“Sin, I don’t know about that,” Shawn replied. “I know you’re pissed, but you can take care of this once we’re in the clear.”

“This is not up for debate. Hell yeah, I’m pissed, but I also don’t know if she is okay or not. So either get Sicily’s dumb ass to drive me up there, or I will drive myself.”

Shawn inhaled deeply, looking toward the sky. “You know I’m not going to let you get on the road by yourself. And I’m definitely not letting you go to the city without me,” he said, even though he was 100 percent against the trip. “I’ll go tell her to get ready.” Shawn left the room, thinking, I sure hope this goes smoothly, ’cause I’m not going back to prison for murder. Especially one I didn’t commit.

Chapter 19

I think this chick done moved or something,” Eisani remarked from the driver’s seat of the Denali. Mish was in the passenger seat and Kisa in the rear. “I mean,” Eisani continued, “we been checking for her for close to two weeks. No one stays away from home that long.”

“E, I haven’t been home in more than two months.” Kisa peeped down at her watch, then across the street at the Douglas Projects, home to the witness, Maria Espinoza. “Give it another twenty minutes. If she doesn’t show today, Mannie’s sister lives in the building, and she knows who she is. I told her as soon as she sees her to call me.”

Maria was a nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital. Through her contacts, Kisa had learned that Maria had transferred to the Beth-Israel branch of the hospital.

“I think we’re going about this the wrong way,” Mish offered.

“What do you suggest?” Kisa asked.

“I can go to the hospital, ask questions, and see what I can find out.”

“Aight. Before you go, though, what’s up with that Suef situation?”

“He invited me and the girls over for a private party around midnight with him and two of his boys.”

“Where did he invite you to?”

“His condo.”

“I know this nigga can’t be that dumb!” Kisa commented.

“Shit,” Mish said, getting out the truck. “He just like the rest of them niggas that smell pussy and lose their mind. Anyway, it can go down tonight, if that’s what you want.”

Kisa hopped out to get in the front. “That’s exactly what I want. I don’t want this thing prolonged more than it has to be.”

“Aight, I will hit you in a little while.” Mish got into her own car and drove away.

“E, I need to go to Essex House. It’s on 58th between 6th and 7th.”

“You meeting somebody?”

“Yeah, Alex. I gotta give her that money,” Kisa nodded toward the small Louis Vuitton duffel bag in the back.