“Frankly: yes. Yes, I do. You know that I think that we need to be moving away from all that, not have you move into Freeze’s spot. But I guess Black has other ideas about what we should be doing.” She folded her arms across her chest.
Wanda is so fuckin’ sexy when she pouts.
“Black understands that we need to be moving in that direction; and he said that he is taking more of an interest in our legit business.”
“Did he say that, or are you just guessing?”
“That’s what he said, especially since we’re making more money on that side. But he understands that right now, we are still in the business and somebody needs to stay on top of that.”
“I agree.”
“I’m glad you do,”
“Why you? Why can’t him or Bobby do it?”
“Because you got him busy gettin’-up on the legitimate business, and Bobby, I guess you need to ask him about that.”
“I will. But why you?”
“Why not me? Don’t you think I can handle it?”
“That’s not it and you know it.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t want to lose you, Nick. Don’t you understand that?”
“Of course I understand that.”
“But that is not gonna stop you from doing it, is it?”
“No, it’s not. If that’s what Black wants me to do, then that’s what I’m gonna do.”
“I knew he was just playing me off with all that shit about how we gonna get out and makeup that income.”
“I don’t think so.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because I think he wants to get out. He’s lost a wife; I know he doesn’t want this to touch Michelle.”
“I should have been prepared for him; anticipated him asking that. Next time I’ll be ready.”
“If you were paying attention, he gave you the answer to both questions.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have everybody buy us out and then you take that money and flip it. Invest it in shit that will makeup the income. But I guess you weren’t paying attention.”
“I guess I wasn’t.”
“Too busy pouting.”
“You love these pouty lips,” Wanda said and pushed them out.
“Yeah, I do, so I tell you what I’m gonna do.”
“What’s that?”
“While I’m making the rounds, I’ll feel everyone out on it. When we think the time’s right, I’ll bring you around with me and you can run it by them, establish a price and then we’ll go to Black together.”
Chapter 14
Jasper Robinson.
I knew JR from the old days, but I hadn’t seen him in years. Him and Andre were friends, used to run together. He owns a nightclub called JR’s and he ran a poker game, scraps, the usual stuff, in the basement at night. I would roll by there later tonight.
After I checked on a few of our stops, I stopped by JR’s. It was still early when I got there, a few people; probably regulars seated at the bar. I took a seat and signaled for the bartender.
“What can I get you?”
“Johnnie Black on the rocks.”
When the bartender came back with my drink I hit him with my question. “Is JR here?”
“Who?”
“JR, the guy who owns this place, is he here?”
“You a cop?”
“Nope. Old friend.”
“Wait here,” the bartender said and came out from behind the bar. He took another look at me before he went in the back. It wasn’t too long after that when I was approached by two big muthafuckas.
One tapped me on the shoulder. “Who you here to see?”
I turned around on my barstool. “Jasper Robinson. Calls himself JR, owns this place.”
The other man looked at me. “I know you, don’t I?”
“I don’t know. Do you?”
“Yeah, you’re Nick Simmons, you work for Mike Black.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m Jeff Ritchie,” he said like I should know the name. He looked disappointed when I said, “I don’t know you, I just want to talk to JR, is he here?”
“Yeah, he’s here. Follow me.”
Jeff Ritchie led me in the back to the office and he knocked on the door. When JR answered, Jeff Ritchie stuck his head in. “Somebody to see you, JR.”
“Who?” JR asked and I walked in. “Nick, Nick Simmons.”
“What’s up, JR? How’s it goin’?”
“Not bad for an old man. What about you? I heard that you were back in town. I haven’t seen you in what- fifteen years?”
“’Bout that.”
“Come on in, have a seat. Can I get you a drink?”
“Johnnie Black on the rocks.”
For the next hour, JR and I sat in his office and talked about the good old day and I drank his liquor.
“Young bucks these days don’t respect nothing. No respect for the game, no respect for each other,” JR said.
“Tell me about it.”
“You know what the problem is, Nick?”
“I know you’re about to tell me.”
“There was a time when you had to be brought into the game. You know, the way Andre brought Black in, and then he reached out to you and brought you along. You learned the game that way; learned that there were things that you just didn’t do. Men had respect for one another. Now, shit, any dumb nigga with a couple of dollars he can rub together can get him a package and bam, there he is. Dumber than a muthafucka; not knowing shit, but how to pull his gun and shot over stupid shit.”
“Times change, JR After awhile there won’t be a place in the game for things like honor and respect,” I said and thought that this would be a good time to talk about what I came here for. “While we’re on the subject, JR, there is something I need to talk to you ’bout.”
“You know, Nick, I been in this game a long time, which means I know enough to know that you ain’t come here just to drink my liquor and talk ’bout the old days.”
“I meant no disrespect.”
“What’s on your mind, Nick?”
“Last week there was a robbery at one of Black’s businesses. Place called Paradise Fish and Chicken. Two people were killed.”
“I hadn’t heard anything about that. Now I’m wondering
