Roy Glenn - No More Tears In The End

“I guess I wasn’t.”

“Too busy pouting.”

“You love these pouty lips,” Wanda said and pushed them out.

“Yeah, I do, so I tell you what I’m gonna do.”

“What’s that?”

“While I’m making the rounds, I’ll feel everyone out on it. When we think the time’s right, I’ll bring you around with me and you can run it by them, establish a price and then we’ll go to Black together.”

Jasper Robinson.

I knew JR from the old days, but I hadn’t seen him in years. Him and Andre were friends, used to run together. He owns a nightclub called JR’s and he ran a poker game, scraps, the usual stuff, in the basement at night. I would roll by there later tonight.

After I checked on a few of our stops, I stopped by JR’s. It was still early when I got there, a few people; probably regulars seated at the bar. I took a seat and signaled for the bartender.

“What can I get you?”

“Johnnie Black on the rocks.”

When the bartender came back with my drink I hit him with my question. “Is JR here?”

“Who?”

“JR, the guy who owns this place, is he here?”

“You a cop?”

“Nope. Old friend.”

“Wait here,” the bartender said and came out from behind the bar. He took another look at me before he went in the back. It wasn’t too long after that when I was approached by two big muthafuckas.

One tapped me on the shoulder. “Who you here to see?”

I turned around on my barstool. “Jasper Robinson. Calls himself JR, owns this place.”

The other man looked at me. “I know you, don’t I?”

“I don’t know. Do you?”

“Yeah, you’re Nick Simmons, you work for Mike Black.”

“That’s right.”

“I’m Jeff Ritchie,” he said like I should know the name. He looked disappointed when I said, “I don’t know you, I just want to talk to JR, is he here?”

“Yeah, he’s here. Follow me.”

Jeff Ritchie led me in the back to the office and he knocked on the door. When JR answered, Jeff Ritchie stuck his head in. “Somebody to see you, JR.”

“Who?” JR asked and I walked in. “Nick, Nick Simmons.”

“What’s up, JR? How’s it goin’?”

“Not bad for an old man. What about you? I heard that you were back in town. I haven’t seen you in what-fifteen years?”

“’Bout that.”

“Come on in, have a seat. Can I get you a drink?”

“Johnnie Black on the rocks.”

For the next hour, JR and I sat in his office and talked about the good old day and I drank his liquor.

“Young bucks these days don’t respect nothing. No respect for the game, no respect for each other,” JR said.

“Tell me about it.”

“You know what the problem is, Nick?”

“I know you’re about to tell me.”

“There was a time when you had to be brought into the game. You know, the way Andre brought Black in, and then he reached out to you and brought you along. You learned the game that way; learned that there were things that you just didn’t do. Men had respect for one another. Now, shit, any dumb nigga with a couple of dollars he can rub together can get him a package and bam, there he is. Dumber than a muthafucka; not knowing shit, but how to pull his gun and shot over stupid shit.”

“Times change, JR After awhile there won’t be a place in the game for things like honor and respect,” I said and thought that this would be a good time to talk about what I came here for. “While we’re on the subject, JR, there is something I need to talk to you ’bout.”

“You know, Nick, I been in this game a long time, which means I know enough to know that you ain’t come here just to drink my liquor and talk ’bout the old days.”

“I meant no disrespect.”

“What’s on your mind, Nick?”

“Last week there was a robbery at one of Black’s businesses. Place called Paradise Fish and Chicken. Two people were killed.”

“I hadn’t heard anything about that. Now I’m wondering why you wanna talk to me about this?”

“My sources tell me that the bandits were connected to you.”

“I see. How much money was taken?”

“About two hundred dollars.”

JR laughed. “Nick,” he said and tried to stop himself from laughing. “You have to excuse me for laughin’. I didn’t mean you any disrespect. I know this is a serious matter, or you wouldn’t be sittin’ here. But I can assure you that I had nothing to do with it. I ain’t about to fuck with Black over chump change.”

“And believe me; it’s not about the money. Two people were killed, civilians, just standing in line waiting for their food. That type of thing is bad for business.”

“I understand.”

“To be honest with you, JR, I don’t believe you knew anything about it, ’cause if you did, the people involved would be dead for bringing that kind of weight on you for that little bit of money. But the word is out there that it was your people. All I’m asking is that you ask some questions.”

“You have my word on that, Nick. If I find that it’s true, I’ll call you before I put a bullet in the back of their heads,” JR promised and I took him at his word.

Just then, there was a light knock at the door, and it opened slowly. A young woman walked in. She was attractive, if not pretty, but she had a body that screamed LOOK AT ME!

JR sprung to his feet, so I stood up too. Besides, I had said what I came here to say and I was ready to go.

“Sorry, Daddy,” the woman said. “I didn’t know you were busy. I’ll come back later.”

“No, no. It’s all right, Lorraine. Come in. I want you to meet somebody.”

She went and stood next to her father and I could see the resemblance.

“Nick, this is my daughter Lorraine. Lorraine, this is Nick Simmons, he’s an associate of Mike Black.”

Lorraine smiled like somebody told her that she had just hit the number. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Simmons. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“It’s Nick, and it’s good to meet you too, Lorraine.”

“Call me Rain,” she said and went to the bar to fix herself a drink. “I’m just gonna get a drink and then I’ll be out of your way. We can talk later, Daddy.”

“It’s good that you’re here, Lorraine. Nick was just tellin’ me that one of his places was robbed, and the word is that we had something to do with it. You hear anything about that?”

“Nope,” Rain said quickly, “how much money we talkin’ ’bout here?”

“About two hundred dollars.”

Rain laughed just like her father did. “I can tell you right now that we wouldn’t be involved in no small-change robbery like that.”

“All the same, Lorraine, I want you to talk to Jeff Ritchie about it and ask around. Two people were killed: Innocent people, just waitin’ to get their food.” JR turned to me. “See Nick, this is exactly what we was just talkin’ ’bout. There was a time when something like this would never happen. Killin’ civilians over some chump change, shit, every player in town would be all over this, tryin’ to make it right ’cause it makes all of us look bad,” JR said angrily.

“I knew you would understand, JR I’ve taken up enough of your time. If you hear anything let me know,” I said and started moving toward the door.

“I’ll do that, Nick. You have my word on it.” JR turned to Rain. “See Mr. Simmons out, would you, baby, and tell Jeff Ritchie that I need to see him.”

Rain kissed her father on the cheek. “I’ll see you later, Daddy.”

Rain looped her arm in mine and walked with me out of her father’s office. As we passed the bar Rain turned to me. “You in a hurry, Nick?”