U.K. Heartbreak

I arrived in London the next day around noon... I was so upset after talking to Cherry Johnson that I actually went to see Chris and Chess... Neither of them was in their office, but Donald Smooth was there and he confirmed that Minay had put her loft up for sale. He told me that Roscoe hadn't actually bought it yet but that he was indeed interested....The sale wasn't final and there still was the matter of getting her stuff out of there.

I couldn't believe it..She had quit her job at Victoria's Secret and hadn't mentioned it to me at all....I thought all of these trips to London was fishy...She had said that her uncle was very sick...Yeah...I bet.

I took a red eye flight out of Philadelphia ,which left at 6:12 AM...I arrived in the United Kingdom at 1:pm, Eastern Standard Time...But considering the 8 hour time difference...It was 8 am in the morning actually!

I checked into a local Bed and Breakfast and I went to a local diner to eat...I had coffee and an english Breakfast of Bangers and Spuds... (Mild sausage and potatoes)..Immediately after eating..I went to my room and dozed off a bit.  

I awoke and decided to go out a bit.

II-

Minay's Uncle's name was Nigel Rathbone...At least that's what she told me.  I was beginning to wonder if anything she had told me was true.   I did my best imitation of Kevin Morris and went through the phone books hoping to find him.  I found a couple of numbers and by using the process of elimination ,I found the address and number of the person I thought was her uncle.

Upon arriving at his residence..I was greeted by a very pretty young lady at the door.

''Well Hello Mate" she said...

''Helloooooooooooo.." I said with a smile...She was a cutey....

"I'm uh..ruh..a friend of Minay's from Philadelphia...In the states...She had told me that her uncle...Uh..Nigel Rathbone lives here and that she was here because he was uh sick." I said.

She looked at me for a minute then said-

"I guess she hasn't informed you huh?"

"Informed me of what?" she said.

"Mr. Rathbone is in the fifth stage of colon cancer..He's now in a hospice...I'm his Hospice Nurse....He could leave us at anytime." she said.

"Oh....Oh...I'm soo...so sorry to hear that...Is Minay here?" I asked.

She looked at me strangely...

''No...She was coming here to look in on her uncle, but she doesn't stay here..She has been staying at another flat. My name is Toney...Toney Marley...Here is the address of the Hospice ...This is Mr. Rathbone's room, you might find her there."she said.

"Oh...Okay....and uh where do you stay?" I said smiling raffishly at her.

''Are you flirting with me?  I thought you were looking for Minay?" she asked..

"Yes and Yes....Yes I came here looking for Minay...But as you know, she's been here most of the year and not with me."I said.

''You always this honest and forthcoming?" she asked.

"Yeah...What have I got to lose?" I said.

"You're a rascal....but an honest one...I like that...I don't find that much in guys that I've met." she laughed.

"You got a man?" I asked.

"Would it make a difference to you if I did?" she asked.

"I wouldn't be asking for your number or address if you did or if you do." I said.

''I don't right now..I'm in between relationships." she said.

"I feel like I am too.," I said...."Or about to be." I added.


She blushed and wrote her address and phone number on a piece of paper and passed it to me... In America ,we would have used our phones to exchange numbers...Was nice to do it the old school way. She looked at me kind of sympathetically...Like she knew something that I didn't.

I went over to the Hospice...Wher indeed, Nigel Rathbone was on his death bed.. There were a few of Minay's relative's there who I recognized through photos, but had never met...I didn't talk to them....No sign of her though...

I stayed for about an hour....I had thought that she would show..She didn't...Finally, I stopped a woman and inquired about her...

"I'm a friend of Minay's from Philadelphia....The States....She told me that her uh uncle was in a bad way and I came to see about her." I said.
The woman looked stunned..

''Does she know you're here?" she asked.

"No...this is a , well kind of a surprise." I said.

"Oh...uh...well look...Where are you staying?" she asked.

I gave her my cell phone number and the address of the bed and breakfast I was staying in...

"Uh..Okay...I'll get in touch with Minay and inform her that you're here and have her get in touch with you." she said.

''Have her get in touch? Can't you just tell me where she is?" I asked.

"Uh...I'll have her get in touch." she said again and ran off.

I was from Philly.....I knew when somebody was running a game on me...After all,I had done the same thing myself..Many times.

III-

I went back to Nigel Rathbone's flat before Toney left and talked with her awhile..She told me that she didn't really know Minay...That she'd seen her and another gentleman together at the house a few times but wasn't sure who he was.

I asked her if she'd have a drink with me...She smiled and agreed...We went to a local Pub and had several pints of strong lager....She could hold her own with the best of them and before I knew it...I was up in her flat and had her tight jeans off...She was standing in front of me in just panties and  a tight sleeveless tank top...and my goodness,I liked what I saw.....

Lawd have mercy, this woman had light brown skin, an ample rump and a nice rack of breasts.....and long reddish brown hair.... I told Sepia back in Philly that I had been a Monk.  That had been true for close to a month...but even a Monk has got to eat!

''Wow....Toney..those are some pretty....uh....very pretty panties you got on."I said clumsily as she pulled me to her...

"You're drunk Mr. Scallion....I must say, I've never heard a bloke say that before..you know, about my knickers...even if that's what he was thinking.." she said...

''I'd like to inspect what's in them." I said...

''Ouuuuu, you are a very bad bad boyy." she said with a devilish smile.

We kissed....first light pecks and then passionately....I hadn't planned to be up in her apartment and certainly not doing this....but hell..It had been awhile...

We kissed and she unzippered my trousers....Her hands were warm and she began rubbing my now raging erection....Her eys got large!

"Ouuuuuuuuu Mister Scallion...You're a horse amongst ponies.....Myyyyyyyyy Myyyyy..I am impressed...wouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.." she cooed as she continued to massage my erect penis..

I continued to kiss her passionately....and I began massaging her round buttocks...with my hands...We continued to kiss each other like kissing was going out of style...

 We eventually wound up naked and deep into it...I lifted her up and entered her mightily!

''Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY Gawddddddddddddd!" she screamed...

"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...UMMMMMMMMMMph" I moaned as I continued to make love to her in a primal primitive manner!

''Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, please....please don't stopppppppp.Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.." she cooed which made me thrust even harder..

Eventually we wound up on her bed....I'm thrusting like the hungry animal that I am...

''Don't stop, don't stop...Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh baby don't stopp!" she howls as I continue to thrust deeper and faster....

Her headboard slams hard against the wall...The springs begin to squeak very loudly...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.." I find myself yelling...

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmph...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu." she coos loudly..

Finally...I roll her over....

''What are you about to do?" she asks silently...

"Just relax" I say and I enter that scrumuous rear end of hers...very slowly...very easy..

She lets out a primal scream I can't describe...

I'm forceful ,though gentle.....I'm constantly and softly rubbing her shoulders as I enter her rear end....she's completely relaxed....

I employ a milder rhythm than I did before....

I have an intense orgasm......So does she...she shakes......I shake....

I cum quietly....She lets out a guttaral sound that had we have been anywhere but her bedroom, would have scared me...

Within a few minutes....I lift her up again and mount her on top of her dresser drawer, stroking her harder and faster...The drawer slams against the walls, the legs squeak almost to the breaking point...and finally, we both cum furiously and collapse into each others arms....

"Ohhhh My goodness Mr. Scallion...Are you sure you came here to see Minay?" she asks with a giggle...

"I-I..did..." I said equally out of breath...

"You just rogered me as though you came over here to see ME."she said with a laugh.

I laughed too...

"My goodness...I can't believe she left all of this overseas." she said pointing to my surprisingly still erect penis, which she was stroking gently with her hands...She surprisingly brought me to climax again just like that...Standing there, holding her on the dresser drawer counter!...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..ughhhhhhhhhhhhh.." I moaned in pleasure.

"You Okay?" she asked.

"Yes...Yes indeed..I'm okay now." I said.

"It's been awhile hasn't it?" she asked as she pried herself loose, picked up her panties off the floor and slid them back on...She found her top and put that back on...I slipped on my boxers and my trousers...

"Yeah, it's been about two months." I said hanging my head.

"I could tell." she said.

I smiled weakly as I put my shirt and shoes on...

"I shouldn't do this and please don't tell Minay that I told you this...but she's been staying with a local bloke named Luther.....This is his address.... You'll find her there...I had no idea she had a boyfriend in the states.." she said.

''You're secret is safe with me." I said. I kissed her on her cheek.

"Is this Luther her uh boyfriend?" I asked.

"I can't say....but she's been with him for the past month...I'm sorry to disapoint you like this..You come all of this way and all." she said.

"It's okay...It definitely wasn't a complete waste."..I said staring at her...

She blushed and put on a white terry cloth robe.....I smiled....

(To Be Continued...)

Rainy Days and Mondays

The thunder woke me up! It was a Monday morning....My first day of my two week vacation from my job as Head Chef at Bottom of the C', the tony bar and restaurant where I am employed. I peered out the window of my apartment....People had umbrellas and were hustling to where-ever they were going....I felt like going back to sleep.... Alone!

That was a rare situation for me, Ralph Scallion...I was used to having a warm female body in my bed...My girlfriend, Minay had made several trips to London this year....This was her third!! She told me that she had a sick aunt...I took her word for it... Each time , she had been gone for close to a month...I was wondering how she kept a job!...

Meanwhile....except for my weekend at my daughter's college graduation where I had some good lovin from a waitress I met on the way there and an old classmate and my daughter's mother on the way back...Chronicled by some extra good lovin from a returning Minay.....My sex life had been very dull to say the least.

I know my next door neighbor was ecstatic!  Except for a romp with Rowena, my daughter's mother nearly two month's ago...There had been nothing...This was one of the longest dry spells I'd ever had!

The streets sure looked nasty.... but I didn't feel like going back to sleep!  I got up, brushed my teeth, shaved and took a long hot shower....Got out of the shower, put on some clothes and looked out the window...It was still coming down in buckets..... I opened my door and looked out into the streets...The cool breezes were a welcome respite from the hot humid days of last week when temperatures soared to 104....

''Heyy Scallion...Is that you?" said my next door neighbor.

''Yeah" I answered.

"You been away? Sick??" he asked.

"Nah...I been here." I said.

"You have?? You must be losin your touch...I've had a good nights sleep every night for about six weeks..I haven't had to knock on the wall...What's up?" he asked...laughing and giggling.

"Nothin's up man...my woman is out of town." I said.

"That's never stopped you before." he laughed.

"Whatever man!" I said and stepped back into my apartment.  I gotta move!

Mabel Jenkins had gotten married to "88''this summer and during the spring, Debbie had married Reed Nelson.   Bonita Turner had married Robert Foxworth a few years back and I hadn't heard anything from Lois of Patterson in a long while....In short...I had no more jump offs!  I didn't know how long my daughter's mother, Rowena was going to just let me hit it on the side and Cherry Johnson was definitely seeing someone...I didn't know who...but I could sense it when I talked to her.

I supposedly was in a committed relationship, but my woman was gone more times then when she was at home! I hadn't said anything, but this was something I was going to have to deal with...sooner than later.

II-

I couldn't stay cooped up in this apartment all day...So I donned my umbrella and my car keys and headed towards a hot and tony new coffee shop I'd been reading about that I wanted to try.  I had my smartphone and my Kindle with me...that was all I needed.

The spot was called "The Coffee Pot" ..Obvious enough huh?  I walked in...ordered a tall steaming tumbler of coffee and some delicious strawberry crepes with whipped cream on them.  I checked my phone for any news or weather updates and then I turned on my Kindle....I was reading a hot new novel on it....Perfect...coffee, crepes and a good novel....

"I gotta tell ya Ralph , You really know how to live" came a familiar voice...It was Cherry Johnson.


"Heyyy what are you doin here?" I asked.

''Same as you, checkin out the new spot and having coffee." she laughed.

"I'm off today." I said.

''Me too!" she said.

"Hey uh... You and Minay still kickin it?" she asked.

''Yeah, She's away in London...This is the third time this year she's gone there...It's a wonder she keeps a job at your spot." I said.

"Ralph uh...she quit Victoria's Secret about a month ago...She didn't tell you?" said Cherry...

"No...No..she didn't....That's right around the time she went to London." I said.

"So I guess you don't know about her loft do you?" said Cherry.

''What about it? I haven't been over there to check on her spot.....Uh, in fact...I don't have the keys...I found them missing right around the time she went to London....I think I left em over there the last time I spent the night." I said.

"Ralph....She canceled her lease...She's selling the place." said Cherry.

"Huh? How do you know that?" I asked.

''Roscoe told me." she said.

"Roscoe?  Fathead's boy??  How does he know?" I asked.

"She bought that place from Chris Thompson and Chess......You know he's tight with them...Plus...He's seperated from his wife now and about to divorce....He's getting ready to buy that spot as soon as all of her stuff is out of it." said Cherry.

"He told you all of this?" I asked.

"He stops by Victoria's Secret..We talk sometimes." said Cherry.

''Oh , you talk?" I asked , giving her a side eye.

Her face betrayed no emotion...

''Yeah we talk...Which is apparently more than you and your girl is doin." said Cherry.

"Yeah, you're right...I better check this out!" I said.

"I thought you knew....that's all...I didn't mean to be the bearer of any bad news...Maybe she wanted to tell you herself." said Cherry.

''Ya think?" I asked ,trying to hide the undeserved and surprising sarcasm in my voice.  Cherry didn't deserve this...None of this was her fault!

"Hey look...the rain has stopped." she said.

"Yeah, how about that!  Hey listen...Thanks for the heads up Cherry, No really..thanks ...I owe you." I said and paid her bill and mine...

"Gee thanks Ralph." she said as she got up to leave.....She turned and kissed me on the cheek.....

''Good Luck baby...You can call me if you need someone to uh talk to." she said.

''Wow..that's all?" I said with a raised eyebrow. I was thinking about Cherry either naked or in something sexy...I think she knew that that was what I was thinking too!

Cherry laughed...."You are a trip...bye Ralph" she said.

I was going to the U.K. tomorrow!  I used my smartphone to find a good flight out and to order a round trip ticket!

Then I stepped outside!

It had stopped raining!



(Definitely To Be Continued...)
<

Unhostile Takeover

Harry Charles set the corporate table....He had Water, Sweet Ice Tea and Chips at every seat......

"Harry, did you order the Hoagies and the Cheese-steaks" I asked.

"I'm way ahead of you Kev." he said.


Sheila Jackson....Our Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Her husband and my ace boon coon, Sean Jackson ,Chief Photographer and myself, the managing Editor and acting Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Morris were all here and awaiting our guests....

I was concerned that the parent company that owned our magazine...The Harris Group was trying to unload us... My magazine was the only so called Urban,(IE- Black) magazine in their group of magazines..Even though we turned a decent profit..we often got treated like a red headed step child. I had butted heads  with the group more times than I cared to count .We had almost been bought by an unscrupulous former associate of mine who had ties to a known narcotics kingpin. I wasn't going to allow that to happen again.

I was also incensed with a meeting I'd had just the week before with the owners....

''Mr. Morris...Your magazine is turning a nice profit and it does appeal to your targeted market, Young middle and working class African-Americans, Latinos and a few urban whites....but we think we would like to broaden your base." said Irving Whitendale....a guy who dreaded setting foot in Philadelphia and who hadn't been to our offices in two years...

"Oh really? You mean you want to change it." I said.

''Well a few changes wouldn't hurt anything, bring in a few new people , some  consultants..." he said.

Then there was another guy, Rich Cornfield...Who I despised....

"Mr. Morris...You list yourself, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, Mr. Charles and 31 office employees.....Yet we pay 38 people.  You Have a Mr. Walter Jones, Mr. Owen Todd , Mr. Clerow Hamilton, Mr. Tom Constanoble and Mr. Donnie Johnson listed as uh er "Investigative Consultants" ...What is THAT about?" he asked.

Kool Kat, Clerow, Owen Todd, Peeping Tom and Lockpick Johnson helped me out on a lot of my cases..many of which became big  stories...I thought it only fair to pay them and keep them on retainer....I wasn't about to divulge the real nature of their work or what I did on the side...

I didn't like these guys being the owners and having the power of life and death over my magazine...They had tried to vote down my health care plan as well as my profit sharing plan.This was why I had called a meeting of new partners.

Our Attorney, Conrad Nelson and his wife, Jill ,who was also an attorney was present....My wife, Sepia, dressed to the nines, and her business partner, Bonita Foxworth were the first to arrive....Next came Clerow ,himself dressed to impress in a very nice business suit and then came, Chess, Chris Thompson and Donald Smooth......

"Nice spread you got here for us Kev." said Chris Thompson...

"Yeah man....you didn't have to go through all this trouble for us" said Chess...

"Actually...I'm glad he did...I'm hungry" said Donald Smooth.

"I'm wit'cha man" said Clerow as they gave each other dap....

"The Food will be here shortly" I said..

II-

Sheila placed my business proposal on the table....  Chris Thompson ,his buddy Chess and Donald Smooth had a company called C&C Brothers Inc.  They owned several apartment complexes and condos as well as a couple of gyms and some juice bars....Their crowning glory was their ownership of a huge shopping center that bosted a modern supermarket type food collective, several franchises of major businesses and plenty of office space.

Our friend, Mabel Jenkins had expanded her business and had opened up her second restaurant in their center..Of all the people present , they were the ones I was most definitely making a pitch to.

"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen...I hope while you're enjoying the food....You've looked over my business
proposal...."I said.

"You basically want us to buy your magazine?" said Chris Thompson....Never one to mince words.  I liked that.

"Yeah man, I want each of you to invest an equal amount of Capital in buying this magazine....I plan to start another magazine and a regional newspaper...With you all being equal partners.....There will be a nice payoff for everyone involved." I said.

Chris ,Chess and Donald looked it over.....Clerow, who owned and managed a few apartment complexes and rental properties himself smiled and said...."I'm in boss."

Sepia smiled and she and Bonita said without looking at the proposal- ''We're in!!"

Chess, Chris and Donald continued to talk amongst themselves...I figured that they might be the hardest sell...

Chris Thompson finally came up to me...He wasn't smiling.....

"I guess you guys talked huh?" I said.

"Yeah...Yeah...We was wondering why you had to do all of this?  Why didn't you just call us....We in like flint baby" he said with a smile...hugging me.....

Sean Jackson smiled and Had Harry Charles bring in bottles of Champaigne for everyone!

We all laughed and drank champaigne!   Within two weeks, the sale was final....C&C Brothers, Clerow Hamilton LTd and Sepia and Bonita's real estate firm were owners and silent partners of Hype Magazine....
Which meant I could keep all of my employees and hire some more for my new ventures...I now was no longer "Acting "Chief Operating Officer...I was The Chief Operating Officer...The big cheese...I no longer had to answer to anyone...Just give a fair accounting of my magazine's quarterly and annual profits to it's three new owners...My friends...Chris & Chess of C&C Brothers Inc.  , Clerow Hamilton of Hamilton Properties Ltd and my wife, Sepia and Bonita of Foxworth & Morris Real Estate.....

They more than matched the price the Harris Group was asking for my magazine and it was sold with no problem...Good Riddance!! I was free! We were free!

Chris and Chess came up to me some time later-

"You know Kev...We have some office space available to you a few blocks from here...We are having that building refurbished and when it's done...You're welcome to move your entire operation there...You'll have three floors instead of this one...and for you...we'll lower the rent from what we'd usually charge.." Said Chess.

"Yeah man, get out of this place and come a little closer to the party.....Josie's is across the street and you can get there a lot faster." laughed Chris.

"Good Deal Guys!" I said.



III-

Sepia and I celebrated that night with a delicious dinner at Bottom of The "C"...

"Wow...Talk about a power move....You've got new partners who bought you out from under your previous owners and you have a new building with three floors....My goodness Mr. Morris....Your sudden success is making Mrs. Morris very moist and aroused." she joked.

"Well Mrs. Morris, you know I live to do just that." I joked.

"As your silent partner....I feel I may have to sexually harass you." she said seductively....

"This is uh highly unprofessional and inappropriate." I said with fake disgust.

Sepia leaned over and kissed me...

"But ahhhh, you won't tell anybody will you?" she asked.

'Helllllllllll no!" I said.

"We Both laughed."

A Way Out!

Kool Kat drove and bobbed his head to the music as we drove to the Mermaid club later on that afternoon in his new Escalade.

"How you like my new whip Kev?" he asked.

"This a loaner?" I asked him...

"Yeah...My old ride is in the shop..." he said still bobbing his head to the music.

"I had an interesting day today." I said.

"I heard....you could've called me...I was home bored." he said.

"I'm calling you now for the heavy work." I said.

"Yeah that's true.... A whole bunch of uh important folks got pinched today in that warehouse." he said.

"How did Fathead and Roscoe take it?" I asked.

"They don't care...None of their people was there....His supplier is from Atlanta..He and Big Butt never got along." said Kool Kat.

"How about him and Holden?" I asked.

"Holden works for Big Butt...Everybody knows that...and he aint even the number two guy...He thinks he is...but Joe "Chill" Bumpers is the number two guy....Holden ran the warehouse or at least he thought he was runnin it...Joe kept an eye on Holden and probably reports back to Big Butt." said Kool Kat.

"So why didn't you and Roscoe tell me that the other night?"I asked.

"Because we realized he was your friend...We didn't want to ruin him in your eyes, but we figured you'd find out." laughed Kool Kat.

"He's got a contract on me man." I said..

"I'm not surprised" said Kool Kat..."Big Butt got moved to some hole in California...he probably demanded that something be done...and Holden, knowing you like we know you probably figured that you had something to do with it.." he said matter of factly.

"Who do you think he'd get?" I asked.

"Joe." he said.

"Joe Bumpers?" I asked.

"That's why they call him "Chill", he's got ice water in his veins...They say he's killed about 28 guys in his time. Doesn't blink..Tried to kill me once." he said.

"Really?" I said.

"Yeah...we got into it over a card game...Chris and Donald Smooth  smoothed things over between us. It was close...We shot at each other about three times in three nights."
he said.

''Wow" I said.

"Yeah, I got quite a past...That's why I left the street life." he said.

I looked at the big man...He looked at me...We both cracked up.


II-

I played Kool Kat a tape of the conversation I'd overheard-

"Hello" came a gruff voice

"Hey...it's me..." said Holden

''Who is me?" asked the voice.

"Holden....You know who I am."said Holden

''Yeah...a guy who's soon to be a dead man...Da Boss called me a couple of nights ago
from California...He's pissed at you..Says you been runnin your mouth to some skirt about your arrangement and she might be an undercover fed or cop." he laughed.

"No...that aint it at all...I ran into a guy...somebody I used to know a long time ago...at a party...Well it turns out he's a gumshoe...a private eye type...He did some digggin into my background...He's that kind of guy...newsy....goody two shoes...I tried to talk some sense into his head, but I guess he don't see things that way...." said Holden.

"Yeah and?" came the voice.

"I need him uh...taken care of....you feel me?" said Holden.

"This private eye got a name?" asked the voice...

"Yeah...Kevin Morris and I'll supply you with his home address, where he works at and where his wife works at...as well as a photo." said Holden.

''Okay...I'm on it....You say this guy was a friend of yours."he asked.

"Yeah.......kind of .....Somebody I used to know a long time ago...but that I don't know no more." said Holden.

"Makes me no never mind...I was just curious..." said the voice.

"So you'll take care of it right?" asked Holden.

"Sure...I want twenty five G's... In cash...in twenties....I'll meet you tonight at the Mermaid Club....I guaruntee you in 48 hours....dude will be as dead as a doorknob."
he said...

"That will work." said Holden.

''What about the boss?" he asked.

''Well...I don't know...We gotta wait til all of this heat dies down...Maybe I can pull a few strings and work out something for him in California...I had to reach out to a lot of people to get him his present deal." said Holden.

"You aint gonna do nothin...You are so full of it...ha..ha..ha." laughed the voice...

"Joe...come on man..." said Holden.

"No names on the phone...You know that!" he said.

"I'm sorry." said Holden...

"You sure as hell are."

(Click!)

Kool Kat shook his head...."That's him...That's Joe.......You stay in the bar...I'm gonna go in and take a seat by the bar and...." he said...

''What?" I asked.

''That's him..." he said pointing to two men walking  into the bar.

''Who's that guy with him?" I asked.

"I don't know...but this means only one thing." said Kool Kat.

"The target has been changed....They're gonna take Holden out...They no doubt got the bad news about the warehouse bust."he said.

"Gee Bad News travels fast don't it?" I said.

"Don't it now?" laughed Kool Kat.

III-

A Green Buick Skylark pulled up...A Man got out, He pulled a very frightened Holden Wakefield out of the car and motioned for him to go inside the Mermaid Club...

We watched...and then Joe Bumpers, Holden, and the two men walked out...They all appeared to be smiling and they got into the Skylark...They pulled off.

"Follow them Big man...I think they're going to hit Holden...." I said.

"You should let em...He was gonna have you whacked." said Kool Kat...

"I know I should...but I can't...and besides..Don't you want another crack at "Chill"?" I asked.

"You know me so well Kev...Let's hit it." he said.

We followed them from at least two cars behind...Then we lost them in the heavy traffic.

"I think I know where they're gonna take him." said Kool Kat.

"Huh ? " I asked...

"It's an old lot...almost looks like a beach....nothin but sand....It's on the outskirts of town...Nobody would think to look there....It's where you take somebody when you uh need to be uh ruh...alone!" said Kool Kat.

"I don't even want to know how you know that." I said.

Kool Kat just laughed and continued driving.

IV-

The Green Skylark came to a stop.   The two men got out...both were brandishing guns....Joe Bumpers pulled Holden out of the car...

"Heyyyy Look man...You don't want to do this....I told you that the gumshoe was responsible for this....Come on man!" said Holden.

"Man I work for calls me, tells me that his warehouse got raided and close to 100 people got arrested , very important people...heavy hitters from the east coast,and all his guns, dope and coke got snatched by the feds...His name is toast in some circles, I guess you aint seen the news? Busy layin up with some talkative babes." said Joe.

"What??? Raided?? Well I didn't have nothing to do with that?" said Holden.

"Doesn't matter..You shoulda been on top of the operation...Makin sure there were no leaks..That nothin could go wrong." said Joe.

"Hey man..I aint tell nobody nothin...Nothin...That friend of mine.. He knew ...HE KNEW!!!..He's a private detective...he found out on his own...That's why I wanted you to pop him!" screamed Holden.

''Doesn't matter...Man I talk to, wants you dead as well.!" said Joe.

"That's not going to happen!" I said.

They all turned around...

"Who might you be? The Private Detective? Kevin..??" said Joe, not even flinching.

"That I am...I'm the one you want....I found out all of the information on my own..Holden didn't tell me anything...He didn't have to...I knew." I said.

"Really?  wow...You're pretty good...But you realize that we are still going to kill Holden...Boss doesn't think he's a good manager... and since you provided yourself, we can't very well leave you alive either.I do want to thank you for saving me the time of tracking you down...I still was gonna kill you, you know." he said with no hint of emotion in his voice..

"Yeah ,I figured. I'm really sorry that you feel that way " I said...and I drew my .38 smokeless...

"Yeah...I know ya are...Sam, Larry...Kill him!" he said as the two guys slowly turned and aimed their guns
toward me...

His two gunsels drew their weapons and Kool Kat leaped from the Escalade with his riot pump shotgun... He cut loose with two blasts and both men caught both blasts that nearly cut them in half and fell to the ground...as dead as they could be....

 "OHHHHHHHHHH SWEET BABY Jesus....Don't shoot!" yelled Holden..

"YOU!!!! I should've killed you years ago" said Joe "Chill " Bumpers aiming at a ducking Kool Kat...I fired a round that hit Joe in his shoulder and another round that hit Joe in his lower back...He tossed his gun up in the air , spun like a top and screamed....

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh...I don't believe it...I'VE BEEN SHOTTTT!!! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh...." he screamed...

He stumbled and appeared to be going for another gun...

''Kev...he's got another gun...look out!!!" yelled Kool Kat!

Then Kool Kat appeared again and cut loose with a shotgun blast that knocked Joe off of his feet and sent him flying!

He was lying in the field...Quite dead! His stubby little hands holding yet another pistol!

Kool Kat and I stood over his corpse....

"Well at lest this one didn't talk us to death..." I said.

"Yeah...he went quick...I kinda wanted to gloat over him for a few seconds." said Kool Kat.

Holden's eyes were as large as saucers...He put his hands over his ears...

''Kevin...I'm sorry...it wasn't personal...really it wasn't...Just business...Oh Lord...Ohh Lord...please...please don't kill me." he said.

Kool Kat looked at him with disdain and walked back to the Escalade..

"I know it was business Holden...See,I know it had to be business because you handled it like you've handled everything else...Like an amateur." I spat.

Holden laughed maniacally......

''Well Kev...I guess I can't buy your company or Ralph's building huh?" he said.

I looked at him as he got to his feet and brushed his pants off...

Then I began laughing too....We both stood out in that sandy field and laughed just like we did in better times , when we were friends.

EPILOUGE:

Holden Wakefield had to leave his condo and of course he was not able to buy Ralph's building or my magazine...I proved to be a better friend to him than he ever was to me...I had given him a way out!

I never turned in the evidence I had on him and his relationship with Robert ''Big Butt"Thornton..so no charges were ever brought against him...The Police think that Joe "Chill" Bumpers was the number two man,which in fact he was...Behind the scenes.

He sold the properties he already owned to Clerow and to Chris and Chess...My wife and Bonita's company bought his condo...He took the money , got in his car and left Philadelphia for parts unknown....

Robert "Big Butt" Thornton was transferred to an even nastier prison than the one he was in...No longer living like a king and no longer having any money on the books..He is now just another inmate...His parole bid was rejected also....

The mumified bodies of Joe ''Chill" Bumpers and thugs, Sam Whetstone and Larry Pennyworth were discovered some months later in the abandoned field...The papers wrote it up as a "Mob Hit, probably drug related" Like they always do.

And in my living room.....

"Ouuuuuuuuu..."cooed Sepia

"Ohhhhhhh baby.." I moaned..

''Ohhhh Kevin, every time you crack one of these cases you make love to me like it's the end of the world..." moaned Sepia.

"Yeah, that's the good thing about it...I get aroused when I face danger." I said.

Sometime later when we were both spent and lying around naked... Sepia asked me

''Kevin were you serious? "

''Serious about what?" I asked.

"You get aroused when you face danger?" she asked.

"Well that's one of the times." I said.

''When is the others?" she asked.

''Anytime you take your clothes off." I answered..She punched my arm playfully....

"You are soooo nasty." she said...

We both laughed.!

Somebody I Used To Know

I was actually at work on this day....Editing a few stories, working on upcoming stories and going over photos with Sheila and Sean Jackson... I was quite proud of the magazine we had built...We came here as employees several years ago and now we ran the magazine...We had now taken the magazine online and we had brought in major advertising accounts....Our lawyer, Conrad Nelson had steered us clear of any troubles and we were making a nice profit...We had 32 employees and they all had a very nice health and benefit package thanks to me...The thought that someone like Holden Wakefield was about to buy us made me sick to my stomach...He was in deep to a very dangerous man...a gangster!!!!

My phone rang....It was Peeping Tom...and if he was calling...it meant that he had something!

"Tom...what's up?" I said.

"A bunch of things Kev...You need to get with me as soon as possible." he said.

"I'm on my way." I said.

I called Harry Charles into the office...I had recently promoted him to Office manager

''What's up boss?" he said.

"Tell Sean and Sheila that something came up and I had to go....The office is yours buddy." I said as I rushed out the door.

"I'm on it Kev." he said, smiling gingerly.

II-

I drove to Peeping Tom's house as fast as I could considering the daytime traffic.

Upon arriving...He and Lockpick began playing recordings of Holden's recent phone calls...

''He got two very telling calls last night Kev." said Tom....This one was from a Federal Prison in California" he said.

"In California???" I asked..

"Hey take a listen." he said.

"Hello."

''You wanna tell me what the hell is goin on out there."

''Who is this?"

"It's me...Bobby."

"Heyyy Big Butt, what are you doin in California?"

"That's what the hell I want to know.....I was in Pennsylvania in the new joint, with the swimming pool, the golf course...a room of my own...a computer, cable tv and meals brought in from the outside.."

"Heyyy I told you I'd take care of you, didn't I?"

"Yeahhhh..well some FBI guy started diggin his nose into my business, Started talking to the PA. Crime Commission..Threatened to take it to the newspapers......My cable is gone, my computer is gone....They transferred me to Cali to this joint...where I'm in general population and have to eat in the cafeteria with the other inmates....The Warden and several of the guards at my old prison got fired... NOW I'M GONNA ASK YOU AGAIN...WHAT THE HELL IS GOIN ON??" screamed Bob Big Butt Thornton

"Big Butt...I don't know...I don't know.....I been square with you....I did everything you asked me to do." said Holden

"You been talkin to some broad? Some broad that might be an undercover cop??"
screamed an enraged Big Butt Thornton.

"Nah...Nahhhhh..Never." said Holden

"I think you are trying to double cross me....." said Big Butt Thornton

"No man..Never...I swear..." said Holden

"Somebody is responsible for this!!!!!!!"said Big Butt Thornton

"I think I know...I mean..I gotta an idea....I'll fix it."said Holden

"You better fix it or you're gonna get fixed...you feel me??"said Big Butt.

"Yeah Big Butt..."
(click!)

Tom looked at me...

"Kev...that's just one phone call...That's the one he got...This is the one he made." he said.

"Hello"  came a gruff voice

"Hey...it's me..." said Holden

''Who is me?" asked the voice.

"Holden....You know who I am."said Holden

''Yeah...a guy who's soon to be a dead man...Da Boss called me a couple of nights ago
from California...He's pissed at you..Says you been runnin your mouth to some skirt about your arrangement and she might be an undercover fed or cop." he laughed.

"No...that aint it at all...I ran into a guy...somebody I used to know a long time ago...at a party...Well it turns out he's a gumshoe...a private eye type...He did some digggin into my background...He's that kind of guy...newsy....goody two shoes...I tried to talk some sense into his head, but I guess he don't see things that way...." said Holden.

"Yeah and?" came the voice.

"I need him uh...taken care of....you feel me?" said Holden.

"This private eye got a name?" asked the voice...

"Yeah...Kevin Morris and I'll supply you with his home address, where he works at and where his wife works at...as well as a photo." said Holden.

''Okay...I'm on it....You say this guy was a friend of yours."he asked.

"Yeah.......kind of .....Somebody I used to know a long time ago...but that I don't know no more." said Holden.

"Makes me no never mind...I was just curious..." said the voice.

"So you'll take care of it right?" asked Holden.

"Sure...I want twenty five G's... In cash...in twenties....I'll meet you tonight at the Mermaid Club....I guaruntee you in 48 hours....dude will be as dead as a doorknob."
he said...

"That will work." said Holden.

''What about the boss?" he asked.

''Well...I don't know...We gotta wait til all of this heat dies down...Maybe I can pull a few strings and work out something for him in California...I had to reach out to a lot of people to get him his present deal." said Holden.

"You aint gonna do nothin...You are so full of it...ha..ha..ha." laughed the voice...

"Joe...come on man..." said Holden.

"No names on the phone...You know that!" he said.

"I'm sorry." said Holden...

"You sure as hell are."

(Click!)

Peeping Tom looked at me gravely......

"Kevin...He put a contract on you." he said.

''Won't be the first time I've had one on me." I laughed.

"You said he was your friend." said Peeping Tom....

"I thought he was...He's just somebody I used to know." I said.

III-

My phone went off just as I was leaving Peeping Tom's house...It was Owen Todd...

''What's up Owen?" I asked.

"Kev...You need to get with me immediately...Clerow and I have been shadowing Holden all day like you said and guess what? We found his warehouse?? His real warehouse...And if you get here in time...You can catch a whole bunch of big fishes baby...Several trucks are coming in...My guess is they are filled to the gip with Dope and Coke." he said excitedly...

"How do you know this?" I asked.

"I saw several big wigs from New Jersey and this area goin inside and loadin up their
trunks..." he said.

"Too bad Sean wasn't there with his camera." I said.

''Way ahead of you Kev...We called him when we found this spot... He met us here and he set up...He's been photgraphing this all morning.." he said.

"Good work guys..stay out of sight...I'm on my way." I said.

IV-

I called the police and the FBI.....They knew from the past to trust my instincts.... What occurred next was a raid of major proportions... 62 people from Philadelphia, New Jersey, Deleware and New York were arrested on site. Enough Heroin and Cocaine was seized to juice up the entire Tri-State area for close to a year!!!! 27 people who drove the trucks were also arrested and shipments of guns were also seized....The FBI,DEA ,ATF ,Pennsylvania State Police and Philadelphia Police congratulated each other....But had it not been for the legwork that me ,Clerow,Owen, Peeping Tom and Lockpick Johnson had done none of this would have been possible.

"Owen...you and Clerow and Sean did good work...Now get out of here....and get safe" I said.

I stood there after everyone was gone and wondered what Holden would do now...His beach-head here was gone and a lot of people were going to be angry once they figured out what had happened...

He was out of business...He was also out of my heart...No longer my former partner, no longer even my friend...We were on different sides of the law now...He was just somebody I used to know.

(Conclusion Next)

Lost Soul

I stood on the rooftop of Ralph Scallion's building....The one Holden Wakefield was about to buy and drank a tumbler of coffee...I watched as the sun rose and the view of the Philadelphia city skyline in the horizon...The smoke from my coffee streamed upwards as I took another sip...

"I don't usually get up this early Kev...but I figured if you called..it had to be somethin important!" said Holden ,who had just walked up on the rooftop...''So what's up?"he continued.

"What's up?   That's what you need to be tellin me." I said.

"What? Oh Your magazine?? Kev don't sweat it...You can still run it as you see fit...I'd just have a controlling interest that's all...I'd be like a silent partner..You'd never see me..I might even bump you up to a raise..heh heh heh." he said.

"So you are planning to buy Hype Magazine?" I said.

"The deal is almost done." he said.

"Damn that Rollie.." I muttered.

"It wasn't just him...Your parent company has been wantin to unload you guys for awhile." he said.

"You sure are buying a lot....Where are you gettin the dough from?" I asked.

"I told you I'm a businessman now..." he laughed...then looked at me uneasily...

"I called a few of your other locations Holden...They don't exist and I checked out your warehouse...No way you are making this kind of jack with that raggedy ass furniture you got in that warehouse...So why don't you stop lying and tell me what it is you really import and export." I asked.

''Awww Kev"he said with an uneasy smile..

"Aww Kev nothin...and how could you , how could you be in business with Robert "Big Butt " Thornton??? It took you and I a year to make a case against him and bring down him and his organization..." I said.

"Big Butt Thornton??? Kev,you crazy?" he said.

"I checked it out Holden....I have a friend in the FBI....He put me in touch with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons....."Big Butt "Thornton is here in Pennsylvania in the new federal prison ,living like a king...Got his own cell...Has Steak and lobster dinners flown into him....Has a computer with internet capabilities in his cell and cable tv...and more money on his books than any federal prisoner has a right to....I suspect that you paid for all of that." I said.

"Damn Kevin...you are good...You always were one of the best investigators I ever knew...and guess what? That skill and a transpass will get you a ride downtown...When I got kicked out of the military I had nothin...nothin...I was on the streets of Los Angelas...Broke as a joke.. One of Big Butt's people reached out to me...I met with him at the federal prison..." said Holden.

"And let me guess..He sold you his connects....but for a price....You keep money flowing on his books and you split the rest right?" I said.

''Kev,look...I aint got no people on the streets...I aint got nobody dealing....The stuff comes in on a boat....I meet with whoever the big boys in town are and I sell it to em..I get my cut off the top and whatever they do with it is their business...I don't know who sells what, where or how...I swear." he said.

"And you can sleep at night right?" I said.

"Yes....You could too Kev...I could cut you in....There is enough money here for you to be a part of this too...I got tired of bustin people who spend more for lunch than I make in a month...It was time for me to live baby." he said.

I shook my head...."I feel sorry for you man...you've lost your soul." I said.

"Call me Kev, when you ready to make some real dough and tired of being a broke do gooder with a fine ass wife....You think you could keep her if somebody like me came along with triple what you make?" he snapped.

"Goodbye Holden...Have a nice life." I said and walked toward the rooftop exit...

II-

I knew he was on the roof watching....I left the building...got in my car and pulled off.
Drove three blocks where the surveilience car was parked....Parked behind it and entered the van...

Inside...Sean Jackson,  Clerow, Owen Todd ,Peeping Tom and Lockpick Johnson sat, drinking coffee.

They smiled when I walked in...

"Did you get it?" I asked.

"Every bloodthirsty word...You don't think he suspects you were wired do you or that we had a micro camera hidden up there do you?" asked Lockpick Johnson.

"No...I don't think so...but get up there and remove it as soon as possible." I said. ''What about his condo?" I asked.

"We got it...even cloned one of his cell phones....Now we'll be able to listen and watch."  said Peeping Tom.

"Good....Sean, Clerow....He knows you guys...but Owen...He's never seen you..Keep an eye on him." I said.

"I'm on it Kev." he said.

"Let's go get some breakfast...it's on me." I said.

III-

Later that night at home...I was preparing a bathtub of hot soapy water for Sepia...We sat on the side of the tub talking...

"So your friend Holden has gone over to the dark side huh?" she asked..

"Yeah, completely...I mean he always was a bit of a rogue...Even when we were both NCIS guys...but I see that once he got drummed out of the military he got worse...He's cut a deal with one of the worse guys ever...A former drug kingpin named Bob "Big Butt" Thornton...A guy it took us over a year to bring down." I said.

''Wait a minute .....his name is what? Bob "Big Butt" Thornton? " she said ,followed by gales of laughter....

"That right there has gotten at least two people murdered, though we never were able to prove it..." I said.

"Big Butt " Thornton .." she said again, now lying on the bathroom floor laughing...

"Sepia....you got a nice one...really!  I know you know that...and you and Bonita both have caused guys to break their necks...but Bob "Big Butt" Thornton could give both of yall a run for your money....Thus the nickname...He was the oddest shaped man I had ever met." I said.

"Oh my god...I can only imagine what they are doing to him in prison." she said.

"They aint doin nothin to him in prison...He's got his own cell, a computer, cable tv and special meals brought in from the outside...Holden is wholesaleing his product for him and bringing in a hefty ,hefty profit....He's taking his cut and putting the rest on Big Butt's books...He's doin quite well in prison...I'm certain that that kind of money buys him protection too." I said.

"Oh my....Guess he's a real big deal huh?" she said.

"Bigger than he should be." I said.  "Now enough about his big butt...take that robe off and let me see yours...Come on over here and get in this tub girl." I laughed...

"Ouuuu, you are soooo nasty." she cooed...as she stepped into the tub... I wash her gingerly....and lean over and take part of one of her breasts in my mouth.....

"OHHHHHHHHHHH godddddddddddddddd!" Sepia moans.....

"I think you're clean enough...let's get you out of that tub." I say.

"Ohhhhhhhhh." she moans...

Sepia's body was glistening as she stepped out of the tub,she was stacked..a brickhouse as Lionel Richie would say. I wrapped her wet but hot body in a towel, and we slow grinded to the bed in our bedroom.

 I'm talking and whispering and laughing as I step out of my bathrobe...My erection just raging..She looked at it and her mouth just opened...''Oh My God Kevin...Oh My goodness...you are huge!!...Ohhhhh myyy" she gasps.

I love the way Sepia looks naked..every last curve... I love the way she smells. I walk her over to the bed whispering how much I want her,  She kisses me, I return her passion ,She kisses me  deeply,passionately wrapping me in her arms tightly. I move my hands up and down her sexy body as if I am remembering something , reconnecting. I pull her close... She is already wet. I'm as hard as a rock...

"Ummmmmmmmmmm"she coos and then I mount her slowly....steadily.....Making love to her and savoring every stroke...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, that's what I'm talkin bout mannnnnnnnnn." she moans.....

As we make sweet love, my mind is far away from my former friend...the lost soul that he has become!

 (To Be Continued...)