“Thank you so much,” Mish said, stepping inside. “This is my first trip to New York, and I’ve heard such terrible things.”

Nichelle led Mish to the den area, where a DVD was playing, “It’s not that bad at all, especially out here on Long Island. It’s quiet. You can have a seat. I gotta run upstairs to get my cordless.”

When Nichelle was out of sight, Mish quietly tip-toed around the house, peeking to see if anyone else was there. She hurried back to the couch when she heard Nichelle’s approaching footsteps.

“Here you go.” Nichelle handed her the phone.

“Thanks.” Mish took the phone and dialed an automated customer-service line and pretended to talk to her aunt. She kept her fake conversation brief. She hung up the phone then told Nichelle, “My auntie says she doesn’t live far from here. If you don’t mind me waiting here for a few minutes, she’s going to call your phone back when she gets up the street to my car so I can walk up there to meet her.”

“Sure, you can wait here. I’m not doing anything special.”

“One more thing, and I promise I won’t bother you anymore.”

“What is it?”

“Can I please use your bathroom?”

“Yeah, it’s back there,” Nichelle said, pointing over her shoulder.

Mish stood up with the phone still in her hand and walked behind the couch, where Nichelle was sitting, and headed toward the bathroom. Quietly, she doubled back. Nichelle was so into her movie that she didn’t hear her coming. Mish crept up behind Nichelle and slammed the phone into the side of her head, knocking her unconscious. Mish quickly leaped over the couch and began hog-tying Nichelle with some thin wire that she pulled from her pocket.

Once Mish had finished tying Nichelle, she ran upstairs, checking every room to make sure that no one else was there. Mish then placed a call from her own prepaid cell to Kisa’s. “K, we’re ready.”

Moments later Mish opened the front door, allowing Kisa, Eisani, and Arnessa to enter.

“Damn, Mish, you done killed her already?”

“She not dead, just out cold. Watch this.” Mish picked up a tall glass of chilled soda off the coffee table and tossed it on Nichelle’s face.

Coughing hard, Nichelle regained consciousness. “What tha?” She looked up, shocked to see Kisa, Eisani, and Arnessa standing over her, all three dressed in black and wearing black latex gloves.

Kisa smiled at her, “What’s wrong, Nichelle? You look like you’ve seen three ghosts. You thought we’d be dead by now, didn’t you? Or you didn’t think we’d find you all the way out here on Long Island?” Kisa asked sarcastically. “You got to be more careful ’bout who you let in ya house.”

“Eat me, bitch.” Nichelle growled.