Baby,Please

ART: Title & Artist Unknown

Though I've considered negotiation
and I'm committed to gentle persuasion
I hope you'll listen to reason
and realize that you've been all I've ever needed./


Baby please
spend the night with me
stay until morning
don't leave..
just stay one night..
don't play me out(cause I've been..)
cause I've been waiting for someone like you...
oh come on..
let's get it on...
oh come on..
don't leave...
oh come on...
Baby Please...
don't make me beg and plead..
Baby please..
don't leave.../


I've considered a possible "no" from you..
but I've already cooked up a counter move
yes I'm content to play it kool, little jewel
I've been planning this for a very long time..
one thousand ways I was going to make you mine...
And I know that you've considered it self betrayal or treason...
To fall into my bed too early for seemingly little reason.../



But darling..
baby please..

there is no need
for you to run away..
please stay..
I won't bite ,unless you ask me too..
don't tease please
why don't you stay...
please stay...
don't run away...
baby Please
spend the night
stay until the morning light
give me one night
don't play me out..
hear me out...
let me remove your doubts...
because I've been holding out
for someone like you...
like you...
like you..
just like you...
baby please
allow me some dignity
don't make me beg and plead..
please stay.../

Better Love Next Time

ART: "Love Supreme" By Alonzo Adams

Maybe I Thought I was Slick

dialing the numbers of your BlackBerry..

you'd think that maybe this was some kind of trick..

That I was a stalker

or someone scary../



I just thought that perhaps I
could steal an hour of your time
for some good food and some wine..
but not really to my amazement
you claimed to have another engagement../



Oh well,
better love next time
next time maybe you and I
can go some place private...
better love next time
maybe you and I
can go someplace that's quiet..
better love next time
better love next time.../



Naturally a girl like you
would have other guys too
and most folks would surmize
that a guy like me
would find it a surprise
to even have a chance at romance
but that's not how I play the game../



My mother told me what I know to be true
she said -"Son whatever you do."
in the game of romance
Always check out the who set
baby don't throw all of your eggs in one basket..
girl, I suspect you have been told the same./



So here's to
Better love next time
I'll catch you on the rebound..
Better Love next time..
Here's my cell phone number..
Give me a call..
Chances are, I'll still be around.../

Like Heaven..

ART: "Passion" By Gerald Ivey

Marjorie Nylon and I sat and talked at Chess and Rell's wedding reception for a long time..We also knocked back some nice sweet wine.



"You married Robert?" she asked.



"Not at the moment, but I have been...how about you?" I asked.



" Twice" she said with a laugh.



"Yeah? Me too!" I replied.



"No kidding?" she said.



"Yeah to two beautiful women." I sighed.



"What did you do?" she asked.



"I cheated on both of them...with the same woman." I remarked.



"What? she must have been hot stuff in bed." she said.



"She was alright." I said.



"So why didn't you marry her?" she asked.



"Because she was crazy."



"Oh that..she was crazy!" she said with a mock laugh.



"Well how bout you..what did you do?" I asked.



"The first one died....Cancer....The second one was like you..couldn't keep it in his pants." she said ruefully.



"Hmmmph, I can't believe someone would cheat on a beautiful woman like you." I said.



"Oh stop it....Are you just saying that hoping you can get in my pants?" she said.



"Yes..I am..." I replied.



"Gee, you don't hold much back do you Mr. ......."



"Foxworth...Robert Foxworth." I said.



"What do you do for a living?" she asked.



I gave her my card...."I'm an attorney" I said.



"Interesting...Sounds better every minute."she said.



We ate some Strawberry Short cake that was to die for and drank more wine... I doubt that anyone noticed when we left the hall holding hands out into the night air...



"Where's your car?" she asked.



"It's over there.." I said, pointing to an Aqua 2010 Nissann Z roadster..



'Wow" she said.



"I'm guessing the white BMW over there is yours?" I said.



"Yes..that's mine.' She said. "Won it in my divorce settlement." she laughed.



We took my car....She left hers there in the parking lot of the hall...No one would bother it. She was staying at a very classy hotel, which wasn't far from my office downtown.



Why do so many of my relationships start like this? We flung the door open and were tearing at each others clothes...She kicked her heels off, I began unzippering her beautiful dress and wiggling it off of her...She unbuttoned my shirt and began unbuttoning my pants...which I slipped out of easily..We began tongue kissing each other with a passion that was unlike any other I'd felt in a long while...
I lifted her up and laid her on the very soft bed and straddled her...I kissed her slowly...while she softly stroked my penis...I had never felt skin so soft or a woman who smelled so good... I entered her and began moving slowly...There was indeed no reason to rush....In spite how fast we had tore into each other..We were deliberately making love slow and taking our time.....Not the fast hard bed breaking love I made with Alice Pinkston or my second wife...Corrine...and certainly not the wild outlandish screaming that Bonita did ,while scratching up my back...This was good soft, calm quiet lovemaking that was driving me out of my mind...

"Ohhhhhhhhh Mr. Foxworth...Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh...this is soooo goood! Ohhhhhhhhhhh.." she said as we continued to make love...



I exploded with more pleasure than I had a right to have....She began to shake violently and gasp for air...finnally ,she stopped shaking and just held me...



"Oh Robert...that was the best...Oh my God...I could die and go to heaven after that." she said.



I sure wished she hadn't of said that. I laid down next to her quite pleased with myself..and drifted off to sleep. The next morning I woke up and to my surprise..Marjorie was still lying there...Asleep...Sleeping like an angel I thought...
I got up showered and put my clothes on. I walked over to the bed and tapped Marjorie lightly
on her shoulder..She felt cold.. I shook her....



"Hey wake up sleepy head.....Let's go and get some coffee." I said smiling sweetly.



She didn't move. I shook her again...Then I checked for a pulse and breathing....Nothing...Tell me that this wasn't happening.....No, it couldn't be.......


*********************************



A few hours later, Conrad Nelson ,Sean Jackson and Kevin Morris were sitting with me outside the hotel...



"Cheer up Robert...The coroner said that this was a massive heart attack that she had...It wasn'tyour fault...It was just one of those things.." said Kevin.



"Yeah, you can go home man...There was no evidence of foul play..it's just one of those unfortunate things." Said Conrad.



"Man, I can't believe it...She's dead...the best I've ever had in my life and she dies afterwords."

I said, nearly in tears.



"Man that's just a testimony to how good your sex game is." joked Sean Jackson. Nobody found that remark funny. Kevin and Conrad both gave him the serious side eye and glare.



"Sorry, just trying to lighten up the situation." he said.



"Don't worry about it...Anybody got any Henny, I need a drink?" I said.


"Sure..we'll go to Josies." said Kevin.


"This early? They aren't open." I said.


"Gus will let us in...I'm sure he'll have something." said Kevin.


"Okay kool..cause I need something stronger than coffee right now." I said.


The best I ever had..It was like Heaven....Now she was in Heaven and I was left here in this cold, cold world. Nuts !



(For Diane)

Oh Behave!

My Name is Robert Foxworth..I'm an Attorney.. I'm one of the few men you'll find that doesn't mind going to weddings...I was in two of them myself. Both of my marriages were ruined because of the same woman...I'm not proud that I cheated on my wives, but I suppose I got my come uppance you might say.

Both of my wives were wonderful women...One is a Homicide detective with the Philadelphia Police Department, beautiful woman, classy as can be. We still sleep together occassionally..but not as much as I would like.

My other wife is a stone fox, a bit younger than me, but a fox never the less...She too still stops by every now and then and pretends to be married to me...but like my first wife, not nearly as much as I'd like.

I sleep with a former client of mine that I won a big settlement for and I sleep with a real estate agent too that I had some dealings with...but neither of them move me like my ex wives did.
Even the woman I cheated on both of them with, a fellow attorney didn't move me like either of the women I married...I was blessed enough to be married to two very phenominal women and it hurts me everyday when I think about how I lost both of them because of my extremely high
libido.

I'm at a wedding now... My Friend Chess is getting married today... His best man, Chris Thompson and his groomsmen, Ralph Mole, Fathead Newton and Donald 'Smooth" Washington
look sensational in their tuxes...
I peer around the church and I see a virtual who's who of faces... The Writer and Private Detective, Kevin Morris and His foxy wife, Sepia are there...I hope he doesn't blow that...she is drop dead gorgeous! , Sean Jackson the photographer is there with his fiance, Sheila....Cock Robbins, ex Football player, now Teacher and coach is there with his wife, Vanessa and even Gus,the bartender and owner of Josie's Bar and Grill is there with a beautiful date.

I'm happy for all of them....I secretly wonder why I didn't bring one of the women I mentioned to this. I look over and I see Paris and Blake and Chance Howard...All with beautiful women on their arms and my collegue and Conrad and his wife, Jill. I see Mabel Jenkins, the proud new owner of a hot Soul Food Bistro, with my friend "88" the Piano player in Reed Nelson's band.
Speaking of Reed Nelson, I see him and his new woman, Debbie walking arm in arm and being seated.

Clerow and his wife (Mabel's sister ) Corabeth are there too, along with Victoria, the former wife of the pastor, John Struthers and now the wife of the Deacon, Larry Weatherford..Somebody explain THAT to me? Mabel's youngest sister, Anita is there with that Basketball player she sees off and on and others are there too... It just seems like I'm the only one here dateless.

It's a wonderful ceremony , Chess and his bride, Rell look very happy and I'm very happy for them...I sincerly hope that he doesn't make the mistakes I made in two marriages. He's pretty cool people..I'm sure he won't.

After the wedding, I like the others joined them at the reception. I heard that Fathead paid for the hall and the caterers and Chris gave Chess and Rell and all expenses paid trip to the Bahamas as a wedding present...They were going to have a great honeymoon.

As the well wishes stood around waiting to be seated...I saw a knockout of a beautiful hunk of woman walking towards the hall...I hadn't noticed her at the church during the service. I winked

at her...she smiled back and I walked over to her.

'Welllll, hello missy....Are you part of the wedding party?" I asked.

"I'm a cousin of the bride...I didn't make the wedding, but I had to see her off at the reception." she said.

"I'm Robert Foxworth....I'm an attorney who has represented the Groom and some of his friends for a time...Pleased to make your acquaintance....You are?"

"My name is Marjorie...Marjorie Nyland." she said.

"A pretty name for a pretty girl." I said.

She smiled again.... I know what you're thinking...and you're right..I should behave...but you know of course that I can't help myself...

(To Be Continued....)

He is Risen!

The next day after we heard of the "untimely demise "of Valdez Diaz and Mongo, all was comfortable.Rell and My son returned to our house, Fathead and his people were out and about again and Chris...Well, when he wasn't working with me in our downtown offices..He was around Josie's and Ciro's entertaining ,drinking and having a good time. Rell and I went to Tiffany's and picked up our rings for my wedding, which was just two weeks away. I felt good, relaxed.

But on the third day.....The third day, we got some disheartening news. I was walking down the street when Donald "Smooth" drove up beside me.

"Yo Chess, my man..get in." He said. He didn't look happy at all.

I got in and he quickly laid it out for me.

"Valdez is alive babe.....The youngin that we sent to get at him really didn't know what he looked like...The guy he saw in that country house with Mongo was some guy that worked for Mongo...Another hitter I suppose...and whoever hit the two of them probably thought he was hitting Valdez too. " he said.

"How do you know this?" I asked.

"It's on the news for one thing...They flashed photos of the two men found shot to death in that house..One was Mongo and the other was some other guy..Oh and Victor Diaz is out on bail...He told Fathead that he's got the best muscle money can buy looking for Valdez. Fathead doubled up on his muscle and they
out huntin him too.... Mr. Valdez is a wanted man....and he's out there with no protection....but you know how it goes Chess..you gotta be careful..You never know where that fool will turn up." he said.

"You talk to Chris?" I asked him.

"Yeah..I told him as soon as I found out and he told me to go find you...I called
Fathead ,Roscoe and Ralph Mole too..They all on it...We'll find him...Philadelphia is a small town ..aint but so many places that boy can go." he assured me as he let me out at the next corner. I wished I could feel as confident as he did.

My wedding was coming up....This fool had vowed to crash it...He was crazy enough to try and take us on by himself...I couldn't have this happening at my wedding. I had to try and find him myself and settle this once and for all.

Ralph Mole drove the Black Expedition with tinted shades...Donald Smooth rode in the front with a riot pump shotgun and Chris and I sat in the back seat....We drove through the neighborhood where Valdez lived and we visited different bars he was known to frequent.
We talked to different people...All people who had been questioned ad naseum by The FBI and by the guys Fathead and his own brother Vick had hunting him...Nobody had seen Valdez...
I had to try and draw him out and there was only one way to do that...Give him what he wanted...The person who killed his son. Mabel Jenkins!

"Chess, are you crazy? We gonna let that freak hurt a woman?" said Donald Smooth.

"Of course not...but we are gonna bait him, make him think that's what we are going to do and when he shows up....it's all over." I said.

"I like the way you think Chess." laughed Donald Smooth.

"We gotta make sure that Mabel is out of harms reach ." said Chris.

"Man, she aint even gonna be there...We just gonna tell him where to find her and when he show
up..he's gonna come face to face with us." I said.

"I hope this works partner." said Chris who was sending a text message of his own..."But in case it don't ....I'm investing in plan B." he said.

We put the word out that we were going to give up the woman who shot his son if it meant that he would cease and desist this war with us. We gave him a phony name...Mona Cantrell and a dummy address in an area of North Philly where every other house was abandoned. He might smell a rat...but it was a chance we had to take.

We found a house that still had running water and electricity....Chris said that there was always at least one house like this in the area and we turned the lights on and set it up as though someone was in the kitchen...We even had a manequin in the window dressed as a cook. From a
distance it actually looked like someone was there.. We sat in an empty house across the street with our guns cocked ..waiting....

We never heard anyone enter our house or creep up the stairs.....and we were all doubly surprised when we turned around and saw Valdez Diaz and two gunmen with guns trained on the three of us!!!!

"Gentelmen...at last we meet eh? What? Did you think I was stupid, like Mongo? hahahahahaha...Nice plan Chess, but not nice enough...I've been in this game too long to fall for such a stupid plot." he laughed.

Chris said nothing...He stared at him icily.... Valdez looked at Chris, then at me and Donald Smooth..

"I could kill the three of you right now...but that would be too easy...so I tell you what? I'm going to let you live....Since you won't turn in this Mona Cantrell person...Here is the deal...My brother is going to do some time...while he's away..I'll be running things.....I want 50% of your card came
Chris and you're going to pay double what you paid my brother to have it in our warehouses and in our area. You try to move it somewhere else... and I find out about it....The cops will be getting an anonymous call." he laughed.

"Oh,so that's what you think you're gonna do huh?" said Chris who was smiling for some reason that Donald and I couldn't fathom.

"Yes..I don't think it...I am going to do this.... I'm the boss now...Not my brother...So any arrangement you thought you had..is over...heheheheheheheh.." laughed Valdez.

Chris continued to smile, then he looked as serious as I've ever seen him look before.

"Valdez...You aint gettin nothin from us..Not 50 percent, not point five percent.. and we aint paying you a red cent for jack..That's my card game...."

Valdez eyed Chris...but Chris didn't blink.

"Chris, are you crazy? I have two men with guns trained on you...In fact...all three of you, toss your guns on the floor right now.! " He said.

Chris looked at me and Donald Smooth and snapped-

'Chess, Smooth, don't do nothin..don't make a move...In fact..follow me...We leavin." he said and he walked right past Valdez and the two gunmen...He looked at me and Donald and said-" Don't just stand there..come on...COME ON!" He said. Donald Smooth and I walked past the men, who didn't try to stop us at all.

Valdez screamed at them...

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS??? KILL THEM...SHOOT THEM!!!!! Hey...what are you doing? Why are you turning towards me...HeyyyyyyHEYYYYYYY, DON'T AIM THAT GUN
AT ME...WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU GUYS WORK FOR ME!!!!!!! HEYYYYYYY!!!!

We were all outside when we heard a succession of gunshots....At least twelve! The two gunmen walked out of the building. They walked over to Chris, who gave them two envelopes..They smiled and gave Chris some dap. Then they got in a White 57 Thunderbird that was parked across the street and pulled off..Within five minutes, a Black Lexus drove up to the curb. Victor
Diaz was in it. Chris walked over to him and smiled.

"It's done Vick..I'm sorry." he said.

"No, I'm sorry that you had to go through this.. " he said.

"How long you out on bail?" I asked him as Donald Smooth and Ralph Mole stood in the background.

"A couple of months until my trial begins...It's because of my stupid brother that I'm even under investigation..With him gone..there might not be much to hold me on. Who knows? I plan to keep
things quiet . Our deal remains the same until I go away...When I'm gone...I'll send my represenative to handle things on my end." said Victor.

"You goin in to get the body?" asked Chris.

"Nah....somebody will find him...I don't want to see him." said Victor coldly.

'Vick, he's your brother." said Chris.

"Was my brother.....Was going to have me killed..That's some brother....Who's the king of the streets now??" said Victor.

"Be Easy Vick." said Chris as he shook his hand.

'You too my friend."he said as he drove off into the night.

I looked at Chris..

"You wanna explain that?" I said.

"Chess, baby..That was a nice plan you had...but Valdez..he a soldier babe...He been hittin guys for years...No tellin how many bodies he got on him...He would have seen right through your plan...So I came up with a counter plan...I called Vic and we put the word out that this was a trap, which he would have figured out anyway and we hired two hitters ,who offered their services to him. Once he came out in the open...We had him hook line and sinker...Why you think I didn't blink when they run up on us???...I knew who they were...Shame of it was...Valdez didn't know who he was working with..." said Chris, who smiled for the first time in awhile.

"Man, I'm in awe of you." said Ralph Mole.

"I know you are...You oughta be.....Now let's go home." said Chris as he, Donald Smooth, Ralph Mole, and I got in the Expedition and headed toward West Philadelphia.

A few weeks later, I was sitting with Gus and Deacon Larry Weatherford in Mabel Jenkin's new
Restaraunt enjoying some Barbecued Spare Ribs and Corn on the cob.....

"Chess...your boy Chris been in church every Sunday and he been coming to Bible study religiously...no pun intended." said the Deacon.

"Yeah, he's trying hard to be a better man he say." I said.

"Good for him...The boy look like he has a lot on his mind...like he sorry for much." said Gus.

"I imagine he is..I imagine a lot of us are." I said.

"God understands...He's a forgiving God...but you got to repent.." added Deacon Larry Weatherford.

My friend Chris, so streetwise, such a gangster for so long.....at times a backslider was trying and I suppose trying is better than doing nothing at all... I admired him for many reasons...and his trying to get closer to God, despite all of the things he had done and on one extent was still doing
was something to admire.. He had long since stopped selling drugs and running the streets, yet he still had one foot in.....I wondered when he was going to give up that card game...For all of our sakes..I hoped it was soon. This wouldn't be the last time someone would try to stick it up and cause us to get into a ruckus..

"So Chess..You gettin married next week huh? said Deacon Larry Weatherford.

"Yes sir." I said.

"You ready? " Gus asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be" I lied. I was actually more afraid of what I was about to do than when I was on the streets with Chris facing down gangstas, but that was another story for another day.


(For My Uncle Pete RIP -1919-1973)

Valdez in the Country

Gus and I played Chess every Wednesday Night, unless for some reason..I couldn't make it. The old man was actually pretty good. We sat in the room upstairs from Josie's Bar after closing and played our usual game. Rell and my son were over her mother's house...They had no idea why I asked them to stay there a few nights, but they didn't put up a fight and I was glad. I didn't know exactly where Chris or Donald Smooth or Fathead was...We were all off the streets..Valdez Diaz had a bounty on our heads and we in turn had one on his. We had people diligently looking all over Northeast Philly, North Philly and Northern Liberties for him. I felt bad that things had gotten so nasty...Victor Diaz, his younger brother was our friend...and this hurt me to have to be hunting his older brother like that.

"Ah knew their father. Fillipe Diaz" said Gus.

"Yeah?" I said.

"Oh Yes...He was evil as hell and his oldest boy Fillipe Jr. was just as evil.....That's why he's dead
and in his grave now..." said Gus.

"Killed in a war for turf?" I asked.

"Nah nothin like that..He beat on some woman and she shot him." said Gus.

"Wow!" I said.

"His next oldest boy, Valdez is even more volatile than Fellipe Jr. was..he'll kill you soon as look at you....but the baby boy, Victor..he different..he finished school, went to college..was even in the service for awhile. He's married , got a couple of kids...two girls I believe and he runs the business real quiet,low key....It's that damn brother of his,Valdez..always keeping something going on on the street." said Gus.

Just then ,my Blackberry went off!

"Hello" I said.

"Yo Chess....You need to get with me and Fathead." said Chris.

"Where yall at?" I said.

"The safehouse" he said.

"I'm there." I said.

"Watch your back ." said Chris.

"Well Gus...leave the peices where they are and we'll finish the game next time you see me."I
said.

"You got it Chess." he said as I left.

The "Safehouse" was a house out near the Airport that Fathead bought and used to take different women to , when he was married..Now that he wasn't married anymore..He used it as a
chill out spot and in this case...our hideout.

When I got there, Chris, Ralph Mole, Roscoe, Donald Smooth and Fathead were all in the living room watching Basketball on his 50 inch flat panel Television.....Fathead tossed me a corona and turned the television off.

"Chess...I got a visit from a Special Agent Frank Cotton of the FBI today....He left me this recording..you gotta hear this.....They apparently got The Diaz Brother's spot bugged..because
..well you listen to this...Ralph, run the tape." said Fathead.

On it we heard the voice of Victor Diaz chastising his older brother, Valdez...

"You asshole...you have brainless over there go and approach his woman..What did you think he was going to do? You know the rules.." said Victor.

"Hey...I gotta brain man" said Mongo. Both Victor and Valdez looked at Mongo and shook their heads.

"Don't talk to me like I am a child Victor..I am your older brother,don't forget." said Valdez

"Older brother? Only in age...You are a child in everything else....I do business with Fathead. Chris Thompson and Chess pay me money to have their floating crap game in my area, In my warehouses... You know that pretty custom made car you got Valdez? You like it? It was paid for with my end of the money they paid us to have that crap game in our area. That's how much cash working with them generates. So this stupid little war you have going on with them will end tonight...No contracts, no more nothing..it is finished, you hear me?" said Victor.

"What?? What? My son was murdered, he must be avenged. I don't care about money..You know what I see when I see you Little Brother? I see a man who bleeds green..While I am a man who bleeds blood baby.. and who draws blood..You aint hard enough for the streets." said Valdez.

'What movie did that come from? What Television show did you hear that on? What, you're the Latin Avon Barksdale now...He must be avenged, What a load of crap...He was wearing a mask, trying to stick up that card game..A card game I gave sanction to..A card game I was getting a nice peice of money from...He was wrong..and he took one for the team ..He certainly didn't need the money..Hell we give him everything ,Why was he running with a stick up crew??...We must move on..He was my nephew..I loved him...but he was as stupid and volatile as you." said Victor.

"Hey are you calling me stupid or Valdez?? I just want to be sure." said Mondo.

"Shut the hell up...you ARE stupid." snapped Victor.

"Hey Victor..I am tired of you lording everything.....I got ideas too..Who made you the head of things?" snarled Valdez.

"Papa did, because he knew I would make us money...He said that you were too much of a hot head....If it wasn't for me, your stupid ass would be in prison, ehhhh?? I made that witness disapear...My people had to give money to that other witness to make him forget..forget that you murdered Alicante Rivas...in broad daylight...you idiot. Stop watching "the Wire" and "The King of New York and step into the real Big Bro, it's about money at the end of the day, not some bogus idea you got about street cred." snapped Victor.

"So you going to keep hanging that over my head eh brother...well the hell with you! You didn't have to do me no favors...I would've offed both of them witnesses and you could have saved your precious money, since that is all you care about...to hell with you." screamed
Valdez...

"No, the hell with you..Hear me and hear me well brother....The war is over...Nothing better happen to Chess,Chris or Fathead..because if it does...and I mean this..They'll never find you."
he said.

"You are threatening my life??? You are threatening my life??? YOU ARE THREATENING MY LIFFEEEE???...Do you hear this punk ass cock roach Mondo? I brought you into the business..I taught you how to be a gangster..Schoolboy, choir boy..I was on the street making my name for the family with Fillipe when you were sucking on a bottle.. Oh it's like that huh??..You got a pair on you little brother. You're a biggg mannn now" screamed Valdez..

"You heard what I said... It's over...no more violence.. I mean it.... .Goodbye Valdez." said Victor... (Sound of a door closing)

After hearing that, Chris, Fathead,Smooth and Roscoe burst out laughing......

Chris got silent, then he said -

"Ralph play the rest of it."

We heard Valdez give a directive to Mondo...

"Mondo...Chess is getting married in a few weeks....Find out where.....Take him, Chris Thompson and Fathead out and anybody at that wedding that stands with them.....and then when they are dead ..I want you to kill my brother, Victor. Talking to me like I'm a child...I'm just as smart as the next guy, I know some things...He's not the boss of me..I'm king of the streets" He said.

" Yeah..talking to me like I'm stupid ..I'm no more stupider than the next guy.....Where will you be?" said Mondo.

"In the safe house out in the country. "No more stupider than the next guy", what the hell Mondo?...Mondo, you need to think about what you say before you speak man...sometimes you do sound like an idiot." said Valdez. (click)

Chris, Fathead, Roscoe ,Smooth and Ralph Mole were on the floor laughing....I didn't find anything funny..these fools were planning to shoot up my wedding.

I was steaming mad...I pulled out my gun and loaded it.. and was heading for the door when Fathead of all people blocked me.

"Relax Chess...We aint told you the good part yet." he said.

"Good part? What good part?" I said.

"The FBI played that tape to me right? That means they got them on tape conspiring to commit murder, talkin about jury tampering, witness bribery and all kinds of stuff..If they watchin and listenin to em like that, that means the federalis are close to making a case...Meaning a few folks is about to be on they way to the slams...you feel me?.....Now...we aint got
to do much if anything, but sit back and watch everybody go to jail.....Turn on the news Ralph." said Fathead.

He sounded more sensible than usual..It was almost frightening..Maybe some of Chris's teaching had paid off. Chris eyed Fathead, then he looked at me, the way I was looking at Fathead ( With a new found respect) and he couldn't help supressing a smile..He turned his head and laughed....Not wanting Fathead

to see him. I kind of smiled myself looking at my friend.

On an earlier broadcast, which had been taped... FBI agents had arrested Victor Diaz and thirty nine of his associates on an assortment of charges...amongst them, RICO charges, Money laundering, Witness tampering, bribery and conspiracy to commit murder....a warrant was out for Mongo Alvarez, on three counts of murder and conspiracy and Valdez Diaz for multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

"It's over Chess.... The Diaz Brothers are gone and we didn't lift a finger...they did it to themselves." said Chris.

"Yeah? Well what about Mongo and Valdez?? They're still out there in the wind.." I said.

"Yeah and they are going to do what? They got no backing, nothing..Victor was the brains and the money...with him gone, they are just two free agents...No muscle, no nothing...They'll show up sooner or later.. rats always come up out of their holes." said Fathead.

This was the second time this afternoon that Fathead had made sense...I didn't think I could take much more of this...I looked at Chris ,who was now visibly laughing and slapping his knee. We all laughed at our good fortune and turned the television back on to watch the game...

Chris's phone went off....

"Hello."

"Yo Chris..we found Valdez." came the voice.

"Word? Where is he?" said Chris.

"Man, he was dead when we got here." came the voice.

"What are you sure?" said Chris.

"We went to the Farm house..The one that you told us was their safehouse and when we got inside ,him and another guy was shot to death....So we got the hell up out of there.. I mean ,I aint never seen him in person...but I know Mongo..I did time with him and he's definitely dead....The other guy was on the floor ,but he look like Valdez from the photo you showed me...I'm sure it's him." said the

voice on the phone.

"Yeah? Well don't sweat it kid...Fathead will pay you anyway." said Chris, who hung up.

"Guess what? Somebody already got to Valdez and Mongo....It wasn't our people...The youngin said they was both dead when he got there." said a puzzled Chris.

"If the FBI played me that tape...you can be sure they played it to Victor too..They got Valdez on there puttin a contract out on Victor...I guess Victor got to him first." said Fathead.

Three times for Fathead..This was more than any of us could take..I needed a drink. Ralph Mole pulled out some Champaigne and handed me, Chris, Roscoe,Smooth and Fathead a glass....

"Man, I'm gonna miss The Diaz Brothers.." he said.

'You know something...so am I." said Chris as we all raised our glasses.....

"To the Diaz Brothers!!!" I said as we all raised our glasses and toasted! Little did I know....This little drama was far from over.

(Conclusion Next)