Chapter 5

November 2003

I had lived in practically every borough in New York City, and in every imaginable place. Now, home was a spacious three bedroom, two bath penthouse on the 22^nd floor at one of the most prestigious addresses in Manhattan: 100 East 86^th Street. Eve, Star Jones, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis were my neighbors. Things had changed.

I had fallen asleep on the living room sofa. The last thing I remembered, I was watching Conan O‘Brien. Madison, the six month old Pit Bull that I had brought as a gift for myself was spread out on the off white carpet right next to me.

―Good morning, Madison,‖ I said in a hoarse and dry voice. ―Good morning,‖ I repeated. Madison popped her head up and playfully rubbed it on my legs. ―How‘s Mommy‘s girl today? Huh?‖

After I played with Madison, I got up and walked toward the floor to ceiling windows which revealed a breathtaking view of Central Park. I would often find myself looking out of that window for hours. The view always calmed my spirit whenever I got caught up in the drama that the streets would often pull me into.

Living so high up made me feel invincible—like I was protected and shielded from the rest of the world.

I don’t feel like going anywhere today. I thought as I walked toward my bedroom. When I entered my room, my eyes had instantly landed on my off-white chaise. The sight immediately annoyed me -- it was overflowing with clothes that needed to be dry cleaned. I made a mental note to call Rosa, my housekeeper. She had asked for three days off. One day had passed and already things were totally out of order. I hated it, but not enough to trust anyone else to clean my home. Rosa would just have to cut short her time off.

My bedroom was my sanctity. It was lavishly decorated in warm earth tones. Candles in every size and scent were scattered around the room. The bed was a custom made king size four-poster bed imported from Italy. My favorite pastime was lying next to the gas fireplace listening to music.

* * *

It was 11:38. The morning was just about gone and I needed to meet with Pam and Black. I hit the speaker button and began dialing Pam.

The call went straight into voicemail. ―Unh Unh Unh…my minutes. Yo, if you see yourself calling me over and over…and I‘m not picking up, that‘s because you‘re not worth my minutes. Take it personal!‖

―Pam, it‘s me...Storm. I called your ass twice last night and you never called me back. You don‘t want me to take it personal, I know. Call me back.‖

Then I decided to call Black. He was one of my main connects. He supplied me with names, social security numbers, date of births, addresses– the whole nine yards. I never understood why or for that matter how Black got into the game. Black had a Masters in computer technology. He was smart and could passionately engage in topics ranging from politics, to science, and sports. The rumor was he had extorted money from a top Fortune 500 firm and did a heavy bid for it. When he was released from jail, he amped up his game and took his computer knowledge and prison education to the streets.

―Hey, Storm.‖

―Hey, Black. What‘s going on?‖
―Ain‘t shit. What‘s good with you?‖
―Just trying to hook up and see what‘s
up.‖ ―A‘ight. What time you trying to
do that?‖ ―Is one good for you?‖

―Yeah. That‘s cool…that‘s cool. Where
at?‖ ―Junior‘s?‖
―A‘ight. I‘ll holla at you then.‖
―One.‖

As soon as I put the telephone back on the receiver it rang. I looked at the Caller ID – it was Pam. I picked it up on the first ring.

―Where the fuck you been at?‖ I asked.
―Girl, you don‘t evenwanna know,‖ Pam
said. ―What happened?‖
―You know that tall black nigga I met last week at Taj‘s

spot?‖
―Yeah…Rocky?‖
―Rock,‖ Pam corrected.

―I don‘t know why you even bother with someone with that kinda name anyway. You were with him?‖

―Yeah, girl,‖ Pam sighed heavily. ― I went over to his house last night and the nigga had me walk into his house backwards. Talking about he have to make sure I don‘t bring no bad spirits in his house and shit. I should have left then. But it was two o‘clock in the morning and I ain‘t feel like driving all the way back home…‘cause he live way out in Rosedale somewhere right next to Green Acres Mall.‖

―Pam! Go on and just tell me what happened…damn.

I hate when you do that.‖
―Okay! Anyway, I ain‘t even gonna get into the freaky
shit he was trying to have me do. I‘ll tell you about that later.
But let me tell you…gurrrrl…since I left this nigga house I‘ve
been sick and I ain‘t have nothing but bad luck. He musta
reverse the shit on me!‖
―Don‘t tell me you ate his food.‖
―Nah. But don‘t you know…I‘m driving on Southern
State ready to get off on the Conduit and this car from outta
nowhere came and wrecked my shit up.‖
―Get the fuck outta here! Stop playing!‖
―I ain‘t playing. And that ain‘t all either. The cops
gave me a fucking ticket ‗cause they said I didn‘t yield. I ain‘t
never got no ticket before. And the bad part about it is
homeboy car didn‘t have a scratch on it. But he wrecked up
my shit. Now how that happen?‖
―What? The car is messed up
bad?‖ ―The shit is totaledStorm!‖
―Did you get hurt?‖
―No, I‘m okay. I‘ll probably be hurting tomorrow
though. I‘m just shaken up. That‘s all. I can‘t believe this shit.
I ain‘t have the car a good month.‖

―Don‘t sweat it though. That nigga ain‘t do nothing to you,‖ I said with a small chuckle, ―it‘s just a coincidence.‖ ―Storm, if I tell you the rest of the story…you ain‘t gonna say that. Believe me.‖

―Well, tell me later I need to start getting
dress.‖ ―All right. What time you trying to hook up?‖ ―One o‘clock at Junior‘s.‖
―Okay.‖
―So wait a minute…did they tow your
car?‖ ―Yeah. I‘ma go get me a rental
later on.‖ ―Where you at now?‖
―I‘m downtown…trying to find me something to

wear. I‘m going to see Mary perform tonight.‖

―Oh, I forgot you were going to the Mary J. concert tonight. Pam, Is it cold out?‖
―Hell, yeah. It‘s freezing out this bitch.‖
―Okay, so you want me to have Rick pick you up?‖

―Nah, that‘s okay…I‘ll probably be still downtown shopping and I can just walk on over to Junior‘s. Anyway, how was Rick gonna pick me up? Taj is outta town?‖

―Yeah. He‘s in M.I.A. He‘ll probably be back later on tonight.‖

―Alright, girl. Well, let me go. I‘ll see you at one o‘clock then.‖
―Okay, bye.‖
I stood in the center of my closet, scanning around hoping that eventually something would scream at me to wear. After pondering for several minutes, I finally decided on a black Dolce & Gabana shirt and slacks with my grey and black Prada sneakers. Then I went into the fur closet adjacent to the master closet and took my black waist length Chinchilla off of the hanger.
I stared at the mirror. I had to admit…I was one bad bitch. I was often mistaken for Stacey Dash—but the truth was I looked better than her. Admiring my physique, I turned to the side to get a better view of the six pack on my stomach. Although I was a perfect size five. I wasn‘t always satisfied with the flatness of my stomach. Four months ago, I hired a personal trainer, and the results were becoming more noticeable. The pain was finally paying off.

* * *

I climbed inside of my 2003 black on black X5, selected the CD function and suddenly Alicia Keys was singing Fallin‘. Immediately I began to think of Taj. He had been gone only two days but I was missing him badly.

Taj and I met two years ago at Capital City, the club he owned, located downtown Brooklyn. Although past experiences had led me to resign myself to flying solo, it was a challenge that I couldn‘t win staying away from him.

Taj was six feet two inches with a chiseled and buffed body. He had smooth dark skin, his long and thick eyelashes accentuated his brown eyes. Taj‘s lips were like Denzel‘s and he had pretty white teeth. It didn‘t take long to learn that he also possessed all the qualities I demanded my man to have— style, street smarts, power and plenty of money.

I reached for my cell phone to call Taj. As soon as I picked up the phone, it began to ring – it was Taj.

―Hey, baby,‖ I said. ―I was just getting ready to call you.‖ ―What‘s really good, ma?‖
―Nothing…missing you.‖
―Yeah. I miss you, too. Where you at?‖

―In the car. I‘m heading to Brooklyn. I gotta meet

Black and Pam.‖
―That‘s what‘s up.‖
―When you coming back,
Taj?‖ ―I‘m leaving tonight.‖
―Good. What flight are you gonna catch?‖ ―I think it‘s leaving Miami at 6:15. But if I don‘t make

that one, I think there is another one leaving at 8:30.‖ ―Why you don‘t think you can make the 6:15 flight? I need for you to come back home.‖

―Storm, I gotta make sure dude get on the train and everything go okay…what you mean you needme back home.‖
I laughed. ―I meant what I said. I‘m missing you big time, baby. You know I don‘t like being alone too long.‖
―Oh, so Madison ain‘t keeping you
company.‖ ―Taj!‖
―Well, I ain‘t know…I mean you be giving that dog more attention than me sometimes.‖
―Whatever, Taj.‖
―Has Rick been keeping in touch with you?‖
―Yeah. I heard from him yesterday.‖
―A‘ight. Make sure you call him if you need him.‖ ―Okay, I
will. Oh, did you let him know what time you‘re coming in tonight?‖
―Nah, I‘ll call him though. Don‘t worry about that. I got that.‖
―All right. Let me go. I‘ll call you later
on.‖ ―Love you.‖
―Love you, too.‖

* * *

When I arrived at Junior‘s, Black, Pam and this chick named Shade was already there.
―Hey, what‘s up y‘all?‖ I asked.

―Hey, what‘s up, Storm?‖ Shade responded.
―What‘s going on girl?‖ Pam asked.
―You don‘t know how to speak nigga?‖ I asked Black. ―My bad,‖ Black apologized. Then he directed his

attention back to his telephone call. ―Yo, listen I‘ ll hit you back later.‖ Black walked over and embraced me. ―What‘s up baby girl? You looking fine as usual.‖

―Thanks, boo,‖ I said. Why y‘all ain‘t get a
table?‖ ―We just got here,‖ Pam proclaimed. I nodded at Shade then turned to Pam ―What she doing

here?‖

―Oh, I ran into her at
Macy‘s.‖ ―Get rid of her!‖
Pam gave a nervous laugh. ―You ain‘t right Storm.‖

―I ain‘t playing. Get rid of her. You know you don‘t do no shit like that.‖
―She‘s taking me uptown after we leave here.‖

―Pam what part don‘t you understand? I don‘t care if she‘s taking you to Timbuktu…she ain‘t sitting down eating at no table with me.‖

Pam caught an instant attitude. I knew that eventually she would. It never failed. Pam always seemed to have a hard time accepting orders from me. I always reminded her that business was business and friendship was a separate entity. I didn‘t get where I was mixing the two.

―Well, she gonna have to sit in her car ‗cause I‘m not trying to take no train uptown. It‘s too cold to be riding the train. Are you going back home once you leave here?‖

―Unh Uh…I gotta few stops to make. Just make the bitch wait in the car. I mean what‘s the problem? You‘re wasting my time standing here debating over small shit.‖

Pam walked away, whispered something to Shade, then Shade left.
* * *

―Pam, we got the work when you gonna get busy?‖ I asked.
―Tomorrow,‖ Pam said. ―We doing VA.‖
I tore off a piece paper out of my Louis Viutton planner and jotted down a few items. ―Here is the list of what I want.‖
―Okay.‖
―You got your pictures?‖
―Yeah. I met up with Juan. He got some phat DLs from VA. Them shits look original.‖
―I met this dude the other day that do some good work, too.‖ Black interjected. ―I can give you his number.‖
―Ain‘t this your personal list?‖ Pam asked. ―Where‘s the client list?‖
I dug in my handbag and retrieved the other list of items. ―Here. We need some nice electronics…three plasmas. Jewelry…some nice pieces…especially bracelets. Listen when you go OT, make sure you stop at Tysons Corner at Zella‘s. Ask for Muhammad. That‘s my peoples. He‘s gonna let you do the damn thing.‖
―A‘ight.‖
―You gonna get 40 off of this. And get yourself a couple of cards when you go to Macy‘s.‖
―I‘ma take Shade with me. And I‘ma hit her off with a little something.‖

―I don‘t give a fuck if you buy her a car, just bring me my shit.‖

―Pam, why you fucking with that bitch?‖ Black asked. ―She just trying to get on. Her baby father is on and he ain‘t even fuckin‘ with her.‖

―Nah, that bitch gonna earn her keep. Ain‘t no loafing. She gotta get up. She know what time it is. Fuck that. Storm, anything else?‖

―We good.‖
Black clasped his hands. ―Y‘all ready to order? Let‘s eat.‖ Looking at the menu, I said, ―Me, too. I‘m feeling for

some grits and sunny side eggs today.‖
―You the only person I know that will eat grits anytime of the day,‖ Pam said.
* * *

After we ate, Pam got into the car with Shade. Black and I walked to the Park Right parking lot around the corner from Albee Square Mall.

―Yo, Storm, I know Pam‘s your girl and all, but you better watch out, ‗cause she got larceny in her heart.‖
―I can trust her, Black. She‘s got my back.‖

―I‘m telling you Storm…keep your eye on her. I don‘t trust her. That bitch will cut your throat.‖

―I appreciate you looking out but Pam is cool,‖ I defensively replied. ―I‘ve known her for a minute. She‘s one of the few people Ican trust. She‘s good people. Anyway, so when you gonna have some more work for me.‖

―I‘m gonna hit up one of the credit report agencies by the end of the week. I‘ll hit you off by Friday.‖

―That‘ll work.‖ I reached in my pocket and pulled out a stack of crisp one hundred dollar bills. ―Here.‖
―Thanks.‖