Mish nodded yes, but only because during her search for Maria, she’d learned a lot about her. The people who knew Maria all described her as a good girl who was extremely green to the street life.

Maria breathed a sigh of relief. Kisa picked up her purse from the side of the chair. She pulled out five rubber-banded stacks of ten thousand dollars each. “This is fifty thousand dollars,” she said, waving her hand over the money. “That’s for starters. There is another hundred thousand where that came from after you clear this mess up.”

Her eyes transfixed on the money, Maria asked, “What do you mean, clear it up?”

Kisa gave Maria a business card. “That attorney is waiting on your call. He can meet with you in the morning. You’re going to tell him everything that you’ve told me. He’s going to escort you to the precinct so you can retract your statement.”

“B-but,” Maria stuttered, “what about that lady? Who’s going to protect me from her?”

“First, that lady’s name is Sherelle Atkins, or Rellie, and I’ll take care of her. Second, a hundred and fifty thousand is enough to relocate to another borough or another state, whichever you choose to do.”

Swallowing her fear, Maria looked Kisa square in the eyes and asked. “How do I know you or your husband won’t come back and kill me?”

“If I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be sitting here now.” Kisa stated firmly. “Part of the reason that I believe you is the people that put you up to this play dirty. They don’t care who gets hurt as long as they get their agenda across.” Kisa stood to leave. “I pride myself on playing fair. So from this point on, everything is in your hands. I’ve given you the option to do the right thing and in the process make more money than I’m sure you have ever seen before. Now, if you choose not to do the right thing, I’ll have to play it like you’re down with Rellie and act accordingly. What are you going to do?”

Maria pulled her cell from her pocket. “I’ll call the attorney now.”

Having squared things away with Maria, Kisa rode home in silence. She worried about Mish’s date with Suef. She didn’t doubt Mish’s abilities, but understood that there was a small margin for error. Kisa’s ringing cell phone broke the stillness in the car. She checked the ID, then answered, “Yeah, Ta, what up?”

“What’s good, cousin?”

“Everything is everything,” Kisa responded dryly, still ticked off with TaTa about the stunt that she pulled at the gala.

“I need to get with you so I can get straight.”

“You didn’t get with Eisani?”

“Nah, I’ve been trying to call her all day,” TaTa lied.