Killer Diamonds (14 page)

Chapter 31

“Hey baby,” Tip said trying to appear as normal as possible. “Hey Ma! Where y’all been?” Dice asked. “
Nowhere,” Tip replied hoping that was his last question.

“What have y’all got in those bags,” he asked.

“Quit being nosy.” Tip turned to Kizzy. “I really appreciate what you do for us.”

“It’s no problem. I thought I wouldn’t see you until tomorrow. Everything okay?”

“Just fine. Let me get your money.”

Nano headed to the back with two plastic bags. Tip followed
him, returned almost immediately, and handed Kizzy a check. “No, this is too much Tip,” she protested.

“Girl shut up and take it. You always come through in the clutch for me. You have never told us no and I like you.”

“This is a thousand dollars! When do you want me to watch him again? Shit, I’ll adopt him!” The laughed and hugged one another. “I can watch him full time for you though,” Kizzy told Tip.

“I’ll let you know, I may need you.”

Kizzy started to gather her things. She then looked down at Dice. “Are you going to come see me?”

“Me and my mom will ride through.”

Tip looked at him with a smile, “Isn’t Kizzy a little too old for you?”

“All I got to do is turn eighteen. She said!” Kizzy furrowed her eyebrows. “That was supposed to be our little secret!” She bent down and kissed him on the cheek. “Bye baby,” she said with a smile and left.

“You look like you might be in love,” Tip teased him.

“Aw Ma,” he said embarrassed. “I’m too young to know what that is.”

“I know that’s right. Come here.” Tip headed to the couch and took a seat. Dice hopped up on the couch beside her. “Tomorrow, I’m going to buy you a go-kart.”

“Quit playing Ma.”

“I’m not playing.”

“You’re for real?”

“Yeah. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to us, and I want to show you. Now, go do your homework.”

“I already did it.”

“Alright, you can go play in your room.”

“What time are you going to get the go-kart?”

“Who knows, it might be here when you get home from school.”

Dice dashed down the hall and disappeared in his room. Tip returned to their bedroom where Nano was preparing to take a shower.

“So what are we going to do with it,” she asked him referring to the $630,000 in cash. “Tomorrow we’ll stash it. They we’ll lay low.”

“What about the diamonds?”

“Hitman and Skillz will try to find them. As I see it, we at least came out with something. Those diamonds are gone babe.”

“What do you think about Craig and Ace?”

“The devil was waiting on them. You’ll never win gambling against him.”

*****

“You didn’t answer your phone. I was thinking something went wrong. Craig and Ace are dead, and the police is going haywire,” Monique said. Time threw a trash bag on the floor containing $315,000. “What’s that?” she asked.

“Didn’t Skillz tell you what was up?” Time walked into the bathroom and closed the door. He wanted to make the phone call to Hitman at that point. He didn’t trust Nique anymore. After two rings, Hitman picked up.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Today when you were talking about somebody stepping out on the group, I thought I might know what was going on.”

“You know something?” Hitman asked.

“I can’t talk about it right now.”

“Can you come over and talk?”

“Yeah, I can do that.”

“Are you coming now?”

“I’ll be there in 15 minutes. Let me take care of something real quick.” Time disconnected, grabbed a rag, and wiped his face. Looking into the mirror, he thought about the last two days of his life. When Time exited the bathroom, Nique was nowhere in sight. He walked into the front room and found her sitting on the couch crying. Time grabbed the black bag and the keys to the Donk. He then walked to the front door and looked back at her for the last time. There was no coming back after everything that had happened. He’d find a way to stay in his daughter’s life without dealing with Monique. He only wished she was home and not at her
grandmother’s, so he could have said good-bye and explained things to her.

Time exited the house, slid into the Chevy, pulled out his cellphone, and called Step. She picked up on the third ring. “What’s up cutie?” she asked as she answered. Time smiled. It felt good when you knew that someone was happy to hear from you. “You,” he replied.

“I see you made it back safely.”

“I did, but everything didn’t go right. I’m good though.”

“Guess who called me?”

“Nique.”

“How did you know?”

“I just do.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“First, I’m going to drop something off to you.”

“What is it?”

“Money to retain a lawyer.”

*****

Lendora was lying across the bed naked when the knock came at the door. “I wonder who that is,” she wondered out loud. Hitman slid out of the bed wondering. He knew it couldn’t have been Time that quickly.

He looked out of the peephole to see Tony from Club Delight. “What is Tony doing here,” he thought. Tony and Craig had been cool. Maybe he knew something. Hitman opened to the door to see a troubled Tony and two people he didn’t know.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“I’m Mr. Colodon; I’m here for the diamonds.” As he said this, the white man with them pulled a gun.

Chapter 32

Detective Graham wore civilian clothes inside Club Delight. People weren’t too fond of cops coming to strip clubs and flashing their badges. He casually walked to the bar surveying the scene and took a seat.

“Can I help you?” Chell asked. She was worrying about Tony and if he would return. “Can I have a beer?” he asked. Chell eyed him suspiciously. “Are you a cop?”

“No I’m not a cop. Why would you ask that?”

“Because cops are the only ones that drink beer in here.” Chell slid a
Budweiser since he didn’t specify what kind of beer he wanted. Graham grabbed the beer and took a sip. “Oh yeah, you’re a cop. Why are you here?”

I came to see someone by the name of
Luscious. Is she working tonight?”

“What do you want her for?”

“Business.”

“Is this about those bodies at the hotel?”

“Do you know something about that?”

“This is
Tennessee, everybody knows about that.” Chell looked around and then she pointed. “Luscious is over there. You shouldn’t have a problem finding her.”

Detective
Graham looked in the direction Chell had pointed. He then made his way to the nearest empty table. Two girls were entertaining an overly loud intoxicated man with a bottle of champagne. He was wearing an excessive amount of jewelry. When the girl with the orange thong and matching top looked over at him, he raised his hand. The girls immediately came over.

“Hello,” she said. Graham could see that she
also had on orange lip-gloss. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“
Luscious, you got something on your mind?”

“As a matter of a fact, I do.”

*****

Tip looked over at Nano when the knock came at the door. Nano was in a deep sleep. The nightstand clock indicated it was 1:04. She rolled out of bed wearing a nightie and slipped into her house shoes.

“Who is it?” she asked through the door.

“Tip it’s Skillz. We found the diamonds.” Excitedly she opened the door to hear the news. “Where’s Nano?”

“He’s asleep. Hold I’ll go get him.”

“That’s alright. I’ll get him.” When Tip turned to face Skillz, he was holding a .9mm to her face. He then reached out and snatched her to him
aggressively. “Let’s walk back here real quietly. No need to wake your son.”

“You’re crazy!”

“Sometimes I forget to take my medicine,” Skillz said with a laugh. He then pushed the gun under her chin. “I don’t want to fuck this pretty face up.” Skillz looked her in the eyes. He then grabbed her ass. “I’ve always wanted to do that. You know what I really want to do Tip?”

Tip grabbed his hand and took it off her ass. “What the hell do you want?”

Skillz bit down on his lip to restrain himself. He then grabbed her by the hair and pushed her down the hall. When they walked into the bedroom, Skillz wrapped her hair around his hair to prevent her escape. He then nudged her with the gun. Nano stirred and looked up. He blinking twice at the figure standing over him.

“Wake up lover boy,” snapped Skillz.

Nano rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. “What the fuck! Nigga you crazy?”

“I just came for the bread.”

“Okay motherfucker, so you’re the one who killed Craig and Ace!”

“Nigga, just give me the fucking money,” Skillz said threateningly. “I’m not going to ask you again. You better start moving if you don’t want this bitch leaking.”

“It’s under the bed.”

“Get it,” Skillz demanded bringing the gun to Tip’s temple. Nano held his hands up. “Just be easy man,” he said calmly. He then eased out of the bed and pulled one of the bags out. “Get the other one too,” Skillz said.

Nano knew they were completely vulnerable in the bedroom. Tip and already put the .357 in the kitchen, and he knew if he made any sudden movements Skillz would pull the trigger. Nano reached under the bed and pulled out the other garbage bag. “There you go,” he said, “Now let her go.”

Skillz laughed in a way they had never heard before. “You love these pretty eyes don’t
you? Nigga really wants to be a hero!” Skillz shoved Tip to the floor beside Nano. “You know… I never liked you Nano.”

Skillz pointed the gun at Nano’s head and pulled the trigger. Nano fell over face first. Tip screamed, “Nooo! Why did you do that?” She crawled over to Nano’s body and started sobbing. Without her realizing Skillz turned the gun on her. He pulled the trigger again.

*****

Dice was awakened from sleep by the first gunshot. When he heard his mother screaming, he was frightened, the second
gunshot and the silence that followed terrified him. Quickly he slid under the bed. That was where Tip had always told him to go if he needed a safe place. When he heard a rustling sound, he peered from under his bed. Then everything went silent. Dice listened to his breathing. Tears started to fall from his eyes. The sound of footsteps returned and the bedroom light suddenly came on. Dice was now looking at a pair of black Timberlands. They walked to and fro as if searching for something. Seconds passed, and then the boots headed to the door and the lights went out. Dice stayed under the bed until he heard the front door open and close.

He slid from under the bed and ran to his
parents’ bedroom. Usually, the door was shut at night, but tonight it stood open. Dice walked inside to find both of his parents crumpled on the floor. When he called out to them, they didn’t respond. He picked up the phone from the nightstand and called 911.

“911, what’s your emergency?” a voice asked him.

“Can you send an ambulance? Somebody killed my mom and dad.”

*****

When Time pulled into Hitman’s driveway, it seemed odd to him that there was a black Porsche and what looked like Tony’s Hummer parked out front. It seemed unusual because he knew Hitman did not accept many guests at his home. Things were happening strangely all around him, and the diamonds were still missing.

He approached cautiously.
A walkway ran along the side of the house and lead to the back. Time pulled out his .9mm because his intuition told him something was wrong. He changed his mind about knocking on the door. Although Hitman was expecting him, he wanted to check things out first.

Time ducked down and crept to the first window on the side of the house. The room was dark. He continued on making his way to the back. As he thought about
it, he realized it was his first time in Hitman’s backyard.

Their relationship had always been good, but not like Hitman and Nano’s. There was only one window in the back that he could see into. Light from inside cast a perfect square on the grass only a few feet from where he stood. Time eased to it glad Hitman wasn’t a dog owner. He didn’t trust animals, especially dogs. Time looked inside, and was shocked at what he saw. He snatched his head back
cursing. “Shit!”

In the brief moment he had looked
in, he saw five individuals. He wouldn’t have thought anything about it, except for the white man pointing a gun at Hitman. Time thought, “I need to stay calm and come up with a plan.”

He crept away from the window. He then pulled out his cell phone and called Nano. Nano would know what to do. The phone rang twice and then his voicemail came on. Time hung up. He then called the last person on earth he want to. After two
rings, he also got Skillz’s voicemail.

“Damn,” he cursed again. He knew he was alone to figure things out. Tim crept back to the window and weighed the situation. The three men now had their backs to the window. It seemed like the best time to try and get Hitman’s attention. Time waved his arms frantically until he thought Hitman had seen him. He then dipped back out of sight.

“He saw me,” Time tried to reassure himself. He needed to figure out what to do next. It appeared that Hitman had been trying to explain himself to the strangers. He abandoned the window and moved to the back door. When he turned the doorknob it gave way, the door was unlocked.

He thought thoroughly until a plan started to come together. He decided he would go to the front door and ring the doorbell. Hopefully, one of the strangers would go to check it out. In doing
so, he would run to the back door and step in with a hell of a surprise.

Time laughed stupidly to himself thinking about his plan, but it had to work. He felt as if he could change the situation somehow. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt the men in the house were responsible for Craig and Ace’s deaths. He had no
alternatives. He crept to the front door and rang the doorbell.

He then dashed to the back of the house and peered in the window. His predication had been correct. The big white man with the gun took Hitman out of the room to the front door. Time didn’t hesitate. He ducked and ran to the backdoor. He then eased inside without making a sound.

Time had two choices of what to do next. Either he could wait on Hitman and the man to return, or he could go into the bedroom and surprise the other men. Time headed to the bedroom. When he stepped inside, he had his .9mm ready.

“Put your hand up player!”

Mr. Colodon turned around surprised. “Put ‘em up,” Time yelled again. Mr. Colodon raised his arms in the air. “Turn around,” Time ordered. When Mr. Colodon did as he was told, Time came up behind him and threw an arm around his neck. He then turned him to face the bedroom door. “This game just changed,” he announced.

Seeing Time with Mr. Colodon under control, Lendora rolled of the bed, opened the nightstand drawer, and pulled out a gold plated Dillinger. She pointed it at Tony. At that moment, Hitman and the bodyguard returned to the room.

“There wasn’t,” Train began, and then stopped speaking as he took in the scene in the room.

“What’s up Hitman?” Time asked.

“Glad to see you,” Hitman replied. He still had his hands in the air.

“Where are the diamonds,” Mr. Colodon asked.

“I told you I don’t have the diamonds,” Hitman said looking at him. They both had guns to their heads. “Tell dude to put his gun down,” Time ordered.

“I can’t do that,” Colodon said.

“You can tell him to put his gun down or I’m going to drop your ass!” Time put some pressure on the gun against his head. Mr. Colodon winced in pain. He then nodded at Train. Train released Hitman. He slowly eased the P89 to the floor. Hitman bent down, picked it up, and fired a single bullet into the bodyguard’s head. Time did the same with Mr. Colodon. Both bodies lay still on the floor.

Hitman sighed as he breathing and
heart rate returned to normal. “I owe you big for this,” he told Time. “I’m just glad I came over,” he responded. “Who the hell was he?”

“Some man looking for his million dollars and the diamonds. He’s the one that killed Craig and Ace.”

“What about him?” Lendora asked. They both had forgotten about Tony. Hitman approached in two strides. Before he could utter a word in his defense, Hitman dropped him with a single bullet to the head from the P89.

“He must have showed them where I lived. Lendora get their keys and pull the cars to the back. We have to clean this up.”

Lendora began to get dressed. That’s when Time realized she didn’t have any clothes on. He turned away until she was decent. Once she was dressed, she began to search the bodies. Once she had two sets of keys, she disappeared from the room.

“We’re going to pack these motherfuckers up in Tony’s Hummer. Then we’re going to take their bodies
across town,” Hitman said as his set the P89 down. He rubbed the top of his head. Time could tell that he was still dealing with his near death experience.

“What were you coming to tell me?” he suddenly asked.

“Damn! I almost forget,” Time said. “I wanted to tell you about Skillz.”

“What about him?” Hitman asked as he looked up.

“I think he might know where the diamonds are.”

“Why do you think that?” Hitman asked focusing all of his attention on Time.

Time sighed. “He told me that he wanted to take the diamonds from the group.”

“What?”

“Hitman, I know I should have said something, but I thought I’d talked him out of it.” Time paused and looked at the bodies on the floor. “That was before I found out the nigga been fucking Nique.”

“Ah man,”
Hitman exclaimed. “It’s too late for that.” He got to his feet. “I think the funny looking man owns the Porsche. Lendora is going to drive that and dump it. You and I are each other’s alibis,” he stated. “Follow me in Lendora’s Lexus. Let’s go.”

It took thirty minutes for Time and Hitman to get all three bodies in the Hummer. Just as Hitman wanted, Time followed him in the Lexus. They were on Highway 40 and the traffic had been sporadic. Hitman drove until he came to the exit where the abandoned Greyhound station was. It was now infested with heroin addicts. People whose testimony could be altered and changed. Hitman hurriedly parked the Hummer. He then slid from behind the wheel and walked to the Lexus. “Open the trunk,” he said.

Time popped the latch and Hitman rummaged around in the trunk. He then pulled out a bottle of lighter fluid. Hitman walked back to the Hummer and doused the interior with the liquid. Once the container was empty, he threw it inside with the bodies. He then dug in his pocket and pulled out Bic lighter. With one strike, he lit the interior on fire.