CHAPTER THIRTY
Monika drove away from Clay’s Garage and pulled out her cell phone to make her report. "Black still with you?" she asked Victor.
"Hold on," he said and handed Black the phone.
"What’s up?"
"It’s done," she said.
"How’d he go?" Black asked his assassin.
Monika laughed. "Up in smoke."
"What about the other one?"
"He took two, but he’s gone, too."
"Any problem?"
"Are there ever?"
"You’re the woman. We’ll talk in the morning." Black thought for a second. "You
are
going to come to Kenny’s funeral, aren’t you?"
"I hadn’t planned on it," Monika said.
"Under the circumstances, I’d appreciate it if you did."
"Understood. I guess I’ll see you in the morning. "
"Monika."
"Yeah."
"Come heavy," Black said, letting Monika know that he wanted her to come armed to the funeral.
"Is there any other way with me," Monika said, reminding Black that she was always armed.
Black laughed a little. "That’s why I love you, big ass."
"You keep on talkin’ that shit and one day I’m gonna hold a gun to your head and take me some of that big dick."
"Promises, promises," Black said and ended the call. He handed the phone back to Victor. "Take me by Cynt’s and then you can go fuck Sabrina."
"What about Bo?" Victor asked as he drove toward Cynt’s.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, Bo is dead. His car blew up."
"Hank?"
"Hank took two. He’s dead too."
"Mind if I ask you a question."
"Go ahead."
"Who is Monika?"
"She does things for me. You’ll meet her tomorrow."
Victor parked Black’s Cadillac in front of Cynt’s and handed the keys to Black. "You did good tonight, kid."
"Thanks for lettin’ me ride with you. I know I can learn a lot from you," Victor said.
Black threw him back the keys to the Caddy. "You know where I live?"
"Yes, sir," Victor said.
"The funeral is at eleven. Pick me up at ten thirty."
"What about the money in the trunk?"
"You keep it," Black said and walked away. "And don’t be late," he shouted as he went inside of Cynt’s.
The place was closed when Black went inside. Not even Cynt, who was always there long after they closed, was there. Black turned on a few lights and headed for the bar.
He went behind the bar and poured himself a glass of Rémy. Black stood behind the bar and thought about what had gone on that night, and how it changed things in his world.
All of a sudden Bo and Hank were dead, Oleg was his new partner, and then there was Jada West. Black took a sip of his drink. "What to do with Jada West?" he asked himself.
If he wanted to be honest about it, Black liked Jada on more than just a business level. Liked her style and the way she carried herself. He thought she was beautiful since the first time he saw her dance. That night, and every time they met since, he could feel the energy between them.
Black poured himself another drink and thought about what he should do with Jada West and her skill set; training women to be high-price hookers. He thought about his expansion into the gambling market in Nassau and the clientele that Jamaica had begun to attract to his spots. Then he remembered something that Jamaica said to him one night. "All we need now is some girls, and we take all their money."
At the time, Black didn’t think that the international tourist clientele the island attracted would be willing to pay for the caliber of women that currently worked the trade in Nassau. However, if Jada West could recruit and train high-quality talent from around the world, Black was sure that there was definitely a market for that.
Just then, Bobby and Nick came in and approached the bar. "Okay, so tell me what I’m not going to be happy about," Black said and got two more glasses.
"Hello, Mike. How you doin’ tonight?" Bobby asked.
"I’m good," Black said and pushed a glass of Rémy at Bobby, and then poured a glass of Johnny Walker Black for Nick. He left both bottles on the bar. "Now tell me what you two did that I’m not gonna be happy about."
"Thanks for the drink," Bobby said and raised his glass. Then he turned to Nick. "Tell him."
"Me?" Nick said and took a big shallow of his drink. "I needed that. But why do I have to be the one?"
"This was your show from the start," Bobby said and walked away from the bar. He sat down at a table close to the bar.
"One of you needs to tell me right now."
"Bobby killed Stark and Moon tonight," Nick said and finished his drink.
"You killed Moon," Bobby said quickly.
"What did you say?"
"Bobby killed—"
"I heard what you said, Bobby!" Black yelled. "Why the fuck did you kill Stark?"
Bobby got up and went to the bar. "Nick—" was all he said then poured himself another shot of Rémy.
"Rain was dealin’ and Stark was supplyin’ her."
"So you killed him and Moon for that? That’s a reason to make him stop, not kill him."
Bobby smiled. "Nick—" was all he had to say.
"Her dealers were gettin’ robbed and executed," Nick said.
"Tell him the rest," Bobby said.
"Kirk was on the case, and—" Nick said.
"Wait a minute. PR?" Black asked.
Nick and Bobby both nodded their heads.
"Purple fuckin’ Rain?" Black asked in disbelief.
Nick and Bobby both nodded their heads.
"You gotta be kiddin’ me," Black said.
"When Nick told me about it, I remembered Kirk comin’ by Cuisine and askin’ us about PR," Bobby said. "He had already been to see Stark. It was only a matter of time before Kirk put it all together and connected Rain to Nick and then we’d be fucked. It was time to clean up loose ends, and I started with Stark."
"What did you two do to Rain?"
"We were on our way to JR’s to take care of her, but when we got there Blue shot her," Bobby explained.
"Why did Blue shoot her?"
"I don’t know," Nick said quietly and sat down at a table.
"What happened to Blue?"
"Kirk shot him," Nick said.
"What the fuck was Kirk doin’ there—never mind, he probably connected Rain to the robberies. You did the right thing, Bobby."
"Yeah, I know," Bobby said and joined Nick at the table. "How was your night?" he asked.
"My night was interesting. I found out why Kenny was killed and who was behind it."
"You gonna keep us in suspense?" Bobby asked.
Just then, four men burst into Cynt’s firing automatic weapons. Black grabbed his gun and fired back while Nick and Bobby turned over the table they were sitting at and took cover.
The gunmen spread out and positioned themselves around the room and continued firing. While Nick and Bobby fired back, Black pushed a button under the bar. It opened a panel that led to a safe stocked with weapons. Black opened the safe and took out two semi-auto weapons and some clips.
Black loaded the weapons and stood up. He began firing at the gunmen as they moved closer to the bar. He hit one of the gunmen with multiple shots.
"Nick," Black yelled and threw him a weapon before taking cover behind the bar, as the remaining three gunmen fired at him.
Now it was Nick that came up firing, which gave Bobby enough cover to get behind the bar. When Black saw Bobby come behind the bar and going for the safe, he moved to the other end to get a better angle at the shooters.
Nick continued firing and shot the second gunmen. Bobby jumped over the bar armed with two forty-fives and took cover behind the overturned tables. He came up firing.
Black came out from behind the bar and was able to get behind one of the gunmen. With one shot he took out the third gunmen.
The forth gunmen fired shots wildly as he tried to make it to the door and out of Cynt’s. When he turned to run, Bobby went after him. When he turned to fire, Bobby walked toward him shooting with both guns. He went down hard.
"Everybody all right?" Black asked.
"I’m all right," Nick said and looked at Bobby. He stood over the man he’d just shot. The man moved and Bobby put two in his head. "I think he’s dead, Bobby."
"Just makin’ sure," Bobby said and reloaded his weapon.
"Nick, check outside and make sure there’s nobody else out there," Black ordered.
"I’ll go with him," Bobby said and followed Nick to the door. Once he had a look around, Nick came back inside. "All clear out there, Black."
"Anybody recognize anybody?" Bobby asked and looked at one of the dead gunmen.
"I do," Nick said. "These two are Bo’s people."
"Bo," Black said. "It figures. He arranged the hit on Kenny. I thought he just wanted to kill you, Nick, but this boy was more ambitious than I gave him credit for. Mutha fucka wanted us all dead."
Bobby started walking toward the bar. "Let me get a drink, and then we go take care of that asshole."
"No need." Black joined Bobby at the bar. "Monika all ready took care of Bo and Hank."
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The following morning, all gathered at Woodlawn Cemetery to pay their final respects to Kenny Lucas. Before the funeral began, Kirk and Richards arrived on the scene. There were a number of questions that the detectives needed answers to, and this was the best place to get them.
"See, Pat, they’re all here."
"Yeah, but that don’t mean we’re gonna get anything out of any of them," Richards said as he and Kirk got out of their car and made their way toward the assembled guests.
"They are a tight-lipped bunch, always have been. But it’s not always what they say, it’s what they don’t say and how they don’t say it," Kirk claimed as the stood off to the side.
The minister spoke, "Love is the one virtue that goes on into eternity. Neither death nor time nor hell’s fire could ever end true love. In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother Kenny Lucas, and we commit his body to the ground, earth-to-earth, ashes-to-ashes, dust-to-dust. The Lord bless him and keep him. The Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him and give him peace. Amen."
Once the service was over, the detective headed straight for Black, who was making his way back to his car along with CeCe and Victor.
"Good morning, detectives," Black said as soon as they were close enough to hear him. "I’m surprised to see you gentlemen, but I appreciate you coming to pay your respects."
"Whatever," was Detective Richards’ response.
"I was wondering if we could get a moment of your time, Black?" Kirk said, choosing to be a bit more diplomatic than his partner.
"Not a problem." Black turned to CeCe and Victor. "Would you two please excuse me while I talk to the detectives?"
"Sure," CeCe said and walked away to mingle with the other guests.
"I’ll be right here if you need me, Black," Victor said.
"That won’t be necessary. I’m sure I’ll be safe with these two paragons of virtue," Black said as Victor stepped away. "So what can I do for you gentlemen?"
"You know me, Black; just a couple of questions. Maybe you could clear some things up for me," Kirk said and let out a little yawn. "Excuse me," the detective said as he covered his mouth.
"You look tired, detective."
"I had a busy night—double homicide. Some people you know."
"Who got murdered, detective?"
"Bruce Stark and Clifford Moon were found dead at Fat Larry’s late last night."
"I hadn’t heard that, detective," Black said.
"I’m surprised you hadn’t heard about it. I heard you and him were close, Black."
"We talked about this, Kirk, remember? After that unfortunate business with him and The Commission, I wouldn’t call us close."
"What about Lorraine Robinson?" Richards asked. "You know her?"
"She’s Jasper Robinson’s daughter, right?"
"That’s her. After JR died, she took over his club."
"I haven’t seen Lorraine since she was a little girl. Her and her brother Miles, were nice kids."
"Nice kids, huh?" Richards said. "She goes by the name Rain, and she turned out to be a drug dealer, and her brother is doing time for murder."
"You never know how kids are gonna turn out these days, do you?"
"I hear that her and Nick were really close," Richards pressed.
"You’d have to ask Nick about that, detective. He’s around here somewhere," Black said to Richards and turned to Kirk. "But tell me; did something happen to Miss Robinson?"
"She was shot outside her club by a guy named Blue Claxton," Kirk explained. "Real shame. I was just about to question Miss Robinson on her involvement in several drug murders."
"You said she was shot, detective. Is Miss Robinson gonna live?"
"Doctors don’t know if she’s gonna make it or not. She’s under guard in intensive care right now. She hasn’t regained consciousness," Richards said.
"What about the guy that shot her?"
"He’s dead."
"Then justice was served," Black said and started walking away from Kirk and Richards.
The detectives started walking right alongside him. "You know, Black, with all the talk about you, Collette, Stark and Nick being linked to Rain Robinson, I’m wondering if what I keep hearing is true."
"What’s that, detective?"
"That you’re getting back in the drug business."
"We talked about this, too, detective. But I’ll say it again in case I wasn’t clear the last time. I am definitely not even thinking about moving in that direction. So you can go home and get some rest."
"All the same, I’m watching you, Black," Kirk said, and he and Richards walked away.
After the detective left, Wanda walked up to Black. For the next few minutes Wanda talked about some issues with their legal businesses. "There is one more thing I need to tell you."
"What’s that?"
"Nick