Authors: Michael Goins
Chapter 7
“Monique, this is your four digit password. If you want to check files on people when you get bored, which you will, you can do so.” Deidra winked at her. She was her trainer at the police department. Deidra continued. “Some days it gets really boring around here. You’ll have to occupy your time or you’ll call 911 on yourself.” Monique smiled, ”I get it.”
Deidra stepped away. Monique turned back to the computer and tried to focus. She grabbed the mouse and directed the arrow to
the computer files on the menu. She then clicked once. Words in blocked red letters flashed on the screen. They indicated for her to enter her password. She typed in 1820. It was the number Deidra had given her. Instantly, a list of names popped up on the screen. They began with the last names of people with the last names beginning with A. She scrolled down the list until she came to the letter S. She wanted to see if Victor Scott was in the computer. Victor Scott was Time, her boyfriend, and daughters father. Brian Scott… David Scott… bingo, there it was. Victor Scott. She clicked on it, and immediately, a face filled the screen. It was an old one from before they had become a couple. Monique smiled thinking about the happier times. She then began to read the file. It started in the mid 80”s. Armed robbery… possession of a firearm… “Damn he was rebellious,” she thought to herself. Monique looked at his mug shot. Then she continued to read off his charges stemming from his past. She scrolled down the list until it ended. Then the words appeared on the screen. “Exit or review any additional files.”
“Additional files,
” she said out loud. This caused her to receive a curious look from Deidra. She quickly returned her attention back to the computer screen. She didn’t was Deidra to think she was crazy on her first day at the job. Monique grabbed the mouse, guided the arrow to additional files, and clicked once. The words flashed, please enter your password. She entered 1820 just as she’d done before. “You do not have appropriate clearance,” flashed on the screen repeatedly. This made Monique panic. She thought a siren was about to sound off in the police department. She rapidly pressed the exit box until the computer screen returned to its menu page. Once that happened, she began to calm down. “Additional files,” she said one more time to herself wondering what could be in them.
*****
“Carnell, how are you?” Ms. Sanco asked.
“I’m doing okay ma
’am.”
“I thought you were
going to turn an old lady’s invitation down. I spoke with a lady; I think she was your assistant. Did you get the message?”
“Yes ma
’am I did. I was running kind of late. Can I apologize?”
“Oh Carnell…
stop that foolishness. You still act like you father. Oh my, I do miss him dearly.”
M
s. Sanco looked around the estate, “Ever since he passed away things haven’t been the same. The place seems so…”
“Empty,” Hitman finished.
“Exactly Carnell. Your father had always been the life around here.”
“Thank you for thinking so highly of him.”
Hitman looked around. It was always easy to admire the Sanco estate.
“Come take a walk with me.”
They walked together reminiscing on the past when Hitman was a young boy. His father used to bring him to the estate sometimes to show him around. It was then that Hitman became knowledgeable about the diamonds. Once they walked through the large house, a golf cart was waiting for them in the rear. The golf cart then took them out to a table that was set up for them on the lawn. A butler awaited their arrival.
“Sorry I’m late,”
Mrs. Sanco spoke to the man. “George, do you remember Ezel’s son Carnell?” George smiled, “Yes I do ma’am. A mighty fine young man he turned out to be.” Hitman shook the man’s hand.
“I’ve prepared a special lunch for you my lady. I hope you enjoy.”
“Thank you George. We’ll be done soon.”
George nodded and excused himself. He slid behind the wheel on the
golf cart and headed back towards the house. Hitman assisted Ms. Sanco into her chair and then politely took his.
“Thank you sweetie.”
They both looked at all of the dished that George had set out for them. There were platters of shrimp, dishes of fruit, and a few small containers of different sauces. They both immediately dug in.
“I call
ed you here for two reasons Carnell.”
M
s. Sanco looked across the small table to observe Hitman’s reaction. Hitman looked back at her. He could now see that her age was catching up to her. Around her eyes, crow’s feet were visible and the skin around her neck wasn’t as tight as it once was. Nevertheless, it was impossible to know that she was 52 years old. Money could do that.
“A lady has grown old Carnell.”
Ms. Sanco chuckled as if it was a joke. “Some people are blessed with everything and in some ways that can become a curse. I asked you here, to tell you about your father.”
Hitman’s demeanor was now bland. He didn’t have the slightest idea where she was going with it, so he grabbed one of the jum
bo shrimp and dipped it in a red sauce.
“Your father…
he wasn’t just a landscaper at the estate.” Ms. Sanco leaned over the table to get closer to Hitman. “He was also my lover here,” she whispered like they were in the presence of other people. She then leaned back and watched for Hitman’s response. Hitman only remained mute. He grabbed another shrimp and dipped it in the same red sauce. “Are you shocked?”
“I’m not. My mom used to accuse him of it all the time. She said the check was more important than his…”
Mrs. Sanco flushed. She placed a hand to her chest where her heart was located. “I thought…,” she began. She then shook her head. “At one time I became pregnant with a child. When this girl was born, it was no secret that it was your father’s.”
Hitman looked up in interest. He then began to count the years. He was twenty-seven years old. His father would have turned fifty
years old the month before. This was not adding up to him.
“
I and the late Steven Sanco argued endlessly about me bearing that child. Of course, you should know, Steve already knew about your father and I. Steve had difficulties in the bedroom.”
Hitman looked on overwhelmed
by the information. However, he wanted her to go on. “Steve was a good man, but your father was something else. Steve made the decision that I should abort. He didn’t want the criticism that came from a lady like me sleeping with the gardener. I said no! I was going to have the baby, and then I would consider an adoption agency.”
Ms. Sanco took a moment
for the news to digest. When Hitman didn’t attempt to ask her a question, she carried on.
“Steve let Ezel continue to work to work here and that was all that mattered at the time
. I’m sorry if I seemed inappropriate in my behavior, but you must understand, I felt like a slave here. Ezel only made me happy.” She looked out where the grass seemed to run endlessly. “I remember the first time your father came into my bedroom.” Mrs. Sanco smiled at some thought only she could see. She then looked back at Hitman.
“Carnell…
I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, but this is something you should know.”
“I’m alright with this,” he responded.
Ms. Sanco sighed, “I still feel guilty about not raising my child like a real mother should do. Sometimes I wonder…,” she drifted away in her thoughts again. “Anyway let me stop boring you. You know this Thursday, I’m having an auction. Most importantly, people will come to bid on the diamonds Steve brought back from Africa. It’s ironic, that’s the only thing he ever gave me and I’m about to give them away. Soon after, I plan to leave the estate. I want to travel Carnell and see the world. This is why I wanted to see you. Your sister in much more important than those diamonds and I want to make sure she’s taken care of when I’m gone.”
*****
“So Craig, you’re telling me you and Ace already made a deal with Mr. Dunlap. Shit… you could’ve put me on. If y’all going to chop the group let me, be the one. I know there is a better cut with three than seven, but let that third person be me. Who put you up on that, your brother?” Tony asked Craig.
“He talked about it.”
“Check this out. Say I find a jeweler that will buy the diamonds. You get five, Ace gets five, and I get three if the jeweler pays thirteen.”
“I don’t care. As long as we are straight.”
“Alright, fuck Dunlap. Come to the club tonight, and I’m going to make it official.”
“I’ll be there,” Craig replied.
Chapter 8
“You brought me something?” Time asked.
“I didn’t know you needed anything,” Monique remarked in a sarcastic way.
“What’s up with
you? You’ve been acting real strange lately. You got a nigga I don’t know about?”
“Boy quit trippin
’!”
Time stood and walked into the kitchen where Monique headed. He then eased up behind her and caught her in his arms.
“Damn a nigga horny as hell,” he whispered into her ear.
Monique felt his dick erect
through his pants. It was stabbing her buttocks. She closed her eyes and tried to think about Skillz, but his and Time’s bodies gave off different scents. Time’s hands grabbed her breasts and he squeezed.
“Quit it…
my head hurts.”
“What
’s your head got to do with us fucking?”
Monique squirmed out
of his arms and walked into the living room.
“We’ll do it later,” she whined and flopped down on the couch. Time set out to try and finish what he started. When he moved to plant a kiss on her lips, she turned away denying him.
“Quit it… I don’t feel like it. I said, we’ll do it later.” Time stood and eyed her suspiciously. “Let me find out you fucking somebody,” he threatened.
“Whatever,
” she spat. Time grabbed the keys to his Caprice and walked out the door.
Monique waited until she heard the music off in the distance. She then picked up the phone and called Skillz. After a few rings, he answered.
“Yo…”
“Heeey baby…”
“Why you sound like that?” Skillz asked.
“Time wanted to fuck, but I couldn’t. He a
sked me was there somebody else.”
“What did you say?”
“I wanted to tell him so bad. I felt like throwing up when he put his shit on me. Skillz?”
“Yeah.”
“After you get the diamonds, what are we going to do? It’s not like we can be together in Tennessee. People will start to talk.”
“I don’t give a fuck what people say!”
“Ahhh Skillz… I don’t care either.”
“Can we see each other tonight?”
“I don’t think that will be a good idea. I don’t know where he is and you don’t either.”
“You can co
me over here and pretend you were looking for him.”
“
Then I’ll have to fuck him. Do you want me to do that?”
“Na
h… but I want some pussy.”
“You
for real?”
“Hell yeah!
”
Monique giggled. “You want me to bend over so you can get a
quickie?”
“You better stop talking like that.”
Monique laughed, “You know if you hit it like that, my ass will be shaking all over the place. You’d like to see that I bet.”
“Alright now,” Skillz was now laughing. “Nique, hold on a second.”
Seconds later, Skillz came back on the line. “Hey your boy outside right now. I’ll call you later.”
“I love you.” Monique stated, but Skillz had already disconnected the line.
“What’s up man, why you looking so down?” Skillz asked Time after he let him in the house.
“I think Nique is fucking around on me dawg.”
“Man get the fuck out of here! You know that girl ain’t rolling like that,” Skillz said reassuringly.
“I’m serious
man; you know I can’t even remember the last time we did something.”
“
Don’t she got a new job?”
“It ain
’t the job. She got a nigga and I’m going to find out who it is.”
“You want something to drink, because you tripping.”
“Yeah bring the whole damn bottle, cause we bout to ride out.”
“I’ll get dress
ed.” Skillz said reluctantly.
He disappeared down the hall and
Time headed to the small kitchen. The bottle was sitting on the counter. Time decided to get a head start while he waited for Skillz.
He opened up a cabinet to grab a glass, and something fell on the floor. He leaned over to pick it up and realized it was a picture. When he turned it over, he was shocked to see Monique smiling back at him.
“Why does he have a picture of my girl,” he asked himself. “I thought they couldn’t stand each other! Not only that, why he got it hidden?” A million thoughts began to whirl through his mind. He’d been suspicious that Nique was fucking around for awhile, that’s why he came to chill and talk with his boy. Never in a million years though did he think that Skillz was who she was messing with. He tried to shake the thought from his mind, but now that it was planted, he couldn’t rid himself of it.
*****
“How was school today?” Nano asked Dice. “It was okay,” he responded. “Your progress report came in the mail today,” Nano told him. Dice looked at his feet. He was nervous about what Nano had to say. He’d been getting in trouble in class lately for talking too much and his teacher had threatened to let him parents know. “Do you want to know what it said?” Nano asked him. Dice chose not to respond. Luckily, Tip entered the kitchen before Nano could hit him with another question.
“It smells good
in here,” Tip said. She now wore a pair of grey spandex shorts and a t-shirt with Elmo on it. Her perfect figure was well hidden beneath the large shirt. She used to complain about her ass being too big, but Nano had no problem with it. Her red complexion was makeup free and she was wearing her hair in a comfortable ponytail. The gray eyes were something she’d inherited from her grandmother and they were full of admiration. Dice shared the same eyes as his mother; however, his dark complexion was distinctly of his father.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“I call this here, Nano’s gumbo.”
“What’s in it?”
“Hot stuff!” Dice said looking up.
“What’s with you and all this hot stuff?”
Nano asked him.
“Nothing…”
Tip laughed, “The last time you cooked, it was a little too spicy for him, that’s all.” Nano nodded, now understanding. “Well this time, we ain’t going to knock it until we try it.”
Nano walked around the table. He placed one heavy serving on Tip’s plate.
He then placed one on Dice plate. After he did this, he went to the refrigerator and grabbed two items. One was a bottle of Cabernet and the other was a pitcher of Kool-Aid. Tip raised a curious eye at him. “What’s the occasion?”
“My family,” he said smiling.
“Why your eyes look like that? Tip realized they weren’t open to their potential. Nano raised his eyes back at her.
“
Me and my P.O. were chilling.”
“What you mean chilling?”
“I’ll talk to you later about that later.”
“You
’re talking about Dontae’s dad!” Dice said excited.
“I saw him today,” Tip said. “If you ask me, I think h
e’s got a problem with his eyes.”
Nano took his seat without comment. After they prayed,
Dice was the first to dig in. “Nano…”
“What’s up Dice?”
Nano had already expected him to dislike the gumbo.
“I like your g
umbo.”
Chapter 9
Craig and Ace entered Club Delight soon to be millionaires. Earlier, Craig had told his little brother about the proposition Tony had offered them. Ace had liked it. Actually, he didn’t care who bought the diamonds, he just wanted to get his cut. Women of every nationality pranced around with little or nothing on inside the club.
“You want a dance?” a voice asked
over the music. Craig looked back to see a white girl with unbelievably big breasts. “Maybe later,” he replied.
Craig knew about the club scene and he understood that the women were there to make money. However, he was more interested in talking with Tony. Craig respectfully declined
several advances and continued to move through the crowd. When they made it to the bar, the bartender asked what their pleasure was. Craig determined she had to be speaking about drinks since she had on a little more attire than the other females. Craig looked around at the scenery. The atmosphere had definitely changed from the last time Tony had invited him to the club. The women seemed to be moving about more bluntly and aggressively. A very short black female approached Ace. She was probably only 4’11” without her stilettos on.
“You want to have some fun?” she asked him.
Ace looked at Craig, who gave him a slight head gesture to enjoy himself. In a moment, Ace had disappeared with the girl.
“I know what his pleasure is, how about you?”
Craig turned back to the bar after unintentionally ignoring the bartender. “I’m sorry… how about a Goose and cranberry.”
“Not bad,” s
he smiled. “I was putting you as a light beer. Usually, I can tell what a person likes.”
“Beer…
do I look like that?”
“Yeah. Do
es your name happen to be Craig?”
“Yeah, that’s my name.”
The bartender smiled, “I thought so. There’s no need to be alarmed. Tony said when you got here; I was to treat you right. Everything is on the house.” Craig looked around the club. “Your drinks are on the house,” she specified. “I don’t know about the women.”
“I only ca
me out for business.”
“Yeah…
that’s what they all say. Until they find themselves in the back doing things.”
“Nah
… I work too hard for mine.”
“Tony should be here in less than an hour. We’ll see if you can make it that long.”
She slid the drink to him and proceeded to walk away.
“Hey I didn’t get your name,
” Craig called after her.
“I didn’t give it. Maybe when the hour is up, I might let you know it.”
*****
Hitman left the Sanco estate with his mind racing. What Mrs. Sanco had revealed to him was
unbelievable; it was more shocking than the real story behind the diamonds. Mrs. Sanco had a daughter. Hitman had a sister. He was now riding on Trigg and the Riverdale when it started to really dawn on him. Mrs. Sanco had held him to his word that he would not tell anyone, but he had to talk to someone.
*****
Time dropped Skillz off at his apartment and quickly backed out. He had a destination of nowhere in particular. Vivid thoughts about Monique and his main man repeatedly flashed in his mind. It had got so bad he had to pull over. Time stopped on the shoulder and threw the car in park. “It can’t be,” he said out loud. He felt nauseated. He didn’t know if it was the steady rumble from the 400 small block or the alcohol, he had tried to lose himself in. He thought they hated each other. At least that was how it appeared. “Did they play me?” he asked himself. Skillz was at the hospital when their daughter was born. He was the one that always covered for him. How long had this been going on? Time reached under the seat and grabbed the 357. He then banged on the steering wheel with his free hand. “Nah…,” he exclaimed. He closed his eyes and tried to look at it in a different way. Maybe they were planning something for him. Monique’s face suddenly appeared. It was how she held her face when she was in ecstasy. Next, Skillz appeared. Then he saw them in a way he could never have imagined. Skillz was penetrating her from behind.
“Fuck!” Time opened his eyes. He grabbed the bottle of
VSOP and looked for his glass. When he couldn’t find it, he turned the bottle up and started to drink. Some of the contents spilled on his shirt, but he was in no mood to care. He was beyond intoxicated with problems he couldn’t fathom. He brought the bottle down and looked at the last of the alcohol. He then tossed it out the window. It shattered upon contact with the pavement. Time snatched the car into drive and stomped on the gas. The last thing he would be was a fool.
*****
When Tony entered the club, he immediately spotted Craig at the bar. He quickly walked over and placed a hand on his back. Craig turned expecting to see another stripper.
“My man Craig.
What’s up?”
“What’s up Tony?”
“I’m glad you came.”
Tony looked around the club. “Where’s Ace?”
“He left with some short chick.”
“Real short?” Tony asked indicating with a hand.
“Yeah, bout that short.”
“Oh boy…
You might not see him for awhile.”
“He
’s already been gone about an hour.”
“Hey Tony,
” the voice came from the bar. Tony and Craig looked up simultaneously.