Hours later, Dre was knee deep in a porcelain tub full of suds at a hotel in Wilmington, Delaware. He relaxed in the Jacuzzi because he could not sleep. Regret had consumed him, but not enough to march to the police station and accept responsibility for the death of Avery Snobli.
Out of the tub, he was forced to listen to new casters plead for anyone with information regarding the shooting at the Neshaminy Mall to come forward. The news caster also claimed that the police had a suspect in mind. At that instant, Dre panicked. Could they be on to me? Did BG rat on me? Those things played in Dre’s head. He decided to call the only person with the ability to improve his situation. Surely Kareem would have some advice. Too bad Dre hadn’t listened to Kareem’s earlier advice: Never do a deal in a mall parking lot!
“Kareem, I am in trouble,” he told his younger brother, urgently. Kareem was the smarter brother and Dre knew that, and was not ashamed to admit it. “I cannot talk to you over the phone, though. Meet me at the Wilmington Amtrak station at eleven a.m. Your train leaves at 8:26, this morning. I already checked.” Dre was very direct with his request and hoped that his brother complied without a fight.
“Let me book a seat.”
“Already done. Business class, too, ‘cause you a stuck-up- ass nigga,” he said chuckling.
***
Kareem arrived at the Wilmington train station and could not find his brother. After five minutes of pacing and several glances at his watch, he was approached by a woman completely concealed in Muslin garb. “Kareem, it’s me.”
Kareem looked down at the ground and shook his head in disbelief. He said, “You make a lovely woman, and I didn’t even see your face.”
“I do. And I am ready for jihad.”
When they arrived to the hotel, Dre came out of drag and took Kareem to the scene of the crime. He told him every detail. To which Kareem calmly replied: “Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of this mess.”
“And how the fuck you gonna do that, smart-ass-nigga.” Dre could not believe that his brother was being so nonchalant.
“Listen, I have some things to do that I can’t tell you. You gotta trust me. Your little brother.”
***
Later that day, the brothers arrived at Jean-Mary’s. Dre hugged Tasha and felt on her booty, he needed that. Everyone was glad that he was fine, but Jean-Mary was concerned with why Kareem was not in New York finishing his exams. He explained that he was finished, and then told Dre to relax.
“Lemme put my plan into effect,” were his words before he left the house.