Chapter 41

The living room is loud with noise as everyone talks over each other tryna make their theories heard. So far, we've heard Simon suggest it was Angel, Reese say it was the cop who shot Tory, and Keezy wonder if Candyce is the type to run away when shit gets hard.

I don't know why he said that with Simon standing right next to him. Out of all of us, Simon is the only one stupid enough to cheap shot a hitter when he wasn't looking. I had to drag Simon out the room while Mad Max and 'nem held Keezy back before shit escalated.

The whole while I was dragging Simon away he was yelling that Ace left when Candyce stayed and how she's been holding it down ever since. I felt him 100 percent, but now ain't the time to fight each other for putting up ideas. Daz ain't back with the details yet, so ideas is all we got to work with.

I let Simon back in after he got a chance to talk to Calvin at the door. It seemed to help him cool his head for a bit. That was ten minutes ago, and I've been regretting letting him back in ever since.

"What we waiting on Daz for? We already know who took her," Simon says.

I take a deep breath before I say something that'll set us back another ten minutes. I find myself doing that alot since we been here. I mostly been trying to keep my head as I listen to these niggas argue over the same shit. If they ain't fussing over what they perceive as a bad idea, they getting into it over what happened earlier.

I swear I got a good mind to take my gun and my coat and look for Red myself. The only thing that stops me is Candyce. She's out there somewhere prolly tied up or worse, waiting for us to find her. Meanwhile, we standing around with our dicks in our hands wasting time.

Brainstormin' with these fools ain't gettin' us nowhere. Still, I know I got a better chance of finding her if we all stick together. It's just hard to keep that in mind when I check my watch and realize we ain't no closer to finding Candyce than we was when we pulled up to The Loft thirty minutes ago.

"I already told you I don't think it's Angel," I say to Simon.

"I think you don't want it to be Angel," He says.

I cock my head to the side.

"What you mean by that?" I ask.

"If it is him then that means you gotta put yo pride to the side and admit that you were wrong. You don't wanna do that," Simon says.

I can't believe he think I care 'bout some trivial shit like pride when Candyce is blowing in the wind. He just don't know; I'll give up my last dime to find his sister alive. I'd even throw his ass in as a bonus.

He giving me too much credit and not enough at the same time.

"Wrong about what?" I ask.

"About not going after this nigga the first time he came after Candyce at the club," Simon says.

It's unbelievable how much patience I lose every time this nigga opens his mouth. I had to put up with him the whole ride over when I really should've made that nigga walk. Now I'm confined to a room with him and the first thought that comes to his mind 'cause I was stupid enough to invite him in.

There's a reason most niggas have to wait in the hall before they can join us in this room and Simon is that reason personified.

"You got it all figured out, huh?" I ask.

"Yup," Simon says.

He ought to be lucky that Reese knows me better than anybody in this room. He's worked with me long enough to understand what my I'm saying before my fists do the talkin' for me.

'You got it all figured out' means you ain't hearing me so I gotta show you wassup instead. Reese has seen firsthand what these kind of conversations can lead to. Soon as I step to Simon, he stretches his arm out to hold me back.

I'm thankful for him 'cause I meant what I said about fighting only getting in the way of finding Candyce. But all that goes out of the window when it comes to Simon. I swear it's like oil and water with that boy. His smart mouth and quick temper be having me ready to lay hands on him. But I'll deal with him another way for Candyce's sake.

I push Reese's arm off me.

"The club wasn't the first time Angel went after Candyce. You would know that if you listened more than you talked. The first time was a drive-by that almost got us all killed. Where you was back then? That's right. I keep forgetting you jumped off the porch overnight. You was catching bodies on GTA while we was getting shot in real life," I say.

I step closer to him, but Reese gets in my way. I talk the rest of my shit from over his shoulder.

"Stop talkin' like you know this life, bruh. You just a nerd playing dress-up," I say.

Simon smacks his teeth.

"And you just a pussy pretending to be a gangsta. Some nigga rode on you and your best friend and he still roaming the streets untouched. Now he got Candyce too and you too traumatized to do anything about it," He says.

I'm sick and tired of this nigga talkin' like he know what the fuck he talkin' bout. I spent the whole ride over here explaining why I don't think it was Angel that took her. He kept asking how I know and I don't--not for sure anyway--but I gotta gut feeling he looking the wrong way. I been in the streets a long time and my instincts ain't never lead me astray.

Every time Angel came at us, he left behind a clue letting us know it was him. Daz ain't let us know what he found at the trap yet, but I feel like if it was Angel, he would've been reached out to us. I could almost hear his manic ass cackling on the phone while Candyce screams in the background.

It's true that I haven't known him as long as Ace. In my defense, Angel strikes me as one of those people you only gotta meet once to know what they stand on. My limited experience tells me snatching Red up like a thief in the night just ain't his style.

If I'm wrong and he is moving like that, I think he would've kidnapped her a long time ago. Opening night of her club would've been perfect. Nobody knew he still had eyes on us, and the club was so packed nobody would've noticed if Candyce went missing. Instead, he killed one of her employees to remind us that Candyce can be touched at any time.

It's all a cat and mouse game to Angel. I doubt he'd end it by kidnapping Candyce before Ace gets back in town. It's Ace he got the real beef with anyway.

I tried to explain all this to Simon in the car, but I see now that logic goes in one ear and out the other with him. He's determined to pull up on Angel no matter what I say.

I ain't boutta keep wasting my breath on him.

I toss him my keys.

"Go ride on that nigga then, since you so 'bout it."

He catches my keys with one hand.

"I guess I'ma have to since you too pussy to do something 'bout it, just like Cam said."

"You and yo bitch do a lot of pillow talking?" I ask.

Simon steps up like he finna do something other than talk for once. Conveniently, Keezy is here to break us apart.

"None of this is helping us find Candyce. We gotta stay focus. Anybody got in touch with Daz yet?" Keezy asks.

The front door slams closed. We all look up.

"I did," He says.

Soon as I lay eyes on him, I get pissed off about this morning all over again.

"Who called the junkie?" I ask, mugging Munch.

"I did. You said it was all hands on deck right?" Keezy says.

He glances over at Reese.

"Otherwise we would've been made good on his promise to shoot it out," Keezy says.

Reese scoffs and looks the other way. He mumbles something, then turns back to mug Keezy. At least one of these niggas know when to shut up and listen.

"When you called him?" I ask Keezy.

"Right after you called me."

"So 'bout an hour ago," I say.

It's still Christmas, so I ain't expect everybody to be pulled away from their families so easily. The hitters are used to it; they never guaranteed a day off. Most of them beat me and Simon here. Reese got here later 'cause of the traffic at the airport and somehow, we all managed to beat Munch here. I wonder why that is.

"You don't gotta ask no nigga 'bout me. I'm right here," Munch says.

I look him over. His eyes are tinted red, much like some of the niggas in here. Unlike them, he's pulled on his nose too many times for my liking.

"Aight. Well tell me something, Munch. How much coke did you snort before you got here?" I ask.

Munch pauses. His eyes flicker over to me. He drops his hand from his nose. He sniffles, standing up straight.

"You should be asking how many bullets I counted and which one got yo name on it," He says.

Reese stands off to the side watching our encounter. The rest of the hitters look on from the couches. Among them are Rondo, a dark brown nigga whose skin matches the color of a pecan. Stretched out on the sofa next to him is Cutta, a light-skinned nigga with red tats in his face. He got on a beanie with a black bubble vest and an all-black fit on underneath.

Bee is on the other couch. He's brown like Rondo, 'cept he been lifting weights to get his weight up. He gotta neatly-lined bush on top his head. Then there's Black Tony, the Humble Beast. He's never said a word around me. I don't think he talks to them either. Mad Max sits beside him. Keezy still stands between me and Simon, but his attention is now split between me and Munch.

They might be in for a show. Munch is another nigga I get on with like oil and water. I almost came to blows with Simon, but he didn't put a gun to my head and threaten to shoot.

"Ain't you and Candyce posed to be brothers or something? What the fuck took you so long?" I say.

"Say Superman, not everybody can be a hero. I couldn't just stop what I was doing and break out the spandex and fly here like yo bitch ass did," Munch says.

He tries to play it off by dismissing me but I ain't going for it. He been waving guns around all day. He need to be a lil' more specific right now. He can save his corny jokes for a nigga that's gon' play with him.

"You coulda beat yo time if you walked here so what took you so long?" I ask again.

Munch laughs under his breath. He shakes his head, wagging his finger at me.

"Careful. You showing yo true colors with this third degree," He says.

I pull my neck back.

"Fuck you mean by that?" I ask.

"That mean you spending too much time round them pigs in blue. I feel like I'm in an interrogation room right now," Munch says.

I should've saw that coming. Whenever he ain't got nun' to say he bring up me being a snitch. It don't even bother me as much hearing Munch say it. At least I knew Tory was onto something. Munch just spitting back what he heard Tory say, in the spirit of keeping his brother alive.

I'm tempted to G'check him in front all his lil' friends but Reese handles it for me.

"Fuck is you beating 'round the bush for? Just tell us where you was," Reese says.

"Who gives a fuck where he was at? This nigga right here in front of us! He ain't missing! Let him tell us what Daz found so we can make a move," Simon says.

"I give a fuck. This nigga could be the one that took yo sister," I say.

Munch laughs.

"Why the fuck would I snatch Candyce up?" Munch asks.

"You grieving, nigga. You ain't been making much sense since you found out. You blamed me for Gecko when you know that got Ace name written all over it. You threatened to kill me over Tory. Now that you know Candyce was the last one to see him alive, you might be blaming her for that too," I say.

Munch shakes his head, "You stay on bullshit, bruh. You worse than me."

All his stalling got everybody in the room starting to see it my way. Even Keezy crosses his arms and waits for Munch to explain himself.

Munch takes his time looking around at all of us. He nods his head slowly when he see we all wearing the same impatient look.

"I was driving 'round the city looking through morgues. Lord knows that nigga T ain't keep a lick of ID on him. He would still be a John Doe if it wasn't for Candyce, so nah, I don't blame her," He says.

He looks straight at me as he continues talking.

"I had half a mind to come here and kill you but T spoke to me. He said to save yo funeral for a rainy day and focus on finding Candyce right now," He says.

I catch Reese's eye from across the room. He stares at me intensesly before nodding his head at Munch. I understand what he tryna say without him coming right out and saying it.

Pay attention. That's the second time he's threatened you today.

I hear Reese's warning loud and clear like he yelled it across the room.

I nod my head. Reese should know I'm watching this nigga after he put a gun to my fucking head. It ain't slipped my mind just 'cause I ain't brought it up yet. I just got more important shit to worry about.

Despite our differences, Munch makes a good point. Candyce is still missing and thanks to Simon, I don't know how long she's been gone. I'm accepting help from anywhere, even from cokeheads who got it out for me.

And to think Simon thought I was worried 'bout my pride.

I may be desperate but I ain't stupid. I know it's risky being around Munch so soon after Tory's death. I'll accept his help, but best believe that nigga walking in front of me at all times. He ain't shooting within a yard of me either. I'll be damned if his fat ass get the ups on me and kill me in a convenient case of friendly fire.

Now that I've come to terms with the conditions of his help, I throw one more shot at him for the fuck of it.

"Tory told you all that before or after you took a dive on the ski slopes?" I ask Munch.

Simon groans like he seen enough of The Caesar and Munch Show.

"He told you what took him so long now you the one holding us up. Bad enough you let her get lost in the first place," Simon says.

I know this nigga ain't talkin'.

The only reason I don't place the blame where it belongs is 'cause I can only imagine how he feeling with Red being gone. That's his sister, but more than that, that's his twin. He probably ain't retaining nun' in that small brain of his 'cause his mind everywhere at once. I swallow my own anger and give him some leeway.

"That wasn't on me. I left her with Daz. It's his dumbass fault for leaving her at the trap," I say.

"Daz ain't the one that found her by the side of the road. You did. You shoulda stuck with her," Simon says.

Look at that. I can't even be nice to this nigga.

"Me? Nigga you should've been let somebody know when she ain't come home," I say.

"You woulda known that if you bothered to check on her earlier," He says.

"I was busy bringing Ace up to speed."

"What he say?" Munch asks.

All that coke is seriously fucking with his brain. He really got the nerve to ask me a question like he ain't threaten to kill me twice today--once in his last sentence. I look him up and down.

"He ain't answer," I say.

"Must've been one long ass voicemail," Simon says.

It takes everything in me not to put my hands on him. I turn back around to face him.

"This ain't on me! This shit would've never happened if I was there!" I say.

"But you wasn't. None of us was," Reese says.

He looks around at us, "All that woulda-coulda-should've shit don't matter now. Let's just stay focused so we can find Candy and bring her home."

For the first time all night, the room gets quiets. Everybody too busy breeding their own angry silences. If they anything like me, they silently blaming themselves too. Reese is right. We all had some idea of what happened with Candyce and Tory. Even if they ain't know the whole truth, we still knew she came within an inch of her life being taken. It was only by some miracle Guiterrez found it in her to let Candyce get away.

Whether we thought it was the cop who killed Tory, or Angel, we all knew Candyce was in danger. Instead of staying glued to her hip like I promised her, I left her in the hands of Daz--a nigga I wouldn't trust with my own life. Now she's missing and all we can do is point the finger and act like it shouldn't be pointed back at us.

Keezy breaks the silence after a few minutes. He nods his head to get Munch's attention.

"Where Daz at with it? He say what he found at the trap?" He asks.

Munch nods his head.

"Candyce's car is still on the street. He said glass was all over the ground like somebody busted her window. He stayed behind to knock on doors and see if anybody saw sum'n," Munch says.

The fire within me is hard to contain after hearing that. They broke her window, so that mean she ain't see it coming. Now I'm wondering if they pulled her out of the window and if they did, I know she screamed for help. That means somebody in that fucking neighborhood heard something. Which also means, my baby was screaming for help and nobody came outside to help her. Since when did it become a thing for black people to mind their business when a girl was being kidnapped? The fuck is wrong with people these days.

I step away to try and keep my composure. Maybe it's a good thing Daz ain't come straight here. I don't think I would've been able to hear that and look him in the face without hitting him.

"So far nobody heard or saw none," Munch says.

"Duh. It's the hood. Niggas ain't saying shit if they ain't getting an award for it," Reese says.

"Unless they scared enough," Simon says.

"Daz ain't scaring nobody," Keezy says.

"Then how bout you make yoself useful and start kicking in some fucking doors? Kill whoever you have to, to find out who took Candyce," Simon says.

A light bulb flickers on in my head--inspired by Simon of all people. 'Lil nigga finally proving he can be useful after all.

I walk back over to the group. Simon and Keezy are in the middle of passing words when I walk up.

"Simon, stop telling my people what to do," I say.

"They still yo people after they put a gun in Reese's face?" Simon asks.

He says it with a hint of a laugh as if to say 'That couldn't have been me.' Dumbass finally put forth one good idea and look how quickly he fails me.

"That's what I'm saying. I'on even know why you called them," Reese says.

"Nobody held a gun to his face," Mad Max says.

"If we did, you wouldn't even be talking right now," Rondo says.

"Facts. We don't pull that bitch out for nothing," Cutta says.

"So stop bitching before we give you something to whine about," Bee says.

Mad Max laughs as he reaches over to dap Bee up. Tony don't join in the foolishness, but he never do. If they were a family, he was the retarded cousin nobody talked to.

"Say the word, Caese. I'll retire all these niggas right now," Reese says.

"Ain't nobody retiring nobody 'cause Boy Wonder got a point," I say, pointing to Simon.

Simon smacks his teeth.