“I hope giving this life sentence back,” replied Kash as they walked into the room to chop it up. Veedo was telling him everything that was going on
“You know that boy Bam dead, huh?”
“Oh yeah?”
“Fuck yeah. You must ain’t been looking at the news or heard the radio. That boy Gangsta did him last night,” Veedo boasted.
“Where is bruh? Is he straight?” Concern was in Kash’s voice. He hadn’t heard anything at all.
“Man, bruh stunted on them folks last night. Come check the news out. I bet it’s on,” said Veedo, but Kash had other plans.
“Them phones on, right?” he asked.
“Hell yeah,” replied Veedo, and they both walked to the phones.
***
Gangsta
Gangsta and his lawyer pulled up to his aunt’s house early that morning. Gangsta was ready to turn himself in, but needed to see his family. When Gangsta walked into the house, his daughter was the first to get up, running to him.
“Daddy!” Her gesture made him smile as he scooped her up into his arms, kissing her pretty face and fat jaw. Terry, Ne-Ne, and his mother also stood. He hugged them one-by-one. His mother cried when they embraced. “Daddy, Nana is sad. Daddy,” Keshana said, kissing the side of his face.
“Listen,” he addressed the room. “I’m tired, y’all. I’m drained, but I’m happy. I know none of y’all like my decision, but this do not have anything to do with what I feel for y’all. It’s between me and God right now—”
“No, baby. No, it gotta be another way.” His mother broke down crying again. She had been crying since last night when he called and told her he was turning himself in and admitting to all the murders he committed. The only thing he didn’t tell her was the promise he made to God in exchange for his son’s life. Gangsta grabbed his mother, pulling her into his embrace.
“She’s right, Gary. You smart enough to figure out another way, other than turning yourself in,” Ne-Ne added. He looked over to her. He smiled bright, a smile he hadn’t worn in a while. He knew she wouldn’t understand, either. Nobody understood, and it was ok, because Gangsta knew that this was the right thing to do, the only way God would give him what he wanted.
“Mama, listen. Look at me.” Gangsta lifted her tearful face. He cupped her face with both hands. “Ma, I did what I did, and now it’s time to pay the price. And it’s fine by me. At least I’m at peace. And better yet, I’m safe in a cell versus a casket. I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing it for Junior,” Gangsta said.
“Son, I understand. It’s just that I tried—”
“Ma, you perfect. You did a great job. Trust me, you raised a champ.”
Gangsta turned to Terry and Ne-Ne. “Y’all finna be straight. I got things laid out for y’all already. Y’all just trust me, ok?”
“But Gary—”
“No buts. Look, I know what I’m doing got y’all confused. Hell, I don’t want to go to sitting in no jail cell the rest of my life either, but like I said, it’s not about me anymore.”
Gangsta let his mother go. He went over to Ne-Ne. She looked up to him with teary eyes. He took both her hands. “I love you, Nya.”
“I love you too, baby. Don’t go.”
“Nya, listen. Thank you for being patient with me, for being hard on me, and for believing in me even when you thought you didn’t. I want you to know that it was never my intentions for shit to happen like it did. I take full responsibility for everything that happened. I’m sorry I let you down, but trust me when I say that our son will open his eyes one day, and that’s my promise to you.” Gangsta kissed her forehead as Ne-Ne broke down crying. “Nya, stop that. We gon’ be ok, alright?”
He let her go and went to Terry. She was sitting down now with a stressful look on her face. He took a seat next to her. He put one of his hands on her knee and moved it side-to-side. “Thank you for holding me down through this shit, shawty. I got life laid out for you and our daughter, plus your unborn.”
Keshana walked over to her mother and father. She stood between them both. “I love y’all, ok? I know when she gets big that you will explain to her what Daddy did was for her brother and that I will always love her.” Gangsta kissed his daughter. He felt a light vibration, then heard the faint sound of helicopters. Gangsta stood up and rushed to the window. He peeked out and saw nothing, but looked in the sky and saw two helicopters hovering in the area.
“What’s going on, baby?” his mother asked.
Ne-Ne went to another window. “It’s the police. Look.”
Gangsta joined Ne-Ne at the window and saw at least eight cars coming down the streets. He pulled the gun from his waist. Everyone looked at him like he was crazy when he did.
“No, baby. No.” His mother walked over to him.
Gangsta dropped the clip out, then cocked the chamber back, releasing the last bullet. He put the gun on the floor. He picked Keshana up and kissed her some more. Ne-Ne hugged him around the waist and broke down crying as the noise grew louder and closer.
***
FBI Agent Latrisha Williams
When she got the call that Gangsta was spotted and followed to his aunt’s house, Agent Williams rounded up a team to take him down.
“This man is armed and dangerous. Let’s be careful and swift. We have a child in the home and family members. We will surround the entire perimeter and then the house, giving him no escape route. I will have two helicopters in the air as well,” Agent Williams said to her team as they prepared to leave to get Gangsta.
They made it to the location and met up with a SWAT team and snipers, plus regular police were there, but mainly FBI ran the show. There was no way possible he could get away unless he had tunnels built in the ground. All the agents and officers were behind cars for cover. Some officers ran to find good positions as the SWAT team prepared to move in. Snipers were ready to take Gangsta out at the first sign of aggression. Agent Williams took the bullhorn. She stood near the SWAT truck and raised it to her lips.
“Gary! This is the federal government. We know you’re inside. We know your family is inside. We don’t want anyone else to get hurt. Come out with your hands up,” she spoke.
The news crews were pulling up to the scene. The SWAT team started moving in close to the house. She saw the door crack open. Every officer with a gun aimed at the door, even her, as the door slowly opened. Agent Williams saw a figure emerging with his hands up. He had on a business suit. It was Gangsta’s lawyer.
“I’m his lawyer,” the man yelled.
“Where is Gary?” Agent Williams asked, walking into the streets and holding her gun down by her side.
“He’s ready to surrender. He just does not want do be shot down by your snipers,” the lawyer said with his hands still raised in the air. FBI Agent William got back on the bullhorn.
“Jackson, you will not be harmed. Just come out with your hands up right now—”
She couldn’t finish her statement. The door opened again, and this time it was Gangsta who stepped out with his hand high in the air. He walked out and stood there.
“On the ground! On the ground!” SWAT moved in on him. Gangsta didn’t say anything, he just did as told and they took him down roughly, cuffed him up. Two of the SWAT members pulled Gangsta to his feet. The news crews moved in for some good camera shots. Gangsta showed no emotions when he got up. All he could hear was his daughter screaming for him, Ne-Ne calling his name, his mother crying out to the police not to hurt her son. Gangsta was numb. He was happy, but numb as they walked him out of the yard and down to a patrol car. News reporters shot question after question at him, but he said not a word. He was ready for the next chapter in his life. He was now waiting for his miracle to happen.
Gangsta watched his family hug up on the porch. Terry desperately tried to hold Keshana, who was kicking and screaming for her Daddy. He had to close his eyes before it broke him down to see her like she was. That was the hard part for him: his kids. And he kne
w he broke her heart. He knew that his baby would miss him, but this was a sacrifice he had to make, no matter how hard it was or who was hurt behind it.
Gangsta was glad when the FBI told the officer to take him into custody. He was already being rushed by the media with all the cameras in his face in his family’s face. They put him in a car and instantly drove off. He watched the city pass him by as he rode in the backseat. The two officers who escorted him to the county were trying to make small talk, but he didn’t respond to them. He just watched the city. He knew he would miss dearly all his friends, and most of all his family. Gangsta could breathe easy now, though. He was clear of all stress. No matter what the courts thought they could or would do to him, he was at peace with God, with himself, and his mind.
Gangsta closed his eyes and smiled at the way he saw Bam shocked to see him. Gangsta knew that God was with him that night, because God knew his heart was on fire, and the only way to put it out was the death of Bam.
When he got to the county jail, more news reporters were there and the jail staff. They started clapping and praising that the man of the hour finally got caught for all the crimes he committed. Gangsta was rushed inside the jail. The officers tossed a coat over his head because there were so many people out with cameras and camcorders trying to get pictures and live footage of Gangsta.
Chapter 24
Gangsta
His lawyer made it to the jail minutes after he arrived and was placed in a tiny room, a room he’d seen so many times before, a place he was use to by now and knew like the back of his hand. Gangsta always beat them at their games, but this time it was different. This time he wasn’t putting up no fight, no lies, no time wasting. Mr. Swinn was seated next to Gangsta, his folder out and open with sixteen statements of confessions to every murder he committed. Mr. Swinn still tried to talk him out of it, but Gangsta had his mind made up already, and nobody could change that.
Two FBI agents entered the room, then a white woman came into the room moments after. Everyone took seats and focused on Gangsta, who sat there nonchalant, like he had no care in the world.
“Mr. Jackson has already made statements,” Mr. Swinn said before any of the agents could speak
“Excuse me?” Agent Williams spoke, looking baffled at what the lawyer had said.
Mr. Swinn pushed the stack of papers across to her. “We are not here to waste your time, nor my client’s. Like I stated, he has admitted in written document and audio that he indeed kidnapped your agents. He pleas guilty to both charges. And if you take a look, those are statement for previous crimes committed. So instead of the questions, lets just do the processing so my client can get a bed where he feels he belongs,” Mr. Swinn said while the agents all read the paperwork.
Every now and then one of them would look up to Gangsta like he had gone nuts. It took them a few minutes to go over the papers, then Agent Williams asked, “Why?”
Gangsta just looked at her. She was pretty. She was young. She was the police, and he was done talking. He had done his deeds, now it was time to finish what he started. He would not open his mouth.
“Why did you kill Bam? Why was you so eager to take his life?” she asked, but already knew why. Latrisha just wanted to see if Gangsta would say something.
“Like I said, my client is not speaking anymore. Now, can y’all process him in, please?” Mr. Swinn spoke up for Gangsta. He already knew the move. He and Gangsta had discussed it numerous times prior to this day.
Gangsta saw that the FBI agents were getting mad because he wouldn’t talk. It was funny to him, though he only laughed on the inside, because on the outside he showed not one sign of emotion.
***
Kash
Kash inhaled the fresh air of freedom into his lungs. The breeze was chilly, and the taste was lovely. Something sweet and misty, something amazing. Just two weeks ago he had a life sentence, serving time on high max. Kash had adapted to the lifestyle of prison: mimicking everything correctly to the master, the ins and outs of how prison rolled. Kash’s mental state was of a prisoner who would never see the streets again.
He had made a sacrifice a few years ago to free his best friend of a murder case. Kash did this out of the realness in him and the fact Gangsta was the best one out the two of them to take over a city, and there was no use in both of them going down. Kash had left his kids, his family, and everything he worked so hard for. He did what he felt was best and was fully prepared to never see the streets again.
It was a surprise to Kash when Gangsta made that same sacrifice. It was a beautiful, sad day in all aspects, and all of his respect went to his brother, his best friend, his ace in the hole. Kash exhaled the air held in his lungs. He smiled at his kids as they both rushed to him when he exited Rice Street County Jail. Everyone was there to see his release, especially the news. His mother and father were there. Ebony, his kids’ mother, was there. Kash even saw Ne-Ne and Erica from a distance. His kids hugged him tight. News reporters were asking questions as radio hosts and lawyers were trying to give Kash their cards. He made it to his mother and father, and they embraced a moment, then he hugged Ebony. He turned around, seeing Ne-Ne and Erica. He waved them over to join him.
“We’ll follow you,” Ne-Ne yelled over the growing crowd surrounding Kash and his family. He gave her the thumbs up and got into the ride with Ebony and the kids.
“Christ,” Ebony said once inside the car. She cranked up and pulled off. “Put on your seatbelt,” she added.
Kash put his seatbelt on. He was a free man. It was like a dream he was afraid to wake up from. If he did open his eyes and was still in a prison cell, Kash would go crazy. Now that he’d tasted freedom, that’s all he wanted to eat. It felt so good to be free, to be in so much space, so many opportunities and so much life to live. He had forgotten how it felt, forgotten that he missed that part of life.
“Where we going?” he asked as Ebony drove down Bankhead. He was back on the west side.
“My house. Your mom wants me to cook, and some of your family is there.”
“Where is Greg?”
“Honey, me and Greg been quit months ago. We going through divorce now, as we speak,” replied Ebony.
“Damn. I thought y’all was soul mates. What happened?”
“Thought me and you was, too, at one time,” Ebony slid in.
“Don’t start.”
“Naw, I’m just saying it’s like you chose the streets over your family. I mean, you left at a drop of a dime, Kash. That shit wasn’t cool.” Ebony was talking about a situation he always tried to get around.
“You chose first, Ebony,” Kash said.
“Boy, I was starting a career. You was in the street. You was the one who was supposed to support me instead of leaving.”
“Man, you went into the force, shawty, when you know I’m in the streets. And you know this: I don’t fuck wit’ cops.”
“I would never police you, Kash, that’s all I’m saying. But you seem to believe different.” Ebony sounded hurt. Kash had to fix it quick. The last thing he wanted was drama his first day home.
“I see that now, Ebony. I was young back then. Hell, you way older than me. I was just lost then,” Kash tried to shed some light on the situation.
“I hope you do,” Ebony replied.
When they finally made it to the house, there were more people there waiting to show him love. When he arrived, all kinds of love were offered.
He finally got the chance to hug Ne-Ne and Erica. Kash learned from Ne-Ne that Gangsta’s son was going through his third surgery. Ne-Ne was happy to tell him that after Junior’s second surgery he came off life support, but was still in a coma. Doctors were calling it a miracle in the making. The news made Kash smile. That was something to look forward to, he thought.
Gangsta also took Poonie’s charges to free him, and he was also there with his babymama, Nikki. Terry showed her face, pregnant and all. He accepted all the love, but mostly he kicked it with his two kids, because
they were who deserved it more.
Ebony pulled Kash to the side after a few hours of him being home. He was in the middle of telling some guys the story of how he got the scars on his face and neck when she pulled him away.
“Come here a minute,” Ebony said.
“Hol’ up, y’all. Hol’ up.” Kash was tipsy, she noticed. “What’s up?”
“I have a key for you from Gangsta. He told me to make sure you get it. And he left a bag for you, too, but since I see you two more sips from being drunk, I will just hold it ‘til you’re ready for it,” Ebony said, and Kash smiled before turning his drink up.
“Say no mo’.” Kash smiled before turning his drink up. Lowering the glass, he looked her up and down.
“What?” She did the same to him.
“Nothing. I’m just looking that’s all.”
“Oh,” she replied before walking off and leaving him to finish his story.
But now Kash had something else on his mind. Instead of entertaining his family and friends, he found a seat in the living room. Unique followed and jumped on his lap. Kash planted a soft kiss in his baby girl’s hair and then looked off into space.
Ebony’s words had him wondering. His high evaporated instantly and his mind went into overdrive. What was the key to? he wondered. What did Gangsta have cooked up? Could the key unlock the door to everything they had worked so hard to attain? Or would the key lead to another bloody summer?
The Streets Bleed Murder 3 continues now
Intro
The first shot hit Kash in the back of his thigh as he backed up, shooting at any cop he saw. He winced in pain and turned around to aim but got struck again, two times in the stomach. Chavez snatched Kash, pulling him to cover and shooting his gun towards the Feds. The cartel of Mexicans had the first load of Federal agents at bay, hiding behind things not to get hit by the spray of bullets. Kash was losing breath as he reloaded his clip.
The Streets Bleed Murder Box Set Page 38