Lost Boy, page 14
“The country...why?” Dirty-Red asked as he looked over at Nikki hunching her shoulders, trying make sense out of what was just said. He damn well knew it would be crazy hard to separate the money from her. Wherever the cash went, she’d be right there. “Don’ know ‘bout that.”
“Don’t know...”
“Hem right. I go wit’ dat money just case somebody tries...” She reached into the gym bag she carried around with her, then stopped when Dirty-Red touched her shoulder. She put down the seven-inch, stiletto switchblade she was carrying.
“No, need for that...it’s cool!”
“Hell, me kno dat. I kno his people, but, I don’t kno who hem kno...dats not good.” Nikki remarked.
“You don’t trust me, Ms. Nikki?” Diplite asked.
“Trust? C’mon now, who you kiddin’? You got more dem trap houses den tha law allow. You ‘bout dat paper, dat’s what’s up. If you knew you could get dis from out my hand, you would...na wouldn’t you?”
Diplite sat back in the chair watching her body language as she spoke that good geechie shit to him. She knew his ass, and his kind, that’s for sure. It was going to be difficult at best, but not impossible.
“You know, you’re right. So, we move you and the money at the same time...didn’t you say that someone was trying to kill you? How do I know that they might not try and kill me too? No way in hell we do this in the Chuck...”
“Cheraw!” Dirty-Red interrupted.
“What...what the fuck you talkin’ ‘bout Dirty-Red?”
“We can hide her in Cheraw...my hometown.” Dirty-Red walked over to Nikki. “Nobody don’ know you down there, right?”
“Ain’t neh ben, not as I know.”
“Then, it just might work. Hell, my cousin runs a club out that way and we can flip it from there. There’s plenty of bread moving in and out.”
Diplite leaned over looking at the both of them, contemplating to himself that just might work. “She needs someone else to be with her tho. We gotta make it look good, like family, kna-mean.”
“Family...like who?” Dirty-Red asked.
“My sister, Cleo, she knows her. She can go with her and it’ll look like mother and daughter or some shit, visiting from outta town, and less suspicious.”
Dirty-Red rubbed his deep red goatee. “Yuh...sounds ‘bout right. But, what’s up with your sister? Ain’t she still fuckin’ with that dude from the Heights?”
“I got that covered.”
Nikki walked over to the table. “The Height...who?”
“I think his name is Hu...”
“Yo...I got it, Dirty.” Diplite butted in.
He damn sure didn’t want them to figure in on his connection to Hulie, not now. Or at least not until the money was handled and he got his cut, then it would be too late for them to do anything about it.
“Wha hem look like?” Nikki looked over at Diplite and he ignored her. She turned towards Dirty-Red and pressed him. “Wha hem look like, Dirty-Red.”
“Big, husky...missing a tooth with a mouth full of gold...”
“Muthafucka, that’s dat nigga who tried to kill me dat night!” She walked over to Diplite. “You kno hem, muthafucka?”
“Not really, he’s just another hustler.”
She leaned over and grabbed him by the collar, look him in the eyes and said in a raspy voice filled with hate. “Okay, we do it dat way...but den, when it’s ova...I wan hem ass dead! You hear?”
Diplite got scared and pushed her away. “Hey, I ain’t got nuthin’ to do with that bullshit. I was at the crib when your son was killed.”
“Diplite, if I find out yu had something to do wit’ me son’s murder...”
“Man, fuck this shit, find somebody else!”
Nikki stepped in front of him as he stormed towards the door. “I’m gon go wit’ yu on dis, ya hear. But ‘member if I den finds out...”
“I don’t know nuthin’ except what you told me...a’ight.” Diplite lied turning away from her.
She smiled, rubbing his cheeks. “A’ight...den do it.” She knew he was lying. No one knew that her son was killed before the fire. She knew right then he would die. She leaned forward and kissed him. “Sorry, ‘bout that, heh.” He would be the one who would lead her to the man who killed her son.
Diplite reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell. “I need to call, Cleo.
“Yo’ Wassup, it’s me Dip.”
“Boy, what you want?”
“Damn, sis...it’s like that?”
“I’m in the middle of eating.”
“So, damn, you can’t stop to talk...”
“I’m at a restaurant with Hulie. I had to sneak into the bathroom just to take this call. You know how paranoid he is. Now, what you want?”
Diplite cuffed the phone closer to his ear and walked off towards the back of the room out of earshot. Dirty-Red and Nikki sat at the bar sipping on drinks he’d set up and engaged in small talk. She turned briefly and glanced his way but turned back quickly once he realized she was staring. She leaned closer towards Dirty-Red. “You think we can trust em?” she asked.
Dirty-Red looked over at him. “Hell naw, I wouldn’t trust that muthafucka as far as I can throw him,” Dirty-Red admitted.
Nikki smiled. “Me neither...sumptin, ‘bout him, ain’t right.”
They both snickered as Diplite turned towards them, then back to his conversation with Cleo.
“I need a favor, sis.”
“What kinda favor, what is it...money?”
“Naw, I’m straight, I need you to...”
“Hold up.” Cleo popped out of the stall she’d ducked into. Hulie had knocked asking if she was alright. I’m okay, I think my friend came...”
“Damn!” She heard him mumble as he stomped back to their table.
She closed the door slightly and hunched down. “C’mon now, he done came to my door with his nosy ass.”
“I need you to go away for a few days.”
“Go away, where?”
“Out in the country.”
“The country?”
“Would you just shut the fuck up for a minute?”
“Aw hell naw.” She got up. “You called me, remember. Who the fuck you dissing?”
“A’ight...a’ight hear me out. I need you to go with Ms. Nikki to Cheraw for a few days. Just so she can stay out of sight for a while.”
“Ms. Nikki, what’s happening with her now? I heard she was almost killed or something.”
“She was, we trying to keep her low for a while until he find out what’s up.”
“I dunno, Dip, supposed someone tries to kill me, too?”
“Naw, it ain’t like that, besides you gonna be with Dirty-Red’s folks.”
Cleo leaned back crossing her legs. “Hmmm...fine ass, Dirty-Red, huh? He’ll be there with us? Okay!” She had dealings with him, very frequently and felt some sort of way. There was something about him that she dug. He was mysterious and very different from Hulie, he was more confident and everything. Even when she refused his money, he’d make her take it anyway, not like Hulie’s grimy ass, he was just cool like that.
“If you want, I’ll tell him to make the trip with you personally.”
“Okay...okay, but what’s in it for me? I know you getting something out of it...you don’t do shit for free.”
“Right...right, okay, sis, you on point. I think I can squeeze about two gees or...”
“Two-grand...please, I can get that...”
“A’ight, four gees, cash, and all the expenses paid, that’s it.”
“Hmm...sounds good. How many days again?” She started counting on her fingers the amount of money she’d make a day.
“Damn, Cleo, who the fuck are you now? Goddamned police or some shit? You gonna do it or what?”
“How many days?”
“About a week, okay!”
“Alright, a week and that’s it? Call me later and tell where you want me to meet you. Or do you want me to pick up Ms. Nikki instead...and of course, Dirty-Red.”
“I got that, I’ll call later...and sis!”
“What, I gotta go!”
“Don’t tell, Hulie, jack shit!”
“I’m wrapping that muthafucka around my fingers, he wants me to move in with him. He didn’t say it, but I know he does.”
“Don’t do it, I’m tellin’ you that muthafucka ain’t shit.”
“You sound just like Mama! Let me live my own life, okay?”
Diplite knew good and damn well he couldn’t let her do no dumb shit like that. Hell no, if he did, Cleo’s ass would be in danger, but on the other hand, he’d know all Hulie’s comings and goings and that shit might work in his favor. One way or another, he had to make a decision quick.
“If you make that move, I’ma tell Ma. He’s beasting on you. How’s that?”
“You wouldn’t...I...I...I thought that was between us. Dip you said you was gonna talk to him for me. C’mon now don’t do no slip like that, Mama will raise pure hell.”
“Then...don’t do it! You heard what I said, at least sis...not right now. I’m serious, okay?”
“Damn, but you better have this Nikki...country shit together!”
“I will, later!”
“Bye!” Cleo closed her phone and walked over to the sink to wash her hands, partly drying them, like she had used the restroom.
She put on some fresh perfume, her game face and stepped out the door. She knew Hulie was gonna drill her about what was going on, so she’d have to come up with a lie...a damn good one. She made her way to the table and sat down.
She grasped at her stomach, groaning. “Baby...got cramps!”
“Damn, Cleo!” Hulie fumed. “You sick...you need to leave or what? Hell, I just ordered fuckin’ steak!”
“No, baby...that’s alright, I’ll stick it out.”
“A’ight, but if it gets any worse...”
Cleo reached over and stroked his hand. He wasn’t shit, he really didn’t give a damn about her. “I might be sick or about a week, tho.” She said in her best Emmy Award-winning performance voice.
“A’ight...I understand. It’s a female thing, no problem. Once we finish eating, I’ll take you home. I can’t get no pussy anyway!” he mumbled.
She managed to fake enough of a smile as she thought. ‘Diplite better have my goddamned money!’ But one thing she knew for sure it would give her a chance to find out what really happened to Ms. Nikki...and get with that fine ass Dirty-Muthafuckin’-Red’s ass in the process...instead of the muthafucka that was mean-mugging in front of her.
He was in the game now, Diplite closed his phone and turned to Dirty-Red and Nikki. “Well, it’s all done...what the fuck!” The money on the table was gone, bag and all, along with Nikki. He did a double take glancing around making sure she just didn’t step out for a sec, but she was nowhere in sight. “Where the hell is, she... and the money?”
Dirty-Red was behind the bar wiping down shot glasses and peeped up at him, then smiled. “Naw, bruh, she’s ghost gone!”
“Where the hell did, she go? I wanted to tell her...”
“She knows ‘bout a week or so, right.”
“Y’all was peeping in on my call?”
“Nooo...ain’t like that!” Dirty-Red walked from around the bar over to a closet and pulled out some keys, then opened the door and snatched up a keg with a label attached around the backside in ink: Anheiser Busch-Plant 9. Dirty-Red was the biggest buyer of stolen kegs and cases in North Charleston. Ball could never pin him down because as quickly as he got them, they were gone, that damn quick. He grumbled something under his breath about having to get a couple more, then turned his attention back to Diplite.
“Yo’ she moves like that. In and out, you never know when she’s coming or leaving. I really don’t blame her, err since her son got killed and she got caught up in that fire, she changed. She trusts people, but no way like she used to, not even me...I’m tellin’ you.”
So, damn, how the fuck am I supposed to let her know where to meet my sister and all that shit?”
“Trust me, cuz, either she knows already, or she’ll see you real soon, like.”
Diplite walked towards the door on his way out and turned back around. “Well, at least where’s she staying?”
Dirty-Red put the keg down he was dragging towards the back of the bar and looked at his stupid ass. “Damn, you ask a lot of questions. Just lee’ it alone.” He shook his head then rubbed his goatee. “Besides her peoples is dem root workers. You don wanna fuck wit’ that. So...if you plannin’ sumptin’ stupid, I advise you to think twice about that shit!”
Diplite grabbed the door and swung it open. “Naw, it’s cool, don’t worry ‘bout it, everything’s a’ight. Then he let the slam shut behind him.
Dirty-Red stood there and watched through the window as Diplite got into his car and pulled off. “Homeboy...don’ got it twisted, I’m not the one worryin’.”
****
Tangie rummaged through the box Dondi had given her. It contained old clothes, papers and a lot of stolen credit card receipts that were taken out of dumpsters, somewhere downtown. She sucked her teeth and sighed as she looked at them.
“Jabari’s crazy this shit don’t work anymore.” She snickered, then flipped through some old photos of her, her mom, dad, Jabari, and she and Jabari together. There were a couple of photos she didn’t recognize, with smiling white people in them and some freckled face young white hugged up on Jabari. She’d never seen him before, she picked up the phone and dialed Dondi.
“Hey, uh, wassup?”
“Hey, Tangie girl...wassup?”
“Damn, you sound too good, you alright?”
“Hell, yeah, I’m alright.”
“Girl, look, the day when I left your hot ass, all you wanted to do was get fucked up. Now, you sound like some Dixie chick white girl or something at a square dance.”
“Dixie chick white...where do you get this shit from? Naw, I’m cool, I just ain’t been gettin’ high. Been going to meetings and shit.”
Tangie smiled and leaned back in her chair. “For real, girl, I’m proud of you. That’s alright!”
“Yeah, wanna get my shit together! Maybe I can’t be like you, all smart and shit...and good looking, but I can be somebody.”
“You can be whatever you want to be, believe that.”
“So, what’s up, you find out anything else about, Jabari?”
“Not really, I’m going through his things and I found some pictures I didn’t recognize, though. Thought you might...” She picked up the photos off her desk. “...know why there are pictures of white people. Lots of pictures of Jabari and some white boy, that’s tall and lanky, with freckles...ring a bell?”
“I asked about him, too. Jabari said some it’s some dude he met in a foster home. Didn’t say his name though...oh...no wait he did. Something like Dory...Dee or something like that. You know them drugs done took all my little memory. I can’t really remember for sure.”
Tangie laughed. “You crazy, just stay clean...it’ll come back.”
“That’s all I know. Hey, would you like to go to a meeting with me? I’ll be picking up a thirty-day chip soon and I’d really like for you to be there. I mean, you like family now!”
“Sounds cool, just leave a message or you know, call me. I’ll be there!”
“Thanks, Tangie, sorry I didn’t know more.”
“No...you did good, catch you later!” Tangie hung up the phone and paged an intern. “I’m looking for some foster care records. You think you can help me?”
“Sure Tangie, let me know what you need.”
Chapter Nine
It wasn’t as difficult as she would have thought. A couple of hours at best. She had dates, names, her brother’s social security number which was a plus and then finally a lead. Martha Marie Davis, last known address, Boonie Doone Plantation. But it was her son’s records that nailed it. He had marijuana busts, thefts, juvenile delinquency and finally foster care. He was in foster care the same years as Jabari give or take. At last, she had some history, a name, and a picture that was about to come up on her screen. Dunnington Doral Davis, The Third, no wonder he stayed in shit, who names their kid that, then on top of it, the third?
He looked the same as he did in the younger pictures, except scragglier. His last known address was the same as his mother’s.
No...” She scrolled deeper and another address popped up.
He’d been busted in Colleton County on several occasions for theft, just recently. They had his address as being somewhere near Walterboro. She knew the place, it was right off of I-95. She had a few friends there that she went to school with, who was a sheriff, so she had access to the local police.
She gathered up the information she had on her desk and stuffed it into her briefcase, then got on the phone with her assistant. “Missy, I’ll be gone all next week. Could you reschedule everything I had pending? Give them continuance and let Brad handle my caseload, okay.”
“I’ll let him know, but it’s better if you call. He’ll ask a lot of questions and I don’t have no answers.”
“You’re right, I’ll take care of that, but everything else is the same.”
“Everything alright, Tangie?”
“It’s good, I just need to go out of town to check on some things...personal, you know. You, uh, know my cell phone number if anything comes up, right?”
“I got you, just be careful.”
“I will.” Tangie cleared her desk and picked up her jacket.
It was a long day and she needed to go home, pack a bag, and hit Savannah Highway straight to Walterboro.
****
Jabari finally caught up with Double D, after calling him about four times and spazzing out twice. Double D swore all the antics regarding his phone being answered by other people and Jabari being interrogated was just precaution due to bill collectors harassing him. Jabari gave Double D the best advice he could think of...pay them. After conversing for a while, Double D told Jabari to meet him on exit 68, right off the rampway of I-95. When he pulled up in a brand new, sparkling blue F-150, Jabari smiled.
Maybe he’d gotten his shit together after-all, but when he out of the truck and walked closer towards Jabari’s car, doubts flashed around in Jabari’s mind like lights. First of all, Double D kept looking around like someone was about to jump out of the bushes at any minute. Then he kept eyeballing Jabari, trying to figure out if it was really him or not and he was also spying inside the car looking for someone else.
