The Foundation

Other Things to Worry About

After I get my second pint of ice cream, I head home. I pull into my driveway and through my rearview mirror I see a familiar car pull up on the curb. I walk down my driveway to the car. It's Mr. Brown and one of his cronies.

"Mister Roman, we saw that little moment back there with your 'assistant'. She seemed pretty upset." Mr. Brown says with a smirk.

"Following me now? I would have figured you had better things to do." I respond, stopping just short of his car.

"Not really, just stopping by to give you a reminder about tomorrow's meeting." He says and he gives a hand signal to the driver and off he goes into the night.

I walk into the house, didn't stop in the kitchen, and went straight to my room. I open the door; there is Niecy, in a white thong and bra set, laid at the foot of my bed on her stomach watching TV. She has this smile on her face like she just won the lottery.

"Hey, Ice. Ria called and told me that you should be here soon. She told me that you would need me a couple days while she was visiting her mother." She says, still smiling as she gets up and walks toward me.

It had been a very rough afternoon. I still hadn't heard from Sal. Here I am with a half-naked woman who will not take no for an answer, or my bad afternoon will turn into a bad evening. Let me go handle this business. Get back with y'all later.

*******

This is like deja vu of earlier today. Niecy fell asleep in my bed. The ice cream is all melted, so I get up out of bed, take the ice cream and toss it in the garbage. I walk back to my room and get dressed. I'm heading to the Texas Casino for a little bit.

I valet my car when I get there and begin the walk to my favorite blackjack table. I hear my name being called.

"Ice! Hey Ice!" He yells. It's Tep. Tep used to be a small time hustler. Now, after a series of good decisions, and my help, he has become the leader of the Las Vegas Underground.

"Hey Tep, what's going on?" I ask him, as we both come toward each other. He gives me this big bear hug like he hasn't seen me in ages.

"I can't complain dog, come over here, and let me buy you a drink." He responds. We walk over to the bar and as usual, we are greeted by a few of his 'ladies'. Of course, they already know what I drink, double Kahlua and cream. I know you expect a private eye to drink something stronger, but shit, that's my drink. Like it or leave it. I take the straw and mix around the ice in it.

"Hey, Daddy who's your friend?" One of the ladies asks Tep, looking over at me. She must be new, as most of Tep's girls know who I am.

"Bitch, this is the Ice Cream Man!" Tep says raising his voice, but still keeping that smile he always has.

The young lady takes a few steps towards me, kisses me on the cheek and tells me," Nice to meet you, Mister Ice Cream Man. My name is Desiree."

"Call me Ice, now have a seat Desiree, tell me your real name and have a drink with me." I respond.

She sits down orders her drink. Now she's smiling like a Cheshire cat. She must think I am about to pay for her services. I am, but not like that.

"My name is Desiree, Ice. What are you looking for?" She asks, looking smack dead into my eyes.

"With a voice like that, I would like you to work for me as a temporary receptionist.  We'll discuss other duties later. What are you drinking?" I explain to her. She seems confident, but a bit nervous. Her eyes are needy, and want to tell me a story, yet, she is afraid to.

"I will have what you order for me." She responds. Not the answer I was looking for, but I chalk that up to her lifestyle.

I order her a vodka cranberry and begin to converse with her.  She told me her life story. From a rape when she was 12, to meeting Tep's girls a few months ago at a hair shop in L.A. She seemed quite interesting. That means that she will work out well in the office. Ria hadn't been gone a day, and I have replaced her--at least temporarily. I know some of you are wondering why hire someone when Niecy is helping. The thing is Niecy wants to replace Ria. Desiree, she don't know me and that is just what I need right now. We talked for about an hour, until Tep came over.