Eviction Notice (17 page)

Part III

SEX, MONEY, MURDER

CHAPTER 25

Brick City, the
newest strip club in Newark, New Jersey, was quickly building a name for itself for having some of the most premium ladies in the Garden State. It was located in Raymond Plaza, a quiet little strip mall off Raymond Boulevard, which had boasted a party-supply store as its biggest attraction before Brick City came along. Normally the Essex County zoning commission would’ve never allowed a strip club in the area, but the owner’s father was connected to some very important people so they let it slide, provided that they kept the violence to a minimum. To ensure this, the owner had hired off-duty cops to work the door and the main area, but to handle the
real
headaches he employed some of Newark’s most notorious gangsters. After the first two troublemakers were made examples of in the back alley of Brick City, word had gotten around that this was one spot you didn’t want to come in and try to clown.

Ever since Brick City had opened two months prior, they had always been able to draw a decent crowd, but that night the parking lot was filled to capacity with people still trying to squeeze in. That night was supposed to be the official clap-off between New York and New Jersey—a dozen oiled and primed asses would be smacking together in competition for the ten-stacks that had been offered up for the contest. The event had drawn so much attention that a bunch of women’s rights groups had banned together to try to shut it down, stating that it was morally appalling and painted a horrible picture of women. They were right, but at the end of the day it was all about supply and demand; the people demanded flesh and Brick City supplied it.

The clap-off was the main course, but the appetizers were no less exciting. Several rap and R&B acts would be performing that night but the big draw was a local kid who called himself Lord Scientific. The Newark native had been ripping shows left and right all winter and killing the Internet with his videos and free-style sessions.
F.E.D.S.
magazine had done a small write-up on him and the journalist was quoted as saying, “Lord Scientific has the energy and delivery of Method Man with the lyrical swiftness that Nas showed us on ‘Halftime.’ Hip-Hop … you have a problem!” The women had brought the ballers out, but it was Lord Scientific whom the goons came to see.

In addition to bringing out celebrities, the event had also attracted a slew of gangstas and underworld figures, most notably the infamous Shai Clark, boss of all bosses. The bulletproof town car carrying Poppa Clark’s youngest son and his entourage pulled into the strip mall and was immediately guided by security to the front of the club, where the owner and several of his personal security staff stood waiting.

“Damn, look at this shit.” Angelo peered out the window of the car at the crowd. He was dressed in a tailored gray suit and black tie.

“Yeah, this joint is packed, and I heard some of the most primo bitches from two cities are supposed to be on deck tonight,” Swann told them. His hair was neatly braided into plats tied off by red rubber bands. Swann was Shai’s best friend and second-in-command of his organization.

“You better not let Marisol hear you say that,” Shai teased him. He was tastefully dressed in a blazer, jeans, and a white T-shirt. Shai had put on a few pounds and sprouted some facial hair, but for the most part he still looked like the little boy who had come home from college to fill his father’s shoes several years prior.

“Well, my baby mama ain’t here and neither is your fiancée, so all bets are off, homie. What happens in Brick City stays in Brick City.” Swann gave Shai dap.

“Well, I ain’t got no girl, so I’m trying to put a gum in something. Point me at the bitch with the biggest ass and come back for me in an hour,” Holiday capped, causing everyone in the car to laugh.

“While you three have got your faces buried in pussy, try to keep in mind that we’re here on business too,” Angelo reminded him. Of the quartet he was the most serious.

“Chill out, Angelo, you know we know how to conduct ourselves when we’re out,” Holiday told him.

“The only thing I know is that you better be the fuck on point. Having fun is okay, but you soldiers are here to be the eyes in the backs of our heads. There’s going to be a lot of different crews in there and not everyone is a big fan of our family,” Angelo reminded him.

Holiday pulled his twin nines from the shoulder holsters under his leather jacket. “I wish a nigga would try to play outta pocket. I’ll put this whole fucking club to sleep, and that’s on the big, homie.”

“Put those fucking guns away before you accidentally put us to sleep,” Swann ordered. Shai was the boss, but Swann was his field general and all the soldiers respected him. When the town car pulled to a stop, two of Swann’s handpicked shooters approached the back door and waited. “A’ight, let’s do this,” Swann said and pushed the door open.

People looked on in bewilderment as Shai was greeted with stern handshakes and smiles. You’d have thought the president had arrived, and in a sense he had. Shai and his people ran nearly every aspect of organized crime in the tristate area. Nothing was stolen, sold, or built without Shai’s getting a taste. As he and his crew were fitted with VIP armbands, the owner walked over.

“Shai, I’m so glad you could make it.” Paulie greeted him with a hug. He was a tall man who was always immaculately dressed with a movie star’s good looks.

“You know I wouldn’t refuse an invitation from a friend of ours,” Shai replied. “The place looks good.”

“It’s better than good, Shai, it’s a gold mine. Since we did the renovations, business has tripled and I have the Clarks to thank for it. Here, I got something for you.” Paulie handed him an envelope. “Just a token of our appreciation.”

Shai tested the weight of the envelope, then handed it to Swann, who put it in the inside pocket of his jacket. What few people knew was that the property where Brick City sat had been about to go into foreclosure until Shai stepped in. He had not only provided Paulie with the loan to save the property but had allowed Paulie the use of one of his contracting companies to do the renovations at half price. Of course, none of this was done out of the goodness of his heart. For his services Shai had become a silent partner in Brick City.

“Hey, Shai, I got a few more things to take care of so I’m gonna have my people show you to the VIP and I’ll join you later.” Paulie shook his hand again. “And remember, your money is no good in here tonight, not even for trim.” He walked off.

“As if we were gonna pay for the pussy anyhow,” Holiday said, snickering.

“Remember what I told you,” Angelo said, elbowing Holiday as they were led into the recesses of the club.

*   *   *

King James sat
behind the wheel of the big green Suburban parked in front of the party-supply store, watching the action in front of Brick City. He watched curiously as the man who had been pointed out as Shai Clark stepped from the town car to receive his praises. Though he had to admit that Shai wasn’t quite what he’d expected, King James knew better than anyone else that looks could be deceiving. He continued to watch Shai until he was finally escorted inside and out of sight.

“How much longer we gonna sit in this ride, man? My legs are getting cramped,” Dump complained. He was a huge man who took up almost an entire row of the truck seats on his own. He and King James had become friends in state prison, and when Dump touched down, King put him in position. He was as loyal as he was deadly.

“Until my nigga says we move,” Lakim told him, expelling a cloud of smoke from the blunt he was toking on. He was just as eager as Dump to get to business, but would be patient and wait to see how King wanted to play it.

“Damn, I would live in that box.” Alonzo watched two girls walk past the truck wearing jeans that were way too tight.

“They probably working the spot tonight, so you may get your chance, baby bro. I told you it was a good idea to come out with us.” Lakim passed Alonzo the blunt.

Alonzo happily accepted. “Yeah, I can’t front, this spot looks like it’s jumping!”

“Word up. Yo, Zo, you get to spend all that good supermarket money on whore pussy tonight,” Ashanti joked.

“Fuck you, li’l bastard. That’s why your young ass will be watching the whip instead of coming in to play with the grown folks,” Alonzo shot back. Everyone in the car, including King, burst out laughing.

When King figured enough time had passed to get Shai and his crew situated, he decided it was time for them to make their entrance. “A’ight, let’s do this.” King got out of the whip and headed for the club, with his people following closely. The line to get into the spot was crazy, but King didn’t do lines. With a fifty-dollar bill pressed in his palm, he walked up to the bouncer who was on the door.

“The line starts back there, homie,” the bouncer told King.

“Yeah, can dig that, but I was hoping we didn’t have to go through all that, feel me?” King shook the bouncer’s hand, leaving the fifty in his palm.

The bouncer checked the bill and slipped it into his pocket. “A’ight, that’ll work for one of y’all, but I see you guys are three deep, so, you know.” The bouncer held out his hand.

“Word up, you’re gonna rob me with no gun, huh?” King eyed him.

The bouncer shrugged. “I got kids to feed, homie. You know how it goes.”

Lakim was frustrated with the bouncer so he stepped up. “Yo, what kinda bullshit is you trying to run, sun? You don’t know who the fuck we be?”

The bouncer looked down at the shorter Lakim. “Check this out, fam: if you don’t back up off me with that jail shit, we gonna have a problem.”

“Chill, La.” Alonzo pushed his brother back. “Check it, B,” he addressed the bouncer. “My brother didn’t mean no disrespect, it’s just that we feel like you’re being a little bit unreasonable with trying to make us pay fifty dollars per head plus the price of admission.”

“First of all, I ain’t ya B. So you can take that shit back across the bridge to Harlem, the Bronx, or wherever the fuck you’re from in New York. It’s fifty a head to me if you wanna jump the line and whatever you work out at the door is on you, take it or leave it,” the bouncer said in a dismissive tone.

Alonzo felt his blood begin to boil the longer he stared at the smug expression on the bouncer’s face. His initial instincts were to peel off one of the razors he had taped to the collar of his button-up and widen that smirk for the bouncer for talking crazy to him in front of all those people, but he didn’t take it there. He was about to try reasoning with the bouncer one more time before he got physical, but he heard somebody calling his name.

“Alonzo, is that you making all that noise out there?” a female voice called from the darkened doorway of Brick City. Alonzo strained his eyes and saw a woman coming from behind a small podium just inside the foyer. It wasn’t until she stepped outside into the light that he recognized Ms. Betty.

“Wow, what’re you doing here?” he asked, surprised to see the older woman whose groceries he’d packed on numerous occasions, at a strip club.

“I’m trying to pay the bills, but what is your li’l tail doing here?” Ms. Betty shot back.

“Me and a few of the fellas were taking a friend out for his birthday and we heard this spot was good, so we came out. But as you can see, we’re having a li’l trouble with your peoples.” Alonzo glared at the bouncer.

Ms. Betty looked up at the bouncer. “Are you giving my nephew and his friends trouble?”

The bouncer now wore the expression of a kid who had just gotten a note home from school. “I’m sorry, ma, he didn’t tell me that he was your family.”

“Well, now that you know, you can step aside and let them through. Come on here.” Ms. Betty grabbed Alonzo by the arm and led him inside the club. Lakim, Dump, and King brought up the rear.

King stopped short and glared at the bouncer. “And give me my fucking money back,” he demanded. The bouncer sucked his teeth and gave King back his fifty.

Ms. Betty marched Alonzo and his people in like they were superstars, waiving the admission charge and instructing the girl who had taken her place behind the podium to fit them with VIP bands. She also gave them five drink tickets apiece and instructed them to come and find her if they wanted more. It was obvious that Ms. Betty had some serious pull in the establishment.

“Thanks for everything, Ms. Betty,” Alonzo told her.

“This wasn’t about nothing; you know you’re family to me, Alonzo. I always told you that if I ever was in a spot to help you out I would repay your kindness. Now let me get back to work.” She gave him a hug. “Be sure to find me before y’all cut out so we can have a toast.”

“You got that, Ms. Betty, and tell Lee I said what’s up.”

“I sure will. See you later, Alonzo.” Ms. Betty sashayed back through the crowd and retook her post at the podium.

“Say, brah, where you know the old head from?” Lakim asked Alonzo once Ms. Betty had gone.

“I used to pack her groceries,” Alonzo told him.

“Brah, a chick ain’t showing you that kinda love for making sure her cans don’t crush her eggs. What’s really good?” Lakim pressed.

Seeing that Lakim wasn’t going to leave it alone, Alonzo kept it real. “A’ight. When her son first came home he had a problem getting a job so I got him plugged in working a delivery truck to appease his parole officer. He went from loading trucks to driving them and eventually buying one and opening his own trucking company.”

“You’re a regular guardian angel, huh?” Dump joked.

“Nah, he did that off his own hard work, all I did was put him in position to have an opportunity.”

King James took note of how Alonzo carried himself and was proud to see that he had grown into a humble young man. A lot of people gave Alonzo shit for squaring up, but King James held him in very high regard for turning his life around. “You’re a good man, Zo-Pound”—King James draped his arm around Alonzo—“but right now we’re in a bad place, so let’s go do some bad things.”

“What about the going to holla at Shai?” Lakim asked.

“It’ll keep. Right now, let’s just grab a few drinks and fuck with some of this pussy.” King James smiled.