Beneath The Surface (9 page)

“Right,” Meka said excitedly, and dug in her briefcase to retrieve her notes from that meeting. “There is a lot of opportunity in those growth markets.

“I was particularly interested in exploring some of the opportunities you spoke about in Russia.”

“Yes,” Meka said, and found the document that she was looking for. “We discussed a company that makes multimedia switching gear for cable companies that recently received certification for its Safari C3 product line in Russia, through the Ministry of Communications.”

“Exactly,” Black said and leaned forward. “That and wind. I’m goin’ to Nassau day after tomorrow,” he said, and Wanda’s eyes opened a little wider. She had counted on him being in the city for a while longer. “Let me know when you got something together for me to look at.” Black sat back in his chair. “You
ever been
to Nassau?”

“Once. But that was years ago when I was in college,” Meka said.

“We’ll fly you down when you’re ready. Once I’m satisfied with what you come up with, I’ll arrange a meeting with a gentleman named
Oleg
Mushnikov, and another named Wei Jiang,” he said, and Wanda looked at him. She had only heard the name Wei Jiang once when Kevon asked her to check him out. And that he had some involvement with Black getting shot. Wanda had no idea that Black now considered doing business with him. She had never heard of Oleg Mushnikov, and was becoming increasingly frustrated that she was being kept out of certain parts of the business she used to run.

“Who are they?” Meka asked.

“They are my partners in foreign investment.”

“I’ll put together a proposal and get back to you.”

“You make this happen, and it should be quite lucrative for you in the long run, Meka,” Black said.

“I’ll get on that right away,” Meka promised as she gathered up her stuff. Although Meka was glad to still be working with them, she knew that lucrative in the long run wouldn’t do her any good right then. She would have to make something else happen, and do it soon.

When she was ready to leave, Black and Wanda escorted her out of the conference room to the lobby. To Wanda’s surprise, Leon was seated in the lobby. “Leon, what are you doing here?” Wanda asked.

Leon stood up. “Came to see you,” he said and kissed Wanda on the cheek.

“What’s up, Mike?” Leon said and shook Black’s hand.

“What’s up, Leon?”

“Leon,” Wanda said quickly. “This is our financial advisor, Meka Brazil. Meka, this is Leon Copeland; a very old friend that recently moved back to New York from Florida.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Meka,” Leon said, and was sure that he knew Meka from somewhere.

“Same here,” Meka replied. “What part of Florida?” She needed to know right away.

“Jacksonville,” Leon said, and Meka was relieved that he didn’t say he was from Miami. One of her biggest fears was that, one day her previous life would show up to bite her in the ass. “Maybe you and I can get together some time, and you could give me some financial advice,” Leon said, and Wanda cut her eyes at him. She knew what kind of services Leon would be looking for from Meka.

Meka quickly dug in her purse and pulled out her business card. “Give me a call and we’ll set something up,” Meka said, and hoped that this would turn out to be something.

Leon took Meka’s card. “I’ll give you a call in a day or two.”

“Sounds good.” Meka looked at her watch.

“Hey, Mike,” Leon said and turned to Black as they walked with Meka to the elevator. “You know who I haven’t seen yet?”

“Who?” Black asked.

“Bobby.”

“That’s right,” Meka said and smiled. “Where is Mr. Bobby Ray today?”

“Bobby is in Columbia, South Carolina,” Wanda said.

“What’s he doin’ down there?” Leon asked.

“Long story,” Black said.

Meka took that as her cue to leave. “Mike, I will call you before the end of the week.”

“Take your time,” Black said.

The elevator door opened. “Leon, it was good to meet you. I am looking forward to talking with you,” Meka said and got on the elevator.

“Same here.” Once Meka was gone, Leon turned to Black. “I need you to ride somewhere with me.”

“I thought you needed to see me?” Wanda asked.

Leon smiled. “I just saw you.”

“Oh,” Wanda said, and assumed that he was there so he could be introduced to Meka.

Black kissed Wanda on the cheek. “See you later, Wanda,” he said, and got in the elevator with Leon.

Wanda shook her head and walked back to her office. She sat in her chair and looked out the window for a while. Then she spun around and picked up the phone. “Hello,” a voice answered on the forth ring.

“Marcus; it’s Wanda. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“No, not at all. I was just getting in from looking for office space,” Marcus said and put down his briefcase.

“Any luck?”

“No,” Marcus said and made
himself
comfortable on the couch. “I was thinking about taking you up on your offer.”

“Like I said: It’s not the best space in the city, but it will suit your needs until you find what you’re looking for,” Wanda said, playing with the phone cord.

“I’ll let you know in a day or two.”

“The offer’s on the table. Anyway, I know this is short notice, but Judge George Posner of the United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and Professor Richard Fletcher of Columbia Law School, are giving a speech tonight on Global Markets, Domestic Institutions: Corporate Law and Governance
In
a New Era of Cross-Border Deals, at Columbia. I know it’s not your field, but would you like to go?”

“Global Markets, Domestic Institutions: Corporate Law and Governance
In
a New Era of Cross-Border Deals, I didn’t know that was your field.”

“I am a lawyer, you know,” Wanda said in a superior tone.

“Well so am I. All I’m saying is that I didn’t know you were interested in that type of law.”

“You don’t have any idea what I do here, do you, Marcus?”

He hesitated for a second or two before answering. “No—I guess I really don’t.”

“Are you busy tomorrow?” Wanda asked.

“Other than looking for space, I don’t have any plans. What did you have in mind?”

“Why don’t come down here tomorrow morning, 9 o’clock sharp. You can spend the day observing what I do. I’d be interested in hearing your opinions.”

“That sounds like a good idea. If nothing else, I’ll get another look at that office,” Marcus said as he loosened his tie.

“If nothing else,” Wanda said softly. “So I’ll see you in the morning then?”

“I’ll be there at nine sharp,” Marcus said enthusiastically.

“Good. Now what about tonight?”

“What time?”

“Eight o’clock at the Columbia law library.”

“See you there,” Marcus said as a call came through on the other line. “Wanda, I need to take this call. I’ll see you tonight at eight.”

“See you there,” Wanda said, and gently placed the phone in its cradle. “I love it when a plan comes together,” she said aloud, and gathered her things to go home and get ready for the evening.

On the way down in the elevator, neither man said anything. Black thought about the fact that before Leon asked him to ride, his intention was that he was going to try to get with Carmen. Before they reached the ground floor, Leon turned to Black and laughed a little. “That went well.”

“I think so too.”

“You think she knew I came there to meet her?”

“No, but Wanda does.”

“She’ll be all right,” Leon said as the doors opened. “But tell me what Bobby is doin’ in Columbia, South Carolina?”

“Bobby’s wife Pam is from there,” Black said as they walked to the car. “She left him and took the kids with her. She moved in with her grandmother. He’s down there tryin’ to convince her to come back.”

“How’s that goin’?”

Black shook his head. “I don’t know. Pam seems done to me. Anytime a woman says fuck the money, she’s pretty much done. But Bobby loves her and his kids, so he’s down there tryin’.”

“I know I ain’t really gotta ask, but why she leave him?”

“That’s a long story too. But bottom line: women.”

“You know, when I heard that Bobby got married, I didn’t believe that shit would last a year. Bobby’s
a ho
—always has been.”

“Bobby is who he is, so I ain’t knockin’ him; especially since I ain’t too much better.”

“I was shocked when I heard you got married. I didn’t think Mike Black would ever say ‘I do’.”

“Neither did
I
, Leon; but Cassandra was an exceptional woman. I fell in love with everything about her. I never thought I’d say that either. When she died, part of me died with her.”

They drove in silence for a while as both men dealt with their feelings of loss. Memories of his beloved Cassandra flooded his mind, and Black knew that he needed to think about something else. “So where we goin’, Leon?”

“You know a nigga named Rico?”

“Yeah, I know that nigga. What you goin’ to see him for?” Black asked.

“Angelo said it was a good idea.”

Black shook his head. “Why you got me ridin’ to a drug deal?”

“We
just goin’
to talk. And besides, you used to go with me all the time. Now you got damn near pious on me,” Leon reminded Black.

“Things were different then, Leon. I was different.”

“I know, and you know I understand. But Vickie did what she did. She was on a path to self-destruction without any help from you. And even though she died in your apartment, you didn’t kill her.”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“That it ain’t gonna hurt you to ride with me and talk to this nigga. That you been punishing yourself for not saving Vickie long enough; time to let that go.”

“You know what time I think it is?”

“No; what?”

“I think it’s time you turn this car around and take me home. And before you ask, I’m gonna tell you why.”

“Okay, go ahead,” Leon said and smiled. He was glad to be back in New York and back with his old friend.

“
Here’s how the shit is gonna go
: This nigga Rico is gonna say or do some stupid shit, ’cause he’s a stupid, like-to-pull-his-gun mutha fucka, and he does stupid shit.”

“Probably can’t help himself,” Leon threw in.

“No, he can’t. We go down there and one of us is gonna end up shootin’ him. Probably me—’cause shootin’ ain’t really your thing.”

“That’s true. I am a business man.”

“Let me tell you what happened. See, Rico is one of Stark’s people. Now that Stark is dead, I’m bettin’ he been buggin’ Angelo to do business. But Angelo already told me that he don’t wanna fuck wit’ none of his people, so he plays him off on you.” Black thought for a second. “Angelo knows, just like I do, that you gonna end up killin’ this nigga sooner or later, ’cause that’s the kind of nigga he is. Rico will make you wanna shoot him. It was Angelo’s idea to get me to ride with you, wasn’t it?”