Thin Ice 5 - Checkmate (12 page)

Arriving at the door, Shells placed his ear next to it, hearing the soft sounds of jazz music. Removing the lock kit from his pocket he carefully worked the lock, hearing the soft click of the tumblers moments later. Again, Shells carefully and cautiously opened the door just a crack, allowing him sight into the room. He saw nothing and listened closer. He heard the sound of water running and surmised his target was in the shower. Coming inside quickly as not to alert any overly nosey neighbors; Shells stealthily made his way down the short hallway, confirming his suspicions moments later as he heard the man singing. The water stopped running and he heard the sound of the shower doors opening. Shells remained perfectly still just inside the bedroom door, against the wall. He glanced at the artwork and sculpture, surmising quickly the man was gay from all the erotic male offerings present. Hearing the soft swish of feet on carpet, Shells tensed, ready to pounce on his victim once they entered the room. He saw the man’s shadow getting closer and closer, actually able to smell the bodywash that was used earlier in the shower.

Moving lightning fast Shells secured his target, arm around his neck, cutting off air momentarily. “Relax, I’m not gonna kill you yet,” he told the man harshly.

Immediately, all resistance stopped and the man’s arms fell limply to his sides. Shells let him go and pushed him hard, causing him to lose footing and fall, hitting his mouth on the corner of his four poster highboy bed and busting his lip.

“
Who are you and what do you want,” he hissed angrily.

The man was furious with himself for being lax and allowing himself to be outwitted.

“
I want to know where your safe is,” Shell’s threw out.

Thinking the man was here to rob him, the victim immediately answered.

“
I don’t keep cash here,” he told the man holding the custom made Smith and Wesson, silencer attached.

“
Get up, show me,” Shells ordered.

Grudgingly the man did as he asked, still clad only in a towel as they walked to the small guest bedroom and he removed a panel from the wall. Shells ordered him to open it, and again the man complied.

“
I told you I didn’t keep cash,” the victim repeated as Shells smiled a deadly sinister smile back at him.

“
What I’m wanting is in dere,” he told the man cocking the gun and aiming at him.

“
Who are you,” he asked one final time as Shells put two bullets in his forehead and watched him crumple to the floor.

Removing the contents of the safe and securing it, Shells trashed the condo, throwing papers everywhere, cutting pillows and pulling out the insides. Satisfied, he again carefully and quietly left the unit, slipped back into the stairwell and headed down the stairs. Forty-five seconds later the elevator doors opened as Ray, Brent, and Santana disembarked. They found Nero’s lifeless body five minutes later.

*****

Tariq was beginning to regret the things he’d said to his wife almost a month ago. Kaitlyn had shut down completely after that day. She came and went at odd hours, took his name off all her accounts and became very secretive. They seldom saw each other even living in the same house. Tariq knew she was deliberately going out of her way not to run into him, but tonight he wanted to talk to her. He wanted to know what she was out doing after midnight some nights.
You wanna know if she’s fuckin’ someone else too don’t you,
his mind berated him once again. Tariq sighed deeply as he thought about the mess he found himself in with Carlita. He’d tried to move away from her after sexing her a few more times. He just couldn’t continue to fake it with her. She was furious however telling him she wasn’t just some toy he could play with and put down when he was finished. Sighing deeply he pushed the thoughts away vowing to deal with it later after he got some answers from his wife.

Hearing the front door close, Tariq rose and headed into the hallway, almost knocking Kaitlyn down as she made her way to the master bedroom.

“
Where have you been,” he asked, jaw clenched as he gave her a look.

Kaitlyn frowned slightly, regarding him silently for a few moments longer.

“
You gave up the right to ask me shit like that a month ago, Riq,” she told him without emotion.

Kaitlyn tried to step around him as he moved and blocked her path. Sighing deeply she politely asked him to move.

“
I don’t want to play this game right now,” Kaitlyn told him as Tariq pinned her to the wall and held her there.

“
Where the fuck you been KiKi,” he growled angrily.

She smelled so damned good, and the outfit was banging without doubt. Eyeing her in the form fit electric blue mini dress, her breasts sitting pertly alert from the deep cut v-neckline and thinking of her being out and some other man looking at her, touching her, made his blood boil.

“
Tariq, get your hands the hell off me,” Kaitlyn returned, her voice cold and hard.

He let her go at that point and she rolled her eyes at him, moving from the wall and going inside the bedroom closing and locking the door behind her. Pissed Tariq punched the wall he still stood in front of.
Apologize to the damned woman, beg her to give you another chance,
his mind tried. Tariq’s ego wouldn’t let him grovel, so he dismissed it and walked away headed to the den and their fully stocked bar. He was on his fourth double vodka shot when she walked back into the hallway and ended up in the kitchen. Tariq again blocked her path as Kaitlyn returned with the peach she’d retrieved. She sighed tiredly giving him yet another look.

“
Tariq, please, I’m tired and I want to go to sleep,” she told him her tone still all business.

“
Who you been out fuckin’,” he asked slurring his words slightly, as he now took in the baby doll pink camisole and matching panty she was clad in.

Kaitlyn knew he was tipsy so she didn’t become angry immediately.

“
I’m going to bed,” she replied in lieu of an answer to his accusation.

Tariq grew angrier, grabbing her again, pulling her to him and holding her tightly.

“
Why the fuck we gotta go through this bullshit KiKi,” he asked kissing her neck sweetly.

“
Because you wanted this,” Kaitlyn replied tersely, pushing him away, turning on her heel and walking back toward their room.

Tariq was quick enough to catch up and push her into the bedroom, him immediately behind her.

“
Riq, go to bed,” Kaitlyn tried, as he walked toward her.

“
Get out of my room,” she told him, her temper beginning to flare.

Tariq responded by grabbing her and throwing her onto the bed, him on top of her.

“
Get the hell off me Riq, shit,” Kaitlyn told him as he held her arms above her head and tried to kiss her.

She kept turning her head from side to side to avoid his lips.

“
Get off me!” Kaitlyn screamed.

The shout seemed to shake the cobwebs and Tariq stopped trying to kiss her, looking into her eyes now.

“
You really don’t want me anymore,” he asked, the hurt evident.

“
I’m not the one who threw us away Riq, you did that,” Kaitlyn told him calmly. “I loved you, with my entire being, I loved you,” she went on the hurt coming full blown. “You told me to go fuck myself, so guess what, I’m doing me now,” Kaitlyn spat venomously. “So you need to go find yourself a chick that can give you what I obviously couldn’t and leave me the hell alone.”

Tariq was stung by the venom in her voice. He’d gone too far and she was lost to him now. The realization took his breath away, literally. Kaitlyn grew alarmed seeing the panic on his face and the labor of his breathing.

“
Riq, breathe, relax,” she told him, looking into his face as he continued to stare blankly into her eyes.

“
Riq, come on seriously, don’t do this,” she implored, tears springing to her eyes.

Without warning Tariq kissed her again.

“
Riq, don’t,” Kaitlyn tried, her resolve weakened from the episode moments earlier.

Sensing the crack in her armor, Tariq pulled her close and kissed her again, forcing her back down onto the bed. He didn’t stop kissing her until she was naked and his manhood was deep inside her.

11

Jaleesa sighed deeply gathering herself and knocking lightly on the motel room door. It opened moments later as Kai stood smiling at her, shirtless.

“
Come on in,” he greeted her sweetly, kissing her lips as soon as he closed the door behind her.

“
You look delicious,” he told her taking in the outfit.

Jaleesa had gone through the trouble of pulling out one of her nicer mini dresses, high thigh length, fire orange, matching it with 4-inch, calf-tie, pewter sandals. Kai was licking his lips appreciatively taking in her shapely legs, thighs and butt as she walked to the bed and sat down.

“
Where have you been,” he asked slightly irritated.

He knew they were just screwing, but for some reason Kai was jealous as hell thinking Jaleesa may have been seeing someone else as well.

“
Nowhere,” she answered sweetly, seeing the jealousy and secretly amused by it.

This damned man is delusional as hell,
she thought as he brought her a glass of wine, handing it to her.

“
Thanks,” Jaleesa replied, smiling slightly as she sipped it. “I can’t stay too long tonight,” she explained. “I have to be home before Jacoury or he’ll get suspicious, he’s already started asking questions,” she continued to spin the yarn.

Truthfully Jacoury had been wonderful about her taking time to enjoy herself. He actually gave her more money to spend at Bingo, admonishing her to live it up.

Jaleesa smiled slightly at the thought, quickly changing her focus back to the task at hand.

“
So are you ready to start working,” Kai asked, sitting beside her, kissing her neck softly.

She sighed slightly again for effect. He stopped kissing her neck and looked into her eyes waiting for her to speak.

“
Are you sure this will be the last time,” Jaleesa asked, feigning innocence.

Kai kissed her lips, smiling back at her as he answered.

“
I promise, everything will be square and you can live your life,” he lied smoothly. “I guess I’m just hoping you’ll keep seeing me,” he asked, baiting her.

Jaleesa smiled demurely, averting her glance.
So she does feel me,
Kai thought foolishly of the gesture.

“
Let’s not talk anymore,” he told her kissing her again, with feeling.

“
Can I have some more wine,” Jaleesa stalled.

Kai smiled and told her sure, rising to get it for her. His back to her, she quickly spiked the glass he’d left sitting, kicking the small glass vial she’d concealed in her bra, under the bed. Kai turned and walked back to her, handing her glass as he unzipped his pants and removed them. Jaleesa sipped hers, as Kai picked up his own glass, draining it quickly.

Pulling her up from the bed, Kai began kissing her again. Jaleesa was careful not to let the kiss linger, knowing enough of the drugs residue could be transferred to impair her as well. He continued kissing her neck, his breathing growing erratic.

“
Damn,” he murmured as the drug began to work. “It’s hot as hell in here,” he told her, sweating profusely and trying to focus.

“
I’m not hot,” Jaleesa replied calmly. “Are you all right,” she asked, feigning concern.

“
I feel crazy,” Kai replied, feeling the bed and barely making it to the edge before his legs gave way.

“
What did you do to me,” he hissed in between breaths.

His limbs felt like they weighed 200lbs apiece. He couldn’t move, barely speak.

“
Nothing yet asshole, but that’s subject to change,” Jaleesa told him coldly walking to the door and letting Kim inside.

Kai blinked several times trying to clear his field of vision. The woman looked vaguely familiar but he couldn’t place her.

“
Don’t be stupid,” he managed once more. “You can’t kill me, I’m a DEA agent,” Kai tried to bluff.

He guessed the drug’s effects came and went, since he was now able to breathe and speak much easier.

“
You’re a bastard is what you are,” Kim spat, slapping him hard with the business end of the .380 she held.

Kai’s mouth was bleeding, dripping onto his bare chest, since he was still unable to lift his arm and render himself aid. Jaleesa searched his pants, finding his car keys.

“
I’ll be right back,” she told Kim who nodded.

Kai frowned slightly wondering what she was doing.

“
Let me go now and no one will know,” Kai tried with Kim. “No one will get hurt,” he added trying to sweeten the deal.

“
Shut your nasty ass up,” Kim hissed angrily. “You’re foul as hell,” she went on, her mind going back to the thing Kai was trying to force Jaleesa to do. “How fucked up is to try and get a man damned deported, away from his family and shit,” Kim growled.

Kai was glad that was the only part of the plan he’d revealed to Jaleesa. They wanted Shells gone and finding out he was illegal only helped their cause. All she had to do was call immigration and deliver the documents he would supply. Jaleesa walked back into the room ending all conversation as she placed Kai’s briefcase on the table.