The mike black saga volu.., p.22
The Mike Black Saga Volume 8, page 22
“But I don’t believe her,” Shy said.
“Why not?” Black asked.
“I don’t know, it’s just a feeling, but it just sounded to me that she had been told what to say.”
“Now that I’m thinking about it,” Wanda began. “You’re right. It was like a witness that had been prepped by her attorney.”
“But why would she lie about something like that?” Nick asked.
“And why would she tell Wanda that and not you?” Rain asked.
“All good questions,” Black said and yawned.
“It might have something to do with the fact that Dale said that she met Man and talked to him before she went to The Four Kings.”
“Any idea what they talked about?” Black asked.
“No,” Shy said. “But Dale’s still on her. She said the first chance she gets; she’ll get a bug and a tracker on her.”
“I’m impressed,” Black said and yawned.
“Ryder spent a lot of time learning that shit from Jackie so she could tail Kirk,” Rain said.
“Why was she tailing Kirk?” Wanda asked.
“So she could kill him,” Rain said.
“She was going to kill Kirk?” Wanda asked.
“All by herself,” Rain replied and then she yawned too.
Shy laughed a little. “My girl ain’t no joke. Never has been.”
When Shy noticed them yawning, she convinced Black that they all could use some rest. At first he refused. “I’ll be all right,” Black said and then he yawned again.
Shy faked a yawn. “What did you say? I didn’t understand you because you were yawning.”
Black looked at Shy. “Be at my house at eight,” he told Nick and Rain before leaving with Shy. Wanda left right behind them with Armani, which left Nick and Rain standing there looking at one another.
“Can I take you somewhere?” Nick asked.
“No.” Rain walked out after Wanda and Armani.
Nick’s phone rang and he looked at the display. An image of him and his son appeared on the screen. He answered. “Marvin.” Nick looked at his watch. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. No. I need to talk to you, sir. It’s important.”
“Okay. Where are you?”
“I’m at the hospital, but can you meet me at my house?”
“I’ll be there soon.”
“Thanks,” Marvin said and ended the call.
When Judah dropped Marvin off at his house, Nick was already there and the light was on in the living room, which meant that his mother was probably up too. The second his key hit the lock; April was on her feet rushing towards him.
“Are you all right?” April asked as she looked him over.
“I’m fine, Mom, really. I just need to talk to Pop,” Marvin said, and April’s eyes opened wide.
She took a little step back and took a deep breath. She was happy that they were bonding, but when he left the hospital with Judah and Pills, April was afraid something might happen to him. She couldn’t take that. She couldn’t imagine what she would do if she lost Marvin and Nick to this.
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll let you two talk.”
As Marvin sat down next to Nick, April went as far up the steps as she needed to so she could hear and not be seen. Mother’s prerogative.
“What’s wrong?”
While his mother listened, Marvin explained to Nick what he knew and what he had heard.
“How do you know that it’s Baxter that Stacks and TK work for?”
“Because it was Stacks that I used to get the weed I was selling.”
When April heard for the first time that Marvin was selling weed, she wanted to come charging down the steps and snatch him up, but she needed to hear how Nick would handle this talk with him.
If they were going to be a family, she had to learn to trust Nick to be a father to Marvin and that could only start when she let him do what he needed to. This world they were now thrust into was different than any world she’d ever lived in. Yes, she was aware of what Black was involved in and that Nick, was at one time heavily involved in it too.
A world that Marvin was now a part of.
Her and Nick were just starting to build a relationship and it was beautiful. One that she hoped would never end. But it was new. Marvin was her baby.
Nothing could happen to him and she hoped Nick would do what was necessary to make sure he was protected. But how could she protect her baby when he had made decisions long before Nick came into their lives which put him in the street?
She prayed that this would all work out, with both of the men in her life, alive and well. She’d deal with the rest when it was all over.
Chapter Thirteen
After leaving Cuisine, Black and Shy caught a cab back out to the hospital to check on Bobby’s condition. RJ was surprised to see them there. He had thought that Black would be in the street all night looking for whoever was responsible for shooting his father.
Before leaving the hospital, Marvin told RJ that he was going to call Nick. For his sake, RJ hoped that neither Marvin nor Nick had talked to Black so that he wouldn’t ask him anything. RJ swore to Black that he would never lie to him again. It was a vow that he took very seriously.
At that time, Black and Shy were allowed to go in the intensive care unit to see Bobby. And then they spent some time with Pam and urged her to go home. “Nothing you can do here, Pam,” Shy said.
“I’m sure they’ll call you the minute anything changes,” Black said.
“I’ll be just fine right here, Mike.”
“Okay.”
“I thought you were going to bring me some things back with you, Shy?”
“I left them in the car with Wanda.”
“If there’s something you need, Pam, we can get it from Wanda,” Black offered.
“That’s all right. Just ask Wanda to bring it with her when she comes in the morning.” Pam looked at Shy. “You should take him home, Shy. I know he’ll just say he’s all right, but I’ve known your husband long enough to know that he’s tired.” Then she looked at Black. “So, I’m gonna tell you like you told me. Nothing you can do here. I’m sure they’ll call you the minute anything changes.”
Black smiled and squeezed Pam’s hand. “Okay, Pam.” Then he stood up and looked at Barbara. He motioned for her to come to him with his finger. Barbara got up and came to him.
“Yes, Uncle Mike.”
Black leaned close to Barbara and inhaled. She smelled like weed. “Where you been?”
“I was—” Barbara paused and then she dropped her head a little. “I was at a party, Uncle Mike.”
Black nodded his head. “You stick close to your mother for a while. She’s gonna need you to be strong for her.”
“Yes, Uncle Mike.”
“And I never need to hear about you having your phone off ever again, you hear me?”
“Yes, Uncle Mike.”
“Don’t just yes, Uncle Mike, me, Barbara. I’m serious. You need to understand how important it is that this never happens again and Pills gotta go find you.”
“I do, Uncle Mike. I understand,” Barbara said, knowing that she never wanted to be embarrassed like that ever again. “And I promise, it won’t happen again.”
“Good, because I’d hate to have to assign you a bodyguard.”
Barbara frowned. “RJ already threatened to,” Barbara said as Shy walked up.
“Okay, Uncle Mike. You’ve beat up on her long enough.” Shy hugged Barbara.
“He’s right though, Aunt Shy. I have to always remember what family I belong to and act accordingly.”
Black laughed. “I remember the first time your father gave you that lecture.”
“Believe me, Uncle Mike, he’s told me that plenty more times since then.”
“See if you can’t get your mother to go home,” Shy said and eased her hand into Black’s. “I’m taking this one home and putting him to bed.”
Barbara hugged Black. “I love you, Uncle Mike.”
“I love you too.”
Chapter Fourteen
Bautista’s eyes opened wide as she dug her nails into his shoulders. Her mouth opened and she screamed, “You’re gonna make me come!”
Kirk laid on his back and took great pleasure at the sight of her body moving up and down on him and grinding her hips into him with each stroke. He gripped her ass and Bautista leaned forward.
“Oh shit yes, baby, yes!” Bautista screamed, and Kirk kept pushing it to her until she collapsed on his chest.
When Bautista rolled off of him and curled into the fetal position, Kirk sat up in bed and stretched. Then he took the gun from under his pillow, got out of bed, grabbed his clothes and headed for the shower. Kirk was dressed when he came out of the bathroom and Bautista was still in the bed.
“See you later, sleepyhead,” Kirk said as he passed through her bedroom, on the way out the door.
With her face pressed into her pillow, Bautista threw her hand up and mumbled, “Okay.”
Later that morning, Detective Bautista sat at her desk, sipping coffee while she reviewed the file of one Lorraine Robinson. Ever since their last encounter, Bautista had been hot to get Rain for any of the murders that she was sure that Rain had either committed or was responsible for.
There were times when Kirk would laugh at her over her new found obsession, but she didn’t care. Bautista was quick to remind Kirk that he once had the same obsession when it came to Mike Black.
“True,” Kirk said during one of their many conversations on the subject. “Mike Black’s killed a lot of people and I’ve never been able to make a case against him. You wanna know why, Detective?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“Because he’s a smart killer. No prints, no shells, no witnesses, nobody talking. That’s the kind of killer Mike Black is, and you should expect no less from Rain Robinson.”
From that, Bautista understood that if she planned to arrest Rain on charges that would stick it might require her to do things that Kirk wouldn’t be comfortable with. She didn’t like Rain, didn’t like Rain’s attitude, and she damn sure didn’t like the disrespectful way Rain dealt with her.
When Kirk arrived at the precinct, he barely had enough time to sit down before Lieutenant Sanchez called him and Bautista into his office.
“Have a seat, detectives,” Sanchez told them. Once they were seated, he began. “Bobby Ray was shot last night.”
Kirk leaned forward. “Is he dead?’
“No, he survived and is in intensive care.”
“Too bad,” Bautista said.
“Where’d it happen?” Kirk asked.
“Outside of a professional building in Bronxville,” Sanchez said.
Kirk sat back in his chair and picked up his coffee. “So it’s not in our jurisdiction?”
“No. Bronxville PD is on it.”
“Okay.”
Sanchez paused and waited for Kirk to say something else, but he didn’t. Kirk just took a sip of his coffee and looked unconcerned.
“As you can imagine Black is not taking it well,” Sanchez continued.
“I’m sure the streets are running red with blood,” Kirk smiled at Sanchez.
“There are at least eight dead that we believe to be connected with it.”
Kirk took another sip of his coffee. Both Sanchez and Bautista looked at him strangely. Kirk looked at both of them and then he said, “Will there be anything else, Lieutenant?”
“No, Kirk,” Sanchez said slowly. “I just thought you’d like to know.”
Kirk stood up. “Come detective, we got narcotics cases to close.”
When Kirk left the Lieutenant’s office, Bautista looked at Sanchez. He shrugged his shoulders, and Bautista rushed to catch up with Kirk. He went to his desk and sat down. Bautista sat down across from him. “Did you hear what the Lieutenant said?”
“I heard him.”
“Black is out there and bodies are dropping.”
Kirk nodded his head. “Probably gonna be a lot more if somebody doesn’t tell Black what he wants to hear soon.”
“That’s it?”
“What?” Kirk asked.
“What are we gonna do?” Bautista asked.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing, Detective.” When Kirk got up to get coffee, Bautista was right behind him.
“Why not?”
“Because we are narcotics detectives.” Kirk picked up the pot and looked at his partner. “Since Bobby Ray getting shot did not happen in our jurisdiction and is not drug related, all that is a matter for the homicide unit. Which, detective, we are no longer a part of. We got enough drug murders on our plate as it is,” Kirk said as he poured.
“I know you’re pissed at the captain for going after you the way he did, but you’re a cop.”
“Right, Detective. A cop who is not going to stick his nose in other cops’ business. You heard the Lieutenant. Bronxville PD is on it. We got enough on our plate with Ally Rivera and Julio Palmiger.”
“I got a couple of leads I want to follow up on,” Bautista admitted.
“And then there’s the murder of Sharri Jones,” Kirk paused. “What are those two assholes names?” He snapped his finger.
“Coolie Cool and Bombshell,” Bautista offered.
Kirk shook his head. “Where do these assholes get these names?”
For the rest of the day, Kirk and Bautista worked their cases and did not mention Bobby getting shot at all. All the while though, Bautista’s mind was rolling. This confirmed for her that she was going to have to do what she had to do, and she would have to do it without Kirk. That recognition hurt. They were partners, they shared a bed; Bautista thought they would be in this together. But to Bautista, it was obvious that Kirk had gone soft on Black.
Got too much respect for Black.
That recognition hurt her too.
But Bautista put it behind her, and the detectives did their job. By the end of the day they had arrested Magnus Vior for the murders of Ally Rivera and Julio Palmiger. Once all the paper work was done, Kirk and Bautista left the precinct.
“That was a good piece of detective work we put in today,” Bautista said.
“Yeah. Don’t you just love it when all the pieces fall into place?”
“So, you wanna get a drink to celebrate?”
“Not tonight. I got a couple of things I need to take care of.”
Bautista looked disappointed. “Okay.”
“We still on for later?”
She forced out a smile. “Of course. Your place or mine?”
“I’ll call you,” Kirk said and walked toward his car.
A half an hour later, Kirk parked his car at 200 Pondfield Road, the headquarters of the Bronxville Police Department. He went inside and introduced himself to the desk sergeant. He laughed.
“What’s funny?” Kirk asked.
“Cops from your precinct, they said it wasn’t your case, but they guaranteed that you’d be here.”
“I guess they were right,” Kirk said. “Is the detective assigned to the case around?”
“No, but your guy Cavanaugh, he made a copy of the file my guy gave him.”
Kirk took the file and forced himself to laugh. “Guess Cavanaugh really got me pegged,” he said and left the precinct. Kirk got back in his car and shook his head.
“Cavanaugh. That prick.”
Kirk didn’t like him, because besides being a bad cop, Kirk knew that Cavanaugh had been in Black’s pocket for years.
Chapter Fifteen
That morning when Rain arrived at Black’s house, security was extremely tight. There was a man in a parked car at each end of the street and another parked in front of the house. Rain parked and got out. There were two more men standing outside the house; their job was to walk the grounds to insure the house was secure.
“Everything all right?” Rain asked.
“It’s been quiet all night.”
“I need to be the first one to know if that changes.”
“Understood.” Chuck touched his ear piece. “Rain’s coming in.”
“Acknowledged,” said one of the men inside the house as he opened the door for Rain. “Morning, Rain.”
“What’s up?” Rain looked around; there were two more men inside the house. One in the front of the house, the other in back; they were watching the windows.
When she went in the dining room, as was her custom, M had cooked breakfast, and everybody was eating. “Morning, everybody.”
“Morning, Aunt Rain,” Michelle said before anybody else.
“Hey, Rain,” Shy said.
“How are you, Lorraine?” M asked.
“I’m fine, ma’am.” Rain sat down and helped herself.
“It’s been sitting a while, so you might want to heat it up,” M said.
“No, ma’am, this is fine.”
“You know she’ll eat anything you put in front of her, Emily,” Joanne said as she came and sat down at the table. “Good morning, Rain.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Sims,” Rain said after she swallowed.
“Mommy, can Aunt Rain come to my dance recital?” Michelle asked. She had been taking ballet for the last six months and finally had a solo part. She wanted everyone there; especially Rain who she thought was so cool.
Shy looked at Rain who smiled and nodded her head.
“I’m sure Aunt Rain would love to come to your recital,” Shy told her. “Rain, I’ll text you the day and time so you can be there.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Michelle,” Rain said watching Michelle’s face light up.
All of the adults were smiling at the exchange. Not to be outdone by his older sister, Easy had to say something.
“Daddy took me to get a remote control car.”
“Yeah, I told him he’d be too young to control the car.” Shy looked at Black. “But Easy was determined. He has that thing whipping around corners all over the house.”
“He sure does,” M agreed. “He almost hit me with it, but he gained control at the last moment.”
“I’m not a little boy, grandma. I’m Easy, a big boy. Right, Mommy?”
