Diamonds and Pearl (32 page)

“Right.” Domo took a toke. His mind had gone back to the cryptic text he'd gotten from Vita in the middle of the night. Had LA's bragging gotten back to her and her people? For all he knew, the address she wanted him to come to might very well end up being his final resting place.

“Damn, you just hit a big score and instead of you being happy about it, you standing around, looking like somebody kicked your dog,” Raheem observed. “If anything, I should be the one wearing the sour grill.”

“How you figure?” Domo didn't understand what he was getting at.

“Man, me and you go back to free lunch, and you didn't even call me when somebody came along and offered you a chance to make some chips,” Raheem complained.

“Rah, it wasn't even like that. This whole thing popped up on some random shit, and I went with it. I don't even know the people like that who set it up,” Domo said honestly.

Raheem gave him a disbelieving look. “LA says they're making major moves over in New York and are looking for stand-up niggas to get money with.”

“Man, you need to stop listening to LA's high ass. It was one job, Rah. We don't even know the people who set it up like that—at least, I don't. For all we know, they could just be blowing smoke,” Domo said, downplaying it.

Raheem sucked his teeth. “Domo, this is me. How long we been sniffing around Stoney's people, trying to get plugged into a real crew, and now that the door is open, you ain't gonna pull ya man in with you? That's fucked up. I thought we were better than that.”

“Rah—” Domo began, but Raheem cut him off.

“Blood, you know I pull my own weight, so I'm not coming at you for a handout. All I need is an introduction, and I can create my own opportunities from there.”

Domo looked at his friend, wishing he could break it down to him in a way he could understand without incriminating himself. Raheem was looking at it as Domo not wanting to put him on, but he was actually trying to keep his friend from getting tied up in some shit he wasn't sure if either of them were truly prepared to handle. He hadn't even known Vita for twenty-four hours, but she had already shown him that she and her people were playing at a level that wasn't for the faint of heart. But he knew that Raheem wasn't going to let it go, and if Domo denied him, he'd just turn to LA and try to get plugged in.

“Okay,” Domo relented. “I'll take you to New York with me tonight and introduce you.”

“That's what I'm talking about, my nigga!” Raheem said happily.

“Look, I'm gonna let you know ahead of time: I don't know too much about these cats, but I do know that they don't fuck around. So when we roll up in there, you mind your manners and don't do nothing stupid. We'll be too far from home for a lifeline, though I doubt there'd be too much anyone could do if we end up on the wrong side of these people anyhow,” Domo warned.

Raheem gave him a look. “C'mon, man. Stop treating me like I'm some square-ass nigga. I'm gonna go in there and let my gangster speak for itself.”

“And that's exactly what I'm afraid of.”

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Knowledge, Big Stone, and the ladies climbed int the SUV and headed out. Normally Big Stone would've let Sandra take Pearl to the hospital to see her friend so he and Knowledge could handle street business, but since everyone who needed to be seen was in the same hospital, they could kill two birds with one stone.

The ride was an eerily quiet one, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Pearl was visibly shaken up by receiving the news about her friends, and Knowledge couldn't say he blamed her. He had lost his fair share of people over the years, but it never got easier, especially when they were that young. He knew from the look on Big Stone's face when he was on the phone with Tito that it tore his heart out to hear his friend weeping over almost losing his baby girl. No one had spoken to Sheila's parents yet, but he could only imagine what they were going through. No parent should have to bury their child. This made Knowledge glad that he didn't have kids, because he wasn't sure if his heart could take that kind of loss.

The parking situation was suspect, meaning they would have to drive around and look for a spot, which would eat into precious time that they didn't really have to spare that day. Big Stone suggested that they drop the women off while they looked for a parking spot, but Sandra volunteered to do it. Pearl looked like she could use an extra few minutes to get her nerves together before going up to see her friend. Big Stone wasn't keen on the idea, but it would give him a few extra minutes to handle his other business before he joined them on their visit to Marisa and her family.

Knowledge led the way to the nurse's station, where they revealed that Lance “Pops” Brown was in a private room on the fifth floor, but only family was allowed in to see him. This came as a bit of surprise to Knowledge, considering he wasn't in intensive care or recovering from a major surgery. What were all the extra precautions about? A few well-spread bills and the nurses looked the other way while Cousin Knowledge and Uncle Stone went to check on their ailing relative.

Pops's room was at the end of the hall. The door was slightly ajar, and they could see that he wasn't alone. Knowledge gave a quick tap on the door before pushing it open and inviting himself in. Pops was propped up on a stack of pillows, signing some papers that were on his lap. At his bedside, overseeing the signatures, were two people: a tall white man wearing a suit, and a young black woman. Dark sunglasses and her long red wig obscured most of her face, and a long overcoat hugged her body, despite the warm weather. Something about her presence raised a red flag with Knowledge, but before he could ponder it further, Big Stone announced their presence.

Big Stone's voice filled the room. “Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt.”

The pen dropped from Pops's hand like a hot coal when he noticed Big Stone standing in his room. “Oh … hey, Big Stone. Didn't hear you come in.” He tried to muster a grin but then winced in pain.

“If this is a bad time, I can come back,” Big Stone offered in a less-than-sincere tone.

“Nah, they were just leaving,” Pops said, cutting his eyes at the man in the suit.

“Right.” The man in the suit took the hint. He gathered the papers from Pops and stuffed them hastily into his briefcase. “Thank you again for your time, Mr. Brown. If there's anything else, someone from my office will give you a call.” He gathered his things and hustled out the door.

The girl wasn't so quick to move. She lingered in the chair for a moment longer, regarding Knowledge and Big Stone from behind her sunglasses. She nodded as if she had just completed some assessment of them, before rising from the chair. “Nice doing business with you,” she told Pops slyly before sauntering out the door.

“What was that all about?” Big Stone asked, his eyebrow raised.

“Nothing man, just wrapping up some business. C'mon in and have a seat.” Pops motioned toward the chair the girl had just vacated.

“Nah, I'll stand. I don't plan on being here that long. I gotta go see somebody else who's up in here,” Big Stone told him.

“So, is that what brings you this way?” Pops asked.

“Came to check on an old friend. I hear you ran into a bit of misfortune last night.”

Pops snorted. “More like my whole world came crumbling down around my ears. That bar was the only thing I had left to hold on to.”

“A real tragedy, and I was sorry to hear about it,” Big Stone said sincerely. “How are you fixed for bread until you get back on your feet?”

“I got some moves in the works. They won't put me back where I was, but hopefully they'll pull me out of where I am,” Pops said sadly.

“Well, you know if there's anything I can do to help, all you have to do is reach out,” Big Stone told him.

“You know I ain't never been one to walk around, hat in hand,” Pops said proudly.

“Cut that, Pops. What's a few dollars between friends? You just tell me what you need, and I'll make sure you get it,” Big Stone assured him.

“You're a good man, Big Stone … a damn good man.”

“That I am, but don't let it get out. Might fuck up my reputation.” Big Stone chuckled.

“And the insurance money?” Knowledge plucked the chart from the foot of Pops's bed and gave it the once-over.

“Huh?” Pops was caught off guard by the question.

“They say it was an electrical fire that took your place down, so I'm guessing you'll be able to file an insurance claim on it, right?” Knowledge pressed.

“Right, right … the insurance will kick out something, but it probably won't match up against what I invested. Besides, it'll probably take them forever to pay it off.”

“If that bullshit claim holds up,” Knowledge challenged.

“What are you trying to say?” Pops asked defensively.

“I think you know what I'm trying to say.” Knowledge touched the purple bruise on the side of Pops face, causing him to flinch. “Did you get that when you
narrowly escaped
that fire?” His voice dripped sarcasm.

Pops's eyes darted to Big Stone, pleading for him to interject, but he remained silent. Knowledge had already brought him up to speed on his suspicions, and he had agreed to let him handle it and watch it play out.

Knowledge snapped his fingers to draw Pops's attention back. “Why are you looking at him when I'm the one asking the questions?”

“Now, hold on, Knowledge. I got a lot of respect for you on account of Big Stone, but I don't think I appreciate how you're speaking to me.” Pops puffed up.

“And I don't appreciate you trying to play us for some fucking chumps.” Knowledge drew his gun and put it to Pops's head. “I'm not the smartest man in the world, but I don't believe that fire at your place was an accident, nor am I buying that you got all them lumps and bruises during your great escape. Somebody worked you over, and I want to know who it was and how it ties into what happened to Pana.”

“Kid, you're crazy. I don't know shit about what happened, don't know nothing about what happened to Pana except what everybody else does: some young niggas killed him!” Pops babbled.

Knowledge cocked the hammer and pressed the barrel deeper into Pops's temple. When he spoke, his voice was a low hiss. “According to everyone else, they were wearing masks, so how would you know they were young niggas?”

Pops's mouth suddenly became as dry as a desert. He cut his eyes back to Big Stone, again hoping to get some sympathy, but all he saw in the face of the man he'd once called a friend was contempt. “Big Stone, how far we go back, man? You gonna let your boy do me dirty like this?”

“Only thing gonna be dirty is that wall when your brains hit it if you don't cut the bullshit and come correct,” Big Stone spat. “Now, I was genuine when I said I would help you out, but not if you keep pissing on my head and trying to tell me that it's raining. Somebody has been making unauthorized moves on this chessboard, and I need to know who it is. Tell us what really went down at your bar, Pops.”

The old man remained silent.

“Fuck it. Shoot this chump and let's go,” Big Stone ordered.

“Okay, okay, okay! Don't shoot! I'll talk!” Pops said frantically.

Big Stone waved Knowledge off and motioned for Pops to continue.

“Listen, Stone, you known me twenty-something years…,” Pops began. “I ain't never took a dime that didn't belong to me or step on a toe that wasn't over my side of the line. I been around since a time when the game had rules, before these disrespectful lil niggas started stepping on the backs of old-timers like me to get where they gotta go.”

“I'm well aware of your résumé, Pops. I need to know who torched your place and how they got to Pana,” Big Stone told him.

Pops went on to tell him the short version of the young desperados who bragged about murdering the crime boss Pana, before whipping his ass and burning his bar to the ground. “They not only made me watch while they set fire to twenty years of my hard work, but they made me sign over what was left of it to them. Took my boy Rob hostage to make sure I went through with it.”

Knowledge shook his head sadly at the end of the old man's tale. “I knew all this shit happening wasn't a coincidence. This is bad … real bad.”

“Bad is an understatement,” Pops added. “These fuckers are predators and don't too much care who they feed on. First Pana, then my spot. Hell, ain't no telling who they could go after next.”

“Including us.” Big Stone had said what everyone in the room was thinking. “We gotta get out ahead of this thing. Is there anything else you can tell us that might help, Pops? A name or anything?”

Pops thought on it. “As a matter of fact, yeah. The ring leader of the crew had a real girlie-sounding name. If I recall correctly, it was D … Dia…” Pops suddenly broke into a fit of coughing.

“You okay?” Big Stone asked nervously, watching the old man choke. He grabbed the pitcher of ice water from the nightstand and filled a plastic cup. When he tried to tip it to Pops's lips to get him to take a sip, the old man let out a hard cough followed by a spray of blood. “Jesus!” Big Stone jumped back. “Get some help!” he ordered Knowledge.

Knowledge came back a few seconds later with several nurses and a doctor in tow. He and Big Stone stood off to the side and watched as they tried to resuscitate the old man, but it was no use. He lay there, eyes staring vacantly into space, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. It was swollen and had turned a sickly shade of purple. It was the first time any of them had ever seen a man literally choke on his own words.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The ride around the block to search for parking was a quiet one. Pearl was lost in her own thoughts while Sandra kept her eyes peeled for an empty space. The young girl just couldn't wrap her mind around the idea that one of her best friends was gone and she felt partially to blame.