Thin Ice (34 page)

“Come on,” Ryan said calmly as they arrived finally and parked.

He got out and stretched with Jaleesa exiting the passenger side. Entering the house, Ryan went immediately upstairs as Jaleesa went into the kitchen to retrieve the beer he asked for. Ryan entered the bedroom and undressed, collapsing onto the king-sized bed and closing his eyes. Jaleesa quietly came into the room moments later and sat his beer on the nightstand finding him asleep.
Thank you,
she as she headed into the bathroom. As she used the facility, Jaleesa carefully thought out how she would leave the house. She had to get out of the bedroom first though. Normally Ryan was a light sleeper, but Jaleesa knew he was exhausted tonight, so that would hopefully put him in a deep sleep.
Your duffle bag is in the car still,
Jaleesa thought of the cellphone to call KiKi once she got out. It was in her makeup kit, and they hadn’t brought any of the bags in with them.
Crap,
she thought. Sighing deeply Jaleesa decided she would worry about that later. She knew KiKi’s number, so she would simply call her from the first payphone she found.

Returning to the bedroom, Jaleesa was mortified to find Ryan awake, enjoying his beer and watching TV.

“Come on and lay down baby,” he told her sweetly as Jaleesa swallowed hard and complied, removing her clothes at Ryan’s request.

He pulled her close and held her as she lay on his chest and watched TV with him, trying desperately to stay the tears that wanted to come.
How the hell am I gonna get outta here,
Jaleesa thought as Ryan finally finished his beer and kissed her forehead lightly, returning his attention to the set in front of them. Jaleesa’s heart sank. She was trapped and KiKi would get out without her, then do something stupid like come here and try to help her. Jaleesa couldn’t let that happen. If KiKi came here and Ryan caught any wind of it, which knowing Ice would call immediately, he would; they would both be dead women.
What if she doesn’t get out and Ice gets the truth out of her,
Jaleesa thought barely able to suppress the tremor of fear that passed through her with the thought. She knew KiKi was a tough chick, but Ice was crazy and the things he might do to her to make her talk, would be endless. Finally, Jaleesa heard the sound that made her heart lift. Ryan was breathing deeply, snoring lightly, and alerting her that finally, he’d fallen asleep.

*****

Landon was restless sitting at home waiting on Kaitlyn to call.
I gotta get outta here,
he thought grabbing his keys and heading to his car. He decided he would go to Waffle House and wait. Have a few cups of coffee and enjoy the buzz around him, taking his mind off his fear. He picked one that was strategically located near the interstate. Landon didn’t know if Ice was going to his apartment in College Park or Kaitlyn’s place in Conyers. Either way, his position from that particular restaurant would get him there in 15 or 20 minutes.
I can’t let her be out there too long,
Landon thought again driving toward his destination. He thought back to the call from Ben telling him they were almost ready to move.
“Ben, please make sure Kaitlyn doesn’t get hurt in this,” Landon pleaded, on the off chance she couldn’t get away to call him. “I’ll do my damndest, Landon,” Ben replied.
Coming back to the here and now, Landon pulled into the parking lot of the Waffle House and went inside.

Grabbing a seat at the bar, Landon ordered coffee for now. His stomach was in to many knots to eat.
Come on baby,
Landon thought.
You gotta get away from that madman,
he continued to think as a patron began playing selections from the jukebox. Sighing deeply Landon thanked the waitress for his coffee and tried to relax, picking up and reading a section of the newspaper left by an earlier patron. Landon made sure his phone was set on the loudest ringer setting, and that his reception was at full capacity. After assuring himself he had every base covered, Landon returned to his coffee and forced his mind and his eyes on the Local section in his hand. There was nothing else he could do right now, except wait. His phone vibrated and he anxiously snatched it from his pocket. He sighed lightly at the text from Ben giving him an update on their position and asking if he’d heard from Kaitlyn yet. Landon texted thanks back and told him he was still waiting for her call. Ben replied that this was probably the last opportunity to text him he would have. Things were about to get very sticky, quickly. Landon again thanked him for his help up to this point and he would still let him know one way or the other about Kaitlyn.

The waitress returned and refilled his cup as Landon ordered a chopped steak sandwich. The waitress relayed the request to the cook as they began on his order. Landon hoped and prayed with everything in him he heard from her soon. It was already 5:30AM. If darkness was what Ben and his crew were counting on, they’d better get moving, because the sun would definitely be their undoing in a scant few moments. His sandwich was placed before him moments later, as Landon added a little A-1 sauce and began to slowly eat, his mind still on Kaitlyn. As the time passed he couldn’t help but imagine every possible bad scenario and reason for why she hadn’t called yet.
I hope Ice hasn’t hurt her,
he thought knowing the man would blow a gasket if he found out Kaitlyn was trying to leave him. Landon’s stomach again knotted up, knowing that killing her to keep her from leaving wasn’t beyond Ice’s capabilities. The man was absolutely ruthless in Landon’s book.
I wish she’d never met that jackass,
Landon thought then dismissed the thought. It wasn’t Kaitlyn’s fault she attracted a psycho. She was a beautiful woman. What man wouldn’t be attracted to her, Landon continued to ponder. Ice however, in his estimation, had gone completely off the deep end.
He’s too damned used to having everything his own way,
Landon thought angrily as he asked for another refill and glanced at his phone once more. 5:37AM.
Come on baby,
Landon thought once more and sighed deeply continuing to do what he could, wait.

*****

Kaitlyn’s mind was on overload as they hit the city limit sign.
Damn this plan is falling apart,
she thought to herself looking at the time on her iPod. It was already 5:15AM. She was taking a huge chance keeping the secret cell phone on her person, but Kaitlyn needed to know immediately when Tweety made it out. She made sure it was on vibrate, and tucked inside her bra. They were still about ten minutes from her place, which thankfully Ian hadn’t argued with her about coming to. She could tell he was tired, so she knew getting him into bed once they arrived would be relatively easy.
Then I can take care of my business and get the hell on,
Kaitlyn thought, also knowing in the back of her mind the GBI was going to make a surprise visit this morning. She didn’t know if they would hit her own residence, but she’d cleared any and everything incriminating out of the place. All they would find was normal everyday household and personal items.

“You wanna stop and get something to eat,” Ian asked amiably, garnering Kaitlyn’s attention once more.

“No,” she replied, definitely not wanting to prolong their arrival. “I just wanna get to my bed,” she added as Ian chuckled and told her okay, turning down another street.

Kaitlyn continued to keep her cool, praying they would get to her place soon. She felt the cell vibrate, but was proud of herself for not jumping when it did.
Dammit,
she thought unable to pull it out and look at it. She desperately needed to though.
What if it’s Tweety and she’s in trouble,
Kaitlyn continued to think as they finally reached her street and turned onto it, starting the ¾ miles journey to her apartment.

“When we get up, I’ll call the movers and have them come over,” Ian told her calmly as Kaitlyn reeled her mind back in.

She’d almost forgotten he was on the whole moving to the house kick. He’d told her finally where the house was located. Kaitlyn couldn’t say she’d ever heard of any place called Elberton, but that was beside the point.

“You can redo some stuff if you want,” Ian threw out again as Kaitlyn smiled slightly.

“The house is actually very nice, Ice,” she replied calmly.

“I’m just sayin’, so you can feel like it’s your home too,” he added taking her hand and kissing it softly.

Whatever dude,
Kaitlyn thought behind the small smile playing on her face. Once they got inside the house, everything was going to finally come together and this nightmare was going to end for her, Kaitlyn thought, finally seeing the complex and growing excited as they pulled in entry way and headed for her building.
Showtime,
Kaitlyn thought and almost burst into laughter as they pulled in front of her apartment and she got out, walking up the sidewalk and putting her key into the lock.

*****

Tariq was irritated and antsy; more of the first than the second.
So sick of Ice’s ass,
he thought inhaling the blunt deeply and allowing the acrid smoke to fill his lungs, boosting his high.
It’s damned near 6:00AM,
Tariq thought and he still hadn’t heard from KiKi.
What has that muthafucka done to her,
Tariq thought as he continued to smoke. Finally growing too angry to sit still any longer, he headed for the parking lot and his car. He was planning on heading over to College Park, and the apartment he knew Ice kept there.
I’m going to go and get my baby,
he continued thinking, pulling out of the parking lot and heading down his street toward the interstate.

Tariq pulled out the other blunt he’d rolled before leaving the house and lit it. His windows were tinted and he knew no one would be the wiser that he wasn’t simply smoking a cigarette or cigar. Tariq began to replay all the devastation Ice had brought to his life in the last year. “Piece of shit,” he mumbled, taking another deep hit of the blunt. Truthfully, Tariq wanted nothing more than to see Ice heaving his last breath after he shot him point blank in the head.
I still might shoot that ass after I get my baby,
Tariq continued to think, checking for and finding the small .25 that he kept between his seats.

Getting off the interstate, Tariq turned right and headed down Corvair, toward The Summit. This was the luxury apartment complex Ice lived in.
What about the gate,
he thought as he drove. Tariq sucked his teeth angrily. He’d completely forgotten about the access gates to the complex.
Just sit outside, somebody will come through,
his mind told him as he nodded absently and finally finished the blunt. Putting the small portion he had left in his ashtray, Tariq again thought about Kaitlyn and all Ice’s interference. He grew even angrier gripping the steering wheel tightly. He also thought about his brother and how much he missed him.
Damn Ice has taken everything from me,
Tariq thought as he began to see red.
Paybacks a bitch,
he continued to think already formulating in his mind how the meeting was going to turn out. Once he got Kaitlyn out of harm’s way, Tariq was going to get a little street justice of his own on Ice.

As he hit the finally corner, Tariq turned and drove another half block, before seeing the flashing blue lights and cars lined up.
Kiss my ass,
he thought to himself of the roadblock. Tariq hoped and prayed with everything in him they were only checking licenses and tags, as three more cars pulled up behind him, blocking him in and he shook the can of Oust beginning to spray, hoping the only thing they smelled when he rolled down his windows was the scent of morning dew.

37

Day Seven – Armageddon

“Cover the back!” the Agent was yelling to another of his comrades.

All hell had broken loose when the Alabama and Federal Bureaus converged on club Castles in Alabama. The raid began at 4:30AM central time and unfortunately for the agents, more than half of Ice and Ryan’s security squad was still there. The men were heavily armed and had now barricaded themselves inside. Alabama Bureau had lost two men already and three more were wounded.

“Where the fuck is that tear gas,” the agent screamed again.

Their team leader was on the phone with Special Agent Akila back at the headquarters in Atlanta, giving him minute by minute updates.

“Have you found a method of entry,” Akila asked, not liking the news he was getting.

For all he knew one or more of the men had already contacted Ian Bailey and warned him.

“These dudes are not playing,” the agent returned as Akila heard rapid fire.

“What the hell,” he asked as the agent confirmed the AK-47 and machine gun fire.

“They got a grenade launcher,” the agent told Akila.

“A what,” he yelled, not believing what he was told.

“A grenade launcher, sir,” the agent once again repeated.

Special Agent Akila sighed deeply, giving more orders, hoping they had enough manpower on hand to flush the suspects out.

“Try to bring in as many living, breathing, suspects as possible,” Akila told him as another line rang and his assistant answered, signaling him he needed to answer.

Disconnecting momentarily from the Alabama raid, Special Agent Akila took the receiver and answered the second call.

“We’re basically secured here, sir,” another agent briefed him concerning the Mississippi location.

“How many in custody,” Akila asked.

The agent told him they’d taken five into custody; one suspect had been shot, but was expected to recover.

“Any of our agents injured,” Akila asked once more.

The Agent told him that a couple had minor injuries from skirmishes with the suspects.

“Thankfully we got the jump on them,” the agent began again as Akila asked him to elaborate.

“These guys had a damned arsenal in there,” the agent returned. “They had AK-47’s, Beretta’s, even a GP,” he replied as Akila shook his head in disbelief.