Night of Seduction (36 page)

Jason
’
s cell phone buzzed.
He looked at the number it was Ty.
“
Hey man,
what
’
s up?
”

“Latoya is
meeting with Roy six thirty at the house.
”

“That
’
s less than an hour
away. Is everything in place?
”

“Yes, but
here
’
s the thing. She wants to view the tape in its
entirety before making the exchange.
”

“Why in the
hell would she want to do that?
”
Jason
asked.

Ty
exhaled,
“
I think she may have a deal brewing
somewhere.
”

Jason
stood,
“
Can we verify that?
”

“I
’
m working on
it.
”

“Ty,
I
’
m barely keeping Eric sane as it is. Tell me this is
under control.
”

“I
’
m doing my best man.
I
’
ll be back in touch.
”

Eric looked up
at Jason
’
s worried expression.
“
I trust Ty to
work this out. Stop worrying. Everything is going to be all right.
Come over here and listen to this.
”

Jason knew Eric
was trying to get his mind off what was about to happen. He loved
his brother for the effort. He exhaled and nervously sat back
down,
“
Alright. I trust Ty too. So we will sit here,
listen to music, and let him do his job.
”

“A job that he
is damn good at.
”
Eric added.

“If you think
that, why did you try to beat the crap out of him the other
day?
”

“To make sure
he understood the consequences if this trap
doesn
’
t work.
”

Ty

A
van was parked outside the gate of
Jason
’
s home with the towers and an off duty police officer
inside. Earlier that day, the technicians sent to remove
Jason
’
s computer and studio equipment, were also there to
adjust the surveillance system. The monitors were set to deliver
the same feed to the van
’
s system.

At the moment,
they were listening to Latoya attempt to con Roy into reducing the
price to the original agreed upon amount. So far, Roy was sticking
to the plan. Ty had a good feeling about the man, but history had
proven that men could be swayed by Latoya
—
case in
point--Jason.

“This is
actually my property. I commissioned you to follow
Jason
’
s girlfriend. The fact that you followed the wrong
woman is on you.
”

“I followed the
information you provided. In the end, I have a hot commodity here.
If you don
’
t want to pay my
price,
”
he shrugged his shoulder,
“
I
’
ll take it somewhere else. I
’
m sure one
viewing of the first five minutes will get me a
deal.
”
He put the disc back in the computer
bag.

“Hold up. Now
look Roy.
”
Latoya said easing a little closer to
him.
“
You and I have done a few jobs together.
I
’
ve always been fair, right? So why are you giving me a
hard time on this?
”
she asked while running a finger down
his chest.

Damn, why did
she pick this moment to come on to me, Roy thought. Any other time,
he would have jumped on that, but he knew they were being watched.
He took her hand from his chest and kissed it.
“
I
’
m not giving you a hard time, and I appreciate
the offer, but this is business. You want to finish this deal or
should I leave now?
’

Ty liked Roy, more and more.

Latoya stepped
back.
“
Let me see what you have,
”
she
surrendered. As he pulled the disc out and put it in the DVD player
connected to the television in the kitchen.
“
You
can
’
t blame a girl for trying. I mean the price is a
little steep.
”

Roy took a seat
at the breakfast bar, as she pushed play on the remote.
“
The family you are dealing with has millions. You
don
’
t seem like the type to settle for less than all. So I
figure you
’
re willing to pay the
middle man to stay out of your way. Two hundred and fifty thousand
will keep me out of your way for good. I
’
m sure you will
recover ten times that.
”

“So why not ask
for more?
”

“I
didn
’
t want to leave the impression that I was trying to
take advantage of you.
”
The video was hot
from the beginning and he was getting a little aroused from
watching.
“
You got something
cold to drink in here?
”

“Check the
fridge,
”
she replied still glued to the video.

Pulling the
door open, Roy noticed a wire running along the back of the
refrigerator. Following the wire, he saw another DVD player with a
red button lit indicating it was recording. The bitch was doing a
double take on him. The bad feeling of double crossing her with Ty
ended. He reached over and hit the stop button. The recording light
went off.
“
You want
something?
”
he asked.

“Naw,
I
’
m good.
”
she replied still glued to the
video.

Roy sat back
down and watched the remainder of the video.
“
Well, does
that meet your satisfaction?

“Mmm,
it
’
s not what I thought it was going to be. I
don
’
t know if it
’
s worth it or not
Roy.
”

“Really? I
think it
’
s good. You can see both of the participants
clearly and man, that woman was off the chain. Hell,
I
’
d buy that in a heartbeat and so would so many
others.
”

“I
don
’
t know; let me think about it for another day
Roy.
”
She said as she hit the eject button.

Ty
yelled,
“
What in the hell is going on?
”

“You want us in
there boss?
”
One of the towers asked.

“No,
”
the officer replied.
“
Hold on for a minute.
”

Roy walked
over, removed the disc, and placed it inside the case then into his
computer bag. He turned back to Latoya.
“
Would it be
worth it, if I told you I turned off the recorder behind the
refrigerator?
”

Latoya ran over
and checked the box while Roy retook his seat.
“
Damn,
”
she recovered quickly.
She
’
d tried to record the DVD while it was playing, but he
figured it out. Hell, she couldn
’
t be mad, game knew
game. She apparently underestimated Roy.
“
You caught me.
Hell I didn
’
t know if the dame
thing was hooked up right or not.
”
She shrugged her
shoulders as she turned to him and smiled.

“No biggie.
There is no honor amongst thieves
—
right. So
here
’
s what I
’
m going to do for
you.
”
He walked over and stood in front of her, then looked
her up and down, from head to toe.
“
Just for
you,
”
he smiled down at her,
“
the price is still
two fifty
—
for the next two minutes. In two minutes and one
second, the price doubles to five hundred grand. So what you gonna
do?
”

“I
don
’
t suppose you would accept a check?
”
she
rolled her eyes and walked away.

“You now have
one minute and thirty seconds. The clock is
ticking.
”

Latoya reached
under the cabinet and pulled out the briefcase the banker left with
her and placed it on the breakfast bar.
“
It
’
s all
there.
”

“I think
I
’
ll count it, you know the honor
amongst
…
.you know what I
’
m
saying.
”

“I
’
m not sitting here
while you count all that money.
”

Roy sat the bag
he was carrying on the table and pulled out a money counting
machine. He held the cord up to her.
“
Got a
plug?
”

Ty and the towers fell out laughing inside
the van.

Roy plugged the
machine in and placed stacks of bills in the top bind until the
count was complete. He then placed the bills inside his bag and
pulled out a disc.
“
It was nice doing
business with you Ms. Wright. I hope our little issue a moment ago
will not interfere with our future dealings,
”
he
smiled,
“
I don
’
t have room in my bag
to carry that,
”
he pointed to the money
counter.
“
You don
’
t mind if I leave and
collect it the next time
—
do
you?
”

If Latoya had
had a gun, she would have pulled the trigger and shot his ass right
between the eyes. But she had what she wanted and the money
she
’
d just given him, wouldn
’
t mean crap in a few
days.
“
We
’
re good
Roy.
”

“Until the next
time,
”
Roy said and walked out of the door.

Roy drove off
the property and outside the gate, then pulled over across the
street from the van. He walked over and climbed inside to the men
applauding. He took a well deserved bow.
“
Thank you, thank
you. I
’
ll have a repeat performance at ten. Thank you
very much.
”

“Man, when you
pulled out the counter, I thought I was going to
die,
”
tower number one laughed.

“A
man
’
s got to do what a man
’
s got to
do.
”
He pulled the bag from his shoulder.
“
Here you go Mr. Pendleton.
”

Ty took the bag
and pulled out the DVD, slipped it inside the player.
“
Close your eyes.
”

No one questioned the demand, they just
complied. He needed to make sure he had the right disc. He then
gave the bag back to a shocked Roy.

“I
can
’
t take that Mr. Pendleton. You did okay by me. You
keep it.
”

“I
don
’
t
’
need it,
”
Ty
stated.

“Well, give it
to Mr. Davies and tell him I apologize for my part in
this.
”

“Eric
doesn
’
t need it,
”
Ty said.

Tower number
two reached out and grabbed the bag.
“
If you two going to
fight over the bag, I
’
ll take
it.
”

Roy snatched
the bag back and looked at Ty with grateful eyes and sighed,
“
I appreciate this Mr. Pendleton.