Introduction To Hard 2 Da Kore (Hard2daKore Book 1)

by Mike Middleton

  “Sure, shoot.” I replied. “Why would a woman like you, of your caliber get involved in something like this, you’re a beautiful ambitious woman. You’re lucky you didn’t meet the same fate as your dog and your boyfriend.” “These people are very dangerous and they cover their tracks pretty well. I don’t think they would come after you because I don’t think they don’t work that way, but if you go digging your nose in places it don’t belong, well who knows? They always seem to manage to stay a few steps ahead of us, and if they wanted you dead they could’ve easily gotten you when they got your dog. They did it right under your nose while you were sleeping on the couch Tracy. Don’t you know that? They can probably get you at any time as long as you’re visible. I think the best thing for you right now is to be invisible, like they are.

  We get word from time to time that they’ve set up shop some where, but by the time we can get a warrant their gone. I think that a beautiful woman like you should just go home Tracy, mourn Sadique death and move on. I’ll contact you if I have anything else, I promise.” Det. Johnson said compassionately. “Ok.” I said as I got up from my chair. “I’ll let you do your job.” I could tell he knew I was lying. “One more thing before you leave Tracy, stay away from Carmen she’s up to her neck in this shit, don’t let her fool you.”He added. “What is that suppose to mean?” I responded to the comment that he made. “Well, we know that for a fact that either Sadique, or Cee could be the father of her baby. “What? The both of them? That little lying, sneaky.. ”The entire station house must have noticed my reaction, because everyone was now looking at us. “I even baby sat for that bitch.” I mumbled to myself. “We know Cee took a blood test a few weeks ago but we don’t think Sadique knew about them messing around.” He explained.

  “Can you get a warrant for his DNA and see if it matched with any of the blood stains in my apartment or on Sadique’s clothes? Maybe the baby could be the motive. The results could help prove motive and could be matched to the other blood samples as well.” I speculated. For someone who doesn’t know anything about being a Detective, you sure do know a lot.” He chuckled. I never waited for an answer, I could see that we were off to a good start but he wasn’t going to give me any more information, at least not today. I walked into the station more confused and curious than before. Who is this big organization he kept mentioning? He never mentioned a name. Were they a local gang like Bloods or Crips? No, that’s not Sadique’s kind of crowd and definitely not his fortae. I found pictures in the house with several rap artists, but it was clear the cameraman’s focus was on the women in the picture. My mind went back to the group of young thugs that argued with Rome. One of them knows something, I can feel it.

  Carmen knows them too. Something isn’t right I told myself. If this guy Cee and Sadique were friends, why would they both be sleeping with Carmen? Was Sadique’s death tied to Carmen? Why weren’t the cops questioning Carmen? Did Carmen work with these people too? I thought to muself. “You wanna think out loud?” Detective Johnson interrupted my thoughts. “Are they going to bring her in for questioning?” I asked. “I have nothing on her so I can’t but she is under heavy surveillance and we don’t want to scare her off either.”

  “Maybe I can help you get to her?” I offered. “What makes you think she’ll help you after the ass kicking I heard you gave her?” He chuckled. “How did you know about that?” I asked. “She’s under surveilence, duh.” He joked. “Well as sneaky as she is, she does feel bad. Even whores have a conscience and I intend to play on that. She’s not that bright of a light bulb, and she’s underestimated how smart I am. She’s going to run out of money soon, so she’ll most likely run to Cee. Carmen is a paper chaser and probably has Sadique’s replacement lined up already.

  I’m gonna try to patch things up with her so I can get closer to the truth. Think about what I said Detective, with or without your help I’m going to find out what happened.” I told him determinedly. “I’ll think about it but I can’t make any promises.” He said. “I’ll settle for that for now. You’ll be hearing from and seeing me again.” I teased as I began to walk way from him. “I’m looking forward to that.” He responded. “Good day Tracy.” He said as he continued to work on his computer. Before I could leave the building Jackie was calling me on the phone.

  “Hello?” I answered. “Hey girl what’s up?” She asked. “Nothing, I’m just leaving the police station now, are we still meeting tonight?” I asked her. Jackie said she already spoke with Rome and her cousin and that seven o’clock was fine for everyone. I told her I was on my way home to straighten up and fix a quick meal before they arrived. “Don’t make a fuss over food.” Jackie stated. “I have that covered.”

  “Girl you’re the best bestie.” I told her. “Love you, and I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” I said, and we both hung up. The truth was that I had already cleaned up, and was planning to order some Chinese food for us all. I wanted a chance to go home, relax for a minute and before everyone arrived. I felt like if I could just smoke I could deal with anything. I smoked before I went to bed, when I woke up, and for any other reason I could find. I hadn’t stopped since the day I learned of Sadique’s death. During the drive home I was thinking about how I was going to handle Carmen when the time comes. Maybe I should wear a wire. Okay maybe that was a tad bit much but at least I could record our conversations.

  I need to compile a list of questions for her. With the information I just learned today I now realize that I underestimated Carmen. I pulled into my parking space and nearly ran smack into Paul. Not realizing it was me who nearly hit him he yelled, “Wow lady can you please watch where the hell you going?!” Then in an instant he looked like he wanted to take it back after noticing who I was. “Oohhh I am so sorry Ms. Tracy I didn’t know that was you!” He said. “Since when did you get moved to the garage?” I asked him. “Oh please forgive me?” He pleaded. “It’s ok.” I told him. “But you better watch your mouth I could have been someone else, beside it’s my fault so I’m the sorry one right now.”

  “How have you been?” He asked me. “Sorry to hear about your loss.” “Thanks.” I responded. “Where have you been I thought maybe you met a honey with some money and quit.” I joked. “Nah I wish.” He said. “To be honest though, the building manager thought it would be a good idea if my type is not seen as much by the residents. You know young black men make white people with money nervous.” “Especially when the police come around and start asking me questions.” He added. “Asking you question like what?” I asked him as I finally got out of the car.

  “Some detectives were here the other day they wanted to know if Sadique or you had company over recently. They showed me pictures of this one cat, but I didn’t recognize him. Besides, if I did, I wouldn’t tell them anyway. Honestly though.” He whispered. “I would often see him with guys that I didn’t know, but I knew that they were trouble.” He whispered. “Why would you say that?” I asked him. He looked around to see if anyone was looking. “Would you like to come up stairs?” I asked him. “Personally I can’t do that, but between me and you, and this is as far as this can go, but I know you’re being followed.” He was on a roll so I didn’t interrupt him. “One of the same guys I’ve seen Sadique with, followed you this morning.” He told me.

  “Was he in a car?” I asked. “What kind of car was it?” “Look Ms. Tracy, I can’t answer any of that, forget we even had this conversation and just watch your back. I heard about what happened to Sadique and I don’t want no parts of this ok?” I wanted to ask him more but in my line of work I knew when to back off. Besides, Paul was kinda “off” if you know what I mean, but he wasn’t stupid, not at all. “You seem like a real nice lady.” He told me. “Be careful Tracy.” He said and then he walked away. I walked out of the lot feeling really nervous. I didn’t even bother to check the mailbox as I hurried into my apartment and locked the door. Once inside I searched all the rooms making sure I was alone. Everything was clear or so I thought until
I noticed someone had been in my apartment. There was a set of keys on my kitchen island.

  They didn’t belong to me and they weren’t there this morning. I need to get out of here was my first instinct. I grabbed my gun ot of my handbag and walked right back out the door. I walked into the lobby and called Jackie. I gave her an earful of the update on what Paul had just told me and about me finding some keys in my apartment. I told her I would wait in the lobby for her to get here. Just when I was about to call Jerome, he came walking in. “Hey, you must be the welcoming committee.” He joked. “I was just about to call you I think someone was in my apartment.” I told him. I explained about the keys, but I didn’t tell him about what I had learned from Paul. Rome and I both walked back to my apartment.

  “Should I call the police?” He asked. “Wait here Tray, let me take a look around, be back in a second.” Rome searched all of my rooms and then hurried back to me. “There’s nobody here, if there were then their gone now. He said slightly winded. Want me to call the police? He asked again. “No let me think for a minute, I need a minute, do you mind if I take a quick shower?” I didn’t even wait for an answer. I rushed to my bedroom, locked the door, and fell across the bed. I felt a tension headache coming on. I took my clothes off, went into the bathroom, and ran the shower.

  This was beginning to get crazy. I had decided to sell this place in a couple of months, but I wasn’t in any rush. I don’t want to be run out of my own house but this place was not safe anymore, too many bad memories here now. I took a quick shower because I didn’t want to keep Rome waiting. I got out of the shower and threw on a pair of my workout pants and grabbed one of Sadique’s shirts from the back of the bathroom door. I buttoned up the shirt remembering how he always liked to see me in his shirts. He said he thought it looked sexy on me.

  I thought I smelled something burning, like a cigarette or something, so looked around the bathroom. Nothing, but I could still smell it, so then I began to smell the shirt and noticed that’s where the burnt smell was coming from. I reached into the shirt’s pocket and a found a half of blunt in it. Wow. Now should I totally disrespect my boss right now and light this up? Hell he was in my house and I needed something to help me get rid of this forming stress headache before I could deal with anyone else today. Besides, if I smoke in the bathroom he wouldn’t know. I found a book of matches under the sink and lit up.

  “Where did Sadique get this from?” I choked. This stuff is so strong that I had to take shorter and smaller pulls on it as I sat on the floor against the wall. For a few seconds I pretended that I didn’t have a care in the world. That none of this was happening and all of my troubles were non exixtent. That was until Rome knocked on the bathroom door. “Tracy Truesdale, are you smoking in there?” He asked in a fatherly tone. “Be out in a minute!” I called back. He turned the knob and opened the door. Damn I’m busted. I thought. “Well just come on in Rome why don’t chya?” I said feeling like I was in major trouble. I hope he doesn’t fire me for drug use. I didn’t even have time to throw it out or anything. “How you gonna leave me out there high and dry like that? I thought I was your boy? Well since you want to go and put you career on the line like this by illegally smoking some illegal drugs, illegal in this State anyway, then you might as well pass them illegal trees over this way.” He said in his Romeoly way.

  “Are you serious? Wowww. I said in disbelief and passed it over to him. Rome grabbed the half of blunt and took a long pull. “I’m learning more and more about you everyday Tracy.” He said as he blew smoke in my face. “Want a shot gun?” “What you know about a shot gun?” I said. I could NOT believe that I was smoking weed with my BOSS. I felt a lot more comfortable with Rome knowing that I don’t have to hide my weed smoking from him anymore. I smiled at the thought. “I’m just messing with you Tray.” He joked. “I don’t know anything about a shotgun because I don’t smoke anymore.” He stated as he quickly passed it back to me. “I just didn’t want to embarrass you that’s all. Get your smoke on but you better hurry up Jackie will be here in a minute and she’d probably flip if she saw you doing that, but your secret is good with me. I just hope that that’s all that you do.” He said as he walked over to the sink and began to wash his hands.

  “Yea Rome I’m not stupid. Trust me I would never go back to doing that again. Could you please go and light some candles for me?” I also asked him to turn the air on and open a window. “Oh, so now you want me to clear the air for you too? Rome smirked. You should have thought about that before you started smoking.” He joked. “Hurry up Rome, because I definitely don’t want Jackie to smell anything but some good Earthy candles when she gets here. Thanks Rome!” I yelled as he looked around inside of the bathroom. “That’s not a problem Tray, I got you covered like always.”

  After I finished smoking I sat along the side of the tub. I thought I heard voices coming from the living room. Jackie could be heard laughing through the bathroom door. I washed my face and hands and then sprayed a little perfume before checking myself in the mirror. I hope I didn’t look high because I sure did feel like I was. I walked into the living room smiling real hard. “Well it looks like someone’s feeling good.” Detective Johnson smiled. “What are you doing here?” I asked him, trying not to sound rude. “This is my cousin Devon Johnson.” Jackie introduced.

  “But it appears you two already know each other.”Your cousin!? This is the detective I was talking about when I told you about the detective earlier Jackie, the one that keeps giving me a hard time.” I explained. “In my defense, I was just doing my job and I thought we kind’ve came to a good agreement didn’t we?” Detective Johnson asked. “So did you decide to let me in yet?” I asked him. “Well, kind of.” He stated. “Although I can not officially let you in on the case, but I’m sure that we can be benefitial to each other.”

  “Have a seat everyone, make yourselves at home. Can I offer anyone a drink?” I asked. Everyone agreed on iced teas, and lemonade. Afterward I returned to the living room and placed the drinks on the coffee table. “So where do we start Detective?” I asked. “Well for starters, you can tell me why you didn’t call the station when you thought someone was in your apartment? Tell him about the guy following you Tracy.” Jackie said. “Someone is following you Tray?” Rome asked. “I’m not sure who it is.” I answered. “A neighbor told me that a guy and had been hanging around and that he watched him follow me. “Did this neighbor describe the man that was following you?” asked the Detective. “No, but they did mention that they had seen this man with Sadique before.” I told him. “Tracy, is anything missing from your apartment? Detective Johnson asked. “Nothing that I noticed, other than the keys nothing seems to be out of place.” I replied.

  “Okay.” Rome interrupted, “let’s try to piece this puzzle together. For one we know Sadique was dealing drugs. We know he had a partner or partners. We can assume this Cee guy was his partner. This Cee guy also had a relationship with Carmen. “May I also add” Det. Jackson stated. “That Sadique is the child’s father.” “When did you find that out?” I asked. “This afternoon.” He stated. “Right after you left the station. Also, the money we found on Sadique we think was either to help pay for his funeral expenses in some sick sort of way or as a message to you or someone. They had to have known that it was going to go straight into evidence. My informant told me that BOO, was a signature of some type of illegal organization he was involved with. The Detective added.

  Boo? is that a code word?” Jackie asked. “No cuz.” He answered. “All Ghosts say BOO.” Detective Johnson said. “What does Ghosts have to do with any of this?” I asked. “You talk as if these people are invisible.” I added. “These people are invisible Tracy and they know it that’s why they call themselves Ghosts, now of course I’m speculating but it sure sounds plausible, doesn’t it?” He explained. “So that word “BOO” on the note wasn’t referring to a person? Where does this gang of hit men and drug dealers hang out? Can you at least bring them in for q
uestioning?” I asked concernedly. “As I told you earlier, and maybe you might or might not believe me but it really is easier said than done, we can’t prove anything yet, nothing that a judge would sign off on.” Detective Johnson said. “Can you identify any of these Ghost gangbangers?” I asked.

  “It seems like they’re spread out pretty thick and from what we’ve learned just recently they move around frequently. They’re not your average crime bandits.” “How long have they been operating?” I asked. “I’m not too sure about that either.” Det. Johnson answered. “Detective, you questioned my doorman, what does he have to do with any of this?” I asked. “Oh Paul, we think he might’ve seen or heard something. Maybe he can identify some of Sadique’s associates but he’s not talking to us. I did find out he was running his mouth. He told a friend Cee often visited your building on almost a daily basis. He would meet with Sadique in the parking lot sometimes. I can’t really blame him for not talking to us, I just hope for his sake that these Ghosts didn’t find out he’s been running his mouth.”

  “How do we get close to these Ghosts then?” I asked? “Do you think they will come after me?” I asked. “I doubt if they would come after you. I’m told they just probably want to make sure you haven’t found what they‘re looking for. I heard now that Carmen is the one they think knows where the drugs are? If she does, then it’s only a matter of time before she tries to move the stuff.” “Remember the young guys from the other night?” Rome asked me. “Do you think those guys were any of those “Ghosts” how you say? “No.” Det. Johnson interrupted. They’re actually what I call fake Ghosts, Cee usually brings these young kids into the gang to move some of the drugs locally, but they never get to see any top dogs, and they’re just used as frontmen, or front boys for that matter. Sadique and Cee were usually responsible for them. They make a little money at first, and then after some time they can move up in the organization.” The Detective explained.