And with the snap of his fingers, he stepped right into his brother’s shoes and became the boss. Papa John and Devon were able to look past the nerd glasses, the wheelchair, and his intelligent speech, and see a cold-blooded, calculating killer who puts in dirty work.
Kid told them, “The moment my brother is buried, the pain will begin.”
***
The news of Kip’s death was crushing and heartrending for Eshon. She didn’t want to believe it at first. He couldn’t be dead. He had just survived a shooting the other day, they had sex, and he finally said the words I love you to her. But when the truth really hit her, hearing the details of his murder, how he was gunned down in the street, she immediately had a panic attack. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t do anything but hyperventilate with her chest feeling like it was about to cave in. She felt faint, sick, and nauseous, trembling uncontrollably. They had to call 911.
Eshon’s tears came like a giant flood in her eyes. She couldn’t stop crying. She couldn’t do anything but grieve. She didn’t want to live herself. She couldn’t bear living without him, not seeing him ever again. She wanted to marry him and have his kids, but now that dream was destroyed.
***
Kip’s wake was at Benita’s Funeral Home on St. Nicholas Avenue. Many people came to pay their respects and to view his body one last time. He was dressed immaculately in a slim fit, gray virgin wool and silk three-piece suit by Hugo Boss. His body was lying in an ebony black 18-gauge steel casket. There were dozens of flowers surrounding his casket and a picture of Kip three years prior. He was all smiles, wearing a blue Yankees fitted cap and a gold chain, looking like a gangsta.
Kip’s funeral was held at Trinity Cemetery on Broadway. It was a warm, sunny Friday in June. Over two dozen people were gathered around the casket at the burial site, including Kid, Devon, Papa John, and Eshon.
Eshon wore a black dress and dark shades. It had been the roughest week of her life, and things were about to get rougher for her. She didn’t know if she could go through with seeing him dead in the casket and watching them put his body into the ground, but she had to be there to say goodbye and kiss him one last time.
Brandy stood next to her friend, and though she was in grief too, she was there to console Eshon.
There wasn’t a dry eye around. Everyone was grieving and in pain. Though Kip was a thug and gangsta, he was definitely loved.
Each man was dressed in a suit and tie, and they were mournful. Kid hid his tears behind dark sunglasses. He sat in his wheelchair still pretending to be crippled. There was goi
ng to be hell to pay for his brother’s death.
The preacher said, “Those we love don’t go away, they still walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, and still missed, and very dear. But God is here, and our pain will be short-lived. The kingdom of Heaven will forever give peace where we will find comfort in Jesus. Amen.”
While the burial was underway, Nana arrived late, looking swanky in a black dress and shoes. She had climbed out the cab and clutched her cane. She frowned at the gate of the cemetery. She didn’t want to attend his funeral at all. When she heard the news about Kip, what hurt her most was the loss of financial support.
She had been crying for days, not for Kip but over the breakup. Curtis had left her. Once he had his hands on the $100,000, he was no longer heard from again. He had left town with his younger girlfriend.
Now with no money, no Kip, no Curtis, Nana was worried about her future. What was she going to do? Who would pay her rent? How long would she be able to stay in the retirement community? Nana felt like she was becoming sick for real this time.
She walked into the cemetery and observed everyone from a distance. She could see Kid in his wheelchair, among friends, and grieving by his brother’s casket. She had no intention of speaking to him. She had no intention of paying full respect since she had the cab waiting on the street. She showed up just to save face with the brother, and then turned around and left.
Kid noticed her quick arrival and departure. He kept his anger concealed. He would deal with her in due time.
Also missing was Jessica. Kid looked around for her, but she was nowhere in sight. That angered him too. She had made up an excuse not to come. But after everything Kip had done for her, helping her get money, there was no excuse. She should have been at his brother’s funeral.
But Jessica was a no-show because she was afraid that Maserati Meek might have eyes on Kip’s funeral, and she didn’t want to risk being seen there. She didn’t want Meek to know that she knew Kip.
When the caretakers started to lower Kip’s casket into the ground, Eshon burst out a thunderous cry and screamed. Eshon fell to her knees in heartache and trembled. She wanted to sing at his funeral, but she didn’t have the strength or composure. She was a mess. Her tears seemed never-ending, and Brandy did her best to console her.
Papa John and Devon had to help her to her feet and escort her to the car.
Kid shed tears behind his shades. He remained poised, although he felt a mixture of feelings. He took a deep breath, dried away his tears, and kept his eyes on the casket until it was no longer visible.
He tossed a black chess king into the grave, a promise to his brother that his death would be avenged. It was a new day for him and the city. Kid had been reborn. He wasn’t a kid anymore—Tragic events had fast-forwarded him into a cold, vengeful man.
Thirty-Five
Though Kid Kane missed Harlem and his home, he felt it wasn’t time to go back yet. He felt secure and safe in Mount Vernon at the Extended Stay hotel, the last place he’d seen his brother alive. He had a hundred thousand dollars in cash, thanks to Kip, and he had set up shop there. His days of playing chess in St. Nicholas Park were gone now. He was now the boss. He was smart, and he was provoked into taking Maserati Meek down piece by piece, brick by brick. He had a plan and a crew to help implement his plan.
To everyone else, including Eshon, Brandy, and Jessica, he was still a nerdy cripple—a helpless, grieving little brother. But to Papa John, Devon, Maniac, and other recruits in his growing organization, Kid had transformed into something a lot more sinister.
Devon wanted to take off Maserati Meek’s head, but Kid was against it, saying that he wanted to make him suffer. Devon and Papa John didn’t see why they should keep him alive, but Kid Kane had the same philosophy as his brother: One way to kill a man and still leave him alive is to take away everything he loves and has. You start by the feet and work your way up to the head, and Meek would see himself falling apart. Kid knew what it felt like to feel crippled and helpless, unable to walk, body falling apart. It was a distressing feeling.
Maserati Meek was about to fight two wars, one with Panamanian Pete and a stealthy war with Kid. And Meek would soon see himself unraveling slowly.