Alvarez craned his neck to see inside of Daddy’s Kitchen. “This your new spot, Shai?”
“Something like that. Does the grand opening have anything to do with why you’re here?”
“Nah, man, I was just wondering how the pork chops were in this joint. I might wanna bring a couple of the fellas from the department here for dinner,” Alvarez said sarcastically.
“This ain’t your kinda spot. We don’t serve or allow pork, but there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts not too far from here.”
Detective Alvarez laughed. “You’re a funny guy, almost as funny as Tommy Gunz. Speaking of big bro, how is he? I haven’t seen him around much lately.”
“Tommy is good.”
“Glad to hear it. You know Tommy Gunz was one of the last stand-up guys out here, no pun intended,” Alvarez said with a cunning smile. A few years earlier Tommy had been paralyzed in the shooting that claimed his father’s life and had since been confined to a wheelchair. Alvarez knew he was hitting below the belt with that statement, and so did everyone else.
Shai took a step toward the detective, fist balled and ready to pop off. Sol placed a calming hand on his arm and gave him a slight squeeze. Shai didn’t go any further, but he stared daggers at the detective.
“If you’ve got something to say, then say it; if not, get the fuck from around my establishment before I have you brought up on harassment charges,” Shai said through clenched teeth.
Detective Brown chuckled. “That shit sounds good, but we know people like you don’t talk to the police . . . at least not all of you.” He let his eyes sweep Shai’s soldiers accusingly. “Anyhow, we’ve had our fun, so now let’s cut the bullshit and get to the point of why we’re here. Word on the streets is that you’ve got a problem, Shai.”
Now, it was Shai’s turn to chuckle. “Nah, I ain’t got no problems. Everybody loves the Clarks. I’m afraid you boys are getting bad information.”
“Yeah, maybe if you paid your informants a li’l more for their souls they’d do their jobs properly,” Swann added.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t be so quick to make jokes, Swann. We hear your name is still on somebody’s piece of paper for what you did to Tech. Word has it you’re number one on the Blood Hit Parade,” Brown said slyly.
Swann shrugged. “I don’t know nothing about no Bloods, and I don’t know anybody named Tech.”
Detective Brown sneered. “So you say, but the hood is saying otherwise. We all know Tech was a piece of shit. Hell, that whole bastard clan from Jah down to Ashanti have all been rotten from the inside out, but the streets love a degenerate like that. Tech was a man of respect, and he got done dirty. Right now, the only thing that’s keeping you off the front page of the Daily News is the fact that you’re Shai’s number-one hand job. If the Clarks ever decide to lift that veil of protection, it’s over for you, Blood, ” Brown said sarcastically.
“Whatever, nigga. I told you I don’t know nobody named Tech,” Swann said, trying to keep his voice steady, but Detective Brown was getting under his skin.
Brown shrugged. “Just the same, I’d grow eyes in the back of my head if I were you. Now, back to what I was saying.” He turned to Shai. “Shai, I think we all know that there is a laundry list of people who don’t like the way you’re running your father’s organization and would love to see you crushed by the shadow you’ve been living in. They’re saying that your reign as king is over, and it’s time for some fresh blood,” Brown taunted him.
Shai waved him off. “If all you’ve come here to do is tell me a bunch of shit that people are saying, then we ain’t got nothing to talk about. You gentlemen have a good night.” Shai turned to walk away, but the picture Detective Brown pulled from the envelope and tossed at his feet made him pause. He looked down at the picture of a man and woman in a car riddled with bullets
“Something like that. Does the grand opening have anything to do with why you’re here?”
“Nah, man, I was just wondering how the pork chops were in this joint. I might wanna bring a couple of the fellas from the department here for dinner,” Alvarez said sarcastically.
“This ain’t your kinda spot. We don’t serve or allow pork, but there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts not too far from here.”
Detective Alvarez laughed. “You’re a funny guy, almost as funny as Tommy Gunz. Speaking of big bro, how is he? I haven’t seen him around much lately.”
“Tommy is good.”
“Glad to hear it. You know Tommy Gunz was one of the last stand-up guys out here, no pun intended,” Alvarez said with a cunning smile. A few years earlier Tommy had been paralyzed in the shooting that claimed his father’s life and had since been confined to a wheelchair. Alvarez knew he was hitting below the belt with that statement, and so did everyone else.
Shai took a step toward the detective, fist balled and ready to pop off. Sol placed a calming hand on his arm and gave him a slight squeeze. Shai didn’t go any further, but he stared daggers at the detective.
“If you’ve got something to say, then say it; if not, get the fuck from around my establishment before I have you brought up on harassment charges,” Shai said through clenched teeth.
Detective Brown chuckled. “That shit sounds good, but we know people like you don’t talk to the police . . . at least not all of you.” He let his eyes sweep Shai’s soldiers accusingly. “Anyhow, we’ve had our fun, so now let’s cut the bullshit and get to the point of why we’re here. Word on the streets is that you’ve got a problem, Shai.”
Now, it was Shai’s turn to chuckle. “Nah, I ain’t got no problems. Everybody loves the Clarks. I’m afraid you boys are getting bad information.”
“Yeah, maybe if you paid your informants a li’l more for their souls they’d do their jobs properly,” Swann added.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t be so quick to make jokes, Swann. We hear your name is still on somebody’s piece of paper for what you did to Tech. Word has it you’re number one on the Blood Hit Parade,” Brown said slyly.
Swann shrugged. “I don’t know nothing about no Bloods, and I don’t know anybody named Tech.”
Detective Brown sneered. “So you say, but the hood is saying otherwise. We all know Tech was a piece of shit. Hell, that whole bastard clan from Jah down to Ashanti have all been rotten from the inside out, but the streets love a degenerate like that. Tech was a man of respect, and he got done dirty. Right now, the only thing that’s keeping you off the front page of the Daily News is the fact that you’re Shai’s number-one hand job. If the Clarks ever decide to lift that veil of protection, it’s over for you, Blood, ” Brown said sarcastically.
“Whatever, nigga. I told you I don’t know nobody named Tech,” Swann said, trying to keep his voice steady, but Detective Brown was getting under his skin.
Brown shrugged. “Just the same, I’d grow eyes in the back of my head if I were you. Now, back to what I was saying.” He turned to Shai. “Shai, I think we all know that there is a laundry list of people who don’t like the way you’re running your father’s organization and would love to see you crushed by the shadow you’ve been living in. They’re saying that your reign as king is over, and it’s time for some fresh blood,” Brown taunted him.
Shai waved him off. “If all you’ve come here to do is tell me a bunch of shit that people are saying, then we ain’t got nothing to talk about. You gentlemen have a good night.” Shai turned to walk away, but the picture Detective Brown pulled from the envelope and tossed at his feet made him pause. He looked down at the picture of a man and woman in a car riddled with bullets
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