Part I "Where all it began"

I remember sitting in this cold and gloomy room. It was dim with only one light glowing. I could hear the radios and murmurs of the foot soldiers on the other side of the door. Detectives were constantly popping in and out of the room peaking in at me and asking repetitive questions; following my responses with sarcastic snickers and chuckles. Even though this was a sign of disbelief I already knew that they were trying to get as much information from me as they could but I wouldn’t fold. I knew that they didn’t have anything on me or they would have already booked me, therefore all I had to do was take the ride and I’ll be heading home soon. Just don’t bend.
It seemed like forever before they came back in the room though. However aggravating the constant in and out of the room was I really wasn’t worried. But it did puzzle me a little as to what was taking so long.
Then she walked in.
Officer, no excuse me, detective (at that time) Santiago. She wore a tailored light brown business suit. The jacket was cut short and her pants appeared to be neatly and perfectly painted to her hip area. Attached to her left shoulder was a chrome .380 snuggled in a leather holster. She didn’t wear a lot of make-up just some lip and eye coloring; just the way I liked it. Anyway her partner was this big brawny 6’ 5” very dark-skinned cat name Anderson. He seemed as mean as a hungry ass bear, from the looks of him, but this guy was pretty clever; very articulate. I could tell by the flamboyant ways he moved about the room talking on his cell that he was about his business. I sort of admired his swagger in a sense; this dude had class and to be honest I respected that even though he was on the NYPD vice squad.
Well they rambled around with their paperwork for a bit so I figured it was just routine, a few questions and the usual don’t leave out of town BS. But then she looked at Anderson and nodded, his dark face seemed to light up. Eyes opened wide and then with a weird looking smirk attached to his face he glanced over at me. Not a moment sooner there was a door creaking that ended with the strike from the doorknob entering the hole; then the door was shut. “Alone at last” she replied with a certain level of comfort and familiarity. I stood baffled but remained calm as a mid-Spring morning. I kept repeating to myself in my head “be easy; no pressure; you good son” then I adjusted myself in my chair trying to be mindful of my body language. She walked over to the coffee pot and poured two cups full, added cream and sugar then looked at me over her left shoulder. That’s when it hit me. It was the chick from the lounge on 145th street. But what the fuck does she want from me? My pressure rose a bit and my mind became a ghetto marathon star. But I wouldn’t let her see me about to break. As far as she knew I was just rolling with the punches so to speak. So I crossed my left leg over my right as if I was at home or sitting somewhere comfortably. “Chase, Chase, Chase or would you rather me use your Government name, Jason” she exclaimed “how long has it been since you’ve seen Bella”? I looked up at her sideways of course and just as I began to answer she stopped me “don’t answer that I’ll tell you. Would you like some Coffee”? Completely mystified I replied with “no thank you. I don’t plan to be here much longer”. She smiled and began playing with her hair as she began to cop a squat on the side of the table directly in front of me. She crossed her legs and with her relaxed voice and heavy accent she raised her chin took a deep breath and said “She called you Thursday two weeks ago and you met her for coffee after she ran the usual errands for her rich but old Argentinean husband”. “ You guys met in Miami two days ago after your daughter’s fifth birthday if I’m not mistaking, had a late lunch at the I-Hop just two blocks off the strip, skipped dinner and caught the early evening movie; X-Men! I believe she said she was a big fan of Storm. You finished up at her favorite getaway her driver picked you up and dropped you to the Crown Plaza at the airport. Room 1217; room service about 10:47 two cigars, one bottle of Jose for you, three orgasms later for her (she smiled at me and put the tip of her pen between her teeth and then continued) shortly there after your cell ran, babymama reminding you of your daughter’s recital on Saturday. A few hours later you jump in the shower and the driver dropped you to the airport. US airways direct flight from Ft Lauderdale to Laguadia”. Then with a very peculiar look on her face she asked “Are you sure you don’t want some coffee”? She handed me the freshly brewed Arabian and said sardonically “Oh by the way I took the liberty of calling your attorney slash Shorty Denise Williams, she’s on the way”.
Suddenly this feeling of vague emotion choked me so all I could do was smile and raise my eyebrows. I shook my head and said “I see you have done your homework on me but it doesn’t answer any of my questions Hun. So can we move to the bonus round? I’ll take the “what the hell do you want with me question for $400 detective”? Then I took a sip of my coffee and sat back in my chair. My heart was beating nervously so I played her with the fake stretch and yawn to get a deep breath in while I got prepared for the unknown. She chuckled and said “you’re cute Mr. I got this under control”. “I like that” she said and let out this smile that left my face as bland as a blank check. Then her partner re-entered the room and gave her a nod. She responded by putting her hand in the air and then signaling him to once again leave the room. She looked at me and then handed me a card with an address on it. It read the Marriot on 51st and Lexington tomorrow at 3pm cancel your afternoon.
P.S. come alone.
To be honest I not showing up was automatic. I mean honey had so much on me the last thing I needed was for her to bring up some other shit that would lead me to becoming a flunky for the NYPD wherein I would become labeled as a snitch. Not my steelo so I had the notion to flow out of town.
My attorney showed up just as my mind began to relay from one episode to another trying to connect the dots, however, the entire time all I can come up with is why she didn’t expose me if she really had something? Curiosity had me strung out. “Chase” my Denise said “There you are. Are you ok”? She began saying “Detective if you are not charging my cli….” Santiago interrupted (looking over her glasses) “He’s free to go. Enjoy your evening Mr. Chase” and just as sudden she walked out the room.
Since they picked me up at the diner on Flatlands ave I had to ride with Denise in her BMW. I sat there as she talked and asked me question almost in another time zone. I really couldn’t make out the sauce of what had just went down. I was on a superficial high. My blackberry had 17 miss calls and who know what happened to the people I was supposed to meet for dinner Damn. Denise looked at me then asked “Are you alright baby”. I said “Yeah. Why”? She took her right hand of the wheel and placed it on my left thigh. “You look worried baby; you need me to do anything”? She began to stroke my Johnson as she pulled to a red light. “Nah I just need to figure out what’s going on Ma”. Then I presented the card I got from Santiago to her. A dead silence overpowered the vehicle. Denise pushed the petal a little harder and said so do you like this chick? I looked at her and said “What”? “The detective Jason or are you Chase right now”? “I mean I’m confused and crazy but I’m not dumb” she said “So do you like her”? At this point I was deliriously wandering everywhere in my mind trying to put the pieces together. I said Denise don’t start this shit right now. I need you to be my counselor not my woman. I told you about that shi…. She interrupted “about what Chase? “You can’t just keep fucking with me like this without a commitment ok”. “I need more. I need you Chase. I think”…. I interrupted “You think what? You can’t be….” She jumped right in “No I’m not pregnant! Just forget it! Asshole” she mumbled under her breath as she pulled up to my spot. “Denise look I have to find out what going on. Something just not right with this detective, No I’m not fucking her I’ve never seen her before and I’m not sure if I’m going to that address because I’m not sure what to expect ok”. She said “Chase, I think you should go. Just be careful ok baby. I’m sorry I went off like that it’s just that, well I miss you and I hardly ever get to see you now. So I’m a little lonely babe can’t you understand that”? I gave her a kiss on the forehead and placed my hand under her chin. I began to lift her face gently so that I could see her pretty light brown eyes and said “Hey things are just a little strange right now but it won’t last too long. Just let me clear this up with this detective and we can go to Vegas or to the Smokies for a few days ok”. Her face illuminated at the idea so she gave me a hug and a wet kiss and went on her way.
Meanwhile I tossed and turned for hours throughout the night. I remember closing my eyes but sleep never became me. I felt suffocated by both the unseen and the mishaps over the course of hours past I looked at the sunrise then glanced at the clock 7:27 a.m. After a hot shower I cleaned up and then I dropped in on Law, (my brother). I ran down what happened and I told him that I was planning to show up at the spot. Law agreed that he would go and get a spot on the same floor so that he could be there if anything popped off and that we should case the spot several hours prior to the meeting time so we did.
Law went up to the room at about 1:45 that afternoon. I’m not sure how my brother got the spot exactly next door in such short notice but he had always been that kind of cat so I didn’t bother to ask. I was across the street in this tall brick building looking and waiting for a squad car to show up or at least an unmarked car. We had the radio scanners and walkie talkies equipped with ear plugs but nothing was coming across the line the included our set of events. Then I was distracted by this sundress! Heaven just evicted an angel and she was walking right passed me with the sweetest pair of legs I have ever seen.
The time neared so I hollered at Law to let him know that I was on the move and everything seemed clear. He signaled that we had a few cats on the corner and that Bag dropped Phats at the studio so he was in the business office with the night manager of the hotel. I was like for what. Law said “Yo! He in the office with the NIGHT MANAGER! How you think we got hooked up with the spot son. Now go see whats up you know Esau game is at 8 pm tonight and we right behind the home team so let’s make it happen so we can get going”.

Walking through the front door the carpeted lobby was pretty busy no more than usual I suppose but I was just trying to be a little more observant than usual considering the circumstances. I thought that wearing my dark grey Armani would keep the eyes off me long enough for me to slide by the front desk simply asking where the elevator was (besides I needed something to cover the Berretta I had in the small of my back). Boy was I wrong the front desk person said “sir can I help you find something”? I replied “actually I’m fine sir I just need to go to room 1217, thank you”. He extended a welcome greeting with “Oh certainly” Then he tapped the bell and a Bell person escorted me to the elevator leading up to the 27th floor. As we neared the elevator I realized that the bellman wasn’t actually a bellman at all. He was an undercover; A NARC. He said “Look Chase” in an almost whispering tone “we have an operation going on across the street, we needed to be certain that you and your crew were out of the picture before we made a move. Santiago will explain the rest to you momentarily. We appreciate your help”. Then just as sudden he said aloud “Ok sir if you take this elevator to the 27th floor there are only 2 doors here is your key sir you want to go in the door on your right”. Then he whispered again “you won’t need that” as he tapped the heat I had under my jacket.

Knowing that my team wasn’t in trouble released a lot of tension, but I still didn’t understand what was going on. I walked into the elevator and looked up at the camera and Bang called my cell. “Yo what up” I said “shit its crazy right now”. Bang said “Smile nicca you on candid camera Muh Fucca” and started laughing. I was like what? Look up at the camera son! Gotcha.. now don’t be digging up ya ass or ya nose cuz Ima put that shit on youtube hahahahaha”. I laughed and hung up the phone. Finally I reached the top floor; took out the key and open the door.

Hello! I yelled out and from somewhere off in the distance was that soft Latin accent “I’m in here Chase”. I entered the entertainment room where the voice came from and there she was as pretty as a newborn Brazilian model standing in from a screen the size of movie projector wearing that SUNDRESS. “Relax, have a seat” she said as she opened the bar and grab some red wine and two glasses. She turned and walked towards me with the bottle opener and all in her hands. Her walked was symbolic to an angel walking on water; it was just innocent and pure. Trying to keep my cool I copped a squat and said “ok so what’s up ma? You wanna tell me what’s this all about”. “Relax Papi, you think I would bring you through all of this and not tell you? Be easy I have everything under control” she said and let out a very seductive chuckle.

She sat down in the recliner and looked at me. She looked at my feet; my hands then she took off her lenses and said “Why don’t you put your favorite Berretta away. You don’t need it”. Reluctantly I agreed to remove it so I placed it on the coffee table and then I decided to put it under the sofa. {BREAKING NEWS} flashed across the screen. Santiago turned up the volume. It appeared that a murder suspect from a four year old highly profiled international businessman was captured and about to be indicted. Just then Santiago turn off the TV. She got up from her seat and walked over to the cabinet just in the other room. I watched her prance across the floor like a ballerina. She came back with a combination locked briefcase and set it on the coffee table before. She kissed the tip of my baldhead and started walking away. With her back towards me she said the combination is your daughter birthday, then she walked into the bedroom.

Inside the briefcase was a copy of every person on my teams complete rap sheet. Every petty crime to every felony! At the very bottom was a card that read INVITATION on it. I opened it and there was a separate sheet of paper that said read last. The card read:

Thank you for all of your help. If it wasn’t for you and your crew making enough noise on the streets for my superiors to take notice to we would have never crossed paths. Which means that I would have never found the guy responsible for killing the only father I knew. Although he wasn’t the most honest guy in the world, he did love me and I loved him just as much. So accept this as a token of gratitude for what you have done for me. From this point on you and your crew have a clean slate. It is up to you to maintain it. Thanks again. Oh by the way I hope that you won’t leave me in this huge bedroom all alone for long. Inside the paper that read “READ LAST” was a bank statement with the amount of $150k for me to pick up 1st thing tomorrow a.m.

My mouth hit the floor. I was mute; without sound without words. So I folded the paper and placed it back inside the briefcase, loosened my tie and took off my jacket. I entered the room to see the his’ and hers shower heads and robes hanging from the wall. She stood in front of the mirror combing her hair back to put it in a scrungy. I wanted to unbutton my shirt by I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I watched her as she uncovered her shoulders from under the dress. Her neck was long and her back was chic and defined which showed she put her time in at the gym. The dress was finally at her hips and the hint of some orange (my favorite color) boy-shorts high-jacked my vision. I was a P.O.W. and she the highest ranking official. With my shirt half unbutton she walked over to me and met my face with her hands then a kiss. Her left hand slide from my cheek to my shoulder; then my right pectoral became a rest point as she looked up in my eyes and said follow me. She grabbed me by the hand and led me to the huge shower area. She leaned me against the vanity and began to suck my bottom lip pulling my belt from my waist. I struggled to get my shirt off and she slide my pants to my ankles using her knee and foot as a guide.

Before I knew it we were under the shower water and her naked body had become both my belt and my scarf. I pounced and swung her from one side of the shower to the other nibbling her neck and shoulder as she grabbed my hand then her nails went in my back as she bit my ear and whispered “deeper papi deeper”. After her fourth “O” we cleaned each other and retired to the bed.

I woke up to an empty bed and a knock at the door.