His name was Mike Santangelo. Years earlier, he had been one of the officers on Sincere’s payroll. Santangelo was accompanied by his new female partner, Detective Sorcosky, a white woman about medium height with a solid build, reddish-blond hair, and green eyes. The moment Sorcosky spotted Kennedy, she zeroed in on her and smiled at the thought of being able to finally send her to prison. “Ms. Sanchez, we meet again. It seems like whenever there’s ongoing criminal activity, you’re never far away.”

A couple of years had passed since Sorcosky, along with twenty federal agents, had burst into Kennedy’s album-release party and arrested her and Yatta. The charges were later dismissed, but Kennedy’s hatred for Sorcosky was still fresh. “Agent Sorcosky, it has been a while, and you still look … worn out.” Kennedy smiled. “This must be some serious shit for the FBI to be here.”

“I’m not FBI anymore. I’m NYPD. Homicide.”

“Congratulations on your promotion,” Kennedy said sarcastically. “Man, I can only imagine whose life you fucked up to get promoted from Federal Bureau of Investigations up to the New York City Police Department.”

Sorcosky would’ve liked nothing more than to smack the smirk off Kennedy’s face. “This must be the rest of your drug-dealing family. The only one missing is your sister Kenyatta.”

Kennedy, now eight weeks pregnant, was easily annoyed and feistier than usual. “I see that strap you wear at night still has a hard-on for me.” She smiled. “I’m outta here. Something about pigs just makes my skin crawl.”

“Mrs. Montega, I need to see you out here, now.” Santangelo said with authority. Then he said to Sorcosky, “Let me talk to her alone.”

Sorcosky eyed him suspiciously but complied.

When Kisa stepped into the hallway, Santangelo let the formalities go. “Kane, where the fuck is Sincere?”

“Santangelo, you ought to know me better than that. If I knew where my husband was at, I’d die before I’d tell you.”

“I’m trying to look out for him.”

“Yeah, right.” Kisa waved her hand and turned to walk away.

“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.