Chester disconnected the call and grabbed the tarp off the workbench. He wished he would have folded it up as Buddy told him to. As he drug the twisted tarp across the basement, he fumbled, trying to straighten it out.
Willie Mae smiled. It was time to make her move. Jumping up, she grabbed the gun out of Chester’s pants and shot him dead center in the chest.
Willie Mae watched as Chester fell dead to the floor.
At 7 am, Kamira, Terrance, Jack, Vittoria DeLuca, and Frank Gallucci gathered in the department’s conference room. Pouring herself a cup of coffee, Vittoria looked at the group gathered around the table.
“The men are here, and they are enjoying a breakfast buffet at the Bellow sisters’ estate awaiting my orders. Shall we begin? Ms. Beachum, do you have the list of the known members of the State Line Mob and their addresses?”
Suzie looked over at Jack nervously while she handed Ms. DeLuca the list.
Jack quietly stated, “Arnie Bailey is preparing to have your men bring the members to his cabin. I hope we know what we are doing here. Arnie has been feeding those alligators Willie Mae’s gumbo, talking to them like they are his children.”
Kamira pacing the room, replied, “Somebody knows where Willie Mae is, and if it takes a gator to get it out of them, so be it.”
Kamira heard her phone ring. She looked at her phone, not recognizing the number.
“Kamira Jackson.”
“Kamira, girl, it’s me, Willie Mae.”
“Auntie, where are you?”
Everyone in the room froze. Kamira quickly put her phone on speaker.
“I’m not sure where I am. In the basement of Chester’s house, I think. Kamira, Alyce Ann is here with me. But sweetie, she is dead. Come get us now.”
Kamira, looking at her phone, jotted down the number, giving it to Suzie. “Find the location on this phone, now.”
Kamira was speaking again into the phone, “Chester, who? Are you safe right now?”
Willie Mae became quiet.
“Auntie, are you there?”
“Yes, I am here, Kamira. At the moment, I am safe. I had to shoot Chester, though. He gave me no choice. Are you coming?”
Suzie handed Kamira the address to the location of the phone.
“We know where you are, Auntie. Sit tight, and I will be there shortly.”
“Okay, I am going to search the house while I wait for you.”
Jack screamed, “Willie Mae Gordon, you will do no such thing.”
Kamira handed Jack her phone, saying, “Keep her on the phone till you hear me arrive there.”
Kamira ran to her office. Frank kept up right behind her. Reloading her Glock, she strapped her ankle holster on, placing her small handgun inside. Opening her office drawer, she removed the sizable bowie knife and strapped it onto her thigh. Frank looked at Kamira and smiled mischievously.
“Giovanni and I will follow you and Terrance. You never know what you might walk into.”
Frank followed Kamira out of her office, going to the front of the department. Terrance was standing there with two rifles.
“Ready, love?” Terrance asked.
Kamira looked into the conference room at Jack. He gave her a thumbs-up, and the four walked out of the department.
Willie Mae tiptoed up the stairway, stopping midway to see if she could hear anything.
“I hear nothing, Jack. I don’t think anyone else is here—no need to worry now, Jack. I have Chester’s gun. I have to go now.” She disconnected the call.
Jack ran from the conference room screaming, “Call Terrance. Willie Mae has a gun! She hung up on me.”
Jack raced to his truck, turning on the lights and sirens. He sped towards Chester’s.
Holding the gun in front of her, Willie Mae started up the stairs again.
Reaching the top of the stairs, she peeked around the door frame. No one else was here. Willie Mae rushed to the sink, drinking two large glasses of water.
Walking through the house, she saw papers scattered all over the dining room table. Sorting through them, she found the State Line Mob membership roster at the bottom of the pile. She made two copies on the copy machine in the corner of the dining room. Tucking one copy in her purse, she put the second copy in her pocket.
Willie Mae looked out the window to see if Kamira had arrived yet. Not seeing her, she sat down at the table and dialed the Governor’s office on Chester’s phone.
“Governor, this is Willie Mae. The State Line Mob kidnapped me. Kamira is on her way to pick me up now.” She listened for a moment. “I believe Chester broke my nose, but I am fine otherwise. I am sorry, sir, I had to shoot Chester. But I have splendid news. I have the State Line Mob membership roster, and I am bringing all these papers with me when Kamira gets here to pick me up.”
Willie Mae listened again silently, her anger rising. “Now listen here, Governor. I have done a fine job taking care of myself through this turmoil, and I will continue to do so until Kamira arrives. Now listen, I want you in my office tomorrow at 10 am. I want increased funding for the Shadowbank Police Department and a special unit to clean up the State Line Mob. Now I have to go. I hear sirens. Kamira must be here.”
Willie Mae finished packing the papers in a box she found on the floor, putting the membership roster on the pile’s top. Picking up the box, she placed the gun on the top of the lid and walked out the front door as Kamira pulled up to the house.
Kamira raced out of the car and up to Willie Mae, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw the gun.
Carefully removing a bag from her pocket, Kamira took the gun and placed it in the bag, handing it to Terrance.
Kamira grimaced when she looked at Willie Mae’s battered face.
“What do you have there, Auntie?”
“Open the lid.” Willie Mae replied.
Kamira looked inside and smiled
