Dirty Work: Part 1

Two hours passed, and still no Jessica. Kid sent up a scout to her apartment, a young girl, and had her knock on the door for a hundred dollars. Soon after, she came back to the van.

“Is she in there?”

“No,” the girl said.

He nodded. He thanked her, and she left. He started the vehicle and left.

***

Two days later, Kid was back with Maniac, parked by Jessica’s building with a clear view of the lobby. He watched everyone coming and going with binoculars. His instincts told him to keep an eye on her and identify the mysterious man that had all of her time and interest.

Tonight, he got lucky. Jessica exited the lobby looking well-dressed and too sexy. She walked toward the Old Broadway.

He was on her, stalking her closely, and he soon observed her climbing into the back seat of an idling Escalade with tinted windows.

Kid had no idea who was inside the vehicle. When it drove off, he followed.

He followed them for over twenty miles into New Jersey, until the Escalade came to a stop at a towering condo in Edgewater, New Jersey.

Jessica got out of the SUV and went into the building, presumably to meet her man inside.

Like a detective, Kid had Maniac take pictures of the vehicle, the plate number, the building, and many of Jessica’s coming and goings.

For a week, he followed her, until he finally got what he was looking for—a look at the man she had been secretly meeting with—the man she was fucking. Kid had his cronies everywhere, making Jessica his primary objective. He saw her meet with Maserati Meek at the condo. Jessica hugged him and kissed him and appeared to be in love with him.

Seeing this, Kid flew in a rage. He had to control his impulse because he wanted to kill her right there. He didn’t know which hurt more, Jessica being with another guy and never giving him a second look, or the other guy being the man who had killed his brother.

He took pictures of them together on his phone, kissing and hugging. The smile on her face was genuine, and Jessica appeared to be very happy. Maserati Meek would openly grope her in public. Kid couldn’t help but feel jealous. So many nights he had dreamed of physically wanting her, and she was sleeping with the enemy. He was going to bring their sexual relationship to an abrupt stop.

He had figured out their routine: She would leave her building and get into a car, usually at night. An escort would drive her to a location to meet with Meek, and the location would vary. One week it was in New Jersey, then Long Island or a place in Queens.

Kid was ready to implement his plan. It was time to make his move on the board. Jessica had no idea that the hammer was about to land down on her hard. Kid was angry with her. She was a traitor, and usually traitors received the death sentence, but for now, he would spare her life.

***

Friday night in Harlem the streets were flooded with people enjoying the night and starting their weekend with a bang. Three days from the Fourth of July, fireworks were going off repeatedly around the projects with ball rockets, blockbusters, whistlers, and firecrackers. The skies lit up with an explosion and a colorful display.

Kid Kane and Devon sat in the dark minivan with tinted windows and waited in the Manhattanville projects. There would be no barbecues or cookouts for them, no enjoying fireworks, or mingling with people. They had a purpose tonight. Kid never got out the car. He had to continue his ruse of being disabled. Devon would be his legs on this mission.

After an hour of waiting, their target finally arrived. The Escalade came to a stop not too far from where they were parked.

Kid and Devon stayed hidden in the shadows of their vehicle and watched everything. The door to the SUV swung open, and Jessica climbed out of the vehicle. She stood upright, looking spectacular in a dress and a pair of wedges. She was dressed for the summer, legs showing, long hair flowing.

Kid fixed his eyes on her and watched her walk to her building. She had just come home from one of her secret excursions with Meek. She looked happy. Kid didn’t want her to be happy. He wanted her to feel pain for sleeping with the enemy.

The Escalade drove off.

Kid said to Devon, “You know what to do.”

Devon grinned. He removed himself from the minivan with his gun in hand. He approached Jessica with urgency. Before she could reach the building lobby, he called out, “Yo, Jessica!”

She turned, shocked to see Devon. Halfheartedly, she replied, “Hey, what’s up, Devon?”

“Yo, let me holla at you fo’ a minute, ma,” he said.

“About what, homes?” she asked, already looking defensive.

“Just to talk. We missed you at the funeral.”