I swear to God, I pissed right there,” Tina said, making the sign of the cross again. “I was trembling the whole time.”
“Bitch you should’ve been shook. They had all rights to be up in your place. He was your baby-daddy and he lives with you. I know Nesto done stole their ice and shit.”
“Carlos was involved too. You know that’s why they came here, Kim.”
“And his ass was only visiting. They came up in here wearing motorcycle helmets and all. They just started shooting as soon as they saw Carlos. I was scared shitless. It’s your fault why I was fucking with Carlos’ pimp ass. He had too many women. He wasn’t staying here and that’s why they shouldn’t have shoot up at my damn place. Just look at it now,” Kim said, waving her arm around.
Both glanced around the wrecked apartment. The sofa was ripped and flipped over and pillows littered the apartment. CD cases were strewn all over.
“It’s you and your man’s, I mean ex’s fault why they fucked up my place. I was an innocent bystander to this. You’re gonna have to help me clean this place up.”
“Damn girl! Let me at least mourn his death. I may have to leave town and all.”
“Girl please, not over Nesto?”
“I mean…”
“Tina you know the nigga got right back into things as soon as he came home from jail. Him and his boys robbed da wrong fucking people. How I got dragged in some shit where my place becomes people’s damn shooting gallery and bitches running up in my muthafucking crib…?”
“Look, I heard your bellyaching. Alright already. I’ll do more than help you clean up. You just remember who was there for you when your baby father was shot.”
“Oh girl please. You leave Deja outta this one. Don’t try to play no sympathy card now!” Kim shouted. “Thank God he’s dead. I mean it like they can’t blame this one on him. You know all Nesto’s boys are snitches and they’d try to pin this on him.”
She stared at Tina and saw the fear still in her eyes. They had been friends since junior high. Kim and Tina had had a horrible experience. They faced the wrath of an execution team, known as the Cali6, who were armed with orders to kill. Tina witnessed Nesto being shot down like an animal. Kim was with Carlos when he was gunned down. She feared they would turn their guns on her but they didn’t. Instead they quickly rummaged around her one bedroom apartment and disappeared as fast as they came. Kim hugged Tina.
“Don’t get too emotional about Nesto. He was up to no good.”
“Kim, that was some crazy shit,” she whispered.
“Was it? Oh God, I’ll never forget it. I didn’t even know nothing. They were looking for ice,” Kim said. “What the fuck I know ‘bout some ice…?”
She glanced suspiciously at Tina like old friends who know each other well do. The pressure was on and Tina was reluctant to respond. She walked to where she’d placed her black Campo style handbag and played with the braided straps.
Kim watched, looking at her best friend wringing her hands, anxious to say something.
“Kim I know sump’n about their ice. I’m trying to tell you.”
“Don’t tell me nothing. I don’t wanna hear anything about it. I don’t wanna be involved in anything—”
“I kept a chunk,” Tina said with a smile that immediately brought a painful grimace on Kim’s mug.
“What?” Kim’s voice boomed. She wore a stunned expression. “Now why the fuck did you tell me that. I don’t wanna fucking know nothing. You feel me? I don’t wanna be mixed up in this scheme…”
Kim’s voice trailed and her mouth dropped open when Tina pulled out the gleaming, huge rock. The small egg-sized jewel glistened brightly in the morning’s sunlight. Tina held it up and they stared awestruck at the stone’s size and clarity.
“Woooooooow,” Kim said. She involuntarily whistled while carrying a wide-eyed expression. “That is some big ass piece of rock. Someone is gonna get killed.”
They were startled by the ringing doorbell. Both gazed at the door as if they were hypnotized. “Put… put the shit back where it came from and don’t leave that big ass diamond anywhere in my apartment. I don’t want them two Chinese bitches coming back and shooting me and my son,” Kim said, walking slowly to the door, all the while keeping her eyes on Tina.
“Oh Tina, put that shit away. Hide it, please! It’s the muthafucking super snooping detective you fucked,” Kim said, looking at Tina after peering through the peephole. “It’s the police, bitch!” she said when the doorbell rang again.
Tina was moving too slow for her and Kim started violently waving her arms. Tina looked at her perplexed. Kim ran over to where Tina stood and shook her. “I don’t want nothin’ else going off up in here. Put that shit away,” she whispered, hurrying back to the door. “I don’t want anymore problems up in here.” Kim then opened the door.
The detective walked in wearing a smile and looking nattily dressed in a khaki colored suit and white shirt.
“Good morning ladies,” he said. His smile slowly changed to a smirk as he pulled out his shield.
“Hi detective. How’re you doing?” Kim smiled.
He walked over and gently grabbed Tina close to him.
“Y’all need to go get a room somewhere,” Kim said with a smile that wasn’t very convincing.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Detective Kowalski said. “What you got hiding in this expensive handbag of yours?”
Kim felt a shudder, for she was anxious that Kowalski may have seen the diamond.
“Looks like this place has been through a storm,” Kowalski observed.
He put the bag down and Kim’s heart beat dropped. She sashayed over and planted herself between the handbag and Kowalski. Tina winked at her and wiggled her ass in front of Kowalski, averting his attention. He followed her to where the sofa stood flipped over. Kim picked up the bag and took it to her bedroom. She returned to see Kowalski pawing at Tina’s body.
“Hey, hey, what’s the rush? Y’all acting like horn-toads. You get it whenever you can, huh?”
“He’s just happy to see me,” Tina said with a grin.
“You and him need to take y’alls happiness elsewhere,” Kim said wiping her hands across her neck. “Dead that shit! Go with the detective to brunch or sump’n. And don’t forget your bag. I put it in the bedroom.”
“I’m too tired to eat. I’m dead ass if I get sump’n to eat. I’ll fall out and sleep right there,” Tina said, spinning her colorfully manicured nail in the air. “I’m dead ass.”
“Well, I gotta clean up all this mess right now.”
“I’ll help you,” Tina said quickly.
“Now wait up. Before you ladies get busy with cleaning up the mess. The chief would like to talk to you.”
“Tell your boss, the chief or whoever to give us a call and set up an appointment,” Tina said.
“I don’t know—” the detective started.
“You don’t understand—” Kim quickly cut the detective off.
“I understand alright, but I can’t go anywhere right now. My son is sleeping and he’s been through hell. I just want him to get a little more rest.”
“They want to see you now and you can take your son,” the detective ordered.
Kim gave him an evil stare and was about to jump all over him but Tina intervened.
“Hey, you know what? Let’s