed out loud boisterously. I gave them both a look that questioned my and perhaps their sanity. “You can’t be serious? Carmen has implicated me in this mess?” I asked pointing to myself.

  “That’s why you’re here. So I’m going to ask you. How can you afford to drive the car you drive, how can you afford to live in Chelsea? A gal from the Roosevelt housing projects who ends up living in a Manhattan sky rise that doesn’t happen everyday Summer.” Detective Maccelli said sarcastically.

  I responded with the same sarcastic tone that I was being offered. “Well officers, I mean Detectives, there’s obviously a salary grade difference between the regular uniformed officers and Detectives right?” Do you hang with Police officers who wear uniforms on your off time Detective Maccelli?”

  “Listen here, you’re not here to question us. We brought you down here so that we could question you!” Detective Maccelli showed his annoyance.

  I smiled before responding. “I’m only asking because I want to paint you two a picture. See I’m currently in my last semester at Baruch College. I’ve been busting my ass trying to complete a combined Bachelor/Master’s program in Executive Business Management. During my time at school I have been lucky enough to meet some really cool friends who don’t come from as you say the Roosevelt projects. Friends whose parents unlike mine have been very successful and have opted to lavish their children with the better things in life. Those people officers, are the people I surround myself with. Not the likes of Carmen or any of her crazy ideas. Frankly, I would be embarrassed to be in the same social circle as Carmen. I wasn’t friendly with her as a kid why the hell would I be friendly with her now?”

  “So what are you saying? Your friends from school give you money? We’re supposed to believe that?” Detective O’Keefe scoffed.

  “I’m saying I live with my friend, my best friend in fact Nikki Stamatis. You do know who her father is don’t you? Stamatis & Schein Accounting and Attorney at Law. You know one of the largest firms that does Banking and Law. I actually do some work for Nikki’s dad since he knows I’m majoring in investment banking.” I said with a straight face.

  Jus
t then the door swung open, “We got a 187 on Hart I need you two at.” The male voice said. When I looked towards the door our eyes met and his face drained of any of the pink undertone it once had.

  “Ok Chief we were just wrapping up here.” Detective Maccelli said.

  “Are we done?” I said asking the Chief and not the two DT’s that sat in front of me. The Chief was stuck in place for a few seconds. Stunned I’m sure, as I guess he thought he’d never see me outside of the occasional rooms he booked for my service.

  Officer Maccelli answered although my question wasn’t posed towards him. “You can go for now Summer, we’ll be in touch.”

  I stood up as I watched them size me up again from head to toe. For dramatic flair I dusted myself off as if the chair I was sitting in had soiled me. I walked out the door and brushed past Chief Stevens, knowing what a whiff of me did to him. I smiled and thought to myself if the case wasn’t closed a few minutes ago it was now.

  Before I made it all the way out the door I turned to the Detectives. “I’ll catch a cab back to my car I’m sure that 187 needs your brilliances right now.” I gave them one last disgusted look at made my way out of that precinct fast. Hoping that would be my last time I ever came that close to a cell, I knew now more than ever that I had some serious decisions to make.

  As soon as I walked in my place I spotted Nikki curled up on the sofa looking soberer than I had seen her in weeks. I was going to walk right by her without so much as speaking but she jumped up from the couch once I locked the door.

  “Do you see this shit! Do you see it! What in the entire fuck man? Your subsidiary is on fire! Look Summer!”

  I looked at the TV screen and my eyes widened as I saw the news reporter standing out in front of the building I grew up in and I saw Nique and Carmen being led out in handcuffs. As the news reporters snapped pictures and shot questions at Carmen she hocked up a large glob of spit and spit at them. Carmen looked wired like she hadn’t slept in weeks her smudged eyeliner gave her raccoon eyes and the smeared bright red lipstick made her look like the maniacal joker. Her hair was wild on her head, she didn’t have much on but what looked like fishnet stockings and a bralette. The officers who guided her out kept attempting to drape a blanket over her shoulders but even with the cold January air, Carmen wouldn’t allow it.

  The young Hispanic news reporter from the Fox news spoke rapidly. “The police have just ended an operation that has been named by people who live in this public housing building Summers Heat. Details are still sketchy but it looks like men were coming to a three-bedroom apartment in the building and paying local women for sex.” The newscaster said unaffected. She stopped a man whom I recognized as a local wino.

  She stuck the mic in his face. “Excuse me sir. Can I ask you? Did you know about the brothel being run in the building?”

  The wino we affectionately called Wino Willie turned to her and grinned a smile that showed he was missing a few teeth.

  “I’m on TV?” Willie asked as he spoke into the mic.

  “Yes sir I’m with the Fox news. We’re reporting on the prostitution ring that was going on in this building.” The straight-faced reporter asked.

  “Well yeah they been prostituting in the building. But this aint a new thing. These here bitches been selling they stank ass for years. What the law coming down on them fo’ now?”

  The reporter’s ever so slight turn down of the mouth showed she may have gotten a whiff of wino Willie.

  “So you mean to tell me this has been going on for a long time.”

  “Hell yeah. This aint nothing new. What they bothering them girls for. The way they cutting off people check what you think they sposed to do. Everybody gotta eat.”

  With that the reporter turned her attention back to the camera as if Willie hadn’t ever spoken.

  “We’ll keep you up to date as things unfold here at the Roosevelt Housing Projects. Back to you Chris and Roseanne at the station.” The reporter smiled like she hadn’t just been reporting a crime.

  I had to sit down. My head began to swoon. Nikki wasn’t waiting for me to collect my thoughts before she began her rant.

  “Summer I can’t be linked to this. Shit you can’t be linked to this! My fucking father is one of the biggest execs in New York City. What the fuck are we going to do?” Nikki cried.

  “Let me think Nikki, let me think.” I whispered, my mind racing.

  I heard my cell phone ringing. I pulled it out of my bag and saw Ty calling. I sent him to Voicemail but he kept calling back.

  I got up from the couch and walked in to the dining room to take the call. I could see Nikki rocking back and forth with her knees to her chest.

  “What Ty!” I answered.

  “Yo Summer lose the fuckin attitude. I’m getting sick of your shit. You keep acting like you untouchable well it looks like your ass about to get touched.” Ty said angrily.

  “I told you not to open that business! I told you, but your ass wouldn’t listen. Now look.” Ty continued.

  “Listen Ty I know I fucked up. I have a feeling this is going to blow over. At least it is for me I don’t know about Carmen.” I told him.

  “You have a feeling huh? I tell you what Summer. In all this make sure my name don’t come up in shit. I know Carmen not gone shit on me the way she shit on you, but the way you been acting lately I don’t know what to expect from you.” Ty said and hung up not giving me a chance to respond.

  There’s no way I would ever hurt Ty or implicate him in any of this. Despite what he thought my loyalty still lies with him.

  I walked back into the living room to try and comfort Nikki.

  “Nikki relax; it’s going to be okay. I think I have an Ace in the hole.” I said placing my hand on her shoulder to reassure her. I wasn’t really the best at the mushy stuff but I was trying.

  Nikki turned to me with her eyes and face puffy and red. I sensed more than fear in her disposition but anger.

  “You know Summer I treated you like you were my sister. I never judged that you came from the fuckin gutter but I should’ve known you were no better than a rat! How could you fuck my father? How? You have sat at my mother’s dinner table and broken bread! You bitch!” Nikki got up from the couch.

  I threw my hands up in the air like what’s the big deal. “Nikki wait a minute. First off YOU calm the fuck down before I have a reason to drag your ass through this place.” I pointed at her but she wasn’t backing down.

  “The way I’m feeling right now Summer. Let’s go.” Nikki motioned with her hands for me to come for her.

  Even with my world crashing I managed to laugh at her. “Bitch, I can’t believe you’re tripping. How many fathers have you fucked? How many? I haven’t seen you refuse one older man because you thought he was someone’s father. So give me a break. I never wanted to take your daddy from your mother I was just entertaining him. In fact, I was keeping him happy so your mother would be happy. It’s only sex and you know it. What’s the big deal?” I rationalized.

  “You know what? I don’t even know why I thought you would feel bad about it even for a moment. You don’t have a Daddy or a mother for that matter. How could I expect you to understand how I’m feeling!” Nikki stomped around like the spoiled brat she was.

  The low blow about my absentee parents hurt. It was like I was punched in the stomach, I fought back tears and I managed to win. I didn’t cry much it wasn’t an emotion I’d seen much of growing up so I learned to not let the water make its way across my eyes.

  “Wow so that’s what you’ve thought of me all this time while you played the sister role? I should’ve known better, bitches aren’t shit!” I stood my ground.

  “I may not have had a Daddy, and I may have had a distant mother but I tell you this, Bitch! You had both, you grew up on the upper east side of Manhattan in one of the richest zip codes in America and what? You’re still a two-bit drugged out whore, who goes to a city college and doesn’t have a fuckin clue about life.” I thoug
ht it was time she heard it.

  Nikki squinted her eyes at me and wiped her tears as she stomped past me. Before she got to her bedroom she turned and looked at me.

  “I want you out of my apartment Summer, and I want you out of my life! I will let my father know that you have some trouble pending. He will make sure it goes away, but I never want to hear or see you again.” She didn’t wait for a response she slammed her bedroom door. I heard the lock on her door click as if she thought I was going to come after her.

  I plopped down on the couch with my head in my hands. I knew I could rent a hotel for a little while but then I had to decide what to do next.

  If Nikki thought, I was leaving here tonight she had another thing coming. I was folding my clothes in preparation for packing when I saw Dre’s name come across my phone screen. As much as I needed to be in his warm giving arms right now I was afraid that he may somehow have gotten wind of the scandal that was permeating the airwaves.

  I let his call go to voicemail but when he called right back I thought I better answer.

  “Hi baby.” I answered hoping he wouldn’t be able to tell that I was in the middle of a crisis.

  “Boo, I thought you weren’t going to answer again. What are you doing up?” He inquired.

  “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “You could. So ask.” He joked.

  “I was just up talking to Nikki. I think it may be time for me to think about finding a new place.”

  “Why? This is your last semester of school why move now? Why don’t you wait until you graduate in May, get a job and then move? How are you going to afford a place with no job? Did you guys get into a fight?” He sounded concerned.

  “Not exactly. We just haven’t been seeing eye to eye lately so it may be time I figure things out on my own. I may have to move back home with my grandma in the meantime.” I lied. I wish I would. Shit I’d sell my ass on craigslist before I moved back in with her.

  “I’d love to meet your grandma. Where does she live again?” Dre asked.