Larceny (23 page)

“Okay, Lal, you got any money on you?”

“Nigga, my name is money. How much you need?” Bilal said.

“About five thousand in big bills.”

“You got that, Jay.”

Bilal went upstairs to get the money, and as Jovan was downstairs still contemplating his next move, he heard Bilal and Meeka arguing about something. Jovan knew Meeka wasn't trippin' about the money Bilal was giving him. If so, then Bilal didn't have his people in check.

“Here you go, Jay. That's six thousand in case you need extra.”

“A'ight thanks. Look, Bilal, I'ma lay these demonstrations down proper. Tomorrow morning get all your things together, and when I call you, be ready to leave.”

“Okay,” Bilal said. “Oh, Jay.”

“Yeah, what's up, Lal?”

“What's up with that girl you've been spending all your time with?”

“Man, Lal, for real I'm diggin' the shit outta her, but right now I got a more serious situation to deal with, and if I gotta leave her behind, then she's staying behind.”

“Damn, slim, I wish I could leave Meeka behind, but she's pregnant.”

“Bilal, that's your decision. If you think it'd be better for her to stay, then don't bring her.”

“I'll think about it, Jay.”

“Yeah, well, by tomorrow morning I hope you come up with an answer. Look, I'm gone. I'll talk to you later.”

It was 10:00 a.m. when Jovan left Bilal. He drove back to the city so fast that he got there in half an hour. Jovan went straight to Sunny's Surplus and purchased a blue police department T-shirt and hat. He also bought two Metropolitan Police Department stickers and two envelope folders.

Jovan drove down Benning Road to the automobile shop that sold old taxicabs and unmarked police cars with the big spotlight on the side. The dealer was an old man who didn't care if you had ID or not. He just wanted to see cash.

Jovan bought a late model 1986 Caprice Classic, white with black interior, and shiny hubcaps for $4,000. He parked his van on the side street next to Club Chateau and took out all of the things he had bought from the supply store. He put on the T-shirt and hat, took out an ink pen, and wrote
Bilal Davis
on both folders. Jovan then placed a Metropolitan Police Department sticker in the back window and one in front, on the left side by the spotlight.

Jovan was about to drive around to Orleans Place, but before he did, he rode through Eighteenth and D's drug market to test his disguise. When Jovan rolled through the strip, niggas immediately scattered like roaches, and he was satisfied with his disguise. He rolled through Orleans Place looking for any signs of Detective Bridges, because he knew for sure he was out there looking for Bilal.

Jovan spotted an unmarked police car sitting in the alley. He rode past and entered the alley from the other side so that their cars would be opposite each other and that both driver's sides would meet.

As Jovan drove up, he could see that everything was working out perfectly. Detective Tony Bridges was sitting in his car, looking at something in his lap, sipping on some coffee.

Jovan pulled his hat down and pulled up alongside Detective Bridges' car and said, “Hi, how are you? I'm Detective J. Newman from the seventh district.”

“Well, Newman, what brings you into my territory?” Detective Bridges said.

“Well, I'm investigating a case of some big drug dealer who's controlling drugs in certain southeast neighborhoods.”

“What's his name?”

Jovan held up the two folders with Bilal's name on them. “Bilal Davis. Don't know much about him, though.”

“Well, Newman, I think you just hit the jackpot. I'm here looking for the asshole. I just popped two of his carriers this morning,” Detective Bridges said.

“Are they talking?”

“Well, yeah, they're cooperating, but I think I need a little time with 'em.”

“How long you been out here, Detective . . . Bridges, is it?”

“Tony Bridges. Well, I just came out here about ten minutes ago,” he said.

“Yeah, me too. I've been cruisin' up and down these streets. I haven't even stopped to get a bite to eat yet.”

“Well, Newman, the best thing I can do for you is a Snickers bar,” Detective Bridges said.

“Well, hell yeah. That beats nothin' at all.”

As Detective Bridges went into his glove compartment to get the candy bar, Jovan pulled the .357 Desert Eagle from under his leg. This was the only time he was paranoid and nervous. With butterflies creeping in his stomach, he was in a state of oblivion.

Detective Bridges was bringing the Snickers bar up, and as soon as he turned back in Jovan's direction, exposing his face into the barrel of the gun, Jovan shot him one time right between the eyes.
Boom!
The impact of the bullet was so powerful Jovan could practically see brain matter scattered all over the inside of the car.

Jovan then wiped off the gun and threw it in Detective Bridges' car. He pulled off slowly and headed back down Benning Road at a normal speed.

Once Jovan got back to his van, he parked the car, took off the temporary tags, and set the title and registration on fire, because even though it was in a bogus name, he still didn't want to take any chances. He took off the T-shirt and hat and threw everything in the garbage. He then parked the car right behind the dealership so that if the police were ever looking for a white Caprice, they wouldn't bother to look at this one, because the dealership had about twenty white Caprice Classics.

Jovan walked across the street to his van and drove back to work.

“Hello, Cindy,” Jovan said, walking into the office.

“Hi, Jovan. How are you?” Cindy asked.

“Fine, thanks. Cindy, is Mark still in his office?”

“Yeah.”

Jovan left Cindy's desk and walked into Mark's office, where he was sitting at his desk, going over some paperwork.

“Hey, Jovan,” Mark said, looking up from his work.

“Hey, Mark, how you doing?”

“Well, everything's going okay, but I still gotta get this kid's motion straight. Did you measure the distance?”

“Yeah, and from where they're saying he was standing, he was definitely within a thousand feet. It was more like seven hundred feet, to be honest.”

“Shit, Jovan, we gotta find some kinda technicality for this kid, because if not, he's a goner.”

“Don't worry 'bout that, Mark. Just give me a little time in the library.”

“Okay, Jovan. Do your thing.”

Jovan went into the library, but he could hardly work because the thought of what he had just done and the anticipation of going to Atlanta was putting him in a state of confusion. He sat back for a moment and got his thoughts together. He then realized that what he had just done was for the better and that from now on his life would be at peace.

Jovan got all the motions ready for Mark. It was a rush job, but it was complete. Mark read over Jovan's motions and asked him to change a few things, so he went back and put his all into them and delivered the best motions he had ever put together, just like the motion that helped set him free when he was in Lewisburg. Mark liked the motions so much that he made copies and placed them on the desk of all the associate attorneys.

Before Jovan left work, he called Sonya at home. He missed her badly and he wanted to ask her to leave with him, but he couldn't.

“Hello,” Sonya said.

“What's up, baby?” Jovan said.

“You, Jovan. I miss you so much.”

“Sonya, I've only been out of your sight for a few hours.”

“I missed you the moment you walked out that door this morning, and I've been thinking about you all day,” Sonya said seriously.

“Me too. You've been on my mind so much I couldn't even work.”

“Jovan, we gotta do something about this.”

“Ain't too much we can. Or do you got any suggestions?” Jovan asked.

“Yeah, come stay with me tonight,” Sonya said, hoping Jovan would agree to spend another night with her.

“I was planning on doing that anyway.”

“I bet you were. What time you coming?”

“I'll be there right after work.”

As soon as Jovan got off from work, he went straight to Sonya's condo. When he came in, Sonya was butt-ass naked with a pair of red pumps on. His kinda girl, she wanted it morning, noon, and night, and he gave it to her.

While Sonya and Jovan were lying together cuddled up after a long session of lovemaking, they began to talk.

“Hey, my king,” Sonya said.

“Yeah, my queen,” Jovan answered.

“Have you ever felt something but was scared to address it because of what the outcome may be?”

Jovan wanted to say yes in relation to what he did earlier, but instead he said, “No, boo, if there's something I feel that needs to be addressed, then I'ma shoot my shot.”

“Well, Jovan, in that case, I don't know what the outcome of what I'm about to say is gonna be, but I'm prepared.”

“Is it something that I need to know?” Jovan asked, curious about what Sonya was about to tell him.

“Maybe, maybe not. Depends on how you take it.”

“Well, go 'head and shoot your shot.”

“Jovan C. Price, I think I'm falling in love with you,” Sonya said, smiling.

“Well, Sonya C. Duncan, I feel the exact same way about you,” Jovan said, taking her into his arms.

They hugged tight and kissed as Jovan wiped tears from Sonya's eyes. He knew that he was filling in that missing spot in her life, and he accepted it. They made love again and fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, Jovan called Bilal's house, and when he didn't get an answer, he thought he must be out getting shit together so they could leave. The more Jovan looked at Sonya, the worse he felt, because she had told him she was in love with him, but she didn't even know that he was leaving and she would never see him again. As bad as he wanted to tell her he was leaving, he couldn't, because he was in love with her also.

Jovan tried to call Bilal's house again, and still there was no answer. “Where the fuck is Bilal at?” Jovan wondered.

Jovan waited a few more minutes then decided to call Mark and tell him he would be leaving his job and going back to school.

“Good morning. Law offices of Rohon and Robinson,” Cindy said.

“Cindy, get me Mark.” Jovan said.

“Oh, hello, Jovan,” Cindy said.

“I'm sorry. How you doing, Cindy?” Jovan said, apologizing for his rudeness.

“I'm fine, thank you. Hold on.”

Mark didn't pick up the phone; instead, he put Jovan on the intercom.

“Hey, Jovan,” Mark said.

“Hey, Mark.”

“I got some good news, Jovan.”

“What's that?”

“I've got an old client who just got locked up this morning, and he's got plenty of money to give us.”

“Who's that?”

“Remember Bilal Davis?”

A sharp pain hit Jovan in his heart. “What? Who?” He did not want to believe Mark had just said Bilal was arrested.

“Bilal Davis, the guy we just got out, he's back in trouble again, and guess what the fool did, Jovan,” Mark said.

“What?” Jovan said.

“Do you remember the cop who walked up on us in court that day?”

Jovan damned near dropped the phone. This shit couldn't be real. Instantly, Jovan started to get dizzy, and after a few seconds, he finally pulled himself together, though he was still trembling with fear for what he was about to hear.

“Well, yesterday that cop was killed on one of Bilal's drug strips, and the gun that was used was left on the scene.”

Jovan was saying to himself,
I wiped the gun off,
but he said to Mark, “Were there fingerprints on the gun?”

“No, Jovan, no prints, but there was something worse than that.”

“What?”

“The gun is registered in his fiancée's name.”

Fuck! Why the fuck didn't Bilal tell him that shit? Bilal did say that it was his house gun, but hell, he still didn't tell him it was registered in Meeka's name. Maybe that was what he and Meeka were arguing about. Fuck! Shit was all fucked up now for real.

“Mark, when did they get him?” Jovan asked.

“This morning. They locked him and his fiancée up. This is some major money for us, Jovan. You coming by the office?”