Out a Order by Evie Rhodes Page B

raise these boys right. She was a single parent with little in the way of economics. She had given them the best she had, but had lost them to the streets anyway.
    Today she was burying one of them. She shouldn’t have to endure more than that.
    She managed to stand though her legs were wobbly. Her knees were shaking. She was sure everyone could hear them knocking together. Especially Shonda, who had stood up on the side of her for support.
    â€œPlease,” she said.
    She found the strength to look directly in Rico’s eyes. Nothing but black waves of hatred emanated in an electrical current that she would have found hard to believe if she hadn’t experienced it.
    Trying to connect she looked behind the depths of Rico’s eyes. There was nothing there. Knowing it would be to no avail she stated her case anyway.
    â€œPlease. Please don’t do this.”
    Rico spat at her feet. He looked coldly in her eyes. “Your son doesn’t deserve your pleas.”
    â€œIn the name of Jesus,” she said.
    Rico gave her a look that would have shriveled her had she not known the power of the name she called on. And she would never know that in that blink of a second she had been one step away from being dead herself, as Rico was just about to give the signal. Many of the lights from the infrared Glocks had been trained on her from the moment she stood up.
    Rico twitched for the slightest of seconds. It was so minor it wasn’t even noticed. Refraining from giving the order that would turn Spence’s mother into the equivalent of Swiss cheese, he simply said, “Your son doesn’t deserve the Lord’s blessing, lady.”
    He gave a signal indicating to his crew that this lady should be taken out of the crosshairs of fire. Instantly the Glocks were repositioned.
    Feeling the slightest bit uncomfortable, but having shown his hand now, Rico took a step back from her. He snapped his fingers. “Get him out of here.”
    At the issue of the order, there was more screaming and hollering from the women. The crew removed the body from the coffin. Mercifully Spence’s mother fainted. The crew moved down the aisle with Spence’s body in tow. Rico pulled up the rear.
    When he reached the church doors the minister’s voice rang out through the hallowed walls. His voice was trembling with anger. “How dare you disrespect the house of the Lord in this way, young man? You will burn in hell for this.”
    Rico turned around slowly. He looked deep into the minister’s eyes. He looked around the pews. Then he threw his arms in the air, spreading them wide. “I’m already burning in hell, Mr. Preacher Man. Look around. And so are you.”
    â€œYou have no respect for the dead,” the minister countered.
    â€œI ain’t got none for the living either.”
    Rico turned his back on the minister. He walked arrogantly out of the same doors through which he had made his entrance.
    Yeah, he was a ghetto legend. And they knew that. They’d better never forget it either.
    Later Spence’s body would be found in Branch Brook Park, riddled with bullet holes lying under a tree.

Chapter 18
    S honda sat in a car borrowed from her friend Tia in the Bronx. The car would not be recognized in Jersey. She had been sitting in the car and watching for hours.
    She watched as Tawney came out of the house, got in her car, and drove away. Shannon had been knocked out with a tranquilizer, and was sprawled out in her bed with Nana Mama keeping a close watch.
    Now that she had a taste of Tawney’s honey by sleeping with her man it was time for her next move. It was simple. She would destroy this heifer. She had a personal day off from work so she had nothing but time to concentrate on Tawney. One of these days she would pull this whore’s hair out, strand by strand.
    Patiently she waited another half hour, making sure Tawney didn’t forget anything or return to the house