Killer Diamonds (6 page)

“What’s up sis?”

“That’s your sister?” Craig asked surprised.

“Yeah
that’s my little sister. Chell, you met Craig.”

Chell
smiled, “Tony, why you tell him?”

“She told me, she was going to tell me
her name in an hour if I could stay away from the females,” Craig explained.

“I guess
you did that.” Tony looked at Chell. “Will you get his brother; we have something important to talk about.”

“You
know Cherry gon’ say you messed up her tip out.”

“Tell her don’t worry about it.”

“Alright…” Chell warned.

Craig looked at Tony who was dressed in a yellow silk shirt with white linen dress pants. His shoes were the color of a parakeet. Craig wondered if there was some special occasion going
on he didn’t know about.

Chapter
10

Two days remaining…

“What happened last night?” Monique asked skeptical.

“Nothing. We just rode around and got our drink on. Why you ask?”

“I didn’t hear him come home. I woke up and he was on the couch.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“He never sleeps
on the couch. Usually, he’s trying to put his dick in me.”

“Oh
he was drunk.”

“So
when am I going to see you?”

“We’ll have to see. I think Hitman is calling for us. He’s going to make sure everybody is on schedule.”

“What’s that mean?”

“He’ll make sure everybody knows where they have to be.”

“What will Time do?”

“He’ll probably hold a family member hostage.”

“Why?” she asked clueless.

“To make sure we have something to bargain with.”

“What will you do?”

“I’ll probably be the drop man.
I’ll wait until they have the residence on lock. Then I move along.” There was a moment of silence before Monique spoke again. “You know what will be fun?”

“What
’s that?”

“When you drop everyone off. Then me and you go somewhere and fuck.”

Skillz smiled seeing what Monique was thinking. “What you got in your mind?”

“I don’t know…
I always fantasized about doing it where people could see me.”

“Like a park?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she sounded excited.

“You a freak Nique thinking like th
at. That shit turns you on. Don’t it?”

“
A little bit. If somebody could see me.”

“
You freaky as hell. I’ll call you before you get off. Make sure boy ain’t around.”

“
No… I’ll call you just to be safe. I’m taking my co-worker out for lunch.”

“Alright,
we’ll see what happens.” Skillz disconnected the line.

*****

“Hey, Time,” a voice called out. He turned around to see Step. “What’s up?” he asked surprised.

“
What you’re now a good boy? You don’t fuck with a girl no more?”

“
Come on Step, you know you my girl. So what’s up?”

“
What did your boy say?” she asked.

“
Who?” Time asked confused.

“Skillz.
What he say?”

“
I’m not following. Say about what?”

“Nique said
she was going to tell you to hook me up.”

“
Oh yeah? When was this?”

“
When we went shopping. We ran into Skillz we when were at the mall.”

“
Hold up a second.” Time reached into his pocket and paid for his gizzard dinner. They were at Pam’s Restaurant. It was on the corner of Helms Street down from the Riverdale. When he received his change, he stepped to the side and waited on Step. “Nah… she didn’t say anything to me,” he told her. Step looked back from the ordering window. “First, let me pay for that,” Time said.

“
You going to buy my lunch? What I do right?”

“
Nothing!”

Time reached into his pocket. He then
handed a twenty dollar bill through the window and walked away uninterested in the change. Step waited, and then she caught up with him.

“
You forgot your change!”

“
You can keep it.”

“
God… why are you being so generous today?” Step stuffed the money into her extremely tight dress pants.

“
Can I ask you something?” Time began.

“
If you keep paying for my food, I guess you can.”

“
How cool are you and Nique?”

“
We cool, not like you and me though.” Step had a where is this going look on her face. She then opened the box and removed a wing smothered in sauce.

“
If I tell you something, you think you can keep it quiet?”

“Boy q
uit playing. I work for a law firm. The first thing you learn is attorney-client confidentially.”

Time look at her closely. “
I guess that will work. How about I tell you, Nique don’t want to hook you up cause she fucking Skillz.” Step gasped almost choking on the chicken. “What! Get the fuck out of here! That’s your boy.”

“
I know right. My boy and my girl.”

“
Time… are you sure? I mean you could be tripping, do you have some proof? Cause I don’t think that sounds like Nique. Let alone with Skillz.”

“
I can’t prove it yet, but I will. I was thinking you could help me.”

“
Well… I don’t know Time. How about you’re wrong and Nique finds out we’ve been keeping a peep on her?”

“
She ain’t going to know.”

Step looked at him thinking.
“Alright… I’ll help you.”

“
Okay, give me your number and I’ll call you.”

Step called out her number. Time recited it to make sure he
had it right.

“
You make sure you holler at me. I’ve got to get back to work.”

“
Do y’all got some good lawyers over there?” He asked.

“Time
don’t start acting crazy on me. Wait until you find out something before you think about retaining a lawyer.” Step walked back to where he was standing and looked into his eyes. “You haven’t gone crazy on me have you?”

Time
smiled, “I ain’t crazy yet.”

Chapter 11

“You got some homework?” Tip asked as she and Dice walked into the house.

“
No ma’am. Ms. Gregory said we were good today so I don’t have any. Can I download some songs for Dontae?” he asked.

“
Do you know what you doing?”

“I got this M
a.”

Without any warning, the doorbell buzzed. Tip was in the process of removing her earrings when it happened
. She signed loudly and sat them on the kitchen table. “Who is it,” she called out.

“Mr
. Jones… Nano’s probation officer.” Tip opened the door with a peculiar feeling. “Is Nano in?” Jones asked.

“
No… but he should be soon.”

“His home visit is
next week, but since I was in the area, I thought it would be alright if I stopped by.”

Tip glanced at the
diamond-clustered watch she’d received from Hitman on her last birthday. “It’s not a problem, come in.” Tip stepped to the side for him to enter. The first thing she noticed was the heavy scent of marijuana. It was reeking in his clothes.

“
Please call me Ty,” he told her.

Tip closed the door.
“May I offer you something to drink? We have tea and lemonade.”

“
Tea would be nice.”

Tip was headi
ng for the kitchen when she was interrupted. “Ma,” Dice said as he came running into the living room. “Do you see your dad’s P.O.?” she asked him.

“
Hey Mr. Jones!”

Jones laughed
. “I see why you and Dontae are friends. You’re both are so energetic!”

“
What do you want?” Tip asked Dice.

“
I’ll wait till Mr. Jones leaves.”

Dice
then made a quick sprint headed to the computer room.

“
Nice young fella,” Jones said.

“
Amazing,” Tip added. She headed into the kitchen and fixed the glass of tea. When she returned, Jones was looking at her the same way he watched her at the school. “You okay?” She asked trying to get his attention.  He was more interested in the way she walked.

“
Never better,” he said as he redirected his eyes.

Tip cleared her throat
. “Nano tells me you and him are alright.” Jones chuckled. “We have a good understanding.” Tip nodded and asked, “So… what does this home visits consist of?” Jones took a sip of the tea. “Very good,” he complimented. “Well… I just come around and check out the environment, make sure everything is good. Cool son, beautiful lady.”

“
Wife,” Tip corrected even though there had been no ceremony.

“
Wife,” Jones acknowledged her.

Tip held out her arms. “
This is the living room, as you should know. “ This is where we have our family discussions.” Tip left the living room and headed down the hall. Jones followed. Tip stopped at the first door in the hall. “This is the computer room. We all come here for business or leisure. As you can see, Dice is at leisure.” Dice was at the computer and he didn’t look up at them. Tip moved on to the next door on the right. “This here is Dice’s room.” She pushed the door open. “As you know, he’ll be cleaning it after you leave.” Jones laughed, “There’s nothing wrong with it if you ask me. You should see Dontae’s room.” Tip continued. Next, she stepped into a small room with a desk. “I call this my office.” Tip exited that room and pointed to a door in the hall. “That’s the hallway bathroom.” She moved to the last door at the end of the hall. “And that is the room Nano and I share. It’s small but it’s enough room for the two of us.” Jones took a few steps brushing pass her. “Excuse me,” he said. He then looked inside the room. When he did, Tip could see that he had gained an erection. It was bulging out in the pants he wore. Tip quickly turned away.  He must have gotten aroused when she was showing him the house.

"
That’s about it, she said. She quickly headed back to the front room knowing he was getting a view of her ass.

“Well… everything seems good
. A very nice house for a family to grow in.

Jones held out his hand with his dick still protruding against his clothes. It was awkward gesture
. Nevertheless, Tip took his hand knowing it would be his last visit. Jones walked out the door and jumped into his Toyota Sequoia. Before he pulled away, he was thinking about a way to sleep with Tip.

*****

Nano pulled into the rim shop in Germantown as he always did and parked in the manager’s parking spot. This was a place of business he had actually helped open up.

“
What up Danny?”

“
What’s good Nano,” Danny replied. “He’s in the back.” Danny was a white dude and the only person that ever worked at the rim shop. Nano walked down the small hall that led to the office. He knocked once out of respect.

“
What you knocking for?” Hitman asked through the door.

Nano walked inside
. “How you know it was me?”

Hitman pointed to two cameras.
“The place got broken into when you were doing your bid.” Nano took a seat in one the identical chairs that faced the desk. “Can I ask you something?”

“
Don’t start that,” Hitman said as looked up from something he had laid on the desktop

“
Why you keep Danny working for you and not a sister or brother?”

“
It’s a good image for the business. So... what brings you here?”

“
I was looking for my son, is he here?”

“
I wish he was.” Hitman grabbed the sheet of paper and placed it in one of the desk drawers. “Anyway… I’m glad you came. Yesterday, I had lunch with Mrs. Sanco. You know my pops used to work for her.”

“
Hit it too,” Nano reminded.

“
Yeah, he was definitely doing that, but check this out. Lady told me some shit that fucked me up. I’m going to tell you something and only you. You listening?”

“
Hell yeah I’m listening.”

“
I found out that my old man planted his seed in that lady.” Nano started to laugh. “I’m for real man… the lady has a daughter. Yo, like I got a sister.  You ever wonder why Tip’s eyes are gray?”

*****

“What you doing?”

“
Who’s this?” Craig asked the female voice. “This Chell. You busy?” Craig laughed. “I had to plead with Tony to get your number. I hope that’s alright?”

“
It’s cool.”

“Well…
the rumor in town is that you’re the man if you need to get your car detailed.”

“
Is that so?”

“
Yep! As of right now, I hope you’re hungry because I’m bringing you something to eat.”

“
Hold up… You don’t have to do that.”

“
I lost the bet, remember?”

.
              “Was it a bet?”

“
Somewhat. Do you eat sub sandwiches?”

             
“I wouldn’t turn one down,” he said with a laugh.

“
That’s good; I’ll be there in ten minutes.” The phone suddenly went dead before Craig could reply. He realized she had forced a date on him.