The Stick Up Kid

Stick Em Up

At a quarter passed Midnight, Raquan and I were hanging around an old abandoned trailer home. Wearing nothing but black, we waited for Tymark to pick us up. Even though he was supposed to be here at midnight, we knew how Tymark was. He couldn’t be on time to save his life.

            After a few more minutes of waiting, a dark blue car crept into view. The tinted windows were cracked open, leaking out sinister rap music. The vehicle pulled up to the trailer and parked. Raquan and me jogged to the car, getting inside.

            I took seat in the back while Raquan got in the front. Tymark dapped us up and glided down the street.

            “You late,” Raquan barked. Tymark kept driving like his cousin didn’t say anything.

            “Ya’ll ready to get paid?” he asked us.

            “Duh nigga,” Raquan retorted. “That’s why we here.”

            “You remember the plan right?” Tymark looked from Raquan to me. I nodded my head, but Raquan seemed confused.

            “Naw… I don’t rememba’ it,” he confessed.

            Tymark rolled his eyes. “Just go with the flow.” He turned up the music and swerved down the block. Tymark constantly checked his surrounded as we drove. I don’t blame him either, every time we make moves on someone it feels like we’re being watched.

            Tymark headed up the road to the Glen field Apartments. This was a neighborhood I don’t really visit. It’s close to lake, near the Hispanic community. I stared out of the window as we passed a number of apartment buildings. Tymark pulled next to building-D and turned the car off.

            He reached in the side panel and took out his handgun. “Let’s go. He should be pullin’ up at my man’s spot in like ten minutes.”

            “How you know?” I asked, stepping out of the vehicle.

            “Cause… I’ve been stalkin’ that nigga for a month now,” Tymark answered. “He re-up’s once every week, at 1 o’clock on the dot every Monday night. Cuz gettin’ paid,” He glanced around the area and put his weapon in his pants. “But now it’s our turn.”

            Tymark motioned for us to follow him. We jogged across the road and through the Glen field’s small playground. Dressed in pure black I doubt if anyone could see us. It get’s unnaturally dark in San Tera at night.

            We stopped at a building and crouched down. Tymark crept to the edge of the wall and peeked around it. After a few moment’s of looking around, he turned around to us. “Yo, my man spot on the third floor. When dude pull up… we gon be waitin’ for em.” Tymark pulled his fitted hat down over his eyes, making it impossible to recognize him. Raquan and I did the same.

            Tymark led us to the front of the building, where we set up camp. Raquan sat at the base of the stairs while Tymark and I stood before him. From a distance, it looked like we’re locals just hanging on the steps. I turned around to the check the area and saw a set of bright headlights gliding in our direction. “Aye that’s him?” I asked, catching Tymark’s attention.

            “I don’t know,” Tymark shrugged. “Should be, it’s a lil past one. We gotta see if he pull up.” Both of us shut out mouths as the car slowed down. It came to a stop and paused before turning into the parking spot in front of us. The headlights almost blinded me the closer it came to the apartment. There was no question he saw us, I just hope that didn’t spoil our plans.

            The vehicle turned off and sat there silently. I exchanged glances with Tymark and Raquan, wondering what they were thinking. Tymark seemed a little on edge, we all were. After about five minutes of no activity, a car door opened; followed by another one.

            “Shit…” Tymark hissed. “He got someone with him,” he nudged me in the arm and withdrew his gun, hiding it underneath his shirttail. “Aye get my back.” I nodded and took my sigma from my pants, covering it with my long shirt.

            Heton closed his car door and walked to the apartment building when we intercepted him. He stopped walking, moving his hand closer to his pockets. I kept an eye on his partner who seemed to be reaching for something as well. They were probably armed, but we had ours out and ready.

            “Aye what’s up dog?” Tymark asked, extending his hand to Heton.

            “I know you?” He barked, mean mugging my partner.

            “Damn I can’t get no dap?” Tymark replied. He stepped closer to Heton and his open hand turned to a balled fist. He struck Heton across the face and withdrew his gun in a heartbeat.

            The other guy saw his partner get hit and pulled a pistol from his pants, but Raquan and I already had the drop on him. Tymark flung Heton on the ground, aiming his gun at him.

            “Don’t move…” Tymark grumbled.

            Raquan and I got closer to the other guy. I got in his face and lowered the aim of my sigma to his torso. Raquan removed the chain from around his neck and went through his pockets. He stole his money, watch, weapon, and drugs. When he was done he dashed over to Heton to do the same.

            While Raquan was snatching the loot off Heton, I looked closer at the guy in front of me. He seemed real familiar; too familiar. That’s when it hit me. It was Davontae. My heart kind of skipped a beat upon realizing who he was.

            Davontae was a member of the Three-Five gang and probably the toughest guy in our community. He’s brown skin, 6’3” and 220 pounds of muscle. Everybody knew Davontae and his violent reputation; if you got in a fight with him you had to shoot him to win. He’s the last person I wanted to rob.

            I stayed in front of Davontae with my gun still pointed at him. There’s no way I’m letting him out of my sight. He stared at my face, trying figure out who I was, but that wasn’t possible. My skullcap was on too low to see my eyes, which were an essential part of recognizing someone.

            “Yo we out!” Tymark shouted, breaking my thoughts. I quickly turned and ran in the same direction we can from, vanishing behind the building. I sprinted across the playground behind Tymark, holding up my pants. The smile on my face grew wider the closer we got to the car.

            When we reached our vehicle, I swung the back door open and jumped inside. Tymark rammed his key in the ignition, starting the car. He pulled out of the parking space and swerved unto the main road. Shortly after, we all broke into mocking laughter.

            “Aye we got em!” Raquan exclaimed, holding up two golden chains in the air. “Cuz you wasn’t lyin’ either. Them niggas been stacked.” He pulled the wads of cash from his pockets and set it in his lap. I leaned over to the front seats to get a better look at our income.

            “Damn son!” Tymark happily cursed. “Let me see that shit?” he grabbed a coupled of bills and grinned.

            “So how much we got?” I eagerly asked.

            “Don’t know, we gotta count it up,” Tymark said. “We’ll do all that at my crib. Might burn somethin’ while we at it too.”