Out of Control

“I should have, but I didn’t put a contract out on her either.”

“Then explain to me why, when Perry called you and asked you if you did, that you didn’t deny it?”

“Perry called me on the phone and asked me if I was involved in a crime. I wasn’t gonna discuss it over the phone and I told him that he should know better than to ask,” Wanda said.

“No, Wanda!” Black shouted. “When somebody asks you if you tried to have Nick killed your answer is no!”

“But you were good with everybody believin’ that you hit Nick. It gave you the power you wanted,” Bobby said and Wanda looked away.

“That’s sounds about right, Bobby. Thank you,” Black said. “What happened next Nick?”

“While I was out seeing who else was with her, Rain went to Cynt’s,” Nick said.

“Why did you go to Cynt’s, Ms. Robinson?” Black asked.

“I went there to send a message that I knew what she was up to,” Rain said.

“Did Nick send you to Cynt’s to send this message, Ms. Robinson?” Bobby asked.

“No. He didn’t know that I knew what she was plannin’.”

“How did you find out?”

“I got somebody keepin’ tabs at Grant’s and the word was that they was bringin’ on a lot of new muscle. I checked out Doc’s, same thing, a lotta new faces. So I went to Cynt’s ’cause I knew she would run and tell her. An hour later, she sends her team to kill Nick.”

“I did not send anybody to kill Nick,” Wanda proclaimed her innocence again.

“Whatever,” Rain said. “Then tell me who did?”

“I don’t know maybe it was Grant,” Wanda said.

“No Wanda. Grant never had an independent thought in his life. And it wasn’t Doc.” Black paused. “I’m still wondering what you said to Doc to make him get involved in this nonsense. That leaves you and Cynt. And we both know Cynt wouldn’t do it without your permission. But let just say I believe that you didn’t send them and you don’t know who did. Why didn’t you call me and tell me that Nick got shot?”

Wanda had no answer.

“Nick, why didn’t you or Ms. Robinson tell me?”

Nick had no answer either.

“Now everybody’s quiet,” Bobby commented.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Jackie?” Black asked.

She looked at Rain and then at Wanda.

“Jackie!”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t I just ask you a question?” Black asked and looked at Jackie. “Don’t look at them, look at me. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I talked to Wanda and told her that I wanted to call and tell to you, you know, about what was goin’ on.”

“What did Wanda say?”

“She made it clear that if I called you and said anything about this that she would have me killed.”

“Did you talk to Nick?”