Thin Ice (35 page)

“Where the fuck did they get a Grand Puissance,” Akila asked half to himself of the GP the agent mentioned.

“There were the usual .45’s and four Luger pistols,” the agent continued. “They even had a couple of live hand grenades,” he finished as Akila again stood astonished at the cache of weaponry and the depth of violence the Bailey brother’s were willing to go to.

“Well, great work Agent,” Akila finally told the man on the line. “Get all the suspects down to the Mississippi Bureau and begin to interrogate them,” Akila instructed. “No phone calls,” he added as an afterthought.

They needed to keep these sweeps as quiet as possible so the two big fish they were trying to catch didn’t slip their net and leave them high and dry.

*****

Tariq nervously waited on the officer to approach his vehicle. From what he could see, they were indeed only checking license and tags.
It smells okay in here to me,
he thought, believing the odor neutralizer had done its job.
Man I’m glad KiKi ain’t called me yet,
Tariq thought as the officer finally approached his vehicle. The man asked for his license, which Tariq readily supplied. Looking it over, then back at him, the officer asked him to wait momentarily. Tariq frowned lightly wondering what the trouble was, but said nothing as the officer walked away and went to confer with one of his fellow officers. Tariq glanced ahead of the two officers talking seeing yet another officer say something to a driver, as the man complied and exited his vehicle. The first officer returned to Tariq and spoke.

“Sir, would you please step out of your vehicle,” he asked calmly.

What now,
Tariq thought to himself as he opened his door and stepped out of his vehicle, leaning against the driver’s door once it was closed, waiting on the officer to speak again.

“Sir,” the officer began, looking at him closely. “Your license is expired,” he told Tariq as remembrance flooded his mind and he kicked himself for being so stupid.

His birthday was last month and he’d intended to go to the DMV and get his license renewed. Unfortunately he’d gotten caught up and forgotten. Hopefully they would only give him a ticket and let him be on his way; otherwise he was in for a ride to the station.
I can’t get locked up,
Tariq thought, as his mind immediately went to Kaitlyn.

“I can’t even argue officer,” Tariq tried good naturedly. “I meant to do it, but it just slipped my mind,” he finished as the officer grunted and nodded slightly.

Seeing him pull out his ticket book, Tariq breathed a small sigh of relief. He could deal with a ticket. He just needed to get to Ice’s apartment complex and get Kaitlyn.

“Hey,” one of the officers yelled as both Tariq and the other officer looked their way.

“Freeze, stop,” he yelled as the man Tariq saw earlier began to fight and struggle.

“Stay put,” the officer managed to get out as he ran to help the other officers.

“Not smart,” Tariq mumbled as he watched the officer’s struggle with the suspect.

Things immediately went from bad to worse, as an agitated passenger from another car got out and began yelling at the officers.

“Man, ya’ll stop kicking that man,” he yelled angrily as his two friends also exited the vehicle and brazenly jumped into the melee and began fighting with the officers.

Tariq couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
These fools are crazy,
he thought knowing in about five minutes the entire police force would be here. Other motorists, not wanting to get caught in the drama began pulling off, or backing up. Some got out of their cars and stood on the shoulder of the road, wanting to be clearly seen as a non-participant. Tariq also began to move to the shoulder of the road and stand. If the fight wasn’t smack in the middle of the street he needed to get down, he would have joined the other fleeing motorists and went about his night. Everyone screamed and panic ensued as the first shot rang out.

“Gun,” an officer yelled as the other officers pulled out their weapons.

Tariq saw two of the three men that had gotten out of the car firing at the officers and the officers begin to return fire.

“Get down,” the officers screamed at the bystanders as the suspects began running, still firing wildly. The officers were trying to pursue the men, returning fire.

Tires were screeching and sirens wailing as unit after unit arrived at the scene and the carnage grew. People were still scattering, some were angrily beginning to pelt the arriving police cruisers with rocks and bottles, screaming racial slurs at the police as the bullets again began to fly from unidentified persons and vantage points.

“We need riot,” one of the officers was saying in his radio.

“Send SWAT,” he told them, advising of all the gunfire, rocks and bottles.

Flames began to dance wildly as someone tossed a mazletov cocktail into a police cruiser. The area was suddenly blanketed with GBI and FBI agents coming out of the woodwork, seemingly blended in with the night. Special Agent Akila had given the word to help the local authorities after a sweep of Ian’s apartment yielded nothing. There was no useful evidence at all inside. It seemed that it was what it was perpetuated as, simply the place Ian Bailey lived. With the help of the Agents, city police, and sheriff’s deputies, the violence was finally contained. Media and TV camera’s had arrived and were broadcasting the carnage live for morning newscasts.

“We need some ambulances,” one of the Agents yelled out as another nodded and got on his radio to dispatch.

“Two down,” another agent yelled. “Hang in there man,” the agent said as he applied pressure to the wound to keep the bleeding at minimum.

Tariq was struggling to stay conscious.
I can’t die,
he thought as the pain intensified in his chest.
Gotta get to KiKi,
he thought once more still trying to catch a decent breath.

“Took one to the chest that I can see,” the agent told the paramedic as he kneeled down and began assessing Tariq’s vitals.

“He’s critical,” the paramedic said evenly. “We need to get him to Grady Trauma right now,” he added as the other paramedic joined him and they began prepping Tariq for transport.

Hasaan man what you doing here,
Tariq thought looking into his brother’s eyes.
“I came to get you,” Hasaan replied calmly. Tariq shook his head slightly. “I gotta get KiKi,” he told his brother as Hasaan smiled slightly. “It’s time to go,” he said simply. “I can’t,” Tariq replied. “I love her, I gotta get her,” he tried again as Hasaan began walking, pulling him gently along. “She loves you too,” Hasaan told him softly. “But its time to go,” he added as Tariq finally stopped fighting and went with him.

“He’s flat lining,” the paramedic called out as they grabbed the defibrillator and charged it. “Clear,” he yelled placing the paddles on Tariq’s heart and shocking him. “Shit, 350,” he yelled once more, changing the voltage, after getting no initial response. “Clear,” he yelled once more, shocking the yet still man, once again. “Come on man,” the paramedic said half under his breath, not wanting to give up an obviously lost cause.

After working frantically for the next 15 minutes, the paramedic conceded defeat and covered Tariq’s body fully with the sheet, turned off the siren, and continued their journey to Grady Hospital.

“What the hell happened over there,” Special Agent Akila was asking as his agents checked in.

“Some fools looking for a fight at a simple license check roadblock,” the agent answered as Akila sighed deeply.

“How many people hurt,” he asked again.

“Dozens injured,” the agent replied. “Six innocent lives lost,” he went on as Akila frowned deeply. “Suspects got away,” the agent added angrily.

Akila sighed deeply feeling the man’s frustration. Six families devastated tonight because a bunch of idiots wanted to live out some gangster fantasy about fighting the police.

“Finish processing Bailey’s apartment, then come back to base,” Akila told the agent, who acknowledged his orders and disconnected.

Reflecting on the call Akila tiredly ran his hands through his hair.
This damned operation has taken 10 years off my life in one night,
he thought heading back to the strategy room. They still had three more locations yet to report and the sun was on its way up.

*****

Jaleesa stealthily eased her way out of Ryan’s arms and out of their bed. Rising quietly she headed for the bathroom. If her movements awakened him, Jaleesa knew Ryan would drift immediately off again, knowing where she was. She held her breath as she waited and listened. Hearing nothing out of the ordinary, Jaleesa crept back into the room and into the walk-in closet directly across from the bathroom. Because of the orderly way she arranged her clothing and shoes in the closet, turning on a light was pointless. Jaleesa quickly and quiet put on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and socks. She would carry her shoes until she got downstairs, she thought as she peeked back into the bedroom. Ryan had changed positions. His back was to her as he rested on his side.
Uggh,
Jaleesa thought unable to see his face, not knowing if he were lying there with his eyes wide open or what. Taking another huge breath, Jaleesa began to slowly move toward the bedroom door. Halfway there she stopped and stood perfectly still as Ryan stirred again.
Please don’t wake up,
Jaleesa was thinking as she watched his movements. Finally after what seemed an eternity, Ryan’s breathing became even once more and Jaleesa continued her journey.

Arriving finally at the door, Jaleesa took the knob and quietly, slowly, turned it, opening the door. Pulling it little by little, she made enough space to ease her self through and made it outside of the door. Using the same slow, steady, pace, Jaleesa closed the door and stood beside it, again holding her breath and listening for anything out of the ordinary. Satisfied that Ryan hadn’t awakened; Jaleesa headed down the stairs, again being quiet and stealthy. Stopping at the final step, Jaleesa sat down and put on her tennis shoes. She rose after completing the task and headed to the alarm, disengaging it. Going inside the office, Jaleesa opened the wall safe and took out the 5K in petty cash they kept inside.
I need some travel money,
she thought as she glanced into the safe again, the glint of light catching her eye. Jaleesa was pleased to see the .10mm pistol that’d been left inside.
Thank you Chino,
Jaleesa thought knowing he’d left it. Chino would often leave his weapon downstairs and this particular morning Jaleesa was more than glad to see it. Carefully closing the safe, Jaleesa once again listened to her surroundings. She headed for the back door of the house, carefully unlocking the deadbolt, almost ready to make her escape.

*****

“Headin’ out,” Ryan asked calmly as the light came on and momentarily blinded her.

Jaleesa was mortified as he stood in front of her, eyes blazing.

“Ryan, I,” Jaleesa tried as he slapped her hard, knocking her down.

Jaleesa pulled the gun from her back and pointed it at him.

“You’re gonna kill me now,” Ryan asked angrily, yet still eerily calm. “Why you runnin’,” he asked instead, never taking his eyes off her.

“Because of bullshit just like that,” Jaleesa told him angrily. “You been tellin’ me what the fuck to do since you met me,” she spat, the hurt of Ryan hitting her coming full circle.

“I’ve been good to you,” Ryan told her still looking into her eyes.

“You’ve kept me prisoner,” Jaleesa returned and Ryan heard the hurt in her voice, saw the love mixed with anger in her eyes.

Sighing deeply, he addressed her again.

“So you wanted to be free,” he asked softly.

“I just wanted out,” Jaleesa told him honestly. “I mean, I’d given Ice every customer we had,” she told Ryan as he listened quietly. “I’d stop dealing, I didn’t interfere with him and KiKi,” Jaleesa went on pouring out the pain she felt. “But that wasn’t enough for Ice,” she spat acidly. “No, he wanted to destroy me,” she went on. “He wanted what he always wants, and that’s to be in total control.”

“Have I ever done that you,” Ryan asked. “All you had to do was ask Tweety,” he told her as Jaleesa scoffed.

“Yeah,” she threw back, giving him a look. “If I asked you to let me see my bestfriend, would you have done that,” she asked as Ryan said nothing. “Would you have called her up on the phone and let her know I was even still breathing,” Jaleesa spat angrily. “Hell no, you wouldn’t have,” she roared, almost over the edge again.

“Oh, but I’m done with this bullshit tonight,” Jaleesa told him as Ryan addressed her again.

“Then you’re going to kill me,” he told her the meaning evident.

Ryan had no intentions of letting Jaleesa walk away from him and he’d just let her know that.

“I’m not out to do you in Ryan,” Jaleesa told him honestly. “Please, just go back upstairs,” she pleaded as he sighed again and began walking toward her.

“You already know the answer to that,” he said softly as Jaleesa released the safety.

“Please Ryan,” Jaleesa tried again as the tears began to blur her vision. “Don’t do this,” she admonished as he took another step toward her.

Swallowing hard, Jaleesa put her finger on the trigger.

“I love you, you know that,” Ryan told her gently.

“Just stop, Ryan, please,” Jaleesa pleaded as he took another step, close enough now to reach out and touch the gun.

*****

Her finger began pressing the trigger when glass shattered and smoke began filling the room. Ryan grabbed Jaleesa and took the gun from her, holding her tightly as he tried to figure out what was going on.

“Ryan Bailey,” the agent yelled over the bullhorn. “This is the FBI,” the agent went on as Ryan swore lightly under his breath.

“Come out with your hands behind your head,” the man continued to talk as Ryan and Jaleesa struggled to their feet.

“Make a choice right now,” he hissed in her ear. “Either be with me and lets get the fuck outta here, or you die right here,” Ryan finished as Jaleesa nodded yes and he grunted his approval.