Dead and Stinkin'

by Stephen Hewett

  They both began walking toward the back door, when Hill shouted, “And the Oscar goes to… Quit the dramatics, kid. We all know what we wrote, and swore to. And you know that we got your back. I just got a fucked up feeling about this, Malik.”

  “Why Hill? Is it because you ain’t feeling my wife?”

  “Malik, we go back to playing Skelzies, man. So you know we down for whatever. But this could get real ugly, playa. Just so you know that,” warned Big-O, who was usually the level headed member of the crew.

  “Yeah Big-O, I know. But I love her and would kill to get her back.”

  “Okay, then let’s get out of this house and meet up at Mount Morris Park to plan our next move,” suggested Nes, taking out his car keys.

  Hill got on his cellphone and dialed a number, “Hello Pat…? What’s up? It’s me. Listen… Meet me at Mount Morris tonight at eight o’clock. I’ll explain everything later. Peace.”

  Hill ended the call and noticed that all his boys were looking at him with confusion on their faces.

  “What! Ya’ll know Patrick. He’s my boy. He got heart for this, trust me. I want him to roll with us.”

  The rest of the crew looked at each other and walked out the back door.

  “Damn this dro is strong, AG. Where you cop it?” asked Big-O inhaling the strong weed.

  “My man, StevieD from Midtown sold me an ounce. I figured we needed to get our heads nice and mellow before rolling uptown.”

  The crew was waiting for Malik to meet with them. Malik had just gotten off the phone when he pulled up in his benz.

  “My man uptown tells me he spotted Elaine again. She and Rishon were beefing in the courtyard of the commons. I knew that cat had my girl up there. We all ready?”

  “Yeah playa, the trucks are loaded with ammo and we all recruited a few soldiers from our crews to roll with us. By the way, that’s gonna cost some strong chips, Malik,” said AG, rolling another blunt.

  “I got this. Everyone gets paid out of my pockets. Your cats will all be taken care of, trust me. Now let’s be out.”

  “Hold up. We got to wait for Patrick. He should be here any minute,” Hill said.

  “C’mon, where is your little…?”

  “My little what…? Don’t play yourself, Malik. That’s my boy,” Hill said, defending Patrick.

  Sometime ago Hill met Patrick at a club. They have been hanging tough ever since even though it was rumored that Patrick was gay. No one in the crew could confirm the rumor, but they knew Hill and Patrick spent a lot of time together.

  “There he goes now,” smiled Hill as he saw his friend approach.

  “Sorry I’m late. I had to turn back to get my lucky gun. I couldn’t go to a gunfight without her,” said Patrick, smiling at Hill.

  “Okay, can we fucking leave now? I want to be in and out by tonight. Let’s not drag this shit out too long. Movements…!”

  The order was given by Malik and a convoy of trucks headed across the Willis Avenue Bridge, crossing into the Bronx. The mission was to bum-rush Stevenson Commons, rescue the kidnapped Elaine, and return her to her rightful place beside her husband.

  Chapter 03

  “What do you mean you ain’t worried about Malik? Rishon, you should be. He ain’t playing. I heard he’s coming up here to get me,” Elaine said, trying to warn her accused kidnapper.

  “Fuck Malik, and his boys too. Let them step to their business. I got sumthin for their ass,” boasted Rishon.

  Elaine could hear the fear in his voice. Her friend Tanya called and told her about the rumors circulating around Harlem that Elaine was kidnapped. Malik was going crazy and was planning on doing something about it.

  “I just hope you have a strong crew because Malik does. And I know how they get down when they have beef,” Elaine said with a smile on her face relishing the possibility of a war being fought over her.

  “Listen here. Those niggas ain’t the only ones with a strong mob. I got this. My brothers and cousin are coming to help me defend mines.”

  Rishon did indeed attempt to recruit his family members. Because of his rep of being a selfish, money-hungry coward who started problems then relied on his family to bail him out, they were all reluctant. At first they told him he was on his own, but when they were told the beef was with Malik, they agreed.

  At one point in his life, Malik was a notorious stickup kid. He once robbed several of Rishon’s family members who were also drug dealers. Rishon told Elaine about his family, she stopped stressing about the potential war.

  Rishon and Elaine were inside his apartment, talking when his brothers walked in. They were each carrying a duffel bag under their arms.

  “Oh baby, these are my brothers. This is Cornelius and Heckie,” said a confident Rishon.

  “Hey Elaine, we heard a lot about you from Rishon. It’s nice to finally meet you,” said Cornelius.

  “Likewise Cornelius…” her voice trailed.

  She rushed by Cornelius. Elaine paused and took Heckie’s hand and smiled, looking him up and down, she said, “So you’re Heckie. I’ve heard a lot about you from some of my girlfriends. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Elaine held Heckie’s hand in hers longer than was necessary. Cornelius noticed they were looking deeply into each other’s eyes. He looked over at Rishon to see if he saw, but Rishon was busy inspecting the contents of the duffel bags.

  “Now that’s what da fuck I’m talking about! Crazy heat… Did y’all bring some troops?”

  Heckie heard his brother’s voice. He seemed to shake off his trance, letting go of Elaine’s hand.

  “Man, we brought a few homies with us. It worked out good because they all had beef with Malik and were itching to roll. Our crew is tight and ready. I just hope your scared ass don’t act up,” Heckie laughed.

  Rishon thought the comment was disrespectful and stared angrily at Heckie. Elaine was smiling.

  “I was born ready. Let’s get ready to give them a warm reception. What’s up with big cuz?” Rishon asked Cornelius.

  “He had to round up his crew. He’ll be here.”

  “Alright cool. Now, let’s talk strategy,” said Rishon looking at Heckie.

  Heckie nodded his head in Elaine’s direction. Rishon immediately caught on.

  “Elaine baby, this ain’t for you. Go downstairs to my mom’s crib until I call for you,” said Rishon kissing Elaine while walking her to the door. Rishon opened the door, and saw Sandra, his sister. She came barging into the apartment looking really upset.

  “What’s up ya’ll? I hear you got some beef over a chick and I had to see who the hell was worth all this drama…” Sandra caught sight of Elaine and shaking her head continued. “Ah hell fucking no…! I know you niggas ain’t about to go to war over that ho’Chocolate.”

  Silence filled the room for the next few moments. Everyone just stood motionless. Elaine shot daggers at Sandra. Ferociously rolling her eyes, Elaine stomped out the door. Sandra slammed the door shut and was all over her brothers.

  “Are y’all fuckin’ crazy? I know that grimy bitch. Her stage name is Chocolate. She’s a cold freak.”

  “Why you dissin’ my joint like that, Sandra?” Rishon asked moving closer to his sister.

  “Rishon, you fool. I hope you really not serious about that ho? Please, don’t get my brothers in no beef over that bitch.”

  Rishon raised his hand to hit Sandra, but Cornelius grabbed him just in time.

  “Chill little brother. You can hit your chick if you want, but not my little sister. Go ahead, Sandy. Keep talking.”

  “Big bro, that scandalous bitch used to work with me at the Goat in Hunts Point. She fucks hard for that paper. She’s also a dyke. I freaked off with her one night myself. Trust me when I tell y’all brothers, she ain’t worth none of this drama.”

  They all stared at Rishon. Realizing that all eyes were on him, Rishon said, “Hold up. If what Sandra said is true, because we all know she be lying her ass off, but if it’s true, all
chicks got their past and skeletons. Look at you, Sandra. You’re a crack-head lesbian, who are you to judge? But the fact is, I love Elaine and she loves me. So she’s staying. Yo, this ain’t even about Elaine no more. These niggas rollin’ up in our hood on some gangster shit. Where that gonna leave us? Dead and stinkin’? We got to defend ours. That’s what this is about,” Rishon said, trying to take the sting out of what Sandra told his brothers.

  “After hearing about that chick you still want her for your girl, little brother? You buggin’, but that’s on you. One thing for certain and two things for sure we ain’t gonna let no outta area niggas roll up in our hood and not defend it, that ain’t happening,” Cornelius said, checking the artillery.

  “Rishon, you always getting into some shit, now you got us all involved. We all got beef with Malik from back in the days, but this shit really started over a piece of ass. And that ain’t cool, little brother,” Heckie said before joining Cornelius at the gun table.

  “Now that we got Sandra’s bullshit out the way, we can get back to the business at hand.”

  “Over a bitch, that’s crazy y’all,” Sandra said. Turning to Rishon, she continued. “Baby brother, I hope you don’t live to regret this shit you about to cause. A lot of people will probably get hurt and for what, a dick sucking, pussy eating, freak that goes to the highest bidder? Rishon, you always were a sucker for the bitches.”

  Sandra walked to where Heckie and Cornelius were sitting and gave them kisses on their cheeks.

  “Be careful,” she said, walking out of the apartment.

  Rishon locked the door, and walked back over to his brothers.

  “Good-looking out on keeping it real with me, I won’t ever forget this,” said a humble Rishon.

  “Whatever man, let’s just get everything ready,” Heckie said, loading a fresh clip into an AK-47.

  Chapter 04

  Hell was coming from Harlem in the form of a convoy of SUV’s. They pulled into a parking lot of a shopping plaza’s on White Plains Road after exiting the Bruckner Expressway. The vehicles emptied, his boys and their mercenaries all gathered around Malik’s car to receive their final instructions.

  “Listen up so y’all can know what’s going on. We’re gonna surround the Commons and at exactly one a.m. Everyone will bum-rush the front, back and side entrances at the same time. Now remember whoever finds Elaine first, bring her directly to me. And she better not be hurt,” ordered Malik..

  “Check your burners and make sure you got enough shots,” added Hill.

  When everybody was certain of their assignments, positions and all the weapons were checked the men all piled back into the trucks and headed down White Plains Road toward Stevenson Commons. Nearing Seward Avenue, the convoy parked down a side street. Like any army on maneuvers, the men piled out the trucks and set up a perimeter around the Commons in two minutes. Malik looked on from his makeshift headquarters in the park across the street, and he was impressed.

  “AG, you sure trained these cats in the short time you had. I just hope they do as well when we rush these fools.”

  Everyone was in position waiting for the final word. The streets appeared deadly silent.

  “Okay Hill, let’s get ready to rock and roll,” said Malik.

  Hill, a few of his men, and Malik started to cross Seward Avenue. The lookouts saw Malik advancing. They signaled other lookouts posted up around the buildings. With the assault in progress, everyone started to rush to their assigned entrances.

  Pop, pop, pop—out of nowhere shots were fired. Bullets rained from the rooftops and the apartments facing the street. Malik and his men were totally taken by surprise. Three of the men were hit.

  “Oh bum-rush the fuckin’ spot, huh…? Be in and out before they know we’re there. Yo Malik, how the fuck they know we coming? They were just laying on us. We could have all been murdered,” shouted a furious Big-O at his boy.

  “How the hell do I know?” asked Malik, looking around at the men in the park. “I guess niggas just talk too fucking much! You know how it is when two people know sump’n. It’ll never be a secret again. Hill, A.G., Big-O, Nes, let’s build.”

  The five men walked over to the other side of the park to re-group, and plan their next strategy.

  “Okay it’s obvious. These Bronx shooters can’t hit shit. Only a few soldiers got hit, and they had us dead to right. Listen, we got some infra-red scoped rifles. Let’s set up a few men behind some cars and pick off a few of their snipers. We can lessen the odds a bit,” said AG.

  “Do y’all hear this? This cat reads the art of war, now he’s Hannibal and shit,” said Malik, laughing and the rest of the crew joined in.

  “No playa, we just buggin’. That’s a good idea. It does lessen the odds, for real,” Nes said.

  “Okay, you know your boys better than I do. Whoever you know that can shoot good, set them up with the rifles, and let them get busy,” ordered Malik.

  The next several minutes brought sniper fire. There were exchanges between both sides. The plan worked as AG had hoped. His boys did take out a few of the opposition, but he lost a few men in the process.

  “This ain’t getting us anywhere. We’ve been here for an hour and we’re no closer to the inside of the Commons than when we got here. Yo Big-O, get off the phone. This shit is serious,” said Malik.

  “So is this call, Malik. I think I found a way that we can find out what we are really up against, and how organized their crew really is,” said Big-O.

  “What you talking about, O?” Hill asked with a puzzled look on his grill.

  “I called my peeps from Castle Hill. She’ll be here in a few minutes. Then I’ll tell you what’s up.”

  The men waited in the park, a taxi pulled up to the curb and a pregnant girl wobbled out of the back seat.

  “Hey, Big-O, did I take too long? Well, I’m ready when you are,” said the pregnant girl, entering the park.

  “Sharon, these are my boys. No time for introductions. You know what I need you to do right?” asked Big-O.

  “Yeah Big-O, I got you. But you sure I won’t be in any danger?”

  “C’mon girl, I’d rather stick my hand in a fan than put you or my nephew in harm’s way. Just go do your stuff. You always braggin’ about all those acting classes you took. Hell, since I paid for them, start acting.”

  “Okay Big-O, I’m out. Watch and learn.”

  Sharon wobbled across the street in a real exaggerated walk. She was even groaning.

  “What the hell is she doing and what’s this all about, O?” inquired Malik looking annoyed.

  “We need to find out how strong they are right? So my girl is gonna get that info for us, just chill and watch,” said Big-O.

  The men watched the pregnant woman approaching the barricaded front entrance. Her groan grew even louder. When she was directly in front of the entrance she took out a bottle of water and secretly poured it down the front of her dress before falling to the ground.

  “Oh God help, somebody…! My water broke. I think I’m going to have my baby now! Please somebody help me! Don’t let my baby die in the street. Please God help me!”

  There were no signs of response from anyone in the building. Her wailing continued and she saw movement coming from the front lobby. It seemed like some men at the front entrance were trying to decide what to do.

  “Oh God, I feel the baby’s head coming!”

  The barricade was removed and three heavily armed men came out. They surrounded the woman. Two men and a woman picked her up and helped Sharon inside the building. The three armed men ran back, putting up the barricade.

  “Big-O, you are a fuckin’ genius. Damn y’all need to be in the marines or some shit. Y’all got the ill tactics,” exclaimed Malik, feeling optimistic.

  The men waited in the park and snipers continued their periodic shootouts. About a half an hour went by then suddenly the barricades came down and again the front door opened. Coming out of the front door was the pregnant girl
and she was going bananas.

  “What kind of busted building is this? You have no electricity and you can’t even call for an ambulance. Let me out of this asylum. I’ll walk to the damn hospital.”

  Going in, she knew that they couldn’t call an ambulance. Big-O told her that one of their men was an expert computer hacker. He used his computers to shut down the power all over the Stevenson Commons complex. He even cut the power in a ten-block radius so the police wouldn’t be notified. His special device even blocked out cell phone transmissions in the area except for their own phones. Eventually the siege would be exposed so they had to move fast.

  Sharon came wobbling across the street and went to Big-O. She told him what she saw inside the buildings then wobbled up the street to catch a cab back home.

  “I got some good news, and some bad news. My girl said they don’t have a strong crew, but the place is pretty well locked down. They got couches, chairs and even cars blocking the entrances, plus men on each side of every roof.”

  “Okay, what’s the good news?” asked Hill.

  “She said they got an underground garage and the stairs down there leads right up into the courtyard. And the garage isn’t barricaded,” added Big-O.

  “Bet that’s how we can get in. Let’s do this, yo,” said Malik, grinning.

  “I don’t know, Hill. This shit looks too easy,” Nes said to his boy.

  The two of them and four of their boys approached the stairs in the underground garage. “I ain’t feeling this, man. Send some men in the stairwell to see if everything’s okay.”

  Hill thought about it for a second then sent the men in. The men entered the stairs and checked the steps before cautiously climbing them. Hill and Nes stood by the door waiting. They heard a barrage of gunshots and then the men crying out in agony. Hill and Nes ran to the stairs and started to go inside, but shots went whizzing over their heads.

  “No wonder it wasn’t barricaded—it was a fucking trap. Big-O, you sure that chick wasn’t setting us up?” asked Malik with a suspicious look on his mug.