"What's up chief?"
"Well you know. I'm holding it down, trying to maintain.
This is just like one big vacation man. I get room service,
women when I want them, golf in the mornings. Shoot, this is
just like being on the outside."
"You may not like it so much when I tell you what I know."
"What the hell are you talking about man."
"I'm talking about Kelly."
"What? The man behind the glass containment area raised to his feet
and his smile turned to a large frown. He was an older man.
An old "g" in his mid forties, well groomed, manicure, pedicure the works.
Where is she," he asked.
"You'll never guess," his visitor said.
"Look man, you'd better come clean before I reach through this
glass and rip your damn tongue out your mouth."
"Alright, calm down. She's in Miami."
"Miami? What the hell is she doing in Miami? Are you sure it was her?"
"Hey man I know Kelly when I see her. And I'm telling you that she
is alive and well in Miami. Her face looked different, but the voice
is the same. She was at the comedy show with some punk."
"I always knew my baby was alive. So what else do you have to tell me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Marcus, you did follow her right? You do know where she is living,
working at right?"
"Well, not exactly."
"What the hell do you mean?"
"Well, they must have left early because before I knew it they were
nowhere to be found."
"Well here is what I need you to do for me. And remember that you're
free because I kept quiet, so you owe me."
"I know. You'll never let me forget it."
"That's right. I took the fall for all y'all and don't ever forget that!"
"Alright Manny. What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to take some guys, top notch no Mickey Mouse, take them down
to Miami and find that trick! I don't care what it takes but find her!
And it better not take more than two weeks!"
"Two weeks?"
"Yeah man. How long were you there before you spotted her?"
"Only a couple of days."
"Alright, then two weeks should be more than enough time to find her.
Run level one surveillance. I want proof. I have to see for myself.
And by no means is anyone to make contact without my permission.
Is that understood?"
"Yes sir!"
"I mean that Marcus! She cannot be aware that she is being watched or
she will disappear. She has done it before. Also, find out everything
you can about this Casanova she is seeing. Don't touch him yet. When the
time is right I will deal with him."
"What is it with you and her anyway? It's like she has a hold on you and
you are afraid to let go. I mean you can have any female you want.
What is the deal with her?"
The man behind the glass threw his fist up against it with anger.
"Don't question me! I own you! With one word I can have you missing for real!
Just do as I say and get out of my face!"
Telephone rings.
"Hello?"
"Hi baby, how was your day at work?"
"It was fine, the usual. I had a couple of meetings with clients, nothing
spectacular."
"Are you coming to see me at the club tonight?"
"I've been thinking about that."
"And what, now you're not coming?"
"Well, do you really want me to? I mean it can't be good for business with
your man sitting there watching you."
"Look, don't make up any punk excuses. Either you want to be there for
me or you don't."
"You know I do. I just don't want to be a distraction to you."
"I appreciate your concern but don't worry about me. You should be more
concerned about yourself."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, can you handle seeing other men touch me?"
"I can handle it."
"So I will see you later?"
"Of course you will."
"Ok baby."
"Goodbye."
He did not tell her where he was, or what he was doing. He was at the local
library researching microfilm on news clippings from the Atlanta area. He
had to know what she looked like and there had to be a picture of her in the
local paper at the time of the accident. (Bingo! Here it is!)
Wife of local drug lord plunges into Atlanta River, feared dead! Raquel
Espinosa, wife of notorious drug lord Manny Espinosa lost control of her car
at the height of rush hour today and plunged 25 feet into the freezing Atlanta
river. Search and rescue crews were unsuccessful in finding Raquel's body.
The worst is feared today. Local area officials say that it is unlikely
that Espinosa (shown above at a police charity ball with husband Manny)
survived the fall let alone the freezing waters. Her husband was arrested
last month on trafficking charges and is currently serving a mandatory life
sentence at a federal prison in Chicago. It is said that Mr. Espinosa is
distraught over these latest developments but is optimistic that his wife
will be found alive and well.
(Wow she was beautiful! Like a China doll. She was telling the truth.
I believed her. I just had to see for myself.)
Matthew motioned to the clerk behind the desk.
"Excuse me Miss, can I get a copy of this article?"
"Sure, it's 50 cents per page."
"Ok. Here you go."
As he left the library he walked pass a nearby restaurant that had outdoor
seating. He did not notice the patrons sitting there. But, one of them noticed him.
"Hey, ain't that the guy you had static with at the comedy club?"
"Where?"
"Look, over there walking towards the parking garage."
"Um, yeah that's the guy that was with Kelly."
"Come on let's get him."
"Hold on slowly. Remember, Manny wants him followed, not prohibited."
The two men followed Matthew through the parking garage and to his car,
making sure to keep a safe distance.
"Write down his tag. You got it?"
"Yeah."
"Good! Let's run this by our man downtown and see what he comes up with."
The two men go to the City of Miami police station that is not far.
They approach the receptionist at the front desk.
"Can I help you gentlemen," she asked.
"Yes. We are here to meet with Detective Gary Moore. He is expecting us,"
Marcus replied.
"Let me get him for you."
A few minutes later an officer approached them.
"Hey fellas what's up? Come right this way to my office. So, Marcus
what can I help you with today," the officer asked.
"I need you to run this plate for me and tell me what you get," Marcus replied.
"What are you looking for," the officer asked.
"Everything!"
"Let's see. Is this all you have?"
"Why?"
"Because I did not know that people this good still existed."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean this guy hasn't so much as sneezed within the past ten years.
Not even one traffic ticket. Shoot, he's never paid so much as a water bill late."
"Who is he?"
"Well, according to this he is Matthew Stephens II. He lives on the beach.
He is thirty years old, has no children. He came here fifteen years ago from
the Bahamas. He graduated from FAMU with a master's degree in architecture.
He's licensed as an architect in five states including this one. This guy is
a saint! What do you want with him?"
"I ask the questions here. Give me a print out of that."
"As soon as you give me my consultation fee."
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
"Whatever. Come on man let's get out of here."
"Where are we going?"
"To pay Mr. Stephens a little visit."
"But you said we were not to make contact."
"We're not. We are just going to scope him out for now."
Later that night Matthew awakes from a long nap. Oh man I overslept! What time is it? Shoot already 10 p.m. I promised Kelly
I would see her tonight.
Telephone rings.
"Hello?"
"Hi Matthew, don't hang up this time."
"Who is this?"
"This is Carrie."
"Hey, look I can't talk right now. I have somewhere to go."
"Where? To see that tramp at the club?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"You deserve better Matthew. I can't believe you would fall for a stripper!"
"You don't know what the hell you are talking about. What, are you following
me now?"
"Hey, when I want something I get it. And right now I want you."
He slammed down the telephone. Click! I don't have time for this. Ok, I got my keys, hat, VIP pass.
As he rushed out of his condo and sped down the road, he did not notice the
dark car that followed him.
"Where is this guy going?"
"Hey, at this time of night, take a guess. Don't follow too closely
he might notice us."
Yeah I'm going to see my baby. Look at me. I am like a little kid.
All excited about a stripper. Maybe Carrie is right. Nah, she left me.
She does not know what the hell she wants. I can't let her just bounce in and
out of my life when she wants to. She did tell me she needed space though.
Maybe she is ready to settle down. Nah, I can't go backwards. Ok, here is a
good spot to park.
"Oh shoot this cat's going to get his freak on."
"Shut up man, you better be glad my sister likes your butt. Look, I can't go
in there, because he has seen me. Just go in, look around and tell me what
you see. Don't do anything stupid. If you mess this up that's both our butts."
"Alright Marcus I got it."
"Good, now go in there and don't take long."
"Baby you made it."
"Yeah I almost didn't."
"What happened?"
"Shoot, I got home from work and fell asleep. And ah…"
"What baby?"
"Carrie called me again."
"What did she want this time?"
"You know what she wants. She wants me back."
"And what did you tell her?"
"I hung up on her."
"You don't sound too convinced. Are you telling me to make yourself feel
better? Or are you telling me because you care about me?"
"How in the hell can me telling you that my ex called me benefit me?
Look, I didn't come here to argue. I just wanted to see you. I think she
has been following me."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, she knows that you work here."
"Matthew! This is serious baby. You have got to be extremely careful when
you deal with her. Trust me, I know what it is to deal with a jealous,
possessive person. They will do anything to get to you. Anything!"
Just then the DJ came on the mic.
"Alright fellas we have a real treat for you right now. Coming to the
stage is one Miss Isis. They say that you haven't had a dance until you
have had one by this Egyptian goddess. So be generous to her as she does
her thing for you on the top side."
"That's me baby. I have to go. Wait for me at the bar, ok?"
"Alright."
He walked over to the bar.
"Hey Matthew, what's up?"
"What's up Candy?"
"I haven't seen you in here for a while. Not since that night you left with
Isis."
"Damn, you watching a brother like that now?"
"Hey, she has not stopped talking about you since you came in here that night."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. You're all she talks about. About how she's going to stop
dancing and start her own business with your help."
"With my help?"
"Yes, she said that you are going to do all of her logo designs and brochures
for her."
"Yes I am."
"You really like her don't you?"
"Yeah, I guess I do."
"Look, don't let this place get between you two."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean just because she dances in here, does not mean she is any less of a
person than someone you might meet somewhere else. Don't get me wrong, most
of the girls in here are so messed up mentally it makes me sick. Most of
them don't have anything to show for their hard work but scars and cigarette
burns. Not Isis. Shoot, look at the car she drives."
"Yeah, and her house."
"You've seen her house?"
"Yeah why?"
"Man no one here knows enough about her. Certainly not more than what goes
on behind these walls."
"And just what goes on behind these walls?"
"Look man, she's a class act. I've seen a lot of girls come and go through
those doors. None of them can compare to her. Here, this one is on the house."
Candy was an old school stripper turned bartender. The strip club was all
she knew. She was a surrogate mother to most of the girls at the club. Most
of her good looks had faded. Her tattoos were now nothing more than sagging
marks. But, everyone loved her. She knew everyone that came into the club
by name.
"Gran Marnier, you remembered," Matthew said as Candy handed him his drink.
"I didn't, she did," Candy replied pointing up on stage at Isis.
"Yeah she's something isn't she?"
"Look, if you need me to open your eyes I'll do it. But don't hurt her or
you will have me to deal with."
"I guess I'll have to remember that."
Just then the DJ came on.
"Alright fellas this is the last and final dance on the top side for one
Isis. Make sure you dig deep in those pockets and hook her up. And remember
you must be sippin' and or tippin' or your broke behinds have got to be dippin'!"
Moments later outside the club Marcus's boy returned to the car parked across
the street.
"Alright man what did you see," Marcus asked.
"Man this dude is a playa man."
"What do you mean?"
"First of all, he's wearing a VIP badge around his neck, and you know they
don't give those out to just anybody."
"What else?"
"Well, when I first went in he was talking to some trick. Fine as hell though.
They talked for about three songs but she had to go up on stage."
"What is her name?"
"Isis."
"What else?"
"Well after she went on stage he sat at the bar and was talking to the bartender."
"That's it? That's all you saw?"
"Yeah man. Man you should have seen Isis. She was like a damn amazon."
"What did you say?"
"I said she was like an amazon, man. Tall, red, and fine as hell."
"That's her! I knew it!"
"That's who?"
"Kelly, she's back to stripping. She must need money. Look, get the camera.
We'll get some more pictures of this fool as he leaves the club. Then we'll
follow that trick. Let's see if she has her own place or if she is shacking up
with pretty boy Floyd."
Back inside the club Isis had just come down from the main stage. She walked
around collecting extra tips from the men seated around the stage. She walked
over to Matthew.
"Hey baby, did you like my dance?"
"Yeah you were nice."
"Hey Isis can I have a dance please," a voice asked from across the room.
"I think you have a customer," Matthew said as he finished his drink.
"Yeah, go home and get some rest, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Ok sweetie. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Matthew finishes his drink and leaves.
"Marcus, here he comes."
"Take it quick. Take one more. You got it?"
"Yeah I got it."
"Good."
"Hello?"
"Marcus, what's up?"
"What's up, Manny?"
"Talk to me. What do you have so far?"
"Well, we spotted pretty boy down town."
"What was he doing there?"
"I don't know. But we followed him to his house."
"Good, so you know where he lives. What else?"
"We then followed him to this strip club."
"Strip club? What the… Don't tell me. She is back to dancing?"
"You got it boss. I didn't see her myself. But my man described her to the t."
"Why didn't you go in? I told you I want this handled correctly. We cannot
make any mistakes."
"Well, that's exactly why I didn't go in after him. He's already seen me."
"You're right. That was smart thinking on your part."
"I also paid a little visit to one of our contacts at the City of Miami.
Apparently our lover boy is quite the saint."
"What do you mean?"
"Well for starters, he is a professional man, an architect.
He has no children, no major or minor traffic violations within the past ten
years. Shoot, this guy is too good to be true."
"Well, you know what they say about that. Everyone has something to hide.
So, what is his name?"
"Oh, his name is Mathew Stephens II."
"What! Don't tell me. He's from the Bahamas right?"
"Yeah, he is. How did you know?"
"Do you remember that little static I had when I wanted to expand to the
Caribbean and Latin America?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Well do you recall the outcome of that static?"
"Yeah some dread wanted in on our action."
"That dread controls everything in the Caribbean, Latin, Central America and
Haiti. He is our business partner and gets five percent of our Caribbean and
Latin American operations. If he says jump, you say how high. If I were a
shark, he would be Jaws. His family has been in this business long before you
and I were snatching purses here in chi town. His name is Matthew Stephens."
"Oh shoot!"
"Exactly! We cannot touch his son. At least not right now. But I am somewhat
suspicious to find out how he ended up with Kelly. I may need you to make a
trip to Nassau. But for now keep the surveillance on the both of them.
Don't make contact with either and I will see you in one week. Don't tell
anyone what I just told you. Remember Marcus, Stephens cannot be touched."
