Thin Ice 4 - Resurrections (6 page)

          “
I’m going to take the boys to the movies and then to get pizza,” Jaleesa told her mother, coming back into the dining room where she sat at the table, crocheting. “OK, that sounds like fun,” Charlotte replied, still watching her daughter’s mannerisms. “Are you sure you’re okay, Tweety,” she inquired.

Jaleesa smiled slightly and told her mother she was just fine.

“
Oh OK,” Charlotte replied. “You all have fun,” she threw out trying to lighten the mood.

“
Bye grandma,” Jashon called out as Rondé tried to emulate him, throwing in his own garbled goodbye.

Chuckling, Charlotte hugged them both, giving them a kiss and telling them to be good.

“
See you in a little while, Mama,” Jaleesa told her as Charlotte smiled and grabbed her hand. “It’s gonna be okay baby, you’ll see,” she told her daughter trying to reassure her.

Jaleesa smiled another short, sad smile and nodded her understanding, turning and following the boys outside. Charlotte sighed deeply once more and picked up her phone, hoping Kaitlyn answered when she called
.

6

True to their word Creeper and Pirate were back at Avery early the next morning. They’d been meeting with Ice for the past three days. Today they were headed back to Florida to begin setting everything in place for the takeover.

“
Wassup Ice,” Creeper greeted him walking into the suite.

Ian was dressed and staring out of the window. He turned at the sound of Creeper’s voice and greeted both men.

“
Good morning,” he greeted them amiably. “Have you found the information I requested,” he asked.

They hadn’t given him an update since their initial meeting.

“
Yeah more or less,” Pirate answered as Ian waited for them to enlighten them. “I got a partner in Atlanta,” Pirate began. “He hangs with this dude name DeNoah,” he went on. “Sound familiar,” Pirate quieried.

Ian shook his head no and told him to continue.

“
Well anyway, seems he’s shadowing Tariq’s wife,” he said smoothly as Ian’s jaw clenched at the use of the word Tariq and wife in the same sentence.

“
KiKi,” he replied evenly, alerting Pirate that was how he was to refer to the woman.

“
Yeah, KiKi,” Pirate replied and went on with his story.

“So DeNoah tells him he shadows her because of a breakdown she had about a year ago,” he told Ian who grunted his understanding.

That would explain her strange behavior that night,
he thought as Pirate began talking again. He told Ian that DeNoah hadn’t given his friend a lot of details but he found out enough that she was fine now and the doctors were about to take her off the medication she was taking.

“
Interesting,” Ian said calmly as his mind tumbled.

What is going on with my baby, why is she breaking down,
he continued to ponder.

“
So seems her best friend is in a world of trouble,” Pirate went on as Ian again regarded him evenly. “Shot and killed her man,” he said calmly.

Ian burst into laughter and the two friends gave each other a look.

“
Perfect irony,” he murmured finally gathering himself.

Ian gave them a quick rundown of Jaleesa, her relationship with his brother, her treachery and ultimate betrayal of him, leading to his death.

“
Damn, that’s fucked up,” Creeper replied as Ian grunted his agreement.

“
Is she in jail,” he asked. Pirate told him from what he heard she was out on bail.

“
Her ass is doing life if they find her guilty,” Creeper said as Ian told him he had no doubt about that.

“How long before we’re able to get to Atlanta and set everything in place,” Ian asked.

The news about Jaleesa brightened his day and he had plans.

“
Three days,” Creeper replied.

“
Good, that’s perfect,” Ian told him, giving him a number and an address. “This is my attorney,” he added. “He’s been instructed to set up the house and get us settled,” Ian told Creeper, who nodded his understanding.

“
How are you getting to Atlanta,” Pirate asked Ian.

“
I’m going to fly,” he told them, adding he would take a cab to the house. “I’ll have a car waiting for me when I get there,” he went on as both Creeper and Pirate listened carefully.

They had to make sure everything went like clockwork. This was going to be the beginning of a dynasty with the three of them ruling Atlanta, Tampa, New Orleans and eventually Miami. Creeper smiled thinking of their future. He’d been waiting a long time for an opportunity of this magnitude and the asset of having the legendary Ian ‘Ice’ Bailey as his mentor made him feel invincible.

“
We’re out,” Pirate told Ian who told them to have a safe trip.

“
I’ll see you both in three days,” he said in parting as they assured him they would be there and left him alone.

*****

“Hey man, long time no hear,” Tariq told the man when he answered.

“
Hey you know how we do,” he threw back laughing lightly.

Tariq told him he did and asked about the family.

“
Everybody’s straight man, how about you,” he threw back once more.

Tariq told him about LaRon being killed and the happenings of the present time.

“
So you got someone to put in place,” he asked.

Tariq told him about Mook and his coming in and taking up the load.

“
Sounds like a good dude,” he told Tariq, who readily agreed with him. “What else,” the man asked calmly.

Tariq smiled slightly. His cousin could read him like a book.

“
I just have this feeling in my gut,” he told him. “I can’t really explain it, and if I tell you about it you’ll think I’m crazy as hell.” His cousin chuckled lightly and told him to give it a shot.

“
The shit I’ve heard man, it takes a lot to blow me away,” he added as Tariq smiled and began telling him. “So did you see them bury him,” his cousin asked after the explanation.

“
Nah, I had to get my wife some help,” he told him as the man sighed slightly.

“How is KiKi,” he asked gently.

Tariq told him she was doing really well, no relapses and the doctor was taking her off the medication permanently.

“
Damn, that’s great,” he replied as Tariq readily agreed.

“
Now maybe I can get my son,” he told his cousin as they both laughed.

“
But back to this Ice character,” his cousin told him, becoming serious once more. “If you feeling it that strong, you need to check the shit out,” he told him. “Find the grave, hell pay enough and have somebody exhume his ass,” he added evenly as Tariq gave it serious thought.

After a few more moments of silence, his cousin spoke again. “Riq, it’s the only way you’re gonna rest man,” he told him understanding his reservations. “Not to mention, if the sonofabitch is still alive, what do you think his first move is gonna be,” he threw out as Tariq frowned angrily. “Killing you and taking KiKi,” his cousin finished aloud for him. “Fuck,” Tariq swore. “I just can’t seem to get rid of this asshole,” he told his cousin. “Don’t sweat it,” he replied.

“
Can I ask you something,” Tariq began.

“
Yeah, what’s up,” he responded.

“
Are you really retired,” he threw out and his cousin caught the hint.

“
Not if you need me,” he replied evenly.

Tariq told him he did. He felt a war coming and he needed all the loyalty by his side he could get.

“
We’ll be there in 2 days,” he replied.

“
We,” Tariq questioned.

Chuckling he answered once more. “Yeah me and my boy Jacoury,” Ramell answered, telling Tariq to hold on till they got there, and they would see him in two days.

*****

Kaitlyn wanted answers. She’d talked to Jaleesa’s mom a couple of days ago and so far her best friend had succeeded in ducking her everytime she called or came to the house. Today however, Kaitlyn wasn’t leaving until she got answers. Pulling up to the beautiful brick structure, she noted Jaleesa’s truck was missing. Sighing lightly she still got out and went to the door thinking perhaps she’d parked it in the garage. Kaitlyn rang the bell and waited. No answer. Growing more irritated she walked around to the back and tried the back door. Surprisingly it was unlocked and she came inside. “Tweety, it’s me,” Kaitlyn called out. Her friend, like herself, had a penchant for weapons. “Tweety, where are you,” Kaitlyn called out again, heading for the bedroom. Walking inside she found the room immaculate. The bed was made and the pillows arranged beautifully on the gold and burgundy comforter set. Glancing at the nightstand the envelopes caught her eye. Walking over to them she saw the names on each.

Picking up the one bearing her name, Kaitlyn opened it and began to read.
‘KiKi, I want you to know that I love you. You’ve been my sister for as long as I can remember. We’ve done everything together and hanging and running with you were some of the happiest years in my life. I’m tired though KiKi. I’ve fucked up and I fucked up good. I see him every time I close my eyes. He haunts my every thought, my every dream. I see him every time I look at Jashon or Rondé. I’ve destroyed my boy’s lives, KiKi. Do you know how that makes me feel? I’ll tell you. It makes me feel worthless, empty and unworthy of their love. Tell Tariq how sorry I am for taking the closest thing to a brother he had left on this earth and that I love him too. KiKi take care of yourself and stay with Tariq always. He really loves you. I need you to do one last thing for me. Take the other letter to my mama, and take her to Lake Alatoona to get my truck. Please don’t grieve for me KiKi. I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time and now, I’ll finally get some peace. I love you. Tweety.’

“Hell no,” Kaitlyn screamed turning and running out of the house to her car. She jumped in starting it and burning rubber heading for Lake Alatoona. She called the police in route and told them about the letter and what she suspected her friend had done. Tears were streaming down her face, but Kaitlyn refused to slow down. She had to get to her. She had to get to Jaleesa and stop her before she did this. “Tweety, please, please,” she whispered prayerfully as she raced down the interstate. Lake Alatoona was almost to the Alabama line and the drive wasn’t short. She arrived almost 45 minutes later, the police already on scene. Parking on the shoulder, Kaitlyn jumped from the Benz and ran down the hill to the lake’s edge. A uniformed officer stopped her. “I’m the one who called,” she told him almost hysterical. “Please did you find her,” Kaitlyn screamed again. She saw Jaleesa’s truck, empty, sitting at the waters edge. Kaitlyn turned looking out in the vast lake seeing nothing but the currents melodic flow as it continued on its daily existence. She saw several divers out in the middle of the lake and held her breath. The officer standing closest to the edge was talking to them.

Kaitlyn managed to talk the first officer into letting her approach the one in charge, standing by the water. “Have they found her,” Kaitlyn asked quietly as the man regarded her sympathetically.

“
No, not yet,” he replied as gently as he could Kaitlyn shook her head that she understood, still holding out hope they would find Jaleesa and she would be all right. That hope began to fade some five hours later when they still hadn’t found her and declared the search over for the day since dusk had fallen and it was getting dark. Realization kicked in and Kaitlyn fell to her knees sobbing deeply. Her bestfriend was gone. Jaleesa was dead, by her own hand. How much despair had she felt to make her do something so horribly cruel to herself and everyone that loved her, Kaitlyn thought as she continued to cry. She hurt so badly she could barely breathe.

The officer was about to reach down for her, when the male voice spoke.

“
I’ve got her,” Tariq said calmly, picking his wife up as she looked into his eyes and laid her head on his shoulder, still crying.

DeNoah called him as he raced to keep up with Kaitlyn, giving him their destination. Tariq directed DeNoah to have the auto club get her car and deliver it to the house. Tariq put her inside the Infiniti and belted her in. Kaitlyn was deathly quiet and it scared the hell out of him.

“
Baby, I need you to take this,” he told her, holding one of her pills.

She didn’t fight him as he placed it in her mouth and gave her water to swallow it. She closed her eyes after that and Tariq drove them home in silence, worried as hell about his wife and her sanity.
Christ Jaleesa,
he thought, guilt creeping in.
Did I add to this decision,
Tariq wondered finally pulling into their garage. Kaitlyn had fallen asleep and he was careful not to wake her as he took her from the car and laid her gently in their bed, climbing in beside her and holding her tightly. Tomorrow was a new day and somehow he knew it would be ten shades darker than today.

7

Kaitlyn opened her eyes praying yesterday was just a horrible nightmare and that her bestfriend would answer her cell when she called. Reaching over to get her phone, Tariq walked into the room.

“
Who are you calling baby,” he asked gently, sitting down on the bed beside her.