Once they were finished in Baker’s they passed a Com-Fit Shoes. Paulleen started to go in, but decided to go to Nine West first. There she found a gorgeous sling in a metallic dust kidskin and a pair of EnzoAngiolini’s. Then it was on to Bath amp; Body Works. She wanted to pick up some True Blue Spa, All in a Clay’s Work Detoxifying Facial Mask. "What’s that for?" Freeze asked.
"It absorbs excess oil and draws impurities from the skin. I use it once a week."
"You don’t need that shit," Freeze said as they walked to the register.
"Why not?"
"‘Cause you ain’t got no impurities in you skin. That shit is flawless."
"Yeah, that’s because I use stuff like this to keep myself beautiful for you, baby," Paulleen said and gave Freeze a kiss on the cheek. Their next stop was CeBon Cosmetics, where it seemed like Paulleen tried every fragrance before settling on Issey Miyake for her and one for him. After that, Paulleen dragged Freeze into Charade Fashions, but she didn’t see anything that she liked.
That wasn’t the case in Wilson’s Suede and Leather. Paulleen found an Italian leather belted briefcase. "Check this out," Paulleen told Freeze. "It has a phone case, and a detachable cosmetic bag with a mirror."
"Just get it and let’s go," Freeze said and walked out of the store. He thought about what Black always said about understanding your enemy. The thing to do now is figure out what your enemies are plannin’ and stop them. He thought about the way that D-Train was coming at him. That wasn’t the way, sending people into the houses to set up, and each of them meeting the same fate. Maybe Black was right. The smart move was to defeat them without any fighting. He needed to out-think him, not out-fight him.
Maybe that’s all Wanda was trying to do was to make me think.
Then they came to her favorite store, Victoria’s Secret. Paulleen loved Victoria’s Secret, and not just for the sexy lingerie, although she loved that too and had tons of it. It was because of the variety that they carried. She started with a Point d’Esprit sequined babydoll. "Side slits, lace trim, adjustable straps, matching V-string. Sweet," Paulleen said and picked out a satin robe with a shawl collar and tie belt. But it didn’t stop there. She found a lace-up mesh corseted Anna Paul silk floral babydoll. Next Paulleen tried on an Allen Schwartz crinkle chiffon cami, and a lace racer back bra-top tank.
Then they moved on to Macy’s.
"Baby, these are Blue London jeans. Top- stitched, ultra sexy jean in black platinum." Paulleen liked those, but they weren’t going to work for every outfit. Then she found some DKNY jeans and a pair of Michael Kors Greenwich stretch jeans, and a sexy strapless dress with allover soft pleats and sparkling bands of contrast sequins for added glamour. The short, flirty skirt hit at mid-thigh; side zip, of course, by Allen Schwartz.
On the way to the car, Paulleen wanted to stop at Nail City to get her nails and toes done. "Fuck that shit," Freeze said. "We been here too damn long already."
"Okay, okay," Paulleen said and struggled to the car with her bags. Freeze’s hands were full of bags too, but he didn’t mind. Even though he complained about it the whole time he was there, Freeze enjoyed shopping with Paulleen. It was one of the few chances that he afforded himself to treat his woman like a queen. Besides, she was light today. All this cost only five grand.
"I don’t know what you need all that shit for anyway," Freeze said. "You’re not gonna wear half of that shit."
"Well, if you would take me out sometimes instead of runnin’ the streets all day and night, then maybe I would have someplace to go."
That’s when Freeze saw a car pulling out of a space near where he was parked. Out of the corner of his eye, Freeze noticed the old Chevy Nova speed up and come right for them. As the speeding car approached, Freeze saw the gun. "Get down!" he yelled to Paulleen.
He dropped to the ground, reaching for his gun. Freeze fired back at the car as it sped away. He quickly got to his feet and chased after the car, firing shots as he ran. But it was too late. The car was too far away to hit, or even to see the license plate. All that Freeze could tell was the make and model.
"Chevy Nova, looks like a ’73 model," Freeze said as he walked back to Paulleen. He noticed that a small crowd had formed around her. "Always got to be the center of attention," he said as he pushed through the crowd.
Freeze stopped dead in his tracks and dropped to his knees. Paulleen lay on the ground, surrounded by her shopping bags, in a pool of her own blood. "Paulleen," Freeze whispered and took her hand in his, but she was already gone.
Chapter Twenty-two
Nick drove to the post office on White Plains Road and waited. He had been there for almost an hour when a late model dark blue Ford Crown Victoria pulled into the parking lot. A tall, slender white man got out and went inside. Nick got out of the car and waited for him to come out. As soon as he did, Nick walked up on him.
"Excuse me. Do you have change for a dollar?" Nick asked. The man turned around slowly. "Gotta make a phone call."
"I don’t have any dimes," he replied.
"Two nickels will do."
"That’s an old code, Nick. I was about to shoot you."
"I am glad you didn’t, Freddie. You still living dangerously?"
"Me? I should be asking you that. What are you doin’ here?"
"I need some help."
"Oh shit. I knew I was gonna regret not shooting you. What is it?"
"You ever hear of a guy named Paris and some papers he was trying to get his hands on?"
"Doesn’t ring any bells, but meet me here same time tomorrow, I’ll see what I can find out."
After Freddie left, Nick got back in his car and drove away to talk to Monika. When he took her out of the hospital, Nick didn’t have time to explain what was going on. He just rushed her out of there and took her somewhere she’d be safe.
When he got there Nick told Monika everything that had been going on. From the DEA agent being killed to Shy’s kidnapping, to his conversation with Sally Fitz. "Sally Fitz! That slimy bastard," Monika said. "He didn't give you the money he owes me?"
"No, sorry. He didn’t even mention it."
"I didn't think so. Since he wasn’t talkin’ about payin’ me the money he owes me, what’s the slimy bastard talkin’ about?"
"You remember a guy, called himself Paris?"
"Grey boy, thought he was cool, always used to wear sunglasses at night?"
"That’s him."
"What about him?" Monika asked.
"I’m not gonna bore you with the Pam Grier story he told me, but one of his mule left a package in the open."
"And?"
"Sal’s didn’t know who the buyer was, but General Peterson was brokering the deal."
"What was in the package?"
"He said it’s got somethin’ to do with South America and drugs."
"Stop right there, Nick. What are you tryin’ to say?"
"That I think that package has something to do with us and that the buyer is Diego Estabon."
"So you think it had something to do with what we were doin’ down there?"
"I don’t know for sure," Nick replied. "But I can’t get past what Felix said."
"What’s that?"
"That if what we were doin’ down there became public knowledge, there’d be hell to pay in Washington. That’s why they had to get rid of us."
"I think you’re right. I mean, you said it yourself. There we were in South America, small teams, each working independently, killing drug dealers, blowing up drug plants and seizing their financial records. But then the entire unit is needed to take out one plant: Diego Estabon’s plant. So if that package is what you think it is, were fucked."