“There’s a witness who says she saw Sincere and Shawn execute the guy out there.”

She turned around. “Who’s the witness?”

With a sly smirk he replied, “Now, you ought to know me better than that.”

Kisa knew that meant the information was going to cost her. “I know you very well, and I know what you like, so holla at me.”

“Another detective took her statement before I arrived and took her down to the station. Once I get the information, I’ll get back to you.”

Kisa entered the waiting room as Butta’s doctor was leaving. “What did he say?” she asked Arnessa.

Visibly upset, Arnessa couldn’t talk, so Eisani answered. “Butta made it through surgery. He’s still in critical condition, and to give his body time to heal, they put him in a medically induced coma.”

Kisa squatted down in front of Arnessa and held her hands. “Sweetie, Butta’s going to be all right. You gotta be strong.”

“I don’t know if I can right now.”

“Yes, you can, ’cause we got you.” She gave Arnessa a hug. “Eisani and I have to leave for a while. I’ll be back, but first … I have to find my husband.”

You will never believe who I ran into at the hospital,” Kennedy said as she walked into Yatta’s lavish forty-five-hundred-square-foot Manhattan apartment. The place was exquisite, just like the other four homes that Strick and Yatta owned.

“Who?” asked Yatta, floating through her home in a long champagne-colored silk robe with a dry martini in hand, like the millionaire wife that she was. Yatta was very petite, with long, naturally curly hair. She slightly resembled Jada Pinkett.

“That bitch, Agent Sorcosky!”

“Are you serious? What was she doing there?”

“Get this: She’s a DT now, for the city.”

“How the fuck did that happen?” Yatta asked as they took seats in the family room.

“Hell if I know, but that bitch was poppin’ shit and everything, talking about this must be ya drug-dealing family.” Kennedy mimicked Sorcosky, “The only one that’s missing is your sister.”

“No, she didn’t.”

“Yes, that bitch did.”

Yatta chuckled. “Anyway, how’s Butta?”

“I didn’t even find out ’cause once I ran into Sorcosky, I burned it up. I’m going back over there when I leave here … just waiting for the jakes to clear out, which will probably be never, since some dude got merked outside of St. Luke’s, and they think Sincere and Shawn did it.”

“They got way too much shit going on already since they moved back. Anyway, how are you?”

“I’m okay, always tired. You know how the first couple of months are.”

“When are you going to tell Big Ma and Mommy that you’re pregnant? I’m getting enough of them calling me, talking ’bout they dreaming of fish and asking me if I’m having a baby.”

“I’m going to let them know next month.”

“Where’s Jordan?”

“Brian took him to a Knicks game.”