The first ten officers ran straight past Kennedy into the building. The last two aimed their weapons at her and ordered her to the ground. Kennedy obeyed. They snatched her purse, patted her down, and cuffed her. One of the officers pulled her to her feet, escorted her to an unmarked car, and placed her in the backseat.

Ten minutes later Eisani was brought out in cuffs. They placed her in the same car as Kennedy. The two cousins glanced at each other and simply shook their heads. They knew better than to say a word and give the police the satisfaction of taping their conversation. In silence, Kennedy and Eisani watched as the police carted boxes of evidence out of the building. Suddenly, Kennedy’s door was flung open. Detective Robbins stuck her head in and looked at each of their faces. Both Kennedy and Eisani instantly recognized her as TaTa’s guest at the gala. Eisani shook her head, thinking, Kisa was right about that bitch.

“Damn it.” Robbins slammed her hand on the top of the car, “Montega isn’t in here, but I think we got someone you would like to see.”

Detective Sorcosky leaned into the car. When she laid eyes on Kennedy, she grinned like a Cheshire cat. “Well, well, well, look who we have here,” she taunted. “Sanchez, didn’t I tell you I would get you one day?”

Kennedy smirked. “You don’t got me now, you foolish-ass detective, and you’ll never get me because you want me too bad.”

“What do you see?” Sincere asked from his slumped-down position in the backseat as they rode past the barricaded block.

“A whole lot of police,” Kisa replied, worried that she didn’t see any EMT or fire trucks, leading her to think that Eisani might be dead.

Arnessa opened the door. “I’ll go see what’s up,” she said.

Kisa grabbed her by the arm, “You can’t go down there!”

“Kane, I’m not crazy. I ain’t going down there.” She got out of the car and walked up to the first junkie she saw. “Aye ma, I need a favor.”

“I don’t do no favors for free,” the junkie replied.

“Trust me, I already know,” Arnessa replied, holding up a crisp fifty-dollar bill in the air. “Go down the block, find out what happened, and when you come back, this is yours.”

“I don’t have to go down there. I already know what happened,” the woman cackled. “The pigs busted two girls in 216 with mad bricks of that powder. Shit, I wish they woulda let me get some to cook up. I’d be smoking all night. Can I still get that fifty, baby girl?”

Arnessa gave her the money and jogged back to the car. She jumped in, telling Kisa, “Pull off now!”

Kisa sped away. “What did you find out?”

“The jakes ran up in the spot. They got Eisani and Mish.”