“Can you meet me somewhere?” she replied.
“Meet you for what?”
“I don’t want to talk about it over the phone, Proctor. I want to meet you close to your penthouse.”
“You have to be crazy to think that I’m about to meet your ass somewhere,” I snapped. “Tell me what’s going on. Is the phone bugged or some shit?”
“It’s not bugged. I just thought we should talk in person, but whatever. Listen, I know this sounds crazy, and you might blame me, but I know someone who’s after Hawk, and he’s not playing around.”
“What the fuck did you just say? Who the fuck is after my son?”
“It’s this guy.”
“Did you pay somebody to kill my son?” I cut her off.
“No! I didn’t pay him. Look, I didn’t know who he was at first, but apparently, he’s Josiah’s foster brother and says that you guys killed his mom and brothers. He is actively planning for get back. I’ve been trying to convince him not to touch Hawk, but he’s already putting plans into motion to take him out because it seems he was always jealous of him anyway. He’s asking for my help in getting to Hawk, but.”
“But what?”
“I’m not giving it to him. The only reason I’m even still around him is to keep track of what he’s trying to do.”
“You fucking with him, Nina and I’m sure that’s where your fuckin loyalty lies.” I barked.
“No! I don’t want him anymore, especially not now. No matter what y’all think, I love Hawk and I never want anything bad to happen to him.”
“Right,” I said. “So how the fuck do I know you're not in on this shit? That you didn’t want to meet me today so you could kill me. Was that the plan?”
“No! I would never hurt Hawk in any way. I love him; he just didn’t love me. Please listen to me, Proctor. Hawk is in trouble, and I really, really need your help.”
I didn’t want to believe her, but the desperation in her voice made me think there might be some truth to it. She’d loved my son’s dirty drawers for years and proved it time and time again.
“All right. I’m about to reach out to Hawk, then we’ll get back with you.”
“Okay,” she said quietly.
I hung up just as I pulled into the valet area of my building.
I shut the engine off, with plans to run upstairs, drop off the flowers, and call Hawk to tell him what Nina had said. It could’ve been bullshit, but I didn’t take threats to my son lightly. I’d hate for her to be telling the truth and end up losing both my son and my best friend.
I was looking down at the ignition, about to grab my keys when someone knocked on the window way too hard for my liking.
“I’m about to get out mutha fucka, don’t rush me!”
They knocked again.
I opened the door and shoved whoever was standing there, ready to tower over them, but it wasn’t one of the valet drivers who I expected to be standing there.
It was a police officer, with a gang of other cops behind him.
“Harrison?”
“What the fuck do y’all want now?”
“You’re under arrest.” He grabbed one of my arms.
“Under arrest for what?”
“For murder.”
