Prince of the City (26 page)

“Go over there and whisper in Kojack's ear. Tell him that Malik's here, and he'd like to speak with him in private.”

“Okay, but where you gonna be at?”

“Right here at this back table.” Malik peeled off three hundred-dollar bills. “Get me a bottle of Cristal and keep the rest.”

Keisha took the money and went on her mission. About ten minutes later, she returned with the champagne.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you. Where's Kojack?”

“I don't know, but I told him though.”

“Did you tell him where I was?”

“Yes. I guess he's busy right now. You want me to stay here and keep you company?”

“That won't be necessary. I think me and Malik need to talk in private,” Kojack said.

Keisha looked back. “Oh, there you go. Kojack, this is Malik. Malik, this is Kojack.”

As Keisha played host, Malik figured out that this was all a plan. Keisha was sent to him by Kojack in the first place. Malik got up and pressed Kojack's hand with a firm and hard press like his father had taught him. From the handshake, Kojack knew the young nigga had been around some true gangstas in his lifetime. The only niggas he knew who greeted each other in this fashion were the legendary Mike Perry and Black Sam.

“So Malik, I've heard a lot of things about you.”

“Yeah? Well, I hope they were good things.”

“Oh yeah, they're good. I've heard some other things too. But to me, that's still good, 'cause a nigga gotta do what he gotta do to survive in these streets.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Malik knew Kojack was referring to Tank.

“So where's your partner?” Kojack asked.

“Oh, Rico? He's over there talking to some bitches, probably tryna find a bitch to take to the hotel tonight.”

Kojack laughed. “Well, he ain't gotta worry 'bout that. I got plenty of pussy around here beggin' to get fucked.”

“Yeah? Well, I don't mean to be rude, but I ain't interested in no pussy. I came to talk business.”

Kojack looked the young gangster in the eyes. Something about Malik reminded him of how it was in the old days when Mike Perry ruled the Jungle.

“I like that in you. I see you're about money. Not many young niggas out here are like you. So what part of town you from?”

“I'm from uptown, but my folks are from Southeast. I was raised by my aunt, but I don't think my life history is necessary in order for us to do business. I'm just a young nigga tryna get money.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty.”

“I see, and with the mind of a forty-year-old gangster.”

“However you see it. I was just brought up in the game by some good people.”

“Yeah, I can tell. Anyway, what is it you wanna talk about?”

Malik smiled. “Now we're getting somewhere. Well, first of all I wanna know what them birds flying for?”

“It all depends on how many you tryna get.” Kojack smiled and poured himself a glass of Malik's Cristal.

“Well, let's say I want thirty of 'em.”

Kojack immediately put down his glass and looked Malik directly in the eyes.

“Now, that's a lot of joints. If you wanna do business on that type of scale, then our relationship must be a marriage. You can't never cop from nobody but us.”

“What you mean by us? I thought I was just dealing with you.”

“I have a partner. You may have heard of him before, but he doesn't normally come around. If you gonna be copping shit like that, then it's a must you meet him also.”

“Oh, I see. So who's your partner?”

“I'll let you know in time. But for right now, let's get these prices established.” Kojack then leaned forward, rubbed both hands together, and looked Malik directly in the eyes. “I can give 'em to you for seventeen-five, and after a while, the more you cop, then the price is gonna drop.”

“Damn, that's a good number. In that case, we tryna get thirty-five of them thangs.”

Kojack's eyes lit up at the young hustler's request. This was his biggest client ever. The most shit Kojack had sold to one person was fifteen bricks. Kojack was only getting fifty at a time anyway. He badly wanted Malik's business. Even though Kojack lowered the number from nineteen just to satisfy the young nigga, he would still be coming out on top. Black Sam was getting shiploads from Mexico for twelve thousand a key and giving it to Kojack for sixteen. Kojack would normally sell for twenty, but at the request of Black Sam, he lowered the number for Malik to seventeen-five.

“Now, this is how we gonna do this. I deal with you and only you. Give me an address where to drop 'em off, preferably a storage spot or a house with a garage.”

“I got the perfect place already. You know the Auto Garage in Clinton, Maryland?”

“Yeah, I know where it's at. That's a good spot. My partner used to keep his Bentley in storage out there.”

“Good, then when can I cop?”

“First thing tomorrow morning. I'll call you. Now since the business part of this meeting is over, let's make a toast to a good future.”

Malik held up his drink as Kojack happily touched his glass. Malik thought of the riches soon to come his way, while Kojack wondered how long Black Sam would do business with the youngin' before he decided to end his life.

 

Chapter 34

 

-NO MERCY-

 

 

y the winter of 1999, Malik and Rico were copping a whole load of bricks from Kojack on a monthly basis. Their clientele grew larger and spread throughout the city. Those who used to cop two or three bricks at a time eventually moved to ten bricks a week.

Malik and Kojack's relationship was getting even closer. Sometimes they would go out to parties together and introduce each other to different women. As Kojack and Malik started getting along, Rico and Malik started disagreeing more. Rico became jealous of Malik and Kojack's relationship. He started to view Malik as a possible traitor.

While sitting in the stash house, Rico began to indirectly question Malik's loyalty. “Man, did you know Tasha's having her baby shower next month?”

“Yeah, and what about it?”

“Are you coming or what?”

“Niggas don't go to baby showers.”

“Man, fuck that. It's gonna be a lot of bitches there.”

“Well, guess we gonna be the first niggas ever to go to a baby shower, huh?”

Rico laughed at his partner and friend. “Now, don't forget. You know it's important to me and Tasha.”

“Man, how can I forget to come to my soon-to-be godchild's baby shower?”

“I don't know. You and that nigga Kojack been hanging real tough lately.”

“So what are you saying, Rico? You think I'd put this nigga before my own family? Nigga, you're like my brother out here. I only fuck with this nigga 'cause he got what we want. After we meet the real nigga, Black Sam, I'm cutting his bitch ass off,” Malik said, not yet wanting to reveal that Sam was his uncle.

Malik didn't want Rico to start asking more questions that he couldn't answer. He didn't want to come to Sam empty-handed. He wanted to show his uncle that he remembered every lesson Michael Perry taught him as a child. But if Rico knew about Sam and Malik's relationship, he would want Malik to use that relationship to take short cuts.

“This nigga's a ho for real, Rico,” Malik said about Kojack. “I can see it in his eyes. I can tell by the way he be tryna hang around me just to let other niggas know that we down with him. Niggas out here don't respect this nigga. The only reason they ain't robbed and killed his ass yet is because they're afraid me and you gonna retaliate.”

“Yeah, I know. But for real, I'm thinking 'bout robbing his ass. Fuck him and Black Sam. Their time is up. Those niggas are old heads now. Time for them niggas to go. It's some new, up and coming niggas out here now running Southeast with an iron fist, and their names are Malik and Rico.”

Malik smiled. “Yeah, I feel you. But first, let's get to Black Sam, find a real number for these birds, and then establish a connect. That way we'll knock Kojack out the way without moving a finger. Then after a while, Black Sam is gonna have to step down and let a real nigga get that spot. Always remember, Rico. Whatever we do, we do it with finesse.”

“Yeah, I know. You've been saying that shit ever since I first met you.”

They both laughed. Rico grabbed his keys, got up off the sofa, and headed for the door.

“Malik, come on. We gotta pass Wahler Place. This nigga Lil Dave ain't paid me the rest of my money yet.”

“How much he owe?”

“I gave him five joints about two weeks ago. So far he only put down forty, and he's owed a nigga sixty thousand for the last two weeks. Now either he got locked up, which I seriously doubt, or he just feels like tryin' a nigga. Regardless of what he's tryin' to do, he gotta pay a nigga his money.”

“Don't be so quick to kill a nigga. Let's just go 'round there and see what's up first. After all, he might have your money.”

“Yeah, well, it's only one way to find out. Come on, let's go.”

Malik pulled up on Wahler Place in his brand-new Cadillac truck. It was pearl white with light gray leather interior, TVs in the headrests, and a seven-thousand-dollar sound system.

“Hey, CoCo. What's up?” Malik asked the young hustler as he pulled to the curb.

“Oh.What's up, Malik? My muthafuckin' nigga? I ain't seen you in a while,” the young hustler responded as he walked up to Malik's window to shake his hand.

“Yeah, I know. I'm looking for Lil Dave. Have you seen him?”

“Yeah, I saw him not too long ago. He just went in crackhead Bobbie's house, probably getting his dick sucked.”

“A'ight, thanks. You be careful out here,” he advised after noticing CoCo was strapped with a gun that was too big to conceal.

“I will.”

As Rico and Malik entered the apartment building, Rico put his finger up to his mouth to keep Malik silent. He then placed his ear to Bobbie's door to see if he could hear Lil Dave in her house.

“Come on, Dave. Give me the pipe back,” Bobbie said. “Your ass been up here smoking all fucking week. Give me a hit before I put your ass out and tell everybody your ass is on the pipe now.”

“Bitch, you do that, and I'll kill your ass. Anyway, you're the one who freaked out a nigga and got me on this shit.”

Hearing enough, Rico knocked on the door with hard force and then placed his ear back on the door.

“Who is it?” Bobbie asked.

“It's Rico, Bobbie. Open up.”

“Bobbie, don't open the door,” Rico heard Lil Dave say.

“Why not? Rico will kill my ass if I don't.”

“Bitch, I'm a kill you if you do.”

“Hey Bobbie. I'll give you an eight ball if you open this door right now,” Rico said.

“Fuck you, Dave. I'm opening this door.” Bobbie got up, rushed to the door, and unlocked it. “A'ight, Rico, where my coke at?” she asked, standing there with her hand open, waiting to be served.

Rico just gazed at her with an expression that said, “Get the fuck away from me.”

Malik then walked in behind him and gave Bobbie a fresh Ben Franklin. “Here, Bobbie. Go 'head down the street and cop you one from CoCo.”

“Thanks, Malik. You always was one who kept his word,” Bobbie said, glaring at Rico with hatred in her eyes.

Malik closed the door behind him as Rico stood over Dave with his .45 Smith and Wesson shoved in Dave's face.

“Nigga, your ass is on the pipe now? This the reason you been ducking me? How the fuck you gonna smoke coke and sell weight at the same time. You should've known this shit was gonna catch up with you.”

“Rico, please don't kill me, man. I just got a habit. I swear I'll get your money, man,” he pleaded, holding on to Rico's feet as if he was praying to him.

“Nigga, how the fuck you gonna get my money when you on it like a brown hornet?”

“Rico, man, I swear I can get off this shit, man. Just work with me. This bitch Bobbie turned me out. All I need is a few months of rehab. I swear, Rico. I'll pay you, man. Just spare my life, please.” Lil Dave then looked at Malik. “Malik, please help me out here, man. I've known you for a while now, and you know I'll pay the money back when I get myself together. Please, Malik, can you help me?”

Malik looked at the helpless, frail man, who once was a short, stocky, well-dressed hustler.

“Rico, give the nigga a chance,” Malik said.

“Thank you, Malik. I swear you won't regret it. Thanks, man,” Lil Dave said, looking relieved that his life had been spared. If it wasn't for Malik, his brains would have been splattered all over the walls by now.”

Rico looked at Malik in disbelief.

“Come on, Rico. Let the nigga live, man.”

Rico looked at Malik and then at Dave. “I tell you what. I'm a spare your life, nigga. I'm a help you get off this shit for good. Now, do you really wanna kick the habit?” Rico asked.

“Yeah. Thanks, man. I'll pay you your money.”

“Okay, Dave, I'm a help you out. We gonna take you up to Greater Southeast Hospital so you can check into their rehab. Get your helpless ass up off that floor and come on.”

Malik smiled now that Rico was finally thinking. There was no sense in killing Dave. If Dave was dead, Rico would never get paid. However, if Dave did the rehab and came back strong, then there was no doubt he would pay with interest. To Malik, this was a smart mobster move. To Rico, it was a weak move.

Malik, Lil Dave, and Rico walked outside in the cold winter weather, ducking their heads in an attempt to hide from the frost.

“Damn, it's colder than a muthafucka out here,” Lil Dave said.

“What? You sell your coat for that shit?” Rico asked, but Lil Dave didn't have an answer.