The Streets Bleed Murder Box Set

by Jerry Jackson

  One of Kash’s lungs collapsed on the way to the hospital, so he was kept when he arrived and doctors got to him. Everybody involved went to high max except Dank. Kash was cool with that. Fuck it, he thought while lying back in the bed. The only good thing to come out of this was he was stuck with the same nurse, Ms. Johnson.

  Every chance he got, Kash would tell her how pretty she was to him and how he wanted to get to know her. He would do it in a slick manner, a respectful gesture, but he was pressing good. So good she finally responded.

  “Now, you know I can’t talk to you.”

  “Why?” Kash asked.

  The officer with Kash was a old white man who loved coffee and stood outside the door at all times.

  “’Cause you locked up.”

  “You not the police. You work just like my momma work, my sister work. Hell, you got the freedom to do what you wanna do. You grown, ain’t cha?” Kash didn’t give her time to respond. “I know you is, I’m just say’n. You beautiful and seem to me from your personality that you wifey type.”

  “Wifey type?”

  “Like fo’ real, though.” Kash looked her in the eyes. “Everybody I know done crossed me ‘cept one nigga, Ms. Johnson. I need true love, and something telling me I can get it from you.”

  “I don’t know,” Ms. Johnson mumbled while doing her daily check.

  Kash stayed at the hospital four days and went straight to high max. He never got an answer from the nurse, but for those four days he did not stop his press game. He continued to go at her. Ms. Johnson did let her guard down at one time, telling her age and name and that she had a daughter, but that was the only info he needed. Kash was released from the hospital on her day off, so she did not see him leave, and Kash tried to stay a while longer ‘cause he felt like she was breaking.

  Chapter 22

  Terry

  She stood up to leave, pissed off at Zay and even madder at herself for becoming pregnant. Terry was pissed because Zay was yet to say anything about the baby. Keshana was almost two years old. Terry had no business getting pregnant. Yeah, it was a true fact Zay had enough money to take care of her and both the kids, but Terry had stuff she wanted to do herself, like go back and finish college and own her own salon and spa.

  Tonight Zay had her in the club, and boy was he full of drink, ‘cause he was talking shit and fucking with everybody. He thought everything he did deserved a laugh. Terry cursed herself for even coming out with him after telling him about the baby and he brushed it off with plans for the club. She should’ve known not to go anywhere with him.

  “Come on, I’m ready to leave, Zarack.” Terry had on some Prada leggings with a sheer top, white and yellow to match, also by Prada.

  She stood looking down at him acting out, and she was tired of it.

  “Just chill, baby,” Zay slurred.

  Terry was elated they had a driver, ‘cause Zay was for sure drunk and she wasn’t feeling him acting like a fool, but this was her boyfriend, so she stuck around as long as possible. Now it was over.

  “No! Let’s go.” Terry walked off knowing Zay would follow her or he was sure to get left behind.

  Just as Terry thought, he was out of the club with a crew of gunners, where he joined Terry in his S550 black Benz.

  At times, Terry wished for the normal life how Gangsta lived. He wasn’t flashy or loud, nor did he do clubs, but Zay needed the attention. He was loving the bright lights and money-throwing.

  Terry enjoyed the benefits of being Zay’s girl. He went over and beyond for her and Keshana. Whatever she wanted, Zay got, no questions asked, and that was the good part about him. Once inside the car, Zay started feeling on her roughly, not knowing he was out of line until she slapped his hand with a scowl on her pretty face.

  “Yo’ ass still have not said two words about this baby growing inside me, and you try’na fuck.”

  “What you want me to say? Shit, I’m happy, baby, but I’m horny, too.”

  Neither Terry nor Zay noticed Gangsta’s range rover until he blocked the Benz in from pulling off. Terry saw Gangsta jump out with a look she had never seen on his face.

  He snatched the door open, gun in hand.

  “Terry, get in my truck, take Keshana somewhere safe. Zay, me and you gotta ride.”

  Zay sat up, and Terry did the same.

  “What’s going on, bruh?” Zay asked, visibly shaken by the gun Gangsta held.

  “Somebody kicked in NeNe’s door. My son missing, she missing, the crib is a mess, and Zay, me and you know who the number one suspect is,” Gangsta said as Terry got out.

  “Man, I swear, whatever it is that’s going on ain’t got nothing to do with me, bruh. I would never do no shit like that,” Zay said. He had quickly sobered up, and Gangsta had his full attention.

  “I’m not saying you, Zay. I’m saying you know who it is, though, and where to find this bitch-nigga.” Gangsta got inside the Benz. “So, what you gon’ do?”

  “Shit, bruh, I’m with you. I don’t know dis shit, but this your son involved,” Zay said, then told his driver to drive.

  Terry pulled off when she saw them pull off. Her heart went out to NeNe and Junior. No matter if she liked the bitch or not, she didn’t want anything to happen to her and Gangsta’s son. Terry silently prayed for those involved, because the streets were about to get ugly.

  ***

  Gangsta

  Gangsta felt his phone vibrate and saw it was NeNe’s number. He quickly picked up.

  “Nya!”

  “Fuck, nigga, dis ain’t no NeNe.”

  Gangsta couldn’t recognize the voice.

  “Ok, where is she and my son?”

  “For the right price, you just might see them again. So, check this out, nigga. How do it feel to be on the other side the gun?”

  “My nigga, what’s the price? Fuck all that shit you talking. I’m not ‘bout to put up no fight. My son and his mom don’t got shit to do with what I got going on,” Gangsta stressed. He was hoping his family was ok.

  “Well, since you put it that way, let’s just say I need a million bucks, pussy-nigga,” the caller said. Gangsta still could not put a face with the voice. Zay sat on the passenger side listening to the voice, also.

  “Give me a minute. I’m ‘bout to make two calls.” Gangsta didn’t have that type of money, but between Zay and Eric, he knew he could come up with it.

  “They die if you put the police in it,” the caller said, then hung up.

  Gangsta called Eric, who told him to come pick up 300 racks. It was all the money he had. Zay also offered 200, which was all he claimed to have on him. Gangsta had 300 saved himself. He called NeNe’s phone back.

  “Yeah, nigga, what’s up?” the caller answered.

  “I got 850 and four bricks,” Gangsta said with panic in his voice. All he wanted was his family back.

  He had figured Eric and Zay were flexing about being rich. Though they had money, Gangsta knew it wasn’t like that.

  “I will call you wit’ directions in a second.” Then the line went dead.

  Gangsta wanted to break down, but knew he needed to be strong for his son and NeNe.

  Zay’s driver finally made it to Pat Man’s house. He lived in Forrest Park in a nice house surrounded by an iron fence. When Gangsta and Zay got out in the driveway, they were met by two of Pat Man’s partnas.

  Instantly Gangsta pulled his gun and pointed at the one closer to him.

  “Where Pat Man’s bitch-ass at?” Both of the dudes put their hands up in the air.

  “Feds got him yesterday at the mall.”

  “Nigga, where is my son?” Gangsta couldn’t help but ask.

  “Man, we don’t know what’s going on. I’m just coming over here doing like Pat Man ask us to do and make sure nothing was in the crib, ‘cause the feds coming to clean house,” the guy said.

  Gangsta looked at Zay, then said, “Call the county, make sure Pat Man locked up. And if not, I’m gonna murk both of you niggas right
here, I promise.” He looked to both guys.

  It took Zay five minutes to confirm Pat Man was indeed locked up. Gangsta let both the guys go.

  He and Zay rode to Bam’s spot, which was an hour away. He also texted NeNe’s number for the dude to call him back, and within minutes the phone rang. Gangsta picked up.

  “What’s up, tell me something.”

  “Bring the money to the graveyard across from Hollywood Courts. Go all the way to the back, and when you see a box, put the money in it.”

  “Where’s my family?” Gangsta wanted to know.

  “When I know the money good, then your folks will be seconds behind, so don’t be late. I’m waiting on you,” the caller said and laughed a little before hanging up.

  “I need dat money, Zay,” was all Gangsta could say.

  ***

  Terry

  She couldn’t believe someone actually kidnapped NeNe and her son. It scared Terry to know a person was capable of such acts. It had her not ever wanting Keshana anywhere but with her.

  Gangsta also had too much going on for this to all of a sudden happen. He just got out of prison not even a month ago and already was into something.

  Terry was at the house with Roxanne and their other best friend, Nikki. All three girls sat in the living room trying to figure out what was going on in the streets. Word had traveled that the feds kicked in Eric’s mom’s door looking for him.

  “Girl, this shit, it’s crazy. Somebody snitching they ass off. Nineteen niggas from Hollywood Brooks, Johnson Road and Bankhead got snatched by the feds. I had a gut feeling they was coming at Eric, anyways,” Nikki spoke and hit the blunt they were smoking

  Terry was in deep thought when something hit her that Zay mentioned while they pillowtalked through the night. She remembered Zay saying something about Bam being caught up in DC some months ago with a lot of drugs, and then got out the next few days.

  “Come to think about it, girl, Bam’s ass might be the nigga, ‘cause tell me what type of nigga get knocked with so many bricks and get out so soon?” Terry shared with her friends. The statement made Roxanne sit up.

  “When did Bam get locked up? I never heard ‘bout this one,” Roxanne said

  “Yeah, ‘cause it’s been months ago, Zay said. He just said he felt strange about the whole situation. Zay really don’t say too much, but that conversation I didn’t forget. It have me watching Bam every time I see him.”

  “That will be messed up if that boy set everyone up like that. Nigga from out of town come down here, trick everyone with a lil’ money, and then bust they heads,” Nikki spoke with a shake of her head, and then Roxanne added, “And them niggas ain’t got no money like dat Bam taxed on them bricks, I heard.”

  “Girl, I know for a fact that Zay got a few millions, and Eric for sure. I just don’t understand whoever’s telling — what’s their reason?” Terry questioned herself.

  Everyone’s heads turned when car lights pulled into the driveway. All three girls rushed to the window. Terry was happy to see it was Zay’s Benz. He and Gangsta climbed out and headed to the house. The girls all took their seats as the door came open.

  Neither Gangsta nor Zay looked at the girls. They walked directly into the movie room. Terry followed after telling her friends to wait.

  “Bruh, this all the money I got on me now, ‘cause I just spent it with Bam,” Zay said and opened a safe that was hidden under one of the big movie chairs. Terry looked at Gangsta and never saw him so helpless and lost.

  “Thank you, my nigga. I got you soon as this shit is over.”

  Gangsta gave Zay a pounded fist. Terry stopped Gangsta before he left. Zay went up to get a change of cloths.

  “Feds are looking for your cousin. You ok?”

  Gangsta had defeat in his eyes when he looked at her. It looked as if he was about to cry at any moment.

  “Yeah, just want them safe, Terry. These fuck-niggas got my son.”

  “What do they want?”

  “A mill.”

  Zay walked back downstairs, which stopped the conversation. Terry was confused, because if all the people wanted was a million, then why would Zay give Gangsta the dummy stash designed for robbers?

  Gangsta left to go meet Eric for the other money. Terry’s heart felt bad, and now she felt some kind of way, ‘cause Zay could have given Gangsta the money. It was some fishy shit going on. Terry wasn’t stupid.

  Chapter 23

  Veedo

  Rice Street held him on lockdown along with a lot of other cats. There were 43 niggas the feds snatched up, and half snitched on each other. Veedo knew with statements from Kia and Amanda he was for sure done, plus Bam was working with the Feds, so Veedo took it like a champ awaiting his fate.

  Veedo still hadn’t reached out to anybody because too much was going on. Not even worried about a lawyer, he just kept it real with himself by accepting the fact that FBI meant prison time. Niggas didn’t get away once the feds snatched them up.

  The person who most shocked Veedo was his right-hand man, Rock. Months before the sweep, Rock had gotten popped with three bricks and quickly gave up Veedo, though when he mentioned Bam’s name, the FBI knew they were dealing with a drug ring. Veedo didn’t expect that blow from Rock, not at all. It hurt when he thought how bad Rock did him. Veedo sat up many nights and wondered what was going to happen from here. He was still caked up, minus the stash at LisaPay’s house. He had paper put up with family, so no matter what, they wouldn’t get that. But what would he do once he was free from prison?

  It did not surprise Veedo that Kia and Amanda turned state on him. Hell, he paid them not to snitch, and you cannot just buy loyalty on the streets. Veedo hated this, but had to deal with the outcome of the situation.

  Bam was out on the streets tricking every drug dealer he could. Veedo should have known something was wrong when Bam asked him to come up front with a half-million dollars. Just weeks ago he stated he would front whatever.

  Later that day, at feed off, Veedo received a kite from one of the jail trustees. It was a kite from Pat Man. He quickly opened it and began to read.

  Say, Veedo, I don’t know if you on point or not, but that nigga Bam is a snake. He set all of us up. I got all the statements and wire taps in my cell from my lawyer. The nigga got popped, him and Zay, in DC. The folks let Zay go, but booked Bam. Couple days later he got out. How ironic, huh? Yeah, the feds been on us two months watching our every move. I also got statements from them two lil’ hos you was working with. Everybody locked up except Zay and Bam. Bruh, it don’t take a rocket scientist. Get word to yo’ boy to fall back.

  ***

  Gangsta

  It was his third time calling Eric, and still he couldn’t get an answer, so Gangsta called his aunt. All he had on him was 600 thousand and four bricks. He badly needed the other 200 grand.

  “Hello.”

  “Aunt, where is Eric?”

  “Baby, the feds just picked him up on 285 with a trunk full of money. They kicked my door in two hours ago. Gotta get a new one soon,” his aunt said, which broke Gangsta’s spirit.

  “Ok, aunt, let me know what’s up with Eric when you find out.”

  “You be careful, too, Gary, alright?”

  Gangsta didn’t know what to do. All he could think about was his family. He knew he needed 200 grand more or the deal would be off. He considered calling the cops, but decided against it. Gangsta would never forgive himself if something happened to his family.

  He called NeNe’s phone back, but didn’t get an answer. Panic started to set in as he rode down the highway. He wondered why that girl Amanda didn’t call back. So much shit was going on, and he couldn’t put his finger on any of it.

  Gangsta made a call to Loco, the Mexican he recently hooked up with. Loco agreed to meet him downtown, where they both sat inside Loco’s Bentley right outside the Best Western.

  Loco was a short, skinny Mexican, one of the first Mexicans Gangsta met who didn’t have tattoos and didn
’t do drugs, plus Loco was young and already a boss.

  He greeted Gangsta with a handshake, then asked, “What can I help you with?”

  “Loco, man, my son and baby mama been kidnapped, and I don’t have all the paperwork to pay these niggas.”

  “Damn, man, what kind of beef you got in these streets? Who are those that got your family?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to find out now, man. But what I need is the loan, man, and I get my family back,” Gangsta replied.

  “Ok, man, so what do you need?” Loco asked.

  “200 grand.”

  “No problem, man. Do you need me and my people to go with you to have your back?”

  “I think I need to roll up solo on this one, man.”

  Gangsta felt better about the situation already. He made the call again to NeNe’s phone, and it was picked up, but this time it wasn’t the dude. It was a female.

  “Hello.” Gangsta’s heart dropped.

  “Who is this? Erica?”

  “Yes, Gangsta, we are safe….”

  The phone was snatched from Erica and the dude got on.

  “You got 20 minutes ‘til time is up. I’d be at that graveyard fast if I was you.” The phone hung up. Gangsta just stared at the phone until Loco broke his train of thought.

  “Was that them, man?”

  “Yeah. I got to get going. You ready to give me that loan? I’m trying to make this shit happen.”

  Loco went to the trunk of the Bentley and counted out the money. He and Gangsta dapped before they departed.

  Gangsta wasted not another second going to Hollywood Road to get this situation over with.

  It took him no less than 15 minutes to make it to Hollywood Road. Gangsta parked at the store next to the graveyard. He got out with the money and bricks, a glock hidden under his shirt, and his bulletproof vest.

  It was dark and hardly anybody was out in the streets as he made his way through the graveyard, going to the back as directed. Gangsta scanned the entire graveyard and saw not a soul. He kept walking to the back until he saw a brown box next to a tombstone. It was now or never, Gangsta thought, and put the bag he held inside the box. Gangsta pulled his phone out and called NeNe’s number. The phone rang and went to voicemail. He called again, but stopped when he heard leaves crunching under someone’s footsteps. Gangsta quickly turned around, and that’s all he remembered as he was knocked out cold by the butt of a gun.