CHAPTER SEVEN

TASHA

 

I was at the counter at the Post Office putting away stamp books while Crystal was singing and servicing customers. The few we had. As a matter of fact the most customers we had in a day was about eleven. She been cool all day like what we were about to do was as easy as breathing. We were waiting on the right mark.

 

But today feels wrong. Like I’m walking into a trap.

 

My stomach churned because I had a bad feeling about goin’ through with our plan tonight. It feels desperate, like life or death, which is an emotion I never had to deal with before a job. Plus we didn’t know who we would hit, just a few good ideas which wasn’t enough.

 

While I was still putting up stamps, a dope dealer name Michael ‘Hollywood’ Lane who had a thing for Crystal walked up to her at the counter. He was all smiles and never gave up. “When you gonna let me take care of you?”

 

“Ain’t you married?” Crystal said. “Because for some reason I remember you coming in here with your wife. Although I could be wrong.”

 

He frowned. “Married?” He pointed to himself. “Me?” He paused and looked around as if someone was setting him up. “Who told you that shit?”

 

I shook my head and laughed, knowing the last thing Crystal wanted was dick. Plus I’m sure this dude really was married and it was obvious that he was willing to throw his wife under the bus. “It ain’t true?” Crystal asked. “I mean you could tell the truth either which way. It probably won’t matter to me anyway.”

 

“Nah,” he said calmly. He placed both palms flat on the counter. “I ain’t married and I’m never gonna be married.” He paused. “So now can I take you out?”

 

Crystal looked over at me and back at him. “How can I help you today, boy?” Crystal said putting her hand on her hips.

 

“You mean besides taking care of you?” He tapped the counter. “And spoiling your fine ass rotten? Something I been trying to do for months.”

 

Crystal frowned. “You know what, I’m about to walk away from your ass. If you don’t need help I’m—”

 

He reached over the counter and grabbed her hand. “Okay, okay, you don’t have to get so serious,” he paused and let her go. “I wanna stop the mail from coming to my house. Which form I gotta fill out to make that happen?”

 

Crystal tried not to look at me but I understood what that meant. He was going out of town, which meant we could get paid. The only thing is I was afraid to hit Hollywood’s place. I knew he may have had a house in the neighborhood but he was still hood and dangerous.

 

Crystal gave him the form and he filled it out while talking to her at the same time. “I wish you weren’t so mean,” he said taking off his NY black baseball cap and putting it on backwards. “You too pretty for all that.”

 

“Well I am mean.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And you bothering me.” She paused. “So you done filling it out yet?”

 

He chuckled. “Alright, alright, I’ma leave you alone.” He slid the form over to her. “You looked like a friendly person and I wanted a little conversation. But if you serious about not being interested I’ll leave you be.”

 

She cleared her throat. “So where you off too for vacation?”

 

“My auntie just died so I’m going to Texas.” He paused. “Not looking forward to it at all. Not even a vacation but I still have to go.” He shrugged. “What you gonna do? When family calls you have to bounce.”

 

“Wow, I’m sorry to hear that.” She said. “Don’t you have anybody to house sit?” Crystal continued. “Because these forms can sometimes not really work. Which means you’ll get a lot of mail in your box anyway.”

 

“Like I said I’m single,” he winked at her and pushed the form toward her. Crystal accepted it and keyed in the information. “Although I don’t want it to stay that way.”

 

“Single for now I’m sure,” Crystal said blushing. “If you keep up with your persistence I’m sure you’ll be bae’d up in no time.”

 

“Come on,” he said playfully putting his hand on hers again as she keyed in his address. “Let me take you out when I get back. I know I been getting on your nerves but I’m really interested in you. Plus you look familiar. Like I’ve seen you some place else. And not just in here. Maybe in my dreams.”

 

Crystal sighed. This dude was way corny. “You know what you’ve worn me down.” She paused. “So when you coming back?”

 

He tapped the counter again as if he finally got what he wanted. “Next Friday.”

 

Crystal looked at me and back at him. “Well, when you get back give me a call.” She wrote her number down. “We’ll start from there.”

 

“Damn, you made my day.” He knocked on the counter again. “And I look forward to making that call.” He winked and walked out, taking one last look at her before he left.

 

When he was gone I walked over to Crystal. “We can’t fuck with it! That nigga is dangerous, I’m telling you. Plus you been giving him shit and all of a sudden you interested. If something happens to his house he’s gonna suspect us immediately.” I shook my head from left to right. “We gotta leave it alone.”

 

“No we don’t,” she said grabbing my hands. “This is the one that will probably give me enough money to live by myself. That way you can go on with your life, Tasha.” She picked up the Address Forward card, looked at it and inhaled. “Trust me this is the one. The big one.”

 

“You not even listening, Crystal. The man will suspect you first if he gets robbed. You did way too much by asking who was house sitting. The shit is off and we done.”

 

“Well, what about me, Tasha? You making decisions without even thinking about where I’m gonna be when you run off into the sun with Nikki.”

 

“Are you listening to yourself?” I asked. “You sound like a lunatic out here.”

 

“No, are you listening to yourself?” She pointed at me. “If we don’t do this job how the fuck am I gonna take care of the family? How am I gonna take care of ma? I mean I know I got this job but we both know with her insurance it ain’t enough for her meds. You abandoning us, Tasha and you wrong as fuck for that shit.”

 

“You act like you gonna get a million dollars from this dude!” I repeated. “This is a dangerous move and I don’t like it at all.”

 

“It don’t matter how much we get, Tasha! As long as we get something.” She paused. “What I do know is that you getting all scared for nothing. This could be the biggest job we’ve ever had. And you ready to let it go.”

 

“You heard what I said right, Crystal.” I paused looking at her with narrow eyes. “The shit ain’t up for discussion, I’m sorry.”

 

“I heard you but what if I don’t wanna listen?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What if I do the job by myself? Or with Tiffani? It ain’t like I need you to get that money anyway. I’ve done plenty by myself before.”

 

“If you rob that nigga you don’t have shit else to say to me.” I was completely serious. “I’m not even playing around with you. This would be the end of our bond.”

 

“Well I’m gonna get it anyway. And if something happens to me that’s on you.” She walked toward the back of the office.