ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND (44 page)

I ask the questions and you listen and give me the right answers, okay? Billy shouted and put a gun to his head? How much did you get from the Zagat’s to have Billy dead?

I still don’t know what you are talking about, but whatever it is, you need calm down Billy and I’ll explain.

Calm down? You want to die? Ha? Ha? I lived a long time in Brooklyn to know your kind when they are lying! You wanna die fool? You wanna dare me asshole! I’m so sorry Alex. Sorry that you gonna be the one to mess up my pool this time with that worthless fucking thing that runs down your veins! Never thought it will come to this buddy. I trusted you, Alex! You are supposed to be one of my best but look at what you did. Picking up some money from someone to get Billy nailed is never a good idea, I don’t care how much you got paid and you should have known that by now Alex. You know what I think? No matter how I try to keep everyone together and make this business work so we all can be happy, someone will always get greedy and spoil it all and is so sad the ball fell on your court this time. Look up wimp! Do you see all these people here?

Yes! I see everybody staring at me like I’ve committed some hideous crime or something even thought I don’t know what this is all about, Alex continued.

Listen to me and listen well Alex. All these guys are here because they wanna jump into the pool and feel the warmness of the fucking beauty relax their nerves and make them feel good but now you wanna ruin all that. Because I trusted you, I assigned you a job to pally with the Zagat’s and see how we can recover the money they owe us, right? Don’t you forget, we are talking about millions of Rends here. But you and them got it figured that the best way is that you Alex get paid part of my money and tell me this bogus lie about Augustine wanting to make a deal with me on how the money will be paid off , right? They know you are the only one who can pull that stunt on me so they used you to talk me into going to the Augustine’s end unguarded and you did it. They don’t wanna pay up, okay? They want all the money for themselves and have me killed so they will never have to pay up. And if I died the Police will look the other way. After all, that’s what they always wanted, take Billy off the fucking earth! The lump sum you picked up from Augustine Zagat was to seal the whole deal because only you and I are privy to this business and the Zagat’s are aware of that. So you told me all the lies you could fabricate to get me to go out there for this supposedly all important talk with Augustine. You said he wanted a payment plan, right? Of course I took your words for it ‘cause I wanna get my money no matter what. But in your heart you knew I was never gonna get paid but that didn’t matter anymore as long as you got your cut. Then you went ahead and set up appointment for me with the Augustine for today, or have you forgotten? You gave me the assurance that everything will be cool out there, right? It was supposed to be a meeting for two, I and Augustine himself, right? And you saw me leave the house and you understood I was going to Zagat’s place, right? But one thing you didn’t expect was that Billy will come back alive because in your messed up mind I was already dead and forgotten. But Alex I made it! Here I’m and you know what? It’s all in my favor now ‘cause you are at the other side of the fence looking inside. It is all gonna go my way from now on and I’m sorry to say that my way is gonna prove even more sinister than your little evil plot ‘cause I’m gonna do what I have to do right away, right here and with my bare hands.

Why should I want you dead Billy? You know I can never get real serious with the Zagat’s! You know that!

Shut your fucking mouth fool! We have always been serious dealing with the Zagat household and we shall continue to be serious dealing with the Zagat’s. We all know what deals are like on this axis, buddy. I got some stuff from the Zagat’s too, even more than what they got from me and on trust too. But the difference is that I took care of my part of the business the right way and paid them every cent of what I owe them and at the right time too. You know that I and the Zagat’s have had all sorts of arrangements since we agreed to hook up once more, right? Some turn out good, others tossed by the way side just like those seeds some smart guys from the good old books said will never see the light of the day chose to act many many fucking years back. So these things we do are of the old. There is nothing new under the sun buddy, even though, I never ever imagined that anything will go wrong when I gave you this particular business to handle. But like I said, nothing is new!

I did nothing wrong! Billy listen, I’m telling you nothing but the whole truth. Please spare my life for friendship sake and I promise I’ll from now do things exactly the way you want them done. Do you think I had bad intentions and steal seating here awaiting your return? I had some business in town but I thought I should wait for you to get home before I leave. I don’t really understand what went wrong.

I tell you something Alex! Your presence here at this time is nothing but another ingenious intrigue of your imagination. Yeah! So that if your evil scheme pulled through, nobody would suspect you did a thing! And you know what? You would have cried the loudest, turn around, pocket your money and leave to go have good life somewhere else, not so?

I’m sorry Billy.

I’m so sorry too Alex! Do you understand what kind of stuff Augustine and his men are made of? You pocket their money and don’t deliver and they let you live? Now I’m gonna get you before they come for you. With the gun on Alex’s head, bang it went and his body fell into the pool.

Kondo! Billy shouted out to one of his aids; get your men to help you clean up the pool ‘cause is all messed up now. And he stormed into the house.

Some other girls around the pool with Isabel retreated with him and with the gun still in his hand Isabel moved close and gave him a passionate kiss. I think you did the right thing Billy, she whispered in his ears. He deserved what he got!

I need me some stuff right away! Billy said and continued to the bedroom and Isabel with the other girls continued trailing behind. In a while, another bout with drugs was over with before every lay still wherever they found themselves. It was long draw but terminated when his phone began ringing. Hello Dave! Billy responded in a sleepy voice.

How did it go with Alex? Dave asked.

Men, he denied it like I expected.

He is a lair. He got paid handsomely and he knew what he did, Dave added.

Anyway the matter is taken care of so let’s talk about some more important thing. I have your check ready! When are you coming to pick it up? Billy asked.

I don’t think today is clear man ‘cause there is toxin on the air, continued Dave.

I expected that! Billy said.

What line are you on?

Private! Billy responded.

Good! Listen! A Judas in Red Station informed me the ‘Red men’ of Z station are coming for you any time from now. Dave continued. So you better get ready. My informant is certain it will happen before dawn today or in the early hours of morrow. Don’t say I didn’t warn you this time Billy! I heard they mean business and lots of rods will future, so do whatever you can to bit them like always.

Thanks pall! I’ve been working on that a long time, so don’t worry! I’m gonna hit them so hard. If Billy must go to hell, he is not gonna wind up in that pot alone! I need me as many men as I can get for sure and I know I gonna nail them!

Good! I’m so glad to hear that! Dave continued to lend his support.

As soon as he got out of the phone Billy turned to shouted, Girls! Time to get up ‘cause I want everyone in the living room.

Come- on now! I’m sleeping and don’t wanna be in the living room right now, okay? Isabel responded.

I’ve told you time and time again that you do things exactly the way I want it done. You never give me attitude again! Is that understood? Listen! I say what you do and you don’t question me about it! Do we agree? Billy does not take shit from anyone, understand?

Ok! I don’t really get what’s the problem? Isabel said.

I’m just trying to make myself clear to you!

Ok! Ok! I understand! What is it you want me to do? She inquired

You go and wait in the living room like everyone else and I’ll be there in a moment. Billy said and left to wake up other inmates and eventually everybody ended up in the living room.

Isabel was surprised at the number of people she was sharing the house with. At the last count there were eight girls and ten men, all living at Billy’s place.

Tim! I want you to make sure that everyone is out here. Billy instructed another of his men.

Tim went in search of the rooms and in a while returned with ‘no one is out there anymore.

Billy took his time to get a bottle of Whisky from the bar, poured him a whole lot and took the first sip before he began. Guys, can anyone guess why we are all out here right now instead of doing some fun stuff? Yeah! Nobody knows! Ok! I got some news for us as usual. There is gonna be another Police raid to me house any time from now. No panic! No panic guys! I guess is about this Alex thing and whatever it is they are looking for, he chuckled. They wanna slam us with position of some illegal stuff too! Oh yeah! They’ve been searching! You all know how they always hope that one day Billy is gonna get busted but they’ve been on it for years now and yet to find what they are looking for and still they don’t wanna give it up. Are they really looking? I don’t have answer to that for you guys. But then I don’t know what those guys think I am and don’t even understand why they keep crashing into my place whenever they chose. But I say to them like always, guys, watch your steps ‘cause soon, and I mean very soon, someone is gonna get what’s coming for him. Anyway, one of their Judases sold out again like always. You all know what to do ‘right? So I’ll count on every one of us to do the right thing at the right time and by that stay out of trouble and I mean it! Okay, since no one is saying anything I take that to mean that every one of us knows where to be and nobody is to be seen around during the whole of the Police operation and no one leaves the building until those guys come and go. But if we don’t see them by noon tomorrow you guys can feel free to go wherever you chose. That will be all for now! He concluded after a long pause.

Everyone else left but Isabel remained with Billy in the living room. I’m not sure I wanna stay, she said after a while.

What?

I wanna go home! She said with emphasis.

Is this your first time here with the raid thing to my household? Billy snapped.

Yes!

Okay! Listen! Loretta, as long as this situation we face right now is on ground, nobody leaves Billy’s building. So to answer your question, you can’t go now.

But I don’t wanna go home tomorrow so I think is better I leave right away.

Nor do I know what time those guys gonna get here and certainly don’t appreciate the fact that you gonna abandon me in the middle of a crisis, Billy stressed.

Billy come-on! You know better than think I wanna abandon you and all that, it’s just that I can’t stay today. I hope you understand!

We agreed minutes ago you’re never gonna bore me with nasty attitude and stuff, eh? I thought we agreed on that already Loretta?

I just wanna go home, that’s all, she insist.

You are free to take any decision you like ‘cause you are a grown woman, okay? But for now, nobody leaves my house until after the Police operation, do you understand?

I can’t stay? I got to go! I don’t wanna be here today at this time and nobody is gonna hold me anywhere against my will. I must leave right away!

Alright! He snapped again. I’ll allow you go but that’s on my ticket! Don’t come back until you get your acts together, is that understood?

Okay! I’m leaving anyways! She said, went took her bag and walked out of the house.

Driving into their large compound now, Isabel saw a couple of cars and wondered what was going on, and because she didn’t want her presence felt, she took to the back door. Voices in the living room caught her attention the moment she got into the house so she chose a pip. Instantly she made out the faces of Ache and his wife and sneered at them. It has been a very long time she saw both last and that was at her wedding some eleven years ago but she could still recognize them. She also noticed Wallis and two men she never seen before, all sitting down and charting and she got really agitated by all that. I gotta go get me some juice ‘cause I’m suffocating right now. My throat is all dried up and stuff, she continues soliloquizing, walking towards the refrigerator.

The kitchen was occupied, she sensed as she got closer and it occurred to her that she saw Wallis in the living room, so she thought; who is in my kitchen? Again, taking to a vantage position to assess the situation, she saw her. Soprana, too busy to notice Isabel’s presence continued with her chores. After a long scrutiny and unable to recognize who the lady is and not knowing what to make of the whole thing, Isabel quietly tip toed into the bed room’ locked the door behind her and soon fell sleep.

Eventually, Soprana got through with dinner and served Wallis and the rest of the guests. Every one sat to eat a delicious meal of spaghetti with some canned fish and source. Wallis ate like the hungry man he was because being a three meal a day kind of guy he always starts his day early with a breakfast but as at about 6pm today, he is having what can be best described as brunch.