Dirty Work: Part 1

“Anyway, go see the wicked witch of the west and give her my hate.”

“I’ll give her your love,” Kip said.

“Don’t go lying on me now.”

The machine guns on the video game exploded louder. It seemed like Kid had turned the volume up, and his thumbs moved rapidly against the buttons on the controller. He didn’t even blink.

Kip asked him, “You going down to the park today?”

Kid nodded. “You coming to see me play?”

“If I got time.”

“It’s been a minute since you saw me play.”

“I know. I’ll make the time.”

“I would appreciate it, big bro.”

Kip felt a tinge of guilt. He hadn’t seen Kid play a chess match in weeks. The streets mainly occupied his attention. But his brother was important, and chess was his love. Kip had been around and had been supportive of his baby brother, but he’d also been distant, doing capers and building a violent reputation.

“I gotta go, but I love you, Kid,” Kip declared genuinely.

“I love you too. Be safe out there.”

Kip wasn’t afraid to kiss his brother on the cheek and show affection. After he did, he walked out his bedroom.

Kip loved and respected his brother. They were both hustlers in the city, but Kip’s riskier hustle paid off a lot more. Kid was so good, he was making his own profit from playing numerous games with some of the best players. He was the master chess player, and there was a long line of challengers ready to try and beat him at the game. For so many, it was embarrassing to be beaten by a wheelchair-bound ghetto kid who played video games in his spare time.

Kip took the elevator down to the lobby while clutching his bag full of goodies. Last night’s stick-up was lucrative, and he had a lot of merchandise to move. He and his crew had come off with three big-faced watches—one a platinum diamond Cartier and two gold Rolexes; three platinum chains; several diamond rings; a pair of diamond earrings; and over twenty-five thousand dollars in cash. Their total take could be in the hundreds of thousands, depending on how Kip moved the stolen merchandise. He was wise not to pawn off any of the athlete’s jewelry at any shops in town, knowing everything could be traced and that dealing with pawn shops left behind too many fingerprints. It would be the first place the cops would look for the stuff.

Kip had a better way to fence the stolen goods. He had a guy named Maserati Meek who would probably want to buy it all from him. The first call Kip made that day was to him.

The phone rang twice then Meek picked up with, “My favorite friend. How are you, Kip?”

“I’m good, Meek.”

“This call must be about business then, my friend.” Maserati Meek had a strong Middle Eastern accent. He sounded nasal and spoke from his throat.

“Of course. When can we meet?”

“Eh, today, my friend. Four this afternoon.”

“I’ll be there.” Kip hung up.

Kip didn’t like to prolong phone conversations or discuss business over the phone. There was no telling who was listening and who was watching. He was certain that Maserati Meek would buy the jewelry from him at a reasonable price, where he wouldn’t feel cheated. The stolen cash had already been divided up, with Eshon and her girls getting their percentage.

With over seven thousand dollars in his pockets on another sunny and warm spring day, Kip took a deep breath of fresh Harlem air and exhaled. He had time to chill and think. Besides, after last night’s stick-up, they needed to keep a low profile. He was confident that they had escaped arrest. Surveillance cameras were in the area, but Kip had made sure to cover all angles, remaining covert and unseen, and Midtown was a busy place with many people. He was sure that Devon and Papa John were careful too. They didn’t need anything coming back on them.

His meeting with Maserati Meek was in five hours.

Six

Eshon walked around her apartment in her panties and bra singing her heart out. Thinking about Kip, she belted out Jennifer Hudson’s “If This Isn’t Love.” She continued as she walked into her kitchen, matching Jennifer Hudson’s stellar voice.

It was a sunny day, and the only thing or person she could think about was Kip. She wanted to spend the day with him. She wanted to nestle inside his arms and make love to him. Last night was eventful, despite the incident with Jason Miller. Once again, she showed Kip that she was there for him always. He paid her and her girls three grand from the cash they took off the athletes. Eshon was ready to go shopping with her cut.

In the kitchen, she made herself French toast and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Her attention shifted from Jennifer to Fantasia, when she started to sing “When I See U.” While she stood over the stove, her voice traveled throughout the apartment.