The Banks Sisters 2

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CHAPTER ONE

Today was better than yesterday. Tomorrow will be better than right here, right now. But as it stood at this precise moment, life was what it was. And it was a damn good day to be on the Richmond Police Force. Things were finally looking up for Detective Dugan and his dedicated team of hardworking men. They’d been praying for clues that might point them in the general direction of any and all assailants that were running amuck in their fair city. Not knowing if they had a bloodthirsty serial bank robber on their hands or just some daredevil copycats, the stakes were high. All the officers’ jobs, raises, and promotions were in serious jeopardy as the mayor demanded results. The wall safe of the now-deceased Ghostman, discovered behind a picture, had finally been cracked wide open by an expert on loan from the next county. The safe’s contents had been logged in and were ready to be inspected by a forensic team. A huge stack of assorted currency; several quick claim deeds to homes located in known drug zones; a small spiral notebook; a Breitling watch; and an android smartphone were discovered resting inside next to a gang of snapshots of seminude strippers.

Already designating their victim as one of the perpetrators in the bank robbery committed earlier in the day, Detective Chase Dugan beamed with pride. Not only did they have the masks used in the crime, but a bag containing some of the marked bills. Detective Dugan’s desire now was to try to link this crime with the blood fest robbery-turned-homicide earlier in the week at the same branch. Okay, everyone, take your time on this crime scene. We don’t need any mistakes or mishaps. We have damn near every news agency within a hundred-mile radius camped right outside this front door lurking, hoping for a minor or major screwup. With that being said, the overly excited officer of the law looked down at his watch. A far cry in cost in comparison to the one found in the dead man’s safe, Chase still felt like he was rich in other ways. Placing a call to the female he prayed would one day be his lady, the smitten detective was elated to share his good news.

Yes, hello, Simone answered trying to keep her voice level and normal when every part of her was quaking with fear. Her sinner soul was terrified about what was seconds away from being said.

Yes, Ms. Banks? Detective Dugan spoke into the phone using a formal greeting instead of the playful one he’d used earlier in the day.

Simone’s face registered her worry. Detective? she responded fighting to keep her emotions from overpowering her words. She prayed he couldn’t easily hear the nervous and guilt sentiments she was experiencing.

Oh my God! You will never guess how things unfolded shortly after you left.

Really, how? Simone asked, scared of his response. She hoped for the best, yet prepared herself for the worst.

Well, we found him, he fought from shouting out in total elation and jumping for joy. We got his ass, Simone! We got him!

You found who? she braced herself continuing to playing the dumb role as not to incriminate herself or her sisters just in case Ghostman turned out to be a ho-ass buster and ratted out everyone he could think of.

We located the guy. The one who hit the bank this afternoon; that’s who, the detective laughed with satisfaction in his pitch. Now we have yet to identify his accomplices, but it’s definitely him. He’s one of the main guys. He’s probably the damn mastermind.

Really? You think so? How can you tell it was him? Are you serious?

Yes, Simone, really, I’m serious as two heart attacks. I think this case is about to be a wrap real soon. Hell, we already have recovered some of the money along with the masks. That’s how we know it was him.

Oh, wow. Did you arrest him? Is he in jail? The questions started coming one after one. Simone glanced over in the passenger’s seat at Bunny praying her new beau would say yes.

Unfortunately, no, the hardworking detective responded with utter regret. He’s not under arrest. Well, not really.

Huh? Why not, baby? You said you guys had some of the stolen money and them crazy masks they were wearing, right? Simone shook her head at her sister, then shrugged her shoulders. Knowing the police caught Ghostman red-handed with all the evidence Bunny had cleverly planted and he still wasn’t behind bars was a mystery Simone needed for Chase to solve. Please tell me why that animal isn’t locked up. He and those evil men he runs with need to be in cages.

Because things didn’t work out like that. See, Simone, unfortunately, there was an altercation. Things went real bad real quick once we gained entry. The dude wanted to go for bad; all renegade style. The perp got shot after trying his luck with my men.

Oh my God! Are you okay? She showed her genuine concern for his overall safety and well-being.

Yes, Simone, I’m fine. Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate it. Matter of fact, you don’t know how much it means to me.

Of course, baby. You’re always in my prayers as of lately. But I do just wish that madman was alive so he could tell you who the rest of those reckless monsters are that terrorized us down at the bank.

Me too, Simone. I wish he was alive so we could have interrogated him about other stuff we think he’s involved in. But you’re right. He could have led us to the others in on the robbery with him. Now, unless we catch another break in the case, the other crooks can consider his death as a gift from the good man above.

That’s great, Chase, any way it went. Simone acted as if he’d single-handedly brought down the Taliban as she quietly giggled to her sister. That’s a huge relief you got that animal off the street, even if he is dead. Him and his friends were horrible. I hope one day you catch them all before they stick a gun in someone else’s face. I’m still having nightmares about both robberies.

I know, but at least you can sleep well, knowing one of them clowns is out of the picture for good. Chase tried not to smile too much as several of the reporters rushed in his direction. Look, Simone, I have to go right now, and I need to reschedule our date for tonight, if that’s okay with you.

Celebrating in her mind over what he’d just said about Ghostman, Simone happily agreed. No problem at all. I understand. I’m just gonna go grab some Chinese food with my sister and relax for the evening. Call me later if you find the time. I miss you and can’t wait to spend some time with you.

Aww, that’s so sweet of you to say. I miss you too. And for you, I’ll make time. The detective placed his cell back on his hip, ready to answer the reporters’ multitude of questions.

Simone hung up the phone, relieved that their plan worked, and to top it off, Ghostman was dead. He couldn’t be interrogated or forced to snitch on anyone. There was nothing but thanks that they were in the clear.

CHAPTER TWO

"Well . . . well . . . What do we have here? Now you know good and well, either y’all can do that fed time waiting on y’all or run me some of that dough. As a matter of fact, y’all can run me all that! Lenny pulled out a gun and stood guard as Deidra went for the cash. Didn’t Me-Ma teach y’all little hoes . . . easy come, easy go? Stupid asses!"

Oh, hell, naw, this can’t be happening, Bunny angrily blurted out shaking her head in denial. Not your ass of all people! What the fuck are you doing here?

Oh, hell, yes, daughter of mine. This must be my lucky day. Deidra did a little praise dance waving her arms and hands around in the air as if she had the Holy Ghost tucked in her back pocket. I asked the great hustle gods for a blessing, and here the fuck it is! Just like that . . . It was done!

What in the hell you talking about? Bunny fumed, ready to kick some ass and take names later.

"I mean, damn, we came here to chin check that no good shepherd for Satan whenever he shows up for stealing my inheritance, and bam! Instead, we hit the jackpot! Hell, yeah!"

Bunny’s impromptu champagne and Chinese food celebration came to a screeching halt, as it did for her three siblings. Smashing her glass down onto the rectangular-shaped kitchen table, Bunny was ready for war and anything that came with it. Still very much in mourning over the untimely death of the love of her life, Spoe, any bitch could get the business if they tried crossing her path—her no-good mother included. Get the fuck on, lady, before I get pissed. If you think me and my sisters just gonna give you the money we risked our lives and freedom for just like that, you’re more twisted in the head than I thought! You straight fucking nuts!

I’ll be all that and more, but me and Lenny gonna get our share—period!

You think so, huh?

Yeah, I do. So like I said, run it. Don’t keep us waiting! We got shit to do!

Seriously? You can’t be! Bunny’s resentment grew, and her tolerance level plummeted to zero. She was ready to snap and pop any second.

Yes, seriously! What part of ‘run me all this bread’ don’t you and the rest of these misfits understand? I know all of y’all can understand English! Deidra, although she called the streets her home, usually kept herself together. But today, she looked different. Maybe the death of Me-Ma had affected her far worse than she’d let on; but that still was no excuse or ghetto pass on strong-arming the next person’s shit.

Coldly staring her mother in the eyes, years of bottled up emotions poured out. Without an ounce of fear for the weapon being held on them, contempt filled Bunny’s tone after snatching the brown bag from her mother’s greedy clutches. "You and this scheming leech you been laying up with got the game all messed up. You might have stolen Me-Ma’s money and got over, but trust, this ain’t what you want—gun or not. Not today, bitch. Matter of fact, not no day!"

Watch your damn mouth when you speaking to me, Ms. Thang. I’m still your mother, and make no mistake—I’ll still kick your uppity ass with the quickness. Deidra tried to boss up, but her threat fell on four sets of deaf ears.

My mother? Come on now, Deidra, with all that. Bunny called her by her first name, further proving she had no reverence for the belligerent creature that’d given her birth.

Yeah, little girl; your damn mother, like I said to all four of you no-good bastards. Run me my shit! Now!

You know you ain’t been our mother since the day we escaped from that polluted womb of yours. You ain’t been a mother to any of us! Never-fucking-ever.

Deidra was unmoved by her child’s insults. Always ready to defend her selfish lifestyle, she gladly returned the favor twofold. I’m sorry, baby girl, but shouldn’t you be somewhere mourning that dead stickup boyfriend of yours, or is one of them other hot-tail bitches he probably ran with doing that? You can say what you want about my man being a leech, but at least he’s alive! she laughed coldly.

Simone, usually the voice of reason, interjected, putting her two cents on the floor before her sister became totally untamed. They had gotten away with robbing the bank, saving Bunny from Ghostman’s wrath, and getting him blamed for the crime. Plus the idiot got himself killed, to boot. Today had been a day full of wins, and Simone wasn’t going to allow Deidra to break that streak. Look, why are you here anyway, Momma? Who let you in? And why you just gonna let this man point that thing at us like we some strangers off the street and not your own flesh and blood?

First of all, Simone, I don’t need any one of you ungrateful little hood rats to let me into my damn mother’s house. Just because your daddy came up on the dirt he was peddling and raised you with a silver spoon in your mouth don’t mean you can run it any way you want to.

Oh my God! Simone fell back, sucking her teeth.

Yeah, maybe Me-Ma let y’all act all crazy and run off at the mouth, but me? I ain’t the one. Shidddd, I’ll knock all your heads off like it ain’t nothing. Deidra couldn’t believe her ears and what she was hearing. Taking a few steps backward, the unfit parent laughed. If y’all didn’t get the memo years ago, I’m grown and come and go as I please around here. Secondly, if you three girls and whatever the fuck you is today, she callously motioned to Ginger as if he were a freak of nature, don’t like what I’m saying, gather my money up and me and my man will be on our merry-fucking-way without anyone getting hurt. Or do y’all want me to call the police? Maybe that nosy, fine-ass cop you talking to Simone . . . How about that? So now that I’ve made myself once again clear, run me my shit!

"Say what?" Simone paused, wondering how Deidra knew she was dating a policeman.

That’s right, you little neighborhood snitch bitch. I know everything. The streets talking loud, and you and all these rats in heels’ names are ringing. Now should I call the police or what? Deidra smirked, winking her eye at Simone.

The police? Tallhya interrupted, swallowing a huge lump in her throat.

Yes, baby, I said it; the damn police. Didn’t you hear me?

Are you serious? Tallhya asked.

Yes, I’m serious as two heart attacks. Either you girls can cut me and my man in or cut it out. Y’all already let that high-steppin’ preacher steal this house and all my mother’s freaking money.

Let . . .? Bunny, fed up, was once again on Deidra’s no-good ass. We ain’t let his crooked ass do jack shit. And since he did con Me-Ma, that means you just gonna gank our come up? Where they do that at? You’re a real piece of work—rotten to the core. For sure.

Deidra sneered, glancing up at the wall clock. She’d heard just about enough of jaw jacking from her offspring that she was willing to endure. Done taunting her four children-now-turned-bank-robbers, she was ready to collect what she felt was due to her and bounce. "Well, as far as I see, y’all come up is now my come up!" Feeling as if she had the heart of a lion, she brazenly brushed past a noticeably quiet Ginger. Under the twitching eye of Lenny, she bent down attempting to swoop up a handful of unmarked hundred-dollar bills scattered throughout the kitchen floor.

Hold up, now. Simone roughly grabbed her mother by the forearm, snatching her backward. Like Bunny said, we not just gonna let you take what’s ours. That’s not what’s gonna go down. We ain’t little kids no more—remember that.

Deidra was in no mood to be denied. Me-Ma had already slapped her in the face by leaving the church and Pastor Street the inheritance she felt was hers. Now her kids didn’t want to share their come uppings. Okay, bitches, I’m done playing with y’all. Lenny, she hissed with malice, not being able to bully them as usual with her words, shoot the first one of these wannabe street-tough hood rats that puts their hands on me! Send them on their way to see Me-Ma. Deidra’s voice got louder with each passing word. Maybe they can ask her dumb ass why she fucked us all over! Shiddd . . . I mean, was that sissy preacher giving her old ass that rainbow dick or what! she laughed.

That over-the-top announcement brought a momentary hush across the kitchen. With his palms sweating and the strong smell of cheap wine seeping from his pores, Lenny tried to look as ruthless as possible. Trembling from needing a drink, he fought to hold it together. Just as money hungry as his female companion, the low-life parasite hoped to live large off the enormous amount of revenue he was seeing as well.

Look, you soulless trick! Have you lost your fucking mind altogether? Do those streets you live in got you that confused that you think you can march up in here making demands and threats like we ain’t about nothing? And to top it off, disrespect Me-Ma’s good name? Simone fearlessly stepped front and center. Looking at Deidra like the gutter filth she was, she made it perfectly clear what exactly was and was not going to happen. You and this fool are out of control, that much is clear, but you’re going too far thinking shit will be that easy.

What you say? Deidra barked, feeling like she had the upper hand and the cops on speed dial.

"You heard me. Y’all clowns going too far, especially you! Without warning or caution, Simone ran up on an obviously nervous Lenny. Now, almost nose to nose, she unloaded her fury and disdain for the stunt he was dumbly taking part of. You coming up in my grandmother’s house pointing guns at people like you some sort of hit man or something; like you so damn gangster with it. Riding with my mother gonna get you killed one day, and today might be that day. If we had the balls to get this money, just imagine what the fuck we willing to do to keep it. You don’t want this nigga. I swear you don’t!"

Once again, the room grew eerily silent as Lenny’s eyes bucked twice in size. He, like the