“Spook, this ain’t about business, this is a personal vendetta over a broad. I’d never even ask you to get caught up in this crazy shit. You know when I go in, I’m going for body count, and you don’t need that kinda heat on you.”

“Jah, I keep telling you that you’re my fam, duke,” Spooky explained while tying his Timberlands. “These niggaz already violated by trying to do us in, now they raped a chick we fuck wit’. These niggaz gotta be taught the error of their ways.” Spooky slid an assault rifle from under the couch. “Let’s go show these cats how gorillas move.”

Marlene sat at her desk within her small home office, the phone pressed tightly against her ear. She listened intently while the caller spoke. Her face bore a look of shock at the information she had just received. In response to the date, all she could say was, “Are you sure?” The caller confirmed the facts and Marlene nodded. “Okay, fax it to my home office,” she said and hung up the phone. The whole conversation left her in a state of shock.

“Mar, I’m about to drop P.J. off at his mom’s house,” Paul said, sticking his head into the office.

“Paul, we need to talk,” she told him.

Paul sighed under his breath. “Mar, I really ain’t in the mood to argue. I’m dropping my son off and I’ll see you later.”

“Paul, I don’t want to argue, but we need to talk.”

“Mar, I said not right now. I’ve gotta lot of stuff to do,” he told her.

Before she could offer comment, his cell went off. “Hello?” he answered in an irritated tone.

“Paul,” Marlene said.

“In a minute, Mar.” He waved her off. “What do you want, Rhonda?” he said into the phone. “I’m brining him in a little while. Come on, don’t put me through this shit right now ’cause I’m not in the mood. What?” He looked at the phone. “Watch how the fuck you talk to me! You know what? ’Bye Rhonda,” he said and ended the call.

“You know, I think that girl has got radar. Every time we’re in the middle of a conversation, her ass is on the line.”

“What can I say? My baby’s mama is a professional pest. Let me get up outta here before she starts blowing my phone up.” He headed for the door.

“Well, I’ve got some things I need to get off my chest before you skate out,” she told him.

“As soon as I get back we can argue all you want, but right now I gotta go.”

Marlene slammed her hand against the table. “Paul, why is it that you have time for everyone except me? Not communicating is going to hurt our relationship more than help it.”