On Our Block

Chapter Twenty Three

I jog up the steps and knock on the door. It's opened and Oscar pulls me in. I walk and sit down on the couch. Jamal takes a deep breath and starts to yell.

Me:Aye aye stop all the yelling my head has been banging since that dirty ass cop hit my head on the wheel.

Oscar:Do you need any pain medication?

Me:Can I take it?

Jamal:Why wouldn't you be able to take it?

Oscar:You should give me a second.

I lean back and close my eyes. Soon he's back and I take the water and the pills.

Me:Go on your rant Jamal.

Jamal:How could you not give us a heads up?

Cesar:Yo,Chill Jamal. She's his boss. He probably was under orders not to.

Me:Even if he was or wasn't God damn, not even a wink to say were a helmet?

Oscar:I knew she wanted to see you, but she didn't give me any details why. She said lil Ricky's still alive? He's been dead for decades.

Me:Does anyone know how he died exactly? Because people are just saying he's dead, did he get shot? Suicide? Heart attack, fire? What?

Oscar:...

Me:Well that answers that question...

Jamal:I don't think she would have told us he was alive if he wasn't.

Oscar:I don't think you know what she would or wouldn't say.

Me:She could be crazy, Jamal a broken heart can make you snap. The woman is named knives for the love of all things holy. That doesn't yell out 'I'm nuts in the membrane'?

Jamal: 'Cause that bitch be bonkers?

Oscar:I wouldn't say that about her. She's not someone to disrespect.

Cesar:Well, you lady came at her a few times while with her. Isn't that right Amara?

I roll my eyes and run my hands through my hair.

Me:I don't like being touched, nor do I like being a Detective for a woman's long lost love.

Cesar:Come on you wouldn't do it for Oscar?

Me:Not if he faked his own death, I don't dig up Graves.

Oscar:That's one way to find out if she means what she says. Let's see if lil Ricky's really dead.

Jamal:Fake your death?

Cesar:What are you suggesting?

Oscar: We dig up his grave.

I groan and jump up the headache not completely gone. At all.

Me:We are not digging up a grave! How many lines will you guys cross! We are black and brown! We don't fuck with dead shit! We leave it!

Jamal:That's exactly what I was thinking.

Cesar:Come on, it was?

Jamal:Yup! I have the perfect bag for this, kind of. I don't really have a body exhumation bag, but my zombie apocalypse bag could be augmented to be in the same wheel house.

Me:Just fuck what I say huh?

Oscar:Of course not, but do you see any white people around here?