know. Do something different
like open a coffee shop.” Jazz brushed a hand over her eyes.
Silence stretched between them.
“Nice try.”
“What you mean?” Jazz replied.
“You love the craziness, the wild night life
of a club. You were doing good until you dropped that ‘open a
coffee shop’ bit at the end.” “Hey, I love coffee. It could work,”
Jazz wisecracked with a crooked grin.
“I’m not getting caught up in another MiMi
scheme. Between the kids and Crown Protection, my hands are full.
If you’ve got any sense, you’ll ignore her attempts to suck you in
as well.” Willa got up, walked around her desk and got back to
being the boss again. She opened a folder.
“Didn’t you say that about $250,000 was
unaccounted for after Jack died? I’ll bet there’s more and...” Jazz
stopped when Willa looked up sharply.
“I’m close to sealing the deal on two major
contracts. A huge company with three warehouses at the Baton Rouge
Port is looking over our proposal. We’ve bid on another contract
with the port itself. Who would do business with Crown Protection
if I’m connected to drug trafficking and money laundering? No.”
Willa’s expression and tone said the discussion was closed. She
went back to signing papers and flipping pages.
Jazz savored the last drops of the delicious
coffee and put the cup down. “You’re right. Damn it.”
Willa sighed and looked at Jazz again.
“Honestly, I’m sympathetic to MiMi’s logic. Hitting that lottery
would do wonders for our cash flow and our ability to expand, but
the stakes are too high.”
“I hate it when you make me agree with you,”
Jazz retorted. She brushed her long weave over one shoulder.
“Hey, let’s talk about the risks to you.
Filipe will definitely start to thinking if he gets wind that
you’re looking for his money. Plus the city considers Candy Girls a
nuisance. Get involved in more trouble and you’ll play right into
their hands, and Lorraine’s.” Willa rocked back in her executive
chair. “We need to convince MiMi to let this thing go, or she’ll
cause us both problems.”
“We’ll have to threaten to whip her little
spoiled ass. You know how the girl is about money,” Jazz replied
mildly.
“There you go getting street again. We most
certainly will not threaten her” Willa frowned at Jazz like a
displeased school principal. She rocked back and forth for a few
seconds. “But yes, we’ll have a girlfriend lunch. She’ll see the
logic once we explain the risks for us all, including her.”
Jazz gazed at her older sister. Willa was
serious. MiMi and logic when a big pile of money was involved..?
Jazz gave a short laugh. “Yeah, okay. If you say so.”
Chapter 5
Two nights later, Jazz was too busy with a
Friday night crowd at Candy Girls to think much about MiMi or
missing dirty cash. Both the lounge and the tiny dining room she
generously called a restaurant were packed. Jazz helped out waiting
tables and ringing up take-out orders. Music blared all night. With
hardly a minute to take a breath, by just after midnight, everyone
was exhausted. Food orders dwindled. The serious party people
danced to a disc jockey duo Jazz had hired.
Tyretta and Jazz sat outside on the patio.
Rochelle, serious about cleaning since the health inspections,
continued sanitizing every utensil insight. They listened to the
clang-bang of her working in the kitchen with help from her older
brother Yancey. He helped out for cash to supplement his disability
income and feed his gambling problem as well. Tyretta noisily
sucked more beer from the can she held.
“Damn, guess everybody decided not to be
scared of the cops showing up,” she said.
“Folks forget about that stuff in this
neighborhood. Who hasn’t had the police at their house, ya know?”
Jazz replied. She coughed a bit after blowing out smoke. “I need to
quit these things.”
“Yeah, while you’re young,” Tyretta agreed.
“I’ve had my share
like open a coffee shop.” Jazz brushed a hand over her eyes.
Silence stretched between them.
“Nice try.”
“What you mean?” Jazz replied.
“You love the craziness, the wild night life
of a club. You were doing good until you dropped that ‘open a
coffee shop’ bit at the end.” “Hey, I love coffee. It could work,”
Jazz wisecracked with a crooked grin.
“I’m not getting caught up in another MiMi
scheme. Between the kids and Crown Protection, my hands are full.
If you’ve got any sense, you’ll ignore her attempts to suck you in
as well.” Willa got up, walked around her desk and got back to
being the boss again. She opened a folder.
“Didn’t you say that about $250,000 was
unaccounted for after Jack died? I’ll bet there’s more and...” Jazz
stopped when Willa looked up sharply.
“I’m close to sealing the deal on two major
contracts. A huge company with three warehouses at the Baton Rouge
Port is looking over our proposal. We’ve bid on another contract
with the port itself. Who would do business with Crown Protection
if I’m connected to drug trafficking and money laundering? No.”
Willa’s expression and tone said the discussion was closed. She
went back to signing papers and flipping pages.
Jazz savored the last drops of the delicious
coffee and put the cup down. “You’re right. Damn it.”
Willa sighed and looked at Jazz again.
“Honestly, I’m sympathetic to MiMi’s logic. Hitting that lottery
would do wonders for our cash flow and our ability to expand, but
the stakes are too high.”
“I hate it when you make me agree with you,”
Jazz retorted. She brushed her long weave over one shoulder.
“Hey, let’s talk about the risks to you.
Filipe will definitely start to thinking if he gets wind that
you’re looking for his money. Plus the city considers Candy Girls a
nuisance. Get involved in more trouble and you’ll play right into
their hands, and Lorraine’s.” Willa rocked back in her executive
chair. “We need to convince MiMi to let this thing go, or she’ll
cause us both problems.”
“We’ll have to threaten to whip her little
spoiled ass. You know how the girl is about money,” Jazz replied
mildly.
“There you go getting street again. We most
certainly will not threaten her” Willa frowned at Jazz like a
displeased school principal. She rocked back and forth for a few
seconds. “But yes, we’ll have a girlfriend lunch. She’ll see the
logic once we explain the risks for us all, including her.”
Jazz gazed at her older sister. Willa was
serious. MiMi and logic when a big pile of money was involved..?
Jazz gave a short laugh. “Yeah, okay. If you say so.”
Chapter 5
Two nights later, Jazz was too busy with a
Friday night crowd at Candy Girls to think much about MiMi or
missing dirty cash. Both the lounge and the tiny dining room she
generously called a restaurant were packed. Jazz helped out waiting
tables and ringing up take-out orders. Music blared all night. With
hardly a minute to take a breath, by just after midnight, everyone
was exhausted. Food orders dwindled. The serious party people
danced to a disc jockey duo Jazz had hired.
Tyretta and Jazz sat outside on the patio.
Rochelle, serious about cleaning since the health inspections,
continued sanitizing every utensil insight. They listened to the
clang-bang of her working in the kitchen with help from her older
brother Yancey. He helped out for cash to supplement his disability
income and feed his gambling problem as well. Tyretta noisily
sucked more beer from the can she held.
“Damn, guess everybody decided not to be
scared of the cops showing up,” she said.
“Folks forget about that stuff in this
neighborhood. Who hasn’t had the police at their house, ya know?”
Jazz replied. She coughed a bit after blowing out smoke. “I need to
quit these things.”
“Yeah, while you’re young,” Tyretta agreed.
“I’ve had my share
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