Payback

walking toward the office. When they got to the door that led to the office, security handed Alexia a metal detecting wand, then he took Melinda’s purse and searched it. When they were both satisfied that Melinda wasn’t carrying a gun, Alexia escorted her to Freeze.

Alexia opened the door and showed Melinda in. There sat Freeze at what she remembered as Black’s desk. A rush of memories washed over her, and Melinda saw herself laying on that desk having the most fantastic sex. Only now there was a gun laying where she used to lay. 'Hello, Freeze.'

'What’s up?' Freeze tilted his head to the side. 'What happened to your face? Your boy Curl do that to you?'

'It’s nothing, it’s what I got for thinking I was smart, that’s all. No big deal, Freeze.'

'So what are you doin’ here? I know you didn’t come here trying to get me to do something about that. So what’s up?'

'I came here to tell you what you wanna know.'

'What do I wanna know?'

'Who killed Paulleen and why.'

'I’m listening.'

'A guy named Paul Clay, they call him Clark Kent.'

'Yeah, but he’s dead. So tell me something I don’t know. Who killed him?'

'D-Train killed him.'

'Stop fuckin’ around and tell me why,' Freeze demanded.

'Because he missed you and killed Paulleen instead. He wants you dead so he can get to Black. But he knew Black wouldn’t talk to him, he’d have to go through you. And besides, Black’s been busy trying to find his bitch.'

'How you know about that?'

'It ain’t no secret, Black and Bobby been ridin’ all over the city lookin’ for that bitch, and they haven’t exactly been nice and quiet about it. Word gets around quick.'

'So why does he want to get to Black?'

'He doesn’t think that you’re on his level so he needs Black to sit down with him, like he did with Chilly. You see, after your boy killed Chilly, D and two of his people, wanna step up to Chilly’s position in the game.'

'You mean them other niggas don’t respect him.'

'Yup.'

'Figures. I always thought Curl was a bitch and Chilly was fuckin’ him.'

Melinda had no comment.

'Oh, I’m sorry. I’m talkin’ about the man you love. But now that he slapped the shit outta your pretty ass, you come sneakin’ back here wantin’ me to do something about it.'

Melinda dropped her head and said quietly, 'Yes.'

Freeze laughed. 'That’s okay, Melinda.'

'You get what you want, I get what I want. It’s business. It’s just business for personal reasons.'

'Where is he?'

'I know where he’ll be in about an hour.'

Nick turned the corner and drove slowly down Wanda’s block. He promised that he would call her to let her know what happened with Marshall, but decided to drop by instead. This might prove to be a bit more interesting. Nick thought as he got closer to Wanda’s house. He figured by now she had come outta that evening gown that she looked so good in, and had changed into that robe she had on the night they talked. Since he saw no lines, Nick wondered if Wanda had anything on under it. Maybe tonight he would find out.

He put the car in park and was about to get out when his cell rang. He started to ignore it, but quickly thought about the last time he ignored a call and what happened to Monika because of it. He looked at the display. It was Freeze. 'What’s up?'

'I need you to ride with me,' Freeze said.

'Now?'

'Yeah, now.'

'Okay,' Nick said and started the car. 'Where are you?'

'I’m at Cuisine. Where you at?' Freeze asked. 'I’ll come get you.'

'No,' Nick said quickly. 'I’m on my way to you.'

Freeze laughed. 'I’ll see you when you get here.'

When Nick got to Cuisine, Freeze was standing outside by his truck waiting for him. Nick got out of his car, got his bag out of the trunk and came toward Freeze, who started walking away. When Nick caught up with him, Freeze pointed to the cars parked along the street. 'Pick one. Make it a four door.'

Nick knew they were going to ride on somebody, the only question was who? Nick looked around and walked toward a 95 Lincoln. 'What did you find out?' Nick asked.

'I’ll tell you on the way,' Freeze said and took out a Slim Jim and unlocked the car door. After disabling the alarm, Freeze quickly hotwired the car and they were on their way.

When they arrived at Melinda’s condo, Freeze picked out a dark spot to park. He got in the backseat and they waited for D-Train to show up. Nick reached in his bag and pulled out his night vision goggles.

Freeze began to laugh as Nick put them on. 'Are those really necessary?'

'Yes, they are. You wanna try them?'

'Yeah, let me see them.' Freeze took the goggles from Nick and put them on. 'Hey,' he paused and looked around. 'These shit’s ain’t bad. I can see every fuckin’ thing.' Freeze took them off and handed them back to Nick. 'You gotta get me some of those.'

'I knew a killa like you would like something like these. Make you a more efficient killa.'

While they waited, Freeze gave some thought to the fact that he was waiting to get revenge over the killing of a woman that cheated on him, but that didn’t really matter. Like he told Melinda, it was business, it was just business for personal reasons. D-Train had to go. If for no other reason than to make an example of him. Killing D- Train would keep the others in check. It would solidify his position. Black earned his position, earned everybody’s respect in war. Freeze, he had been given the position. That’s why niggas were willing to try him.

Freeze decided that just ridin’ by blastin’ wasn’t good enough. He had to stand in front of D-Train and look into his eyes when he killed him. Melinda told him that if he was coming alone he’d be driving a gold Lexus, if he had a body guard with him they would be in a dark blue Chevy Suburban.

It wasn’t too much longer before Melinda was proven right. 'Dark blue Chevy Suburban coming this way.'

'How many?'

'Two.'

'Makes it easy.' Freeze waited until they parked and D-Train got out and went inside. 'Wait here,' Freeze said, put on his gloves and got out. 'Yo, let me borrow them things.' Nick took off the goggles and gave them to Freeze. 'I’ll be right back.'

The driver of the Suburban rolled down his window, kicked 50-cent up a little louder and made himself comfortable. Freeze waited ten minutes before he approached the car. Freeze put the silencer on his gun and continued toward the truck. When he got to the window, Freeze pointed his weapon and fired twice. One shot to the head and the other to the chest, and kept walking toward the building.

Melinda explained to Freeze that she told D-Train that she might be a little late getting there so he could let himself in take a shower and wait for her in bed. D-Train was sorry that he had slapped her and was anxious to make it up to her. Earlier in the day he had bought Melinda a diamond studded necklace. I know she’s gonna love this. He did as he was told, showered, and got in the bed. He placed the jewelry box on the bed next to him and waited for Melinda to arrive.

Freeze unlocked the door with the key Melinda gave him, then made a few scratch marks on the lock to make it look like forced entry. With Nick’s night vision goggles on, Freeze was able to move quickly to the bedroom. Freeze came through the door. 'Time to die, muthafucka.' Freeze fired six times, hitting him with all six shots. Then he walked up to him and put one more bullet in his head to make sure he was gone. As Freeze stood over D-Train’s dead body, he noticed the jewelry box on the bed. He opened the box. 'Nice.' Freeze put the box in his pocket and left the condo.