Wrong Step (Urban Fiction): A Sinister Syndicate Thriller (9 page)

“Great. Another homeless crack head trying to stay warm tripped the alarm.”

Logan knew the snipers were listening, so he played along.

“Yes sir. At least he didn’t break in. I hate paperwork.”

“They know we patrol this place, and there might be another call. Put those darkies in the wagon, and I’ll let the desk jockeys find out who they really are. Let’s return to the station.”

                                                                                          ~~~

“What the hell does New York have to do with you triggering the alarm?!” Sheddi asked Tyler while hiding behind a dumpster.

“A New York rat the size of a rottweiler ran across my disconnecting hand when I was taking off the bypass. I jumped, and voila, I tripped the alarm.”

Sheddi was very intimate with New York rats. Her leg reminded her of them. She calmed down.

“At least we’re not compromised.”

“They’re going to know something went down. Since we had to run, I didn’t grab the bypass. The Mambas will put two and two together.”

“They still won’t know it was us,” Sheddi said.

“You’re their primary target. They’ll assume it was you.”

Tyler was right. Sheddi just hoped they couldn’t add.

As they returned to Reggie’s apartment, Nana came up to them.

“”Is everything okay?”

“I got my pictures, they’re secured, but Tyler accidentally tripped the alarm,” Sheddi said.

Nana looked at Tyler.

“This just got deadly, didn’t it?”

Osei said, “This was always deadly. Nothing has changed just because Tyler accidentally tripped the alarm. They don’t even know us.”

“He’s right,” Sheddi said. “They’ve always wanted me dead. They can’t kill me, dig me back up, and kill me again. Tyler is training you Ranger style, trust him.”

“I never said he was perfect, Nana. He’s a Ranger, but a human Ranger,” Abena said.

Tyler’s phone rang. It was Tanaka. He answered.

“Tell me you didn’t voluntarily expose yourself to make this more challenging.”

“I take it Brahmowichz called you.”

“Why would you set off an alarm with snipers wanting to kill Sheddi?!”

“Gimme a break. I’ve been out of the sand for two years. I can get rusty playing touch football with orphans!”

Tanaka didn’t mean to explode, but he was so close to nabbing the Mambas, and everything else fell apart. He calmed down.

“You’re a well-oiled soldier, so tell me what really happened.”

“As I was disconnecting the alarm bypass, and a New York rat ran across my hand. With the situation being so tense I jumped, and touched some wires.”

“I know you dealt with rats in Afghanistan, but they were tunnel, not New York. I’d jump too. Tunnel rats carry water, New York rats carry pizza.”

Tyler grinned because he remembered the meme.

“We have your pictures secured, and Sheddi also did a vid recording of the warehouse. How is Marnu and Salom doing?”

“You can pick them up in the morning when you bring me my evidence, Dedzo listened.”

“She knows her stuff. You teach well.”

“See ya tomorrow, kid.”

“Over and out, Detective.” Tyler clicked off the phone, and got prepared for the morning.

~~~

Adan got a call from one of the snipers. He went to a more secured location of the Jerk, and answered.

“Whatcha want? Did ya shoot’er?”

“Na, Pop. The cops got here to arrest a hoochie, and her pimp. While we hid, and listened, the alarm went off. Nothin’ looks like it was snatched, but ya bettah get down here.”

Adan knew change was bad in his line of business, especially when they were hunting a renegade.

“That was no coincidence. Tha gal might’o messed up. Stay there, and touch nothin’. I’ll be back in twenty.”

Adan clicked off the phone, went to his Lincoln, and drove to Round Rasta.

                                                                                   ~~~

As Tyler and Sheddi lay in bed, Sheddi became concerned.

“Do you think David will get the evidence there by noon?”

“You tell me. That was Moira’s courier. You suggested we call him.”

“He takes papers to certain clients for Moira. He was drunk at the diner last night. He might have forgotten. Why did we need a bike courier when we’re seeing Knocks in the morning anyway?”

“When you mess up your mission, you cover your mess up,” Tyler said. “I know we didn’t see anybody, but Ranger training states you always dance in a mission like everybody’s watching.”

“That’s the reason we went to an out of the way diner. If we met him at the Lightening Bike Couriers office, whoever was watching would know.”

Tyler smiled,

“See, you’re getting the hang of it, cover your butt.”

“You know I’m learning this so I can uncover my butt later, right?”

Tyler looked at her in those sexy boy shorts, and had to force himself to stay on mission.

“Get some sleep, Sheddi. We have a big day planned.” He turned off the lamp, however, her uncovered butt twerked in his head lustfully.

                                                                                   ~~~

Adan walked into Round Rasta, and his sniper leader was waiting for him.

“Jasper heard the cops say it was a crack head tryin’ ta get warn and set off tha alarm.”

“I just got a call from Julius. He’s my best enforcah, and security guy. He’s in an apartment across tha alley, and saw what happened,” Adan revealed. “It wasn’t a crack head. While ya was occupied with Ghetto Stories, that gal, and another guy broke in ta the back.”

“Pop, I…”

“Shut up, an listen, Darrian. Julius was bettah than ya whole team—come ’ere.”

Adan walked into the warehouse, and spotted some newly hammered nails on a prime shipment. He pried open the box with a crowbar, and saw all his contraband in line as if they were posing for a photo shoot.

“Ya right about them not takin’ anythin’ physical, but I’m pretty sure they have some glossies shot ta give tha cops a warrant ta search here, and any pier warehouse we got.”

Darrian felt very stupid being duped by the cops. They weren’t this smart in Kingston.

“We need ta get those pictchas back,” he said.

“All ya need ta do is shoot straight,” Adan said. “I’ll handle tha pictchas. I’ve seen how ya handle anythin’ more than just shootin’”

Adan just waited for further instructions from Julius.

                                                                                               ~~~

Tyler turned on his car, and Sade rang in the cabin. Sheddi had her gear, and was ready to meet Tanaka, and get her friends.

“You bought this car to beat the police.”

Tyler opened his wallet, and Sheddi saw his volunteer police card.”

“I’m a former Ranger. My MOS is made to help police, not run from them. Besides, a Hyundai Tiburon may look like it goes light speed, but a police radio beats it every time.”

She realized she really didn’t know him, and just because he was a hardened Army vet, flashbacks didn’t harm him as much as the other vets.

As they began to drive off, Sheddi felt better about everything. They went through the dirt of New York, but with Tyler, they came out clean. He knew what he was doing. The good part was no one on either side had to be killed. She just thought of Moira confronting Jabril. That was just an occurrence that wouldn’t happen. At least she was alive.

While driving, a Camero abruptly cut them off to block them! Tyler screeched to a stop, and reversed. That was impossible, because a Hummer blocked them in!

“They found us! DAMN!” Tyler yelled, as masked men broke his driver’s side window!

They took his keys, and shoved an Uzi in his face! The both were covered with sacks, pulled out of the car, and shoved into the Humvee! They both were knocked out, and driven away. It took less than thirty seconds for their plans to drastically change.

                                                                             ~~~

“She’s at LaGuardia, pick ‘er up.”

Sheddi came to. The voice was Jamaican. She opened her eyes to see a few large black men with dreadlocks. She knew where she was, and it was about to get ugly.

“Hey, Pop. Tha gal is wakin’ up.”

Adan looked up from her camera, and recording device to see a scared Sheddi. They both were bound with zip ties. He walked over to her, and put her camera on her lap.

“Where tha pictchas, bitch?!”

Sheddi was frightened, but held her demeanor.

“What pictures? My camera doesn’t have a lock on it. There are no pictures.”

Adan went to get a bucket of ice cold water, and walked back.

“I don’t like ta torture gals, so I’ll ask him first.” He splashed Tyler with the ice water, and Tyler jumped violently awake.

“I asked ya gal, and she lied.  Now, I’m askin’ ya tha same question. Where tha pictchas?”

Tyler had to use his skills to avoid harm. He was interrogated before by Jihad, and never gave up his fellow Rangers, so he wouldn’t give up Sheddi, or the Shepards.

“You assume too much. We didn’t even get in there before I set off the alarm. What she told you is true.”

Adan smiled. “Is that so? Julius.”

Julius walked forward. He began to speak.

“I was across tha alley in my apartment doin’ surveillance, and I saw ya both break in. It took about ten minutes, and ya came out, messed up, and set off tha alarm. Ya ran through a lot at my apartment, and hid behind a dumpstah. I grabbed my keys, an followed ya blue Tiberon to a dinah. Ya came out about eight minutes latah, and went ta anotha apartment. Aftah ya left this mornin’ we got ya whole crew.”

That was why Tyler lived by the dance like everybody’s watching rule. Tanaka would be worried about Sheddi, get his evidence from David, and come to rescue them. He just had to stall.

“So, you saw us breaking in. I was just looking for a Marley record, but I couldn’t find it. The cops pulled up, so I left quickly, and tripped the alarm.”

Julius walked up to Tyler, and punched him in the stomach with lead lined gloves. As Tyler doubled over in pain, Julius stepped back.

“Try again, boy. Ya can sneeze, and hit a Marley album in here. You were in for ten minutes, ya blind?!”

That was a bad idea. He should’ve said the UB-40 Tanaka was talking about earlier. Sublime would’ve been better to say than Marley.

“They both liahs, Julius. I think they need some motivation ta tell tha truth.” Adan walked out of the warehouse, and returned with Osei.

“Osei! Don’t hurt him! He just makes tea! He knows nothing!” Sheddi desperately pleaded.

“I know he knows nothin’. If ya don’t tell me where tha pictchas are, you’ll get him hurt!”

Tyler intervened before Sheddi broke.

“You want those pictures?! I downloaded them this morning to my personal account, and destroyed the memory card!”

Adan looked at Tyler, and shot Osei in the arm! Osei wailed something in Twi.

“That’s for lyin’, Get those pictchas!”

  I’m afraid you’re going to have to wait. I put a time lock password on my site just in case we were captured. If I type the pass on another computer’s IP, the password locks for another twenty four hours. Don’t hurt any more Shepards, or you’ll never get your pictures.”

“He’s lyin’, Pop. Don’t let him fool ya,” Julius said.

“Are you willing to bet?” Tyler asked. I’m sure when you lose, Ganja Pop will forgive you.”

He knew how ruthless Ganja Pop was, so he wasn’t willing to take the chance.

“If you hurt my friends, or kill us, the pictures automatically get forwarded to NYPD if I don’t get there by four today. Ain’t technology grand?” Tyler knew how to gain leverage where there was none.

Adan boiled, and got Julius’ enforcement gloves. He walked to Tyler, and slapped him with the gloves.

“Ya think ya in control, but ya tied ta a chair wit’ no chance a blockin’ ya face! I won’t kill ya, but I can tenderize ya!” He slapped him again.

“Tyler!” Sheddi screamed.

“Tyler spit some blood, and looked at Sheddi.

“This pain is temporary. Your death is permanent.”

Adan hit him again, and said, “I’ll make it so ya can’t chew right permanently!”

As Adan was pummeling Tyler, Maritza walked in. She was wearing a green ruched dress with many gold accessories on her person. She saw Sheddi, and yelled to Adan.

“Leave tha boy alone, Adan! He’s not the cause for tha shipment bein’ jeopardized—she is!”

Sheddi had never seen this woman before. She knew it was an international cartel, but she had no clue it was being ran by a woman. In any other circumstance, she would’ve been proud.

I don’t know you, or about any shipment, lady! My friend was shot by Ganja Pop, and now he wants to kill me because I had a picture catching him in the act! I’m not an operative, I just took a wrong step that Friday!”

Maritza walked up to Sheddi, bent down, and stared through her.

“Adan, tha stupid gal is gonna die, an she don’t know why.”

Adan hit Tyler once more to leave him with a statement.

“Ya can’t kill ‘er just yet. She broke in, an took more pictchas. I need ta get tha pictchas back.”

“Ya don’t handle anythin’ right. How’d she break in? Weren’t tha snipahs ordered ta shoot ‘er on sight?”

Darrian had to come clean this time.

“The cops came, Ma. We all had ta duck outa sight. She must be workin’ wit ’em, because that’s when they broke in.”

“Maritza turned back to Sheddi.

“We hate tha police, but we hate whoevah works wit ‘em more.. Release her! Ma’s gotta teach her a lesson!”