Roy Glenn - In A Cold Sweat

“The one in the back is Kevin Murdock, better known on the streets as K Murder,” Sanchez informed the two homicide detectives.

“What's his deal?” Richards asked.

“Just another piece of shit dealer,” Sanchez replied.

Kirk looked around the crowded street. “Anybody see anything?”

“Witnesses say that the Escalade had to stop short to avoid hitting the car in front of it. Then a white truck pulled up along side. Pop, pop, pop, three body drop.”

“What are you, a rapper now?” Richards asked.

“No, smart ass, but here’s something for you. This puke was a known associate of the late Steve ‘Cash Money’ Blake.”

“The asshole that was murdered last week?” Richards asked.

“The same. Word on the street is that Blake, Murdock and two others, Billy Banner and Bruce Stark, who, by the way, lives about three blocks from here, formed what they called The Commission.”

Richards laughed. “These assholes kill me with this shit. The fucking commission. Give me a fucking brake.”

“Wait,” Sanchez said. “There’s something else.”

“What's that?” Kirk asked.

“All four of them used to be Birdie’s lieutenants,” Sanchez informed them.

“No shit,” Kirk said.

“It gets better. The Commission was formed as not only a buying co-op, but to protect themselves against your old friend, Mike Black.”

“Now two of them are dead,” Richards said.

“I have to give it to Black. Anytime one of these assholes gets too big they seem to die violently. Makes my job easy. It just creates work for you guys,” Sanchez said and walked away.

“You think Black had them killed?”

“I don’t know, Pat. Let’s go ask him.”

Not knowing that a second commission member had been murdered, Nick and Freeze were in the streets as they had been for the last three days, looking for whoever tried to kill Black. During that time, they had talked to just about everybody they could think of that might know anything. “But nobody knows a fuckin’ thing,” Freeze said as he got back in his Navigator.

“Somebody gotta know something, Freeze. We just ain’t found them yet,” Nick said and Freeze took off. “I know I asked you this before, but, you pissed off anybody lately?”

“I piss off mutha fuckas everyday, but if that was the case, then why would they go after Black? If somebody wanted to get at me, I ain’t hard to find.”

“Just askin’. So where you goin’ now?” Nick asked.

“Black got a snitch named Manny,” Freeze replied.

“I know Manny.”

“Shit, everybody know Manny. He hangs out at some stops off the Concourse.”

“You think he knows something?”

“Ain’t no tellin’, but we runnin’ out of options and the last thing I want is for Black to get back tomorrow and we don’t have shit to tell him,” Freeze said as his cell phone rang. “What's up?” he answered.

“Freeze?”

“Yeah, who this?”

“Angelo Collette.”

“Yo, What’s up, Angelo?” Freeze asked. Mike and Angelo were in the same homeroom in high school. Back in the day when they both were freelancing, they did a few jobs together. Now Angelo was a made man with a crew of his own.

“I need to talk to Mike. He wouldn’t happen to be with you would he?”

“No, Black is out of the country. He supposed to be back tomorrow. Why?”

Angelo laughed a little. “Tell him it’s nothin’ major, but I need to talk to him when he gets back.”

“No problem,” Freeze said and was about to end the call.

“Ask him,” Nick said.

“Hold on a second, Angelo,” Freeze said and turned to Nick. “What you say?”

“Angelo hears a lotta shit. Ask him if he heard anything about Black.”

“Yo, Angelo.”

“I’m here.”

“Somebody tried to kill Black a couple of days ago. You hear anything about that?”

“Black or white?”

“Huh?”

“Was the shooter black or white?”

“Black, why?”

“No. I didn’t hear anything about that, Freeze, sorry. But I’m on it. I’ll ask around, see if I hear anything. If I do, I’ll let you know,” Angelo promised.

“Good enough,” Freeze said. “Why you ask if the shooter was black or white?”

“’Cause it makes a difference.”

“Yeah, I know. But why?”

“You just tell Mikey to call me,” Angelo said and ended the call.

“What was all that about?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know,” Freeze said angrily. He didn’t appreciate Angelo hangin’ up on him like that. To him it was a sign that Angelo still didn’t respect him.

Back in the day when Freeze was just getting started working for Black, people used to call him Black's little errand boy. Back then, one of Angelo’s men used to talk big shit to Freeze. He remembered Black telling him, “Don't let him get to you, Freeze. Jimmy still fucks with you `cause he knows it gets to you. Go ahead, you get out first. Make him show you respect. And remember who runs shit and who's always gonna be the errand boy.”

Freeze got Jimmy’s respect that day, and he knew that he would have to make Angelo respect him too.

After checking out a few spots, Freeze and Nick caught up with Manny Valdez. When Manny saw Freeze come in the bar, he took off running out the back door. When he made it into the alley, Nick was there waiting for him. “You in a hurry, Manny?” Nick asked and punched Manny in the face. Manny hit the ground hard.

“I don’t know nuthin’, I swear!”

“I haven’t asked you any questions yet.” Nick pulled Manny up off the ground and dragged him back to the car where Freeze was waiting.

“What's up, Manny?” Freeze asked as Nick pushed Manny into the car. “Where was you goin’ in such a hurry?”

“I swear, Freeze, I don’t know nuthin’,” Manny said quickly.

Nick looked around and noticed that some people were coming out of the bar and coming toward them, and they didn’t look happy. “Hey,” Nick said to Freeze and pointed toward them.

Freeze nodded and opened the back door to his Navigator. “Get in,” he said and pushed Manny inside. He tossed the keys to Nick. “Let’s ride.”

Once they were away from the bar, Freeze slapped Manny upside his head. “If you don’t know nothin’, why you run when you saw me?”

“`Cause Black said he would kill me the next time he saw me.”

Freeze slapped Manny again. “Do I look like Black to you?” he asked, and slapped Manny twice in the head.

“No!” Manny said and covered his head.

“I do see his point, Freeze,” Nick said and laughed.

“Shut up, Nick.”

“Black might have sent you to kill me. How could I know?” Manny continued to cover his head.

“That’s all I was tryin’ to say,” Nick threw in.

“Somebody tried to kill Black; you know anything about that?”

“Is he dead?”

“I said tried, dumb-ass,” Freeze shouted and punched Manny in the stomach.

“He never was very smart.” Nick shook his head.

“Shut up, Nick!” Freeze shouted, fighting back laughter. He turned his attention back to Manny. “What you know about that?”

“I swear,” Manny said and made a cross over his heart. “This is the first I’m hearin’ ’bout it.”

“Stop the car, Nick,” Freeze said and Nick complied. “If you hear anything, I better hear from you. Got that?”

“Si, si, I call you,” Manny said.

“Good. Now get out,” Freeze commanded.

“But my car is back there, Freeze.” Manny pointed back towards the bar.

Freeze raised his hand like he was about to hit Manny again. Manny opened the door and got out running.

“What now?” Nick asked.