Working Girls (12 page)

“I was a little skeptical at first, but I'm glad you finally came to your senses about making moves on them pussy-ass niggas,” Red admitted.

“I don't know what I was thinking by leaving that shit alone.” Rome shifted in his seat. “Whenever and wherever we see them niggas, it's going down,” he added.

“True,” Red agreed. “Now all we gotta do is track down these fools.”

“We will,” Rome asserted.

“Yeah. I got niggas on the lookout.” He paused. “Niggas know Los, and the other cat was never too far behind, since Mike-G was no longer in the picture,” Red told Rome.

“Who? That joker named Buster?” Rome asked.

“Yeah. According to ole girl, he always around.” Red remembered what the young chick he was sexing had told him about Los and his brother's man, Buster.

They were from two sides of the town, so they were not familiar with him. His chick knew more about Los than Buster, but she had stressed how close the three were when Mike-G was still alive, and how Buster and Los had gotten closer since his death.

“I don't give a fuck where them fuck boys at. As long as they not in our way,” Rome stated.

Red shook his head. “Man, they could pose a potential threat.”

“Bro, any nigga threatening this shit here gonna get put in the fuckin' dirt,” Rome stressed. “Now, stop worrying about them jokers, and worry about counting this paper,” he added. “Here.”

Red caught the stack of bills Rome threw to him.

“Count that. I'ma count this one,” Rome told his right-hand man. “Don't forget to separate all that shit, either. You know how Africa be complainin' like a bitch.” Rome grimaced.

Red chuckled.

“I'm dead-ass serious, my nigga. He like a little bitch. If we ain't need him, I'd dead his dumb ass with the quickness.” Rome meant every word.

“I know, homie, but we need 'im,” Red reminded him.

“No doubt. I hate getting stuck with all those singles and fives my damn self. That shit be too bulky. We'll just dump that shit in one if these strip clubs or something.”

Red nodded. He was always up for a turn-up night.

“Where that paper at I told you to go get from them dudes across town?”

“I got it. It's in the back, already stacked and counted up.”

“How much was it?”

“All together, it was about thirty Gs.”

“All right. Let me get that.”

Red went and retrieved the book bag with the money.

“Ever since we knocked off Mike-G's li'l bro, shit been picking up,” Rome said.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Red revealed.

“We still got to be careful, though. You know it's a lot of hatin'-ass niggas that been hearing how we came up. You been seeing that shit on the news, how they been finding dudes bodies.” It was more of a statement than a question. “And you been hearing about dudes from up top getting set up and robbed. Trust me, it ain't just these dudes we gotta watch out for. It's these chicks too. Bet money that out of all that shit that's been happening in the surrounding area, some, if not all, them shits involves a chick. That's why we got to be on point at all times, 'cause like dudes, bitches can get cold hearts too. Plus, you best believe that the word is out that we getting paper. Especially after we break out with them new whips, they gonna be on our dicks, beggin',” Rome pointed out.

“You ain't never lied, bro.”

They both laughed.

“Fuck 'em!” Rome exclaimed. “Let's count this paper and keep stackin'.” Rome thumbed through the stack of one-hundred-dollar bills from the pile of money in front of him.

 

“Yes, this is she. Who is this?” Jewels said to the unknown caller.

The caller spoke.

“Yes, I do. What is this all about?”

The mention of Sassy's real name and the line of questioning alarmed Jewels. A bad feeling swept through her body.

Please, God, no
! she prayed to herself, not wanting to believe what she believed the caller was going to tell her.

Her prayer was two weeks too late. The St. Louis local morgue had confirmed her biggest fear. Sassy's body had been found in a Dumpster, mutilated. She had been brutally murdered, according to the man on the other end of the phone. Jewels felt a little light-headed. Her head started to spin. She suppressed her anger and her other emotions while on the phone, but inside she was hurting and was angry over the loss of her best friend, her sister from another mother.

No! Why
? she questioned silently. Her ears tried to reject what the coroner was saying to her. She could not believe her friend was dead.

Jewels was asked to come and identify the body. She agreed. Before she hung up the phone, she asked how long Sassy had been dead. The coroner's answer caused all sorts of thoughts to run through her mind. Her estimated time of death was the last time Jewels had seen her, and Jewels knew with whom. The image of his face appeared in her mind as clear as a bright, sunny day. She didn't know him, but she knew of him and what he was about. Jewels remembered Sassy mentioning him more than any of her other clients from the streets, which was why Jewels was immediately able to put a name to the face.

Sassy used to always brag about how she had a young stallion in the bed who broke her off proper all the time. She had also expressed how he would get rough with her and possessive.
I told her about that type of nigga
, Jewels thought as she reviewed in her mind the countless conversations between them about the risks and dangers of such clients. But Sassy had never listened to her, and now she was dead, possibly at the hands of the type of nigga Jewels had warned her about. Jewels shook her head.

Sassy was her only friend. The two of them had been through thick and thin. The paths that they both chose at a young age had formed a bond between the two of them, and they had been down for each other ever since. They had watched out for each other and had trusted only each other. Now she had no one. Jewels thought back to how Sassy had first got turned out.

She remembered Sassy telling her the story about how a major street player by the name of Big John had turned and strung her out. He was the biggest, most notorious pimp in all of St. Louis. He was also a known killer. Word was that he would kill your grandmother if you owed him money, no matter if you were male or female, family or friend. He ran the streets on both sides of the river. He was big, black, ugly, and powerful, with some long money.

It was rumored that he had married Sassy because she witnessed over twenty something murders he had committed, and he'd thought that if he married her, she could never testify against him. He owned a lounge bar, out of which he ran a back-door prostitution ring, a spot over in East St. Louis. He was pimping most of the young girls out of the club. Hell, he had eventually ended up pimping Sassy's ass, too, and had turned her into his number one ho, because she was pretty and well shaped, so she made the most money. She was his snitcher ho: she kept a look out on all his other hoes, because some of them would try to cuff his money. Big John would beat her ass for anything, but she was still his top moneymaker, and he never treated her differently, even though she was wifey legally. He had Sassy's ass sprung out on crack just so she would be able to service a trick, and eventually, she was hooked on the shit. She literally traveled down the same path as her mother had with drugs. And just like Jewels's mother had cleaned Sassy's mother up, Jewels did the same for Sassy.

Jewels reminisced about all the nights she and Sassy had hit the streets. Sassy had been cool to her, and she had loved her like a sister. She smiled as she reflected on how Sassy had always looked good and had always been well dressed, wearing fly shit and carrying nice bags. Sassy reminded her so much of herself. She laughed as Sassy's voice played in her head. Sassy would always brag about how she had dudes to support her expensive spending habits. She would always say, “You have to use what you got to get what you want.” She had loved money and had been obsessed with it, just like Jewels. They'd been two peas in a pod.

Jewels sniffled. Although tears didn't spill out of her eyes, she was crying on the inside for her girl. She didn't know for sure, but her gut told her that the young stallion Sassy had been referring to, who went by the name Los, was behind her murder. She didn't know how to prove it or even where to find him, but at that moment, Jewels made a pact with herself that she wouldn't stop until she figured out one or the other, if not both. And when she did, she vowed to make him pay somehow or someway.

Rest easy, baby girl,
Jewel thought, wishing her deceased friend eternal peace.
And I promise I will find out who did this to you and will make them regret it
, she promised.

The sound of her “Boss Bitch” ring tone drew her attention to her phone. She couldn't believe the name and the number that came across her screen. Is this a sign? she wondered.

Jewels answered the phone. “Hey.” The surprise phone call was welcomed. “Can we meet somewhere?” she wasted no time asking.

This can't be a coincidence
, she reasoned.

“Meet?”

The caller hesitated at first, but after some persuasion, Jewels was given an address.

“I'm not familiar with the area, but if you tell me the address again, I can meet you there.” She snatched up the pen and pad on the table.

“Better yet, I'll come to you. Yeah, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable.”

“Oh, okay. I'd appreciate that. I'll be here.” She hung up the phone after thanking the caller for offering to come and get her. She made her way back into her bedroom, then slipped something on and waited until her guest arrived.

An hour passed, and Jewels became anxious. Suddenly, her intercom buzzed. She was expecting only one person, so she pressed the button to allow entry. Jewels went to the door and waited.

At first Rome had been hesitant about coming, but Jewels hadn't sounded like herself over the phone. He felt he owed her since she had let him lay low at her crib for over a week. As he approached her door, he saw her standing there, looking like an angel. She had on a robe, but it didn't matter, because he knew what was under it.

“Hey,” Jewels said and greeted him with a hug.

She smells so good. Get it together
! he ordered himself.

“Hey, you. Everything good? I wasn't expecting this,” he said.

“Come in so we can talk.” He walked by her, and Jewels closed the door behind him. For the first time, she allowed her emotions to take over.

Rome heard the door shut; then he heard a sound that surprised the shit out of him. Jewels was crying. He didn't know what to do. He just stood there and stared at her.

Jewels attempted to wipe her tears away, but new ones appeared just as quick.

Rome stepped to her. He was scared of what would happen, but he figured she needed it. He pulled her into his arms and held her as she wept, all the while brushing her hair back with his hand.

After a few minutes Jewels moved out of his arms and looked up at him. “He killed her.”

Rome was confused. He didn't know who she was talking about. “Who? Killed who?”

“He killed her. My best friend. The only person who had my back, no matter what. He killed Sassy,” Jewels explained.

Rome thought for a second, then remembered who she was speaking of. The chick that was here when I stayed here, he thought.

“I want to hire you. I want him killed.” Jewels was serious. There were no more tears streaming down her face anymore.

“Whoa . . . That's not how it works, baby girl.” Rome took a seat on the sofa in the living room.

“I know it sounds crazy, but you're the only person I know that can do it. I'll pay you whatever you want. Just tell me you'll do it.”

Rome stared into her eyes. There was only coldness, and no regret, in her glare. “First, tell me how you know she was killed by the person you think.”

Jewels took a seat next to Rome, and for the next hour, she spilled everything she knew about Sassy's killer and why she thought she'd been killed. She only hoped that her plea wouldn't fall on deaf ears.

 

Rome sat around a square-shaped table with Red at their detail shop, also known as the chop block, a place where you could bring stolen cars and get money for them. Their establishment was growing by the day. There was always one hustler after another bringing in hot cars to swap parts for some fast cash. He still couldn't believe the coincidence when he found out why Jewels wanted to meet with him.

Rome had called the meeting with Red to discuss his latest quest, minus the event that was causing him to move faster than expected. After all, they were going to hit him anyway so getting a jump on things might have its benefits. Red didn't have to know the reason why he wanted to make the move now.

In the past, Red had been against some of Rome's methods when handling certain things, but the love was bulletproof, and eventually, he started backing Rome on anything that came their way. Rome was not sure that would be the case now, even though the two were as thick as thieves. After Rome's mother died, he and Red had grown closer. Rome had put him in charge of looking over the streets. He had taken Red in as his own and had embraced him like a brother. He and Red had butted heads numerous times, but that was as far as it had ever got. Nothing had ever escalated into anything more.

After hearing Red's opposition to moving now, Rome spoke his mind. “I'm me, and you know I do whatever I got my heart set on doing, Red. I'm gonna hit that nigga, and that's that. Ain't no nigga untouchable, Red. You just gotta know how to maneuver around their position.”

Red took a seat in the chair beside Rome and dropped his blunt ashes in the ashtray. “No offense, but me and the homies tried to get at him and his mans and couldn't get a steady trace of these dudes. That's why we decided to let it be for now, remember?”

“Bruh, I got all of that. Fuck waiting for the right time. We gonna make it the right time,” Rome said with force.

Red shook his head. “Man, them jokers ain't as soft or small time as you think. You try to make a move on cats like them, there's bound to be some repercussions,” Red pointed out. “You better make sure you send them six feet under, or it's our asses. Just be prepared for whatever we got coming to us. It's all a part of the game. You live by the gun, best believe you gonna die by the gun.” Red swore he saw fire in Rome's eyes. He was tired of trying to talk sense into his hardheaded friend about moving too fast.

“Man, fuck that! That's the plan. I'ma send that nigga to be with his muthafuckin' Maker and family.”

“All right,” Red sighed. “I tried to talk you out of it, but I see it's no use. Just remember, moving too fast can cause a bigger mess than we need right now. At least let me get some things in order before we do this. I gotta make sure that when the heat comes down, niggas are prepared. You feel me?” He lit another another blunt and took a long drag.

This nigga
, he thought as he let out a mouthful of weed smoke.