Friday, February 28, 2014

My Big Chickadee

Peeping Tom, Lockpick Johnson ,Sean Jackson,my wife Sepia and I sat in the Surveilience van about three blocks from Hambone Jenkins's office...

We were listening to his phone calls...I had had Lockpick Johnson and Peeping Tom wire his house ,his car and his office for video and sound...Sean Jackson had put a GPS tracking device on his car...and Clerow and Owen Todd were in seperate cars shadowing his every move...

Kool Kat, Chris Thompson, Chess, Donald Smooth, Gus and Marco Gervay had been talking to different folks about how Big Chick had killed a girl and Bennie G. and how they had got it from Hambone Jenkins...

This wasn't true of course...I had told them to put the word out....Joe Neptune at the Mermaid Club was saying the same thing...

I had published an erroneous story in my newspaper that ADA Keith Wallace had a witness that put Charles
"Big Chick" Mooney at the scene of both murders....

I knew that with this swirling around...it wouldn't be long before Hambone got a call or a visit from Big Chick..

I had Sepia with me tonight because , I couldn't bare the thought of her being alone and pregnant and me running the streets...So I figured...She'd be safer with me and my guys in the van...

''Kev...We got a call coming in."said Peeping Tom.

"This ought to be good."said Lockpick Johnson..

"Hello..

''Hambone...you been runnin your mouth I hear." came the voice..

''What? Runnin my mouth, what chooo talkin bout boss?"he said..

''Don't you what you talkin bout boss me..So you gonna run to ADA Keith Wallace and turn me in for two murders you lyin little creep..You aint see nothin...You heard about me killin that babe from Bennie G. and he aint talkin no more." came the voice.

"Big Chick...I don't know what you talkin bout baby!" said Hambone...

"It's all over the streets..I heard it in the Mermaid Club, In Ciros, In Josies even and I don't even hang out there...You runnin your damn mouth all over town...Well I'm gonna close it...Just like I closed Bennie G's mouth...That bastard looked right dead in my eyes when I strangled that girl and then two days later, he gonna try and blackmail me...I killed him with my bare hands , right on the spot...and I'm comin over there and close your mouth...for good." came the voice.

"Chick...Chick...You got me all wrong baby...I aint talked to nobody...I aint been in no bars..I been workin...I don't know what you talkin bout."said Hambone..

"Save it Hambone..you're a dead man."came the voice..

"Don't be threatenin me...I got a gat too!...You come on over..Come on with it..I'll bust a cap in yo ass.."said Hambone..

"Yeah  We'll see about that. we'll see if your gat beats my gat...I'm on my way."

"Big Chick..look...I aint said nothin to nobody...I swear fo god..."

"Don't punk out now...I'm on my way..I aint burnin for no two murders..."

(click!)

Sepia kissed me in the lips,long and hard...
 "You got him baby...You got him!" she said and kissed me again, slower and softer...

Sean Jackson, Peeping Tom and  Lockpick Johnson all smiled and clapped...

"Okay guys..Make two copies of that tape...Send one to ADA Keith Wallace in the District Attorney's office and one to Lt. Sissy Van Buren at the Criminal Investigation Division office...That ought to be enough to put Big Chick in the box...And do me a favor..Drop my wife off at home for me." I said.

''Sure thing Kev." they said.

Sepia looked at me longingly...

"Where you goin?" she said with a fake pout..

"I'm goin and get Walter...It's time to take the trash out."I said.

II-
I knew how Big Chick thought...He wasn't going to risk being seen going over to Hambone's...He more than likely was going to send somebody....That's why I got Kool Kat...


I took my Lexus...While I drove...Kool kat loaded his .44 magnum and put his black leather gloves on...
''You takin this serious huh?" I joked.

''Life and death is a serious matter Kev."he said.

The way he said that sent a chill through my spine.. Then I remembered...Kool Kat had been one of the most feared enforcers on the streets at one time...He didn't get that kind of rep by being frivolous about anything..

My smartphone vibrated...It was Clerow...

'"Yo" I said.

''We got company boss."he said.

"Big Chick?" I said.

"Nah..a car load of guys.."he said.

''Hang tight...We are right around the corner.." I said.

We drove around the corner and parked just in time to see four guys, all armed with automatic weapons heading towards Hambone's Septa Office..Hambone as it turns out, did have a gun...a small .38 smokeless like mine... He appeared at the door..

''You boys back up now..I don't want no trouble.." he said.

"Too late pops...You got it..Big Chick sends his regards.." he said as they loaded their weapons..

"AND WE SENDIN OURS!" said Kool Kat..
He aimed his .44 magnum at the leader... Clerow, Owen Todd and I aimed our .45's at the other three...

"What do you guys want?" asked one of them...

''We aint here to ask you out to lunch!" said Clerow....Kool Kat looked at me and snickered...I smiled...So did Owen Todd..

They were not fools...They dropped their guns.... Owen and Clerow collected their weapons and put them in plastic bags...

Kool Kat and I  tied them up and gagged them.....I called the police...

Hambone was sweating in the middle of winter like it was July...

"Kevin, am I glad to see you..." he said.

"Relax...I wasn't going to let anything happen to ya bone."I said.  Kool Kat just laughed and smacked his thigh...

"Big Chick is out there...He sent these guys after me..." he said.

"I know...He won't be floppin around much longer.." I said.

III-
ADA Keith Wallace came personally, along with Detectives Edwin "Duke" Baylor and Tyriq Pile and about four uniformed policemen, armed with shotguns  to pick up the four thugs...I had their weapons in plastic bags.. I cut Kool Kat,Clerow and Owen Todd loose.. Hambone and I waited for the police by ourselves. These four thugs were known gunmen...High priced muscle , who probably had more than a few felonies between them...

''Well Kevin...Thanks again...We've been looking for these cool cats for awhile." said ADA Keith Wallace.

''Yeah...and I'm sure if we run a ballistic check on these guns..We'll clear several homicides." said Duke..

"Wow...Big Chick sends you guys to do his dirty work...he'd of been better off doing the deed himself." laughed Tyriq.

"Yeah" I laughed...

"Okay guys let's go." said ADA Wallace...The four goons were read their rights and escorted off by the uniformed policemen...

After they were all gone...I said to Hambone..

"You got any coffee?"

''Coffee ?...Man, I can't drink no coffee ...I got to pack....That fool aint gonna back off just cause of this Kev...He'll come for me himself." he said.

''Oh I know he will, that's why I'm here..Now go on inside."I said.

We went inside his office and Hambone poured me a hot tumbler of coffee..We sat down and talked...He was so upset from what had  just happened that his hands began to shake..

''Relax bone...Everything is going to be alright." I said.

"Easy for you to say." he said.

I just laughed.

IV-

After about an hour..There was a knock on Hambone's office door...He got up to answer it...I cautioned him to stay put...I pulled out my .38 smokeless and aimed at the door..

"Kev, what'choo doin?" said Hambone..

Big Chick kicked the door in and came in with his .45 drawn...I knew he sent those guys as a decoy to see if the cops were watching the place...Once he thought they were gone..He made his move.I'm telling you..I was in Big Chick's head.

"Who the hell are you?" he said to me..

"I'm the man that's not going to let you kill anyone else."I said.

"Oh yeah?" he snarled..

"Yeah!" I said.

"Oh a tough guy eh?" he said.

"Tough enough for you." I said.

"Once you kill one, another aint no thing." he snarled. That sent a chill down my spine..This man clearly didn't mind killing.

"You killed Shirley and Bennie didn't you?" I said.

"Me and her was havin a disagreement..Things got out of hand...I didn't mean for it to go that far...But Bennie G???..That rat tried to blackmail me...I meant to kill him...And now I'm gonna kill you and big mouth Hambone here" he said.

"I don't think so papi...Drop your weapon" came the beautiful spanish accented voice of Detective Carlotta Rodriguez...
She had her glock practically touching his neck...Three uniformed policemen were behind her, armed with shotguns....Detective James "Jimmy "Barlow walked up and handcuffed him...
''Big Chick...Big Chick..Anybody ever tell you that you talk too much?" he said laughing..

Big Chick angrily stomped his foot.....

"I don't believe this!" he spat...

Just then Detectives Sirena Pile and Tony Hopkins walked in the office...

"Believe it Big Chick...We got every word Kevin..."said Detective Sirena Pile...

"Yeah..This clears both of our murders. Thanks Kev." said Hop...

Carlotta kissed me on the cheek...

"Thank you baby...I knew you'd come through for us..."she said.

"This place was bugged...This was a trick...You set me up Hambone.!!!!"..he snarled.

"Ah didn't know nothin about this, I swear." said Hambone..

"He didn't...I set you up."I said.

"You? Who are you?" he said.

''Does it really matter Big Chick?"I said.

"You better hope I never get outta jail" he said ,looking at me with red hot hatred...

"He doesn't have to worry about that...With what we have on you...You're never gonna see the light of day again."said Jimmy as he and the uniformed policemen walked Big Chick out to the paddy wagon.


Outside, I saw Lt. Sissy Van Buren standing on the corner watching...
She smiled at me...

''Wow Kevin...This is like, how many cases you have helped us crack?"she asked..

"Who knows?" I said.

"I'm thinkin one day maybe somebody will write a book about us or create a TV show based on all of us and our exploits." she said smiling..

''Who knows Sissy...Maybe.Maybe we'll be the subject of some blog!" I said.

We both looked at each other and busted out laughing...

EPILOUGE:

The four goons that I turned over to ADA Wallace, Duke and Tyriq turned out to be responsible for eight murders between them and all are serving multiple life sentences...

Big Chick was convicted of both murders and given a life sentence for both....

Hambone Jenkins is sleeping a lot better now of days , knowing those killers are off the streets..

I wound up at home with Sepia, relaxing in our bedroom.....

"Well..another case cracked.." she said.

"Yeah..Nice and neat...Nobody got hurt...That's because I planned it well." I said.

''And you have good friends that help you...Not Just Walter and Clerow, but the cops too."she said.

''Yeah...and the cool thing is..we all live here in this neighborhood."I said.

''Our baby is going to be so safe." she said as she laid her head on my shoulder..

''I sure hope so...I sure hope so." I said as I rubbed her pregnant belly and hugged her.

(For Sarah)



Thursday, February 27, 2014

Habit Patterns


Clerow and I drove to the Frankford Transit Center.....It was where all of the Elevated trains and Buses and Trolleys docked in the Northeast section of the city...It was blocks from where Bennie G. says he witnessed the murder of the young girl...Shirley
Richardson..

We were visiting an old codger who worked at the station that I knew ,who was always a wealth of information...Leonard "Hambone" Jenkins, no relation to the sexy Jenkins sisters who ran a soul food joint...

Speaking of which...Clerow and I had brought him a hot tumbler of coffee and some hot piping soul food from Mabel's soul food joint.

We walked into his office...


"Lawdddd today...Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, Collard Greens and Candied Yams...And Hot Coffee...I aint had a lunch like this in ages...Thanks Kevin."said Hambone..

"Hot Biscuits too!" said Clerow..

The old man looked like he was having an orgasm...He tore into the food...We joined him...

"Ummm, Ummm..Ummmph...This is some good eatin....So what do you need to know Kevin?" he asked.

''Big Chick Mooney!" I said.

"He's bad news Kev....A few days ago...Bennie G. come by here...Told me that when he was riding the El...The 11:45 pm train...He rode past an apartment and saw Big Chick in his drawers stranglin some girl....He was scared...We killed a fifth of liquor...Funny thing though...A few days later..He come by again..He was askin me where Big Chick was and how could he get in touch with him..Big Chick came by here too, askin about the time the train come in...Did I know and see..Bennie G. What was his habit patterns? Did he ride that train all the time? What Bus did he take? They was both big pains in the ass...Lookin for each other.." said Hambone.

"Huh?" I said.

''Habit patterns Kev...Things people do on the regular." explained Hambone...Clerow nodded in agreement!  I smiled.

"Not too many people know where Big Chick actually lays his head..."said Hambone.

''But you do?" I said.

"I usually keep that kind of information to myself...Tellin people that can get you killed." he laughed..

"I won't tell a soul that it was you...You got my word." I said.

"Okay Kev..I don't want no trouble." he said and he wrote down the address...

I gave him $50.00...

"Wow..Good lunch, good coffee and I get duked some cash too." he laughed...

"Your lucky day boss."laughed Clerow..

Hambone Jenkins smiled..

II-



Clerow,Owen Todd and I drove up to the residence that Hambone gave us...We questioned a few people in the neighborhood... This was indeed the residence that Big Chick was staying at...

I touched the door...It was open...I didn't like that....

Clerow, Owen Todd and I all pulled our pistols and flashlights and went inside... The place smelled like hell....

"Is there a light in here?" asked Owen Todd..

"You think one would work? This place look like the electric has been cut off for years!" said Clerow..

I found a  light switch and flicked it on...

What We saw next stunned us all!!



Bernard Gleason....Known as Bennie G. was hanging from the ceiling...and from the looks of him...He had been here for at least 48 hours...

"Ohhhh Helll."said Owen Todd...

"Damnn Kev....Looks like you don't have a client."said Clerow..

"At least not a living one."I said.

II-


Naturally,I called the police... I told Clerow and Owen Todd to go on home...I waited for Sissy and her detectives...




Lt. Sissy Van Buren was there with Detectives Tony Hopkins, Sirena Pile and Forensic Investigator, Dr. Hazel Hunter-Baylor...and her husband, Detective,Edwin "Duke" Baylor.

''Kevin, you know I love you...You know that I do...but I swear....I'm beginning to dread your phone calls ." joked Sissy...Duke cracked up laughing.

"This is your witness...Bennie G. or Bernard Gleason."I said..."I got a tip on Big Chick's whereabouts and I tracked him to here..Only..There is no sign of him...Just Bennie G. My client..."I said shaking my head..

"This house is registered to Todd Drinkwater..."said Detective Tony Hopkins holding an IPAD mini...

"And he won't be of any help...He's been dead for four years." said his partner, Detective Sirena Pile.

"How careful is Big Chick...He stays in a house under an assumed name.."said Duke.


"We'll check with the person he rented this house from."said Sissy...
"If I were to make an educated guess..I'd say this guy has been dead for about two days."said Hazel..

''Which means he died two days after the girl he reported dead." I said.

"We've got two murders and no suspect in either." said Sissy.

''Big Chick!"I said.

"As bad as I want to put him behind bars,I've got no evidence linking him to either murder Kevin...We could pick him up..but we have less than nothing to hold him on right now." she said.

''Yeah..you're right."I said.

Sissy put her arms around me...

"It's not your fault!...Hey how is that wife of yours?" she asked...

"Just as happy as a lark.."I smiled...

"Good,Good...You should make sure she's happy and stay off these mean streets for awhile anyway" said Sissy as she turned and began talking to some uniformed patrolmen and CSI guys who had joined the crime scene photographers in the building...Hop was instructing one of the policemen to cut the body down and release it...

I walked over to Detective Sirena Pile...Tyriq's wife..
''Sirena..Could I ask you something in private?" I said.

She looked surprised...

"Sure Kev...What?" she said.

We walked over to a corner..

"You and Tyriq...you have three children...Uh...When you were pregnant were you uh,you know...extra....uh..?" I said.

"Horny?  Yesssss lord...I wanted it more  it seemed like...Tyriq loved it though..He didn't complain.."she said.

"Okay...So this is normal?" I said.

"Yeahhhh...You aint got a problem with it,I know?" she said and smiled..

"Nooo..Nooo,I rather find it enjoyable..I was just worried.."I said.

"Tyriq was the same way...I was just fine...Sepia is just fine...When she can't do it anymore..She'll let you know..but enjoy it for now."said Sirena smiling..

"Thanks." I said.

Tyriq's wife and I had developed a close friendship, just like the one I shared with Sissy and Carlotta and Sharon...We found ourselves talking more when we ran into each other..I remember when she was little Sirena Harris, when we were growing up in West Philly...She was about a year younger than me..Always hip,always tough and sexy as hell even then...But she didn't take any crap off of anybody..You had to come correct with her...Even then...We knew each other only in passing then...I wasn't surprised when I found out that she was a detective...One of Sissy's best.

The body was released and Sissy and her detectives prepared to leave..I looked at Sissy one last time..
"We'll crack this.." I said.

"Oh I'm not worried."said Sissy, who smiled at me.

III-

Sepia and I lie in our bed after enjoying a nice meal and then eventually each other..

"So you're saying this Hambone fella told you that a few days later...Your client, Bennie G. came back to him and asked him how he could get in touch with this Big Chick?"she asked.

"Yeah..Weird isn't it? He was scared to death of Big Chick." I said.

''Sounds like he was working another angle, which is why he didn't call you back..He didn't need you anymore." said my wife..

I smiled...I sat up...I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her long and hard for a few minutes...

"You are absolutely right babes...It was right there in my face...right in my face all the time.. He was probably going to blackmail Big Chick...Only thing is...He was a little too lightweight to do that to a guy like him."I said.

"Big Chick probably killed him."said Sepia..

"Oh Most definitely he did.." I said.

"So you kind of have no more case."said Sepia..

"Oh but I do...and I don't have to look for Big Chick anymore..."I said.

"You don't?" she said.

"No..I've got a plan that's going to make him come to me.." I said.

"Kevin!" she said.

''Relax...when he shows up...My favorite Murder police will be there to nab him."I said.

Sepia smiled and kissed me...
She slipped her panties off and climbed on top of me and eased herself down on me.....

She was so warm, soo moist.....

"Ahhhhh, again?" I asked..

"Any complaints?" she said as she slowly moved up and down...

"Not at allllllllllllll...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.." I moaned...

"Talking to you and watching your facial expressions when you're cracking a case makes me incredibly horny.."she said...

"And it makes me feel incredibly fortunate.."I said smiling...

She moved up and down slowly....I was in a state of pure joy, for want of a better word.......

''Ouuuu mama has been missing youuuu." she cooed..

"Ohhhh...", I groaned as she continued... and I laid flat just enjoying what she was doing...

We made slow ,sweet love like that , for about an hour and a half......Sepia began to shake.....

''You alright?" I asked..

''Yesss...YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!! Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. I'm finnnne,,,Stop worrying about me...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..ohhhhhhhhh my goodness...ohhhh" she moaned...

As if on cue, I exploded like a gusher...

''OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..." I said...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.." she moaned and kissed me for a long while....She rolled off of me...

"I'm fine lover..just a habit pattern."she said.

''A what?" I said.

''A habit pattern of being pregnant..."she said.

That was the second time today I had heard that term... It made sense..

In the larger scheme of things,It all made sense I mused.

(CONCLUSION NEXT)



Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Girl In A Dumpster

Sepia and I lie in bed sleeping peacefully....She was anyway... I was horny...and with her being nearly three months pregnant...I was a little squeamish about asking her for sex...but yet ,I hadn't felt this randy in quite some time...

....She woke up breifly and cuddled up with me....

''Hey Sepia?"I asked.

"Hmmmm.." she moaned...and then smiled...Almost as if she were reading my thoughts.....

"Nothing.." I said and just smiled at her...She smiled at me knowingly.....

She began to slowly run her hands under the cover and fondle my penis, which was as hard as a brickbat at this point...She looked at me sheepishly as kissed me softly...

I kissed her cheek softly....Her hands began to run down my legs..her hands were so soft, she gently began to fondle and massage me....Naturally,I responded...

"Ohhhhhhh...Ohhhhhh my godddddddddddd.." I moaned....

"Ummmmmmmmmmm..." she cooed...

We began kissing each other passionately and I began to fondle her breasts, which seemed in pregnancy to have gotten larger...

Before I knew it....She was stradled over me and lowering herself down on top of me...

''Heyyy, this is dangerous...isn't it?" I said.

"How???...You've already got me pregnant,I can't get any more pregnant."she laughed as she moved down and then up and then down again...

"Ouuuuuuuu, this feels great!" I said.

She laughed....

"You are so crazy..." she said.
We kept at it ,just like that, for close to two hours....Sepia began to shake.....
''You alright?" I asked..

''Yesss...YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!! Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu." she moaned...

As if on cue, once again, I exploded like a gusher...

"Ummmph....ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." I moaned...

She slowly crawled off of me and kissed me on the cheek...

''Feel Better?" she asked.

"Thanks...I needed that.."I said.

"I needed it too..Seems like I want it more now than before.." she said.

"I know.." I joked..



Sepia hit me with a pillow...

"What do you mean, you know?" she laughed.

II-
Later that morning...I stood on the roof of C.I.D. headquarters....It was cool out...I was drinking a tumbler of hot coffee...So was Sissy.... Lt. Sissy Van Buren of Philadelphia Homicide..I hadn't been by in awhile...By now I was sure knew of my good news..

''So Mister Kevin...You're going to be a daddy I hear." she said smiling at me.

I looked at her sheepishly...She hugged me...

''Congratulations Friend!"she said, smiling....

"Yeah..She's nearly three months.."I said.

"Carlotta,Sirena and Sharon told me about how you cleaned and diapered that baby you found on your doorstep a few months back...They said you'd be an excellent father."she said with a smile..

"I hope so."I said.

"I know you will Kevin...You have a good heart..." she said. ''And your baby will have plenty of Aunties...Me, Chica, Hazel, Sirena, Sharon and Angie are going to spoil your child you know that don't you?" she said.

I smiled...I was amazed at all the good will thrown my way.

"I'm so grateful for all this love." I said

''You've earned it." she said...''So what is on your mind? I know you came up here for another reason." she said.

"You're so perceptive....That's why they call you the Boss Lady."I smiled.."Sissy, a couple of days ago you had a visit from my client..Bennie G." I said.

She smiled...

"Oh My God...He fed you that story about Big Chick Mooney killing some girl in a ratty apartment too?" she said.

''Sadly he did."I said.

"We checked it out...The room was clean...No sign of anybody having been there...The combonation of Bleach and urine gave me, Chica and Hazel a headache." she said smiling...

''And the landlord told you he hadn't rented to anybody right?" I said.

"Yes,that's right..."she said.

"He lied..He rented to Big Chick Mooney and he said that Big Chick did have some girl in the room and they had a big argument...He didn't see the girl leave, but Big Chick and another guy came back the next day and paid him in full and told him they'd kill him if he talked to the cops.."I said.

"But he told you all of that?" she said.

"I'm not a cop and plus..I uh persuaded him a little in a way that you can't under the law." I said.
"I'm not hearing this." she said ,looking at me sheepishly and laughing.

"Anyway...Think about it...Bleach? No fingerprints, DNA and now you know that the landlord lied..What does that say?" I said.

"That he rented to Big Chick and cleaned up after him....He didn't witness a murder Kevin..."she said.

"You're right Sissy...Bennie G. is scared to death..I think he's telling the truth."I said.

"Bennie G. is always scared to death...He's always one step ahead of the local juice man.."said Sissy..

We both laughed because we knew that that was true...

"Where is Mooney?" she asked.

"I don't know...He might have left town..I went to his watering holes and talked to his girlfriends and I even went to an address listed to him...Nothing!" I said.

"Well I can't investigate a murder with no proof that there has been one...I got murders that have been committed that my guys are investigating."she said.

"I know..Just giving you a heads up...."I said.

"You know...I'm looking at you Kevin...I know you...I don't see the passion in your face...You don't even care that much about this one do you?" she said.

"Really Sissy? I don't...But Bennie G. paid me...So I had to look into it for him..."I said.

"And you did!" said Sissy...We hugged each other...

"Tell Sepia ,I said Congratulations."said Sissy..

I kissed her on the cheek..

"I'll do that Sis."I said.

"Bye Friend." she said and waved as I left the rooftop.

III-

The next day, however...I was driving through the city when I saw a familiar sight...A crime scene...

Police line tape and several uniformed officers and crime scene photographers snapping photos...


I parked my car and walked over to the scene...It was a dumpster...The nude body of an African-American female was found wrapped in plastic wrapping in a dumpster....
 The smell immediately put me off...I looked around for familiar faces...Wasn't long before I saw them...

Detectives Carlotta Rodriguez-Wallace, Tyriq Pile and James Jimmy Barlow were investigating...Forensics Investigator, Dr. Hazel Hunter-Baylor was with them....

"Hey guys...What'cha got?" I said...

"Hola Kevin...Congratulations...I hear you're going to be a Papi soon." said Carlotta ,who hugged me and kissed me on the cheek..

"Thanks Chica...Yeah...She's about three months."I said..

"The owner of this establishment reported a bad smell...We found this girl's body in the dumpster.."said Tyriq...

"From the setting in of rigor  and the temperature of the body..I'd say she's been here about two or three days.." said Hazel...

"The cameras above have been busted....We got nothin. I got uniforms canvassing the area and questioning people." said Jimmy Barlow..

"Hazel..Two days ago..a guy named Bennie G. Brought you and Sissy to a place right around the corner where he said he witnessed a murder right?" I said.

"Yes, but we found nothing...The room was clean...How did you know about that?" she asked.

"He came to me after he talked to you guys....I didn't find anything either...but this girl fits the description of the girl he claims he witnessed being strangled.."I said.


''She's been strangled." said Carlotta.

"This is the girl he was talking about...I'll bet you her name is Shirley or Cheryl something."I said.

"Where is your witness?" asked Tyriq...

"I don't have an address..But I have a way to get in touch with him...I'll get him and bring him to you."I said.

"Thank you baby...you make this job easier for us at times." said Carlotta who kissed me on the cheek again and took a napkin and wiped her lipstick impression off of my cheek.

I smiled.

IV-
 I went to Josies... Gus said he hadn't heard from Bennie...I called his cell phone number...It was disconnected...Gus had an address for him...

Kool Kat,Owen Todd ,Clerow and I drove over to his apartment...Empty...Had been empty for two days I heard...

"What now Kev?"

"I don't know.....Let's just call it a night...He may show up."I said.

I drove everybody home and then headed home myself...When I got home...Sepia was sleeping soundly...
I smiled...I wasn't about to wake her.

V-


The next day...I was once again at C.I.D. Headquarters talking to the boss lady, Lt. Sissy Van Buren..
and one of her detectives, Edwin "Duke" Baylor..

 ''Well Kevin...If you're nothing else dear...You are job security...Looks like we found your murdered phantom girl.." joked Sissy...

"She's not a phantom...Top , Rico and Jimmy identified her by her fingerprints..He name is Shirley..Shirley Richardson...She was 27...Made her living staring at the ceiling...Stripping and lately was waitressing tables.."said Duke..

"You need to be looking for "Charles "Big Chick" Mooney." I said.

"Oh we are...but all we've got is your guy's say so that he's our killer...Nothing else...By the way you said you'd bring him in."said Sissy.

"He's in the wind...I can't find him." I said.

"Well Don't feel bad Kev...Chica, Rico and Jimmy can't find Mooney either....Both of them have uh vanished." said Duke.

"This is what you would call a who done it...Only we know who done it..We just can't find them." I said.

''We don't know who done it...We have the word of an unreliable man that we can't find..as well as the alleged  killer, who is also missing." said Sissy.

"This is really starting to look funky." I said.

''Got any ideas Kevin?" asked Sissy.

"I got nothin Sissy." I said hanging my head..

I had been here before...There was always a way out...I had learned as much from my past cases.

(DEFINITELY TO BE CONTINUED...)