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"We earned our money," Jett said. "Her brother took off before her husband could kill him. Case closed."
"You’re right, Jett, all this set up does cost money."
"And our time." Monika added and she started helping Jett pack it up.
"All right, case closed," I said and got up and started to help.
"No, no, Nick, you just go on and tell Mrs. Childers what ever you need to tell her. We’ll take care of this. You give me a call when Felix has something for us."
"So, like, what are you sayin’? I can’t call you until then?"
"That’s not what I’m sayin’," Monika said, shaking her hands. Monika walked over and put her arm around me. "Don’t stand there lookin’ like we’re runnin’ out on you, ’cause we’re not. You can call me anytime, Boo. But this private eye stuff, ain’t for me."
"She’s right, Nick. This is too much like work," Jett said. "But if you’re diggin’ it, hey, that’s cool too."
"Okay. I’ll get with y’all later."
What else could I do? I was diggin’ this. But I had to keep my prospective clearly in focus. Jake was gone, long gone. And if he had any sense, he would stay that way. The only thing left to do was to break it down for Mrs. Childers and move on. But there were still some things about all this that I couldn’t shake. Something about Pamela Hendricks, or maybe it was just the personal feelings I had developed for Felicia Hardy that was clouding my judgment. Either way, I knew it wasn’t over. At least not for me.
So I drove to Rocky’s hang out. I wasn’t exactly sure why I was going there; much less what I would say when I got there. I walked in and got the same reception as the last time, it seemed like every eye in the house was on me. That’s when I saw him, Chilly, the man himself.
He was standing at the bar enjoying the company of two very attractive young ladies. Rocky was seated in the back at what I assumed was his regular spot. As soon as he was alerted to my presence, he made a B-line straight to Chilly.
I went and sat down at a table as far away from them as I could and still keep them in sight. A waitress came to take my order. "Johnnie Walker Black, straight up." I started to ask her if she would tell Rocky that I wanted to see him, but I kinda figured that he’d get around to it sooner or later. Chilly looked over his shoulder as Rocky pointed me out to him. I didn’t think he’d do that, but fuck it. It was time I got this over with. Chilly dismissed Rocky with one hand and patted one of the ladies he was with on the ass, then started for me.
"Mind if I sit down?" Chilly asked.
"Be my guest," I replied, as the waitress returned with my drink.
"No check for this table. His money’s no good here." Chilly said, as he took a seat. "Nick Simmons. I haven’t seen you since the old days. I thought Bobby killed you and that army shit was just a cover."
"No, Chilly, I’m still alive."
"Rocky’s snitchin’ ass told me you’re a private investigator now. That’s a long way from where you came from. What’s the matter, Freeze and them ain’t got no spot for you, or is Bobby still tryin’ to kill you?" Chilly laughed. "Let me quit fuckin’ with you. Shit, if Bobby really wanted you dead, you’d be dead."
"Good point."
"So what brings you here?"
"Stopped in to have a drink." I raised my glass and downed it. Chilly smiled and motioned for the waitress.
"Ain’t too many of us old heads left in this game. Mutha fuckas now ain’t got no honor. No respect for the game. Niggas like you and me got to keep it real, you know what I’m sayin’?"
"Yeah."
"What’s up with you? Like you mad at me bout something. That shit between me and Black is over with. I got nothing but respect for him," Chilly said as the waitress arrived. "What you drinkin’, Nick?"
"Johnnie Black, straight."
"Johnnie Black, straight up and bring me a Crown on the rocks. You know I was the one who made peace with Black?"
"So I heard; why don’t you tell me about it."
Chilly looked at me for a while. "That’s right, you were gone when all that went down, so I guess you don’t know. After Black killed Jimmy Knowles and Charlie Rock, Vincent Martin kept it goin’ for a long time. I kept tellin’ Vince dumb ass that all that war shit was bad for business, but he wasn’t hearin’ me. Him and Charlie was like brothers, so Vince was takin’ the shit way too personal."
"So you gave him up to Black?" I said coldly.
"Shit no! I ain’t that type of mutha fucka. But after a while it didn’t matter anyway. One night Black caught Vince and his whole set laid back. They was all at Vince’s house chillin’, Black busted up in there and killed them all."