"What about his wife, Cassandra Sims? Got anything on her?"
"She never was a major player. We had to drop the murder case against her, and her lawyer’s been putting a lot of pressure on the ADA to produce some evidence. We lack evidence and we have no witnesses. Half the people that were there are dead, and the ones that didn’t die are doing their time quietly, so sooner or later we’ll be forced to drop our conspiracy to distribute case against her. So, if the fuckin’ DEA got something on either one of them, you make damn sure they fuckin’ share it with me."
"You know I will," Kirk said, and he and Richards got ready to leave.
"Wait a minute. There is one thing."
"What’s that, Sanchez?"
"The last couple of weeks we been hearing rumbles of a war brewing between his boy Freeze and D-Train Washington."
"Who’s he?" Richards asked.
"He took over what’s left of Chilly’s crew."
"What’s the beef over?"
"Chilly’s people trying to roll in their so-called dead zone. We’re on top of it."
"That’s one more reason why this doesn’t make sense."
"What’s that, Kirk?"
"These guys have protected that dead zone like it was the holy fuckin’ grail for years."
"That’s true," Sanchez had to agree.
"Now all of a sudden Black wants back in the drug game? Why now?"
"Maybe that’s why Simmons killed Chilly, so they could take over Chilly’s business," Richards said.
"It’s possible," Sanchez said.
"Come on, Pat, you arrested him. You know Simmons was fuckin’ Chilly’s wife and the animal found about it. That’s why Simmons killed Chilly," Kirk told Sanchez."And besides, Black gave Chilly that spot."
"What are you talkin’ about?" Richards wanted to know.
"You should teach the kid some history, Kirk," Sanchez said and walked toward the window. "What’s it been, Kirk? Ten, twelve years?"
"About that."
"The story goes, the night Black caught up with Vincent Martin and his crew, it was him, Bobby Ray and Freeze. They walked in blastin’ and killed them all, except one guy. Black walks up to the guy and says tell Chilly to come see him," Sanchez explained.
"After that, there’s the dead zone," Kirk said. "And Chilly respected that shit for years."
"But Chilly’s dead, and D-Train wants to step up," Richards said.
"Right. It’s a good move for D-Train to move on the dead zone," Kirk said.
"Okay, okay," Sanchez said. "That explains why D-train would want to go to war, but what’s in it for Black? He didn’t have to kill Chilly or take on this other clown to get back in the drug game. He got an organization already in place. And if that was happening, I would know about it, Kirk."
Kirk stood up and headed for the door. "That’s why this makes no sense."
Chapter Ten
"Nick?" Mike asked. "What does Angelo want to talk to me about Nick for?"
"I don’t know, Black. When I asked him what it was about, all he said was Nick and hung up the phone," Freeze said as Nick came into the office.
"All right, let’s go see what Angee wants." Mike stood up and started for the door, followed by Nick and Freeze.
"Hey, Mike, I got some business that I need to handle," Bobby said, and Freeze shot him a look. "It’s not going to take me long. Couple of hours at most."
"Handle your business," Mike said.
"I’ll get with you later," Bobby said.
After Bobby left the office, Freeze leaned toward Black. "Remind me to tell you something about Bobby," he said, and they left the office.
Mike had Freeze drive him and Nick to Yonkers to see Angelo Collette. They pulled up in front of a small private club and were met at the curb by two large gentlemen. Jimmy Lacoursiere and his associate approached the car as Mike and Nick got out of the car. "You comin’, Freeze?" Mike asked as he and Nick followed Jimmy inside the club.
"Yeah, I’ll be in there in a minute. I just need to check on something."
"Cool." Once they were inside, Mike turned to Jimmy. "Jimmy, how are you?" Mike said, handing Jimmy his guns.
"I’m okay, Black." He patted down Mike. "Angelo’s in the back. He’s waiting for you."
Mike went down the hall to Angelo’s office and knocked on the door.
"Come on in, Mikey, and sit down.
"How’s it goin’, Angee?"
"A little older, a little smarter," Angelo said. "What about you, Mikey?"
"I don’t know if you know it or not, but somebody kidnapped Cassandra from my club in the Bahamas yesterday."
"No, Mikey, I didn’t know that. Tell me, what I can do?"
"You can take me to the guy that did it. His name is Sal."
"Shit, Mikey, you know how many guys call themselves Sal? Like lookin’ for a fuckin’ needle in a fuckin’ haystack."
"This one used to run with two Latinos, but they’re both dead. They were meeting an undercover DEA agent yesterday."
"At your spot?"
"Yeah," Mike said as he stepped to the bar and poured himself a drink. "Shit went south for them, and they ended up clippin’ the agent and takin’ Cassandra."
"Do you remember Sally Fitz?
"Yeah, I remember him. Why?"
"Sal made a reputation for himself for being able to get anything for anybody, as long as they could pay his price. This naturally makes Sally very popular in some circles. I know he’s been workin’ with a couple Cubans. I don’t know if he’s in New York, or where to find him."
"If he’s my guy and he’s in New York, I’ll find him," Mike said confidently. "Now, what did you want to see me about?"
"Nick."
"What about Nick?"
"Nick’s made some people very upset lately."
"Who?"
"Diego Estabon." Before Chilly met his untimely demise, Diego Estabon used to supply him.
"Diego?" Mike had known Diego Estabon for a very long time. He used to do business with Diego’s father, Gomez, back when Black was an enforcer. He respected Gomez, but had none for Diego. "What’s he pissed about?"
"Diego says Nick is DEA."
"Nick?"
"Nick," Angelo answered.
"That’s bullshit, Angee. Nick ain’t the DEA. I’m not buying that shit."
"He said Nick cost him a lot of money."
"I don’t need this, Angee, not now."
"Said Nick did a lot of damage to his operation. On top of that, Nick killed Chilly, and you know Chilly was making big money for him."
"What does Diego expect? Chilly came to kill Nick ’cause he fucked Chilly’s wife."
"Nick fucked Gee?" Angelo asked and Mike nodded his head. "Gee’s a bad bitch. I woulda fucked her fine ass too."
"Fuckin’ with married women is bad for business."
"Whatever, Mikey. He said Nick killed some guy named Felix and some general. Diego says they were an important part of his operation."
"The General was Nick’s commander in the Army. After they got them out of South America, Felix recruited what was left of his team. Nick went after them after they had his partner, Jett was killed and they tried to kill the other partner. She’s still in the hospital now. But Nick didn’t kill Felix and the General."
"He didn’t?"
"Freeze killed them."
"What difference does it make, Mikey? The fuckers are still dead."
"Okay, so what does he want?"
"Nick. He wants Nick."
"I can’t believe that Nick is DEA."
"It don’t matter what you believe. The question is, is he or isn’t he?"
Mike sat back and thought about it. Whether he wanted to believe it or not, the possibility did exist. Nick could be a DEA operative, and if that were true, he would have to be dealt with.
"What does Diego want?"
"He wants to sit down with you."
"When and where?"
"The where is here. I’ll call you when he calls me."
Mike stood up. "Let me know."