Thin Ice 6 - Hangman & Socrates Read online

  *****

  Dr. Ross arrived back at Erlanger and went directly to her office making herself a drink and sipping it. That man is pure evil, she thought as her mind went back to Carlo Cisneros and the day’s proceedings. The knock at her door interrupted her thoughts.

  “Yes, come in,” she called out.

  “Hi Doc,” Ernie greeted her.

  Ernest Myles was an orderly at the institute having been with the organization almost fifteen years. He worked with Dr. Ross on Lauren’s case.

  “How has she been today,” Dr. Ross asked referring to the young woman.

  Ernie sighed deeply telling the doctor that Lauren had been edgy and volatile all day.

  “She fought two of the nurses trying to medicate her,” Ernie told Dr. Ross as she sighed deeply. “Messed one of them up pretty good, she had to get 16 stitches to close the wound to her face,” he explained as Dr. Ross frowned.

  “Where is she now,” she asked, referring once again to Lauren.

  “D Ward,” Ernie returned, bracing for her fury.

  D Ward was where the most heinous and hardened patients were housed.

  “What the fuck,” Dr. Ross screamed, jumping from her desk and striding out of her office.

  Ernie followed knowing exactly where they would end up.

  “Paul, just what the hell is going on,” Dr. Ross screamed once she arrived at the director’s office.

  Paul Carnegie had been in charge of Erlanger for the last five years. He and Dr. Ross butted heads on a regular basis since day one.

  “Calm down Kaitlyn,” Paul told her, pushing back from his desk and rising.

  “Calm down my ass,” she screamed once again. “That child is 16 years old, she’s not 30,” Dr. Ross told him, nostrils flaring as she angrily glared at him.

  “What would you have me do Kaitlyn,” Paul tried diplomatically.

  “She’s dangerous, we both know that,” he went on as Dr. Ross never took her eyes off him and Ernie absorbed every word.

  “She’s a child, sedate her and restrain her,” Dr. Ross told him tightly, still furious but trying to control herself.

  “Then lock her in her room, but do not put her on D Ward, ripe pickings for some nasty patient, or worker for that matter, to rape her or hurt her again,” she finished, teeth clenched.

  Paul held up both palms in surrender, making a call and having Lauren immediately returned to B Ward where Dr. Ross operated.

  “Thank you,” she told him curtly, turning on her heel and walking away.

  “Make sure you call me the moment she arrives back in her room,” Dr. Ross instructed.

  Ernie assured her he would as the doctor nodded and went on her way. Watching until she disappeared, Ernie stepped into an empty room and used the phone provided for patients.

  “Yeah,” the party answered. “I got what you asked for,” Ernie told them nervously.

  “Good, I’ll be by tonight to pick it up,” they returned.

  “OK, I get off at 9PM,” Ernie replied.

  Chuckling, the caller assured him they knew what time he got off, how he went home, where he lived, and what he was having for dinner tonight. Disconnecting without further conversation, Ernie swallowed hard took a deep breath and headed to B Ward. Upon his arrival Lauren was once again inside her room, sedated and restrained to the bed. As instructed he alerted Dr. Ross. The doctor arrived seven minutes later and entered the room, examining the young woman from head to toe. Satisfied that nothing had befallen her, she left, locking the door behind her.

  “What’s gonna happen to her Dr. Ross,” Ernie asked of the young woman.

  Sighing deeply Dr. Ross replied she didn’t know.

  “That damned lunatic of a father of hers won’t sign the documents so her aunt can take custody of her,” she fumed.

  “If she can’t win a petition through the courts they’ll put that child in a foster home,” Dr. Ross finished angrily.

  Hasn’t that poor child been through enough already, her mind questioned. It was things like that that shored her assertion that there was no God. How could an almighty deity allow such an atrocity? Sighing deeply Dr. Ross’s mind answered; he couldn’t, therefore, there is no God.

  *****

  “Hey Carlo,” Quenton greeted him as his shift started and he made his rounds.

  “Hello Quenton,” Carlo returned giving him a looking.

  Nodding slightly he continued his rounds, the sly signal passed that he would return as Carlo had beckoned. Relaxing on his bunk, waiting for the guard’s return, he went over all the testimony given today. Carlo also thought about Hope and her presence once again. She came every day, and every day he ignored her. When would she take a clue he thought sighing lightly. Everyone was conspiring to take away his Lauren. She was the last good thing left he had on this earth. She only wants to help Lauren, Carlo, his sanity was once again trying to reason.

  “Bullshit,” he fumed aloud. “She wants to give my Lauren to Roderick,” he mumbled angry at the thought of the man touching his daughter.

  Hearing the guard returning, he snapped out of the infuriating thoughts and turned his attention to business.

  Quenton made sure the camera monitoring Carlo’s cell was disabled before they began interacting. First he gave Carlo the small waxed paper square holding the hit of heroin.

  “Thanks, I was beginning to have withdrawal,” Carlo replied honestly as Quenton nodded and said nothing as the man began to prepare the hit.

  “I have a job for you,” he told Quenton in between smoking.

  “What is it,” the man questioned.

  Quenton had been with the Sheriff’s department for three years, he’d been a member of The Association for seven. Carlo told the man exactly what he wanted and how he wanted it done.

  “Hmm, okay,” Quenton replied his mind whirling. “I’ll have more for you tomorrow,” he told Carlo, referring to the heroin.

  Nodding slightly as his high began to take affect; he dismissed the guard from his presence and enveloped himself in the warm blanketed high the drug provided. When he was high, Carlo had no control over his memories, this time being no exception.

  After finding his mother dead and killing his father, Carlo’s world turned upside down. They were shuffled off to live with an aunt on their mother’s side in the poorest section of Chicago. Carlo didn’t really care where he ended up. He was done with school and rules. He wanted to live his life on his on terms and be left alone, which his aunt did for the most part. It was in the dilapidated tenant apartments that his aunt lived in Carlo met Sharaine Wilson, some two years later. She lived with her mom, two sisters and a brother in the apartment directly below them. Carlo noticed her one day while hanging out in the hood with some of the guys he’d befriended. She was cute to him, medium height with nice breasts and a round almost apple shaped butt. Her hair was curly from the permanent wave she got every three months and her eyes were soft brown. Striking up a conversation Carlo got to know her better. Sharaine invited him to her friend’s house to spend time. Raven Sterling had her own place, making it very convenient for everyone to hang out and be together. Carlo never figured out how she paid for it, considering she didn’t work.

  Carlo of course took her up on the offer coming over and meeting Raven, as well as her best friend Auriel. He was immediately smitten with the dark haired mixed heritage beauty. Knowing that he was supposed to be with Sharaine, Carlo played it cool with Auriel, all the while plotting how he would get closer to her. Raven had a boyfriend as well and they all hung out together. It didn’t take Carlo long to get between Sharaine’s legs and inducted into the world of casual sex. He knew enough to protect himself and not get her pregnant, but the rest was basically on the job training from the sparse interaction he’d had since his seventeenth birthday and losing his virginity. Carlo recalled coming to Raven’s house one fateful day to meet her, only to find Auriel there with Raven and her boyfriend. “Hi,” Carlo greeted her softly. Auriel smiled slightly
and returned his hello, rising and going into the kitchen. Carlo sighed deeply when Raven’s boyfriend spoke. “If she’s the one you want, then you should go let her know that,” he said calmly as Carlo gave him a look, immediately angry at his intrusion.

  “Who the hell are you,” he threw back gruffly, finally recognizing this wasn’t the same guy who’d been with Raven all along. “I’m Cartier,” he replied. “Do you know me, Cartier,” Carlo threw out, the warning evident. Cartier laughed and sat up, looking directly into his eyes. “No, but you don’t know me either,” he answered, the .45 poking Carlo right in the belly. As stunned as he was he didn’t flinch. “We don’t have to be enemies Carlo,” Cartier reasoned. “I actually think I could show you a way to get some cash without all this dime hustlin’ you been doing,” he added, letting Carlo know he did indeed know him somewhat. Carlo surmised Raven must have told him about the small time dope trading he did to survive. “What did you have in mind,” Carlo returned, intrigued with the man. Cartier smiled and told him they would discuss that later. “Let’s enjoy our ladies right now,” he replied, rising from the couch and pulling Raven by the hand. They went into her bedroom, closing the door behind them. Taking Cartier’s advice he wandered into the kitchen where Auriel was making dinner for everyone. “Did I offend you or something,” Carlo asked as Auriel frowned slightly. “No, why would you think that,” she asked perplexed. Shrugging he told her he must have done something the way she sprinted away when he said hello. “I didn’t mean anything by it,” she explained as Carlo stepped closer to her.

  Not liking the closeness, Auriel tried to skirt away from him. “Why are you running from me,” Carlo asked softly, putting his arms around her waist and holding her stationary. “I’m not,” she returned unconvincingly. “I don’t want any trouble,” Auriel mumbled when it finally clicked for him. Carlo smiled slightly knowing she was interested but worried about Sharaine. “I want to be with you,” he told her honestly. “You have a girlfriend,” Auriel replied, giving him a look. Carlo chuckled and told her what he had with Sharaine was a simple arrangement. “Does she know that,” Auriel again questioned. “What if I show you,” he questioned, kissing her neck softly as she pushed him away. “I’m not like that Carlo,” she told him irritably. Smiling inwardly, he walked to her again and stood toe to toe with her, looking down into her beautiful soft brown eyes. “Tell me what I need to do to make you mine,” he asked calmly, never looking away. Auriel searched his eyes silently for a few moments before speaking. Carlo paid rapt attention, already planning his course of action in his head.

  “Lights out ladies,” the guard yelled, jolting Carlo mercifully from the memories.

  He angrily wiped the tears that had fallen while he thought of Auriel, vowing never to let anyone ever see that weakness in him again. Stretching out on the bunk, he heard the loud clunk of the light switch before everything went black and Carlo blocked out the world.

  3

  Roderick sighed deeply as Faatin entered the room and stretched out on the bed with him.

  “What’s wrong,” she asked softly seeing the worry etched on his face.

  Roderick assured her nothing, as he kissed her palm softly and touched her stomach. The baby moved under his touch as she smiled at him.

  “Another son,” Faatin announced proudly.

  They already had two; this one was quite a surprise, but due in another month.

  “What are we naming him,” Roderick asked, kissing her neck now.

  He loved his wife with all his heart, making the thing he was doing now all the more complicated. Roderick was deep in the DEA. So deep in fact that not even Faatin knew his real occupation. She thought he was the Electrical Engineer his cover afforded. Sighing softly as she drifted off in his arms, Roderick thought about the dangerous game he was playing. Carlo Cisneros was no joke. Neither was his right hand Cartier. If either of them had half an inclination he was the common denominator that had dethroned their empire and now had them sitting in a courtroom facing life in prison, Roderick knew he and his entire family would be annihilated from the earth.

  His mind again went to Hope. The woman was as sweet as could be and Roderick despised having to hurt her, but his job was his job. The most unfortunate part was the fact that somewhere along the line of playing his role; Roderick had actually fallen hard for the beautiful woman. She’s an assignment, you’ve got to stay objective, his mind told him as his heart called him a hypocrite and a liar. He’d been dating Hope secretly for the last year and a half as they gathered evidence. It wasn’t as hard as it seemed since he’d sent Faatin and the boys to live with her family in Atlanta. He came and spent time with her at least twice a month and being the good woman she was, she never questioned his absences, simply accepting his explanation of his job keeping him hopping. Roderick had collected names, addresses, and laundering connections just by being with Hope. She didn’t really understand everything Carlo was into, but she made getting access to the man’s personal records simple. Thinking back to his conversation with Carlo days earlier, he was repulsed by the man’s demented comments concerning his own daughter.

  Roderick felt immediately sorry for Lauren. The young girl was traumatized for life. He could only imagine the things deep inside her that raged wanting to surface and get out. Hope told him early in their relationship she couldn’t have children, and that was fine with him considering his true identity and occupation. They made love still using a condom though, him telling her he believed God had the final say and that she may indeed be able to have children. Hope had smiled then, returning the smoldering kiss as he made love to her and asked silent forgiveness from Faatin. His cell vibrated and Roderick gingerly rose from the bed, leaving his wife asleep and heading into the den. He read the text and returned the call.

  “Yeah,” he answered calmly, having a sinking feeling already.

  “Crazy shit going down,” the reply came instantly.

  “Cisneros still in jail,” Roderick asked immediately as the party assured him both Carlo and Cartier were in custody.

  “What then,” Roderick asked waiting to hear the bad news.

  “Dr. Ross is dead, and Lauren Cisneros is missing,” the party returned as Roderick swore aloud, furious.

  “I’m on my way back, put every Undercover officer we got on this shit, we gotta find that girl,” he growled, disconnecting as his mind whirled.

  There was no doubt in his mind Carlo had ordered the hit. He’d seen the hate and malice in the man’s eyes during the trial. They had to find Lauren and fast, she held an even bigger key to the darkness that truly was Hangman Cisneros.

  *****

  Carlo smiled with satisfaction as Quenton told him the orders had been carried out. Bitch, he thought of Dr. Ross. Carlo hated how the woman tried to make him out to be a monster because he loved his daughter. Carlo you fucked your daughter, there’s a difference, his sanity tried once more. Frowning deeply and dismissing the thoughts he concentrated instead on the words coming from Quenton’s mouth.

  “The firebomb went through the front window,” he began as Carlo nodded. “All the doors had been secured with steel bonding glue, windows too,” he continued. “She was already dying of course,” Quenton told Carlo.

  The order had been to shoot Kaitlyn in the legs rendering her unable to free herself from the house.

  “She screamed a lot at first, then she quieted right down,” he finished as both he and Carlo chuckled aloud.

  “I have bad news though Hangman,” Quenton told him, using his street name.

  The smile immediately vanished as Carlo regarded the jailer with an unwavering stare. Uncomfortable, Quenton rose and stepped away from the man he was addressing before telling him about Lauren’s disappearance.

  “Where the fuck is my daughter,” Carlo growled, low and cold.

  He was dangerously close to Quenton and the jailer began to fear for his life. The man was insane without a doubt, and three times as deadly.

  �
��She slipped away from the hospital while everyone was talking about Dr. Ross,” he replied, praying Carlo didn’t flip on him.

  “I want everyone we got on the street and on the inside looking for her,” Carlo barked.

  “I don’t want any excuses and no bullshit, find my muthafuckin’ daughter,” he raged, the veins in his neck standing on end.

  “I’m on it Hangman, I swear,” Quenton replied quickly.

  “Here, take this, it will calm you down,” he told Carlo, handing him another packet of heroin.

  Accepting the drugs Carlo retreated to his bunk effectively dismissing the man from his presence. As he smoked, Carlo’s mind again went on an unwarranted journey into his past and he endured, helpless once again to stop it. “No Carlo, I can’t,” Auriel told him trying to pull away. They’d been a couple now for almost three months since he officially broke up with Sharaine. It was one of the conditions to Auriel dating him.

  Finally he’d managed to get her alone in Raven’s apartment, as she and Cartier went out for the evening. Carlo was tired of waiting. He wanted to make love and Auriel kept pushing him away. “Why, what are you scared of,” he asked, kissing her lips again as his hands squeezed her breast. He knew she wanted him. He could feel her breathing grow uneven and saw the lust in her eyes. “I haven’t ever, you know,” Auriel returned as comprehension dawned for him. Carlo kissed her again telling her it was all right. He was amazed that she was still a virgin at 19. Most of the girls he knew had been having sex for years. It made him want her even more knowing he would be the only man to ever touch her. He and Cartier had talked at length as their partnership grew admitting how much they cared for the two women. “Relax Auriel, I won’t hurt you, I promise,” Carlo replied smoothly as he undressed her. She stopped fighting him finally when his lips found her nipple and began sucking gently. His other hand snaked between her legs, under her panties, finding her wet with excitement.

  Carlo quickly removed her underwear, kissing Auriel deeply not allowing her movement. He placed himself between her legs and pushed himself inside her. “Carlo, stop,” she tried as the pain came. “Shh baby, it’ll only hurt for a minute, I promise,” he assured her, moving slowly and gently inside her. Auriel kissed him back when he placed his lips on hers and their lovemaking continued. She was moaning softly moments later as Carlo brought her to orgasm. He felt himself getting closer as his movements became more intense. Neither of them remembered the condom as Carlo came hard inside her. They would be reminded of its absence two months later as Auriel told him she was carrying his child. Carlo was ecstatic, immediately proposing to her. Auriel was slightly reluctant, having a general idea of the things that Carlo and Cartier did together, but allowed his charm to sway her. They were married two weeks afterward, Lauren Nicole was born seven months later and Carlo’s world was complete.