Thin Ice Read online

  *****

  Kaitlyn smiled as she replayed her morning. Everything is coming along very well, she thought of her conversation with Landon. Kaitlyn had big plans for her future and she had to carefully navigate each turn for them to work out. Ice thinks he has control huh, she thought and chuckled again. Tweety was her best friend, the closest thing to a sister Kaitlyn had and he’d taken her away, then arrogantly told her to get over it. Absolutely no thought for my feelings or anything, Kaitlyn thought angrily as the hurt set in once more. Her anger again kindled thinking about Tariq and knowing that Ice was indirectly responsible for that too. Bastard, she thought once more before pulling herself together and heading out.

  Arriving moments later at Club Platinum, Kaitlyn got out of her car headed inside. The club was a small strip joint that opened a few months ago and was struggling. Ian wanted to buy it and sent her to check it out for him. I can’t wait to leave Mississippi, Kaitlyn thought. As much as she enjoyed being on her own most times, she missed Atlanta and home. Sighing deeply she opened the door and went inside the dimly lit establishment. It’s funky as hell in here, Kaitlyn thought frowning slightly.

  “Wassup,” the burly security guard greeted Kaitlyn, taking her in as he spoke.

  “Where’s Ro,” Kaitlyn asked, referring to Roland Davy, the owner.

  “He’s in back,” the man spoke again. “I’m Tate,” he told her as Kaitlyn nodded slightly.

  “What’s your name sexy,” he threw out seductively, looking her over once more and smiling lewdly.

  Kaitlyn sighed deeply as she regarded the man before answering his question.

  “I’m KiKi,” she returned. “Ice sent me,” she added as the smile quickly left Tate’s face.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” he apologized profusely. “I didn’t know,” he added as Kaitlyn simply nodded and asked for Ro again.

  Tate hurriedly showed her to the shabby back office where Roland sat hunched over the worn desk, a deep scowl on his face as he looked at his books.

  “How you doin’ Ro,” Kaitlyn addressed him as the man finally looked up.

  “Dancer auditions ain’t for another 30 minutes,” he told her dismissively.

  Kaitlyn chuckled slightly. “I’m flattered, but that’s not what I’m here for,” she replied as he regarded her once more the question mirrored in his face.

  “Ice sent me,” Kaitlyn clarified for him.

  Roland’s face immediately betrayed his surprise as he tried to gather himself.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” he replied apologetically as Kaitlyn dismissed it and immediately got down to business.

  “Well that’s a generous offer,” Roland replied genuinely impressed with the sum Ice was offering.

  “So, I can tell Ice everything is a go,” Kaitlyn questioned.

  “Yeah, its cool and we can have it all done by the end of the month,” Roland replied.

  “Well, that’s just a matter of signing papers,” she told him. “We’ll be taking over immediately the day to day operations though,” Kaitlyn replied as Roland frowned slightly.

  “I dunno about all that,” he began as Kaitlyn leaned across the desk and got up in his face.

  “Look, I don’t have time for the macho bullshit,” she told him plainly. “This damned dump is hemorrhaging daily,” she continued as Roland gave her an incredulous look. “These funky, ugly, bad figured bitches you got in this club have the place like a damned ghost town,” Kaitlyn took a breath. “We don’t plan to come to a desolate cemetery at the end of the month trying to raise the dead,” she finished and sat down.

  “You can’t talk to me like that in my damned club,” Roland roared.

  Tate came back to the office hearing the raised voices.

  “Ice sending his little lap dog bitch up in here like we some damned beggars and shit,” he went on as Kaitlyn stood.

  “Fuck Ice, Fuck you, and get the hell outta my club bitch,” he finished as Kaitlyn put the .380 between his eyes.

  “Wrong answer muthafucka,” she said acidly.

  Roland’s mouth dropped as the woman regarded him calmly, disengaging the safety on the pistol. Tate stepped forward when Kaitlyn spoke once more.

  “Move again and I will drop this muthafucka where he stands,” she said coldly.

  Pulling her cell out with her free hand she hit speed dial. Ice answered on the third ring and she relayed Roland’s sentiments to him.

  “It’s for you,” she told him sweetly handing him her BlackBerry.

  Roland timidly spoke into the receiver, listening intently as Ice spoke. Kaitlyn had a pretty good idea what Ice was saying given the horrified look on Roland’s face as he listened.

  “Yeah, I got it,” he finally replied subdued as he handed the instrument back to Kaitlyn. “Mmhmm,” she replied simply and disconnected. “Ice is leaving it up to me whether I kill your bitch ass,” she told him plainly noticing that Roland was trembling.

  “Tate,” she addressed him calmly. “Do you wanna keep working here,” she asked as the burly guard answered in the affirmative.

  “Hmph,” Kaitlyn returned. “Then I need you to escort Mr. Davy out the front door,” she told him as Tate began walking forward.

  “After,” she began again and Tate stopped walking. “You beat the bluster out of him,” she finished as Tate swallowed hard.

  Kaitlyn smiled inwardly as Tate hit him the first time knocking him down. She took a seat and enjoyed the show as Tate unleashed his fury and Roland Davy begged for his life.

  22

  “Hey girl,” Ryan greeted Jaleesa, kissing her lips softly as he entered the office where she was still monitoring the girls.

  “Hey honey,” she replied sweetly.

  “Bought you something,” Ryan told her handing Jaleesa the small box.

  She opened it to reveal the 24kt gold bangle inside.

  “Wow, this is so nice,” she replied smiling still and kissing his cheek softly.

  Ryan smiled and told her he was glad she liked it.

  “So,” he began, sitting down and opening his beer. “What’s the deal with LaDonna,” he asked and took a long drag from the bottle.

  Sighing deeply Jaleesa told him the theft she’d witnessed as well as the woman’s disruptive, uncooperative attitude. Ryan nodded thoughtfully, still remaining quiet as he finished his beer. Taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly, he finally spoke.

  “So what you wanna do about her,” he asked, feeling Jaleesa out.

  Thrown for a moment, Jaleesa answered honestly. “I’d like to whip that bitch’s ass,” she said plainly as Ryan smiled slightly.

  “OK,” he replied. “When you wanna whip that ass,” he returned seriously.

  Jaleesa knew he was testing her. She’d been expecting some sort of trial or other, but it was no biggie. She was well overdue to fuck up a bitch or two.

  “No time like the present,” she replied calmly.

  Ryan nodded thoughtfully. “You want help,” he asked as Jaleesa thought for a moment.

  “Just to keep order,” she replied as Ryan again nodded his understanding.

  “You need anything,” he asked giving her a look.

  A perfectly wicked idea came to mind and Jaleesa told him what she needed as Ryan chuckled slightly and retrieved what she asked for. Making a minor adjustment, Jaleesa told him she was ready as he called for Chino and Al, the house security. Taking a seat in front of the monitor Ryan lit his cigar and relaxed. He was looking very forward to seeing Jaleesa in action.

  *****

  Bryce was taking in the scene around him. He looked at the gray walls, adorned with several government admonishments; the worn desks and cracked broken plastic chairs strewn throughout the office, as the people busily went about their daily autonomy. Given his surroundings and the occasion of his visit, Bryce was even more depressed. Here was a place he wouldn’t have seen himself being, ever. Yet he was sitting here in this dismal waiting room waiting to again be questioned about an even
t that still filled him with devastation and disbelief. Evan is dead, he thought taking another deep breath to steady his nerves. He felt a little guilty for the way he felt concerning Evan’s death. He was actually relieved more than saddened. He’d suffered numerous beatings and abuse at the hands of this man for the past three years.

  He didn’t know who’d killed him, but Bryce owed them a debt of gratitude they could never comprehend. He hoped the police didn’t think something stupid, like he had something to do with the crime and that’s why they brought him in again. His thoughts were interrupted when Detective Fredericks entered the waiting room and approached him.

  “Mr. Palmer?” Detective Fredericks asked the well dressed man sitting in front of him.

  Bryce nodded in the affirmative and the Detective asked him to come with him. They entered a small room Bryce guessed they used to interrogate suspects. There was a long wooden table in the room with three chairs. Nothing on the one wall except a clock and a surveillance camera mounted in the corner. On the other wall, there was a huge mirror like glass. He knew it was a two-way mirror and wondered if they were being observed as they talked.

  “Again, I’m sorry about your friend,” Detective Fredericks offered, as he sat and addressed Bryce.

  “Thanks,” he returned quietly.

  He was completely nervous about being here, wondering what more he could offer since his original statement months ago.

  “I hate to have to ask you these questions again,” Detective Fredericks began anew. “But we still are trying to find the person who did this,” he finished as he looked Bryce in the eye.

  Bryce replied that he understood and he would help in any way he possibly could.

  “Can you tell me where you were again the night Mr. Henderson was killed?” the Detective asked.

  Bryce told him he was at home and gave the detective the same address as before. Detective Fredericks made a mental note that the man didn’t seem too upset that his lover was dead, but that was by no means an admission of guilt.

  “Do you know anyone who would want Mr. Henderson dead?” Detective Fredericks tried again.

  He wanted to see if he could get some sort of reaction or emotion from Bryce. So far the man had been very distant, almost indifferent to the entire situation. Bryce sighed deeply. He couldn’t very well tell the man sitting in front of him, that he knew at least three or four people who wanted Evan dead. He simply shook his head no, instead of an answer.

  “Well, thanks again for your time Mr. Palmer,” Detective Fredericks began, knowing he wasn’t going to glean anything else from this encounter. “I’ll be in touch if we find out anything,” he finished as Bryce rose from the chair he’d been seated in.

  “Thank you,” he said simply and left the precinct, thankful it was over and hoping that was the end of it.

  Detective Fredericks sighed deeply and closed the file again, this time placing it in the cold case bin. They still had no clue who had killed the man and unless someone made a confession it didn’t seem they ever would. Sighing deeply he dropped the file off and headed for the break room, he needed a cup of coffee in the worst way.

  *****

  Ryan watched with interest as Jaleesa walked into LaDonna’s room.

  “Wassup ho,” Jaleesa greeted the woman evenly.

  “What the fuck do you want,” LaDonna threw back full of attitude.

  “Well for starters,” Jaleesa told her. “How about that $1700.00 you stole, bitch,” she replied acidly.

  LaDonna wasn’t intimidated. “I don’t steal bitch,” she threw back growing angrier Ryan could tell. He smiled slightly noticing that Jaleesa’s demeanor hadn’t changed.

  “Oh, so now I’ma liar and I’m blind, huh trick,” Jaleesa threw out.

  “That’s about the last name you’re gonna call me, you nasty bitch,” LaDonna threw back. “You think cause you slobbin’ down Ryan’s dick you special or some shit,” she added as Jaleesa punched her in the mouth.

  LaDonna was off balance and fell onto the bed. Jaleesa wasted no time. She uncurled the whip she’d brought into the room with her and began to beat LaDonna with the rigid leather apparatus.

  “Where is the money bitch,” she asked calmly as she hit her again, each lash ripping skin as the tiny hooks Jaleesa attached to the end caught hold.

  LaDonna screamed in pain, curling herself into a fetal position.

  “Where ho,” Jaleesa asked again the whip poised to come down once more.

  Ryan was grinning from ear to ear, thoroughly enjoying the show. I knew Tweety had some fire in that ass, he thought and grabbed another beer.

  “It’s taped up under the nightstand drawer,” LaDonna screamed praying Jaleesa would stop hitting her.

  Jaleesa instructed Al to get the envelope and bring it to her.

  “Count it,” she told him as he obliged.

  “$2200.00,” he said plainly.

  “Hmph,” Jaleesa replied and hit her once more for good measure.

  LaDonna screamed out again as she continued to sob deeply.

  “Your ass is working for free for the next month bitch,” Jaleesa told her acidly.

  “Chino,” she called. “I think this bitch needs a lesson, don’t you,” she asked coldly feeling her rage come full circle.

  She was going to make LaDonna pay for every bit of pain she felt at the moment. Being in this hell hole, missing her best friend, losing her freedom, it was all going to be appeased in this punishment.

  “Strip bitch,” Jaleesa told LaDonna without pity.

  The woman slowly managed to remove her clothes as Jaleesa addressed the two men in the room with her.

  “Have fun,” she told them. “Make sure you bathe when they’re done, your ass is still working tonight,” she told LaDonna coldly as Al unzipped his pants and Chino followed suit.

  *****

  “OK, I found everything you need,” Landon told Ben when he answered his call.

  “They keep all the tapes and books in a room next door to Ice’s office,” he continued. “They’re clearly marked with dates and times,” Landon paused for a moment.

  “What about the books? They written or computer,” Ben asked.

  Landon told him both. They kept several CD’s with the information as well as ledgers. Seems Ice was a stickler for the old ways as well as the new.

  “Good, I’m sending a couple of undercovers in so we can get more evidence as well as a layout of the place. We need to know where we’re going when we do this raid,” Ben finished and sighed gently.

  “Landon, you and I been friends a lot of years,” he began. “You know you might have to testify against this guy, and it will be putting your life on the line if he walks,” Ben told him frankly.

  “Yeah I realize that Ben, but this woman is worth anything I have to go through,” he replied and his friend sighed deeply again.

  “Damn, I sure as hell hope so,” Ben replied as they once again began talking about the club, its illegal activities, and its owner.

  Landon sat back and reflected on his actions once more. He had to do this. Ice had to be put away where he could never get out and hurt Kaitlyn again. She won’t hafta look over her shoulder or be afraid ever again, he continued thinking, knowing how much he wanted a future with the woman. Landon saw himself with Kaitlyn for the long haul, marrying her and having kids with her. First and foremost however he had to remove Ice from both their lives. His thoughts shifted as Jaleesa came to mind. He hadn’t seen or heard from her since Evan’s funeral. Wonder how she’s doing, he thought sighing deeply. Landon was genuinely sorry for the hurt he knew the woman had endured at Evan’s hands. Guess it all finally got to her, he thought again recalling that Tristan told him Jaleesa had left him. Maybe she got a better offer, Landon thought chuckling slightly, rising from his couch and heading to his bedroom.

  The soft knock stopped him in his tracks as he sighed deeply and headed for the door. “Who is it,” Landon inquired.

  Not getting a
response he checked the peephole but could see nothing. He took a chance and opened the door.

  “Hi,” Kaitlyn said softly as the smile spilled into Landon’s face.

  Taking her hand Landon pulled her quickly into the loft and closed the door.

  “Baby, are you all right,” he asked, checking her over as Kaitlyn assured him she was fine.

  “I can’t stay,” she told him, looking frightened. “He has me followed,” she added as Landon’s anger began to rise again.

  “You cannot go back to him” he told her praying Kaitlyn would listen.

  Sighing deeply she regarded him quietly for a few moments.

  “I have to,” she replied defeated. “He would kill me Landon,” Kaitlyn told him pitifully. “And he’d kill you just for helping me,” she added as Landon hugged her tightly.

  “Kaitlyn,” Landon began sincerely. “Baby, I need you to hang on for just a little while longer,” he told her as Kaitlyn watched him silently. “This drama is gonna be over and Ice’s ass is gonna be on permanent lockdown,” he finished, not totally enlightening her of the efforts going on to indict Ice.

  “What are you saying,” Kaitlyn questioned fishing.

  “Baby, just trust me,” Landon returned. “Can you do that,” he asked as Kaitlyn continued giving him a quizzical glance.

  “Please,” he tried again stroking her cheek gently.

  Kaitlyn was no fool. She had been hustling long enough to know when there was a Five-O sting in the air. Catching herself before she smiled at the thought, she continued to play her role.

  “OK,” she replied softly as Landon smiled again and kissed her softly.

  “I’m glad you came,” he told her as Kaitlyn smiled again and looked around nervously.