I made my way up the stairs to Jason’s apartment and gently knocked on the door. It was really early in the morning but I was hoping he was already up. It took a few knocks until I heard some rumbling coming from inside. He cracked opened the door peeked through while rubbing his eyes, “Yeah…”

“It’s me.” I quickly replied.

“Ally, it’s the crack of dawn. Hold on…” Jason closed the door and I could hear rumbling once more. After a few seconds, he opened the door then walked away. I walked in after him slowly creeping inside when I saw two women laying half naked on the floor. I stopped immediately surprised at what I saw. There were empty liquor bottles all over the floor, a tin tray full of weed and another tray full powder. Besides the drugs and alcohol were pizza boxes and bags of chips and other trash. It was almost a land fill in here, fucking filthy.

“Do you want me to come back?” As I looked down at the sleeping women and the trash all around them.

“Naw, you’re good.” Jason had nothing on but a thin red silk robe with matching red boxer shorts. He walked around the living room clapping his hands trying to wake his company, “Wakey, wakey ladies! I have business to attend so time for ya to go… Come on, Stacy or Cindy whatever your name was. Let’s go!”

“Jason!” I snapped at him.

He shrugged his skinny shoulders, “What? They gotta go. Come on ladies, move. Your money is on the counter by the door.”

I turned towards the ladies and didn’t say a word as they slowly staggered to their feet. They moaned and groaned looking around their belongings. Jason walked back to his desk then plopped down in his chair. He grabbed the small cut straw that was next to four little skinny lines of cocaine neatly side by side to another. Jason took his straw and snorted two, stopped to pinch his nose, then finished the last two. I slowly walked over all the trash and shit all over of the floor and had to clean off a fold out chair to sit down. “Really Jason? It’s too early in the morning for that shit. Normal people drink coffee and eat breakfast at nine o’clock in the morning.”

With a little powder still on the side of his nose, he replies, “What you mean? This is the best way to start your day…” Jason leaned from side to side while laughing at himself. “Oh! I got it!” He lifted the plastic cup up above his head. The red fruit punch spilled out as he wiggled the cup, “Punch! Powder! And Pu…”

“Ok! I get it, you had yourself a little party last night. Good for you but now I really need your help.”

The two ladies stumbled and whispered to another as one of them grabbed the cash from the counter. The blonde escort quickly flipped through the cash and huffed at the amount. “Cheap sake… you’re lucky you had the goods otherwise it would have been more!”

Her friend the burette stormed out behind the blonde. Jason quickly ran to the door and stuck his head out to get his two cents in, “It was a lovely night ladies do come back some time!”

“Fuck you, Jason!” Screamed out the blonde when they left through the main front entrance. All I could do was shake my head. So damn messy, I whispered under my breath.

With his robe being open, I could see how his skinny torso matched his skinny legs as he sped walk into the kitchen, “You want some coffee? I do need some coffee…” He scrambled around looking for a clean mug. When he finally found one, all Jason did was blow out whatever was the inside.

I quickly responded, “I’m good… thanks. So, to finish the conservation about my dad.”

All I could hear was glass clinging around then the faucet turned on. “Well now I don’t know where to start… I found a lot more since I last saw you. I kind of become obsessed about learning everything I can about the Syndicate. I mean just from the accounts in your dad’s name alone, I was able to learn the ins and outs of their cash flow. But that’s not the most interesting part…”

I cut my eyes to the side then back at him, “Ok, I’m listening.”

Jason sat back down at his computer after making his coffee. He logged back in then pointed to the screen. “You see these accounts right here? They look different right?” He turns and looked at me. I nod as a response, “So I started a digging a little deeper, more into other police officers in your dad’s class. I started thinking your dad and his partner couldn’t have been the only members helping the Syndicate. They’re too big now to only have two cops on the payroll. I found out like ninety percent of your dad’s class had accounts associate with the Syndicate. That shit blew my mind so I kept digging, piecing together the puzzle.”

I scoot closer trying to get a better look, “And what did you piece together?” I was so intrigued…

“You ready for this? For MY theory so to speak?” I nodded again at Jason’s question, “You know how the families wouldn’t have gotten this far without the help of the police right? Well, what if the police made up the Syndicate to begin with? What if they were the ones who approached the idea of the gang families and offered the white flag which turned into the Red Treaty?”

I huffed then laughed at the idea, “And why would the families go for that?”

“Think about it Ally, the police offered the chance for the families to do their dirt and get away with it. These group of officers offered to open offshore accounts in their names for the laundered money to go, cut out the territories where they could do business as long as they paid the street taxes. Everything was basically laid out for everyone to benefit from it. If you noticed none of the Syndicate’s ‘districts’ are around schools or churches. They are mostly on the outskirts and some distances away from the big neighborhoods. It was literally the biggest fucking win-win in police and gangster history. Obviously, these police officers said ‘if you can’t beat, join them’ type shit. Crazy mind blowing isn’t it?”

I looked away in disappointment, “My father was apart of that…”

Jason looked down with me then replied, “It wasn’t just him, Chief Bernard was one who held accounts too. Most of his are still active… Speaking of, I know he’s made you public enemy number one recently. That asshole has so much dirt on him you wouldn’t believe.”

“Fuck him! It still doesn’t answer the million dollar question or the three hundred million dollar question. How does Douglas play into all of this?”

Jason reached over and grabbed a small USB from the back of his hard drive. “You’re right, Douglas wasn’t a cop but he was best friends with one… They needed someone like Douglas, someone who their way around offshore accounts.”

“Douglas set them up…” I put two and two together.

“That would be my guess however, I ran into a road block with Douglas’ accounts. It could one of two things, he purposely deleted a whole bunch of accounts before he died or he downloaded the files to an isolated device. There’s only one way to find out… Now I know your ass is still going to go to Douglas’ wake despite the warrant for your arrest. Ready for some straight covert operative Mission Impossible type shit? I need you to break into his office upstairs and plug in this USB into the hard drive. If I’m right about this, I think I know where he hid the money.”

“Mission what? And you’ve been to Douglas’ mansion?” I always believed Jason didn’t go anywhere, let alone to Douglas Edwards house.

“Of course I have! He’s a booty club owner, duh… The parties he would throw, whew I could tell ya.” Jason shook his head like I should have known.

“Dumb question, my bad…” I rolled my eyes. “Why don’t you just come with me? Wouldn’t that make more sense?”

I turned the small USB in my hand wondering how this was going to work. Jason huffed laughing at me, “Nope. It’ll be too obvious plus I need to be here when you plug it in. You don’t have to worry, once it’s in just texted me and I’ll take it from there. I programmed a virus into the USB and it will help me to mirror Douglas computer at home. You got this…”

“And how would this help Douglas’ case?”

“It will help me to narrow down which actives are current and active. Like I said, if you trust me, Douglas either deleted the account files or downloaded them. Everything right now that I’m looking at is a cluster fuck. I’m looking at everything, old and new and it’s too much to comb through. This should be the last piece to this gigantic money laundering puzzle.”

“Right thanks…” Yea I got this… once I get there I’m only going to have a small window to sneak around before getting noticed. I’m going to need Charlie’s help on this one… After hacks into Douglas’ computer hopefully it will bring me one step closer to figuring out what happened to him. I needed another lead already… Tonight, I’ll be able to put faces to the names.

***

The day literally flew by... I had no idea where the time had went, it was already time to get ready for Douglas’ Wake. I was on my way to Amber’s house where I promised to allow her to dress me up. When I got to Amber’s house she already had been pre-drinking with R/B music playing in the background. She was half dressed with rollers in her hair, walking around with just a shirt on and her bra. Amber answered the door putting her make-up on, “Girl hurry up and come inside. I have to finish up my make-up before starting on you.” I quickly hopped inside the door and closed it behind me, “Sorry about the mess girl, my kids thought it was funny to destroy everything before the baby sitter came and got them. Come, sit down and grab a drink. I’m almost done putting these eye lashes on.” I walked over to the kitchen and poured a mixed drink, a little bit of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey and cola. I didn’t want to get too drunk before getting to the party, Amber however, didn’t mind at all. “Come back here Ally! I’m ready for you!” I walked back to Amber’s bedroom and saw a pretty silky black strapless dress draped over the bed. The dress was perfect for the occasion, the only problem is I wasn’t sure I wanted to wear it. Amber walked in behind me from the bathroom and noticed I was staring at the dress, “You like the dress right? I knew you would.”

“You want me to wear something like this? I don’t know Amber, I’m not sure if this is me.” I picked up the dress by the hanger and twirled it around. Amber walked over and grabbed the dress from me. I laughed and pretended to act like a princess dancing around on my tippy toes.

“You’re going to wear this dress Ally, I don’t care, I had to dig and fight someone over for this dress so you wearing it.” Amber held it up and measured it against my body, “Put on the dress I want to see how you look in it and please tell me you shaved?” Amber gave me a serious look to the question she just asked.

“Yes I shaved, jeez you act like I don’t ever shave,” I rolled my eyes at Amber and we both laughed because we both knew it was possible I didn’t. Amber walked away back to the bathroom to finish her last touches on her makeup as I quickly slipped my clothes off to put the black dress on. There was a zipper in the back so once I got it pulled up all the way I yelled for Amber to come zip me up.

Amber walked in back to her bedroom and gasped, covering her mouth with both of her hands, “Oh my goodness Ally! AWW! You look so beautiful! Turn around let me see. I don’t I’ve seen you in a dress since we graduated from Intelligence.” I turned around slowly and modeled the dress, “Wow Ally here let me zip you up.” Amber walked over and zipped up the dress from the back. She straightened the sides where the dress draped over my arms since it was strapless. “Hurry up so I can do your hair too.”

I had to admit the dress was very pretty on me. I never would have thought of getting something like this at the store. Although it was very pretty, being girly was not me. Tonight I guess I’ll make the exception. I wonder who all was going to be there. I promised Amber that she can do whatever and not to worry about me. As long as Charlie was there, I was good.

The party was in an hour or so, Amber and I (mostly Amber) kept pre-drinking before we had to leave. Amber was so excited, she kept mentioning she hopes she runs into a celebrity or something. I rolled my eyes and laughed at her because she was already tipsy, “I hope you find you a boo thing too Amber.” We laughed as we walked out the door heading to Amber’s car.

“You better get some excitement tonight too Ally. You need it more than me.” Amber gave a loud outburst laugh which ended in her snorting. “As soon as Charlie sees you girl, you’ll take his breath away. Maybe take them panties away…” I cut my eyes at her and stopped walking for a second. She had no idea the night I had planned for myself, which is why it was important Amber stayed out of it. I shook my head and ran to check up to her as we both got into the car.

The party was at Douglas’ house which I thought it was a bit grim considering his maid found him hanging in the attic. The house I remember was not what we pulled into. The address ended with a manor meaning this kind of house could only be found one block. As we pulled in we were stopped at the front gate by a security guard. The manor was huge, easily a mansion within a mansion. The tall white security guard dressed in uniform, a black suit and tie, asked who we were and if we were on the list. We better be, I whispered to myself.

Amber gave the security guard our names and information. The guard checked his list with a flash light and saw our names at the top of the list. He was taken back to find our names so quickly, apparently above the ‘celebrities’ that were so called coming. The security guard shrugged his shoulders and handed Amber back our IDs then pressed the button for the gate to open. Amber looked at me and smiled with excitement to be invited to something like this, a party as fancy as this. I smiled back at her shaking my head in laughter. The paved road leading to Douglas’ mansion felt like a mile long, but once we pulled up both of our jaws dropped with amazement. The big white pillars and row of windows both floors. The mansion was beautiful decorate with top of the line custom landscapes. It almost gave you the feeling when you’re entering the White House.

The valet quickly took Amber’s keys as we slowly walked inside. Amber pulled down her purple nicely snug sequence dress as we approached the set of stairs leading down to the main hallway. The lights were semi deemed with purple, red and blue strobe lights swirling around the walls. As I walked down the stairs I could see the small gathering room and dining were full of people. Everyone dressed in their finest, drinking and dancing having a good time with their masks on… In the back was the DJ entertaining the guest as dancers performed on top small wooden platforms also had masks on. I semi started to panic, Shanti didn’t tell me it was a masked party. That didn’t stop Amber at all, “It’s a masked party girl!” She screamed over the music.

“Yea but we didn’t bring any masks… What are we going to do?” I leaned over and asked.

“Over there! That table has some masks, let’s go…” She grabbed my hand and we dashed down the remaining twenty stairs over to the table. Before I reached the table I saw a tall man with buzzed cut hair, dressed in a silky black suit, crisp clean white shirt with no tie and a gold mask. He stopped mid flow of taking his drink. I could tell his face went blank when we made eye contact even with the mask on. It was Charlie… We were having a ‘moment’ so to speak until Amber from behind me and spoke in my ear, “I told you girl… you be safe for what the hell you got going on. Love you, bye.” Amber disappeared into the crowd.

He threw back his drink as he approached, never taking his eyes off me. By the time we stood face to face I had put on a black mask with feathers around the rim. Charlie’s green brown eyes really highlighted being surrounded by the gold mask. I too admired what I was seeing… “You look, amazing. Wow... I almost didn’t recognize you until I saw Amber.”

“Thanks…” I quickly replied. “I need you help, like right now.”

“You just got here. What kind of help do you need?” Charlie looked really confused. “You don’t want a drink first before we start scheming around?”

I grabbed a glass of wine off a tray as a waiter walked by, “I need to get this done before anyone else notices I’m here. I need to get into Douglas’ office, particularly the one on the second floor. Do you know which one I’m talking about?”

Charlie huffed in laughter, “I see it went well going back to Jason’s huh? The office you’re talking about is down the VP hall. Douglas wasn’t just known for his adult clubs, he also threw some interesting parties. When we get to the hallway you’ll see what I’m talking about. Shanti is trying to mimic some of that tonight. The masks thing was changed at the last minute. I’m glad too, it’ll be easier for us to get around.”

I cupped my arm through his as we walked along the wall through the crowd. The focus was to get to the office before anyone noticed, mainly before Shanti or Chief Bernard noticed. I wasn’t going to be able to gloat in their faces until I’ve finished my ‘mission impossible’ task. I extended my other arm out and said, “Lead the way…”

Charlie smiled as he tightened the grip on my arm, “I hope you’re ready for this?”

Ready for what? I thought as we reached the second or third flight of stairs I couldn’t remember. The mansion was so big, it was like a damn miniature shopping mall. When we reached the top of the stairs immediately, I could see what Charlie was talking about. The hallway was a replica of the red lights hallway at the strip club. All the lights down the hall were red, the paint on the wall was a dark blood red with gold light fixtures. There were at least a dozen doors all together six on each side. The doors were painted black with gold numbers and gold door knobs.

We could loud moans and groans coming from inside the rooms as we passed by. As we got closer to the end of the hall, a man screamed out, “Yes! Slap me some more!” It made me jump. Charlie and I tried not to laugh as passed through.

When we reached the last door on the right, Charlie pulled out his keys. “Let’s see if these babies still work.” I got super excited this so called mission was easier then making pie. I rubbed my hands while quickly looking back to make sure no one could see us. “Nope… They changed the locks.” Charlie huffed and little victory quickly faded away. “We’re going to have to find another way.”

The ‘other way’ was Shanti. She had to have the keys… Charlie and I quickly dashed back down the hallway to low and behold run right into Shanti, literally. “Oh! I’m sorry and hey Shanti!” She almost spilled her drink all over herself.

She looked up at me then at Charlie and immediately looked shocked with disbelief, “Were you two coming from that hallway?!” Shanti slug her face off and tried pulling mines down too. “Oh my gosh! For real you two?”

I grabbed Shanti’s hands trying to stop her and took a few steps back. “It’s not like that! Charlie… was… giving me a tour that’s all. Very interesting hall…” I nodded then looked up at Charlie who didn’t say a word. Not much help at all…

“A tour? That’s why I’ve been looking all over for you to do! This would have my last place to come.” She giggles and grabs my arm.

“Well honestly, it’s also on business. Charlie was helping find some files on your dad and I begged him to help me find them. Do you think you could help me finding these ‘files’?” I smiled big, like ear to ear big.

Shanti just stood there looking at me a little annoyed but then she shook her head, making her hair wiggle behind her then exhaled. “Ok… I will do my tour backwards but only you. Charlie has to go back down to the party.” She put her mask back on then grabbed my hand again pulled back down the red lighted hallway. She quickly opened the door flung me inside and closed it behind us. I didn’t even get the chance to look back at Charlie.

The room was dark until Shanti turned on a little desk lamp. She plopped in a big shiny leather chair and reached down to turn on the computer. The same computer I needed to plug the USB into… I walked around the wooden desk and stood by Shanti’s side. She clicked away at the computer and pulled up live camera footage of all twelve rooms. “I never knew this about my father… he liked to ‘watch’, you know what I mean.” Together we watched twelve set of couples ranging from all varieties and possibilities. One couple even had a snake in the bed with them as they pleasured one another. That was much freaky shit.

“Isn’t this totally an invasion of privacy? Do you they know they’re being watched?” I had to ask.

Shanti laughed and clapped her hands, “Probably not! My father was an asshole like that… These people are fucking each other’s brains out and don’t even know they’re being watched. Do you see the couple in number 4?” She looked up at me with excitement, “It’s a Senator who is having a good ol’ time with those two women. None of these females are his wife by the way.” Shanti continued to giggle and shook her head as she pulled a small tin tray from the top desk drawer. It had a small pile of powder in which she took a tiny little spoon out and snorted some in each nostril. She took two more bumps before we heard a knock at the door. “Who the fuck? They know better not to disturb me while I’m in here.”

Shanti sprung quickly from the chair to open the door. Here’s my chance… I quickly sat down and opened the door that housed the hard drive. There were two USB ports in the front and lucky one of the side. I dug my hand in my bra and whipped out the penny size USB Jason gave to me. I plugged it in on the side then quickly the door back closed. When I looked up Shanti was standing in front of me wondering what I was just doing. I looked around and didn’t know what else to do beside grab the little spoon and scoop up a tiny bit of cocaine. I took a big gulp before taking a big sniff… The crystal powder burned the inside of nose making my left eye water from the sensation. Now I understood why people pitch their noses after doing this shit.

Shanti’s eye’s widened when she saw me take a bump from her tray. “I had no idea you did white girl? I always thought you didn’t do anything exciting! Oh shit!”

“Ha ha! I can be fun…” I said as I was still pitching my nose. “About as fun as being a damn fugitive for crimes I didn’t commit. Super fun getting frame for your half sibling’s murders…” I shouldn’t have went there… oops. I blame the drugs… I’ve never done coke before.

Shanti walked around the desk and turned the chair to face her. She leaned down and softly said, “Yea, I’m sorry about that.” Seconds later she quickly leaned in and kissed me on my lips. My eyes stayed open, all I could think at the moment was ‘what the fuck? I'm NOT drunk enough for this shit!'