Time was longer than rope.
Chapter Twenty-three
It had been almost four years since Nadine left, and Suave was on a mission to make a name for himself in the drug business.
“What’s good, my brother?” Suave exchanged a man hug with Cobra. “A little birdie told me you ate all the candies last night.”
Cobra grinned and pulled back to look Suave in the eye. “You know how I do. I have a very sweet tooth.” The men shared a laugh and bumped fists, standing outside in front of Cobra’s apartment on Sunshine Avenue.
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Suave looked at Cobra with maximum respect. Cobra had sold off the big stash of marijuana that Suave had given him the night before. Cobra had proven himself to Suave since he left Mason and came to work with him six months ago.
Suave and Cobra kept in touch over the years, but both were too busy to hang out frequently. Suave was taking care of his business, and Cobra was handling Mason’s business.
“I need to talk with you,” Cobra had informed Suave. “Let’s meet tomorrow.”
The next morning over breakfast, Cobra laid it out for Suave. “I want to work with you.” He locked eyes with Suave. “I think the two of us together can really make some big moves.”
“Did Mason send you?” Suave asked angrily. “Is he trying to set me up?”
Cobra looked hurt and replied, “Really? Is that what you think of me? Of our friendship after all these years?”
Suave stared at him for a while. “In this business, it’s hard to trust anyone. And you know Mason won’t let you go without a fight.”
“Mason doesn’t own me, Suave. I’ve made him a lot of money over the years. I need mines now.”
Suave nodded but was still apprehensive. “Let me sleep on it and get back to you.”
It took a week for Suave to meet with Cobra again. “All right, I’m going to give you a shot. But if you ever cross me, you’ll see a side of me you never knew existed.” His dark eyes showed how serious he was.
“I’m with you all the way, my brother,” Cobra told him. “Just watch and see.”
And Suave did watch Cobra for a few weeks. He gave him only nickel and dime packages to handle, while he kept a close eye on him. But Cobra continued to work and prove his loyalty, and gradually, Suave began to give him more to handle. Now months later, the friendship between the two had not only gotten stronger, but their working relationship as well.
“Cobra, it’s workers like you who are going to help me take over Jamaica,” Suave said in a serious voice. “I couldn’t choose a better person to be my right-hand man.”
Suave was moving up in the drug trade. He now had four men working for him, including Cobra. Suave was living in a modest two-bedroom house in Three Oaks Gardens in Kingston and drove a secondhand Toyota Camry. It wasn’t where he wanted to be in life, but it was a huge come-up from sleeping on the street. After all, Rome wasn’t built in one day.
“What’s good for today?” Cobra asked his boss. “You said you were coming to get me so we can roll together.”
Suave replied, “We need to stop by Queen Bee for some supplies. Later, I want a meeting with the little soldiers. I have a big order in Portland, and I need at least three people on it.”
Cobra bobbed his head. “Let’s make this money, man.”
The two men walked toward the car parked by the curb. Suave hopped behind the steering wheel, and Cobra climbed in the passenger seat.
“We need to get you a little ride,” Suave said to Cobra after he started the car and drove off. “Something inexpensive for now but durable. You know what I mean?”
“Yeah, that would be good. My neighbor is selling his car. It’s about ten years old but seems to be in good condition. I could check it out if you want.”
“You do that and let me know. In fact—”
Just then, Suave’s cell phone rang. “Talk to me,” Suave said when he answered the phone, one hand maneuvering the car. “What? Man, stop playing. Hold on.”
Cobra turned sideways to peer at Suave. “What’s going on?” he whispered.
Suave ignored his question and pulled over to the side of the road. He put the car in park and barked into the cell phone, “Don’t joke with me, Daddy Lizard.” He listened for a few seconds, different emotions flashing across his face—shock, sadness, and then anger. It wasn’t good news.
“What’s going on, Suave?” Cobra asked again.
“It’s Mason,” Suave answered in a somber tone. “Hold on,” he said into the phone, then turned back to Cobra. “He was just murdered.”
Cobra was rendered speechless. He stared at Suave as if he had two heads. “Murdered? Who did it? Where?”
Suave held up his index finger, signaling Cobra to wait a minute, before returning to his call. “Where’s Miss Pam?” He listened for a few minutes while Daddy Lizard updated him on Mason’s demise. “Thanks, man. Cobra and I are on our way. I’ll see you in a few.” He flipped the cell phone closed.
“They killed Mason?” Cobra was still in disbelief. “Our Mason?”
Suave rested his throbbing head back against the car seat, his eyes tightly closed as he took deep breaths. The anger fumes were almost visible coming through his pores. “I loved that man like a father. Yes, we parted on bad terms, but Mason will always have my respect for what he did for me. Who had the nerve to disrespect the godfather of the community like that?”
Cobra was shaking his head. “I... I... I can’t believe it,” he stammered. “Mason had his enemies because of what he did, but I didn’t think anyone would try to take him out.”
“I guess I’m going back to Tivoli Gardens after all this time.” With a heavy heart, Suave started the car and drove off.
It took almost
