Country Boy (14 page)

The opening of the door snapped Q back from his thoughts. The whole crew walked in Kiki’s room. “What’s up everybody?”

It was Big Kev speaking. June, Corey, Fat Dave, and Pooh, all had more balloons.

“Where is Lil Umar?” Fat Dave yelled at Kiki. Still weak she was only able to smile.

“She’s very tired,” said Van. “You can see Lil’ Umar through the window in the incubator room.”

They all exited at one time, headed to see the new member of the family. Kiki was asleep before the door closed behind them. Rubbing her Van spoke, “She has to get some rest Q. Lil Umar took a lot out of her.”

“Yeah,” Q. responded, “She looks exhausted.”

“I’ll keep a check on her while I’m here during my work hours,” Van said.

“Aiight ma, call me on your break.”

Poison

Inga hadn’t done much moving since Da Da’s death. She hadn’t played her part as Yuma, since Da Da was her only connect on The Strip. No one else knew of her. At least that’s what she thought. Inga grew up without a mother or father. They had been killed by a local kingpin from Kingston, Jamaica. Baby Rasta was the youngest. lnga being only fifteen herself was forced to raise her baby brother on her own. Whatever it took to feed them she did it. Men took advantage of her young, tender body. At age eighteen she met E’On. He was the same kingpin who had killed her parents a few years back. They hid Inga within their village away from E’On’s henchmen. E’On always got what he wanted. Young girls were his thing. Each time she laid on her back her hatred for men became her only resolve. On her twenty-first birthday Inga beheaded E’On in remembrance of her mother and father. Looking at her watch she realized it would soon be time to meet Baby Rasta. Grabbing her cell phone and keys she headed out the door.

After paging Q and Dina she headed towards The Boro. Feeling hunger pains she stopped for a bite to eat.

Sitting in the restaurant at his table Ham was enjoying his food, glancing out the window. He spotted the familiar looking car going through the drive through. “Where have I seen that car?” He mumbled to himself. Watching the glass slowly roll down Ham still couldn’t recognize the person behind the tinted windows. It wasn’t the hand reaching out the window that jolted his memory, but he did recall seeing the bracelet which bore Jamaican colors on Da Da’s new connects’ wrist. Ham flipped open his cell phone to call Tex. The car began to pull off from the drive-thru. “Damn,” Ham mumbled to himself. Jumping from table he exited the restaurant. No answer. Tex’s voice mail picked up. “Yo’ Tex, its Ham homie. I’m right behind our people playa’. Call me ASAP.”

Inga already knew she was being followed. Whoever it was had no experience at all. Before she left the restaurant she had already spotted him. Instead of calling Baby Rasta or Q, she checked her purse, and then slowly smiled to herself.

Riding behind her Ham texted Tex. After putting in the number and code he closed his phone. “Damn, where this bitch headed. She was the last person Da Da talked to before he disappeared,” he mumbled to himself. “This bitch betta’ have some answers.”

Spotting an empty rest area Inga slowly pulled in front of the sign reading Restrooms. Seeing no other cars pulling in besides the one following her, she stepped out of the car and’ headed toward the restroom. Once inside she removed two mini machetes from her purse.

Still with no word from Tex, Ham grabbed his snub-nose. After inspecting the traffic one more time he made his move. “Maybe I can fuck this bitch too,” he thought to himself.

Quietly he walked into the women’s restroom. Opening the door slowly he stepped in. Once inside he began kicking the stall doors in. Suddenly the lights went out. “What the fu ...” was all he had a chance to get out of his mouth. Dropping his gun he reached for his throat which had been cut from ear to ear. No sounds could be heard except the holes being punched throughout his body as Inga unleashed her fury upon him.

After leaving the restroom Inga sat in her car staring at its entry way. Her heart was pounding, not from fear, but from excitement!

The excitement of being able to claim another man’s soul. Slowly she rolled away, leaving a black cloud over the rest area forever.

Back at Honey’s, Terri was finishing up her last appointment for the day. She would be leaving for the hospital as soon as she could. Tim’s rehab had been going well.

“So Terri, when will you be bringin’ our lil’ brother home?” Tee and Elbony asked her.

“I spoke with the doctors in charge of his rehab earlier today. They’re thinking about releasing him sooner than next week.”

“That’s great,” said Tee.

“Yeah I can’t wait,” Terri responded.

“Well I’ll pick Lil’ Ty up from the day care, so stay as long as you want.”

“Thanks Tee, you’re the best friend, oops, boss I ever had.” Everyone within ears reach burst out in laughter.

Tee pointed towards the front door as if to say “You’re fired, now get out!!!”

It was around 6:00 p.m. when Terri arrived at the hospital.

She had stopped and picked up some food for Tim. She was surprised to walk in Tim’s room to him doing push-ups.

“My, do we have plenty of energy today!” she said.

“What’s up Baby-Girl? I thought you were the doctor or one of his telling ass candy stripers. They don’t want me doing full workouts yet, but if I don’t burn some of this energy off this room’s gonna drive me crazy.”

“Well are you finish? I brought you something to eat.”

“Good, I’m starving. What you got besides you ma?”

Smiling now she answered, “I brought your favorite. Shrimp fried rice and beef-ribs.”

“Thanks Baby, I promise I’ll make all this up to you.”

“You already have Tim by staying here with me.”

After eating Tim lay on his hospital bed with Terri at his side. Ever so gently she massaged his body. It had been weeks since they held each other. Both their bodies were thirsty. Now kissing him on his chest Terri savored his taste. Easing her hand underneath the covers brought an instant response. “Baby what about the nurses? Wha... I. I.”

“Relax Boo,” she said stroking him slowly. “Relax for Moment.”

With his body now paralyzed along with his tongue, Tim could only grunt as the love of his life gave him the best head he ever had.

Life Goes On

Sitting in Dina’s apartment Q wondered why Inga and Rasta hadn’t showed up yet. Both of them were all business when it came to everything. He wasn’t really worried about their safety. Both were dangerous. The breaking news story broke his train of thoughts. They were reporting a grisly murder at a rest area outside of town. The name of the victim was not disclosed but the cause of death appeared to have been at least forty stab wounds. Whoever killed the victim showed no mercy. The last report was the victims head was completely severed.

“No word yet?” It was Dina speaking.

“Nah, I just hit Ras again,” responded Q.

“What happened?” Dina said pointing at the television.

The police were still taping off the scene.

“I don’t know, Dina. Somebody was killed at that rest area.” Q’s phone going off changed the subject. Reading the message he breathed a sigh of relief. “Five minutes,” he said. “They’ll be here in five minutes.”

When they arrived Q sat back and listened to Rasta talk about The Strip. He’d had several opportunities to kill Tex but his word to Q was his bond.

Q couldn’t help but notice the calmness Inga displayed. She sat in silence listening to Baby Rasta and Q discuss the situation. Her almond eyes told Q nothing. They were beautiful yet cold.

Ras spoke again, “We finish the job soon mun. So many times mun I want to let him meet the Real Rasta. The one they call the Ghost mun.”

“You should have killed that nigga Ras.”

No mun. I leave it up to you mun. He’s not good for the business. Bleed him like the blood-clot coward that he is mun.”

“Don’t worry Ras. I got some shit for his ass.”

The news reporter flashed back on the screen with more information on the murder at the rest stop. Baby Rasta and Dina both were glued to the TV. Q’s eyes were locked with Inga's. Only this time her eyes spoke. As if they were holding their own conversation with him they gave him the answers, which confused him. All the news reports, all that happened at that rest area, it was her work. “Damn,” he thought to himself, “This fine mothafucka ‘bout her business.”

Inga spoke, “Can I have a word with you alone Q?”

Caught off guard he fumbled with his words before recovering. “Aah... Aah... Yeah,” he said walking towards Dina’s kitchen. Dina and Ras continued to watch the news.

Once in the kitchen Inga spoke softly. “He gave me no choice.

“Who was he and what happened?” Q asked her.

She told Q everything that had went down. He sat and listened quietly while thinking to himself. Inga had endured a lot of pain throughout her young life. Q contemplated asking her what had took her down the dark road her life now traveled but changed his mind. “I think that you and Rasta should be heading back. I’m grateful for everything that y’all have done.”

“Q, you know how Baby Rasta work. He will look at your gratefulness as a sign of disrespect. And so do I. It’s not your fault what happened today. He got what he deserved. If it wasn’t him on the news tonight Q then who would it have been?”

She was right he thought. He wouldn’t be talking to her now. She continued, “Baby told me about the situation with your friend. The easiest way to cause a distraction is by using one of us.

Let me take off that distraction for you as a favor.”

“Aiight Inga, you and Ras win again.

Only if I can return the favor.” “What kinda favor?” she asked.

“Anything”

He answered too quickly.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said heading back into the living room with Ras and Dina.

***

Heading back to Rockingham Q thought about the conversation he had with Inga. Rasta trusted his sister with his life. She had taken care of him on her own.

The day Tim was shot someone had yelled behind him for help. It was a woman’s voice. Instinct made him react. He saw her just before the lights went out. All during his battle for his life he kept her picture with him in the darkness. No name, only a face. A face he would never forget. Once he was able to describe her to Q it wasn’t long before he had a name to match.

It hurt Q’s heart knowing he would have to kill a woman. After he had spoken to Rasta about it, Ras understood.

“Let me think about it mun” was his last response. Now Inga aka Poison offered to deal with-it. He knew he would be in debt to her for life.

Death Around the Corner

Two of Tex’s main men had been found murdered. The rest of his boys were scared to death. They all felt the same way... It could be one of them next. As he lay on his bed smoking a blunt, he blew little rings of smoke from his mouth. “Do you want another hit of this,” he asked the female laying in bed with him.

“Nah I’m straight.” It was Dina’s friend Shea. She had been seeing Tex for awhile now. At first their relationship seemed to be good like any other. Then Tex’s attitude began to change. He didn’t want her hanging with Dina and Neese on The Strip. She and Dina had been like sisters before Bolo’s death. Shea had been Bolo’s girl since grade school. Everyone in The Boro knew that someday they would be married.

Tex pursued Shea every day. He hated Bolo only because Shea loved him so much. He had vowed to have her, even if it meant killing to accomplish it. The night Bolo was killed he had earlier given Shea a ring and proposed to her. After she said yes, Bolo went to the local store for some snacks to celebrate. He never returned home. He was gunned down in cold blood. Shea was devastated. The next six months of her life were lived on the brink of life and death. Tex took advantage of her vulnerability. He came around when no one else would. She had heard rumors of his reputation but none of it showed in his compassion. Before she knew it they were in a relationship. Left alone in a cold world by the love of her life she became angry with Bolo for leaving her by herself. She looked for closure where ever she could find it.

For months Dina didn’t know about their relationship. Only when

Shea started showing up with black eyes did she become suspicious. Still up until today Shea had denied any involvement with Tex. Dina couldn’t understand it. Maybe after finding out Tex had something to do with Bolo’s death Shea was too ashamed to admit it.

Laying in his bed now she lost herself in her own thoughts, her own pain. “How did I get to this point in my life?” As if he was right there with her, she apologized to Bolo the same as she had done thousands and thousands of times.

During many heated arguments with Tex he admitted to killing Bolo. He said if she ever left him he would kill her too. For a long time she was afraid. But now as she lay next to him the last straw came when he forced her to go to his mother’s house. “Shea, I need a favor from you,” said Tex.

“No Tex, I’m not do...” SMACK... SMACK.

“Bitch I tell you what to do, you understand?” Sobbing now she agreed with him fearing for her life.

Once at Tex’s mother’s house he and Da Da had jumped out and raised her hood. When Tim came out the door he went to his car. When he stepped away from his car she called him. ‘Hi, Excuse me.” Hearing her Tim had turned facing the woman with the unforgettable blackeye and bruises on her face. Her eyes showed fear, but from what?

“Noooo,” she suddenly screamed. “LOOK OUT!”

It was too late. Tim felt the pain of the first couple of shots. After that his body went numb. Then everything became dark.

With her back turned to Tex a single tear fell from her eyes. “I have to do something,” she thought to herself. “Dina was my closest friend. Not only have I betrayed her but if Bolo was alive he would be heart-broken.” She closed her eyes and prayed to God for guidance. An hour later Tex’s cell phone went off. After calling the number back he jumped out of bed and began to get dressed.