Dre arrived at the post office at 33rd Street and 8th Avenue and wondered, why he continued a life of boredom. He envisioned being part of a more dangerous profession. Kareem had supplied everything that he needed with credit cards, so he did not complain about saving his cash. But Dre wanted to be free to get involved with handling his business in the Philadelphia drug game. Chino had things under control and the two were in constant contact. But Dre was a born hustler, and the 9-5 thing was becoming increasingly harder to deal with.
With Kareem’s help, Chino and Dre had been able to cop a wide range of drugs and a distinct clientele of the baller persuasion, and Dre wanted to be hands on. Right in the mix.
***
Kareem sat at his Chase desk with a seemingly wealthy couple: The Flemings. According to their account summary, they had been customers for ten years. They started with a $1,200 deposit from an income tax return. They now had an aggregate $680,271.04 balance among three accounts. They came into the branch to withdraw $250,000 in cash. Kareem was handed their New York driver license, several credit cards, and withdrawal slip signatures that matched those that the bank had on file.
Mr. Fleming was a light hued man and sported a salt-and- pepper beard with more salt than pepper. He had a noticeable mole on his left cheek along side deep-set dimples. He was not obese, but fairly overweight. Mrs. Fleming, a petite 45-year- old, looked much younger than her husband. Her face sported a beauty mark above her silicone-pumped cheeks. She was perfectly painted to hide her true age.
The Flemings expressed their desire to vacation in Mexico, as well as, buy a summer home there while on vacation. Despite their convincing alibi for the cash, Kareem called Ms. Warren, the bank assistant manager, to approve the transaction. He did not want to relinquish that much cash without a second set of eyes.
Ms. Warren looked annoyed at their identification, credit cards, and signatures. She then took the materials over to her desk and pulled up their account on her computer. The Flemings had made a $3,000 withdrawal the day before at a teller’s window. She called Mr. Fleming’s job and found, he was on a vacation for two weeks.
She returned to Kareem’s desk and asked Mr. Fleming the date and amount of the last withdrawal on the account. She needed to be further convinced.
With one eyebrow raised, Mrs. Fleming decided to answer. “Yesterday. For $3,000. To purchase a vacation package. Is there anything else, we have a plane to catch?”
Kareem spun around from his computer and removed his gold horn-rimmed Cartier glasses. “Mrs. Fleming we are trying to protect you and your money. We are sorry for any inconvenience, but we have to take these precautions with all of the theft and identity stealing going on in the world.” He gave her a curt smile and hoped that she was satisfied.
“Everything is fine,” Ms. Warren said. “Mr. Bezel, follow me.” To the Flemings, she said, “We will be back with your cash.”