Chapter 12 #3
“A couple people saying Paper had been asking about him lately and wanted to know if Marv was still moving through the warehouse and what time he usually left. This shit was right before he got shot.”
I looked out across the water while going back through everything Marv told me in the hospital. “Why would Paper care where he was moving now?”
“You remember Marv robbed him years ago?”
“I remember.” Marv had taken money, a chain, and whatever dignity Paper had left after pistol-whipping him in front of half the block, but that shit was old enough that I hadn’t thought about it in years. “That don’t mean he shot him.”
“I didn’t say it did. I’m telling you what I heard.”
“Who else know?”
“Not too many people yet.”
“Keep it that way. Don’t go asking questions for Paper to hear his name traveling back to us, and don’t touch him until we know something for sure.”
Mike got quiet for a second before answering. “You think it’s deeper than that?”
“I think Marv got enough enemies for somebody to put Paper’s name out there just to take attention away from themselves. Find out where Paper was that night and who he was with and do that shit quietly.”
“I got you.”
I ended the call and stared at the phone for a few seconds before scrolling to Marv’s name. He answered after a few rings sounding tired, but at least his voice was stronger than it had been when I first heard it after surgery.
“What up, cuz?”
“You asleep?”
“I was trying to be until you called.”
I disregarded that. “You remember Paper asking around about you?”
He paused before he answered. “Paper?”
“Yeah.”
“Nah. Why?”
“His name came up.”
I could tell Marv’s breathing changed. He probably wanted to go kill somebody right now. “That nigga still mad about that old shit?”
“Apparently.”
“I ain’t thought about Paper in years. I even gave the nigga his bitch back.”
“That don’t mean he ain’t thought about you.”
He got quiet this time, probably going through whatever memories he had left from the shooting. “I don’t know, Lev. Paper always been scary to me. He’ll talk about killing a nigga for ten years before he actually do something.”
“Think like an Opp Marv, that shit don’t clear him.”
“I know.”
“I’m looking into it but don’t mention his name to anybody else yet.”
“Aight.”
I could hear one of the machines beeping in the background followed by somebody entering his room and moving things around. Marv spoke to them briefly, and when he came back to the phone his voice had a little more energy in it.
“That little nurse still there?” I asked.
“Who?” He questioned.
I leaned back in the chair and looked toward the pool, where Milan and Zuri were now sitting along the edge with their legs in the water. “Navy?”
“See, why the fuck you remember her name that fast?”
I laughed under my breath. “It was on her badge.”
“Yeah… well, leave her alone.”
“Who said I was bothering her?”
“I know you.”
“You laid up in ICU worrying about what I’m doing?”
“I’m letting you know I already got dibs.”
I looked out across the dark water and shook my head. “Nigga, you almost died and came back talking like a middle schooler.”
“I’m serious Lev,” he laughed then immediately regretted it. I could tell her was wincing in pain.
“Man, you don’t own that woman.”
“And neither do you.”
“I ain’t say I did.”
“Good, because you got enough bitches already.” He paused, then added, “Let me have one.”
Milan glanced over when I laughed, but I waved her off before answering Marv. “Get out the hospital first, then worry about chasing females.”
“I can do both.”
“Take your medicine and go to sleep dawg.”
“Fuck you.”
“Love you too, cuz.”
I ended the call still smiling and placed the phone beside my laptop.
Marv calling dibs didn’t mean shit to me, but the fact that Navy’s face came back to mind that easily caught my attention more than I cared to admit.
She was fine, that much was obvious, but it was the way she carried herself that stayed with me.
She didn’t giggle through every sentence, didn’t bend over backward trying to be noticed, and didn’t seem impressed by anything about me.
Hell, she barely looked like she wanted to answer my questions.
“Who got you smiling?” Milan asked as she climbed out of the pool, water running down her body while she reached for a towel.
I ignored her question. “What’s up?” I asked slowly licking my lips watching the water glisten over her naked body.
Milan stopped beside my chair and looked down at the laptop before closing it with one finger. “Good, since you finished laughing and making money, maybe you can remember why you invited us over.”
I leaned back and looked her over slowly before reaching for her hand. “I ain’t forget.”
She smiled as I pulled her closer, and behind her Zuri climbed out of the pool to grab her drink.
Paper, the shooting, the money, and that little smart-mouthed nurse would all still be there in the morning.
For the rest of tonight, I was done answering questions.
I had a different kind of business to handle.